The world is full of accomplished expats who succeed at bringing acclaim and glory to not one but more than one country. Few have done more for their adopted countries than Mario, Italian American immigrant of Japanese citizenship, naturalized resident of the Mushroom Kingdom, adventurer, brawler, castle besieger, occasional medical professional, and abusive animal trainer. In honor of Mario, expat extraordinaire, it’s time again to celebrate video gaming at the third annual GIST (Gaming Istanbul) 2018 fair.
This year’s fair will take place again at the Istanbul Congress Center from February 1st to 4th. Visitors can expect to see most of the biggest names in global gaming to be well represented, such as Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo. Stand in line to play old school titles like Smash Bros. or jump into lan sessions of whatever big-budget DOTA2/LOL knock-off some company is promoting. 2017’s event featured at least 3 MOBA titles that were distinguishable by their increasingly uninspired names (Strike of Kings won my personal award for English-language title most likely decided on by someone who doesn’t speak English).
2017’s fair showcased a big pre-launch release for Playstation’s Horizon Zero Dawn, which has earned a fair share of 2017’s game of the year awards. Expect upcoming games for Nintendo’s Switch, 2017’s smashing console success, to receive a lot of attention this year.
Major local players like Türkcell and Bahçeşehir University’s Game Kitchen will be representing the Turkish gaming industry, which ranges from traditional board gaming to mobile and VR platforms. Turkish indie gamers will also be present in a dedicated area of the exhibition space to show off their passion projects. Members of the public can test their game projects and talk with them about their development experiences. You might even see a Yabangee contributor showing off their VR project.
More than an exhibition of gaming, GIST is one of Istanbul’s rare opportunities for the cosplay crowd to come out in full force. The first day of the fair is particularly well known for the variety and ingenuity of the costumes. Admittedly, cosplayers are far younger in Turkey than they are in places like the US and Europe and their inspirations are drawn from a narrower field; last year featured more Suicide Squad characters than you could shake a purple cane at.
Like any gaming fair, there were more than a few bewildered mothers waiting patiently for their sons or trying to understand what the bright colors, deafening sounds, and revealing female characters were all about. Unfortunately also like most gaming fairs, the vast majority of women in attendance who were not mothers or high school cosplayers were young women paid to dress up and attract men of all ages to their vendor booth. It’s an uncomfortable reminder that gaming culture, and particularly the multi-billion dollar business side of it, remains less-than-ideally gender balanced in 2018.
The fair features not only the exhibition space for the public, but also serves as one of the most important industry gatherings for the near and middle east regions. The Turkish government has been investing heavily in initiatives and infrastructure to promote local Turkish gaming abroad, going so far as to target $2 billion USD in gaming exports by 2020. If 2018’s fair is anything like 2016 and 2017, there’s something to entertain or interest just about everyone.
All photos courtesy of Michael Barngrover.
Harbiye Mahallesi, Darülbedai Caddesi No:3, 34367 – Şişli
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