Games Research and Education (M.Sc. and Ph.D.)

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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.

"Studying at the IDG it’s been one of the best experiences of my life, and has been foundational to my academic growth. The game studies and game design courses provided me with a solid theoretical grounding, and the network of opportunities around academia."

"One of the most impactful aspects of the Institute on my career has been its emphasis on interdisciplinary research and collaboration. The lecturers have diverse backgrounds and expertise, and this fosters a stimulating environment for exploring the multifaceted aspects of game research and development. The research-driven approach has enabled me to contribute critically to discussions with my colleagues."

"Studying at the IDG has really been an experience better than I could have ever asked for. Not only because it aligns with my goals from as long as I remember, but also because the content and support I have received while studying there has always been stellar."

Robin L.
Graduated in 2024
Luca S.
Graduated in 2019
Malcom G.
Graduated in 2023

Blog What we have been up to lately

IDG at Gamescom 2022

August 29, 2022

Renato Carvalho, our research support officer for the Institute of Digital Games went to Cologne, Germany, last week to represent the University of Malta and share all the work and research that is going on at the Institute at GamesCom 2022. … read more

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New publication on musical improvisation with digital games …

August 4, 2022

Dr. Costantino Oliva, Lecturer and Course Coordinator at the Institute of Digital Games, is the author of “Otogarden: Exploring Musical Improvisation in Video Games”, an article published in the Journal of Sound and Music in Video Games, University of … read more

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IDG Faculty Members and Researchers at DiGRA 2022

August 2, 2022

Earlier last month, IDG – Institute of Digital Games members participated in DiGRA 2022, the annual international conference of the Digital Games Research Association. This year's edition of the conference - the first after a two-year pause due to the … read more

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IDG research wins Best Paper on AI - ICCC 2022

July 25, 2022

The paper “Seeding diversity into AI Art”, written by Mr Marvin Zammit, Dr Antonios Liapis, and Prof Georgios Yannakakis from the Institute of Digital Games of the University of Malta has been awarded Best Student Paper at the 13th … read more

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IDG Researchers receive the Best Student Paper Award

July 7, 2022

On 30 June, 2022, IDG researchers Marvin Zammit, Antonios Liapis, and Georgios N. Yannakakis received the Best Student Paper award at the 13th International Conference on Computational Creativity for their work on "Seeding Diversity in AI … read more

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New project just launched, by lecturers and alumni from the …

June 24, 2022

The project “Playing Maltese History” involves the design of a location-based AR mobile game that can facilitate and augment historical research for recreational and educational purposes. Through the game, the player will be able to explore, uncover, and … read more

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  • Funded Project