History VideoGame / TheBeginnersGuide

** Also provides a {{Deconstruction}} of DeathOfTheAuthor: Coda's troubles with Davey wouldn't exist if Coda would even mildly comment on past work, rather than leaving it entirely up to interpretation; [[spoiler:given the content of the last few games, and in particular, The Machine (assuming that game is being presented honestly), any reasonable person would be concerned for a friend who was working on this kind of art.)]]

* WhamLine: [[spoiler:"Would you stop changing my games? Stop adding lampposts to them?"]]

** Also provides a {{Deconstruction}} of DeathOfTheAuthor: Coda's troubles with Davey wouldn't exist if Coda would even mildly comment on past work, rather than leaving it entirely up to interpretation; [[spoiler:Given the content of the last few games, and in particular, The Machine (assuming that game is being presented honestly), any reasonable person would be concerned for a friend who was working on this kind of art.]]

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Early in the game, when reminiscing about how he and Coda first met, Davey admits he may have been too pushy and interfering when he first saw Coda at work. [[spoiler:Davey's interference is what ultimately severs their friendship.]]

* OverlyLongGag: Exploring one of the games, the player can get stuck inside a small jail cell. Davey explains that in the original programming, the cell door wouldn't open for an hour. Luckily, Davey lets you out well before then.

* ShoutOut: At the end of one of the early games theres a glitch which causes the player to float through the ceiling which Davey says Coda liked so much he kept it in the game. Something similar happened in ThirtyFlightsOfLoving when a glitch caused a crowd of people to float away and the creator Brendon Chung decided to keep it in because he liked it so much.

* AscendedGlitch: According to Davey's narration, the ending of the Whisper chapter.

* UnreliableNarrator: Davey lies or misleads the player about at least one thing, the [[spoiler: lamppost.]]
* WhamLine: [[spoiler: Would you stop changing my games? Stop adding lampposts to them?]]

* AuthorExistenceFailure: What happened to Coda in-universe, compelling Davey to compile and release the collection.

'''The Beginner's Guide''' is a narrative video game published in 2015 by Davey Wredon, creator of ''VideoGame/TheStanleyParable''. The game involves Davey guiding the player, via voiced narration, through a collection of short games created by his friend, 'Coda', between 2008 and 2011. It lasts about an hour and a half, and can be purchased from [[http://store.steampowered.com/app/303210 Steam]] or [[https://www.humblebundle.com/store/p/thebeginnersguide_storefront Humble Bundle]].

''Warning: As with [[VideoGame/TheStanleyParable Wredon's other work]], and given the short length and nature of the game, it is difficult to discuss without spoiling the experience. Expect spoilers below.''

* ApologyGift: [[spoiler: ''The entire game'']]. [[UnreliableNarrator Supposedly.]] If the narrative is to be taken completely straight then Davey Wredon [[spoiler:made The Beginner's Guide as an apology to Coda, demonstrating his mistake, explaining his regret and then publishing it all on the internet hoping it'll reach him somehow.]]

* AuthorAvatar: Davey Wredon voices himself, presenting the collection of games, commenting and giving his interpretations of the games as the game progresses.

** [[spoiler:The ease with which Davey is able to modify Coda's maps to [[AntiFrustrationFeatures bypass some of the unwinnable parts]] doesn't just come from an intimate knowledge of the Source engine. As we later learn, he's been adding other things, like [[ArcSymbols lampposts]].]]

* DeathOfTheAuthor: What happens in-universe when Davey [[spoiler: not just overrides Coda's work with his own desperate need to see symbolism where there were probably not ever intended to actually be any, but straight up ''tampers'' with the games to make them fit his own narratives]]. Coda then proceeds to [[spoiler:cut off all ties with Davey]] and then vanishes off the Internet altogether because of this.

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Davey caused Coda to stop enjoying making games, and by releasing the game the player has just played, Davey has gone against his wishes one last time, and is left in a miserable state, desperate for validation he'll probably never recieve.]]

* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory: Invoked and {{Deconstructed}} InUniverse; as he played through Coda’s games, Davey ends up [[spoiler:projecting so much of his own ideas and needs onto his friends work that he inadvertently alienates Coda entirely.]]

* ShoutOut: At the end of one of the early games theres a glitch which causes the player to float through the ceiling which Davey says Coda liked so much he kept it in the game. Something similar happened in ThirtyFlightsOfLoving when a glitch caused a crow of people to float away and the creator Brendon Chung decided to keep it in because he liked it so much.

* ApologyGift: [[spoiler: ''The entire game'']]. [[UnreliableNarrator Supposedly.]]

* WhamLine: [[spoiler: Would you stop adding lampposts to my games?]]

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Davey caused Coda to stop enjoying making games, and by releasing the game the player has just played, Coda has gone against his wishes one last time, and is left in a miserable state, desperate for validation he'll probably never recieve.]]