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TechCamp Istanbul, hosted by Bahçeşehir University Game Lab (BUG) in cooperation with U.S. Consulate General Istanbul brought game developers together. In the event at BAU Game Lab, a basis was formed for world problems such as Climate Change, Empowering Women, Media Literacy, and Fighting with Misinformation with the “Games for Change” motto.
In addition to trainings by nongovernmental organizations and experts, there was also ideation where game ideas can be produced and presented. After camp, teams turned their ideas into prototypes by continuing to work and they presented them again.
TechCamp Istanbul 2022 continued for three days. It consisted of hands-on, participant-driven workshops that bring technologists of the private sector together with journalists, nongovernmental organizations, and civil society advocates to search and find innovative, technological solutions to global problems. Thus, with the support of the US Government, young people who will work in the game industry will be supported through Bahçeşehir University (BAU). TechCamp was the biggest “Games for Change” event in Turkey with its capacity. It was aimed to show how games can be a tool for powerful dialogue and empathy.
The opening program was attended by Ankara US Ambassador Jeffry L. Flake, US Consul General Daria Darnell, US Istanbul Consulate Cultural Attaché Dave Panetti, Bahçeşehir University (BAU) Rector Prof. Dr. Şirin Karadeniz, BAU Global President Enver Yücel, and BAU Communication Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Hasan Kemal Suher. Speaking at the program, Ambassador Jeffry L. Flake said, “We are very happy with this program and this partnership. We have taken an important step in terms of how we will use and demonstrate technology and innovation. Seeing that this school hosts students from more than 100 countries, I am happy to see that the war will decrease and our children will learn to live with each other.”
US Istanbul Consulate General Cultural Attaché Dave Panetti said that “As the US Istanbul Consulate General, we are very pleased to cooperate with Bahçeşehir University within the framework of the TechCamp event. The fact that young people produce result-oriented games that address the serious problems facing the world proves that games are a great tool for empathy and dialogue."
BAU Global President Enver Yücel said, “We are in a period when the paradigms of education need to change. Now we will teach our children the truth through games. We will start to tell even the most important issues of the world with the game. We will teach children the truth through games from the age of 3-4. Because nowadays, games are more attractive than reading encyclopedias. I would also like to thank the United States Embassy for doing this work together in Turkey," he said.
Bahçeşehir University Game Laboratory (BUG Lab) Director Dr. Instructor Member Güven Çatak said, “In addition to the trainings to be received from TechCamp, Non-Governmental Organizations and experts; It also includes an idea marathon where game ideas will be produced and presented. After the camp, the teams will continue to work, turning their ideas into prototypes and presenting them again. With TechCamp, which will be the biggest 'Games for Change' event held in this context in Turkey, we aim to show how powerful a dialogue and empathy tool games can be.”
Stating that with the realized program, three projects selected as the best demo will be supported, Dr. Instructor Member Güven Çatak added: “The game industry is at the forefront of the printer industry right now. It is an industry with a turnover of approximately two hundred billion. It has an incredible target audience. Everyone from seven to seventy is playing games. In fact, in this sense, games are always in our lives. In other words, they are included in us both in daily life and education. So we can convey a lot of messages with games. We can establish many dialogues and bring many new thoughts, awareness. Especially in this period, there are so many problems in the world. With these games to our children; we can bring in new ideas, approaches, awareness of world issues. On this occasion, our children can respect and empathize with different opinions.”
TR
