The Poll Has Spoken

How Outer Wilds Broke a Golden Rule of Gaming youtu.be/GFx5FSFduq4 with Writer @vankelsing.bsky.social. Made this piece out of my delightful full interview with Kelsey #outerwilds #gaming

Honoured to be part of 2026 #tribecafilmfestival Creator's Market with Dungeon Masterhood (A Coming of Age Documentary with Dragons) Directed by Carina NicHaouchine. The Examined Game's first feature film. tribecafilm.com/festival/cre...

What game shall I buy with my first $15 of YouTube monetization?

My interview with Scott Miller (Duke Nukum 3D, Wolfenstein 3D, Commander Keen) on building pre-internet digital distribution for video games #gaming #steam #gamingpodcast www.podpage.com/the-examined...

When Ubisoft Took a Risk Like This youtu.be/-Qa40aeqn48 short documentary featuring Clint Hocking Creative Director of Far Cry 2 #ubisoft #farcry #farcry2 #gaming

The Chaos and Brilliance of Far Cry 2 with Creative Director Clint Hocking youtu.be/HshjeYKWx4Q #gaming #podcast #farcry #farcry2

New Video: The Pull of Safe Spaces in Hollow Knight: Silksong youtu.be/HAbyf7G1QSs #hollowknight #silksong #metroidvania

In celebration of Atomfall winning Best British Game at The BAFTAs i've released my in-depth interview with Head of Design Ben Fisher: www.buzzsprout.com/2596612/epis... We discuss all the uncertainty that came with paving the way for the games successful 'leads system' #atomfall #gaming #rpg

Dread & Joy: Writing Outer Wilds With Kelsey Beachum youtu.be/3UBbtWJzu8k One of my favorite interviews i've ever done, covering grief, dread and joy and how it appeared in Kelsey's writing of Outer Wilds. #outerwilds #gaming #rpg #podcast

The Voice In Disco Elysium That Wants to Destroy You www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE_M... A mini deep dive into how Disco Elysium handles alcoholism #gaming #discoelysium #alcoholism #addiction

This is Outer Wilds' Greatest Paradox youtu.be/y2ieGv-prrE a short piece pulled from my interview with Outer Wilds writer Kelsey Beachum @vankelsing.bsky.social discussing dread, joy and grief in the game #outerwilds #gaming #videogames #grief

Writing Outer Wilds: Grief Joy & Letting Go | featuring writer Kelsey Beachum @vankelsing.bsky.social FULL EPISODE: shorturl.at/0cBmx A deep dive into creative process, imposter syndrome and vulnerability. One of my favorite interviews to date #outerwilds #gaming #podcast

I've had many highlights in my documentary career HOWEVER receiving (my first) $15 donation in response to a YouTube video about petting dogs is right up there with things that make me go HELL YEAH youtu.be/4FDFP3_rsYA #youtube #gaming #farcry

How Games Learned to Let You Love Animals (and pet them) featuring Clint Hocking Creative Director of Far Cry 2 youtu.be/4FDFP3_rsYA #gaming #readdeadredemption2 #farcry2 #zelda #videoessay #mario64

Really enjoyed this interview about game dev mistakes and learning from them! Check it out ❤️

Scope, testing and Finishing games with Nina Freeman @ninamarie.bsky.social (Cibele, Tacoma, Last Call, Lost Records: Bloom and Rage) This is Episode 7 of the Examined Game. www.podpage.com/the-examined... #videogames #gaming #videogamdesign #podcast

The Toilet Test: Pointless Mechanics That Make Games Great youtu.be/r9F7cVYb-sA Today we're talking about the power of flushable toilets in video games #gaming #videogames #bioshock #heavyrain #metalgearsolid

Why Platformers need to Evolve with Chris Wade @luckshotgames.com director of Big Hops. New episode of The Examined Game: www.podpage.com/the-examined... #gaming #videogames #podcast #platformers

What are you favourite safe spaces in video games??? Mine has historically been Sanctuary in Zelda: Link To The Past, followed by Hollow Knight Benches #gaming #residentevil #zelda #hollowknight #silksong

How GLaDOS found her voice in Portal www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvEy... Featuring Portal writer Erik Wolpaw, an exploration on what it took to bring GLaDOS from Portal to life Thanks to @brainfartstudio.bsky.social for the Portal footage. #portal #videogames #valve #halflife #portal2 #gaming

New Episode of The Examined Game is live. I’m joined by Mario R. Kroll founder of UberStrategist, to break down why great games are can still fail to reach an audience and what actually gets a game noticed in a crowded market. #videogames #gaming #podcast www.podpage.com/the-examined...

