Institute of Digital Games - University of Malta
@indigitalgames.bsky.social
Making big waves in Game Studies research, Game Design, and AI from a tiny, Mediterranean island | Check us out: https://www.um.edu.mt/digitalgames/ | Hosts of DiGRA 2025
Pinned
Reposted by Institute of Digital Games - University of Malta
Lovely to see our episode on play and games in utopia/dystopia featured here. We had a great time chatting with Stefano!
🏹The Hunger Games builds its narrative around a fictional game. What can the (fictional) games we play reveal about the values held by society?
🎙️ @gua-le-ni.com chats with @matthewleggatt.bsky.social & @dystopiajunkie.bsky.social on @utopiaanddystopia.bsky.social
🔗 www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/li...
🎙️ @gua-le-ni.com chats with @matthewleggatt.bsky.social & @dystopiajunkie.bsky.social on @utopiaanddystopia.bsky.social
🔗 www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/li...
Utopia, Play, and Fictional Games: A conversation with Prof. Stefano Gualeni
How do fictional games work as world-building tools and what can the games we play reveal?
www.um.edu.mt
November 20, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Lovely to see our episode on play and games in utopia/dystopia featured here. We had a great time chatting with Stefano!
🏹The Hunger Games builds its narrative around a fictional game. What can the (fictional) games we play reveal about the values held by society?
🎙️ @gua-le-ni.com chats with @matthewleggatt.bsky.social & @dystopiajunkie.bsky.social on @utopiaanddystopia.bsky.social
🔗 www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/li...
🎙️ @gua-le-ni.com chats with @matthewleggatt.bsky.social & @dystopiajunkie.bsky.social on @utopiaanddystopia.bsky.social
🔗 www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/li...
Utopia, Play, and Fictional Games: A conversation with Prof. Stefano Gualeni
How do fictional games work as world-building tools and what can the games we play reveal?
www.um.edu.mt
November 20, 2025 at 10:40 AM
🏹The Hunger Games builds its narrative around a fictional game. What can the (fictional) games we play reveal about the values held by society?
🎙️ @gua-le-ni.com chats with @matthewleggatt.bsky.social & @dystopiajunkie.bsky.social on @utopiaanddystopia.bsky.social
🔗 www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/li...
🎙️ @gua-le-ni.com chats with @matthewleggatt.bsky.social & @dystopiajunkie.bsky.social on @utopiaanddystopia.bsky.social
🔗 www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/li...
Can Generative AI really be creative? And how do we judge its creations?
Join our free seminar on creativity & Generative AI with talks by @christophsalge.bsky.social , Dr. Anna Jordanous, and researchers from Institute of Digital Games and ICT.
🔗 Info & registration: www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/up...
Join our free seminar on creativity & Generative AI with talks by @christophsalge.bsky.social , Dr. Anna Jordanous, and researchers from Institute of Digital Games and ICT.
🔗 Info & registration: www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/up...
Creativity in the Age of Generative AI
Monday 17 November 2025
www.um.edu.mt
November 13, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Can Generative AI really be creative? And how do we judge its creations?
Join our free seminar on creativity & Generative AI with talks by @christophsalge.bsky.social , Dr. Anna Jordanous, and researchers from Institute of Digital Games and ICT.
🔗 Info & registration: www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/up...
Join our free seminar on creativity & Generative AI with talks by @christophsalge.bsky.social , Dr. Anna Jordanous, and researchers from Institute of Digital Games and ICT.
🔗 Info & registration: www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/up...
Reposted by Institute of Digital Games - University of Malta
Want to Attend GDC Festival of Gaming 2026? Apply for a GGJ Scholarship! 🌟
This scholarship is designed to support members of our global community who are passionate about game creation, collaboration, and learning.
Read more & apply today 👉 buff.ly/zYUWytU
#GDC #GameDev #IndieDev #Community
This scholarship is designed to support members of our global community who are passionate about game creation, collaboration, and learning.
Read more & apply today 👉 buff.ly/zYUWytU
#GDC #GameDev #IndieDev #Community
Want to Attend GDC Festival of Gaming 2026? Apply for a GGJ Scholarship! | Global Game Jam
Are you part of the Global Game Jam community and dreaming of attending the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2026 in San Francisco?
buff.ly
November 5, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Want to Attend GDC Festival of Gaming 2026? Apply for a GGJ Scholarship! 🌟
This scholarship is designed to support members of our global community who are passionate about game creation, collaboration, and learning.
Read more & apply today 👉 buff.ly/zYUWytU
#GDC #GameDev #IndieDev #Community
This scholarship is designed to support members of our global community who are passionate about game creation, collaboration, and learning.
