Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (Angoulême, France) - ENJMIN
• Master (Video Games & Interactive Media) | 2022 - 2023
* Game Art Student (Conception Visuelle)
* Dual-Degree Program through Cologne Game Lab
Cologne University of Applied Sciences (Köln, Germany) - Cologne Game Lab
• Master of Arts (Digital Games) | 2021 - 2023
* Game Design Major & Game Programming Minor
* Dual-Degree Program through Cologne Game Lab
Bahçeşehir University (İstanbul, Türkiye) - Faculty of Communication (BUG Lab)
• Bachelor of Arts (Digital Game Design) | 2017 - 2021
* Graduated as the top student (3.87 GPA - High Honor)
Yıldız Teknik University (İstanbul, Türkiye) - Faculty of Electrical & Electronics Engineering
• Bachelor of Science (Computer Engineering) | 2016 - 2017
* Dropped out to pursue Game Design
İpek University (Ankara, Türkiye) - School of Cinematic Arts
• Bachelor of Arts (Digital Game Design) | 2015 - 2016
* University was shut down after the military coup
ENJMIN
ENJMIN
TH Köln
Cologne Game Lab (CGL)
Bahcesehir University
Bahcesehir University Game Lab (BUG)
A SUMMARY OF MY EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY ACROSS CITIES AND COUNTRIES
Erzurum - Ankara - İstanbul - Köln - Angoulême - Poitiers
I've lived and studied in my hometown, a city called Erzurum, in Eastern Anatolia until the age of 18. I've always had an interest in visual media, specifically stories transmitted through that medium. I've always thought that the next big step in storytelling would be through the interactive products, as they are the ones that put me into the experience first-hand and told me a story that could not have been told in any other way.
I knew for a long time that I had to work to create experiences that would leave an impact on people through a medium that has the potential to improve itself and constantly change thanks to its interactive nature. This passion has led me to pursue a field that was not only unpopular but also unknown to people around me.
Despite the circumstances, I managed to have a chance to study my passion thanks to Digital Game Design becoming a bachelor's program for the first time in Turkey the year I graduated high school.
İpek University was one of the two universities that started bachelor's studies for video games in Turkey. I managed to secure a place with full scholarship as one of the first bachelor's students studying "video games" as a profession in the country. The number of first-year students during the first semester in our university was three.
During the first summer break, a military coup happened. The university was shut down as a result, and many students had no choice but to transfer to different universities. Like many other students, I had to study a different profession.
In my case, it was Computer Engineering. I have a math-science background, but I've always been interested in video games and interactive storytelling. I was craving for creative work, so I realized that it would be worth it if I prepared for YGS-LYS (university entrance exams in Turkey at the time) again. After doing just that, I applied to Bahçeşehir University and got accepted with full scholarship.
I have graduated from Bahçeşehir University at the top of my class, and I was the third most successful student in our faculty.
'words' began its development as my graduation project during my bachelors studies, and it was selected as one of the best indie games of Indieway June.
After graduation, I applied to Cologne Game Lab (CGL) in Germany to pursue my masters.
While I was in CGL, 'words' was nominated for 'Young Talent - Best Prototype' in the German Computer Game Awards. I've also had the chance to give a technical workshop teaching a class of students how to make story-driven games as a solo developer in Unreal Engine.
During my studies there, I've found out that there was a chance to join a Dual-Degree program that would allow me to have two masters degrees.
Upon learning that the partner university was in France, I immediately wanted to take the chance. Since I'm more interested in cinematic storytelling, I believed that France would have more opportunities for me in that regard. After studying for a year in Germany, I moved to France to study the second year of my masters.
Through an event that happened in Angoulême, as a team of four students from Germany and France, we have managed to secure investment for an environmental game by pitching a concept we have created in a day. The event was "Franco-German Innovation Jam" by SpielFabrique.
During my first semester in ENJMIN, I was working on a team project (10 students) and was responsible for the Cinematics, Level Art, and the trailer. I've also attended three workshops that put me into teams comprised of students from different universities and specialties creating various projects related to topics such as accessibility, education, and co-operation.
The last semester of my masters was the mandatory internship. I was a Game Developer intern at the University of Poitiers. My responsibility was to create educational games for teaching students to use in their classrooms. I also gave a workshop to high school and university students related to one of the projects.
Currently, I'm a graduate from three different universities (one bachelor, two masters) who has studied almost all aspects of video game production, academical and practical. I'm a multi-disciplinary solo game developer, but my focus is on cinematic arts and storytelling within video games.
