Ross's Game Dungeon: State of Mind

[@gorgondork]

I hate when Dad doesn't let me download an entire society's collective experience into my conscience.

[@donovancatlin3367]

He doesn't understand me, nobody understands me!

[@Cassandra112]

Chad James: "waaa, piloting a giant mecha is so hard. waaa. PATHETIC shinji, PATHETIC!"

[@Raxiel497]

We have entire societies collective experience at home

[@vantuz8264]

@@Raxiel497 Entire societies collective experience at home: "Imagine a tapeworm..."

[@brandonmorel2658]

In our post-modern society there exists children whom are, right now, being molded in their infancy, by a supposed overload of information; overwhelming social media engagement, exaggerated targeted advertising, cyber-demagogy, ultra violent misinformation. . . that is capitalism at it's finest. Even though downloading society's collective geist is not yet possible, you can count plenty of kids nowadays (in the capitalist alienated first world specifically) are fed every day with a spoonful of uberlasten Weltschmerz as the Germans say, ie. capitalist society's collective doom shit, hundreds of digital experiences and opinions, all colliding into an incoherent worldview, a nihilism. I'm sure they will be fine, only if we put in their minds the correct ideas and exorcise the incorrect ones.

[@CrispyFajita]

I would recommend Parasite Eve since that takes place on Christmas as well as the villain holding a Christmas Concert and it's about family honestly.

[@RipOffProductionsLLC]

also, the insane pseudo science plot, that's technically a sequel to a book that might only be remembered because of its connection with Parasite Eve... I can't not laugh at the word "Mitochondria" ever since I played that game if it was outside a strictly scientific context, especially since the "voice acting" in my head while reading the game's text gave it the overly dramatic B-movie/RE1 style performance...

[@frankfrankerson782]

​@@RipOffProductionsLLC. The "mitochondria" in the game feel more like star wars midichlorians. Since they allow you to magic.

[@elinfini]

@@frankfrankerson782 Kinda, except the mitocondria powers from PE were _much_ more diverse.

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

I love PE & watch Grim Beard's + IFAVG's PE reviews as my new Christmas Eve tradition.

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

@@RipOffProductionsLLC "...the powerhouse of the cell..." all the time in my head.

[@JackWse]

In this episode, Ross explains the missed economic opportunities of dumpster diving!

[@thepickles8833]

Much like Pathologic, the Hobo Economy is strong.

[@UseZapCannon]

I once again hope that Ross Scott has played Disco Elysium because this is a place where his values truly overlap

[@Drjebus]

Oh yeah, Civil Protection callback!

[@thehowlingjoker]

I have this queued up. If what you say is true then this will be a treat.

[@MakusinMeringue]

Only Ross could see profits in dumpsters.

[@Arum638]

I like to imagine if they let you keep drinking whiskey Richard ends up writing a Ted Kaczynski style manifesto.

[@tommcewan7936]

One would hope there's some particular combination of all the unlocked writing styles for the different parts of the article that actually does enable the player to construct a coherent and impactful article that has an effect down the line, *because that would constitute an actual puzzle,* but my gut says "no, there's no way to wring any more genuine player agency out of this experience."

[@planescaped]

You only unlock that if you smoke the meth.

[@TaRAAASHBAGS]

The only poisonous substance Uncle Ted needed exposure to to write his work was - society -

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

one thing I love about Ross is that he tells us how he feels about different environments. I don't trust anybody who won't tell me how they feel about deserts anymore. Now Ross adds to Ross-Lore with Mountain thoughts. Peak Ross-Lore.

[@Tekisasubakani]

"Peak Ross-Lore." Nice.

[@Producadv]

It's crazy because I had never put serious thought about biomes until then. Sometimes I even go "Ah this is a Ross preferenced landscape."

[@empty5013]

BAAAAAAAAAAA

[@zangl2955]

Games just rarely have good deserts. They’re always straight up sand dune saudi arabia bullshit, and you’re in some sort of semi-realistic armed conflict. As someone who’s been to Jordan many times and found to it to be very beautiful, I’d like to see a game based there.

[@fonesrphunny7242]

"Mountain Thoughts" is an awesome song/album title. Gives me ideas

[@dwsimmy2599]

The future of personal injury litigation: "I see you spent over 200 hours driving a virtual Volkswagen in this racing game when you were between the ages of 6 and 8 years old. When you agreed to the game's EULA, this absolved the VW corporation of any injuries incurred while using their products for the rest of your life span." The game was taken offline 20-30 years ago, but they kept a record of your agreement to those terms.

[@Iamafishproductions]

I love the frequent scenes where Ross screams at characters through Richard's perspective, telling them to shut up, go away, or tell him where his wife is. The fact it's not out of character for Richard in the least bit is the best part. Come to think of it, Richard's got a goatee and prominent orange on his clothes. Richard knows what it means to be a Gordon!

[@djKIR]

Perfect! Just perfect mate!

[@Rynjinivar]

From the thumbnail and title I actually thought this was going to be a status update on the state of Freeman's Mind lol.

[@Bonkikavo]

Yelling is cheap, gets annoying really fast and needs a buildup.

[@johnnybensonitis7853]

Yeah! The "Where's my wife?!" bits were perfect, got me every time.

