The Beginner's Guide - Trailer

The Beginner's Guide is a narrative video game from Davey Wreden, writer of The Stanley Parable. It lasts about an hour and a half and has no traditional mechanics, no goals or objectives. Instead, it tells the story of a person struggling to deal with something they do not understand.

[YokozunaNumber]

"The Beginner's Guide, " which I just played, is one of the most original games I've ever played in my life.. It was so enjoyable from beginning to end.

[neilisalive]

Still one of the most profound experiences I've ever had playing a videogame

[GermaphobeMusic]

Ryan Roth did an incredible job with the soundtrack for this game.

[TheCaptainMI]

The game made me literally cry

When I finished the game I fucking cried

This game is pure art and power

[coasterfreak]

Beat it 2 hours ago, and I honestly think this game is a part of gaming history. I've never been this affected by a game before.

[jurefranceskin]

Well, let's get to know you, Davey.

[Videogamer_]

I don't usually purchase games the day they are released, but I think I'll make an exception for the beginner's guide.

[tanuki]

This might be the only way I can get in contact with you, Mr. Davey Wreden, so I'm going to take it

I've been devouring views of this game, jumping from player to player. I had what the game made me feel and it made me want to see how it made other people feel. I've seen so many different ways of approaching the situation, of approaching the truth and I just wanted to thank you and all of the people involved in this project for making something so affecting

I don't know if it was your intention for people to associate themselves with the main character, but I saw a lot of myself in this game, in your character. It actually kind of hurt. And to see how it affects other people on a personal level has made me feel a little less alone

So, thank you, all of you. Thank you for this piece of art

[Welonz]

I just finished the game and this is probably one of the strangest (in a good way) gaming experiences I've ever had. I don't quite know what to think... I think reactions to this game are going to be extremely polarizing, even moreso than games like Gone Home or Dear Esther.

[ItsMeLarky]

This game deserves way more recognition, even after all these years :")

[jacquiegordon]

This game legitimately made me cry. And seeing all of these theories about the ending and who 'Coda' is is really nice. But I would recommend that you play it yourself instead of watching someone else play it. It allows you to go at your own pace and interpret what's going on before something else is thrown at you. But every single one of you here should check it out. It's an amazing experience.

[AustinNebbia]

The Stanley Parable is one of my favorite games of all time.
That being said, I have absolutely no idea what the hell this is supposed to be.
That being said, I'm on my way to Steam buy it right the hell now.

[xystem]

This is still my favorite game trailer of all time. It just feels so energetic, and unique in a way that I can't describe. Like the game itself, this makes me feel things

[gJonii]

Such an underappreciated gem of a video game.

[ollow_is_sad]

Even the trailer starts with Davey trying to figure out Coda and "help" him just by his work. His interpretation.

[lisatroiani]

watching this trailer after playing the game is like getting hit with a wet bag of concrete

[MrVagif]

SPOILERS !!!! SPOILERS


My personal take on this is that Coda is the past Davey. Where he used to enjoy making games. For himself, at his own pace and leisure. He didn't even need to finish them, he could jump to another game and not feel like he had left something incomplete. He did it for fun and self-enjoyment. Therefore, there wasn't much need for validation.


But obviously, after a while, maybe when he has a job in the industry or maybe when he decides he needs to start making money off his game development skills, he has to get some sort of validation from others. He realises he has to complete things. Hence the part about adding lampposts to his games, which didn't need to happen earlier. He has to entertain the crowd (the theater). Now his games are good only if the fans and critics like it, so in essence the Coda part of himself who used to enjoy his own games, no matter how incomplete they were, is gone. It's so far left behind that he says he "doesn't recognise this person."


In all of this, perhaps the most interesting part is, when he is trying to convince himself that his decision to make games for a living (since that was his passion) was the correct one. That it is still fun, that he still is excited by it and it's effortless. But he knows he is lying, that there comes a point when it becomes just a job, even if at some point it was something you loved doing. The ideas that came to you so freely once are all depleted and there is always a sense about how inferior you have become as opposed to the person you were earlier.


I am sure I am missing a few interpretations, but I felt this was a large part of what he is trying to convey here. Thoughts anyone?

[vaudvillevillain_]

When I first played through this game, I legitimately broke down in tears. I've never broken down in tears for a game.

[JPoirot]

I played through this game twice. I will never look at light posts the same way ever again. I park near them on purpose now! :)

[Ivanbolder]

Best story I have played through in a long time, Super emotional. Thank you sir for making this.