Davey Wreden
{{Short description|Video game developer (born 1988)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Davey Wreden
| image = Davey Wreden and Ryan Hoth, GDCA 2016 (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Wreden at the Game Developers Choice Awards in 2016
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|09|29}}
| birth_place =
| nationality =
| alma_mater = University of Southern California
| relatives = Douglas Wreden (brother)
| occupation = Game designer, developer
| known_for = {{plainlist|
- The Stanley Parable
- The Beginner's Guide
- Co-founding Ivy Road
}}
}}
Davey Wreden (born September 29, 1988) is a game designer and developer, best known for his work on The Stanley Parable, The Beginner's Guide, and Wanderstop.
Career
= ''The Stanley Parable'' =
File:Davey Wreden, GDCA 2014.jpg won the Audience Award at the Independent Games Festival Awards.]]
Wreden started developing video games in 2009. He created The Stanley Parable in 2011, as a modification for Valve Corporation's game Half-Life 2. The mod itself received attention for its approach to storytelling and use of the video game medium.{{cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Kirk |date=August 9, 2011 |title=The Stanley Parable Turns Video Game Storytelling On Its Head |url=https://kotaku.com/the-stanley-parable-turns-video-game-storytelling-on-it-5829254 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240531153247/https://kotaku.com/the-stanley-parable-turns-video-game-storytelling-on-it-5829254 |archive-date=May 31, 2024 |access-date=June 19, 2023 |website=Kotaku}}{{cite web |last=Kuchera |first=Ben |date=August 8, 2011 |title=A tragedy, not a challenge: understanding The Stanley Parable |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/08/a-tragedy-not-a-challenge-the-stanley-parable/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023072321/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/08/a-tragedy-not-a-challenge-the-stanley-parable/ |archive-date=October 23, 2023 |access-date=June 19, 2023 |website=Ars Technica}}
In 2013, he remade and expanded it into a standalone title with co-developer William Pugh.{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Keza |date=October 18, 2013 |title=The Stanley Parable review |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/18/the-stanley-parable-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322155322/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/18/the-stanley-parable-review |archive-date=March 22, 2016 |access-date=October 18, 2013 |publisher=IGN}}{{Cite web |last=Matulef |first=Jeffrey |date=October 1, 2015 |title=The Stanley Parable creator reveals The Beginner's Guide |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-09-29-the-stanley-parable-creator-reveals-the-beginners-guide |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001202033/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-09-29-the-stanley-parable-creator-reveals-the-beginners-guide |archive-date=October 1, 2015 |access-date=October 1, 2015 |publisher=Eurogamer}} The Stanley Parable received critical acclaim for its thought-provoking themes and innovative use of popular gameplay mechanics. The game explores the nature of player agency and challenges traditional game design conventions.{{cite web |last1=Standen |first1=Seven |date=November 26, 2022 |title=The 'Parable' of Stanley's success: indie game is "re-imagined" a decade later |url=https://theboar.org/2022/11/the-parable-of-stanleys-success-indie-game-is-re-imagined-a-decade-later/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414022942/https://theboar.org/2022/11/the-parable-of-stanleys-success-indie-game-is-re-imagined-a-decade-later/ |archive-date=April 14, 2024 |website=The Boar}}
Wreden experienced depression after the success of The Stanley Parable, which included various media outlets' game of the year awards.{{cite news |last=Bischoff |first=Daniel |date=February 21, 2014 |title=Stanley Parable Creator Explains Struggle Between Creator And Audience After Game of the Year Award Wins |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/7493-stanley-parable-creator-explains-struggle-between-creator-and-audience-after-game-of-the-year-award-wins |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407023048/https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/7493-stanley-parable-creator-explains-struggle-between-creator-and-audience-after-game-of-the-year-award-wins |archive-date=April 7, 2024 |access-date=November 2, 2011 |work=Game Revolution}}{{cite web
| last = Wreden
| first = Davey
| url = http://www.galactic-cafe.com/2014/02/game-of-the-year
| url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140302200626/http://www.galactic-cafe.com/2014/02/game-of-the-year
| archive-date = March 2, 2014
| title = Game of the Year
| date = February 21, 2014
| website = Galactic Cafe
| access-date =
}} He described responding to emails, both negative and positive. "In answering all that fan mail, Wreden says that he lost sight of the meaning in his answers, he lost sight of why he made The Stanley Parable in the first place." Wreden also drew a comic to help describe his feelings.
Dan Erickson, creator of the TV show Severance, said he partly took inspiration from The Stanley Parable.{{cite web |last1=Francisco |first1=Eric |date=February 24, 2022 |title='Severance' is the sci-fi thriller every office worker needs — here's why |url=https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/severance-apple-tv-plus-interview-dan-erickson-ben-stiller-adam-scott |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240719051125/https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/severance-apple-tv-plus-interview-dan-erickson-ben-stiller-adam-scott |archive-date=July 19, 2024 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=Inverse |language=en}}
Jesper Juul finds ironic similarities between Wreden's experience and his following game, The Beginner's Guide.{{cite book |last=Juul |first=Jesper |title=Handmade Pixels: Independent Video Games and the Quest for Authenticity |date=2019 |publisher=MIT Press |isbn=9780262042796 |pages=163–166}}
An expanded edition, entitled The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, was released in 2022.
