Games for Change (also known as G4C) is a prestigious nonprofit organization in the game development community and industry. The organization provides support, visibility, and shared resources to individuals and organizations using serious games for social change.

Assistant Professor of Games and Interactive Media, Sercan Sengun, has recently been appointed as an Executive Board member for G4C Turkiye chapter. The local chapter has been found to harness the power of games to drive real-world change and creating meaningful impact across Türkiye, as well as neighboring and connecting regions.

I had the thrilling opportunity to ask Sengun a few questions regarding his new position in G4C, what he hopes to achieve, and how students can be involved as well.

What made you interested in becoming a board member for G4C?

“I have always believed in the transformative power of games to create positive social impact. Games for Change aligns perfectly with my passion for using interactive media to address real-world issues. Becoming a board member for the Türkiye chapter allows me to expand my already existing work to initiatives that use games to inspire change, which is something I encourage in my students as well.”

 

What do you hope to achieve by collaborating with other board members and the G4C community?

“I hope to foster innovation and develop and support impactful projects that drive meaningful change, both locally and globally. By working with other board members and the G4C community, we can create opportunities for creators to use games as a medium for social change, education, and development. My goal is to expand the reach and impact of G4C, particularly in Türkiye and surrounding regions, as well as among my students here at UCF.”

 

How can students (and the community) be involved with G4C?

“I am aware that some of our students and the community members have been involved with G4C through various initiatives like the G4C Student Challenge, where they can practice game design and development while addressing important social issues. I hope that my involvement can expand that interest and capacity. In the past, our program had participation in the G4C Festival. I will work toward streamlining this participation, while also encouraging the exploration of new initiatives like XR for Change to contribute our program’s capacity, ideas, and skills to meaningful causes through emergent technologies.”

 

Why is G4C important?

“G4C is important because its efforts demonstrate that games can be more than just entertainment—they can be powerful tools for education, social impact, and innovation. It brings together creators, educators, and change-makers to leverage the unique potential of games to address global challenges, foster empathy, and inspire positive action in the real world.”


Written by Majdulina Hamed.

Published to Nicholson News on October 2nd, 2024.

If you have any news, accomplishments or highlights about your work or life, please be sure to share them with us, by emailing us at NicholsonNews@ucf.edu.