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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"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."
Blog What we have been up to lately
Game Lecture Series - Andrei Xuereb MHFA
Fantasy vs Reality - Sword fighting in Video Games is a comparative lecture and demonstration about combat with swords and other edged weapons as used in video games and history. The objective of this lecture is to educate the audience about the … read more
Playfields workshop - #GoGoTal-Qroqq
Join us for a playtest of the Playfields app, and for a discussion of play and digital game tools in social research. Playfields is a digital tool for playful fieldwork – an app for encountering surprise and challenging traditional ways of doing field … read more
DiGRA Italia Conference 2017
At the inaugural conference event for the Italian chapter of the Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA Italia), held on May 12 at the IULM University in Milan, IDG faculty member Daniel Vella gave a presentation entitled "De-Roling from Gamplay and … read more
Mixed-initiative and Board game design at CHI 2017
At the 35th Annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing System, better known as CHI, there were several initiatives related to design practice that the IDG was involved in. For starters, the Mixed-Initiative Creative Interfaces … read more
Interdisciplinary Challenges for Game Studies in Copenhagen
On Wednesday 3 May the IDG members made a joint appearance at the IT University of Copenhagen, where they participated in a series of talks on the Interdisciplinary Challenges for Game Studies. The afternoon included four talks on diverse … read more
Go Go Gozo 2017 - Exhibition
GoGoGozo is a project that looks at playful research methods and digital mapping, and takes place in Gozo from May 2nd to 12th 2017. Over 10 days, students from UK, Netherlands, Czech Republic, and Malta, will playfully engage with research, with field … read more