Each week, host Steven Lake asks a single expansive question of the creators behind some of the world’s most influential video games, sparking meaningful conversations about the personal and professional impact games have had on their lives and creative philosophies. From games like Outer Wilds, Uncharted and Far Cry 2 to classic PC titles like Doom, Duke Nukem and Wolfenstein 3D, The Examined Game explores what it took to bring these worlds to life and the mindset behind their creation. From AAA blockbusters to breakout indie games, the series focuses on game design, player psychology, immersion, storytelling and the deeper relationship people form with virtual worlds.
The Examined Game features longform conversations with influential game developers and creators including Clint Hocking (Far Cry 2, Splinter Cell, Watch Dogs: Legion), Scott Miller (Commander Keen, Duke Nukem, Wolfenstein 3D, Max Payne, Prey), Richard Lemarchand (Uncharted, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver), Erik Wolpaw (Portal, Half-Life), Kelsey Beachum (Outer Wilds, The Outer Worlds, Avowed), Nina Freeman (Cibele, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage), Ben Fisher (Atomfall, Sniper Elite: Resistance), Julia Minamata (The Crimson Diamond), Chris Wade (Big Hops), Larry Kuperman (Nightdive Studios) and Mario R. Kroll (UberStrategist). Conversations regularly explore the design philosophies behind games like Deus Ex, Thief, Minecraft and The Last of Us, with a particular focus on player agency, emergent gameplay, narrative systems and the psychology of play.
About Steven Lake
Steven Lake is the host of The Examined Game and a Peabody-nominated documentary producer. He has produced work for Netflix, BBC Storyville, PBS POV, Al Jazeera and The Guardian. His films include Phantom Parrot, Roll Red Roll — which The New York Times called “an essential watch” — and Dungeon Masterhood, a coming-of-age documentary with dragons. Other work includes Anonymous Comes to Town, one of The Guardian’s most-watched documentary shorts, and The Family Statement for Field of Vision.