Meet Lloyd Campbell III

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lloyd Campbell III.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a Navy brat turned Williams College alumni, entering his third year as a game producer at the University of Southern California’s Interactive Media MFA Program. I have learned many languages, like Japanese and Arabic, lived in Italy and Japan, and earned a double major in Economics and Asian Studies in the Berkshires while being a two-sport varsity athlete. I have been lucky enough to see the world at a young age and recognized how the concept of “fun” moves transparently between cultures to solve problems. I want to bring more diverse stories from marginalized communities through the power of interactive storytelling video games provide. This year, I have the privilege of being Creative Director for his Advanced Game Project, Lake Minnewaska. The game follows a struggling African American angler who must fish to reconnect with his daughter while coming to terms with grief. I am also an Annenberg Scholar at USC, an inaugural member of the CYSTEM Student Grant Program, and an alumnus of the International Game Developers Association mentor program. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The path I have taken definitely has not been smooth, but it would be a lot rougher if I did not have supportive friends and family. I graduated from my undergrad without a job and was unsure of my career path. I double majored in Economics and Asian Studies and built up a skill set well suited for Finance or Consulting. However, that field wasn’t my passion. I love video games. I moved back home with my parents in Minnesota and started learning how to code and work in Unity. I had to overcome my fear of coding. I applied to the USC Interactive Media and Games MFA program three months after my undergrad graduation, but I was rejected. I needed to improve. I sought out game studios in Minnesota and found Cog Reps Inc. They developed a game called Smash Routes, where they took youth football playbooks and turned them into a mobile game. It was a wonderful opportunity where I combined my collegiate football playing experience with my passion for video games. Though, the studio was 2 hours from home each way. And I was unpaid for the first six months. Therefore, I worked at Walmart on the weekends to pay for gas and the occasional Airbnb in case I wanted to go to work for continuous days during the week. My parents supported me when I needed it. I earned a full-time position, moved to Minneapolis, and gained a lot more Unity and client-facing experiences. I was at a point where I needed to expand my skills as a game developer. I re-applied to USC two years after my previous attempt and got accepted! I had struggles finding my footing and just blindly going into a new field that I felt I could be successful in. I could not have done it without my family. Now, I’m graduating from the top game design school in the nation. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a game developer and a games producer with level design skills. My first professional aspiration is effectively using interactive media and games to tell exciting and transformative stories through level design. I want to tell the stories that have not been told. My MFA thesis capstone project, Lake Minnewaska, is one of the first games that use fishing to talk about Black grief. Mastering media and game development will be essential to creating a universal problem-solving method. I am using Unity in all my classes and learning Unreal Engine and Unreal Engine in Fortnite (UEFN) on the side. In addition to being an exceptional level designer, my second goal is to be a proficient game producer. Directing innovative designs through interactive media and games can prepare people to take on their challenges and generate new experiences. I led VR production duties on the successful USC 2022-2023 AGP, Neon City. I must participate in different teams and learn how to bring the best out of my team members. Finally, I want to work and learn in an environment where I can exercise and grow my skill sets after school. Working with a collaborative and diverse group of people can help me achieve that goal. I want to continue learning from others and becoming a great game developer. 

What makes you happy?
My family makes me happy, especially my younger brother. Gent Campbell inspired me to enter the video game field, thus video game production. He is two years younger than me, and he could not speak until he was four. Gent was diagnosed as autistic when I was six years old. My brother processes information differently from the neurotypical person. Over the years, I witnessed a variety of Gent’s encounters with video games and how each experience has ultimately helped him gain independence. Games and other interactive media products have pushed his comfort zone further. It has helped him express his emotions, share his interests, and communicate with others with similar interests. Gent inspires me and has changed how I think about video games. I am happy working in a field that can change people’s lives, like my brother’s. 

Video games mold me into a global citizen through the opportunity to build a better future for communities inhabiting this planet, especially for my younger brother. I am happy because this medium allows me to create entertainment that inspires creativity for ethnic-diverse and neurodiverse communities. I have been successful in environments that can use digital spaces to tell stories and make people think about problem-solving in different realms. I dream about being a legendary producer, crafting the best “fun” experiences for people in various cultures. Gent showed me the privilege of communicating with neurodivergent people. I can apply what I have learned in my production role. The industry offers me an excellent opportunity to collaborate with others to help create a positive future for people with disabilities and bring stories of marginalized communities to life. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lloydc3.com
• Instagram: @lloyd_iii
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyd-campbell-iii-772539104/
• Twitter: @SoupTheThird