Göbeklitepe Past-is-Future Game Jam: The Sandbox, Bug Game Lab, and Bahçeşehir University Collaboration

The ‘Göbeklitepe Past-is-Future’ Game Jam event, organized in collaboration between The Sandbox, Bug Game Lab, and Bahçeşehir University, brought a breath of fresh air to the developer world. This exciting event took place at the BAU Galata campus, hosting a intensive 48-hour game development marathon where 250 participants came together, using The Sandbox’s free Game Maker and VoxEdit software.

Pushing the Boundaries of Creativity with 52 Game Experiences

Participants interpreting Göbeklitepe with different gamification approaches under the motto ‘zero point of history’ also contributed rich content to the international promotion of Göbeklitepe in the metaverse. Throughout the Game Jam, students unleashed their imaginative powers by utilizing The Sandbox’s Game Maker and VoxEdit tools to design and develop their own experiences. The resulting 52 game experiences were unique and impressive projects that pushed the boundaries of participants’ creativity.

Voting and Self-Publishing: Experiences Opening Up to the World

On November 12, 2023, following the Jury voting, 10 outstanding experiences were identified as winners. Additionally, a second prize pool was allocated for teams continuing to enhance their game experiences during the one-week period provided to participants. At the end of this one-week period, 12 different teams refining their game experiences resulted in the creation of 12 distinct gaming experiences.

During the Self-Publishing process, these experiences will be presented for a global vote in The Sandbox’s Turkishverse domain. Participants will have the excitement of sharing their creations with the world.

The Sandbox and Turkishverse: The Future of Digital Experiences

The upcoming Self-Publishing process, as part of the Game Jam, will encompass experiences created by students in The Sandbox’s Turkishverse domain. These experiences, by opening the doors to the metaverse world, will empower Turkish youth to take a step forward in the digital realm.

The Göbeklitepe Past-is-Future Game Jam is not just a game development event but also stands as a platform that brings Turkey’s young talents to the global stage. The collaboration between The Sandbox, Bug Game Lab, and Bahçeşehir University stands out as a crucial step in laying the foundations of the future digital world.

Interview with BAU X BUG Lab: Gamifying Göbeklitepe

Prior to the event, we conducted an interview with Bahçeşehir University’s Game Laboratory “BUG Lab.” Here are their views on Game Jam and The Sandbox collaboration:

Why Did BUG Lab Decide to Host Game Jam?

BUG Lab, having organized numerous game jam events since its establishment in 2011, has learned a lot from game development marathons. Recognized for its research on creating cultural heritage experiences, the lab chose to organize a game jam on “Göbeklitepe.”

What Prompted Their Interest in The Sandbox?

BUG Lab has always been interested in new technologies and production methods, not only with BAU game design students but also by sharing with Istanbul game development communities. Their collaboration with The Sandbox provided a unique experience in entering blockchain-based gaming worlds.

Potential Seen for Developers in The Sandbox?

BUG Lab emphasizes that The Sandbox is a platform that allows game developers to both develop and publish games. They believe that living the processes of meeting communities, receiving feedback on projects, and earning income in an egalitarian system is an important opportunity for game developers.

Impressions from Game Jam Results?

BUG Lab observed that participants quickly adapted to The Sandbox environment and successfully produced various projects. They express optimism about the games produced in the 48-hour marathon.

Plans with The Sandbox for 2024?

BUG Lab aims to explore both production tools and the limits of The Sandbox by organizing game jams on different themes. Additionally, they plan to bring experiences aimed at creating social impact to life in The Sandbox environment and circulate them. Finally, they aspire to incorporate The Sandbox platform into BAU game design undergraduate and graduate programs.

BAU Digital Game Design Department Head and BUG Lab TEKMER Manager Güven Çatak:

The Sandbox “Göbeklitepe” Game Jam was a very special first for BUG Lab. It was a fun and effective start not only in terms of exploring a blockchain-based game universe in terms of both production and sharing, but also in terms of revitalizing our world-famous cultural heritage such as Göbeklitepe with a new generation of communication, that is, games, and turning it into digital experiences.

The Sandbox Turkey Head of Growth Arslan Kiran:

As The Sandbox Turkey, one of our primary objectives is to successfully promote Turkey’s globally renowned values on The Sandbox, the largest metaverse platform on a global scale. In this context, the Göbeklitepe Game Jam project stands as one of the initial steps in achieving this mission. Bahçeşehir University and the BUG Lab ecosystem share the same motivation with us, bringing together more than 200 developers in this project. Soon, we will continue to witness similar projects on The Sandbox Turkishverse map.

You can visit our website to review game experiences in The Sandbox Turkishverse.