The Well-Read Game

The Well-Read Game

From No Such Thing: Education in the Digital Age by Marc Lesser

April 29, 2026 · 1h 3m · Episode 150

About this episode

Tracy Fullerton discusses her work in experimental game design and education in the digital age.

Tracy Fullerton, M.F.A. is an experimental game designer, professor and director emeritus of the USC Games program. Her research center, the Game Innovation Lab , has produced several influential independent games, including Cloud, flOw, Darfur is Dying, The Night Journey, with artist Bill Viola and Walden, a game, a simulation of Henry David Thoreau’s experiment at Walden Pond which was named “Game of the Year” at Games for Change 2017 and “Developer Choice” at IndieCade 2017. Tracy is the author of “ Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games ,” a design textbook used at game programs worldwide, and holder of the Electronic Arts Endowed Chair in Interactive Entertainment. In addition to her teaching and design, she is a member of the Board of Directors for Square Enix Holdings, Co. and Games for Change . Prior to joining the USC faculty, she was president and founder of the interactive television game developer, Spiderdance, Inc. Spiderdance’s games included NBC’s Weakest Link , MTV’s webRIOT , The WB’s No Boundaries , History Channel’s History IQ , Sony Game Show Network’s Inquizition and TBS’s Cyber Bond . Before starting Spiderdance, Tracy was…

People in this episode

Host: Marc Lesser

Guest: Tracy Fullerton

Topics covered

  • game design
  • interactive entertainment
  • education
  • technology
  • independent games

Keywords

  • game design
  • interactive games
  • education
  • USC Games
  • Tracy Fullerton

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: USC Games program, Game Innovation Lab, Square Enix Holdings, Co., Games for Change, Spiderdance, Inc., R/GA Interactive

Products: Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games, Cloud, flOw, Darfur is Dying, The Night Journey, Walden, a game

Places: New York, Walden Pond

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