Game Design, Development, and Arts News

WHEC-TV highlights the first conference on BIPOC Game Studies, co-hosted by RIT.

The new MAGIC Spell grants, earmarked for digital media projects in art, games, interactivity, and creativity, provide RIT researchers in any college with funding up to $5,000 to help in their pursuits to secure additional external grants in their fields.

Animation is most often viewed on a screen. But when animators break traditional rules and abandon the “almighty rectangle,” Christine Banna says artistic magic can happen.

If you’re considering studying abroad, but aren’t quite sure how it will fit into your schedule, a Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program may be the perfect option. RIT’s College of Liberal Arts faculty are leading a fascinating range of courses during spring and summer 2026.

The Character Mosaic Project is a recently revived initiative that aims to build a library of 3D characters — diverse in their ethnicities and backgrounds — that are open source for animators to seamlessly use as a broader range of subjects in their films. The project is led by Kevin Bauer, graduate director of the film and animation MFA program.

Luke Whited ‘24 (game design and development BS), a first-year game design and development MS student, recently published his miniature game, REDSHIFT to critical and audience acclaim. The game, which Whited describes as a first-person psychological horror short-story, has sold over 20,000 copies in its first two weeks, and reached the top of the charts for “new and trending” free games on Steam. 

 

Having the right networking connections can make or break a career in the film industry. Thankfully for Marica Joseph, there are plenty of RIT alumni who she can learn from.

RIT once again made The Princeton Review “Best Colleges” list, recognized for its career outcomes for its students and superior game design programs in the Best 391 Colleges 2026 edition.

Accomplished alumni, creative technology research, and interdisciplinary program offerings set RIT’s School of Film and Animation apart from others on The Hollywood Reporter’s 2025 top film schools list. RIT was ranked number 22 this year, a leap ahead from the school’s rank in 2024.

Many college students spend their free time unwinding, but illustration major Kathryn Arbegast spent hers building a full-blown zombie outbreak. She recently published her debut novel, Infected. Read the full story from the Rush-Henrietta-Genesee Valley Penny Saver on pages 16-17.

After three decades of teaching, mentoring, and pioneering academic and research programs at RIT, Professor Stephen Jacobs is retiring.

WROC-TV showcases Overboard, an award-winning game created by Colby Heaton, recent graduate, and Elia Cohen, both new media interaction development majors.