Insert Coin for the Next Level! Digital Games and the Idea of Regional Development for Less Developed Regions: The Case of Ankara Gaming Cluster

Digital Gaming sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. It is estimated that the growth of the gaming market will reach to 85 billion USD which doubles the cinema and music. In Turkey, Gaming sector has boosted in Turkey with the beginning of new millennium. It looks very new and baby born sector. But, its development pace has been incredible.

The idea of regional development is now crucial concept for the developing countries in highly globalized world in which the competition has increased day by day. Obviously, the developing countries cannot catch the big ones in every field of development. Somehow, they have to develop their production capacities, productivity and knowledge level in specific fields.

Even if economic development processes are highly localised not all 'locations' are equally able to succeed in the global competitive environment. In fact, regardless the sector, the success of innovative activities requires a convenient environment which comprise of local social, political and institutional actors.

In the case of digital gaming sector, the only cluster is founded in ODTÜ Teknokent which is the biggest science park of Turkey. More than 15 enterprises are located in the same region. Besides almost all the stakeholders are located in the same region such as two big universities having M.S: Programme on Gaming and also public institutions funding gaming projects.

In this paper, the digital games sector will be discussed specifically. One of the main questions is that: Can digital games can be a proper factor which contributes to both regional and national development in developing countries like Turkey? Or in what sense such a growing sector can increase the socio-economic level of the country? The gaming cluster of Ankara is used as a case.