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
IDG at Gameslit 2017 Conference
Since the first edition, held in 2013 at the University of Malta, the Games and Literary Theory conference series has grown into one of the leading international venues for humanistic game studies. At this year's edition, held at the Université de … read more
IDG at CEEGS2017 Conference
The Institute of Digital Games had a strong present at this year's Central and Eastern European Game Studies conference, held at the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodus, Trnava, Slovakia, on September 28-30. IDG member Daniel Vella, together with Jaroslav … read more
Science in the City 2017
The Institute of Digital Games presented some of the projects and research they are currently working on at Science in the City, Malta's science and arts festival. The Institute presented the work being done under the AutoGame project and the together with … read more
1st PhD graduate from the Institute of Digital Games - Dr …
The Institute of Digital Games would like to congratulate Phil Lopes for successfully defending his PhD in Artificial Intelligence in Digital Games. His research focused on Generating Multi-Faceted Game Content from Level to Audio and … read more
De-Roling in Virtual Worlds
The latest issue of the Journal of Virtual Worlds Research, published earlier this month, includes a paper written by IDG members Stefano Gualeni and Daniel Vella, together with recent IDG graduate Johnathan Harrington. The paper, entitled … read more
'Chicken and Egg' (at Science and the City)
Which came first: the chicken or the egg? This presentation by Dr Stefano Gualeni will settle this issue once and for all: ‘Chicken and Egg’ philosophical play with thought experiments. By popular request, this talk - given earlier this year at Café … read more