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.

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.

David C.
Graduated in 2015
Rebecca P.
Graduated in 2017
William C.
Graduated in 2015

Blog What we have been up to lately

Funded PhD and Postdoc positions at the crossroads of …

October 25, 2019

We're excited to announce that the Institute of Digital Games is looking for excellent candidates for new PhD and Post-doc positions. If you're interested in working at the Institute of Digital Games, the centre for research and education in game … read more

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University of Malta Celebrating Game Research

October 17, 2019

Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation Hon. Silvio Schembri inaugurated the new premises of the Institute of Digital Games at the University of Malta yesterday. A full-day celebration of games research and education … read more

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Philosophical Questions in Digital Games: Magic and Digital …

October 14, 2019

The Institute of Digital Games is thrilled to have Dr. Daniel O'Shiel, postdoctoral researcher and teacher in philosophy, currently working at the Instituto de Filosofía, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile, speaking as part of our Game Seminar … read more

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LAUNCH: Games Research and Education

September 3, 2019

The Institute of Digital Games has relocated and to celebrate the inauguration of its new premises on the 25th September 2019 starting at 10:30AM and continuing throught the day until 7:00PM, it will be showcasing the innovative game … read more

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How to Reference a Digital Game (DiGRA2019)

August 13, 2019

The question of what constitutes a game as a social object is famously problematic. The alleged impossibility of formulating a complete analytical definition for what constitutes a game is perhaps the most evident symptom of that … read more

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Video Game Research Studies Presented at DiGRA 2019 in Japan

July 25, 2019

For most people, August is a month for resting and vacationing… Clearly, our staff are not most people! To showcase and discuss their most recent research efforts, they will spend the beginning of August in Japan to attend the 2019 international DiGRA … read more

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