Play List Season 2 - Episode 1 -Pen Murphy

What does it really mean to build a career in game design—and how do games shape the way we understand the world around us?

In our latest podcast episode, we sit down with Penelope Murphy, Senior Games Designer at The Three Thousands Studios, industry mentor, and lifelong gamer, to explore the deeply human side of game development. What emerges is more than a conversation about careers—it’s a reflection on creativity, identity, and the unexpected ways games influence how we think and feel.

 Pen shares her journey from growing up in Canberra to moving to Melbourne’s thriving games industry, revealing the often non-linear path into becoming a designer. What starts as a love for games evolves into a nuanced exploration of video game careers, creative identity, and the challenge of defining what “design” actually is in a professional studio environment .

Through reflections on games like Fable and The Sims, the conversation explores how game systems can mirror real-world experiences. It’s a perspective that reframes game design as more than mechanics or features, positioning it as a tool for empathy, learning, and personal growth.

The episode also touches on the responsibility of designers in shaping player experiences. From guiding player choice to creating clarity across teams, design becomes as much about understanding people as it is about building systems. Even small decisions can have a lasting impact on how a game is felt.

Whether you’re an aspiring developer, an experienced designer, or simply curious about the role games play in our lives, this episode offers a thoughtful look at the intersection of game design, creativity, and human experience.

Watch the full episode with Pen and find other episodes from the Play List Podcast on our Spotify and YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9enZEzLVZAs