Abstract:

Since Bahçeşehir University Game Lab aka BUG was founded in 2012, it became the community center of indie game scene in İstanbul. After two years, a graduate program on game design is established with the experience and network coming from the events such as game jams, bootcamps and masterclasses organized by BUG which was the first step of an upcoming structure. Now, besides the master program, BUG includes an undergraduate program, a pre-incubation sandbox, a virtual reality (VR) lab and a production atelier. This paper is focusing on how dynamics and mechanics of a game development community center helped to flourish a game design curriculum for graduate and undergraduate programs.

Like every design field, game design education is also a black hole. With the hyperjumps in technology and changing player profiles, it is becoming more and more ambiguous and ambitious. However different from the other design fields, game design has a community advantage which has its roots in gaming and demoscene subcultures. Following those roots, 'indie' game developer scene was established and it continues to stay alive still with the community activities and support in İstanbul. Both the components of those activities and processes of a casual game design inspired BUG to come up with a game plan for an academic curriculum and a sandbox environment.

In this paper, community mechanics and dynamics such as game jams and meet-ups and their integration to the game design education will be analyzed and discussed throughout the many events BUG organized so far which has already become case studies. Similarities to Bauhaus system will open a door from past to future and bring new questions besides those new experiments and experiences. Connected to that approach, contribution of game design components like playtesting and iteration will also be emphasized and ways of gamifying an academic program even it is game design will be searched throughout the study.

Keywords:

Game Community, Incubation Space, Game Design Education, Game Design Process.