We asked Gaming Istanbul and Indieway Co-Founder Meriç Eryürek our questions about the upcoming event.
Summer is approaching. Gaming Istanbul 2023 Fair or GiST in short, one of the meeting points of Turkish game lovers, is preparing to meet with us for the seventh time this year. We wanted to find out what the event will offer this year by conducting an interview with Gaming Istanbul Co-Founder Meriç Eryürek.
Indieway and Gaming Istanbul Co-Founder Meriç Eryürek Interview
Indieway and Gaming Istanbul Co-Founder Meriç Eryürek Interview
What will Gaming Istanbul offer differently this year compared to previous years?
We are organizing Gaming Istanbul for the seventh time this year. It is an organization that has established content that can meet the expectations of its visitors and even more. Everything that happens in its global competitors is also available in Gaming Istanbul. Therefore, instead of incorporating something new and different into the content of Gaming Istanbul every year, we are focused on giving the best of what is currently offered, but this should not create the perception that we are closed to new and different experiences. We are always open to content that can be meaningful and make a difference, and we follow the world closely.
Last year, with the support of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, we organized the LAN Party area with the largest participation ever established, where players participate in games with their computers and mobile phones, and we plan to continue this year as well. Some of the Indie games that have joined our freelance developer space in the past years are joining with their own venues this year, which is good news for everyone. We may also have a surprise, we are planning a speed run show and live broadcast with one of Turkey’s youngest broadcasters after closing time. Only subscribers of our broadcaster will be able to watch in the area. I think this is a first.
This year, local game developers come to the fore. What advantages were offered for domestic developers?
We continue our tradition of providing free booth space and booths to freelance developers. Our freelance developer teams participating in this field are increasing every year, and this year our number is 36. These teams can also meet with local and foreign investors and professionals at seminars, conferences and business development meetings in the Indieway area, which is exclusive to developers. By becoming a member of Meet to Match, Indieway’s meeting system, you can organize business development meetings and make presentations. We expect to welcome around 2000 professionals this year. In the past years, this number has reached 4000, and it is not surprising that it will reach this year as well.
In addition, we will have a private indoor event with the American Consulate for both developers and academics related to the game industry. To strengthen the Turkish-American investor relations of these events and to ensure the contribution of Turkish academics to the global gaming industry.
Gaming Istanbul
How do you expect participation this year after the pandemic?
We have never fallen below 50,000 visitors except during the pandemic. Of course, the post-election climate will be influential, but I can say that we will meet around 70,000 players. Our target is 100,000 visitors, and this is a realistic target with the number of players and gamers in Turkey.
Who are among the overseas participants?
Aorus, XPpen, Crunchy Roll are our first foreign participants, but our main participant list will be announced in the last week of May, we will announce more brands and companies after the election.
What will the visitors coming to the event this year encounter different from previous years?
Tournaments, of course. Several participating companies and brands are planning tournaments and stage matches that our visitors can attend. Fighting tournament organized by Super Smash Bros.TR & Red Parry will be with us this year as well, this tournament was very popular in 2022. Many of the famous publishers that the players love will be in our area, Pintipanda and Can Sungur will be in the field for three days, and Mehmet Berk Yaltırık and Ömer Faruk Yazıcı are among the names that have been finalized. OT Yazılım, Tekden Film, Next in Game, Steelion studios, 5deniz (eTail.com) will also be with us for the first time this year.
Are there any new games?
All of the games in our free developer area. We already see that some of them will achieve great success in the global market. In addition, we are planning the launch of an action adventure game with the theme of Turkish mythology and Ottoman history. The game we developed as Turkey and Netherlands-based Upgrade Entertainment is a hyper-realistic, fast-paced third person hack & slash-ARPG. We haven’t announced the name yet, we will introduce the game and its first playable part to the global press and industry at Gaming Istanbul.
Gaming Istanbul 2023 tickets www.gamingistanbul.com And www.biletino.com It can be purchased at the address or at the door during the check-in in previous years.