Playthink is a USC-based salon about games, play, art and interactivity. These discussion are recorded live at the USC Game Innovation Lab, which is part of the USC Games Program at the University of Southern California. For more information follow us on Instagram @uscgameinnovationlab or visit our website at www.gameinnovationlab.com/playthink.
Game developer, designer, and author Cheryl Platz joins us for this episode of Playthink, to discuss about her book The Game Development Strategy Guide: Crafting Modern Video Games That Thrive. Interviewed by MFA candidate Bernice Wang, Platz gives us insights into her deep experience in user-research supported design for ground-breaking games and beyond. Her latest book has been hailed by game design luminaries Will Wright as “an amazingly broad and contemporary take on our industry” and Jesse Shell as “an amazing crash course for anyone who wants to make games that actually succeed.” She has worked as a Creative Director, Experience Design Director, Lead Producer, writer, game designer, and voice talent for companies like Riot Games, Scopely, Inc., Electronic Arts, and independent studies like Griptonite Games. And, she has shipped and supported games including The Sims: Bustin’ Out, The Urbz: Sims in the City, Disney Friends DS, MARVEL Strike Force, League of Legends, 2XKO, and more.
18 Nov 2025
Richard Lemarchand at Playthink: 11/17/25
USC Games Professor Richard Lemarchand joins us for this episode of Playthink, to talk about his book A Playful Production Process - For Game Designers (And Everyone). Interviewed by Game Innovation Lab Director Tracy Fullerton, Lemarchand discusses the core aspects of concentric development, digging into the importance of prototyping, macro charts, and truly collaborative design teams. This book, which is the core text for the USC Games Intermediate Project classes comes out of Lemarchand’s deep expertise as a lead or co-lead designer on all three PlayStation 3 games on Naughty Dog’s Uncharted series, as well as his work on the Gex and Soul Reaver games at Crystal Dynamics, and, of course, his experiences teaching game design, development, storytelling, and production as a professor at USC.
4 Nov 2025
Celia Pearce at Playthink: 11/3/25
This episode of Playthink welcomes game designer, scholar, and professor Celia Pearce as we discuss the rich areas of play theory explored in her new book, Playframes: How do we know we are playing? Interviewed by MS candidate Reef (Harith Liew), Pearce leads us through a fascinating set of questions around the metacommunication of play. WIth topics ranging from theme parks, to sports, to cosplay and video games, Pearce creates distinctions for us, both designers and players, that help us understand how better communications around what is play and when we are playing can start to build better and safer playful spaces.
15 Oct 2025
Chris Totten at Playthink: 10/15/25
On this episode of Playthink, we welcome game designer and author Chris Totten as we explore his book, An Architectural Approach to Level Design. Interviewed by level designer and MFA candidate Zhutian Zhang, Totten discusses ways in which his approach brings in methods of planning and thinking about levels as playful architectural spaces that bring together the artistic, the cultural, and the technological.
17 Apr 2025
Tracy Fullerton at Playthink: 4/16/25
Game designer Tracy Fullerton discusses her book, *The Well-Read Game*, with Maynard Hearns, examining the personal and emotional experiences of play and the subjective meanings created, in this interview.
26 Mar 2025
TreaAndrea Russworm at Playthink: 3/26/25
Professor TreaAndrea Russworm and M. Coopilton explore how games influence civic engagement, power dynamics, and democracy, revealing interactive media's impact on social hierarchies in this interview episode.
20 Feb 2025
Sam Roberts at Playthink: 2/19/25
Game designer Sam Roberts discusses his essay on class systems in Final Fantasy Tactics with Eric Park, exploring narrative potential and real-world opportunities for change in games; this is an interview.
13 Nov 2024
Christal Rose Hazelton at Playthink: 11/12/24
Narrative Designer Christal Rose Hazelton discusses her work on Apex Legends and crafting authentic characters from diverse backgrounds with host Bryan Sng Yong in this interview.
16 Sept 2020
Eric Zimmerman at Playthink: 9/15/20
Eric Zimmerman discusses Bernie De Koven's final book, "The Infinite Playground," with Tracy Fullerton, exploring its insights on game design and playful learning in this interview.
11 Sept 2019
Bonnie Ruberg at Playthink: 9/10/19
Bonnie Ruberg discusses their book, "Video Games Have Always Been Queer," exploring gender and sexuality in digital media and culture, in an interview with Jeff Watson.
24 Apr 2019
Liz Ryerson at Playthink: 4/23/19
Composer Liz Ryerson discusses her work in games, journalism, and the future of game workers with USC Games professor Jane Pinckard in this interview.
26 Mar 2019
Paul Slocum at Playthink: 3/26/19
Artist Paul Slocum discusses digital art, art games, and curating with Tracy Fullerton in this interview, exploring art's evolution in the digital age.
26 Feb 2019
Magalis Videaux-Martinez at Playthink: 2/26/19
Magalis Videaux-Martinez describes her Imagination Lab project at Hawkins High School's Critical Design and Gaming School with Professor Jeff Watson, exploring the intersection of experience design and experiential learning in this interview.
21 Nov 2018
Capital W at Playthink: 11/20/18
Lauren Ludwig and Monica Miklas from Capital W discuss immersive theater and participatory play with professor Jane Pinckard in an interview.
17 Oct 2018
Brian Upton at Playthink: 10/16/18
Game designer Brian Upton shares his extensive experience in the game industry, discussing his work on popular titles and insights into game design principles in this interview.
19 Sept 2018
Adam Badawy at Playthink: 9/18/18
Adam Badawy, a computational social scientist, examines malicious activities and political behavior on social networks using machine learning, offering insights into online misinformation campaigns in this interview.
Who has been a guest on Playthink
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
TreaAndrea Russworm
Sam Roberts
Christal Rose Hazelton
Eric Zimmerman
Bonnie Ruberg
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Apple Podcasts (US)
4.6 / 5
7 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100
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54
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YouTube
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Engagement
32
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