Susanna Pollack & Danny Marti | Raising Good Gamers: A Global Partnership for Healthy Play

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Recorded on the road in San Francisco during GDC Festival of Gaming, this episode of the Good Game Club Podcast explores how we raise healthier, safer and more informed young players. Jude and Matthias are joined by Susanna Pollack, President of Games for Change, and Danny Marti Head of Public Affairs and Global Policy at Tencent for a timely conversation about the upcoming Raising Good Gamers initiative. Together, they unpack why the public conversation around games is still too often driven by fear instead of evidence, why parents need better tools and language to engage with gaming, and how play can help children build resilience, problem-solving skills and stronger family relationships. 00:00 – Why this conversation matters A powerful opening montage sets the tone: play, safety, resilience and the need for a more balanced conversation about games. 00:00:46 – Live from GDC in San Francisco Jude and Matthias introduce the episode and reflect on the momentum building around gaming for good. 00:01:50 – Meet Susanna Pollack and Danny Marti The guests introduce themselves, their work, and the goals behind the Raising Good Gamers initiative. 00:05:21 – Why now? The panel discusses why this research is urgently needed, and why the real answer may be that the industry should have started much earlier. 00:08:21 – The biggest misconceptions parents have about gaming Susanna explains why gaming should not simply be lumped in with “screen time”, and why parents need clearer context. 00:09:49 – Does gaming cause violence? Danny addresses one of the most persistent myths in public policy and argues for more evidence-based discussion. 00:10:51 – Parenting the first truly digital generation Jude reflects on how today’s parents are the first to navigate online safety and digital play at this scale. 00:11:46 – Why policy is often reactive Danny explains how legislation tends to respond to fear and headlines, rather than long-term evidence and understanding. 00:14:33 – What developers are already doing well Susanna highlights the growing number of studios, toolkits and partnerships focused on designing for wellbeing and safety. 00:16:54 – How to reach parents where they are The conversation turns to practical distribution: schools, community groups, faith spaces and local support networks. 00:19:39 – Reframing games as digital play Susanna makes the case for talking about games as play, helping parents relate to the medium in a more human way. 00:22:40 – Why fear-based narratives persist The group explores why bad headlines dominate and how better stories, better evidence and better dialogue can shift the narrative. 00:27:56 – From understanding to engagement A key idea emerges: parents do not just need to understand games, they need pathways to engage with their children through them. 00:36:13 – What the white paper covers Susanna outlines the main themes in the research, including parental concerns, policy gaps, industry language and practical tools. 00:46:21 – Favourite games, hopes for the industry, and questions for future guests The episode closes with personal game picks, reflections on AI and the future of the industry, and two thoughtful questions for the next guest.

George Osborn | Power Play: How Games Shape Culture, Politics and Society

In this episode of the Good Game Club Podcast, journalist, consultant, and Power Play author George Osborn explores the growing intersection between video games, politics, policy, and society. Drawing on his experience advising governments, regulators, and NGOs, George explains why games should no longer be viewed simply as entertainment products but as powerful digital communities, cultural spaces, and communication networks. The conversation covers everything from government engagement with games and election polling through in-game advertising to digital third spaces, online influence, and how the games industry can better protect play for future generations. Power Play is published by Wildfire on the 18th June in hardback, ebook and audio. Copies are available in all bookshops and online retailers. 00:00 – Protecting Play in a Political World Why the games industry must become more assertive in defending the positive value of play. 00:51 – Meet George Osborn & Introducing Power Play George shares his background in games journalism, policy, and consulting, and introduces the central theme of his book. 02:20 – When Governments Started Seeing Games Differently How the pandemic accelerated government interest in games as communication channels. 03:10 – The Ukraine War and a Defining Moment The request that convinced George games had become part of the geopolitical information landscape. 04:20 – Why Some Governments Understand Games Better Than Others Comparing attitudes in Western democracies with countries such as Saudi Arabia. 08:33 – How Games Became a Global Communication Force The four major developments that transformed games from products into social ecosystems. 11:12 – Climate Change, UNDP and Reaching Invisible Audiences How games enabled policymakers to hear from communities that traditional channels could not reach. 13:01 – The 2024 US Election and In-Game Polling Why one polling firm successfully predicted the election by reaching voters through mobile games. 15:44 – Bellingcat, World of Warcraft and Community Intelligence How gaming community management principles helped build one of the world's most influential investigative networks. 17:22 – Influence Operations, Streamers and State Actors Examining how gaming communities can be leveraged for political influence and propaganda. 23:42 – Global Attitudes Towards Games and Regulation How different regions approach gaming culture, regulation, and national strategy. 31:00 – When Politics Uses Gaming Culture The challenges of political entities using gaming memes, imagery, and community language. 34:01 – Games as Digital Third Spaces Why games function as modern social environments and what sociology can teach us about their importance. 37:29 – Building Healthier Gaming Communities Lessons from football culture, community safety, and designing welcoming digital spaces. 42:16 – Football Manager, Cultural Impact & Final Takeaways George reflects on his favourite game and shares advice for people who still underestimate the importance of games. Key Data Points & External References 1. Fortnite Humanitarian Fundraising George notes that Epic Games' Fortnite fundraising campaign for humanitarian relief generated more support than some nation-state contributions.Reference: Epic Games and Direct Relief fundraising campaign (2022), which raised over $144 million for humanitarian aid in Ukraine. 2. 2024 US Election Polling Through GamesPolling firm J.L. Partners reportedly used in-game advertising to reach underrepresented voter groups and correctly forecast Trump's Electoral College outcome.Reference: J.L. Partners election polling methodology and post-election analysis. 3. Saudi Arabia's National Gaming Strategy

15. juni 202648 min

Susanna Pollack & Danny Marti | Raising Good Gamers: A Global Partnership for Healthy Play

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