The Stanley Parable’s Davey Wreden on breaking the fourth wall

The Stanley Parable’s Davey Wreden on breaking the fourth wall


When people ask what it means to make a game, they typically point to a standard set of devices: points, scores, levels, and so on. It’s rare that story makes the list. And yet, gamemaker Davey Wreden was able to move the medium to new heights with a deep exploration of story in his breakout freshman title The Stanley Parable, a tale of an office worker who veers from the script. With The Beginner’s Guide, Wreden flipped the post-modern switch with a fourth-wall breaking effort that evoked Cervantes and his favorite director Charlie Kaufman. We talked to Wreden about his design process, why games need an emotional core, and why film school isn’t for everybody.

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Resources:

The Stanley Parable

The Beginner's Guide

Host:

Jamin Warren

Credits:

Anthony Martinez, producer

Nick Sylvester, music