PhD Studentship - Game Design for Post Climate Futures: A Practitioner-led Approach

Project advert

Games have massive global reach among diverse populations. The transformative potential of the game industry is therefore huge, but research is needed if this potential is to be realised. The idea that games address the challenge of climate change has been established through the study of ‘ecogames’. However, optimism about the potential of ecogames is undercut by research into the negative material impact of game development, raising the question: how can we make and play games sustainably? This PhD opportunity is part of a Team Project that addresses this question through interdisciplinary research across Art and Design, English Studies, Philosophy and Cultural Sociology. It is one of three PhD projects that will investigate the ecosystem of game design, game artefacts, and game consumption. This particular PhD proposes game making as a research practice. It will be undertaken by a practitioner in game design, who will explore games as a transformative mode of art and investigate and test their affordances in radically reimagining climate futures. The student will gain supervisory expertise from within the games industry, and focus on the nonhuman processes at work in game design, specifically AI.

Project aims and objectives

The aims of the project are to explore game making as a research practice that can address the issue of sustainable play.

4 key objectives:

• Conducting a review of ‘ecogames’ with a practitioner focus on how critical discourse in material game studies and community created resources
• Testing questions derived from this review using creative praxis and design thinking research methodologies; 
• Creating three significant works or prototypes suitable for playtesting/ (The creative portion of the thesis may be presented as a series of playable prototypes or as a final summative work that is subsequently evaluated following a final test event);
• Evaluating algorithm narrative features through iterative design and playtesting, considering their affect in relation to their ecological cost.

Funding

The student will be in receipt of a stipend payment; the Research Council minimum rate (set by UKRI) £20,780 for 2025/26.

Home and Overseas students can apply. Home fees are covered. Eligible overseas students will need to make up the difference in tuition fee funding. 

Specific requirements of the candidate

You would ideally have a background in game design and/or development. This project adopts a creative-critical response to the research question, and you will employ design thinking research methodologies. Experience in one or more aspects of game design, game art, or game development will be essential. You will have an honours degree at a first or upper-second-class, and a Masters degree in a relevant discipline.

How to apply

Interested applicants should contact Dr Chloé Germaine (C.Germaine@mmu.ac.uk ) or Dr David Jackson (D.J.Jackson@mmu.ac.uk ) for an informal discussion. 

To apply you will need to complete the online application form for a full-time PhD in Digital Arts and Media (or download the PGR application form ).

You should also complete the PGR thesis proposal form addressing the project’s aims and objectives, demonstrating how the skills you have maps to the area of research and why you see this area as being of importance and interest.

If applying online, you will need to upload your statement in the supporting documents section, or email the application form and statement to PGRAdmissions@mmu.ac.uk .

Closing date: 16 May 2025

Expected start date October 2025

Please quote the reference: AH-CG-NWCDTP CDA 2025