Students at USC participating in Demo Day, an event at USC wherein students of Game Design and Interactive Media are able to display their projects and games produced.
1. Who is your mentor and where do they work? If their workplace does not reflect their expertise, what makes them an expert?
Currently, I have three different mentors I plan to interview over the course of my senior project. While I've yet to decide which of these mentors I shall speak to for my second formal interview, I know that they are all reliable and excellent options.
Tracy Fullerton is technically my "primary" mentor. She was the one who allowed for Jessica and I to mentor at USC's Game Innovation Lab. Currently, she works as the director of the lab, and is an experienced game designer with many years of work in the industry. She's worked on several projects throughout the years, working as one of the head designers herself or serving as a faculty adviser (for student projects). Furthermore, she's also a professor at USC with her classes and courses, wherein she educates aspiring game designers on game theory and many other essential components of game design.
Sean Bouchard and Elizabeth Swensen were technically my "secondary" mentors. We never directly asked Sean and Elizabeth to mentor under them-- it kind of just happened. But really, "secondary" doesn't quite cut it-- Sean and Elizabeth are really just so much more than that. They've been with Jessica and I during our mentorship since Day 1, doing their best to ensure that we both learn from our activities in the lab/on-campus and enjoy ourselves. Both Sean and Tracy are staff and research associates of the Game Innovation Lab, working both in-lab and teaching their own courses in the university. They have both graduated from USC with MFAs (Masters of Fine Arts), completing the university's game design program. Since then, they've both worked as game designers on projects of their own and projects from outside parties.
2. What five questions will you ask them about their background?
1. Were there any studies or educational experiences you had, in school or out, that were valuable to your career as a game designer?
2. Have any of your interests outside of game design converged with your work in game design?
3. Was there any point in your life where you figured out that a career in video game design was right for you? Was this a specific moment, or a culmination of experiences?
4. Are there any personal characteristics, traits, or qualities you think are necessary to move forward in this industry?
5. Is there any important or helpful advice you have to share for aspiring game designers? Have there been any words, thoughts, or ideas that have pushed you forward or motivated you as a game designer?
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