THE PUBLIC OPTION FOR A CAREER IN DIGITAL GAMES

What’s New

October 2024

October 2024

October was an eventful month for CCNY and Urban Arts, as CCNY’s Gaming Pathways program presented at the Undergraduate Open House on October 26. Program Director Nicholas Fortugno, alongside student representatives, engaged prospective students and families, highlighting the program’s unique offerings. Urban Arts continued its College Access Workshops for college-bound students, hosting “College Essays 101” on October 7, “Financial Aid Review” on October 21, and “Early Decision Applications” on October 28. Additionally, Urban Arts faculty led game design master classes for high school students at WHEELS, A. Philip Randolph High School, and Facing History School on October 9, 11, and 17, with 78 students participating across the three sessions. In mid-October, 225 students enrolled in Urban Arts’ after-school game design programs, featuring three levels of game development courses and the introduction of “Play Lab,” a pilot seminar for exploring creative identities in game design. Finally, on October 31, award-winning game designer Sarah Ticho visited the Urban Arts level-3 Studio class to discuss her journey in the industry and her work on the acclaimed game Soul Paint, inspiring the next generation of game designers.

September 2024

September 2024

In September, CCNY celebrated its recent Esports Club victory at a Valorant tournament held on August 31 at OS NYC, where the team triumphed over five other CUNY schools, an event streamed live on Twitch to over 2,000 viewers. During Student Orientation, CCNY’s Board Game Club joined in to recruit new members and showcase its unique focus on both gameplay and game design, with meetings now set for Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Gaming Pathways program also launched its courses, offering instruction in game design, level design, programming, and UI/UX design. With new faculty members on board, students gained access to advanced resources like the Alienware Computer Lab and Gaming Library. Meanwhile, Urban Arts initiated its fall College Access Workshops, supporting college-bound juniors and seniors. September’s sessions included “College Application 101” on September 23 and “CUNY Application Support” on September 30, all part of the college prep support for Urban Arts students.

August 2024

August 2024

On 8/28, the first day of classes officially started at the City College of New York! Over 120 Gaming Pathways students have enrolled in classes covering game design, level design, programming with Unity, and more. Urban Arts has started recruitment for their 2024-25 free after-school game design program. NYC-based 9th, 10th, and 11th graders can sign up for an info session to learn more about how to apply to SIA here. Programs launch in mid-October.

On 8/15, a group of game developers from GUMBO and EGD joined the final week of Urban Arts’ six-week intensive game design summer camp. They playtested student games and answered questions about careers in game design. On the same day, Urban Arts alumni and rising seniors visited global communications and media company WPP to explore careers in applied creative technology. On 8/22, a group of students visited Unity’s offices.

June 2024

June 2024

101 students and 177 guests total showcased 50+ games at the Urban Arts Arcade Saturday 6/15, including students and teachers from Gaming Pathways after school clubs. Two studio programs teams had the opportunity to present their games to industry professionals.

May 2024

May 2024

Three Gaming Pathways Master Classes were held at Khalil Gibran HS (23 students), George Westinghouse HS (20 students), and Bronx Lab School (17 students). Six students from the Urban Arts Gaming Pathways club at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning school visited the Paley Center for Media’s PaleyGX exhibit to explore new consoles, VR, and PC systems. Ten students visited the Brooklyn co-dev gaming studio, Gumbo Collective, toured the space, met NYC indie game developers, and playtested games.

April 2024

April 2024

Urban Arts held a Spring Break Game Design Lab for 46 high school students who explored gaming through an educational lens and designed their own games. In addition, more public school students were reached through two master classes held at Facing History High School and one master class held at George Westinghouse High School.

March 2024

March 2024

CCNY hosted Gaming Pathway’s second annual Unreleased Games Arcade, supporting 52 local designers to showcase 21 digital and analog games, all playtested by over 100 high school students. Urban Arts ran three masterclasses at the Harlem School of the Arts in conjunction with the Harlem Gallery of Science’s exhibit: Video Games: The Great Connector; 87 high school students participated, enhancing their understanding of the gaming industry while furthering their game design skills.

February 2024

February 2024

21 game design students from Urban Arts’ Gaming Pathways clubs got a sneak-preview of Video Games: The Great Connector exhibit to explore, play and share their feedback before it officially opened. Additionally, student and alumni designers from Urban Arts’ Mastery program displayed digital game prototypes at the exhibit. Nearly 50 Urban Arts students visited the exhibit on a field trip.

January 2024

January 2024

CCNY Game Design Professor Nick Fortugno spoke at the CUNY Games Conference about the importance of public education and how to foreground its latent potential within NYC’s Gaming Industry.
December 2023

December 2023

42 high school students involved in the Gaming Pathways program visited Microsoft Offices to learn from Xbox NYC staff about careers in gaming. Potential jobs covered by the Xbox team included social impact, digital marketing, software engineering, cloud gaming, content design and more.
December 2023

November 2023

Fourteen Gaming Pathways high school students visited CCNY to playtest games in development by two game design courses. College students studying game design at both CCNY and HOSTOS were invited to the Microsoft Experience Center for an event featuring ID@Xbox’s lectures (with special address from Mayor Eric Adams).
December 2023

October 2023

Five new high schools launched Gaming Pathways after school programs; a college recruitment session was held at Urban Arts for City College’s digital gaming track; the CCNY Open House attracted ~70 students (plus families and teachers) to the Harlem campus, offering insights into degree programs and campus life.
December 2023

August 2023

70 high school students spent a day at the CCNY campus dedicated to creating street games; at the first WYWYH (“What You Wished You Had”), a half-dozen NYC indie game developers mentored and playtested 60 students at Urban Arts; CCNY held the first CUNY Esports Competition; Gaming Pathways exhibits at PLAY NYC (featuring Urban Arts, HOSTOS, and CCNY)
December 2023

July 2023

At the Games for Change Festival, roundtable held discussing Gaming Pathways while the new video game exhibit opening Winter 2023 previewed at the plenary
December 2023

June 2023

Year-end arcade at Urban Arts celebrates the work of the past year, including Gaming Pathways high school students
December 2023

May 2023

Gaming Pathways high school students visit CCNY to playtest college student’s games
December 2023

April 2023

Waffle Games 6.0 hosted at CCNY; Indie game design studio visits Gaming Pathways high school students
December 2023

March 2023

The 1st Unreleased Games Arcade hosted at CCNY; Public Pathways heading to the Game Design Conference in San Francisco
December 2023

February 2023

High school recruitment continues with trips to video game exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art and to the PaleyGX Gaming Studio
December 2023

January 2023

50+ high school students visit CCNY to celebrate Fall program led by Urban Arts; New CCNY courses begin with over 130 students registered for 339 course credits
December 2023

December 2022

The Well Played Journal on esports edited by Gaming Pathway is published
December 2023

August 2022

First CCNY students begin game design courses (40 students registered for 120 credits)