Search Results

< Back The AI and Games Conference IS BACK! It was the first event dedicated to game AI developers in Europe since 2017, and boy did the community embrace it. In the main organiser's (Tommy Thompson from AI and Games ) own words: "Nature abhors a vacuum and I'm the idiot big enough to try and fill it." - Tommy, you did achieve, and we thank you for that bold move from the bottom of our hearts! Big thanks also to all the sponsors, and specifically to our iGGi Industry Advisory Board Chair Duygu Ç acmak (Creative Assembly) who's a co-organiser. The one-day, double-track event took place on 08 November 2024 at Goldsmiths, University of London and featured international speakers from industry and academia who covered a broad spectrum of topics related to AI and Games in an informative and well-structured way. We're proud to say that we witnessed this launch with 13 iGGi PG Researchers and a whole bunch of iGGi Staff. We also spotted quite a few iGGi Alumni who had made it to the event independently. Moreover, Raluca Gaina and Diego Pérez-Liébana featured with a talk about their spin-off company " Tabletop R&D " >> If you've missed it, here's the Talk Recording We were really impressed about the level of organisation and attention to detail, and we're certainly hoping that the conference will be back again next year! >> Here's a link to all the the talks' recordings Previous 11 Nov 2024 Next

< Back Dr Myat Aung University of York iGGi Alum Immersion is a state in which players are engaged to a degree of total absorption that inhibits the ability to correctly report one’s surroundings or time. Present theory on immersion has developed a coherent model that provides sufficient evidence to distinguish itself from other cognitive concepts such as presence, attention, selective attention, absorption and flow. However, immersion research thus far has been hindered by difficulties with taking in-vivo measurements of cognition and physiological responses during videogame play. This presents an ideal opportunity for implementations of neuroimaging methods to carry out such real time measurements of attention, as well as other cognitive processes and their roles in videogame immersion. Using various combinations of neural and physiological methods such as skin conductance, eye tracking, electroencephalography and even functional magnetic resonance imaging, it is now possible to obtain richer data in immersion research. The goal of this project is to apply such methods in order to better define and measure videogame immersion, identify the cognitive processes and hierarchical models that are involved in immersion and ultimately contribute to the literature in videogame immersion. Though neuroimaging is limited by statistical sensitivity, challenging experimental logistics and non-ideal lab environments, they are still presently the best tools available to obtain fine-grain data of attention and the many other cognitive components of immersion. Such knowledge would contribute significantly to a better understanding of effective development of videogames, as well as educational tools. I am an MPsych Psychology graduate from the University of York, having studied Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience & Neuroimaging for four years. My Master’s research was primarily in vision, attempting to manipulate and record parahippocampal responses to visual stimuli selected parametrically by computer algorithms. During my degree I also spent much of my time researching videogames, studying the literature on the effects of videogame play on sleep, and working with a IGGI PhD student as a lab assistant. Between my degree and my PhD, I have also been working as a data analyst at Digital Creativity Labs researching skill learning in large gaming populations from Riot Games’ League of Legends. Please note: Updating of profile text in progress Email Mastodon Other links Website LinkedIn BlueSky Github Featured Publication(s): Different rules for binocular combination of luminance flicker in cortical and subcortical pathways Investigating the non-disruptive measurement of immersive player experience The trails of just cause 2: spatio-temporal player profiling in open-world games Predicting skill learning in a large, longitudinal MOBA dataset Themes Game AI - Previous Next

< Back Prof. Damian Murphy University of York Supervisor Damian Murphy is Professor in Sound and Music Computing at the Department of Electronic Engineering AudioLab, University of York, where he has been a member of academic staff since 2000, and is the University Research Theme Champion for Creativity. He started his career in the Performing Arts Department at Harrogate College and has previously held positions at Leeds Metropolitan University and Bretton Hall College. His research focuses on virtual acoustics and he has published over 130 journal articles, conference papers and books in the area. He is a member of the Audio Engineering Society, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and a visiting lecturer to the Department of Speech, Music and Hearing at KTH, Stockholm. Prof. Murphy is also an active sound artist and the Director of the £15m XRStories Creative Industries R&D Partnership exploring interactive and immersive storytelling for the UK’s creative and cultural sectors. He is interested in supervising students with interests in sound design, acoustics and audio signal processing and with a particular focus on: Interactive and immersive audio environments for real-time systems Room acoustics simulation and auralisation Assessment of immersive audio content for gameplay and competitive advantage Interactive/immersive audio storytelling Acoustic scene classification using spatial and spectral feature Audio for immersive environments. Research themes: Game AI Game Audio and Music Games with a Purpose Player Experience damian.murphy@york.ac.uk Email Mastodon https://www-users.york.ac.uk/~dtm3/ Other links Website https://uk.linkedin.com/in/damian-murphy-b272b914 LinkedIn BlueSky Github Themes Creative Computing Game Audio Immersive Technology - Previous Next

