Game of Life pros - help me

Help me . I am close on, just need help. The ouput for this game of life program is incorrect. I know the problem lies with the "occ" function.

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#define ROW 12
#define COLUMN 17
/*Function prototypes */
int initconfig(int [ROW][COLUMN]); /*initial configuration*/
void printgrid (int[ROW][COLUMN]); /* prints grid */
int occ (int [ROW] [COLUMN], int, int); /*returns # of occupied cells around cells */
void generate (int [ROW] [COLUMN],int [ROW] [COLUMN]); /*creates/prints new generation*/

int main()
{
	int curgen [ROW] [COLUMN]={0}; /* initialize array elements to 0 */
	int nextgen [ROW] [COLUMN]={0};
  int generation;
  int i; /* Initialize generation counter */
  generation = initconfig (curgen);
  for (i=1; i<= generation; i++)
  {
   printf("Generation #%d \n", i);
   generate(curgen, nextgen); /* generate next genaration using function while saving current */
  }

  return 0;
}

 int initconfig(int curgen [ROW] [COLUMN]) /* function to generate initial configuration */
 {
   int rowcoord=0;
   int colcoord=0;
   int numofgen=0;

   printf("\n Enter the number of generations: \n"); /* prompt user for number of generations */
   scanf("%d", &numofgen);

    while ((rowcoord != -1)||(colcoord != -1)) /* while loop to prompt user for coordinates until -1 entered */
	{
	  printf("Enter coordinates(in row then column format): \n");
      printf("Press -1 when done \n");
	  scanf("%d%d", &rowcoord, &colcoord);
	   if ((colcoord< -1)|| (colcoord==0)||(colcoord>15))
	   {
		 printf("Invalid row value entered, please reenter.\n");
		 break;
	   }

	   if ((rowcoord< -1)|| (rowcoord==0)|| (rowcoord >10))
       {
		 printf("Invalid column value entered, please reenter both column and row values.\n");
		 break;
       }
	   curgen[rowcoord] [colcoord]=1;
	}

	printf("\n Initial State \n\n");
	printgrid(curgen);
	return numofgen;
	}

 void printgrid(int P[ROW][COLUMN])/* function to print a grid */
 {
   int X;
   int Y;

   for (X=1; X<ROW-1; X++)
   {
	for (Y=1; Y<COLUMN-1; Y++)
	 if ( P[X][Y]==1)
	  printf("%c",'*');
	 else 
	  printf("%c", '-');
	  printf("\n");
   }
 }

 int occ (int curgen[ROW][COLUMN], int R,int C)
 {
   int occupied=0; /* initialized occupied counter to 0 */

   if ( curgen[R-1][C-1]==1) /* if cell is occupied add one to occupied counter */
	  ++occupied;
   if ( curgen[R-1][C]==1)
      ++occupied;
   if ( curgen[R][C+1]==1)
      ++occupied;
   if ( curgen[R+1][C+1]==1)
      ++occupied;
   if ( curgen[R+1][C]==1)
      ++occupied;
   if ( curgen[R+1][C-1]==1)
      ++occupied;
   if ( curgen[R][C-1]==1)
      ++occupied;
   return occupied;
 }

 void generate(int curgen[ROW][COLUMN], int nextgen[ROW][COLUMN])
 {
   int r;
   int c;
   int occupant;
   int born=0;
   int died=0;

   for (r=1; r <= ROW-2; r++)
   { 
	 for (c=1; c<= COLUMN-2; c++)
     {
	  occupant= occ(curgen, r, c);
	 if (curgen[r][c]==1 &&(2<=occupant && occupant <=3))
		nextgen[r][c]=1;
	   else if (curgen[r][c]==1)
	   {
		 nextgen[r][c]=0;
		 died ++;
	   }
	   else if (curgen[r][c]==0 && occupant==3)
	   {
		 nextgen[r][c]=1;
		 born++;
	   }
	   else 
		nextgen[r][c]=0;
	 }
   }
   printf("Number born = %d \t Number died= %d \n \n", born, died);
     printgrid(nextgen);

	 for (r=1; r<= ROW-2;r++)
	 {
	   for (c=1; c<= COLUMN-2; c++)
		curgen[r][c] = nextgen[r][c];
	 }
 }

Putting to use what this newbie knows so far, to correct the output I can figure out some of what i need:

Code:

if (y==0)
{  if (x==0)
   (3 conditions/checks ??)
     if(x==1) ??
    (3 conditions/checks??)
    else 
     (5 conditions/checks??)
    if(y==14)
        ....

         if ( curgen[R-1][C-1]==1) /* if cell is occupied add one to occupied counter */
	  ++occupied;
   if ( curgen[R-1][C]==1)
      ++occupied;
   if ( curgen[R][C+1]==1)
      ++occupied;
   if ( curgen[R+1][C+1]==1)
      ++occupied;
   if ( curgen[R+1][C]==1)
      ++occupied;
   if ( curgen[R+1][C-1]==1)
      ++occupied;
   if ( curgen[R][C-1]==1)
      ++occupied;
   return occupied;
 }

Is the above heading in the right direction?? If so, can anyone help me with the coding and conditions (brain drain has me perplexed). Or is there an easier way I am missing or have not learned yet?? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

There's no curgen[R-1][C+1].