What Is the Games Industry Missing?

[@PixelaDay]

If you like what I do please consider throwing me a bit of money on Patreon, check out the tiers and benefits here: www.patreon.com/pixeladay

[@GMTK]

Thanks Kat - very important video

[@petraverlinden1899]

As someone who is actively afraid of leaving comments, this is hard - but just wanted to say: love this, good job, hear hear, etc. I’m a woman who plays games and watches videogame essays. Glad you exist ❤

[@delikatessbruhe9843]

I hope it doesn't make you uncomfortable if someone reacts to your comment but I want to let you know that I'm proud of you for overcoming your fear. Especially to let someone know you appreciate what they do. It makes a difference.

[@PixelaDay]

I appreciate it, thanks for commenting and for watching!

[@ArchitectofGames]

Absolutely cracking vid as per usual, elaborated a lot of things I've been thinking for a long time now and made me hate myself in exciting new ways I never thought possible - couldn't be better timed alongside The AAA Games Industry Advertising Event And Also We Throw A Bone To, Like, One Fairly Safe Indie Game Per Year Awards, truly great stuff.

[@ahuman7027]

They should rename it that way XD

[@PixelaDay]

If at least one indie award winner doesn't make me angry is it really a game awards event

[@williammatthews3667]

Wake up babe new Pixel a Day video dropped

[@sinho113]

Pixel a Day: 1 Hour video about what the game industry is missing Game Industry: More Live Services !!

[@PixelaDay]

WHY WON'T ANYONE LISTEN TO ME

[@GnatHuman]

33:40 "... the void where a more unique and special game could've been, if we just demanded it" I always have taken issue with this line of thought. I think the repetition on the chicken and egg problem shows us that, at least when it comes to availability of options, supply creates its own demand (up to a point). Demand rarely creates supply. This is no critique on your essay, or even the point being made. I just am coming to the realization that more often than not the specific things I want in games and software and art I might just need to make myself Edit: 55:02 I should've trusted you, you said basically the exact thing haha

[@ricochet1732]

This captures so much of my struggles with video games. My partner and I actually play puzzle games together, but one of us has to stream the game while the other watches on a video call and we talk about it. Our way of playing literally doesn't exist in games research, even though Obra Dinn style games are actually way more fun with multiple people.

[@PixelaDay]

I played both The Witness and Obra Dinn with my boyfriend and both experiences were *chef's kiss*

[@ricardoms2072]

Hbomberguy, Joseph Anderson, Pixel a Day, what an amazing end of the year for video-essay believers

[@PixelaDay]

Who are those other guys, don't know em

[@anotherKyle]

ad revenue in december go brrrrr

[@robertvolek8360]

​@@PixelaDay Just some guys who also like Dark Souls

[@thomaspinkerton3450]

Just need a Noah Caldwell-Gervais as a little dessert.

[@LeoGR420]

We only need an action button review

[@sharkray3938]

Amazing video as always. I'm also somebody that would rather play more games that have unique narratives and gameplay than another competitive shooter. To think I would ever prefer that games will stay the same is something I have never wanted ever. I have always felt that video games is a medium with so much potential that isn't explored because of this industry. I am very happy that somebody like you would also like games as much as I do and I support everyone to be able to play games. I truly believe that games aren't just time wasters, but are a valuable exploration of culture and experience that no other medium has as much potential to explore. There should be mom games too.

[@PixelaDay]

There are some, just not in the AAA space!

[@LazerzZ]

This video was really magnificent, so informative and important. I deeply hope this video spreads and gets seen by a larger number of people.

[@StefanLopuszanski]

22:44 : Have encountered that many, many times. Puzzle games and other "niche" genres are so often excluded or grouped into the wrong category (match-3 or other matching games that aren't quintessential puzzle style games like Baba Is You).

[@StilvurBee]

sokoban variant should be its own checkbox tbh

[@Robozombiecorn]

When you bring up the idea of a "Nurturer" or a "Maverick" player type, I identified far more with both than any of the other types they have, despite being fairly close to the stereotypical target demographic.

[@thethreels2944]

I think a lot of us have that experience, since I'm pretty sure the stereotype isn't even good at describing young cis white male gamers. Besides, there's probably also some correlation between those player types and the people who watch hour-long meta-essays on the culture of vide games.

[@DavetheTurnip]

This was phenomenal. Well done. Before the end part where you talk about this project brewing for years, I could feel the thoughtfulness and yet vulnerability coming through. It must have been tough to get all these thoughts in order and push them out. I hope you’re happy you made “the thing”. I think it’s important and I enjoyed watching it. 🙂

[@PixelaDay]

You're the best Dave

[@thebookofive]

Thank you so much for making this! I think the world has become a little bit better, because this video exists.

