VA-11 HALL-A: Acceptance, Not Submission

[@PapaB_123]

“Coming from a job in retail it was a shock because I was treated like an actual human being.” That one hit a little too close to home haha. Lovely video as always =)

[@jerankorak7997]

You are one of the rare content creators who I can listen to without ever being interested in the material you're discussing. I came to your channel for your Madoka Magica video (please do more on that show, by the way) but I find myself staying even for your thoughts on shows or games I've never watched and likely never will. That's a rare talent, so keep it up.

[@anniepentapls9294]

i feel like only certain types of people watch these videos... play these games... i don't want to feel "special" or "better than others" but i really want to say that it's really nice to be in this corner of the internet

[@leeroyjenkins6324]

Oh, a new Bess Sonozaki video to constantly rewatch. Me yesterday: "I wonder when the next video is gonna be" My phone today: "It is time"

[@Skullsandrainbowstars]

This is hard to watch.... it’s so amazing... I never played VA-11 HALL-A but from the way you talk about it seems incredible, so incredible it makes me really want to play it but then again I’m incredibly broke...

[@quetzalcoatl8167]

I did not expect a video about VA-11 from you. Just wanted to say your mion vid helps me a lot especially with troubles i face at work, it gives me courage to be better. Thanks

[@clouds7253]

I feel you on being content with whatever ending you end up. I got evicted at the end and I wasn't dissatisfied or anything. I got there due to my own actions and I didn't feel the need to go back and redo anything. I believe that's because VA-11 HALL-A is brimming with so much heart, that I didn't want to treat it like another game.

[@michaelgum97]

That's honestly how I felt when I didn't had enough to pay for Jill's electricity bill, and the way that I usually save meant that even if I wanted to, I couldn't go back.

[@vulpinefiction8133]

Honestly when I started watching your videos the quality gave me the impression that this channel had already blown up, but I have high hopes for this channels future and will watch with great intrest

[@fizzter7898]

AAAA OMG I REMEMBER LISTENING TO YOU A YEAR AGO IN MY OLD ACC!!! IM CURRENTLY !! Obsessed with Va11halla, and seeing you cover it makes me so happy, thank you so much for all the days you made me love video essays!!

[@EayuProuxm]

I appreciate that you don't have clickbait titles, but titles accurate to the video's theme.

[@mariavalenzuela3044]

this is beautiful and calming

[@Ulta_Nagenki]

It seems like something I can get into. I've thought about the cafe type VN like Coffee talk would be a nice thing in between the big brand name novels. This sounds cool with the drink making system and forum stuff. Would try them if I weren't doing other things but it's something I would put in the middle of the list. An alright thing to try.

[@natyfop]

wow, nice timing! I've played VA-11 Hall-A pretty recently actually. It's the kind of visual novel that I've been finding myself more and more drawn to. Just chilling and talking to people. Listening to their stories. 2020 took almost all human interaction from my life, so I found solace and comfort in games like VA-11 Hall-A and Coffee Talk. And the soundtrack, GOD the soundtrack!

[@Dulcee_yume]

Such a great voice, really smooth to listen to.

[@marcoal0314]

Great video, as a venezuelan this game is so important to me, a true masterpiece

[@lagomortis8270]

Beautiful video and and amazing analysis

[@kevinphiggins]

Very intrigued to learn what the teenage clerk from Frittte thinks about VA-11 Hall-A

[@tenny9665]

That was awesome , hearing your thoughts on games , anime and other stuff that i come across as well always feels awesome , thank you for sharing your thoughts , i always feel like i learned or got something new after finishing your videos ^^

[@sewerparty]

I applied to uni these past few months as well, and I also find myself returning to this game just to mix drinks and save lives. It's a nice game to just relax to, especially with all the stress of applications

[@_bess]

Good luck with your apps/results!

[@ShukakuTheCrazy1]

I plan to play this at some point. I have played coffee talk. I found that one very soothing

[@Slewedleo]

Great vid!!!

