Burcu Ozcengiz, co-founder and chief revenue officer of Layer AI, has a decade of experience in the ad-tech and games industries, working with companies all over the world, from small indies to top production powerhouses.
After an incredible six-year tenure at Unity, with roles in various divisions in London and San Francisco, Ozcengiz co-founded Layer AI. In this role, she is responsible for all aspects of user experience at the company.
Layer AI is a creator-first, enterprise-grade productivity tool designed to accelerate and unleash the creative potential of artists.
Ozcengiz is set to be one of more than 250 expert speakers presenting at Pocket Gamer Connects London on January 22nd to 23rd. We caught up with Ozcengiz to learn more about her upcoming panel, titled ‘Changing the Game: How AI Will Shake up Game Development (or not)’, and to hear her thoughts on the latest industry trends.
PocketGamer.biz: Please give us a summary of what you’re speaking about and why it’s important.
Burcu Ozcengiz: I’ll be joining the panel “Changing the Game: How AI Will Shake up Game Development (or not” to share my perspective on using AI to produce game art faster while maintaining a human touch.
What’s the most common mistake you see being made in the games sector?
Having extensive experience in the games tech industry, I often see a prevalent mistake made by tool providers serving the games industry.
Many of them either focus too much on the ‘cool’ factor, such as AI-generated images that don’t necessarily improve workflows, or they force complex tech on users, like blockchain mechanisms, without driving value to the end user.
At Layer, our focus is on enhancing the artist’s brush and workflow, making it our top priority.
If you could give other mobile games companies one piece of advice, what would it be?
As a friend to many game creators, my advice is to remain open to testing various tools, understanding the team behind them, and ensuring they respect artists, treat data carefully, and understand art and production challenges before making a decision.
What’s the most important key performance indicator (KPI) for you – and why?
At this stage of Layer, our most important KPI is the happiness and productivity of game art teams. We aim to contribute to the productivity of all teams working in the art production pipeline.
When not making/selling/playing games, what do you do to relax?
In my relaxation time, I enjoy hot yoga, reading, taking walks, and engaging in deep conversations with friends.
What do you enjoy most about working in the mobile games industry?
The people. The gaming industry attracts and retains some of the best people, and it’s always a pleasure to serve this industry.
Can people get in touch with you at the event? What sort of people would you like to connect with?
We welcome game companies at all stages of development to reach out to us via email at info@layer.ai or join us at our speaking sessions at the event. We also have a fireside chat between our CEO and Tripledot’s VP of Creative, Andriy Matviychuk, as part of the event.
Join us and other decision-makers from the global games industry at PG Connects London for an opportunity to meet and connect.
Meet Burcu Ozcengiz at PG Connects London
Don’t miss the chance to see Ozcengiz speak at the show and arrange to meet her at PG Connects London. The event features a 29-track conference schedule, side-events, and networking opportunities aimed at improving skills and businesses within the industry.
Book your tickets now to be part of this industry-leading event.
