Çakir AkerDeputy Head Of Department - Digital Game Design, Bahçeşehir Üniversitesi

Psychology in Game Design

Human psychology and games were always interconnected. Playing a game in its essence is an experience, and thus is affected by the player’s mental state and perception. Making better games means creating better experiences. To create a better experience design, one should also understand the human mind. Analyzing game experiences, understanding the gamer’s mind and following ever-improving heuristics along the way is a positive step forward for the game design field and can not be ignored in the future of games. After all, the experience is in your mind!

Çakir Aker is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Faculty of Communication, Department of Digital Game Design in Bahcesehir University, Turkey and as the coordinator of Bahcesehir University Game Lab. He has a Ph.D. in Media and Communication Studies (2018) from Galatasaray University, an M.Sc. (2010) from University of Pompeu Fabra, an M.B.A. (2008) from Bahcesehir University and a B.A. in Advertisement (2005) from Bahcesehir University. His research areas include gamification, interaction design, player experience, and user experience. Aker has working experience in advertising and teaching experience in the areas of interaction design, user/game experience, player psychology and gamification.