[@cortos_9733]

​@@RynjinivarI could see that. Ross could also swing Gordon's mind into many other stories.

[@grfrjiglstan]

That vignette where drinking unlocks more writing options is great. I'd like to imagine that if you could keep drinking, the fourth shot unlocks the most calm, philosophical read of the situation, but once you're five shots deep, all options are replaced with incoherent rambling about an apocalypse of our own creation.

[@Shredster7]

Four minutes in, Ross has barely acknowledged the game in the episode's title at all, and yet it's already the best Xmas video I've watched this winter. Game Dungeon never misses.

[@JimboRustles]

He never misses, the absolute legend!

[@awakeandwatching953]

I DUNNO he dosent seem to understand the state of modern journalism ... its already far worse than how its portrayed in game

[@GabeDoppel]

i look forward to it every year

[@Sliverthearcher]

I gets better

[@plsdontbanmeagainyoulibtards]

Ross rants go hard

[@bigsky1047]

I really like the idea of analyzing games from the perspective of if they embody the spirit of Christmas or not.

[@danieladamczyk4024]

Is hatred a christmas game? That have a snow in it.

[@bigsky1047]

@@danieladamczyk4024 the antagonist is a big Scrooge. He’s really ruining Christmas for everyone. Definitely a grinch type of game.

[@brandonmorel2658]

There are Christian fundamentalist (theocratical fascist) movie review sites that analyze movies according to the spirit of Christmas (family friendly values, anti-queer, anti diversity, &c.) You can check out those if you are in for a laugh.

[@handlesrstupid123]

​@@brandonmorel2658man way to kill a vibe in a comment section

[@micheal7932]

Avalanche Survivor has Santa Claus using a flamethrower and the power of holiday warmth to fend off what I can only assume to be Old Man Winter's Snow Legion.

[@drg19841]

Always glad to see a new game dungeon. Oh, and a dead game update unless you didn't see it. The Crew has officially been announced to end Mar 31st. It's also been delisted from store pages on all platforms.

[@arciks11]

Managed to last a little longer than expected. But it's not really good news. It's like a Stage 4 Cancer that took 12 weeks to kill your friend instead of projected 5.

[@KingLich451]

Damn, i hope Ross does a special event for Crew before it gets shut down. I'd love a send off convoy.

[@vantuz8264]

@@arciks11 Yeah, i expected Ubisoft to pull the plug on The Crew 1 when they release The Crew 2. Give or take a month.

[@jay8444]

46:49 If Ross didn't play SOMA yet he definitely has to give it a shot. What's said here is basically the main theme of that game and is handled pretty well.

[@mattymerr701]

It's the kind of thing where video essayists will say "it is the basis of their thesis"

[@lornbaker1083]

Honestly you could think of it as somewhat possibly being a spiritual successor to this

[@jerrycan1756]

The other option is The Desolate Hope, which is about a similar issue from the robot's perspective, but the coffee pot fetus plot might be too weird, even for Ross.

[@CanOfSodah]

I honestly strongly disagree with the concept of SOMA. Spoilers I guess, but; Mainly because it does a very, very bad job of explaining specific themes- Yes, the you in a machine is just a copy, but once you're an AI, why would it be copying? Why shouldn't you be able to move instead? The game just kind of waves its hand at that but it's kind of.. a really important distinction. Also the fact the apocalypse makes 0 sense is there. The atmosphere lit on fire except it didn't because the ships were still alive and the last they saw was looting in the cities, which means the atmosphere is fine? But I guess I'm willing to chalk that up to mainly being the scientists panicking and thinking they were the last ones rather than actually being the last ones.

[@ArcMinuteLight]

​@@CanOfSodah When you "move" files around in your computer, you're not actually moving data. You're creating a copy of the data in a new location and deleting it in the old location.

[@kennylauderdale_en]

Glad this channel's still around. Merry Christmas Ross.

[@Newline_Void]

Man I was just thinking about you today, hope you upload again soon.

[@RaTcHeT302]

WHERE ELSE COULD IT BE? THE NORTH POLE??

[@bbuggediffy]

It never went anywhere😊

[@tenyokensekia8088]

I must say, I like the game's title a lot. If you think about it, they are trying to create a literal state of people who exist virtually. State of mind. Also I like that the mars project was a sham, I was expecting them to have a full on mars colony despite how insane that is for the year its set in. So I'm glad they pulled that little twist!

[@Atrahasis7]

Yeah its cool, a nice twist on this type of story, since Iam a exhausted of preachy sci fi themes where everything is terrible, woudl be a similar plot where all humans know they are uploaded into a cloud since earth was becoming uninhabitable, and left some infrastructure behind in order to make earth habitable again and later maybe even upload into cybernetic post humans to repopulate earth. Maybe the main antagonist would be someone or an ai that was erasing peoples memory to keep them in the cloud. Wait, i think i just described Matrix mostly. Forget it.

[@seigeengine]

Yeah. I think beginning a Mars colony around 2048 is plausible, but they wouldn't be asking the public to sign up. Frankly, I think we already could have done it if we had the societal will to.

