About
Biography
Dr Alexander Muscat is a game designer, educator, and researcher. He combines game-making practice and theory to research game design, production, and player experience. Alexander’s work includes the Freeplay and A MAZE award-nominated experimental game WORLD4, and work on the interactive therapy system EDNA. His research focused on the study of emerging game genres, design knowledge, and the application of ambiguity within games through specific techniques, to foster unique perceptual and spatial experiences.
Alexander has special interest in how games challenge sensory perception and compel curiosity through experimental approaches, and towards the intersection between design knowledge, methods, and production processes. His interests seek to bridge gaps between research and industry through practice, including his current project SITE UNSEEN, a VicScreen funded project, and numerous engagements with government and media organisations.
His work has been disseminated his research at scholarly, arts, and industry venues including CHI Play, DiGRA, Play Now Melbourne, and Games Connect Asia Pacific. His collaborations also include work with Screen Queensland, Sunshine Coast Council, the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective, and the Squiggly River community group.
Alexander is currently a board member for The Digital Games Research Association of Australia (DiGRAA).
Teaching areas
- Game Design
- Game Studies
- Game production and development
- Player and user experience
Awards/Fellowships
- Griffith Arts, Education and Law Research Excellence Award - AEL Research Group or Team Award
- Highly Commended (Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA) Australia, 2020)
- Finalist, ‘Explorer Award’ (A MAZE international games and playful media festival, 2019)
- Finalist, ‘Best Experimental Game’ (Freeplay independent games festival, 2018)
- IGDA Scholars (International Game Developers Association, 2014)
Expert media commentary
Dr Alexander Muscat’s specialist areas of knowledge include: game design and game production, the games industry, the study of user and player experience, applied game design, and the study of games within culture.