Say Yes to Creativity: Tracy Fullerton's 10-Year Project
Jun 18, 2024
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Tracy Fullerton discusses creating 'Walden,' blending philosophy with gameplay, challenges of game development, mentorship in game design, and the importance of emotional experience goals and diverse voices in the industry.
Perseverance is key to substantial projects like Walden, emphasizing dedication and continuous effort.
Tracy promotes generosity and emotional experience goals in game design, nurturing authenticity and impactful creations.
Deep dives
Innovative Game Design and Long-Term Projects
Creating meaty game projects, Tracy shares insights into the meticulous development process such as the decade-long journey for Walden. Reflecting on the challenge of distilling a creative vision, Tracy emphasizes the importance of perseverance and the dedication required for such substantial projects.
Tracy Fullerton's Game Development Journey
Tracy Fullerton, creator of Walden, discusses her transition into game design. Growing up without video games, traces her origins back to board games and early digital experiences like Pong. Her path to game design evolved through a multidisciplinary approach spanning film, interactive laser discs, and experimental creations.
Walden: A Game - a Philosophical Video Game Experience
Tracy explains the deep narrative and experiential layers in Walden. Contrary to survival game expectations, Walden delves into transcending survival challenges to embrace Thoreau's philosophical exploration of simplicity and human connection with nature across the changing seasons. The game allows players to experience Thoreau's introspective journey.
Teaching and Mentoring in Game Design
Tracy's instructive approach centers on mentoring students and incorporating emotional experience goals in game design. By nurturing generosity in young designers and emphasizing experiential focus over technical checkboxes, Tracy imparts crucial lessons in crafting authentic and impactful game experiences.
Episode 28: Tracy Fullerton is a pioneering game designer, educator, and USC Games Program Director emeritus. The conversation covers Tracy's extensive career in game design, her creation of the game 'Walden,' and her unique approach to blending philosophy with gameplay.
Tracy opens up about the decade-long development of 'Walden,' the challenges and joys of translating Thoreau's philosophies into an immersive experience, and her experiences mentoring the next generation of game designers.
We talk about why you shouldn't say "No," the intricacies of player emotional experience goals, and the importance of being a passionate and generous designer.