What WAS the Unreleased Games Arcade? Well, in a word: epic! Forty game developers – indie, AAA, and collegiate – came to the City College of New York last March to shared their unreleased games with 64 high school students studying game design.
That’s what the new Gaming Pathways is all about – creating connections among NYC high school youth of color, public college students studying game design, and NYC’s growing gaming industry.
So what IS an unreleased game? It could be a game anywhere in the game development process, from its earliest playable prototype (whether analog or digital) to something preparing to launch in a week. It could also be a chance to take that game that’s been sitting on the proverbial shelf collecting dust the last ten years and receive feedback from engaged and sharp players.
The feel of the event was electric and we hope to bring it back in 2024. Below you can get a taste for it within the videos we produced documenting the experience, the Yearbook we produced for presenters, and the photos as well.
Here is the 1 minute highlight reel from the event (created by Jose Alonso Baldeon):
But I recommend you skip that one and go right to his 5 minute version, with more interviews, shots of the games, and more cool stuff. Check that one out here:
We prepared a Yearbook documenting each of the games at the event (and listing who won which award). Click on the image below to check it out.
Here are some quotes from the presenters: “Gaming Pathways’ Unreleased Games Arcade was a blast! I had so much fun playing my game with students and talking shop about game design.” “This was a great way to playtest games and receive feedback in a nice fun way.” “Very well-attended event and well-managed and planned.” “I wish an event like this existed when I was in high-school! It would have been amazing to see games made by local developers and being inspired by their works!”
Finally, here are some great photos from the event (taken by Roderick Mickens):
