Founded in 2012, Panteon is a game development company that strives to create fun and user-friendly games for various audiences. The company has a wide range of games in different genres, such as casual, mid-core, and VR, and employs more than 90 talented employees. Some of their popular games are Airport Master! and Trading Master, which has attracted more than 100 million players around the world.
In this interview, we had the chance to talk to İlknur Ercan, the Head of HR & Operations of Panteon, about the company’s vision, culture, values, and achievements. İlknur Ercan shared with us how Panteon adds color to lives through its games, how it uses a data-driven approach and know-how to reach millions of players, how it fosters a positive and productive work environment for its employees, and what challenges and opportunities it faces in the ever-changing game industry.
Please tell us about Panteon and your position in the company.
I’m the Head of HR & Operations at Panteon. The adventure of Panteon began in 2012 with a passion for game development. As we all know, it has come to this day by developing different games in many genres. We are currently a huge team of more than 90 people developing Casual, Mid-core, and VR games.
Could you elaborate on how Panteon achieves its vision of adding color to lives? How does the company ensure that the games you create cater to diverse audiences and resonate with players worldwide?
Our success in this area largely stems from our longstanding love for gaming. Being passionate gamers ourselves, we have a deep understanding of what players are thinking, feeling, and expecting from their gaming experience. This enables us to design and develop games that truly resonate with players, meeting their expectations and needs. Games, as a medium, have a universal appeal. They are one of the rare fields where cultural and language barriers blur, allowing almost everyone, regardless of their background, to see and experience the same thing. This universality enables us to interact and connect with players from all around the world, enriching their lives through the immersive, engaging, and fun experiences our games provide.
How has Panteon’s data-driven approach and know-how about games contributed to reaching millions of players?
Panteon’s data-driven approach and wealth of knowledge allow it to understand the needs and expectations of players better, accurately analyze user behavior, make correct assessments, and reach target user groups more quickly. Thanks to this approach, it provides fun and immersive experiences to millions of players.
Airport Master! and Trading Master are among the hit games developed by Panteon, reaching more than 100 million players. What factors do you believe have been crucial in achieving such impressive player numbers for these games?
At Panteon, behind the success, there is a team that believes in the ideas produced, enjoys working, and is very connected to each other. This great team is not afraid of the obstacles they encounter while realizing the work they believe in. They correctly analyze player needs, comments, and requests and never give up on the final output. This is the fundamental secret of success! Panteon employs to engage players and retain their interest over time continuously.
The game industry is always in a state of change. Since the day we were established, we have been part of this change, and we try to meet the expectations of the players by adapting quickly. Every player is very special to us, so we aim for them to have fun to the fullest in all our games. We want to stay in constant interaction with them through both our work and our updates. In fact, all these efforts can be understood from our slogan: “We add color to life with games!”
Panteon was honored with the “Best Workplace in Turkey 2022” award. Could you share some key aspects that make Panteon a great place to work, fostering a positive and productive environment for employees?
First and foremost, I have to highlight the vibrant and dynamic nature of our team. We boast a lively, fun-loving, and passionate group of individuals who bring their unique talents and perspectives to the table. We’re based in the METU Technopark in Ankara, an environment that maintains the lively, innovative spirit of a university campus, which is something we cherish and strive to uphold.
At Panteon, we believe in the power of collective effort. The sense of camaraderie and shared purpose in our pursuit of creating outstanding games is something we value greatly. We understand that the ebbs and flows of life mean we can’t always be in high spirits. There are certainly times when we have to buckle down, work hard, and face challenging periods. But it’s these very challenges that make the celebra1ons of our achievements all the more rewarding and enjoyable.
We pride ourselves on our empathetic and supportive work environment. We pay attention to everyone’s concerns, no matter how small, and we make every effort to provide the necessary support and assistance. Our office environment is designed to be comfortable and conducive to productivity, but it’s also a space where we can unwind, communicate freely, and enjoy our 1me.
One aspect I find crucial to our success as a team is our commitment to open and honest communication. In many companies, individuals may feel unable to express their thoughts and ideas freely. We actively work against this by promoting a culture of transparency and inclusivity where everyone’s voice is heard and valued. I strongly believe that it’s this emphasis on clear, empathetic communication that sets us apart and makes Panteon a truly great place to work.
Panteon is a Platinum Sponsor of the Mobidictum Conference 2023. What motivated the decision to be a sponsor, and what specific opportunities do you hope to explore or showcase during the event?
We were a sponsor at the Mobidictum Conference in 2022. This event offered us a valuable platform for interaction and engagement with a diverse range of companies and conference attendees. Beyond mere interactions, it paved the way for fruitful collaborations with individuals and companies we met during the conference.
Being part of the larger gaming community, we cherish these opportunities to come together, share ideas, and build connections. The exchange of insights, the vibrant discussions, and the sheer passion for gaming that permeates these gatherings make them highly enjoyable and rewarding experiences for us.
Recognizing the immense value and enjoyment that these gatherings bring, we’ve made the decision to continue our participation at the Mobidictum Conference in 2023. We eagerly anticipate the wealth of new experiences, learning opportunities, and collaborations the next conference will undoubtedly present.
As a company that values innovation, could you share some insights into any upcoming projects or game releases we can expect?
We have very special projects that we are working on, and should remain a surprise for now. We have a tower defense project in the casual category that we think players will like a lot, and its development continues. In addition, we will meet with gamers on new platforms with a VR project very soon. Moreover, our 4x strategy game, which is still in development, will find its place in the mid-core category in 2024.
Thanks for this lovely interview!
