The Examined Game
Visit theexaminedgame.com for all episodes.
What do video games reveal about us? In The Examined Game Podcast, peabody-nominated documentary producer Steven Lake speaks with the creators of the world’s most celebrated video games about how they were made and the personal and professional impact games have had on their lives.
Steven is a Peabody-nominated producer whose work has appeared on Netflix, BBC Storyville, PBS, and The Guardian.
About Steven Lake
Steven Lake is the host of The Examined Game Podcast and a Peabody-nominated documentary producer. His work has appeared on Netflix, BBC Storyville, PBS, Al Jazeera, and The Guardian.
His films include Roll Red Roll, described by The New York Times as “an essential watch,” as well as Phantom Parrot, rated 4 stars by Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian, and Dungeon Masterhood, a coming-of-age documentary with dragons.
Episodes
32 episodes
The Game Dev Trying to Ruin Your Life (And Save It) | Bennett Foddy (Getting Over It, Baby Steps)
Today I'm talking with Bennett Foddy, creator of QWOP, GIRP, Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, and co-creator of Baby Steps. Bennett's games are known for torturing players, but today I get to deep dive into the philosophy behind his design c...
The Examined Game Special - Resident Evil Movie, Star Wars Zero Company and Assassin's Creed Addiction
Hi all, Steven Lake here from The Examined Game. So i've had a couple weeks where i've been short of a guest but I didn't want to leave you totally hanging so I thought i'd have a chat with you all about the new Resident Evil movie, how Star Wa...
Betting My Career on Talking About Video Games — 6 Months In
Technoblade Never Dies Documentary Announcement: https://youtu.be/Lj0mDrEKSmA?si=N0pV54fYQg5HlnxFVariety Piece: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/technoblade-never-dies-documentary-minecraft-riot-games-1236850438/Today my guest on ...
TellTale Game's Fireside Chat with Jon Ingold (Inkle Studios) on 80 Days and The Walking Dead
Today I am talking with Jon Ingold, co-founder of Inkle Studios. Inkle have brought us some incredible adventure games over the years, including 80 Days, TR-49, Heaven’s Vault, Expelled and Overboard. This discussion was part of Telltale Games’...
How Obsidian Make Games That Actually Come Out | Carrie Patel (Avowed, Outer Worlds)
Today I am talking with Carrie Patel, director of Avowed, who worked on the Pillars of Eternity series as well as The Outer Worlds while working at Obsidian.I've long wanted to have a discussion around the direction that Obsidian decided...
The Studio Making Soulslikes For Everyone | Sean Velasco (Mina The Hollower, Shovel Knight)
Today I’m talking with Sean Velasco , creator of Hollow Knight and Mina the Hollower.Mina was my first Soulslike. That might sound strange, given the genre’s reputation for brutal difficulty, but Mina came with a whole range of modifier...
A BioWare Insider Explains What Went Wrong | Mark Darrah (Dragon Age, Mass Effect)
Today on The Examined Game, I'm talking with Mark Darrah, who spent over two decades at BioWare. Mark was part of the studio's early days as it took a huge risk on the original Baldur's Gate. He then helped shepherd the studio through a series ...
How Do You Make a Board Game Out of Stardew Valley? | Cole Mediros
Today on The Examined Game, I’m talking with Cole Medeiros, who was tasked with working alongside ConcernedApe (Eric Barone), the creator of Stardew Valley, to turn one of the most beloved video games of all time into a board game.We ta...
What We Got Wrong About The Witcher | Doug Cockle, Voice of Geralt
Doug Cockle, the voice of Geralt from The Witcher video games, believes that underneath Geralt’s cold exterior is a man who feels things deeply. So today I’m talking to Doug to discuss the beating heart beneath one of video games’ greatest prot...
90s Games Were Built Different | Stephen Kick (Nightdive Studios - System Shock 1 & 2 Remake)
Today on The Examined Game I am speaking with Stephen Kick, Studio Head at Nightdive Studios.Stephen is responsible for some of the greatest video game remasters, remakes and re-releases of the last decade, including System Shock, Syste...
I Asked The Witcher Voice Actor What His Career Has Cost Him | Doug Cockle
Today I'm speaking with actor Doug Cockle. Doug is best known as the voice of Geralt in The Witcher series, but has also voiced Bhaal in Baldur's Gate 3, Victor Vran in Victor Vran, and the Narrator in Tails of Iron.This is Part One of ...
