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.
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
In case you are interested, Stefano's article titled The Experience Machine: Existential Reflections on Virtual Worlds - a more complete and rigorous version of an argument that he originally presented in his recent public talk at IDG - is available … read more
We are starting 2017 with a new series of Game Lectures. Our first lecture in February is by Coline Pannier who will be discussing her experiences in designing games for systemic change and how to transform the way we use our planet's resources. The lecture … read more
We are feverishly looking for curious participants for a research experiment! In the upcoming two weeks we are supporting researchers from the IT University of Copenhagen with their study on horror games in virtual reality. Participants will be asked to play … read more
Almost four years after the experimental, philosophical videogame Necessary Evil (2013), our Stefano Gualeni decided to work on a new, small, case for "playable philosophy" with the support of the Institute of Digital Games and Maltco … read more
The Institute of Digital Games is once again hosting the Malta Global Game Jam on the 20-22nd January 2017! Registration will be opening soon and we would like to intive those interested to join us! Games require a wide array of skills, so … read more
During the 2015-2016 academic year, IDG student Francesca Borg Taylor-East developed a video game titled "Being-towards-death in a Videogame" for the purposes of the Prototyping for Game Designers course. The game shows a satirical view of dying in certain … read more