Read more & apply today 👉 buff.ly/zYUWytU
#GDC #GameDev #IndieDev #Community
Explore the connection between #games, #technology and #architecture at this seminar jointly organised with the Department of Architecture and Urban Design.
🗓️ 5 November at 10:00
📍Design Studio, Block S, 4th Floor, Campus Hub
www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/up...
🗓️ 5 November at 10:00
📍Design Studio, Block S, 4th Floor, Campus Hub
www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/up...
Immersive Technologies for Architectural Spaces in Malta and Beyond
Immersive Technologies for Architectural Spaces in Malta and Beyond
www.um.edu.mt
October 29, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Explore the connection between #games, #technology and #architecture at this seminar jointly organised with the Department of Architecture and Urban Design.
🗓️ 5 November at 10:00
📍Design Studio, Block S, 4th Floor, Campus Hub
www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/up...
🗓️ 5 November at 10:00
📍Design Studio, Block S, 4th Floor, Campus Hub
www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/up...
🎮 @amidos2006.bsky.social was interviewed by @trueavatars.bsky.social at the @qgcon.bsky.social where he was presenting his game: Queen Boat.
🎧 Read more and listen to Ahmed’s interview
👉 game.edu.mt/blog/queen-b...
#GameStudies #SeriousGames #LGBTQ #IndieGames
🎧 Read more and listen to Ahmed’s interview
👉 game.edu.mt/blog/queen-b...
#GameStudies #SeriousGames #LGBTQ #IndieGames
October 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
🎮 @amidos2006.bsky.social was interviewed by @trueavatars.bsky.social at the @qgcon.bsky.social where he was presenting his game: Queen Boat.
🎧 Read more and listen to Ahmed’s interview
👉 game.edu.mt/blog/queen-b...
#GameStudies #SeriousGames #LGBTQ #IndieGames
🎧 Read more and listen to Ahmed’s interview
👉 game.edu.mt/blog/queen-b...
#GameStudies #SeriousGames #LGBTQ #IndieGames
Reposted by Institute of Digital Games - University of Malta
In case you missed it, I talked about my latest novel - a speculative sci-fi detective story - at the 'Utopian and Dystopian Fictions Podcast.' Check it out! :)
>> youtu.be/eFW_XltfW-k?... <<
@indigitalgames.bsky.social @utopiaanddystopia.bsky.social @matthewleggatt.bsky.social
>> youtu.be/eFW_XltfW-k?... <<
@indigitalgames.bsky.social @utopiaanddystopia.bsky.social @matthewleggatt.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 7:19 AM
In case you missed it, I talked about my latest novel - a speculative sci-fi detective story - at the 'Utopian and Dystopian Fictions Podcast.' Check it out! :)
>> youtu.be/eFW_XltfW-k?... <<
@indigitalgames.bsky.social @utopiaanddystopia.bsky.social @matthewleggatt.bsky.social
>> youtu.be/eFW_XltfW-k?... <<
@indigitalgames.bsky.social @utopiaanddystopia.bsky.social @matthewleggatt.bsky.social
🪶 How can #gamedesign keep #folklore alive in new ways?
🏡 What do art styles tell us about homes in #games?
🌍 How can games open space for diverse perspectives?
Our students and researchers were at #CEEGS Wrocław to explore these questions and more.
#DiversityInGames #GameStudies
🏡 What do art styles tell us about homes in #games?
🌍 How can games open space for diverse perspectives?
Our students and researchers were at #CEEGS Wrocław to explore these questions and more.
#DiversityInGames #GameStudies
September 30, 2025 at 8:09 AM
🪶 How can #gamedesign keep #folklore alive in new ways?
🏡 What do art styles tell us about homes in #games?
🌍 How can games open space for diverse perspectives?
Our students and researchers were at #CEEGS Wrocław to explore these questions and more.
#DiversityInGames #GameStudies
🏡 What do art styles tell us about homes in #games?
🌍 How can games open space for diverse perspectives?
Our students and researchers were at #CEEGS Wrocław to explore these questions and more.
#DiversityInGames #GameStudies
We're in the 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟱 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 in technical games research.
But the ranking is 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿. A single digit that encompasses 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 by a small team working on #genAI, affective computing, #PCG, & more.
🔻Learn about the research behind the rank.
But the ranking is 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿. A single digit that encompasses 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 by a small team working on #genAI, affective computing, #PCG, & more.
🔻Learn about the research behind the rank.
