Tracy Fullerton (born June 21, 1965) is an American game designer, educator, and writer. She has made significant contributions to the field of game design and is widely recognized for her expertise. Fullerton is a Professor in the USC Interactive Media & Games Division of the USC School of Cinematic Arts and serves as the Director of the Game Innovation Lab at USC. In 2014, she was appointed the Director of the USC Games Program, an interdisciplinary collaboration between the School of Cinematic Arts and the Viterbi School of Engineering at USC.
Fullerton’s career spans various roles and accomplishments. From 2010 to 2017, she held the position of Chair of the USC Interactive Media & Games Division. In December 2008, she was installed as the holder of the Electronic Arts Endowed Chair of Interactive Entertainment at USC.
As an influential figure in game design education, Fullerton is the author of Game Design Workshop, a widely acclaimed textbook that advocates for a playcentric design process. Her book has become a staple in game design curricula around the world.
Fullerton’s impact extends beyond academia. She has served as a faculty advisor for several award-winning student games, including Cloud and flOw. She has also collaborated with notable artists on innovative projects. One such project is The Night Journey, a game/art project in production with media artist Bill Viola. She is also involved in the development of Participation Nation, a game designed to teach Constitutional history in collaboration with KCET and Activision.
One of Fullerton’s notable achievements is her project Walden, a game. This game was supported by a media arts grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, making it one of the first video game projects to receive such recognition. The National Endowment for the Humanities also provided support for this groundbreaking game.
Before joining the USC faculty, Fullerton founded Spiderdance, Inc., an interactive television game developer. The company created games for major networks and channels such as NBC, MTV, The WB, and The History Channel. Some of the notable games produced by Spiderdance include NBC’s Weakest Link, MTV’s webRIOT, and The History Channel’s History IQ. Fullerton’s prior experience includes working as a producer and creative director at the New York design firm R/GA Interactive. She has worked on projects for renowned clients such as Sony, Intel, Microsoft, and Warner Bros.
Fullerton’s passion for interactive media and game design led her to creative roles in early interactive projects. She served as a Creative Director at the interactive film studio Interfilm, where she wrote and co-directed Ride for Your Life, a cinematic game starring Adam West and Matthew Lillard.
Throughout her career, Fullerton has received significant industry recognition. She has been nominated for an Emmy for her work in interactive television, and her games have won awards such as the Best Family/Board Game from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. She has also been acknowledged by prestigious publications and organizations, including I.D. Magazine, Communication Arts Interactive Design Annual, Time Magazine, and IndieCade’s Festival of Independent Games.
In conclusion, Tracy Fullerton’s contributions to the field of game design, her dedication to education, and her innovative projects have made her a highly influential figure in the industry. Her achievements and recognition reflect her creative vision and commitment to pushing the boundaries of interactive media and gaming.
Awards:
– Emmy nomination for interactive television
– Best Family/Board Game from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
– Communication Arts Interactive Design Annual recognition
– Time Magazine’s Best of the Web
– IBC’s Nombre D’Or
– IndieCade’s Festival of Independent Games recognition
– The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Power 100
– Fortune’s 10 Most Powerful Women in Gaming