Say Yes to Creativity: Tracy Fullerton's 10-Year Project

06/18/24 • 58 min

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.

Check out Tracy's Resources:
https://www.waldengame.com/
https://www.gameinnovationlab.com/
https://www.thenightjourney.com/
https://www.tracyfullerton.com/
https://gameinnovationlab.itch.io/walden
https://www.gamedesignworkshop.com

(00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast
(01:27) - Meet Tracy Fullerton
(04:01) - Tracy's Early Gaming Experiences
(07:58) - The Birth of Spiderdance
(12:44) - Creating Walden, a Game
(20:01) - Challenges and Persistence
(24:44) - Pricing Strategy and Educational Impact
(29:15) - Launching on Multiple Platforms
(29:28) - Impact of COVID on Game Launches
(30:09) - International Reach and Localization Challenges
(31:47) - Player Feedback and Diverse Audience
(32:22) - Teaching First-Person Game Mechanics
(36:28) - The Night Journey Collaboration
(43:01) - Mentoring and Teaching Game Design
(48:37) - Balancing Passion Projects and Career
(52:48) - Game Design Workshop 20th Anniversary
(57:35) - Conclusion and Contact Information

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

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.

(00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast
(01:27) - Meet Tracy Fullerton
(04:01) - Tracy's Early Gaming Experiences
(07:58) - The Birth of Spiderdance
(12:44) - Creating Walden, a Game
(20:01) - Challenges and Persistence
(24:44) - Pricing Strategy and Educational Impact
(29:15) - Launching on Multiple Platforms
(29:28) - Impact of COVID on Game Launches
(30:09) - International Reach and Localization Challenges
(31:47) - Player Feedback and Diverse Audience
(32:22) - Teaching First-Person Game Mechanics
(36:28) - The Night Journey Collaboration
(43:01) - Mentoring and Teaching Game Design
(48:37) - Balancing Passion Projects and Career
(52:48) - Game Design Workshop 20th Anniversary
(57:35) - Conclusion and Contact Information

Check out our brainy games:

Previous Episode

Sega’s Downfall Was… Sega?

Episode 27: Blake Harris is the acclaimed author of "Console Wars" and "The History of the Future." Blake shares his journey from a struggling screenwriter to a successful author, diving into the intense rivalry between Sega and Nintendo that defined a generation of gaming.

He reveals insights into the internal conflicts at Sega that contributed to their downfall and discusses the revolutionary impact of Oculus and virtual reality on the tech landscape.

Blake also offers a sneak peek into his upcoming book about comedy legend Larry David, creator of "Seinfeld" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm," complete with humorous anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories. From the challenges of getting in touch with industry giants like Seth Rogen to the joys and struggles of writing about beloved cultural icons, this episode is packed with compelling stories and valuable lessons on persistence, research, and the art of storytelling.

Check out Blake's Resources:
https://twitter.com/blakejharrisNYC
https://www.amazon.com/Console-Wars-Nintendo-Defined-Generation/
https://www.amazon.com/History-Future-Facebook-Revolution-Virtual/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/author-blake-j-harris-and-the-history-of-the-future/
Console Wars Documentary

(00:00) - Connecting with Seth Rogen: A Game-Changing Experience
(00:33) - Interview with Blake Harris: Insights and Takeaways
(01:38) - Blake Harris's Journey: From Console Wars to New Projects
(04:22) - The Fascinating World of Sega and Nintendo
(07:34) - From Video Games to Authorship: Blake's Path
(20:35) - Challenges and Triumphs in Writing Console Wars
(29:34) - The Impact of Sega's Internal Conflicts
(33:21) - The Oculus Story: A Mind-Blowing Experience
(34:49) - Challenges in VR: Monetization and Market Penetration
(35:58) - The Evolution of VR Hardware
(36:59) - The Search for VR's Killer App
(40:22) - The Social and Practical Applications of VR
(50:31) - The Impact of Politics on Oculus
(54:15) - Larry David: From Seinfeld to Curb Your Enthusiasm
(55:24) - The Joy of Writing About Larry David
(57:59) - Conclusion and Future Projects

Check out our brainy games:

Next Episode

How FreeCell Snuck Its Way Into Millions of PCs

Episode 29: Jim Horne is the creator of Microsoft FreeCell and xwordinfo.com. Jim shares his journey from early programming to joining Microsoft in 1988, where he secretly added FreeCell to Windows.

His passion for crosswords led to writing for the New York Times and developing xwordinfo.com. Jim discusses his time at Microsoft, including sharing an office wall with Steve Ballmer, and the serendipitous nature of his career. He touches on the "unsolvable" FreeCell game and his recent collaboration on "I'm Squeezy." Throughout, Jim highlights the intersection of music and programming, offering insights into early computing, casual games, and the crossword community, demonstrating how pursuing interests can lead to unexpected opportunities.

Check out Jim's resources:
https://www.xwordinfo.com
https://freecell.org/
Wordplay
https://imsqueezy.com