Podcast Summary: Professor Game Podcast – Episode 428

Title: From Theater to Gamification: Lessons I Learned from My Dad
Host: Rob Alvarez
Date: January 19, 2026

Overview:

In this heartfelt solo episode, Rob Alvarez steps away from his usual interview format to share a personal tribute to his father, Mariano Alvarez, on the 25th anniversary of his passing. Rob uses stories and lessons from his father's life as a prominent Venezuelan actor and director to draw powerful connections to engagement, game design, and gamification. The episode blends memories, practical insights, and reflections on how his father's influence continues to shape his work in motivation and design today.

Key Discussion Points and Insights:

Remembering Mariano Alvarez and His Legacy

[01:17 – 05:30]

• Rob introduces his father, Mariano Alvarez, a well-known actor in Venezuela's soap operas, theater, and film.

• Shares Mariano’s impact on Venezuelan popular culture, notably his portrayal of significant characters like Jose Gregorio Hernandez (a saint) and Simon Bolivar.

• Discusses the deep societal belief and emotional impact quality performances can have, even carrying over into audiences’ real-world interactions.

  "He represented that character... and people who met him, would ask, 'Can you bless my kid?' because he played a saint in a movie." (Rob Alvarez, 03:48)

Lessons in Believability and Immersive Storytelling

[05:31 – 13:00]

• Rob reflects on how his father’s acting created credible worlds, drawing parallels to games and gamification:

  • Actors infuse characters with believability, making audiences emotionally invested—even when logic says otherwise.
  • In game design, similar immersion makes experiences resonate and motivate real action.

• Cites modern examples where actors’ likenesses in games continue this tradition, further blurring lines between fiction and reality.

  "When representations are credible, are believable... our brains associate an actor with something much bigger, and even when we know it’s not true, we’re emotionally invested." (Rob Alvarez, 07:12)

• Discusses superheroes (Spiderman being his dad’s favorite) and how their relatable qualities inspire both creativity and motivation.

Early Influence: Video Games and Play

[13:01 – 18:00]

• Reveals that his dad was not only a lover of superhero comics but also an avid gamer—uncommon among adults in his era.

  • Shared memories of playing games like Digger and Prince of Persia together.
  • Recognizes the powerful modeling this set for him, making gaming a normal, accepted pursuit and planting early seeds for his gamification career.

  "He was the first adult I saw playing video games... which at the time was not something common. It was like, oh, that’s a kids’ thing, right? But he was very much into it." (Rob Alvarez, 15:42)

• Highlights how these shared gaming moments informed his skill-building, sense of challenge, and appreciation for both play and strategy.

Physical Health, Discipline, and Self-Care

[18:01 – 24:08]

• Recalls the lesson of taking care of one’s body—an essential for his actor father.

  • Anecdote: Realization as a boy that physical upkeep reflected not just age but discipline and self-care after watching his father and a younger colleague backstage.

  "How you look is also a representation of what you do to take care of yourself... his main tool as an actor was his physical body." (Rob Alvarez, 20:22)

• Notes the connection to modern gamified fitness solutions and his renewed commitment to health through activity.

Generosity, Kindness, and Human Connection

[24:09 – 26:50]

• Emphasizes values instilled by his father: generosity and treating everyone with equal kindness, regardless of social position.
• Credits both parents (and later, his wife) for modeling this behavior.
  • Example: Always greeting and showing respect to service workers.

Lessons from the Theater: Directing for Experience

[26:51 – 34:09]

• Draws direct links between theater direction and designing engaging experiences:

  • Watching his father direct plays taught him the importance of planning, rehearsal, and audience perspective.
  • Involvement in stage tricks (like making a slap look real) nurtured a commitment to believability and user immersion.

  "That kind of thinking—looking for believability and seeing how things come together—was something I learned from that time... and when we’re creating gamified projects, this is definitely very, very important." (Rob Alvarez, 30:46)

• Shares memories of traveling with theater productions, sneaking on as an extra, and witnessing the value of incorporating local talent—a nod to adapting experiences for different audiences.

Core Life Lessons and Gamification Parallels

[34:10 – 37:35]

• Sums up the key influences from his father:

  • Superheroes: Inspiration and approachable fantasy.
  • Video games: Normalifying adult play and collaborative challenge.
  • Health: Commitment to well-being and its tie to long-term engagement.
  • Generosity: The heart of meaningful engagement.
  • Audience focus: Always design for believability and emotional resonance.

• Expresses gratitude for these foundational lessons and their direct connection to his approach in gamification, design, and life.

  "That fondness for the audience—trying to put yourself in their perspective... so you can create an experience that is believable. In that case it was theater; in my case it’s gamified apps or interactive media." (Rob Alvarez, 35:55)

Closing Tribute

[37:36 – 38:48]

• Rob closes emotionally, speaking directly to his father with love and gratitude.

  "Mariano, wherever you are... this tribute goes to you, with all my love, all the good memories, everything I learned. Thank you, thank you, just thank you for being there..." (Rob Alvarez, 38:18)

Memorable Quotes

• On the power of storytelling:

  "Creating that believability when you then see [a character] in real life, even though your logical brain says it’s not that person, your emotional side believes." (07:34)

• Superheroes as mirrors for ourselves:

  "When we do good gamification, you create it close enough to be somehow believable, even though it’s not true. It relates to real situations—that’s how we extract it into our daily lives." (10:45)

• On adult gaming culture:

  "He was the first adult I saw playing video games... and that influenced the gamification person I became. Until I reflected on this episode, I hadn’t really thought about it that way." (15:52)

• Life and engagement:

  "That fondness for the audience—trying to see how they’d react... so you can create an experience that is believable." (35:55)

• A final message to his father:

  "Thank you for being there, being who you were in many ways—and perhaps, see you someday. Love you, dad." (38:30)

Notable Timestamps

• [01:17] – Introduction to Mariano Alvarez's legacy
• [03:48] – Emotional impact of acting and public belief
• [07:12] – Lessons on believability and immersion
• [10:45] – Believable worlds in gamification
• [15:42] – Gaming as an adult and its influence
• [20:22] – Discipline, health, and self-care
• [30:46] – Directing lessons for engagement design
• [35:55] – Audience focus in experience creation
• [38:18] – Emotional tribute and gratitude

Tone and Style

Rob’s narration is warm, reflective, sometimes lightly humorous, and deeply personal. While remaining practical in drawing parallels to gamification and engagement, the episode is imbued with nostalgia and gratitude, making abstract design principles tangible through lived experiences and storytelling.

For Listeners

Whether you work in gamification or design, or are simply seeking inspiration on how our personal histories shape our creative work, this episode offers valuable lessons on empathy, immersion, and the lifelong impact of those we admire.