Games for Change and Bahçeşehir University Game Laboratory Expand Global Reach with Launch of New International Chapter in Türkiye

Games for Change :

NEW YORK and ISTANBUL (June 11, 2024) Today, Games for Change (G4C) and Bahçeşehir University Game Laboratory (BUG Lab), education and incubation hub for İstanbul-based indie game developers, announce the newest Games for Change Europe chapter in Türkiye. This expansion marks a significant milestone in G4C’s mission to foster positive social change through innovative and impactful gaming experiences. 

The launch of the Türkiye chapter represents a strategic move to further extend G4C’s global community of people and organizations passionate about leveraging games for social good. With Türkiye‘s growing gaming industry and its burgeoning community of developers, educators and advocates, G4C is excited to collaborate with local partners to harness the transformative potential of games for addressing pressing societal issues. The new chapter is G4C’s fifth chapter, following established chapters in Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia Pacific, and a growing community in the Middle East and North Africa.

“Our partnership with Bahçeşehir University Game Laboratory is the key to the growth of Games for Change’s global community in Türkiye. This is an exciting moment for Games for Change with growing interest in impact gaming around the globe, and we’re looking forward to working with BUG Lab to support the gaming sector in Türkiye and raise awareness of how games can be used to drive real-world change,” said Susanna Pollack, President at Games for Change. 

“It is a great opportunity not just for Türkiye, but also for the region. These days, we need the common language of games to overcome prejudgements, raise awareness and build empathy for a better future.” said Dr. Güven Çatak, Founder Director of BUG Lab.

The local chapter is hosting a press meeting on June 13 at Bahçeşehir University at the opening of the BUG Lab Incubation Center’s Demo Day. The press meeting will introduce Games for Change and BUG Lab’s work at the intersection of games and impact, and share a preview of what is to come from the partnership in Istanbul, including plans for a Game for Change festival in Türkiye.

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Media Contacts

For Games for Change: For BUG Lab:
Nicole Loher, McPherson Strategies  Güven Çatak, Bahçeşehir University
[email protected]   [email protected]

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About Games for Change (G4C)
Since 2004, Games For Change (G4C) has empowered game creators and innovators to drive real-world change using games and immersive media that help people learn, improve their communities, and contribute to making the world a better place. G4C partners with technology and gaming companies, nonprofits, and government agencies, to run world-class events, public arcades, design challenges, and youth programs. G4C supports a global community of game developers using games to tackle real-world challenges, from humanitarian conflicts to climate change and education. 

About Bahçeşehir University Game Laboratory (BUG Lab)
Bahçeşehir University Game Laboratory (BUG Lab) was established as a community center for Istanbul-based indie game developers in 2011. Powered by game jams and bootcamps, BUG Lab immediately became a meeting point for not just the indies but also for the other stakeholders of the rising game scene. Based on this synergy and energy, BUG Lab started the first master and undergraduate game design programs in Türkiye and created a sandbox environment both for education and production. Now with its more or less 700 students and government-funded incubation hub “TEKMER”, BUG Lab still serves as the biggest talent pool and the only academic accelerator for the Turkish gaming industry.