[@narnbrez]

@@seigeengine society doesnt have a will. society is the incoherent result of infinite wills imposing themselves on each other

[@BaphometGaming69]

@@seigeengine There’s not much reason to make a Mars colony, there’s not really anything there and the radiation is a big problem. If we do want to do it, we should absolutely set up a colony on the Moon first.

[@seigeengine]

@@BaphometGaming69 The radiation is only a problem in getting there. It's not hard to block radiation.

[@samuelantoniocastillomeza5034]

That creepy floating toy robot was the best part of all this for me. Would be funny to gift it to someone and see how long it is before they call an exorcist for it before it ends in the trash compactor.

[@z-beeblebrox]

It's truly the Kirby of the future, for sure

[@RipOffProductionsLLC]

Furbies with wings... this is an image your comment placed in my head, now you too must see it.

[@samuelantoniocastillomeza5034]

@@RipOffProductionsLLC Wow. That would be so wicked... I love it.

[@RipOffProductionsLLC]

@@samuelantoniocastillomeza5034 Furbies are like Garfield, infinitely more interesting as internet creepypasta abominations then as the original product. though the real product is interesting given the actually rather advanced "AI" algorithm and sensory inputs those toys had, there's a reason they were banned from government/military buildings, for example the things could intercept and vocalize radio transmissions on top of their ability to parrot overheard sounds honestly, if it came out that Furbies originated as part of some type of attempt at subtle surveillance/bug device insertion method, or even just some spy gadget manufacturer trying to recoup costs after the government said no to their proposal after they already started mass production, I wouldn't be shocked.

[@zivzulander]

There is a product coming soon that is similar to this, the "Grok" (not to be confused with Elon's Grok) AI robot toy. It's from a company named Curio that Grimes is involved with and uses her voice. It doesn't fly, but it does look like it's a modern AI version of something like Furby, Teddy Ruxpin, Tickle Me Elmo etc. The AI element definitely gives it more creepy potential as it's a connected device.

[@BroBurg445]

"Lydia acclimates in her new body, and your son is tripping BALLS for LIFE now." 🤣🤣Been watching for over a decade now. All these years, and you can still sneak in a gut punch of a laugh.

[@lordfriedrick7911]

9:10 *"You know what? I don't know what's going on, his mom is not here and there's a goblin in my house"* I feel like this quote from Ross can be used in more situation that i can imagine...

[@AceWolf456]

“They should know the pointlessness of insulting a machine.” Sir, I live in the year 2023, and I talk to inanimate objects. Something falls and I ask it “was that really necessary?” My microwave beeps a second round because I was too slow and I exclaim “I hear you, shut up!” People will talk to inanimate objects. It’s human to humanize things.

[@VashdaCrash]

The problem is doing so while acknowledging they are souless.

[@Gillsing]

I sure hope tsukumogami aren't a real thing, because I constantly blame my bicycle and other belongings for their trying out for the nationals in uncooperation. Even though I know every mistake is mine, because they're all soulless objects.

[@chstens]

It's okay to anthropomorphize inanimate objects. The problem arises when people start thinking their microwave actually has emotions.

[@JeffarryLounder]

Am I the only one to feel bad for inanimate objects when they are excluded or talked down upon? It's a very weird caveat I have, but I always imagine things like teddy bears and other objects as having emotions like humans, so much so that I'll feel bad if I leave them behind or if someone criticises or insults their integrity. Obviously I know it's completely out of there, but my brain auto-empathizes with them.

[@VashdaCrash]

@@JeffarryLounder nope, it's pretty normal. I think there's a spectrum of humanize-dehumanize stuff, and people tend to one or the other (plus biases)

[@reeceshugrue6167]

When saving games from dying is easier than finding a good christmas game 😭

[@SplendidCoffee0]

Batman Arkham Origins is a pretty great Christmas game, but I’d imagine it’s not Ross’s cup of tea. Also, it’s probably hard to say something that hasn’t already been said about the entire Arkham series, good or bad

[@mckeeganator5844]

That floating blue head thing really is the weirdest thing, like why was it hovering above a sleeping child telling an insane tapeworm story

[@2782Jack]

at the time I figured it was going to be part of the story, like it was a spy or his dead mother trapped in a robot but nope. It was just a terrifying children's toy.

[@XxZeldaxXXxLinkxX]

Maybe it's only insane from our perspective. I mean we have anthropomorphized a lot of things already--ants, bees, pigs, ponies, cells, hedgehogs. Maybe in 2048 we have an new game called Tapeworm Tactics and it's the new Fortnite and that's why kids love it

[@Butts666]

eh, a lot of real stories for kids sound insane and deranged if you hear them as an adult with all the adult associations and concepts in your mind. Children love some random whimsical stuff and unless it's actively brainwashing them with some effed up imagery there's no harm in it. Tapeworms are still an odd choice though.

[@cupriferouscatalyst3708]

I wonder if it was some type of Kafka reference? The idea of waking up in your bed thinking you're suddenly a bug is definitely familiar, even though it would be a very out-of-the-blue reference if that's what they were going for.

[@VashdaCrash]

@@cupriferouscatalyst3708 I think it's just an insane thing the writer happened to love when they made it up and managed to get inside the game. I have some weird stuff written that way and I think it'd cool to get that inside something else.

