About
Overview
At MAGIC, we believe that we learn by making. This guiding principle informs our work and our relationships and is at the heart of what we do.
Founded in 2013, the RIT Center for Media, Arts, Games, Interaction & Creativity (MAGIC) is two distinct entities housed within a new 52,000 square foot facility known as MAGIC Spell Studios. Across both sides we passionately pursue our missions of learning, research, entrepreneurism, commercial outreach and project showcase.
MAGIC Center
The MAGIC Center promotes the academic mission of the university, capitalizing on the energy, synergy, and convergence of multiple academic programs through project-based curriculum, faculty research and scholarship. MAGIC is a digital sandbox for students and faculty pushing the boundaries of technology, art and design!
MAGIC Spell Studios
MAGIC Spell Studios exists to support the entrepreneurial ambitions of our students and faculty who are seeking to publish and distribute films, games and interactive experiences or start new digital media businesses. It also serves as a home to outside commercial activity in film production, digital design, and game development, welcoming companies to interact with RIT’s best creative minds.
Learn
MAGIC includes five state-of-the-art classrooms built around delivering hands-on curriculum in game design, 2D and 3D animation, and digital design. Students learn on the same hardware and software platforms used in industry while honing their technical and creative skills. A fully outfitted sound stage and post-production studios further enhance experiential education opportunities and permit faculty to introduce real-world film, animation, and digital media workflows to the classroom.
MAGIC was built in collaboration with RIT’s nationally ranked academic programs from the School of Film and Animation, School of Interactive Games and Media, and School of Design. Faculty from all three programs live and work in the building, developing curriculum and engaging students at the undergraduate and graduate levels across a full spectrum of courses.
Research
Faculty and students partner to work on sponsored research and independent study projects focused in film, games, AR/VR, and interactive experiences. Many of these projects are born through faculty portfolios and sponsorship, but MAGIC also proudly hosts and mentors student teams pursuing their own extracurricular interests. Dedicated laboratory space is available for faculty, research assistants, and independent student teams to live and work throughout the year.
Entrepreneurism
MAGIC provides a home for start-up incubation and the commercialization of digital media products. Students bring their ideas and are supported with both business start-up mentorship and access to a full suite of technical tools. One of the most popular programs on campus is the MAGIC Maker Program, a competitive process where students pitch digital media product ideas and earn both co-op credit and start-up funding for publication and commercialization.
Commercial Outreach
MAGIC Spell Studios is uniquely positioned to spur economic growth throughout the Rochester region and New York state. Beyond training the next wave of digital media experts, our students are available to work as co-ops/interns and full-time employees in local businesses. MAGIC provides unique facilities that are open for business in film, games, and interactive media design. This activity spans the physical studio and post-production spaces to co-work suites available to host companies for long-term engagements.
Project Showcase
MAGIC was intentionally designed to showcase the creative output of our students and faculty and provide a performance platform for our campus and the Rochester community. Everywhere throughout MAGIC, you can find evidence of the cool projects made and published through MAGIC Spell Studios. Come and visit to see and play some of the best film and games projects made with us!
In 2015, RIT, along with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and New York University, was named a Digital Game Hub by Empire State Development. In 2019, this grant was renewed with increased funding and a Center of Excellence designation.
It is the hubs’ objective is to establish solid foundations for long-term growth through outreach and community building activities and increase the economic impact of games to New York state. We do this by providing resources and mentoring to encourage students and indie developers to enter the growing games industry, by fostering innovation, and by creating collaborative activities that spur new games and start-up companies.
Through this effort, and with support from partner organization ROC Game Dev, an organization of video game developers, artists, and enthusiasts dedicated to fostering a community of game creators, we host several events and partner with community organizations and local studios to raise the profile of game development in the Greater Rochester, including the Finger Lakes and Western New York.
Rochester Game Festival
Our largest event is the Rochester Game Festival. Our 5th annual event will take place again on Saturday, September 28th at the RIT MAGIC Center. Stay tuned for details/updates.
Why Rochester?
There is no better time than now and no better place than Rochester to be making video games.
With a growing critical mass of talent from universities such as RIT’s nationally ranked programs in game design and development and the Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, which offers a unique Master of Music in Contemporary Media/Film Composition, coupled with local game studios and community assets such as The Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester, N.Y., is poised to be the next video game hub. When you think of video games in Rochester, we should be your first point of contact.
Community Outreach
Are you a K-12 school or community organization who is interested in learning more about game development?
We’d be happy to speak to your class about making video games or lead an “Intro to Game Development” workshop.