T3 Podcast | Güven Çatak - Gaming Experience Across Different Fields

In this article, we examine the interview conducted with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güven Çatak, Founding Director of the Game Laboratory at Başkent University, on the T3 Podcast. The conversation delves deeply into Türkiye’s rising game industry, technological adaptation, and career opportunities for young people.

Güven Çatak notes that Türkiye’s game industry has gained significant momentum in recent years. Particularly after 2010, the rapid growth in mobile gaming made the sector attractive to investors and young talent. The achievement of Turkish companies such as Peak Games and Dream Games in attaining “unicorn” status—valued at over one billion dollars—is cited as the most concrete evidence of this success. Çatak emphasizes that Türkiye is now one of the key players in the global gaming arena.

Çatak highlights that Turkish game developers have rapidly adapted to emerging technologies such as Metaverse and Virtual Reality (VR). However, he points out that while access to these technologies has become easier, there remains a deficiency in “know-how” or experience accumulation. He stresses that this gap must be addressed through academic and professional education.

The primary driver of Türkiye’s success in the gaming sector has been mobile games, due to their rapid return on investment and strong appeal to investors. Çatak explains that mobile games are data-driven, marketing-oriented, and produced more quickly. In contrast, PC and console games involve longer development cycles, resemble creative industries in structure, and prioritize intellectual property. He notes that the momentum gained through mobile games is now being extended to PC and console game development in Türkiye.

Güven Çatak offers the following advice to young people seeking careers in the gaming industry:

• Be Multidisciplinary: Do not limit yourself to technical knowledge; also follow psychology, sociology, and societal trends.
• Have the Right Perception: The gaming industry is not a place where one becomes rich quickly like an “American dream”; it demands hard work and accumulated expertise.
• Build Communication Skills: Since game development is a team effort, prioritize social interaction and develop strong communication abilities.
• Do Not Fear Experimentation: Instead of focusing solely on one large project, create small games to learn and remain open to feedback.

Türkiye’s gaming industry is a rapidly expanding field, driven by its dynamic structure and the interest of its young population. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güven Çatak underscores that the future of this sector depends on investments in experience accumulation, technological adaptation, and high-quality human resources.