LOS ANGELES (Feb. 12, 2025)—In celebration of Black History Month, USC Games, North America’s leading collegiate game design program at the University of Southern California, is hosting an on-campus speaker series throughout February to reflect on the history and future of Black innovation in the games industry.
As part of this series, on Wednesday, February 19, USC Games will honor Muriel Tramis, celebrated as the first Black woman game designer and innovator in the video game industry, with an inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award for her impact on gaming. Known as the “Grande Dame of French Video Games,” Tramis’ works, such as Méwilo and Freedom: Rebels in the Darkness, address themes of history, culture, and identity through innovative storytelling.
“USC Games will recognize the innumerable contributions the Black community has made to the industry by bringing the games community together for a special Black History Month Speaker Series,” says TreaAndrea Russworm, Professor of Cinematic Arts and Microsoft Endowed Chair at the University of Southern California. “A highlight of these events will be honoring Muriel Tramis, widely recognized as the first Black woman video game designer, with a Lifetime Achievement Award. A true trailblazer, Tramis made history with her contributions to the industry, and we are excited to continue learning from her within the broader USC Games and Los Angeles area games communities. Tramis will also preview one of her upcoming games during the visit.”
The series kicked off on February 5th with Charles Babb, a creative producer at Meta, and Travis Williams, head of production at Oculus Publishing, where they shared insights on their unique industry experiences, and advice to help inspire the next generation of game makers.
USC Games’ Black History Month Speaker Series:
- February 12, 4:30-6:00pm (SCI 106): Mia Ginaé Watkins, creative operations at Riot Games
- February 19, 4:30-6:30pm (SCI 106): Muriel Tramis, legendary French video game designer and first Black woman in games
- February 26, 4:30-6:00pm (SCI 106): iAsia Brown, senior producer at Xbox
