Game Designer Richard Lemarchand

A Lover of Single Malt Scotch, Bonbons, and Public Transportation

Video game designer Richard Lemarchand’s games include the Uncharted series; currently, he is a visiting associate professor at the USC Interactive Media Division. Before participating in a panel on the role of gaming in education, he talked in the Zócalo green room about sweating and roller skating, and why you can’t pay too much for a haircut or play an overrated video game.

Q:

What weapon would you choose in a zombie apocalypse?


A:

Roller skates. Hopefully the roads will still be intact enough that I can just zoom away from the zombies. Is that sidestepping the question? Are roller skates really a weapon?


Q:

What’s your spirit of choice?


A:

I’m trying to think of a clever answer that’s not just a literal, true answer, which would probably be single malt scotch. But maybe my clever answer would be mana, the magical, spiritual energy that fuels spells in role-playing games.


Q:

What’s your least favorite thing about Twitter?


A:

I don’t know that I have a least favorite thing about Twitter. That I don’t have more time to spend on it. I love Twitter. I get all my news from Twitter, and I keep up with my friends on Twitter, and I make serendipitous discoveries about arts and the life of the mind on Twitter.


Q:

When did you last break a sweat?


A:

Walking up the hill to get to MOCA actually. I came here on public transport like every good Angeleno should as they navigate our beautiful city. I don’t come through downtown very much—I see it as I get off the bus, then I ride my bike south to USC. To go through the skyscrapers in the evening is always kind of magical.


Q:

How would you describe yourself in five words or less?


A:

Peripatetic, lanky, busy, curious, and thirsty. Busy Curious Thirsty is the title of an album by Spring Heel Jack, and whenever I’m asked to describe myself in three words I use that phrase.


Q:

In your opinion, what’s the most overrated video game?


A:

No video games are overrated!


Q:

What’s the most underrated video game?


A:

There are many underrated video games. One that I was discussing today is Where Is My Heart? by Bernie Schulenburg.


Q:

What’s your favorite movie snack?


A:

I like those tiny ice creams covered in chocolate.


Q:

How much is too much to pay for a haircut?


A:

I don’t think you can pay too much for a really good haircut. Maybe a thousand dollars would be pushing it a bit.


Q:

If you had a theme song, what would it be?


A:

I’ll go with the one that was on the tip of my tongue: “Where Is My Mind” by the Pixies.


Q:

What inspires you?


A:

It’s a broad question; I’ll just free associate. Difficult questions. Honesty and directness. Sensitivity and compassion. And independent experimental artistic video games.