Programmers find chance to shine

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

AP photo

Young Turks will have an opportunity to display their ability in computer-game development when a top Ankara university hosts the Turkish leg of a worldwide next month, according to a school official.

“Our purpose is to show Turkey’s talents to the world, which is why we are searching for talented young brains,” Ankara’s Middle East Technical University Technokent Animation Technologies and Game Development Center (METUTECH – ATOM) Director Emek Barış Kepenek said. As part of the Turkish leg of the “Global Game Jam 2012” competition, young programmers will be given 48 hours to develop a computer game.

Although game development requires a lot of patience and labor, Turkey could have a real say in the sector thanks to the country’s young population, he said.

The goal of Global Game Jam, now in its fourth year, is for people to develop entertaining computer games with individuals they have never met before. “The most important side of this event is that young people from around Turkey will come together and show their talent to the world,” Kapenek said.

According to Kepenek, 167 centers from 44 countries participated in the competition in 2011 with over 6,500 people developing more than 900 games. “Some 62 Turkish people joined the 48-hour marathon and developed 18 games. One of the groups went on to develop their game further and put it on the market.”

He said Global Game Jam would simultaneously be taking place in different countries between Jan. 27 and 29, 2012.