Why You Shouldn't Give Players What They Want | Edmund McMillen (The Binding of Isaac, Mewgenics)
Today I'm talking with indie game designer Edmund McMillen (The Binding of Isaac, Mewgenics, Super Meat Boy) about the way he approaches making games. Edmund has a pretty simple philosophy when it comes to game design, even if the games themsel...
From Pillars of Eternity to Pentiment | Josh Sawyer (Obsidian) PART 2
This is Part 2 of my two part interview with Obsidian's Josh Sawyer. The first episode can be found here: WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HDXqBgMxy0&t=1448sLISTEN HERE: https://www.theexaminedgame.com/from-icewind-...
How The Drifter Modernised The Adventure Game | Dave Lloyd (Designer)
Today on The Examined Game I am talking with the writer, developer and designer of The Drifter, one of my absolute favourite point and click adventure games of the last few years.I am in a constant pursuit of a great point and click adv...
From Icewind Dale to Fallout: New Vegas | Josh Sawyer (Obsidian) PART 1
Today on The Examined Game, I’m joined by Josh Sawyer (Joshua Sawyer) Studio Design Director at Obsidian Entertainment.Josh is an industry veteran whose credits include Icewind Dale, Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, ...
The Evolution of Life Is Strange | Jonathan Zimmerman (Life is Strange: True Colors, Reunion, Before The Storm)
write me at steven@theexaminedgame.com and let me know what you think!What does it feel like to land your dream job working on the follow-up to a game that blew your mind? This is exactly what happened to Jonathan Zimmerman when he land...
How Inkle Studios Built a Sustainable Game Studio | Joseph Humfrey
In today’s episode of The Examined Game I talk with co-founder of Inkle Studios (80 Days, TR-49, Heaven’s Vault, Overboard, A Highland Song, Expelled, Sorcery) Joseph Humfrey. This interview is a counterpart to my chat with Jon Ingold, the othe...
We're All Going to Die - Creating Outer Wilds | Alex Beachum Creative Director
In today's episode of The Examined Game, I am talking with the creator of Outer Wilds, Alex Beachum.We get into the weeds of how the original prototype of the game came about back when Alex was studying game design, his approach to devel...
Mastering The Modern Adventure Game | Francisco Gonzalez (Rosewater, Lamplight City, A Golden Wake)
Today we are talking with Francisco Gonzalez as we go in depth on the genre of video game that I have been playing longer than any other in my life: point and click adventure games. I have been a fan of Francisco's games ever since I stumbled u...
The Talent Behind Video Game Hair Design | Amandine Marest (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
Today I get to talk with Amandine MarestHair & Technical Character artist Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. We cover all things hair related in video games. Amandine's work in Clair Obscure is incredible and it was such a pleasure to deep dive i...
The Mathematics of Interactive Storytelling - Jon Ingold (80 Days, Heaven's Vault, TR-49)
In today's episode of The Examined Game I speak with co-founder of Inkle Studios, Jon Ingold. I am a huge fan of the work both he and Joseph Humfrey have done under Inkle Studios. Beyond finding new ways to iterate on the adventure game genre, ...
The Dial Up Entrepreneur | Scott Miller (Apogee Entertainment, Duke Nukem 3D, Wolfenstein 3D)
In this episode I speak with Scott Miller, founder of Apogee Entertainment (Commander Keen, Duke Nukem) and 3D Realms (Max Payne, Prey). Scott helped pioneer the shareware model of game distribution in the late 80s and early 90s, releasing larg...
Hell Broke Loose - The Making of Far Cry 2 | Clint Hocking (Creative Director)
Today I’m talking with Clint Hocking, Creative Director of Far Cry 2 and Watch Dogs: Legion.Clint has had a long and varied career in the video game industry, working on the original Splinter Cell games, as well as roles at Ubisoft, Valv...
Making Atomfall: Risk & Reward | Ben Fisher (Head of Design)
In today’s episode, I speak with Ben Fisher, Head of Design on Atomfall and Sniper Elite: Resistance. Ben is a key creative figure at Rebellion, and we take a deep dive into the philosophy and design process behind Atomfall’s open-world RPG str...
Writing Outer Wilds: Joy, Grief, and Letting Go | Kelsey Beachum (Outer Wilds, Avowed, Outer Worlds)
Today I sit down with Kelsey Beachum, writer of Outer Wilds, for a deeply honest conversation about the creative process, including what it was like collaborating with her brother Alex Beachum on one of the most loved indie games of the past de...
