Richard Lemarchand quits Naughty Dog for USC role

Naughty Dog lead game designer Richard Lemarchand has quit the studio to take up a new teaching role at the University of Southern California, he's confirmed to Gamasutra.

Lemarchand, who's had a massive hand in creating the Uncharted series alongside Amy Hennig, will take up his new role at the USC's School of Cinematic Arts at its Interactive Media Division. Past students include Thatgamecompany co-founders Jenova Chen and Kellee Santiago.

"I've always been a very hands-on game designer," he said. "And I'm a big believer that no matter what level you're working at on a project, it's a very great thing to be able to stay connected to the practical processes of building out a game."

After a three month backpacking trip around the world, he'll take up his new role. During which, alongside his teaching commitments, he'll create new experimental games as part of a research project In other words, where he'll "be surrounded by awesome people, talking craft and philosophy, and building strange new things!"

We spoke to Lemarchand at Eurogamer Expo last September on Uncharted 3 alongside Nolan North.