I am Batu. I research AI for Games.
I use AI to enhance the games we make and how we make them;
not for the sake of games, but for the people who play them.
As an AI Researcher I
am currently using interactive imitation learning to enhance videogames testing workflows in production environments at Agentic.ai.
researched how to make videogames more inclusive using AI techniques with my Ph.D. dissertation at UC Santa Cruz.
investigated ways to enable designers to specify the aesthetic style of reinforcement learning agents at Microsoft Research Cambridge.
used reinforcement learning to solve physics-based navigation in maps of AAA scale at Ubisoft La Forge.
As a Game Maker I
maintain a practice of developing games through game jams, mostly using Unity.
am writing my book ‘The Humble Game Designer’ exploring iterative design, emotional management, and gathering player feedback.
developed Talin, a tool for creating tutorials that respond to player skills without writing any code.
As a Community Member I
am an organizer for PlayForTurkiye, a community-driven initiative that empowers game devs to drive social impact.
was the Vice President of UNOG, the largest game development community in Turkey, writing our game design blog and newsletter.
taught students in various countries including the US, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and the UAE, and was recognized with the outstanding teacher award at UC Santa Cruz.