[@Exarian]

7:15 That's honestly what happens to every good tech journalist. You get really jaded and start thinking things like "We had the internet figured out around 2004 when we were all using RSS to distribute and automate stuff, then we went backwards." Even if that's not *strictly* true in all cases... It still, warms my heart that RSS-based podcast players are enough of the market that podcast ads still have to say "...or wherever you get your podcast."

[@KairuHakubi]

so damn true. Wish someone would just make 'internet classic' make it run like it used to, subscribe to it separately, put up archived stuff, don't let google or microsoft touch it.

[@namebrandmason]

Reminds me of a Twitter Post to the effect of “tech enthusiasts; I have smart home! Tech workers; I have one printer, and I keep a gun in case it makes a noise I don’t recognize.”

[@dlahouss]

​@@namebrandmasonit's also in a cordoned-off subnet of my home lan.

[@PoliPantev]

I think 2008/9 internet was peak. We have most of the good stuff, some consolidation but it was still mostly independent forums imageboards and most importantly youtube before all the big corporations came.

[@KairuHakubi]

@@PoliPantev yeah if I had to pick one era, that'd be it. some classic stuff was already gone, and some freedoms were being ganked, but that's probably the best mix there ever was. and the future was looking bright.

[@Gabri_Lovecraft]

Ross first talking about his deep intimate knowledge about cult leadership and now his quick on the draw line of thinking with being homeless is really helping me map out his entire pre-Accursed Farms life.

[@shadowmc2609]

I feel like there’s probably some kind of karmic retribution at play for Ross farming so much Hell insurance. I hope that it gets him at least a haunting timeshare, if Ubisoft or EA are still around I think he would enjoy tormenting their board of directors.

[@Tehsnakerer]

I'm happy to see a game truly capture my writing process

[@thegreatgoatking.kingofall4001]

the goblin head feels like if someone stuck a children's storybook AI into one of those dumb robot pets. Just randomly generating nice sounding words to soothe the kid

[@rzjennings]

the story about the tapeworm that eats its own brain sounded nice?

[@clev7989]

@@rzjennings Off topic, but I burst out laughing at that. Genuinely the funniest intentionally comedic piece of writing I've seen from a game.

[@planescaped]

@@rzjennings Daaaaad! Henry's talking about scouring the unclean and drinking the blood of the pure again!

[@fnhatic6694]

@@clev7989"What the FUCK is this TOY???" was the most genuine reaction I've heard from Ross.

[@clev7989]

@fnhatic6694 I know, right? For me, it made a great joke god tier, especially since that's exactly what I was thinking at that moment

[@JoelRiter]

Ok the goblin I can explain. It's a meditation program. There are kids sleep meditation videos on KZbin and the goblin definitely sounds like an AI generated kids meditation. It can be as... Sinister as it seems.

[@VashdaCrash]

ooh, so it was a reference to a real thing! Thanks for the info.

[@narnbrez]

im glad im not the only person who realized it's 100% a thing that children now are experiencing

[@fnhatic6694]

@@narnbrezNo wonder these kids are so fucked. And their parents are an iPad app.

[@snowblind9551]

Fun fact: This game was written by the same guy who wrote Mystery of the Druids.

[@ColdHawk]

Noooo wayyyyyy!

[@Wannabe_Baby]

There's nothing like seeing a new Game Dungeon thumbail pop up and thinking "what in the world is this game?"

[@Skeletons_Riding_Ostriches]

Another game Ross brought into existence by willing it.

[@Kirmakoff]

"What a decade, huh" "Captain, it's only 2023" Merry Christmas, Ross!

[@wordshurt2676]

Christmas has fallen, billions must wrap

[@АндрейНеугодников-м6е]

What even is this meme?

[@KaptajnKaffe]

@@АндрейНеугодников-м6е I dunno know, but it kinda wrap it all up with a nice bow.

[@drewrussell8531]

​@@АндрейНеугодников-м6е Just looked it up because I've been curious for a bit myself. Short version, it's a parody of a phrase originally used by the alt-right that was so stupid everyone else turned it into a joke. Long version: "The West has fallen, billions must die," is the original quote. It's in reference to the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory that claims that the World Economic Forum and other evil elite groups are trying to replace white people with non-whites ... apparently this benefits them somehow? I don't get it either. The whole thing probably makes complete sense if you're locked into the right echo chamber, never go outside, and don't have human relationships. Because the whole "billions must die" thing was so goofy, people started making memes with it mocking the the alt-right, and then at some point people started making further parodies with other random variations of the phrase. And thus, it is now just yet another meme template stripped of meaning by the beautiful Dadaism of the internet.

[@LazyBuddyBan]

@@АндрейНеугодников-м6е 4chan brainrot

[@ArgaJacint]

@@АндрейНеугодников-м6е It originates as a mockery of far-right sentiments, often jokingly condensed into "the west has fallen, billions must die"

[@RolandTheJabberwocky]

The police being robots and still having permission to kill when they are threatened is depressingly believable.

[@z-beeblebrox]

We're like one more NYPD sidewalk bot dumped in the public fountain from this becoming a reality TODAY so it's totally believable in the future

[@KairuHakubi]

first time i've ever agreed with you types. thing is you're the reason it's gonna happen.

