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Press release:
As announced today in Istanbul at the Kristal Piksel Turkish Video Game Awards 2015, Turkey is the partner country of gamescom 2016. The organiser Koelnmesse GmbH and the industry sponsor, the BIU – The German Trade Association of Interactive Entertainment Software – signed the contract for the partnership with the Turkish Game Developers Association (TOGED) and the ODTU Teknokent. After France, the Nordic countries and the United Kingdom came under the spotlight of the world’s largest trade fair and event highlight for digital games in recent years, the organiser is now focusing its attention on the Eurasian region. Turkey will present itself as the partner country of gamescom from 17 to 21 August 2016 at the world’s largest trade fair and event highlight for computer and video games in Cologne.

“With its growing gaming culture and very young population structure, Turkey is an attractive market for the gaming industry with future prospects. This partnership will enable us to open up new paths to this still young market for our exhibitors. We are delighted that we have won Turkey as the partner country of gamescom 2016,” commented Katharina C. Hamma, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse.

“The Turkish market for computer and video games has shown very positive development over the past years and is experiencing particularly strong growth in the areas of online games and mobile games. A still young, but very well organised national developer scene underlines this trend. With Turkey as the partner country, we are delighted to be able to present one of the most dynamic gaming markets to the international audience at gamescom 2016,” explained Dr. Maximilian Schenk, Executive Director of the BIU.

“The Turkish game market offers enormous development and growth potential. Turkish game development industry doubled its size in 2015, and with great support from Turkish government we expect this success to continue in 2016. Being the partner country of gamescom is an important step for us towards raising international awareness. That’s why we are very much looking forward to the forthcoming cooperation”, confirmed Ali Erkin, Chairman of TOGED.

TOGED is a relatively young association, which was established in 2014 by leading Turkish game development studios. Formerly named DOGED, the association has been granted rights to use Turkey’s name and represent its industry by Turkish government recently. The association aims to accelerate technical, social and economic improvement of Turkish game industry and development.

Being the first and the most innovative technology park of Turkey, ODTU TEKNOKENT’s goal is to provide contemporary infrastructure and superstructure to the researchers and companies that develop and produce the technologies which will elevate the international competitiveness of the country. ODTU TEKNOKENT houses more than 320 companies, employing more than 5.000 personnel, with 125.000 square meters of closed area reserved for R&D operations.

In addition to further Turkish companies such as setimedia and Taleworlds Entertainment, DOGED and ODTÜ TEKNOKENT were also represented at gamescom 2015.