< Back Dr Abi Evans University of York Supervisor Abi Evans is a Lecturer in Interactive Media in the Department of Theatre, Film, Television, and Interactive Media at the University of York. Her research is at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Learning Sciences, exploring how technology can provide real-time adaptive scaffolding for the skills and processes associated with effective learning in a variety of settings. Abi is particularly interested in supervising students who want to create and evaluate games and immersive experiences for learning or develop approaches for measuring learning in games. Her current project focuses on developing experiences for people who are learning to code, specifically tackling barriers to learning such as imposter syndrome and misconceptions about coding concepts. Abi would also welcome students interested in games for learning in other disciplines and in informal settings as well as traditional academic disciplines. abi.evans@york.ac.uk Email Mastodon https://www.abigailevans.org/ Other links Website https://www.linkedin.com/in/abi-evans-7294379 LinkedIn BlueSky Github Themes Design & Development Immersive Technology Player Research - Previous Next

< Back Dr Patrik Huber University of York Supervisor Patrik Huber is a researcher, developer and entrepreneur, working on 3D face reconstruction and face analysis in images and videos using 3D face models. He is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Computer Vision in the Department of Computer Science of the University of York, UK, and he’s the Founder of 4dface.io, a small start-up specialising in 3D face models and realistic 3D face avatars for professional applications. His research is focused on computer vision, in particular, he is interested in the question of how to robustly obtain a metrically accurate, pose-invariant 3D representation of a face from 2D images and videos. He is interested in face tracking, 3D face modelling, analysis and synthesis, metrically accurate 3D face shape reconstruction, inverse rendering, and combining deep learning with 3D face models. Patrik is particularly interested in supervising students with a strong background and interest in computer vision, machine learning, computer graphics, and modern C++/Python, on topics related to creating 3D face avatars of players for immersive playing and social experiences , and using face analytics for professional e-sports . Research themes: 3D face avatars for games AR/VR Serious games and social interaction Immersive 3D player experiences Game Analytics Games with a Purpose E-Sports patrik.huber@york.ac.uk Email Mastodon https://www.patrikhuber.ch/ Other links Website https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrik-huber/ LinkedIn BlueSky https://github.com/patrikhuber Github Themes Applied Games Esports Game Data Immersive Technology Player Research - Previous Next

< Back Prof. David Beer University of York Supervisor Professor Beer has been researching new and digital media since completing his PhD in 2006. This has included work on social media, mobile devices and algorithms. Over the last decade he has developed work exploring the social implications of data and metrics. His work has explored how automated decision making is impacting upon social connections and has looked at how the data that accumulates about us shaped the way individuals are understood and judged. He has recently conducted a study of the data analytics industry and produced a report into online targeting. His research areas for supervision include: The social power of algorithms Data analytics The power of data and metrics Critical analyses of data visualization The metricisation of everyday life Social media and social media data Online targeting Data harvesting and inequality Research themes: Game AI Game Analytics Game Design Games with a Purpose Computational Creativity Gaming data Algorithms in gaming Gamification and the social world david.beer@york.ac.uk Email Mastodon https://davidbeer.net/ Other links Website LinkedIn BlueSky Github Themes Applied Games Creative Computing Game AI Game Data Player Research - Previous Next

