The Three Thousands present Play List

Ben sits down with game studies lecturer and psychology researcher Laura Crawford to unpack player psychology, cozy games, and what makes Stardew Valley a fan favourite. Laura breaks down the science behind great game design, explores why players connect so deeply with virtual worlds, and shares her thoughts on AI, accessibility, game censorship, mentorship, and the future of the games industry. A...

What does it take to build a 20+ year career in the video games industry? In this episode, we sit down with Chris Davey, a gaming industry veteran whose journey spans some of the most influential companies in gaming, including Blizzard Entertainment and Epic Games. Chris shares how a childhood fascination with home computers and consoles evolved into a global career across game development, market...

What is it really like working in the games industry—and how do you actually get a job in game development? In this episode, we sit down with Danielle Walker, an HR professional in the video games industry, to talk about careers in gaming, breaking into the industry, and what it’s really like working behind the scenes at a game studio. We cover everything from Dani’s unconventional path into games...

Step inside the mind of a game designer in this insightful and deeply human episode featuring Penelope Murphy - Senior Games Designer at The Three Thousands Studios, industry mentor, and lifelong lover of games. From nostalgic childhood memories to professional design philosophy, this episode explores what it really means to build a career in game design - and how games shape the way we can unders...

In this episode, Executive Producer  Lu Gigliotti  takes us on a journey through his incredible career in the gaming industry —from his early work on the cult classic  Earthworm Jim  to shaping iconic titles like  The Neverhood  and  DmC . Lu shares insights into the creative process of game development and dives into the evolution of gaming, the rise of AI, and the future of interactive entertain...

What happens when sound meets storytelling in the gaming world? Benjamin Dawe and composer Samuel Shepherd unpack the journey of Sam’s musical project Parade Music, reflect on the indie artist grind, and break down why the right soundtrack can completely transform a game. They touch on the haunting beauty of Silent Hill 3, the cult-classic charm of Evergrace, and how Japanese music has left a glob...

The Three Thousands present Play List Ep. 04 - From TF2 to EA and Beyond: How Sam Kayler-Thomson Turned Passion into a Pro Game Dev Career. In this episode, we sit down with Game Designer Sam Kayler-Thomson, who went from modding Team Fortress 2 in his bedroom to working at EA Designing Real Racing 3 and now at The Three Thousands. We cover everything from turning uni projects into paid gigs, surv...

Sean Reynolds, known as the 'Ghost Signs guy', shares his journey to becoming a Cultural Archaeologist, exploring the stories behind faded advertisements in Melbourne, Australia. He discusses the influence of video games on his life, particularly titles like Chrono Trigger, Maniac Mansion, and Mortal Kombat, and reflects on his experiences working in Hollywood. The conversation also touches on his...

The Three Thousands bring you Play List Ep. 02 with Experience Design Director Guy Walshe. We dive into the evolution of gaming through Guy’s lens—growing up in Hong Kong and shaping titles at Electronic Arts in Australia, Ubisoft in Toronto, and Ken Levine’s Ghost Story Games in Boston. He shares insights on adapting to Australia’s culture, the early days of online gaming with BBS, and the clever...

From Atari to AI: 25 years in gaming with Mauro Fiore! Join host Benjamin Dawe on Episode 01 of  the Play List podcast as he chats with veteran Game Director and Creative Director Mauro Fiore (ex-Rockstar Games, Zynga & Electronic Arts). Hear Mauro’s favorite games of all time, tales from the trenches of Game Development, the evolution of Game Design, and Mauro's take on the future of play.