A local event at the Rochester Institute of Technology is bringing people together to celebrate all things gaming.
A local event at the Rochester Institute of Technology is bringing people together to celebrate all things gaming. Read More Gaming
Henrietta, N.Y. – A local event at the Rochester Institute of Technology is bringing people together to celebrate all things gaming.
Game developers and content creators gathered at Rochester at RIT’s MAGIC Spell Studios on Saturday for the 8th annual ROC Game Fest.
The festival featured several exhibits showcasing local games made right here in Rochester.
“We have 45 games being showcased that are being developed right here in Rochester by students and independent developers,” saidJennifer Hinton, the director of games industry relations at MAGIC Spell Studios. “Itshowcases the power and community of games being made here in Rochester.”
The event also allowed attendees to playtest games, listen to speakers, and even participate in a kids’ cosplay contest.
Several students at the event shared their passion for game design and why they chose this career path.
“Having it all culminate together is a very exciting process,” said student game designer John Wager. “Having people play and say, ‘That was cool and was really fun to play.'”
Others at the event were excited about the future of digital media production in the area and across the globe.
“I’m excited to see new people getting into game development,” said RIT professor Jesse O’Brien. “To see games growing as an industry and to see games made for everyone, it’s really wonderful.”
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“We have a lot of young students who come to RIT because game design is what they’re really interested in,” said Hinton. “Ifthey have the opportunity to see themselves in this future here, that’s what excites us the most about the event.”
Designers say it’s a lot easier to get into game development now, with a bigger community than ever to help people get started.
“Don’t be afraid to get into game development,” said Wager. “There are tons of great resources and tutorials online. The community is also very welcoming, with a lot of people willing to share their knowledge with other people. Don’t be afraid to give it a try.”
Developers at the event recommend people interested in starting down this path learn game design programs and start practicing games on their own.
FREE/CHEAP GAME DEVELOPMENT TOOLS AND RESOURCES:
GAME ENGINES: Godot (Free), GameMaker (Free Trial), Unreal Engine (Free for Unmonetized Projects), Ren’Py (Free)
ART PROGRAMS: Aseprite ($20), Gimp (Free), Blender (Free)
AUDIO PROGRAMS: FamiStudio (Free),Anvil Studio (Free), FL Studio (Free Trial)
CLICK HERE for more information on Game Jams, which is essentially a free game development competition.