< Back Erin Robinson University of York iGGi PG Researcher Erin Robinson is a multimedia artist, experimental musician and PhD Researcher from London. Her work primarily involves the design of interactive installations, where she takes a participatory approach to evolving visual-scapes, but also takes form in fixed media, sound art, free improvisation, live visuals and immersive experiences. Her work critically engages with the concepts of posthumanism and postmodernism, exploring notions of authenticity and existence in the digital anthropocene by blurring lines between organic and non-organic entities, reality and virtuality, self and otherness. She is a founding member of SubPhonics, an experimental music and sound art collective based in London. Recent works include ‘Flora_Synthetica’, shown at Peckham Digital 2024, and ‘Pluriversal Perspectives: Moss’, shown at the South London Botanical Institute and Conference for Designing Interactive Systems (Copenhagen) 2024. A description of Erin's research: "My research adopts a practice-based approach to exploring participant-contributed materials, a technique positioned at the intersection of participatory and new media arts. This interactive technique enables participants to contribute aesthetic and semiotic materials to new media artworks through open forms of interaction, including but not limited to, text input, drawing, and video feed. Although both participatory and new media artistic practices involve audience engagement, traditional interactive media often impose restrictive computational frameworks. In contrast, participatory practices, typically conducted in person, allow participants greater freedom, resulting in deeper engagement and more diverse, unexpected outcomes that reflect the audience's perspectives and behaviours. This research underscores the potential of digital artworks to provide more expansive and identity-reflecting experiences by incorporating participant-contributed materials. By using strengths of participatory practices, digital artworks can achieve a richer and more personalised form of interaction, and meaningful engagement with audiences." erin.robinson@york.ac.uk Email Mastodon Other links Website LinkedIn BlueSky https://github.com/erinrrobinson Github Supervisor(s): Prof. Sebastian Deterding Themes Design & Development Immersive Technology - Previous Next

< Back iGGi Studentships at QMUL - with Creative Assembly Thinking about doing a PhD in digital games? The deadline to apply to one of our 2 advertised studentships has just been extended to Monday 13 June 2022! The positions are fully funded and full-time for four years starting September 2022 (PhD fees plus a tax-free stipend to cover living costs). The PhD researchers will be based at Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL) The studentships on offer are in collaboration with our partner Creative Assembly , one of the UK’s largest games studios which has been established for 34 years and is the author of the Total War games series. You will need to form a proposal based on one of the projects proposed by Creative Assembly: https://www.iggi-phd.org/ca-projects-industry/High Precision Battle Simulation for Strategy Games Modelling Player Behaviour in Total-War Games We strongly suggest that potential applicants contact the supervisor(s) of their chosen project to develop a proposal as soon as possible via the email address given in the respective project description . Your proposal should be developed via (email) discussion with the prospective supervisor(s). Please also make sure that the proposal you submit sits within iGGi's scope. To apply please follow the instructions on our Apply page . Submit your full application by Monday 13 June, 12:00 noon BST. Previous 16 May 2022 Next

< Back Dr Pengcheng Liu Queen Mary University of London Supervisor Dr Pengcheng Liu is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the Department of Computer Science, University of York, UK. He is an internationally leading expert in robotics, Artificial Intelligence and human-machine interaction. He has been leading and involving in several research projects, including EPSRC, Innovate UK, Horizon 2020, Erasmus Mundus, FP7-PEOPLE, HEIF, NHS I4I, NSFC, etc. Several of his research works were published on top-tier journals and leading conferences in the fields of robotics and AI. Before joining York, he has held several academic positions including a Senior Lecturer at Cardiff School of Technologies, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK, a joint Research Fellowship at Lincoln Centre for Autonomous Systems (LCAS) and Lincoln Institute of Agri-Food Technology (LIAT), University of Lincoln, UK, a Research Assistant and a Teaching Assistant at Bournemouth University, UK. I also held academic positions as a Visiting Fellow at Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China. Dr Liu is a Member of IEEE, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS), IEEE Systems, Man and Cybernetics Society (SMC), IEEE Control Systems Society (CSS) and IFAC. He is member of IEEE Technical Committees (TC) on Bio Robotics, Soft Robotics, Robot Learning, and Safety, Security and Rescue Robotics. He has published over 60 journal and conference papers. Dr Liu serves as an Associate Editor for IEEE Access and PeerJ Computer Science. He received the Global Peer Review Awards from Web of Science in 2019, and the Outstanding Contribution Awards from Elsevier in 2017. He was selected as regular Fundings/Grants reviewer for EPSRC, NIHR and NSFC. Dr Liu’s research interest relevant to CDT IGGI include applied games for healthcare and rehabilitation applications, as well as using mixed reality and machine learning for human-machine interactions. He is particularly interested in supervising students with a design, HCI, computer science or behavioural sciences background on the following topics: applied games for healthcare and rehabilitation design for adaptive mixed reality system for physical therapy and neurological rehabilitation design for physical and cognitive behaviour change learning for human intention prediction analysis of mixed reality rehabilitation system with biological signals (EEG, sEMG) pengcheng.liu@york.ac.uk Email Mastodon https://sites.google.com/view/pliu Other links Website https://www.linkedin.com/in/pengcheng-liu-12703288/ LinkedIn BlueSky Github Themes Applied Games Game AI Immersive Technology - Previous Next

