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 29 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Steven Lake hosts The Examined Game, a leisure show with 29 episodes published.

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  Episode #32

  The Examined Game Special - Resident Evil Movie, Star Wars Zero Company and Assassin's Creed Addiction

  Sep 29, 202616 minS1

  Send us Fan Mail 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 Wars Zero Company has saved me from a bad save scumming habit and to get really honest with you about my addiction to buying and not playing Assassin's Creed games. I'm trying to get a good work flow in place so i'm not missing weeks so please do bear with me and i've got some great guests lining up for the next few weeks! 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 #31

  Betting My Career on Talking About Video Games — 6 Months In

  Sep 23, 202625 minS1

  Send us Fan Mail Technoblade Never Dies Documentary Announcement: https://youtu.be/Lj0mDrEKSmA?si=N0pV54fYQg5HlnxF Variety Piece: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/technoblade-never-dies-documentary-minecraft-riot-games-1236850438/ Today my guest on The Examined Game Podcast is me... Steven Lake. Look life has been busy with a few projects and for the first time in 7 months I didn't line up a guest for the podcast. So I thought i'd spend a bit of time telling you what i'm up to outside of the channel (I'm making some movies!) and talk a little bit about the podcast, why I do it, what I love about it etc. I do talk a little bit about Technoblade Never Dies, the feature documentary I am directing about the life and times of Technoblade and the upcoming film Raised By Dragons directed by Carina Nichaouchine. A Coming of age dungeons and Dragons documentary. 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 #30

  TellTale Game's Fireside Chat with Jon Ingold (Inkle Studios) on 80 Days and The Walking Dead

  Sep 18, 20261h 8mS1

  Send us Fan Mail 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’ Choices Matter Festival, which premiered on Steam back in August. They gave myself and Jon the opportunity to dive into all the potential that comes from great choice making in video games. We cover everything from The Walking Dead through to Jon’s own catalogue of games. It was such an honour to participate in this event with Telltale Games. I am such a huge fan of their work. Enjoy! #thewalkingdeadtelltale #gaming #inklestudios #thelastexpress #80days 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 #29

  How Obsidian Make Games That Actually Come Out | Carrie Patel (Avowed, Outer Worlds)

  Sep 9, 20261h 4mS1

  Send us Fan Mail 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 to take with its RPGs by making games that actually get released! So we talk about the scope and ambition that went into making a game like Avowed, how Obsidian made an RPG that could stand on its own two legs and separate itself from the Skyrims of the world, and how crucial good writing and quest design are when you are reducing scope elsewhere, such as removing in-depth crime and murder mechanics. Much like when I spoke with Josh Sawyer, Carrie just exuded so much love and joy for video games, both the ones she has played and the ones she works on. We also discuss the pathway she took from author, to video game writer, to directing one of the biggest RPGs of recent years. 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 #28

  The Studio Making Soulslikes For Everyone | Sean Valesco (Mina The Hollower, Shovel Knight)

  Aug 31, 20261h 18mS1

  Send us Fan Mail 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 modifiers designed to make the game more accessible. The funny thing is, I never ended up using them. Instead, I persevered. So I wanted to talk to Sean about the philosophy behind Mina, the idea of making a Soulslike that could be accessible to everyone, and why that approach can be surprisingly controversial. We also talk about the huge risk Yacht Club Games took as Mina’s ambition and scope continued to grow, and what happens when a small studio decides to aim much, much bigger. #minathehollower #soulslike #gamingpodcast #zeldalike 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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