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.

The Examined Game is a leisure podcast hosted by Steven Lake, with 25 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Steven Lake hosts The Examined Game, a leisure show with 25 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #26

  The Man Concerned Ape Trusted with Stardew Valley

  Aug 19, 202647 minS1

  Send us Fan Mail 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 talk about the ups and downs, challenges and pressure of not only making a great board game, but doing it with the IP of one of the greatest video games of the 21st century. Cole tells us about the unconventional interview that got him the job, his ongoing relationship with Stardew Valley and its community, and the joy of seeing players engage with the board game he helped create. We also discuss the constant iteration and evolution that surrounds Stardew Valley, and Cole’s excitement about what’s to come with Haunted Chocolatier. #stardewvalley #hauntedchocolatier #gaming #boardgames The Examined Game Each week, host Steven Lake asks the creators behind some of the world’s most influential video games about the meaning of life (in video games), leading to conversations about the personal and creative impact games have had on their lives.

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  Episode #25

  What We Got Wrong About The Witcher | Doug Cockle, Voice of Geralt

  Aug 11, 202630 minS1

  Send us Fan Mail 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 protagonists: how Doug came to find Geralt’s voice, what he sees in the character, and what we can learn from Geralt, someone who is always willing to step up and leave the world a little better than they found it. In this conversation, we explore what makes Geralt such an enduring character, and how CD Projekt Red and Doug himself have evolved the character throughout the series. #thewitcher #thewitcher3 #gamingpodcast #cdprojektred #gaming #rpg The Examined Game Each week, host Steven Lake asks the creators behind some of the world’s most influential video games about the meaning of life (in video games), leading to conversations about the personal and creative impact games have had on their lives.

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  Episode #24

  Confessions of A Bethesda Veteran | Nate Purkeypile (Fallout 3, 4, 76, Skyrim, Starfield)

  Aug 4, 20261h 1mS1

  Send us Fan Mail Today I'm talking with Nate Purkeypile, the former Bethesda artist behind some of the studio's most iconic environments. Nate is a 22 year game industry veteran who worked on Fallout 3, Skyrim, Fallout 4, Fallout 76 and Starfield during his time at Bethesda Game Studios. He was Lead Artist on Fallout 76, as well as Lead Lighting Artist and Senior World Artist during the early development of Starfield. Across those games, Nate helped create some of Bethesda's most memorable locations, including Little Lamplight in Fallout 3, Blackreach in Skyrim and Diamond City in Fallout 4. In recent years, he has moved into indie development, releasing his first solo project, The Axis Unseen, and is currently working on the upcoming multiplayer game Gone Feral. We dive deep into his early days at Bethesda, the lightning in a bottle moment of Fallout 3, his ambition to make Skyrim's caves genuinely interesting, and what it was like stepping into the Lead Artist role on Fallout 76. We also discuss how Bethesda evolved over the years, why recreating the magic of games like Fallout 3 became increasingly difficult, and what those changes mean for the studio today. #fallout #fallout3 #fallout4 #bethesda #skyrim #starfield #gaming #gamingpodcast The Examined Game Each week, host Steven Lake asks the creators behind some of the world’s most influential video games about the meaning of life (in video games), leading to conversations about the personal and creative impact games have had on their lives.

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  Episode #23

  90s Games Were Built Different | Stephen Kick (Nightdive Studios - System Shock 1 & 2 Remake)

  Jul 30, 20261h 11mS1

  Send us Fan Mail 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, System Shock 2, The Thing: Remastered, Turok, Quake, DOOM + DOOM II, STAR WARS: Dark Forces Remaster, Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition, I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream, Blood, Outlaws and many more. This was an extremely personal deep dive into his childhood and the influence his dad had on him, bringing the video game adventures they played together to life through the painstaking journals he created, and his mum's strong desire for him to study video game design. We also discuss the adventure in South America that led to Stephen striking gold with Nightdive's first official re-release, System Shock 2. Stephen is dedicated to making sure some of the greatest video games of all time are not lost to history, putting them into the hands of both new and returning players alike. #NightdiveStudios #SystemShock #SystemShock2 #Gaming #GamingPodcast #GamePreservation #retrogaming The Examined Game Each week, host Steven Lake asks the creators behind some of the world’s most influential video games about the meaning of life (in video games), leading to conversations about the personal and creative impact games have had on their lives.

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  Episode #22

  I Asked The Witcher Voice Actor What His Career Has Cost Him | Doug Cockle

  Jul 21, 202641 minS1

  Send us Fan Mail 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 a two-part interview. This is probably the most open and honest conversation i've had to date on the podcast. When I sat down with Doug, I had no idea we'd end up spending so much time talking about one of the biggest decisions of his life: leaving his career as a university lecturer to become a full-time actor. Even after the success of The Witcher, Doug continued teaching because he genuinely loved it. But over time, the growing demands of his acting career, combined with the changing landscape of higher education, began to take a serious toll on his health. This conversation explores the importance of having people around you who can support you through difficult periods, knowing when it's time to make a life-changing decision, and why looking after both your physical and mental health should never be an afterthought. The Examined Game Each week, host Steven Lake asks the creators behind some of the world’s most influential video games about the meaning of life (in video games), leading to conversations about the personal and creative impact games have had on their lives.

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