[@varimarthas5]

Amazing video

[@work9167]

A beautiful video essay! I like it a lot when people connect their real-life experience with the ideas which are laid inside a story. It gives a feeling as if you have an acceptance to something very personal and important to someone. However, I had expected from the name of the video something more tangible. As a person who has lived all his life in Russia which is notorious for its authoritarian government I have experienced the game as something very personal. Because - with some exaggeration - you don’t have to go far away to look at a reality described in the game when it is under your window. You just live in it. Police abuse, crazy inflation without raising salaries, feeling of living without a future for your society and dictators who do all they want. These are the reasons why a lot of people from Post-Soviet states love Va-11 Hall-A. Because it describes your life in a way you have been wanting to do yourself long ago. I couldn't predict that someone has a completly different way to understand the plot under such header. I hope this doesn’t look like a baseless criticism of your art. I still love the video a lot. An idea I wanted to deliver is that people from different cultures see the different angles to surrounding things. I was just impressed how the title of the essay can be interpreted in a way you don’t expect to. I couldn’t resist and not talk about it :).

[@_bess]

Thank you for your comment! I'm not actually sure I understand what was different about our understanding of the game's themes and topics or why your comment would be a criticism as it sounds as though we took the same things away from it?

[@work9167]

@@_bess For me the video was something like I understand the world of Glitch City, how it works and how people live in the city so I accept it. However, I can’t understand why people live in conditions like that because this is too inhumane to sell yourself to a big machine of the huge city where everybody is so cruel to everyone so I can’t submit this. This is how I have grasped the idea. To put it simply, the better way is giving an example. This is like watching a harsh military movie such as ‘Full Metal Jacket’ directed by Stanley Kubrick. When you watch it there are thoughts: yeah, this is really bad that young men should undertake military training even if they didn’t want to do it, however, I accept it because they are protecting the interests of their government. They do it for betterment of their society. There is a reason for it. However, I can’t submit this because war is bad and killing people is bad. There are my personal beliefs which can’t accept something so horrible. But you know, I am just watching a movie so this is something which is far away from me. For this reason, it is something I can’t feel myself. Of course, this would be a little different if I was in the condition of a young man who has to undertake military service but I wasn't. If it was the case, I could feel it so the story was a little closer to me and this would leave me more expression. I hope this example gives a better explanation of what I wanted to say. After watching the video I was left with the impression that the story of Va-11 Hall-A was something which was interesting to see but not something which couldn’t have left a big impression because the social context of Glitch City is something which is uncommon for daily life. This was amazing for me, because the game has left a huge emotional impact to myself because there were a lot of social context in the game which are understandable for everybody who is from countries like mine. When I see the opening of Va-11 Hall-A and see how people struggle with crazy prices for common commodities, this is something which finds a response for me because this is something I have experienced in my life. So there was the idea and my comment was from the story like ‘How these guys can’t love this game? I love this so much and this is so exciting that I can’t understand why’. Well, maybe this is just my language barrier and so I have explained myself a little complicatedly or even misunderstood the plot of the video. However, I hope I have delivered the idea correctly now.

[@_bess]

@@work9167 I understand! I'm fortunate that I can't imagine what it's like to live in a place like Glitch City but I know that that is the reality for a lot of people and so the story did really impact me in that sense! And I have my own experience with the stereotype that people who live in places where bad things happen must all be horrible to one another and really like that VA-11 HALL-A rallies against it. So while I couldn't 100% connect with the game for other reasons, I did really appreciated how it sought to show what life is like under the conditions the characters are experiencing and opted to centre the video around that. So even though it connected with you more than it did with me, I think we appreciate and like the same things about it!

[@work9167]

​@@_bess I think you are right. When you have put the idea in the way, I have understood that I have delivered my thoughts impolitely. I had no right to decide how people think about games like Va-11 Hall-A when I know nothing about them. Excuse me if my comment was offensive. I really appreciate that you have cleared this misunderstanding in a very nice and adequate way. So, I believe we love the game for the same reason. I am very glad there are channels like yours. The more I watch your videos, the more I take from them!

[@_bess]

@@work9167 Your comment wasn't offensive, please don't worry, I'm glad you shared your thoughts with me! And thank you so much! 😊

[@marcusaaronliaogo9158]

Miki is cool but also tragic

[@nickbooze9766]

Bess videos are my xanax.

[@highecuador1873]

Acceptance is submission.

[@sebastianswan7975]

One question, What do you think of the Persona Series if you have played it?

[@_bess]

I haven't though I'd consider giving it a go if it ever came out on Switch!

[@shark7045]

Are you watching the new higurashi serie?

[@powerhook1703]

You have great taste

[@powerhook1703]

Are you looking forward to sequel to VA-11 HALL A

[@_bess]

Yes, will definitely be picking it up!

[@powerhook1703]

@@_bess N1VR Ann-A gang!