September 29, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Reposted by Institute of Digital Games - University of Malta
Did you miss the stream? You can still watch @gua-le-ni.com discuss What We Owe The Dead, philosophy, worldbuilding, and games with @konstantinosd.bsky.social on YouTube.
Here's the video: www.youtube.com/live/uZQjsKK...
Here's the video: www.youtube.com/live/uZQjsKK...
September 19, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Did you miss the stream? You can still watch @gua-le-ni.com discuss What We Owe The Dead, philosophy, worldbuilding, and games with @konstantinosd.bsky.social on YouTube.
Here's the video: www.youtube.com/live/uZQjsKK...
Here's the video: www.youtube.com/live/uZQjsKK...
Reposted by Institute of Digital Games - University of Malta
📢 Tomorrow I will be speaking about fictional games and speculative literature. Join us online at 17:30 CET [email protected] @konstantinosd.bsky.social @indigitalgames.bsky.social #gamestudies #scifi
Reserve your free seat for our first live event of the academic year!
Game designer, professor, and author @gua-le-ni.com discusses 'What We Owe The Dead', games, and philosophy with our @konstantinosd.bsky.social (on the 16th of September).
▶️ www.eventbrite.com/e/what-we-ow...
Game designer, professor, and author @gua-le-ni.com discusses 'What We Owe The Dead', games, and philosophy with our @konstantinosd.bsky.social (on the 16th of September).
▶️ www.eventbrite.com/e/what-we-ow...
September 15, 2025 at 8:19 AM
📢 Tomorrow I will be speaking about fictional games and speculative literature. Join us online at 17:30 CET [email protected] @konstantinosd.bsky.social @indigitalgames.bsky.social #gamestudies #scifi
Reposted by Institute of Digital Games - University of Malta
Next Thursday (September 11th), join @florencesn.bsky.social & myself in discussing #game archaeology and speculative #fiction in relation to my latest novel!
The presentation starts at 6 PM at Village Bookstore in Leeds (UK):
>> villagebooks.co/blogs/blog/w... <<
The presentation starts at 6 PM at Village Bookstore in Leeds (UK):
>> villagebooks.co/blogs/blog/w... <<
September 8, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Next Thursday (September 11th), join @florencesn.bsky.social & myself in discussing #game archaeology and speculative #fiction in relation to my latest novel!
The presentation starts at 6 PM at Village Bookstore in Leeds (UK):
>> villagebooks.co/blogs/blog/w... <<
The presentation starts at 6 PM at Village Bookstore in Leeds (UK):
>> villagebooks.co/blogs/blog/w... <<
Reposted by Institute of Digital Games - University of Malta
Please we are still looking for more human data for our project :)
Please send it to your students, repost it, play some #puzzlescript games. These ones suppose to be short and fun :)
#research #ai #pcg #ml #study #indiedev #indiegames #gamedev #puzzle
Please send it to your students, repost it, play some #puzzlescript games. These ones suppose to be short and fun :)
#research #ai #pcg #ml #study #indiedev #indiegames #gamedev #puzzle
We (me, @smearle.bsky.social, @togelius.bsky.social) are working more to understand the relation between human solutions and the AI solutions in the #PuzzleScript games.
Help us by playing #online #puzzlescript games. No personal data is collected. Links are in the subsequent posts.
Help us by playing #online #puzzlescript games. No personal data is collected. Links are in the subsequent posts.
We introduce PuzzleJAX, a benchmark for reasoning and learning. 🧩💡🦎
PuzzleJAX compiles hundreds of existing grid-based PuzzleScript games to hardware-accelerated JAX environments, and allows researchers to define new tasks via PuzzleScript's concise rewrite rule-based DSL.
PuzzleJAX compiles hundreds of existing grid-based PuzzleScript games to hardware-accelerated JAX environments, and allows researchers to define new tasks via PuzzleScript's concise rewrite rule-based DSL.
September 3, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Please we are still looking for more human data for our project :)
Please send it to your students, repost it, play some #puzzlescript games. These ones suppose to be short and fun :)
#research #ai #pcg #ml #study #indiedev #indiegames #gamedev #puzzle
Please send it to your students, repost it, play some #puzzlescript games. These ones suppose to be short and fun :)
#research #ai #pcg #ml #study #indiedev #indiegames #gamedev #puzzle
Reposted by Institute of Digital Games - University of Malta
I'll be joining @gua-le-ni.com at Village Books in Leeds on 11th September to talk about his book What We Owe The Dead, especially the fascinating game archaeology in it 👀
September 1, 2025 at 12:58 PM
I'll be joining @gua-le-ni.com at Village Books in Leeds on 11th September to talk about his book What We Owe The Dead, especially the fascinating game archaeology in it 👀
Reposting to get more participants in the user study!
