The home locale of Rockstar Games’ corporate headquarters is trying to invest in further game development locally, thanks in large part to a certain popular mayor and his office.
Today, New York City and Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced NYC Game Jam, a two-day youth competition for game development in which young New Yorkers “design and build a video game around a set theme,” according to a report by Variety. It will take place this weekend.
But don’t expect a return to Liberty City here. The competition’s theme is “Get There Already,” focused on the city’s transit, and according to the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, “participants will build a game about getting across the city” and “every game must be about transit or the experience of getting around a city, suitable for all ages, and free of violence, weapons, and other illicit activity.” No grand theft here.
The office also said that NYC’s gaming sector lists “about 7,900 jobs across approximately 380 firms and generates $2.6 billion in annual economic impact,” so this competition is an effort to continue that trend and keep games being developed in the city.
“Whether you’re exploring the forests of Hyrule or riding across the frontier at Nuevo Paraíso, video games invite us into worlds born from the imagination of their designers. And that creativity represents an enormous opportunity here in New York City,” Mamdani said. “As the industry grows, we want to make sure the next generation of game developers and designers can build their futures right here at home. This Game Jam is a chance to open the door to that industry for young New Yorkers, connect them with the people shaping it, and give them the tools and support to turn their biggest ideas into careers.”
A panel of industry veterans will select three finalists in the contest, with first place winning $3,000, second place $1,500, and third place $500, with the winnings to be split amongst all members of the game-making teams. It’s unclear if generative-AI will be allowed in the contest.
As a native New Yorker, this excites me. I’d love more studios to work out of Manhattan rather than California, selfishly, because it’s less travel for me.