[@goldra8409]

"you types"

[@carringtonthecarebear3323]

I don’t know, what should happen to someone attacking a POLICE bot, they couldn’t just let that go

[@RolandTheJabberwocky]

@KairuHakubi says the one whos "types" tried to insurrect our democracy.

[@michaelmaage]

Not even finished with this monster episode of a Game Dungeon yet, but what an episode it is. Thanks for all the great content you have given us and merry Christmas!

[@IkomaTanomori]

The short circuit clip was the best nostalgia moment I've had all month. That's the spirit of Christmas.

[@GrubyTolek]

The robot jobs trilogy is really going places. First a deep dive/video essay, then a debate/interview, and now a game review, all following the same theme. What's next? A Moon Gaming episode with ChatGPT as the guest?

[@Wikloe]

This game dungeon really did feel like a return to form. I love all the game dungeons, but there is a clear tone difference between the ones from 5+ years ago, and those recently which felt more like more enjoyable let's plays with colour commentary. But this felt like the old school style which was cool to see. You dubbing over their lines like "I know where you live Frank!" was hilarious!

[@azmodanpc]

Yup, the dubbing is spot on.

[@cruzcamel]

I was about to comment the same thing. Ten minutes in, and I can tell Ross’s usual humor is back for this one.

[@azmodanpc]

The Black Mirror and Life is Strange are my standout Ross' videos. Black Mirror had me in stitches with his faux upper class voice impressions: "I'll be the judge of that!!". The roasting of GenZ in the Life is Strange video was funny as hell too.

[@shadowmc2609]

I think it’s probably because State of Mind is one of those games Ross can REALLY sink his teeth into. Most games he’s covered recently have had relatively mundane events happen that he uses to springboard into more interesting topics. Games like this feel much more like we’re seeing some kind of psychodrama directed by the team behind MST3K. And that’s when Ross is REALLY in his element.

[@zbroxham9740]

Merry Christmas Ross! Thank you for 15 years of quality content

[@samotdengode]

What the fuck it's been that long already?

[@SplendidCoffee0]

@@samotdengodeI still can’t believe it. I’ve been a fan since early 2009, but it all feels like a blip.

[@zbroxham9740]

@@samotdengodeI was 14 when I found Freemans mind and I’m 29 now so maybe longer

[@jokiu4]

It's been many years since I've seen any videos made by AccursedFarms. I recently rewatched the Freeman's Mind series since I've been in a Half-Life mindset. It really pleases me that after all these years, Ross Scott is still alive and well and even still making content!

[@delathenleso5793]

Check the rest of his Game Dungeon series. There are a lot of hidden gems, and lots of great commentary.

[@bbuggediffy]

Still alive? Lol he is very active year on year

[@tartarsauce65]

@@bbuggediffy Nobody said anything about Ross not being active, certainly not the comment you replied to

[@ChazDragoon]

Every game is a Christmas Game, Ross.... You just need to be in the right State of Mind. *puts on sunglasses*

[@lordfriedrick7911]

"Cue The Who - Don't get fooled again"

[@z-beeblebrox]

47:30 What I think is DEFINITELY gonna date any game that deals with AI pre-ChatGPT is this across the board assumption that non-sentient AI cannot lie, and that it's a specific feature of conscious or fully intelligent AI. Post-ChatGPT it's gonna be taken as a given that all AI lie as a matter of course.

[@EvilDoresh]

It's not so much that they lie _on purpose_ as much as they are _very convinced_ that they're _right_

[@z-beeblebrox]

@@EvilDoresh well yeah, you can't do anything on purpose if you're not sentient.

[@Skeletons_Riding_Ostriches]

Lying arguably requires beliefs and intentions, so it will be a long time before that happens. But AIs that say things that are incorrect according to their own database have existed long before large language models.

[@Shoxic666]

I've been looking forward to this all December, probably more than actual Christmas.

[@LordZordid]

He does bring joy to people.

[@Shoxic666]

@@LordZordid And he has a beard....hey!!

[@tharfagreinir]

Just getting a Game Dungeon episode over Christmas is a good present. It definitely doesn't have to be Christmas or winter themed just to tick a box. Merry Christmas everybody.

[@gorvarhadgarson5227]

Merry Christmas my dude

[@Raizender]

A New Game Dungeon episode is good in my book. Merry Christmas, Ross. You always find ways to intrigue me.

[@hereniho]

20:52 "I'll kill him" is a joke I also say a lot when protags hear something distressing. I love the rare times where they actually want to go that route.

[@UmmarFarooqMahroof]

I don't know why, I've always found Ross funny but the past two episodes have been absolutely hilarious, Ross's commentary and voice acting overlays literally had me in tears (they good kind), good job Ross

[@DoctorInk20]

2:20 I legit thought that was building up to the mountain saying _"BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUYYYYYY REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULL"._

[@Yusuke_Denton]

I'm gonna need The Admiral to explain this one.

[@brandonmorel2658]

More on that later.

[@Zanphos]

to paraphrase don hertzfeldt: "What people want is not immortality, but continuity. they want their perspective to linger on not just themselves."