= ''The Beginner's Guide'' =
In 2015, Wreden released The Beginner's Guide, a narrative-driven game that delves into the personal and creative struggles of a fictional game developer. Through a series of introspective and emotionally charged levels, the game raises questions about authorship, interpretation, and the relationship between creators and players. The Beginner's Guide was noted for its introspective storytelling.{{cite web |last1=Vincent |first1=Brittany |date=October 2, 2015 |title=The Beginner's Guide Review: Wreden, Begin Again |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/91572/the-beginners-guide-review-wreden-begin-again |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204202542/https://www.shacknews.com/article/91572/the-beginners-guide-review-wreden-begin-again |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |website=Shack News}}
{{cite magazine |last=Marchiafava |first=Jeff |date=October 1, 2015 |title=The Beginner's Guide Review |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_beginners_guide/b/pc/archive/2015/10/01/searching-for-answers.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107111544/https://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_beginners_guide/b/pc/archive/2015/10/01/searching-for-answers.aspx |archive-date=November 7, 2023 |access-date=June 19, 2023 |magazine=Game Informer}} Davey Wreden, acting as narrator of The Beginner's Guide, became a character in the game as well.{{cite book |last1=Bosman |first1=Frank G. |last2=van Wieringen |first2= Archibald L.H.M. |date=2022 |title=Video Games as Art: A Communication-Oriented Perspective on the Relationship between Gaming and the Art |publisher=De Gruyter Oldenbourg |pages=35–39 |isbn=9783110731019 |doi=10.1515/9783110731019}}
Frank G. Bosman and Archibald L.H.M. van Wieringen write that the game's narrative ends up being largely about the Davey Wreden character, also describing the complex intertextual relationship between the character's narrative and other elements of the story. Alayna Cole and Dakoda Barker describe Wreden's approach to the narrative of the game; they suggest that the introduction, where he describes himself as the creator of The Stanley Parable and gives out his real email address, is meant to establish authenticity.{{cite book
| last1 = Cole
| first1 = Alayna
| last2 = Barker
| first2 = Dakoda
| date = 2020
| title = Games as Texts: A Practical Application of Textual Analysis to Games
| publisher = CRC Press
| isbn = 9781000329735
}} Braxton Soderman believes the character Coda is also a stand-in for Wreden the game designer.{{cite book
| last = Soderman
| first = Braxton
| date = April 27, 2021
| title = Against Flow: Video Games and the Flowing Subject
| publisher = MIT Press
| chapter = 4
| page = 166
| isbn = 9780262362481
}}
=Itch.io and podcast=
Wreden has also released free-to-play games on itch.io. This included a 2017 collaboration titled Absolutely: A True Crime Story, described by Kotaku as a "nihilistic parody".{{cite web |last=Gach |first=Ethan |date=November 28, 2017 |title=The Beginner's Guide Creators' New Game Is About Keanu Reeves Stabbing People |url=https://kotaku.com/1820805627 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203094044/https://kotaku.com/1820805627 |archive-date=February 3, 2024 |access-date=June 6, 2019 |website=Kotaku}}{{cite web |last=Beck |first=Kellen |date=November 28, 2017 |title='Absolutely: A True Crime Story' is a game about Keanu Reeves stabbing people |url=https://mashable.com/article/keanu-reeves-stabbing-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620043828/https://mashable.com/article/keanu-reeves-stabbing-game |archive-date=June 20, 2023 |access-date=June 19, 2023 |website=Mashable}}{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=Brendan |date=November 28, 2017 |title=The Beginner's Guide creators release a JRPG about Keanu Reeves because why not |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-beginners-guide-creators-release-a-jrpg-about-keanu-reeves-because-why-not |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521193619/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-beginners-guide-creators-release-a-jrpg-about-keanu-reeves-because-why-not |archive-date=May 21, 2024 |access-date=June 19, 2023 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun}}
From February 2021 to June 2022, Wreden and Cara Ellison hosted The Inspirational Quarterly, a podcast dedicated to reading, reviewing, and discussing Keith R. A. DeCandido's 2006 novel StarCraft: Ghost: Nova.{{Cite web |date=June 20, 2022 |title=The Inspirational Quarterly on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-inspirational-quarterly/id1552114532 |access-date=August 11, 2023 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-US}}
= ''Wanderstop'' =
