TURKEY WILL PRODUCE ITS OWN GAMES!
Computer games became a must of daily life as smart phones and tablets stepped in. According to the report by Turkish Digital Games Federation (TUDOF), over 1 billion people worldwide are playing digital games and the size of the industry is about 75 billion dollars. And Turkey takes part in this large pie as a consumer only. Izmir University of Economics (IUE), who wanted to reverse the process, broke new ground. Very soon, the industry will have university graduate game developers.
Students, who want to develop their own games, are studying at Computer Games Option Program being offered within Izmir University of Economics Computer Engineering and Software Engineering. Asst. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Akcan, Coordinator of IUE Computer Games Option Program stated that computer games industry had a bigger budget than Hollywood movies, and they guided young people to become producers rather than consumers for the first time in Turkey as part of a higher education program at an undergraduate level.
‘Grandparents play games, too’
Asst. Prof. Dr. Akcan stressed out that digital game industry would be one of the rapidly growing industries in the forthcoming period and Turkey had a serious potential in that field. Asst. Prof. Dr. Akcan, who pointed out the power of developing computer games free of capital, stated the following:
“It has been reported that the number of digital gamers in Turkey is approximately 22 million. Not only are the young people playing games in our country. As the tablets entered homes, older people started to play games as well. Gaming budget depends on computer and your skills. It doesn’t have a high cost. When you start the game you connect with the world. When you say, ‘I will make a car’ it is difficult, but when you say, ‘I will write a game’ you have a fair chance for competition with overseas. Our students are already experts at gaming. We guide them how to design games, how to put it in action. They benefit from the agenda as well. They are able to direct current events into games. Our purpose is to direct our students from computer games industry, which will even develop further, to creativity, to generate value added. We offer future game developers well-equipped education with the entire necessary infrastructure.”
‘Game adventure begins in 3rd grade’
Asst. Prof. Dr. Akcan stated that students at Departments of Computer Engineering and Software Engineering were able to apply for Computer Games Option Program, which offers 7 different courses, when they are in 3rd grade. Students were to develop 4 different games and complete their thesis by developing a game. Akcan said that IUE Computer Games Option Program offered courses as Computer Graphics, Advanced Game Development, Artificial Intelligence in Computer Games, Network Programming in Computer Games, 3D Modelling and 3D Animation in Computer Games.
“Students develop their own games”
Asst. Prof. Dr. Gazihan Alankuş, Lecturer at IUE Department of Computer Engineering, stated that students could launch their own companies when they graduated as a result of the education they received, or work at a gaming company if they preferred. Alankuş said, “Our students are able to work with people in different fields efficiently and in harmony. They have good command of the entire gaming process when they graduate.”
‘Rapid increase of Poopy Chico’
Asst. Prof. Dr. Alankuş stated that they uploaded the games they developed within their projects on the department’s website first, and then the students provided them to the android markets. Alankuş stated the following:
“The game ‘Poopy Chico’, developed by the students, has been downloaded over 12 thousand times and the number is increasing each passing day. The students need to upload the games they develop to such markets. The game is being played by independent players for one month, while the reviews about the game come in, and final touches are made. Izmir University of Economics trains well-equipped game developers ready for the industry.”