If you have around 30 minutes to play some games and answer some questions this weekend please click on the link to start the study.
If you have around 30 minutes to play some games and answer some questions this weekend please click on the link to start the study.
🎮 Play games for science!
Take part in our user study on CrawLLM, where you play 5 generated games and answer a handful of questions after each game.
▶️ tinyurl.com/w6k5an5j
♻️ Please share for science too!
#GenAI #research #userstudy #PhD #LLM
Take part in our user study on CrawLLM, where you play 5 generated games and answer a handful of questions after each game.
▶️ tinyurl.com/w6k5an5j
♻️ Please share for science too!
#GenAI #research #userstudy #PhD #LLM
August 29, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Reposting to get more participants in the user study!
If you have around 30 minutes to play some games and answer some questions this weekend please click on the link to start the study.
If you have around 30 minutes to play some games and answer some questions this weekend please click on the link to start the study.
Reposted by Institute of Digital Games - University of Malta
Recommending this book by Gordon Calleja to game designers, especially those with some interest in academic discourse.
February 25, 2024 at 2:21 PM
Recommending this book by Gordon Calleja to game designers, especially those with some interest in academic discourse.
Reposted by Institute of Digital Games - University of Malta
This week's newsletter focuses on the talks @tommy.aiandgames.com attended at @gameaischool.bsky.social.
Cheers to @togelius.bsky.social and Georgios Yannakakis for running yet another successful event.
www.aiandgames.com/p/massives-s...
#GameDev #GameAI #EASEED #Massive #Rovio #King
Cheers to @togelius.bsky.social and Georgios Yannakakis for running yet another successful event.
www.aiandgames.com/p/massives-s...
#GameDev #GameAI #EASEED #Massive #Rovio #King
Massive's Snowcap, Rovio's all-in on GenAI, and how EA SEED Conducts Research | 16/07/25
A round-up of the 2025 AI and Games Summer School
www.aiandgames.com
July 16, 2025 at 3:19 PM
This week's newsletter focuses on the talks @tommy.aiandgames.com attended at @gameaischool.bsky.social.
Cheers to @togelius.bsky.social and Georgios Yannakakis for running yet another successful event.
www.aiandgames.com/p/massives-s...
#GameDev #GameAI #EASEED #Massive #Rovio #King
Cheers to @togelius.bsky.social and Georgios Yannakakis for running yet another successful event.
www.aiandgames.com/p/massives-s...
#GameDev #GameAI #EASEED #Massive #Rovio #King
Great tool by our researchers to help #AI students and researchers in comparing their algorithmic advancements (in #PCG, #LLMs #GenAI) with as little friction as possible.
Full thread with links and explanation by @amidos2006.bsky.social 👇
Full thread with links and explanation by @amidos2006.bsky.social 👇
We (I, Matthew Barthet, Roberto Gallotta, Antonios Liapis, @togelius.bsky.social, Georgios Yannakakis) would like to announce the Procedural Content Generation Benchmark (PCG Benchmark).
The PCG Benchmark allows users working in PCG research to test their algorithms against a variety of games.
The PCG Benchmark allows users working in PCG research to test their algorithms against a variety of games.
August 28, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Great tool by our researchers to help #AI students and researchers in comparing their algorithmic advancements (in #PCG, #LLMs #GenAI) with as little friction as possible.
Full thread with links and explanation by @amidos2006.bsky.social 👇
Full thread with links and explanation by @amidos2006.bsky.social 👇
Reposted by Institute of Digital Games - University of Malta
Guess what has arrived in physical form? The second edition of the Artificial Intelligence and Games book by Georgios Yannakakis and me! 530 pages of everything you wanted to know about AI for games and games for AI.
The pictures below illustrate our emotion while writing it, and after finishing.
The pictures below illustrate our emotion while writing it, and after finishing.
June 22, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Guess what has arrived in physical form? The second edition of the Artificial Intelligence and Games book by Georgios Yannakakis and me! 530 pages of everything you wanted to know about AI for games and games for AI.
The pictures below illustrate our emotion while writing it, and after finishing.
The pictures below illustrate our emotion while writing it, and after finishing.
Reposted by Institute of Digital Games - University of Malta
Next week (on September the 3rd), I will be talking about my 2024 book at the
@festivaletteratura.it
>> www.festivaletteratura.it/it/home
My talk will be in in Italian, and tickets are still available!
>> www.clappit.com/biglietteria... <<
If you're in Mantova next week, come and say hi :)
@festivaletteratura.it
>> www.festivaletteratura.it/it/home
My talk will be in in Italian, and tickets are still available!