I have a new video out. Famous NPCs You Never Meet www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix5K... a video essay on some of video games greatest unseen NPCs featuring Erik Wolpaw, writer of Portal. #portal #gaming #videogames #reddeadredemption #videogamedesign

Erik Wolpaw (Portal, Half Life 2: Episodes, Left 4 Dead) on "Why Game Writing Lives in the Margins" New Episode of The Examined Game out now: www.podpage.com/the-examined... #videogames #podcast #portal #halflife #valve #gaming #left4dead

March's Crimson Gazette's out! 📰 I spoke at @ubisoft.com Toronto for International Women's Day, contributed to @inkle.co's book, chatted w/ @theexaminedgame.bsky.social, & The Crimson Diamond's 25% off for #CuriousOdyssey (nearly 600 reviews!), & more! www.thecrimsondiamond.com/CrimsonGazette90.html

I just think they're neat #videogames #gaming #animals #ghostsofYoshima

@noodleawesome.bsky.social Thanks for the previous shout out. My chair test video had such a strong response it inspired me to make a drink test video... www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3iV...

Why Video Games have a Drinking Problem - A new video essay on alcoholism in video games is up featuring Stardew Valley by @concernedape.bsky.social and Disco Elysium www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3iV... #stardewvalley #discoelysium #vidoegames #gamedesign #alcoholism

'The Chair Test in Video Games' video has hit 33,000+ views and generated hundreds of thoughtful comments. Thank you @rich-lem.bsky.social, @jon.inkle.co and @juliaminamata.bsky.social for your contribution to this piece www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdFB... #gaming #videogamedesign #videogames

@rich-lem.bsky.social I think you'd enjoy the discussion going on in the chair video where I featured your reflections on ICO. People are going DEEP on chair theory in video games... www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdFB...

For research purposes... Best video game haircuts? Mine is a relatively new entry... Maelle from @expedition33.bsky.social Clair Obscure. For haircuts I wish I had...Sephiroth from @ffviirjp.bsky.social FF7 #gaming #clairobscure #finalfantasy

Thanks for the wonderful chat, Steven! A great conversation, please give a listen:

Episode 3 of The Examined Game featuring an in-depth interview with @juliaminamata.bsky.social, creator of text parser adventure The Crimson Diamond on the topic of play is now live... www.podpage.com/the-examined... #videogames #podcast #gamedesign #pointandclick

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only dev with a deep-seated belief in the power of a sittable chair. To add to my thoughts in the video: I think in-game sittable chairs allow devs to be gracious hosts to their players, to help them feel welcome to an experience without an expectation to act.🪑

The Chair Test in Video Games, a short video essay featuring @inkle.co's Jon Ingold (80 Days), @juliaminamata.bsky.social (The Crimson Diamond) & @rich-lem.bsky.social (Uncharted) www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdFB... #videogamedocumentary #gaming #gamedesign #videoessay

Why @naughtydog.com deliberately slowed you down in Uncharted 2 featuring co-lead game designer Richard Lemarchand @rich-lem.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_hr... #naughtydog #uncharted #videogames #documentary #gamedesign #thelastofus #uncharted2amongtheives #videogamepodcast

I recently spoke with the excellent Steven Lake for his new documentary and interview series, @theexaminedgame.bsky.social —the 7 minute documentary is now live, and you can hear me talk about Uncharted 2's "peaceful village" sequence right here! www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_hr...

Steven drew some things out of me about this that I haven't said before... if you want to hear our full discussion, you can listen to that here: www.podpage.com/the-examined... Thank you for the thoughtful conversation, Steven! @theexaminedgame.bsky.social