Game On Hackathon
As part of the multiplier event of our Erasmus+ project DIGIAGE Development and Coding Academy 2021-2-TR01-KA220-YOU-000051441, we successfully held a hackathon event. The event garnered significant interest from foreign participants from our partner countries. Participants were distributed into different groups, allowing them to form new collaborations and friendships.
The Game On Hackathon brought together young game developers, fostering the creation of creative ideas and innovative projects. The event saw 95 physical and 24 online participants, forming a total of 26 teams, which presented 23 game projects.
Throughout the hackathon, participants showcased their creativity and skills, producing impressive projects. A group focused on raising awareness within the gaming ecosystem achieved great success by winning the social impact award. This award highlights not only the technical excellence of their projects but also the positive contributions they make to society.
Award Winning Presentations:
- First Place : Lodom Creations Team
- Second Place: Pattern Game Studio and Team Phobos
- Third Place: Loopify Games and CatBit Games
- Honorable Mentions: Voidverse, Can Barı 2, and PEK İYİCE
- Social Impact Award: Team 20
The participants were selected through an elimination process, which increased their motivation and skills. It was emphasized by the participating teams that the main motivation of this event was to showcase their potential and their games, making them candidates for the DIGIAGE Incubation Program. This allowed teams to present their current status and past skills while demonstrating their potential. Five teams were identified as having high potential as a result of the camp. Other participating teams will have the opportunity to focus on their development areas and increase this potential.
Computer Games and Transformation of the Industry:
Participants mainly focused on creating computer games, indicating a shift in both the industry's and participants' mentality. This transformation will lead to changes in the industry’s needs, which will be addressed through the Game School and mentorship programs.
Industry Awareness and Preparation for the Future:
Participants increased their industry awareness by seeing the level and focus of their peers' work. They could identify their own strengths and weaknesses in their current status. We believe this will prepare them better for the next camp. The fact that teams that had laid the groundwork in previous camps are now at a level where they can produce products shows that the work being done is correct. In the future, it is aimed to provide support to teams at every stage based on their specific needs.
Mentorship and Future Support:
Teams included in the DIGIAGE Incubation Program will take on mentorship roles in future camps, providing support to participants who were in their shoes a year ago. This will facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experience, encouraging new participants to progress more quickly.
The Game On Hackathon provided young game developers with a platform to introduce themselves and their projects, showcasing their potential for the future. We believe that such events will make significant contributions to the future of the game development industry.
