Games Research and Education (M.Sc. and Ph.D.)
Welcome to the Institute of Digital Games, the research and education centre at the University of Malta, focusing on game design, game analysis, and game technology!
Our work is at the forefront of innovative games research. We explore games and play, uncovering new playful and generative possibilities in game design and technology. We delve into everything games can teach us about ourselves.
Our multidisciplinary academic team spans computer science, literature, game design, philosophy, media studies, and social sciences.
Click here to read our annual report for the year 2022/2023.
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David developed an innovative model for understanding board game involvement for his thesis.
It is an environment roaring with ideas, thoughts, games, prototypes, concepts. It was a period when I felt constantly inspired.
Rebecca is researching narrative in games. As part of her thesis, she developed a choice-driven video game.
Practice in the form of game project assignments and a supportive teaching staff really boost your confidence as a game designer!
The Institute feels like a little community that you're part of.
William's research explored the procedural generation of multi-floor levels for first-person shooters.
Being involved in the research process, I realised how passionate everyone at IDG is about their research.
Blog What we have been up to lately
The Ludic Muse: The Form of Games as Art
Daniel Vella, a lecturer at the IDG, has published a paper titled "The Ludic Muse: The Form of Games as Art", in the latest issue of CounterText, an academic journal published by Edinburgh University Press which focuses on 21st-century extensions … read more
Make Games, Make Yourself!
In case you missed it on the last issue of TH!NK magazine (issue 15), linked below is Ashley Davis's article outlining the first steps of an ongoing research projects at the Institute of Digital Games: Dr. Stefano Gualeni's preliminary experiments on the self … read more
IDG to host the POCG2016 Conference
The upcoming November, the Institute of Digital Games will be hosting the 10th installment of the Philosophy of Computer Games (POCG) Conference! The conference is an annual, international academic event where scholars, students, and game designers engage in … read more
Gordon Calleja - Analogue to digital game adaptation
Gordon Calleja, who lectures in game analysis at the Institute of Digital Games, has published a blog on Gamasutra that analyses his work adapting the boardgame Posthuman into a digital game. The digital game, Posthuman: Sanctuary, is … read more
Game Lecture: Nick Porsche
Nick Porsche of Dorado Games will be our next speaker at the Game Lecture Series, talking about lessons learned during the development of Gladiators Online. The lecture is on Tuesday 8th of March 2016 at 7:00 pm, and is held at the … read more
Game Lecture: Jade Pecorella
We are kicking off the Game Lecture Series for 2016 with Jade Pecorella talking about her experiences as a game designer in Malta. The lecture is on Tuesday 16th of February 2016 at 7:00 pm, and is held at the Institute of Digital Games. The topic and summary … read more