Marc LeBlanc

Marc "Mahk" LeBlanc is a renowned educator and video game designer known for his contributions to various influential titles and his work on game design theory. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science from MIT. During his time at Looking Glass Studios, LeBlanc worked on notable games such as *Ultima Underworld II*, *System Shock*, *Flight Unlimited*, *Terra Nova*, and *Thief*. After leaving Looking Glass, he joined Sega to develop artificial intelligence for sports games and later co-founded Mind Control Software with Andrew Leker, where they created *Oasis*, which won an Independent Games Festival award. LeBlanc has also participated in numerous independent game jams.

In his career, LeBlanc has led workshops at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), focusing on his Mechanics/Dynamics/Aesthetics (MDA) framework for game design, inspired by Doug Church’s work. He runs the website *8kindsoffun.com*, where he categorizes "fun" into eight types: Sensation, Fantasy, Narrative, Challenge, Fellowship, Discovery, Expression, and Submission. Each category represents a distinct form of enjoyment that games can offer, with examples provided for clarity. LeBlanc emphasizes that games can combine these elements in various ways, and different players may find different combinations appealing.

LeBlanc’s work also touches on the intersection of game design and player experiences, aligning with broader discussions like the Bartle taxonomy of player types. His contributions continue to influence both academic and professional circles within the gaming industry.