PB Berge wins Foundations of Digital Games Best Paper Award for newly published paper

University of Alberta assistant professor PB Berge’s Best Paper Award at the 2025 Foundations of Digital Games conference provides international recognition for game-studies research conducted within Edmonton’s post-secondary ecosystem. Berge’s research examines “anti-games,” fantasy consoles and speculative game-development communities on itch.io, exploring forms of game creation that operate outside conventional commercial production. The recognition is relevant to Alberta’s game-development sector through Berge’s role in experimental game design and as co-director of the University of Alberta’s Game Development Certificate. It demonstrates that Alberta’s contribution to games extends beyond commercial studios to internationally recognized research into game design, development culture and alternative approaches to interactive media. That academic expertise also feeds into the education of emerging developers, strengthening the connection between game research and Alberta’s future development workforce.