“Between the Realms — A Storyteller’s Journey from the ETC to Ragnarök” Event Recording and Photo Gallery

ETC event

by Sarah Bender, Communications Coordinator

2024 Tartans on the Rise inductee Göksu Uğur, who graduated from Carnegie Mellon’s Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) in 2015, returned to campus during Spring Carnival to share her exciting professional journey in her Q&A “Between the Realms — A Storyteller’s Journey from the ETC to Ragnarök.”

A recording of the event is now available.

The ETC is the premiere professional graduate program for interactive entertainment as it’s applied across various fields. Its unique, two-year Master of Entertainment Technology (MET) degree was founded as a joint venture between the School of Computer Science and the College of Fine Arts. The program is a part of Helen and Henry Posner, Jr. Dean of the University Libraries Keith Webster’s portfolio.

Uğur is the Lead AI and Progression Systems Programmer for Santa Monica Studios. At the event, held April 12, attendees learned about Uğur’s background as a gameplay programmer with over 10 years of experience making games. She shared about her early days in the field, her deep appreciation for working with diverse interdisciplinary teams, and her experience with leadership, quick iteration, and teamwork in a fast-paced industry.

Dean Keith Webster congratulates Göksu Uğur on her induction into the Class of 2024 Tartans on the Rise at the start of the Q&A. Tartans on the Rise celebrates recent Carnegie Mellon alumni who are making an impact in their organizations and in their communities through leadership, innovation and career achievements.
Dean Keith Webster congratulates Göksu Uğur on her induction into the Class of 2024 Tartans on the Rise at the start of the Q&A. Tartans on the Rise celebrates recent Carnegie Mellon alumni who are making an impact in their organizations and in their communities through leadership, innovation and career achievements.
ETC faculty member Brenda Harger, who teaches improvisational acting and leads diverse interdisciplinary projects, digs into Uğur’s backstory to explore how she ended up in her current role at Santa Monica Studio.
ETC faculty member Brenda Harger, who teaches improvisational acting and leads diverse interdisciplinary projects, digs into Uğur’s backstory to explore how she ended up in her current role at Santa Monica Studio.

Uğur and Harger discuss skills taught by the ETC that helped Uğur succeed in her career.
Uğur and Harger discuss skills taught by the ETC that helped Uğur succeed in her career.
ETC faculty Chris Klug, Shirley Yee, and Mike Christel attended the Q&A.
ETC faculty Chris Klug, Shirley Yee, and Mike Christel attended the Q&A.

Audience members had a chance to ask Uğur questions of their own about her time at the ETC and her work on games like PlayStation's God of War and its sequel God of War Ragnarök.
Audience members had a chance to ask Uğur questions of their own about her time at the ETC and her work on games like PlayStation's God of War and its sequel God of War Ragnarök.
At a reception following the Q&A, current ETC students, faculty, and staff, along with alumni, took the opportunity to network.
At a reception following the Q&A, current ETC students, faculty, and staff, along with alumni, took the opportunity to network.

Uğur and Harger pose for a photo at the reception. For Uğur, who took Harger’s improvisational acting courses at the ETC as a student, the event was a reunion.
Uğur and Harger pose for a photo at the reception. For Uğur, who took Harger’s improvisational acting courses at the ETC as a student, the event was a reunion.
Uğur connects with current students after the event.
Uğur connects with current students after the event.

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