The NYU Game Center Incubator showcased the first generation of games created by current students and alumni of NYU’s Master’s program in game design on Sept. 5. The games will be available on a variety of platforms.

The Game Center MFA, a part of the Tisch School of the Arts and under the direction of Frank Lantz, takes an artistic approach to gaming.

“[It’s] hands-on game creation within a context of advanced critical literacy, but with a focus on creativity; on expression; on innovation; on inventing new kinds of games and … exploring the far reaches of what’s possible with games,” Lantz said.

The Incubator complements this creative approach, taking work done within the Master’s program with commercial potential and providing the game creators extra time, guidance and resources to maximize their product’s success. Incubator alumni are already navigating the commercial market.

While the Master’s program focuses on developing the craft of game design, the Incubator, over an intensive three months, deals with more practical matters such as the marketing, press and legal considerations of releasing a game. The Incubator is helmed by an advisory board filled with industry professionals, who mentor the students through the intricacies of game commercialization.

From space shooters to complex narrative journeys, the games at the Incubator showed a wide range of gaming genres. The diversity in product was mirrored by the diversity in backgrounds of the creators. Stephen Lawrence Clark, an alumnus of the NYU Game Center MFA program, made music before making games.

“I came in not really knowing anything,” Clark said. “I thought it was going to be video game criticism. I had never made a game before.”

Clark combined his love of music and love of video games within the program, using his music as a background for a game when it is not suited for performance. His game, Rooftop Cop, includes an entire companion album.

Nick Zhang, another alumnus of the NYU Game Center MFA program praised the Incubator for helping students achieve more than they thought they could. He created Gemini, a fluid wordless game that is unique because of its partner dynamic.

“The game is more about taking care of your companion,” Zhang said. “Most of the video games we have now are about … empowerment of yourself. But in our game, all you care about is your companion, helping it reach its goal, helping it grow. It’s kind of similar to the goal of the Incubator.”

Those involved with the Incubator hope that it will be expanded from three months to a year-round offering. Although other gaming incubators exist, NYU’s is the only one that is a university-sponsored program. The MFA program plans to continue the Incubator in the future and to possibly expand to include majors outside of Game Center MFA students.

 A version this article appeared in the Monday, Sept. 8 print issue. Email Sophie Ding at [email protected].