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…
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.…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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
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…
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…
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…
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…
Featuring Creative Director of Far Cry 2 Clint Hocking. What did it take for the ability to pet animals to become a standard feature in AAA Games? In this deep analysis video we explore the history of interacting with animals in video games in the only way video games knew…
I have a simple test when it comes to video games, if there's a toilet, can I flush it? Be it Duke Nukem, Silent Hill 2, Goldeneye, Bioshock or Heavy Rain. Today's we're discussing the beauty of flushable toilets in video games, and what it means to add that extra…
I spoke with Portal writer Erik Wolpaw about the inspiration for Portal's super villain GLaDOS and how they went about implementing her into a game that was already in full production when they came on board to write the story. You can find my full interview with Erik here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fllNa3NfZsc&t=6s…
Let’s talk about iconic NPCs in video games that you never get to meet. I spoke with Erik Wolpaw, writer of Portal, Portal 2, Left 4 Dead 1 & 2, and Half-Life 2: Episode One & Two, about the power of writing in the margins — and how that led…
Let's talk about drinking and alcoholism in video games, from the deadly hangovers of Disco Elysium to being complicit in Pam's alcoholism in Stardew Vally, we discuss the importance of having the option to 'just say no'. Please leave a comment about your own experience's with alcohol in video games.…
A mini documentary examining the power of sitting in video games featuring Jon Ingold (80 Days, Heaven's Vault), Richard Lemarchand (Uncharted) and Julia Minimata (The Crimson Diamond). I noticed how often my interviews veer into discussion on players being given space to reflect on the world they are inhabiting within…
Julia Minamata is the solo developer of the text parser adventure game The Crimson Diamond, a love letter to the classic Sierra On-Line adventures. I adored playing The Crimson Diamond and wanted to talk with Julia about the power of play in video games. We discuss her inspiration for the…
Larry Kuperman, Vice President of Business Development at Nightdive Studios, joins me to discuss the art and complexity of remastering and remaking classic games. Nightdive Studios have built a well-deserved reputation for near-flawless restorations, including System Shock, System Shock 2, Blade Runner, Star Wars: Dark Forces, The Thing, and many…
This is The Examined Game's first ever mini doc featuring Uncharted 2 co-lead game designer Richard Lemarchand talking about the risk Naughty Dog took in slowing players down in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Listen to the full interview with Uncharted co-lead game designer Richard Lemarchand here 👇 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx_uRJdqpe0&t=87s #documentary #videogames…
Richard Lemarchand — co-lead game designer on the Uncharted trilogy at Naughtydog, veteran of Soul Reaver, Gex and Pandemonium, and now Professor of Cinematic Arts at USC joins me to answer one question: how do you learn to take risks in AAA game design? We cover where Richard finds inspiration…