< Back Ross Fifield University of York iGGi PG Researcher Available for placement I am a user-centred games designer and researcher with a background in both practical and theoretical dimensions of play. I hold a BA and MA in Games Design from Falmouth University and have recently been engaged in teaching further and higher education courses in games development. My work sits at the intersection of design innovation, player psychology, and emerging technology, with a particular focus on how people find, engage with, and sustain play in social contexts. Currently undertaking a PhD as part of the iGGi programme, my research investigates the social and psychological factors that influence whether and how individuals choose to play with others. I aim to develop actionable insights that reduce barriers to engagement, support better player matchmaking, and encourage more inclusive and sustainable multiplayer experiences. I am particularly interested in live data applications and their potential to inform adaptive matchmaking systems and enhance game discovery. My practice draws from speculative and disruptive design methodologies, with a commitment to developing future-proof solutions that benefit academic, educational, and commercial communities alike. I maintain professional interests in affective psychology and digital heritage. As a player, I take an agnostic approach to genre, though I have a particular affinity for First Person Shooters, MMOs, sandbox games, and live-action roleplay. I am seeking placement opportunities with studios and organisations that are open to collaboration on live, data-driven projects focused on social play, player engagement, matchmaking and game discovery. My goal is to contribute meaningfully to real-world game development while refining methodologies that support more empathetic, inclusive, and dynamic player experiences. ross.fifield@york.ac.uk Email https://bsky.app/profile/rossfifield.bsky.social Mastodon http://www.rossfifield.com Other links Website https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossfifield/ LinkedIn https://bsky.app/profile/rossfifield.bsky.social BlueSky Github Supervisors: Dr Joe Cutting Prof. Paul Cairns Themes Player Research Previous Next

< Back Prof. Alex Wade University of York Supervisor Alex Wade is a psychologist working in the field of human cognitive neuroscience. He uses a combination of structural and functional brain imaging, electrophysiology, psychophysics and big data analysis to ask how we see, solve problems and make decisions. His most recent work in the domain of video games focuses on what we can learn about global cognitive health and player personality from the analysis of large MOBA datasets in collaboration with Riot games (League of Legends). He is particularly interested in supervising students with a psychology or neuroscience background in the areas of: Using commercial video games to measure cognition and personality How the brain responds to solo- and group gameplay Can we use video games to monitor and modify real-world cognition, behaviour and mental health Research themes: Game Analytics Games with a Purpose Computational Creativity E-Sports Player Experience The neuroscience of gaming alex.wade@york.ac.uk Email Mastodon https://www.york.ac.uk/psychology/staff/academicstaff/alex-wade/ Other links Website LinkedIn BlueSky Github Themes Applied Games Creative Computing Esports Game Data Player Research - Previous Next

< Back iGGi Seminar with Creative Assembly: Life After Doctorate Last week, four members of Creative Assembly joined us to talk about their experience of life (in the industry, and in general) after their PhD as well as broader issues around the connection between academic and industry work. Speakers comprised: Duygu Ç akmak (Research and Development Director) Tim Gosling (AI Technical Director) Derek Fagan (Senior AI/Gameplay Programmer) Tristan Smith (Senior AI Programmer) Fittingly, the “Life After A PhD” seminar took place on International Women’s Day, so: On a very related note, iGGi would like to congratulate one of the panellists, namely CA Research and Development Director Duygu Çakmak for winning the FDM everywoman in Technology Awards (Software Engineer Award)! During the event, Duygu pointed out that she was the only one of the four speakers who has not done a PhD, but "loves working with academics". We can reassure her that her scope of skills and ambitious portfolio certainly don't count for less. Thank you everyone who attended these events - we hope you found them interesting and useful! And an even bigger THANKS to the CA team: for joining us on the day and sharing your insights!! Previous 13 Mar 2023 Next