UM’s Institute of Digital Games to open new premises on 25 September

The University of Malta’s Institute of Digital Games, ranked among the best in the world, will be inaugurating their new premises in Msida and celebrating games research, education and the industry, during a day-long event on 25 September, according to a press release sent to Business Malta.  

The launch will be held from 10:30 to 19:00 at the Institute of Digital Games, where Silvio Schembri, Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation will inaugurate the premises. Furthermore, Gabriel Robert, Lead Gameplay Programmer at Ubisoft will be speaking on the impact research has on innovation in games.

The institute will explain the key focus-areas of its education and showcase research on digital games done by their faculty and the University of Malta more broadly, which is critical for economic development as evidenced by the national video games and eSports strategy, says the press release. Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the institute’s main research areas, which overlaps with aspects of Malta’s National AI Strategy. 

A series of workshops covering musical behaviour in games, the player-avatar relationship in virtual reality, and affective computing (emotion AI) will be open to the public from noon on. Quick-fire talks on digital game-related work and research done throughout the university as a whole will follow. 

Local game industry studios such as Dorado Games, Exient, Playmagic and Might Box will present projects that they are currently working on and will answer questions on practical aspects of career guidance. 

“We’re excited to see a growing and dynamic games industry in Malta that our students can participate in and contribute to. Our inauguration gives us an opportunity to highlight this and we’re proud to show the educational and research role of our Institute to the general public,” said Prof Georgios Yannakakis, Director of the Institute of Digital Games.

Registration for the whole-day event is required as space is limited.