Fontys University of Applied Sciences has a game design incubator. GameLab Manager Jeroen Derwort visited it and spoke with Erwin Bell and the rest of the teaching team.
In this incubator , students can undertake an internship or graduation assignment in game design and/or development. They receive their own cubicle in the building and are paired with a mentor. Jeroen Derwort mentors a student taking part in the programme with his startup.
The aim is very similar to that of THUAS GameLab: enable students to work on their own game and support them in pursuing commercial success. There is no doubt that this is difficult. Fontys also acknowledges that the chances of success are small. But the experience is extremely valuable for students.
Working on their own game project requires creativity, innovation and enthusiasm. The intrinsic motivation generated by this programme unleashes tremendous energy. Afterwards, students can enter the games industry or other sectors. They are highly sought after there too, precisely because of these qualities and the other knowledge and experience gained in the game design programme.
Because the activities of THUAS GameLab and the Fontys Game Design Incubator are so similar in this respect, we agreed to follow up on this visit and continue learning from each other.