>> www.clappit.com/biglietteria... <<
If you're in Mantova next week, come and say hi :)
August 27, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Next week (on September the 3rd), I will be talking about my 2024 book at the
@festivaletteratura.it
>> www.festivaletteratura.it/it/home
My talk will be in in Italian, and tickets are still available!
>> www.clappit.com/biglietteria... <<
If you're in Mantova next week, come and say hi :)
@festivaletteratura.it
>> www.festivaletteratura.it/it/home
My talk will be in in Italian, and tickets are still available!
>> www.clappit.com/biglietteria... <<
If you're in Mantova next week, come and say hi :)
🎮 Play games for science!
Take part in our user study on CrawLLM, where you play 5 generated games and answer a handful of questions after each game.
▶️ tinyurl.com/w6k5an5j
♻️ Please share for science too!
#GenAI #research #userstudy #PhD #LLM
Take part in our user study on CrawLLM, where you play 5 generated games and answer a handful of questions after each game.
▶️ tinyurl.com/w6k5an5j
♻️ Please share for science too!
#GenAI #research #userstudy #PhD #LLM
August 27, 2025 at 9:16 AM
🎮 Play games for science!
Take part in our user study on CrawLLM, where you play 5 generated games and answer a handful of questions after each game.
▶️ tinyurl.com/w6k5an5j
♻️ Please share for science too!
#GenAI #research #userstudy #PhD #LLM
Take part in our user study on CrawLLM, where you play 5 generated games and answer a handful of questions after each game.
▶️ tinyurl.com/w6k5an5j
♻️ Please share for science too!
#GenAI #research #userstudy #PhD #LLM
Reposted by Institute of Digital Games - University of Malta
It's been ten years since I defended my PhD at ITU - the community of researchers I met during my time there set me off on the academic path I'm still on, and it's great to be back this week to participate in this anniversary celebration. en.itu.dk/About-ITU/Pr...
25 Years of Games at ITU
This year, games research and education at the IT University of Copenhagen celebrates its 25th anniversary. The anniversary will be celebrated at ITU on 26 and 27 August, with talks and an exhibition ...
en.itu.dk
August 25, 2025 at 5:18 PM
It's been ten years since I defended my PhD at ITU - the community of researchers I met during my time there set me off on the academic path I'm still on, and it's great to be back this week to participate in this anniversary celebration. en.itu.dk/About-ITU/Pr...
We’re not just about making games, we're about #research.
🔬 Our strong research focus highlighted by StudyInternational.com as one of the programmes inspiring future #gamedesigners alongside Abertay and @nyugamecenter.bsky.social
🔗 studyinternational.com/news/3-unive...
🔬 Our strong research focus highlighted by StudyInternational.com as one of the programmes inspiring future #gamedesigners alongside Abertay and @nyugamecenter.bsky.social
🔗 studyinternational.com/news/3-unive...
3 universities that’ll level up your game design career
The best game design programmes don’t just focus on game design – they explore and help you master the other aspects of making amazing games too.
studyinternational.com
August 18, 2025 at 12:32 PM
We’re not just about making games, we're about #research.
🔬 Our strong research focus highlighted by StudyInternational.com as one of the programmes inspiring future #gamedesigners alongside Abertay and @nyugamecenter.bsky.social
🔗 studyinternational.com/news/3-unive...
🔬 Our strong research focus highlighted by StudyInternational.com as one of the programmes inspiring future #gamedesigners alongside Abertay and @nyugamecenter.bsky.social
🔗 studyinternational.com/news/3-unive...
Interesting thoughts on Prof. Calleja's most recent book, using his perspective to think about @zoydraft.bsky.social Magic: the Gathering cube design goals.
@mightyboards.bsky.social
@mightyboards.bsky.social
What do we as #mtgcube designers want players to pay attention to, and what design decisions might be distracting them?
Gordon Calleja's book convinced me that attention is more important to think about than complexity
zoydraft.tumblr.com/post/7814478...
Gordon Calleja's book convinced me that attention is more important to think about than complexity
zoydraft.tumblr.com/post/7814478...
What am I asking players to pay attention to?
I’m spending a chunk of my parental leave learning more about game design and my current read is Unboxed: Board Game Experience and Design by Gordon Calleja (The MIT Press, 2022, check your local...
zoydraft.tumblr.com
August 15, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Interesting thoughts on Prof. Calleja's most recent book, using his perspective to think about @zoydraft.bsky.social Magic: the Gathering cube design goals.
@mightyboards.bsky.social
@mightyboards.bsky.social