No Cartridge Audio Episode 135: Outer Wilds Forever! with Alex and Kelsey Beachum
Aug 7, 2019
Kelsey and Alex Beachum, a dynamic sibling duo, contribute their talents to the acclaimed game Outer Wilds. Kelsey, a writer, shaped its character development, while Alex focused on design. They dive into the game's origins as a thesis project and share fascinating insights about crafting the immersive worlds and engaging gameplay mechanics. They also discuss the challenges of time travel narratives and the importance of inclusivity in character design. With playful sibling banter, they reveal the creative process behind this beloved indie gem.
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Episode notes
Three Pillars Drove Design
- The team built Outer Wilds around three pillars: fragile, dangerous space; time as explorable; and curiosity as the primary reward.
- Those pillars shaped mechanics like the time loop, changing planets, and knowledge-driven progression.
Introduce Mechanics Gradually
- Test early and add training wheels for difficult controls like flying; autopilot and a gentle difficulty curve helped players engage.
- Hide harder traversal below the surface and introduce mechanics progressively to avoid early frustration.
Tone Determines Player Curiosity
- Rewriting the village transformed player motivation from 'prove them wrong' to 'join a space-curious community.'
- Tone changes in early NPCs reversed player engagement and unlocked exploration desire.
