Strong Interest from the Gaming Industry in “Zone Talks 3.0” at BAU

The “Zone Talks 3.0” event, organized by BUG Zone Game Development Club at Bahçeşehir University (BAU), brought together digital gaming enthusiasts. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güven Çatak, Director of BAU BUG Lab TEKMER, stated that “Zone Talks 3.0,” which received nearly 1,400 applications, has evolved from a student club activity into a professional industry gathering that meets international standards.

The BAU Campus Convention Center in Beşiktaş hosted “Zone Talks 3.0,” bringing together professionals from the gaming industry, independent developers, and students under one roof. Organized by the BUG Zone Game Development Club under the BAU Student Dean’s Office, the event featured well-known figures from the gaming industry and academics from Türkiye and abroad. Young game developers had the opportunity to showcase their projects at dedicated booths, while companies introduced their products and services. Approximately 1,000 people attended the event, where participants were able to experience the projects developed by emerging game creators.

Zone Talks 3.0 provided a platform for students, developers, and industry professionals to connect and network. Professionals from companies such as Rollic, Larian Studios, 11 bit studios, and Paradox Interactive participated in the event. Panels featuring the creators of hit games such as Liar’s Bar and Carry The Glass covered topics including AAA game development, Türkiye’s indie game ecosystem, content creation, and the mobile gaming industry.

1,366 REGISTRATIONS AND HIGH-QUALITY PARTICIPATION

Speaking at the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güven Çatak, Director of BAU BUG Lab TEKMER, stated that Zone Talks 3.0 clearly demonstrated the level that Türkiye’s gaming ecosystem has reached. Çatak noted that out of the 1,366 individuals who registered for the event, 846 attended, emphasizing that participation was strong not only in terms of numbers but also in quality.

Highlighting the importance of the event as a platform for independent developers to showcase their digital game projects, Çatak said, “The event once again revealed how mature Türkiye’s independent game development scene has become. The interaction created among students, professionals, and entrepreneurs was one of the most valuable outcomes of the event.”

AN INDUSTRY GATHERING AT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

Çatak stated that the scale and organizational quality achieved by the event in its third year had elevated Zone Talks to an international standard. He said:

“The strong and high-quality participation at the third edition of Zone Talks, held at BAU, demonstrated that the event has successfully evolved from a student club initiative into a professional industry gathering that meets international standards. The sustainable growth of such platforms will further strengthen the global position of Türkiye’s gaming industry.”

‘THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE EVENT TO DATE’

Elif Azra Murat, President of the BUG Zone Game Development Club, stated that they had anticipated strong participation and said, “This year’s ‘Zone Talks 3.0’ became one of the most comprehensive events in our community’s history. Panels, talks, networking opportunities, portfolio review sessions, and the ‘Indie Showcase’ area featuring 30 independent development teams brought together numerous professionals and students from the gaming industry.”

Murat also emphasized the significance of hosting internationally recognized brands such as Larian Studios, 11 bit studios, and Paradox Interactive, as well as leading representatives of Türkiye’s gaming sector, including Rollic, TaleWorlds Entertainment, Curve Animation, and Core Engage.