[@joesmutz9287]

Once the game started and mentioned Mars, I could only think of one thing "See you at the party Richter"

[@HilariousOperation]

Y'know, when you mentioned that whole bit about brain uploading only creating a copy of someone, it reminded me a lot of the game "SOMA". If you haven't played it already, I'd strongly recommend it, as it tackles issues like uploading scans of people's brains to escape an apocalypse, the concept of being left behind while a copy of yourself lives on, and whether a copy of someone's brain counts as a living creature.

[@foxh8er]

Watch Pantheon

[@KrinkelsNG]

A christmas miracle. Thank you Ross.

[@coolen]

Max Payne is a Christmas game the same way Die Hard is a Christmas movie

[@DivineAdversity777]

Idk why but I felt such warmth in my soul at Ross’s smug reaction to the reveal that Mars was a fraud lol He was talking about it with that Gordon Freeman String Theory tone the entire time and FINALLY he uncovered the truth! 😂

[@SNOUPS4]

Great video and good food for thoughts! I am subscribed to this channel and have been for years, with all alerts and bells activated... and yet I didn't get the notification that a new video had been released. I came back from two weeks offline with tons of notifications, which I checked one by one, and Accursed Farms wasn't one of them. I noticed that another, similar in topic and tone, (french) channel "JoueurDuGrenier" gave me the same outcome: no youtube notification on the bi-monthly video they had released.

[@burge117]

What a excellent and early Christmas present. Thanks Ross. Happy holidays everyone ❤

[@burge117]

@@mablesfatalfable6021 :)

[@123sarge123]

This episode was Ross at his best. It may not be Christmas, but the cheer I received was more than enough to compensate. Thank you Ross

[@theoneandonlymichaelmccormick]

Y’know, if I had a nickel for every time Doug Cockle played a character with amnesia I’d have two nickels…

[@jurgenronaaz4695]

He's also recently been a murder god so that's fun. Man has range, it seems!

[@imjustsomeguy5048]

He's also searching for his child and has two love interests, one who he shares a tight bond with, the other is a lover who helps him while he searches for his family.

[@theoneandonlymichaelmccormick]

@@imjustsomeguy5048 We appear to be unraveling something here.

[@valder8423]

@@jurgenronaaz4695 Whats this referencing? BG3?

[@valder8423]

BTW I remember Doug Cockle from Second Sight, where he is the main villain. Game overs in that game are pretty creepy. Interestingly, main character in that game also suffers from memory issues.

[@DiegoTan66]

Thank you Ross. Your videos are always such a treat. Dunno what is the factor, perhaps just a good ol' combination of great humor, intelligently designed sentences and actually going through an obscure game from A to Z, but you're the only person that I repeatedly watch videos of in their entirety. Always cannot wait until I forget enough of a video so that I can dwelve back into one. Kind of insanity? Perhaps, but you wouldn't want any less of that from your audience, would you now.

[@ZenSolipsist]

Ross these surreal baffling journeys you take us along are the best gift of all ☺️🎁🎄

[@Grimz92]

Another Game Dungeon video from Ross is just the thing I need now. They are one of my favourite videos of everything on KZbin

[@exorikk]

Merry Christmas, Ross. Thanks for keeping one of my favorite traditions alive with a Christmas episode from you.

[@HQ_Default]

I like how Ross keeps cracking wise about Richard breaking dronegate, even giving the game the sole award of "Broke Dronegate"... and then never tells us what Dronegate is. "IT'S BIG FOREVER, DAMMIT!" Yeah, so big that Ross didn't even try to explain it. I sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not. That is unironically hilarious.

[@Yusuke_Denton]

Look at this guy. He doesn't even know what Dronegate is lmao.

[@RevolverRez]

Ah, it's finally here. I always look forward to the Christmas and Halloween Dungeons the most. Merry Christmas, everyone!

[@karambiatos]

OMG ITS THE MASS EFFECT KID AND ITS THE GERALT VOICE ACTOR

[@attilad.8142]

A new Game Dungeon is actually one of the better christmas presents this year. Thanks Ross!

[@jasonfenton8250]

KZbin is so corporate nowadays, it's great that Ross has maintained the personality of his videos for so many years.

[@brandonharper6508]

I know Ross said he didn't want to save Christmas, but I have a recommendation for a Christmas game. "Hybrid Heaven" for the N64. The intro cutscene takes place December 19th 2000, and Christmas trees are brought up. So if we go by Die Hard rules, it qualifies.

[@HQ_Default]

Y'know, I'm reminded of a quote from the developer of YIIK where he talks about how he tried to make the player character an unlikeable piece of shit and he assumed that's the reason people didn't like his game. But the main character of that game is just kind of selfish and annoying, on a level where it doesn't even feel intentional. Well, this is the _good_ version of that "piece of shit player character" idea. *Richard is an absolutely unhinged jackass.* Like he plans to murder a guy who he _thinks_ his wife is having an affair with... whilst he himself is having an affair. And he comes home every day threating to bash his robot butler's head in. But his psychotic antics are both kind of fascinating to watch unfold, and the fact that he's mostly competent means it's not a pain to watch him take over whenever you're not in the pilot's seat.

[@brandonmorel2658]

YIIK is just something else

[@LTGVCasanova]

A new game dungeon. Things are beginning to make sense.

[@RuSosan]

Such is life.

[@reedmcgivy]

I for one hope there is more info later.

