Video Game Development

Play, Design, and Everything In-Between

Play, Design, and Everything In-Between

In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Podcast: Tech in the Arts, Cara Flanery and Alexann Sharp speak with Cheryl Platz, game developer, designer, and author of The Game Development Strategy Guide: Crafting Modern Video Games That Thrive, about what makes games meaningful, the motivators that drive play, and the evolving distinction between UX and UI design in the games industry. Drawing from her career at companies including Electronic Arts, Griptonite Games, Amazon, and Riot Games, Cheryl discusses how self-expression became a central motivator of play, the collaborative challenges unique to game development, and the discipline instilled by working within the hardware constraints of early handheld consoles. She also reflects on her experience as a voice actor and performer, the importance of building community before a crisis hits, and the advice she offers students and aspiring developers navigating a volatile and fast-changing games industry.