New York Game Awards creators on games as tools for education
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The New York Video Game Critics Circle is perhaps best-known in the wider industry for being the hosts of the New York Game Awards. However, its founders see the Awards themselves as more than just accolades for game creators — though they are that, too. The NYVGCC have made an effort to incorporate its nonprofit work, specifically its work with students, into the Awards at all levels, and they spoke with GamesBeat about how important this work is to them.
The NYVGCC’s Playing with Purpose Program is its writing program in which it offers writing and journalism classes and workshops to schools and shelters across New York City. Participants connect with industry professionals through these classes, which also offer mentorship opportunities. Paid interns also write reviews and essays via the NY Game Critics website.
Harold Goldberg, NYVGCC founder and president, told GamesBeat in an interview that the New York Game Awards are “kind of a Trojan Horse for talking about our nonprofit activity. The beauty of that is that our interns and writers — who are either underserved or unhoused — are part of the show as well.” Regarding the Awards themselves, he said, “We don’t have the glitz, but we have the soul. That’s what our awards are about — soul, feeling, empathy, caring about not only the students we serve and showcasing their work but also the people who come to the awards and developers.”
Ryan O’Callaghan, the Awards’ executive director, also told GamesBeat, “The big thing for us is that it always ties back to education, writing and the kids we work with. We have students helping with the show
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