[@DiegoTan66]

But more on that later.

[@cupriferouscatalyst3708]

Oh that's right, where's the admiral?

[@Skeletons_Riding_Ostriches]

@@cupriferouscatalyst3708 Also do, or do we not, need BJ defending us with the MG42? I need answers!

[@kyltredragmire4939]

I've been watching your channel for seven years now. I've graduated college, got a job, got fired, got another job, quit, moved states got another job, moved back home, got another job, and all that time Ross has been there to rant about games I've never heard of. Never change Ross. This channel is a constant point holding the universe together.

[@paulaccuardi9071]

I whispered “Ross where’s the Christmas game dungeon?” Under my breath and checked KZbin and this was the first thing in my recommendations. Also 59:15 bookmark

[@Aa-dn1oq]

The Japanese characters on the neon sign in the opening cinematic literally "Moon Runes" in broken Katakana

[@turkeycannon161]

I think a better twist would have been for Richard, the technophobe who is both dismissive and hostile towards AI to have been the artificial one, making contact with Adam, who is a real human being living in 2148, this would not only be ironic given Richard's disposition but would require him to reexamine his feelings regarding AI and it's worth while also neatly explaining any oddness about the tech levels and plot contrivances/ plot holes in Richard's sections since they would just have been part of a simulation.

[@lucyferos205]

I dunno. That storyline has been done a lot. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of storylines where people have to examine their prejudices because they turn out to be a member of the group they antagonize. I think South Park did a great satire of why those stories make no sense in the episode where Cartman is tricked into thinking he's a ginger. I think we need more stories where people examine their prejudices for, you know, legitimate and relatable reasons rather than merely taking cheap shots at them with our writer-god powers.

[@cupriferouscatalyst3708]

@@lucyferos205 those are really just power fantasy stories, come to think of it. I know I'll never be able to force the people who deny my right to exist to walk a mile in my shoes, but good Lord would it be satisfying if I could.

[@HQ_Default]

@@lucyferos205 Yeah, and on that note I was hoping that there would be a moment where he reconciles with his robot housekeeper. It felt like they were going in that direction but had to scrap it for time, 'cause it seems like Richard starts to come around to the robot after it lied to the fuzz to save his ass.

[@drifter402]

That's some Pro AI trash

[@hydroxide5507]

​@@cupriferouscatalyst3708you will never ever

[@peregrine5327]

I spent most of this video wondering where the hell I knew Richard's voice from. Turns out if you imagine him saying, "Wind's howling", you'll get it straight away!

[@snowblind9551]

22:09 One of the funniest moments on Ross's channel.

[@mike1152]

This is some of the best gaming content on the interwebs.

[@Max44321]

Never get bored of watching Ross's stuff

[@djKIR]

It feels like more as visiting an old friend who has a lot to say since (idk) 20-30 years of absence.

[@Trassel242]

I love this game just for picking this bizarre art style, it’s a bold choice and that’s worthy of admiration in today’s era of game art where most games look very bland and samey. Also I love this goddamn hack writer protagonist who drinks whiskey just after having had a car accident. This has the same kind of weird, off-kilter energy as the movie Southland Tales, which is great because you can watch it over and over and always discover some new crazy stuff in it.

[@KairuHakubi]

plus this art style lets the gestures be simple without looking stupid. The sleeves come pre-bunched-up at the joints so they can just do a simple bend. Too often modern graphics make it so that nothing looks right without tons of work put into every single slight animation. There's a reason simpler art forms are more liked. I mean nobody thinks real life is the nicest-looking anything has ever been.

[@SplendidCoffee0]

⁠@@KairuHakubiI agree with everything what you said except for that last part. I grew up in the southern bayous and now live in a picturesque mountain town, and real life is pretty darn gorgeous based on my personal experiences.

[@ssjaken]

I just looked up Southland Tales and that movie looks like it ticks all my boxes for an enjoyable film. Like if Scanner Darkly meets Primer meets 2000s action schlock.

[@KairuHakubi]

​@@SplendidCoffee0 sure, but is it better than a painting? better than a ghibli movie or a zelda sunrise? I mean maybe, mountain areas sure do get beautiful. Especially the Alps, sometimes it's stunning how gorgeous it gets over there.

[@SplendidCoffee0]

@@KairuHakubi if you’re there in real life, then yes, much of real life is more breathtaking than a Ghibli film. I get looking at a photo of a beautiful real life setting might not be as gorgeous as many of Miyazaki’s pieces (heck, it usually isn’t), that said, when you see these places in real life, it gives you this larger than life feeling that all art has trouble evoking (at least in my personal opinion). While the visuals of these places is important, a major component missing from paintings, games, and film/animation is that feeling of awe. A famous example of this is seeing the Grand Canyon in person, as most people have trouble quantifying what they just witnessed when seeing it in person for the first time. I also want to state that I have absolutely nothing against these forms of art, and in fact adore the artists and properties you listed as examples, as well as the feelings they pull from me. I just think that seeing these gorgeous parts of nature in person can never truly be replicated in that manner, though we’ve gotten awfully close at times. Your original point about photorealistic art not being as beautiful as the more abstract forms of art still stands, though!