In 2021, Wreden founded the game studio Ivy Road along with Karla Zimonja and C418, with additional support from Annapurna Interactive.{{cite web |last1=Holt |first1=Kris |date=July 29, 2021 |title='Stanley Parable' and 'Gone Home' devs team up to form Ivy Road studio |url=https://www.engadget.com/davey-wreden-karla-zimonja-stanley-parable-gone-home-ivy-road-annapurna-interactive-194504904.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620170542/https://www.engadget.com/davey-wreden-karla-zimonja-stanley-parable-gone-home-ivy-road-annapurna-interactive-194504904.html |archive-date=June 20, 2024 |access-date= |website=Engadget}} The studio released their first game, Wanderstop,{{Cite web |last=Castle |first=Katharine |date=June 7, 2024 |title=Stanley Parable and Tacoma creators fight back against onslaught of coffee games with tea-themed Wanderstop |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/stanley-parable-and-tacoma-creators-fight-back-against-onslaught-of-coffee-games-with-tea-themed-wanderstop |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608074847/https://www.eurogamer.net/stanley-parable-and-tacoma-creators-fight-back-against-onslaught-of-coffee-games-with-tea-themed-wanderstop |archive-date=June 8, 2024 |access-date=June 7, 2024 |website=Eurogamer}} a cozy game which integrates Wreden's feelings of burn out into the narrative,{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Mollie |date=December 5, 2024 |title='Healing is messy, and it is bitter': The Stanley Parable's creator has used his newest game as an outlet to explore his own burnout |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/healing-is-messy-and-it-is-bitter-the-stanley-parables-creator-has-used-his-newest-game-as-an-outlet-to-explore-his-own-burnout/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241205235703/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/healing-is-messy-and-it-is-bitter-the-stanley-parables-creator-has-used-his-newest-game-as-an-outlet-to-explore-his-own-burnout/ |archive-date=December 5, 2024 |website=PC Gamer |publisher=Future plc |access-date=December 5, 2024 }} on March 11, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=December 5, 2024 |title=Wanderstop launches March 11, 2025 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/12/wanderstop-launches-march-11-2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241206000221/https://www.gematsu.com/2024/12/wanderstop-launches-march-11-2025 |archive-date=December 6, 2024 |website=Gematsu |access-date=December 5, 2024 }}
Style and influences
Wreden has been influenced by cartoonist Alison Bechdel, author David Foster Wallace, and the games of Brendon Chung—including Gravity Bone and Thirty Flights of Loving.{{cite web |title=Davey Wreden Interview |url=https://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780190225148/ch3/inter/i7/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508000451/https://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780190225148/ch3/inter/i7/ |archive-date=May 8, 2023 |website=The Oxford University Press}}
Soderman finds a change in themes between the lightheartedness of The Stanley Parable and the depression and alienation of The Beginner's Guide.
Discussing authorship and player agency in game design, Ivan Girina writes, "Davey Wreden's authorial discourse is often evoked as the focal point around which the meaning of not only Stanley but also his other creations, such as The Beginner's Guide ... is organised."{{cite book
| last = Girina
| first = Ivan
| chapter = On Agency and Interactivity in The Stanley Parable
| editor-last = Jung
| editor-first = Berenike
| editor-last2 = Sachs-Hombach
| editor-first2 = Klaus
| editor-last3 = Wilde
| editor-first3 = Lukas R.A.
| date = July 2021
| title = Agency Postdigital: Verteilte Handlungsmächte in Medienwissenschaftlichen Forschungsfeldern
| publisher = Herbert von Halem Verlag
| pages = 137–139
| isbn = 9783869625034
}}
Personal life
Wreden was born on September 29, 1988.{{cite tweet |user=HelloCakeBread |last=Wreden |first=Davey |number=1046079541796581377 |title=Today I am 30 years old |date=September 29, 2018}} He has previously resided in Austin, Texas but is currently located in Vancouver, British Columbia.{{cite web |title=About - Everything Unlimited Ltd. |url=https://everythingunlimitedltd.com/about/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525080500/https://everythingunlimitedltd.com/about/ |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |access-date=May 25, 2024 |website=Everything Unlimited Ltd. |date=9 September 2015 |language=en}} Wreden attended the University of Southern California, graduating in 2011 with a degree in critical studies.{{cite web |last1=Stephen |first1=Scott |date=January 3, 2019 |title=The Stanley Parable honored by The New Yorker |url=https://cinema.usc.edu/news/article.cfm?id=13983 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231208080836/https://cinema.usc.edu/news/article.cfm?id=13983 |archive-date=December 8, 2023 |website=USC Cinematic Arts}} He originally went to school to study film, but realized it was not what he wanted for his particular work and focused his attention on the gaming world instead, stating that "wasn't so interesting to me, but there's still so much space for games to grow."{{cite web |last=Yang |first=Robert |date=November 22, 2011 |title=Level With Me, Davey Wreden |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/level-with-me-davey-wreden |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521173754/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/level-with-me-davey-wreden |archive-date=May 21, 2024 |access-date=May 25, 2024 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |language=en}} Wreden is the brother of Douglas Wreden (also known as DougDoug), popular streamer and online content creator.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REnFIJhVA-g |title=I played The Stanley Parable with the game's creator |date=May 11, 2022 |author=DougDoug |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729172559/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REnFIJhVA-g |archive-date=July 29, 2022 |url-status=live}}