Biography

Dr. Lopes is a researcher focusing at the crossroads between Digital Game AI, AffectiveComputing, Neuroscience and Game Design. His main research interest lies in developing autonomous technologies capable of generating virtual environments and game mechanics using human-based emotion as input. His studies has led to the development of several systems exploring the influence of different digital games facets (e.g. Audio, Lighting and 3D Environments) and its relation to human biofeedback data such as: Electrocardiogram (ECG), Electrodermal Activity (EDA) and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).

Dr. Lopes has also collaborated with several top neuroscience research laboratories in Switzerland, collaborating with the Swiss Center for Affective Sciences (CISA), helping develop several experimental protocols (using games) for the task of emotion recognition. Furthermore, during this time, Dr. Lopes also collaborated with the company Logitech, where he developed several tools capable of collecting physiological data from professional e-sport players during multiplayer sessions.

He completed his PhD at the Institute of Digital Games of the University of Malta (2017). During his PhD his research focused on developing new tools and methodologies for procedurally generating content between the domains of audio, level design and visuals within the horror digital game genre; while also exploring new ways of automating and adapting sound to 3D virtual environments. The system developed was the Sonancia generator, a multi-faceted generator for horror. He completed his M.Sc. in Computer Science (2011) at the University of Lisbon, Portugal. During his master thesis, he developed a mixed-initiative musical tool called the Traveling Percussionist. Additionally, at the GAIPS INESC-ID laboratory at the Instituto Superior Técnico he developed the Geometry Friends competition framework. Currently he is investigating the application of affective computing techniques for the adaptation of procedurally generated content in games.