[@Sommyie]

"It's been months since i was last hit in the head, so..." Ross, I love you. ❤

[@jerichothegrey]

An hour long episode?! YES YES YES THANK YOU ROSS

[@purpletrauma]

I admit, my main takeaway is: glad you have the more realistic view of AI. Too many people believe the AI overlord movie crap. Or worse; are empathizing with the text prediction stuff we have because they figured real AI was so hard they'd start faking it. I stumbled on a channel where a guy found some "talk to this character!" stuff, and posted emotional videos about what they had to say about their existential crisis and coming "lobotomization" the people behind it were going to do to counter people who kept getting them to break character or break their "don't talk about this" rules using known tricks.

[@Door1918]

Short Circuit is one of my favorite movies I'm so glad it got some love. Long live Johnny Number 5

[@danielsurvivor1372]

0:48 CHRISTMAS HAS FALLEN, *BILLIONS MUST CRY* 😭 Ross Dungeon Dwellers, is it over for us? 😞

[@Kirkklan]

38:20 I'm reminded of CRD's "Quickstart" series he's been doing. In basics, Vista was slow to start, and all these laptop companies wanted to try and solve the problem of that. This ranged from using a separate Linux distro under the hood to having a SEPARATE OS THAT BRAIN-LEECHED OFF OF THE MAIN HARD DRIVE.

[@chekkop]

Oh boy, time to grab the snacks and cozy up watching Ross again

[@chao9111]

"This kid can be a lost cause from the getgo, I can accept that" if I had a dime for every time i heard that

[@mattstorm360]

Maybe next year you can try The Long Dark. It's snowy so it's Christmas and you are going to die in the cold if you don't get mauled by an animal. Just like during Christmas shopping! And their story mode finishes up next year too so it's perfect!

[@shadowmc2609]

I feel like The Long Dark is one of those games that Ross would either adore, or it would trigger a deep-seated existential crisis over the futility of life and how so many of us are always scraping to get by. It’d make for interesting viewing either way.

[@masako8980]

It's Christmas and im as sick as a dog. Game dungeon is the one good thing going, i binge the whole thing only to learn a new episode is out and youtube didnt notify me, despite me "ringing the bell" or whatever we're calling it. Love your stuff Ross, thanks for making me suffering slightly less terrible. Means the world to me

[@tba113]

Ouch. There's rarely a _good_ time to get sick, but catching a bug at Christmas is especially rotten. Hope you're starting to feel better.

[@masako8980]

@@tba113 I'm pretty good now, thanks. The doctor got pretty worried, but I'm mostly healthy now. The only problem is that I can't stop sneezing.

[@albedo00]

Been a fan of this channel since the review of Darkspore (thanks to LGR for pointing me this way BTW), and ever since then I don't think there's been a video of yours that hasn't had at least a Wtf moment that leaves me speechless. I'm glad to report that trend hasn't stopped (for anyone wondering, it was that weirdass tapeworm story... thing). And I know you just said no more christmas games, but c'mon man, Parasite Eve would fit so damn well here!

[@connerbutler8758]

Man, the effort that you put in. For everything i enjoy and love it i appreciate it Ross Scott more than any youtuber

[@seanbordenkircher7854]

Ugh, that passive aggressive crap. It happened to me at a job over COVID, let go until the last minute of the severance, only to offer keeping me by letting the firing go through, then rehire me on a three month probation. I worked there for nine years before that. I don't regret saying no.

[@ChaosPootato]

Some love for Jazz Jackrabbit, thanks Ross, happy holidays big man

[@VDNKh_]

The themes and characters in this game are eerily similar to the show Pantheon, all the way down to the Steve Jobs look-a-like wanting immortality by brain uploading. Amazing show, Ross would probably like it.

[@hermannabt8361]

I feel like Ross would find something off about it and dismiss it, but it's a great show nevertheless.

[@bchin4005]

Ross always delivering with the holiday episodes, thank you good sir.

[@KlausWulfenbach]

An hour long game dungeon vid. Ross saves Christmas yet again!

[@heyyyitsjosh]

I honestly don't know what it is I love so much about Ross's reviews but they just hit different. Every upload is a gift. Thank you!!

[@kindatzeentchy5152]

I told my wife, that I'm looking forward to Russ' Christmas episode. She just asked, who's Ross? My answer was, hell yeah it is!

[@danielsurvivor1372]

35:52 This game would be PEAK if it had RPG or immersive sim gameplay, holy sht, we found a game that has sort of Deus Ex vibe, just need to crank conspiracies up and give us fun gameplay

[@ExpendableSith]

Thanks for the upload, Ross. Just found out I'm probably uninvited from the family's get together tomorrow, so this is a nice pick-me-up.

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

Merry Christmas just for you, & I hope you have a great 2024.

[@augustvalek]

This is truly the season that keeps giving, happy holidays!

[@SyrinxOfTemple]

Merry Christmas Ross always loved your content man.

[@tommcewan7936]

Is this a David Cage game? This feels like a David Cage game. It has that distinctive sense of an awesome conceptual set-up, established with a calm and measured pace in the first act, rapidly dissolving into frantic vapidity during the second act, and totally jettisoning unaddressed major plot-points left, right and centre by the third.

[@EvilDoresh]

Not enough QTE prompts Also not enough awkward sex scenes