Digital Game Design

The main purpose of university education is; to develop universal sensitivity, problem-solving skills and critical thinking. Acting with the motto of universality and flexibility, our University offers its students a wide range of elective courses, giving them the chance to go further by choosing the field of specialization they want, and trains creative individuals who will be pioneers in their field, who can produce works in accordance with international standards.

PROGRAM

The Digital Game Design Undergraduate Program aims to provide qualified human resources to the sector and to achieve success both locally and globally by creating creative and innovative projects and teams. This program, which offers all stages of game production both theoretically and practically, to anyone whose dream is to design a game, creates the opportunity for its students to realize their goals in a global sector. In the light of an interdisciplinary approach, the Digital Game Design Undergraduate Program not only brings together the fields of software, art and design, but also offers an interdisciplinary study environment throughout our university, especially the Faculty of Engineering and Education. Bahçeşehir University Game Laboratory (BUG) established in 2012 within the Faculty of Communication and Game Design Master Program (Master BUG) opened under the Social Sciences Institute, European game scene activity center BUG Berlin, virtual reality laboratory VR First BAU and finally in 2022. BUG Lab TEKMER formations, which are the state-supported (KOSGEB) incubation and technology center specific to the game industry, which started to operate, directly contribute to the program. Graduates of the program; game designer, game developer, game visual artist, Students take almost all kinds of basic courses in the field of game design, and they also have the chance to specialize in the following stages with the various elective courses offered. Thanks to the events and seminars organized throughout the education process, students who gain both knowledge and experience learn to act together with the sector at the education stage.

LABORATORIES

Thanks to BUG Kitchen and VR First BAU areas, students can observe the most up-to-date approaches and benefit from the facilities of the laboratories to realize their own projects. At the same time, thanks to the computer laboratories updated with the latest technology, they have the opportunity to easily carry out all necessary technical and design studies. In addition, they can apply to BUG Lab TEKMER with their game projects and be pre-incubated while they are still students, and they can corporate their initiatives with the mentorships they receive in the following stages. MISSION Bahçeşehir University Department of Digital Game Design is the field of play, which is becoming increasingly widespread all over the world and will maintain its place among the entertainment and creative industries for a long time, with the inquiring, problem-solving and decision-making ability, adaptable to global conditions, experienced, technical and theoretical knowledge. aims to train game designers.

DIGITAL GAME DESIGN DEPARTMENT OBJECTIVES FOR STUDENTS

• They specialize in game design and development in the ever-evolving digital environment.
• They develop works that can contribute to the world of game design in a global sense.
• They create value in a global competitive environment by using technology and technical knowledge and skills effectively.
• They aim to take the field further by taking a qualified and leading role in the field of game design.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

1) To understand the conceptual importance of the game in the field of communication and to gain the ability to make design-oriented applications that put the player in the center.

2) To be able to analyze, synthesize and evaluate information and ideas from various perspectives.

3) To be able to analyze the basic elements that make up the game genres, forms of interaction and expression and understand how they are used to create a successful game.

4) Understanding and using game design theories and methodologies in game development; to make entertaining, attractive, inclusive and educational games according to the target audience.

5) To understand the technologies and informatics fundamentals used in game development; Mastering the use of game engines.

6) To understand the player experience, to grasp the measurement theories and methodologies and to benefit from this information in the game production process.

7) To be able to promote a video game to players, investors and publishers; To have a good grasp of marketing in order to effectively communicate the emerging game idea or game's features and potential commercial gains.

8) To master the process of creating 2D and 3D characters and animations in games.

9) Understanding how games convey an idea, a message and an emotion through design, and making use of this information in the game production process.

10) To be able to manage the game design and development process by making the necessary documentation; to be able to follow the game production line with this documentation.

11) the structure and working styles of game development teams; to understand the responsibilities and cooperation methods of team members and to apply them in practice.

12) To be able to comprehend and put into practice the publishing process of a game other than development at industry standards.

ADVANTAGES OF BEING FROM BAHÇEŞEHİR

I) Our university's Galata Campus is in a very advantageous location and has a very strong structure with its faculty members who are well-known in their fields. The department, which was brought to life by opening the first graduate program in Turkey, is progressing with a very strong academic staff specialized in the field of games.

II) Thanks to Bahçeşehir University Game Laboratory (BUG Lab), students can produce works side by side with the sector and participate in many different seminars and/or events that are closed to outside access. In this way, students can both benefit from the knowledge and experience of industry professionals who are experts in their fields, and also have the chance to get to know many distinguished game design companies personally.

III) Bahcesehir University is the only university in Turkey with a registered university and campus abroad from those countries. Currently, the sister universities of our university, Berlin International Germany, are in Berlin and Bay Atlantic.USA is located in Washington. Both universities have campuses and facilities in these cities. There is also an English language school in Washington. The programs of Bahçeşehir Istanbul and its sister universities are completely compatible with each other. With this structure, BAU Global is the only university that allows students to complete their education not only in Turkey, but also in the two most important centers of the world, such as the EU and the USA. Bahçeşehir University is working on expanding this system to other countries, especially Hong-Kong, in the near future. Apart from this, Bahçeşehir University has student exchange agreements with more than 50 universities in the world, and our students can also benefit from the Erasmus program if they wish.

IIII) Bahçeşehir University is the first university in Turkey to realize university-industry cooperation in real terms. This cooperation is carried out within the framework of the COOP program. Senior executives of the real sector company or bank that we have agreed upon within the framework of the COOP program come to the university for one semester (14 weeks), teach the students how to do things in their own companies, and take the students to their own companies for ten site (on-site) teaching. Before graduating, Bahçeşehir student has a wide knowledge about how things are done in the game industry. Currently, there are many well-known game design studios among the companies with which our department has a COOP agreement.

IV) Thanks to the BUG Laboratory within our university, independent game developers, industry and students can come together. Thanks to this roof structure, students are not content with what they have learned in the lessons, but also improve their learning processes through real studies. Thanks to this structure, which is not found in other universities and which was introduced for the first time in Turkey thanks to Bahçeşehir University, students can start life as qualified and leading experts.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Our Career Center helps graduate students find a job. Our graduates; they have the opportunity to take charge in various positions such as game designer, game developer, game visual artist, game producer, game project manager, game screenwriter, game sound designer, game economy expert in many national or international game design studios. They can also set up their own game studios. Bahçeşehir University offers students a number of important advantages in finding a job in the future, as mentioned above. These: Opportunity to have one-to-one contact with the real sector and its senior executives while still studying, due to the COOP program Opportunity to work in the sector at the same time while studying during the semester thanks to the Joint Education Model (OEM) International experience from completing part of the training abroad (Berlin International-Germany or Bay Atlantic-USA) Gaining a strong infrastructure thanks to both theoretical and practical training. Thanks to the links between BUG Lab and the industry, it is possible to follow the dynamics in the industry.