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Videos

June 10, 2026

How Zelda Influenced Outer Wilds #outerwilds #zelda #gaming #shorts

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 development, including the idea of "emotional prototyping",…

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June 9, 2026

What Inspired Outer Wilds Creator? #outerwilds #gaming #cosmos

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 development, including the idea of "emotional prototyping",…

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June 8, 2026

The Magic School Bus Inspired Outer Wilds' Creator #outerwilds #gaming #themagicschoolbus #shorts

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 development, including the idea of "emotional prototyping",…

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June 7, 2026

Never Going to Play a Soulslike #gaming #shorts #soulslike

Today we're talking about my new favourite game: Mina the Hollower by Yacht Club Games. It's the game that finally got me engaged with a Soulslike for the first time in my life. Mina the Hollower is phenomenal, and I can't overstate just how bad I usually am at these…

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June 7, 2026

Finally a Soulslike I can Play! #minathehollower #soulslike #gaming #shorts

Today we're talking about my new favourite game: Mina the Hollower by Yacht Club Games. It's the game that finally got me engaged with a Soulslike for the first time in my life. Mina the Hollower is phenomenal, and I can't overstate just how bad I usually am at these…

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June 7, 2026

Did Dark Souls Inspire Outer Wilds? #outerwilds #gaming #shorts

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 development, including the idea of "emotional prototyping",…

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June 7, 2026

The Soulslike For People Who Hate Soulslikes #soulslike #minathehollower #gaming #darksouls #shorts

Today we're talking about my new favourite game: Mina the Hollower by Yacht Club Games. It's the game that finally got me engaged with a Soulslike for the first time in my life. Mina the Hollower is phenomenal, and I can't overstate just how bad I usually am at these…

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June 5, 2026

The Soulslike For People Who Hate Soulslikes

Today we are talking about my new favourite game, the one that has actually gotten me engaged with a Soulslike for the first time in my life. It's Mina the Hollower by Yacht Club Games. This game is phenomenal, and I can't overstate just how bad I usually am at…

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June 2, 2026

The Childhood Game That Inspired Outer Wilds Creator

I sat down with creator of Outer Wilds Alex Beachum to discuss some of his favorite childhood video games including a 90s educational video game, Dark Souls, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Star Wars Rebel Assult. You can find the full…

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June 1, 2026

How Outer Wilds Was Created | Alex Beachum

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 development, including the idea of "emotional prototyping",…

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May 30, 2026

My Dad Won't Let Me Play James Bond

Today I recount a story about my dad telling me a bold faced lie about why he won't buy me the James Bond game i've always wanted. This childhood memory came up since the release of 007 First Light which I can't wait to play. I have my parents to…

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May 29, 2026

The Examined Game Trailer

http://www.theexaminedgame.com 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, Life is Strange, Uncharted,…

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May 27, 2026

The Hidden Psychology of Adventure Games

Full Interview with Julia Minamata creator of The Crimson Diamond Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D34domaoqeI In this clip I talk with Julia about her approach to game design looking at her game environment as a dolls house. Julia Minamata is the solo developer of the text parser adventure game The Crimson Diamond, a…

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May 25, 2026

What Hair Styles Say About Our Favorite Video Game Characters

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May 25, 2026

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 upon Lamplight City.…

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May 22, 2026

The Risk Most Games Won't Take

What happens when a fledgling studio with a limited budget takes a gamble on one very specific element of character design? That's what the team behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 did with hair. Today I get to talk with Amandine Marest, Hair & Technical Character artist Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.…

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May 15, 2026

The Comfort of a Video Game Main Menu

Today we are talking about Main Menus in video games including Half Life 2, Final Fantasy VII, Detroit: Become Human and Life Is Strange. Menu's in video games are a strange in-between space that exist for pratacticle reasons but over the years developers have applied their own attention to detail…

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May 13, 2026

Nina Freeman (Lost Records: Bloom & Rage) on Writing Games With Meaning

LISTEN HERE: https://www.theexaminedgame.com/scope-playtesting-and-finishing-games-nina-freeman-cibele-lost-records-bloom-rage/ In today’s episode I speak with game developer Nina Freeman about mistakes, reflection, and the role personal experience can play in game design. Nina is known for her autobiographical approach to games, incorporating real moments from her own life into projects like Cibele, as well as her…

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May 8, 2026

My Childhood Living Room Was a Save Point

Today we’re talking about my endless pursuit of safety in video games and my attempt to beat Hollow Knight: Silksong by darting from bench to bench in a constant search for save points and moments of peace. Featuring Kelsey Beachum, writer of Outer Wilds, and Clint Hocking, Creative Director of…

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May 6, 2026

Outer Wilds Broke One of Gaming’s Golden Rules

Full Interview Here: https://youtu.be/3UBbtWJzu8k?si=0wCOFNJBBZFgEaWD Outer Wilds writer Kelsey Beachum discusses how Outer Wilds broke a basic rule of game design and succeeded for doing so. #outerwilds #gamedesign #gaming

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April 30, 2026

When AAA Games Took A Risk Like This

What does it feel like as a Creative Director to take a massive risk with on a AAA game? I speak with Creative Director of Far Cry 2 Clint Hocking and go behind the scenes of the Far Cry Series' most ambitious game to date. This game combined life threatening…

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April 23, 2026

Why I Crave Safety in Video Games

Today we’re talking about my endless pursuit of safety in video games and my attempt to beat Hollow Knight: Silksong by darting from bench to bench in a constant search for save points and moments of peace. Featuring Kelsey Beachum, writer of Outer Wilds, and Clint Hocking, Creative Director of…

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April 19, 2026

Outer Wilds Is Still a Mystery to Its Writer

Full Interview with Outer Wilds' writer Kesley Beachum here: WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UBbtWJzu8k&feature=youtu.be LISTEN HERE: https://www.podpage.com/the-examined-... Outer Wilds Footage provided by ‪@SilentLongplays • [PC] Outer Wilds - No Commentary Full Play... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xTeaoywSjI Today I sit down with Kelsey Beachum, writer of Outer Wilds, for a deeply honest conversation about the creative…

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April 14, 2026

Writing Outer Wilds: Grief Joy & Letting Go | Kelsey Beachum

Today I sit down with Kelsey Beachum, writer of Outer Wilds, for a deeply honest conversation about the creative process. We discuss the fear and anxiety of putting your work into the world when you've poured your heart and soul into it, and the strange phenomenon of imposter syndrome that…

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