[@dock7777]

Accessibility is a big issue. There is no clear way for a person who’s never played games to learn how to play them. I’m glad you brought that up, I rarely see this being discussed. An idea I had is standardizing every game to include an optional tutorial that is aimed specifically for non-gamers and teaches them the fundamentals of that games genre from the ground up. The goal would be to ensure that everyone, gamer and non gamer, has a clear entry point to the game. But the industry currently if you’ve never played a game before? Tosses you a monopoly set thats missing the instruction manual then slaps you on the ass before laughing on the way to the bank.

[@heatherharrison264]

I've been a gamer since the late 1970s. This video echoes many of the same complaints I have had for a very long time. In the late 1970s/early 1980s, when video games first achieved mainstream popularity, it was relatively inclusive, and in those experimental early years, games weren't held down to genre expectations and demographics. Things changed after the video game crash of 1983, and the gaming hobby became the domain of mostly young men. For decades, it seems like the vast majority of prominent games have featured a lot of action, a lot of fighting, and the fanciest graphics that the technology of the day could achieve. On rare occasions, something different would appear and take the gaming world by storm, clearly indicating that there was demand for something that wasn't high energy and bloodthirsty. SimCity was one such game, and it inspired a whole group of other city builders and related types of games. This kept me engaged with gaming at a time when some of my favorite genres were in decline or had become extinct. I'm glad I stuck with it, because notwithstanding the train wreck that is the AAA space these days, the indie scene has really blossomed, and for the first time since the late 1970s/early 1980s, there are so many games compatible with my interests that I barely have time to scratch the surface. Action combat is one game mechanic I have never liked, but over the years, I played a few of the games with action combat and even came to regard some of them as among my favorites, but this was in spite of the combat. These games (i.e. Morrowind and Fallout: New Vegas) had so much else to offer that it was worth putting up with the combat. It helps that the combat isn't particularly challenging in these games. Combat is seen as such a basic feature in games that even many of the ostensibly low stress, so-called "cozy games" have combat. Stardew Valley is great in many ways, but having to fight endless hordes of monsters sometimes puts me off. For as long as I can remember, I have had a real hunger for non-violent games. This is what pushed me into the city builders and has led me to look for non-combat "cozy games" and walking simulators, and to play games such as No Man's Sky and Valheim in the peaceful mode. I don't mind turn based combat so much since it feels more like a logic puzzle than a fight when it is well designed. Baldur's Gate 3 is quite possibly the best in this regard out of all the CRPGs I have played since the 1980s. It is one of very few games in which I have actually enjoyed combat. Video games can and should be so much more than fighting. The art form is incredibly flexible, and it is a shame that so many of its possibilities went unexplored for so long. I have little hope for the AAA studios. Like the big Hollywood film studios, they are risk averse corporations that will continue beating to death whatever has brought in the money in the past, and they will do so until it no longer works. Just as Hollywood churns out one action superhero movie after another in tired decades-old franchises, the big companies will continue to churn out action combat games that are flashy and fancy-looking on the surface (and have cash shops and battle passes to hoover up as much money as possible from their customers) but have no depth and little variety. They are the fast food of movies and video games - good for a quick adrenaline fix but offering little else. With very few exceptions, it is the small indie developers and privately held companies not unduly beholden to investors (such as Larian) that will push the art form forward.

[@etamr60]

Incredible comment! So you witnessed the start of this artform... I listened to a very good podcast/yt vid a while ago (in French unfortunately) that highlighted this turn towards young men in the early 80s, looking at ads before and after... and wow, adults and girls playing games! Didn't last, I wonder what could have been. Not, as you put it well, that we're lacking in cool and diverse games those days!

[@heatherharrison264]

@@etamr60 It would be nice if there had been better diversity in games between the mid-1980s and 2010s, but gaming is in better shape now. What is this video/podcast you mention? I'm not fluent in French, but I have some basic knowledge, so I might be able to understand it.

[@etamr60]

@@heatherharrison264 It's "le canard et la plume #3" from Canard PC. The topic is broader, on the representations of videogames in the media and political discourse, but there are interesting observations especially on how the medium was conceived and marketed. Warning : early-covid era sound quality

[@PixelaDay]

Thanks as always for your wonderful and important take :) I wish we had a lot more people like you in the hobby!

[@kaliflowers]

Hi! landed here from a "Wrong Indie Games" recommendation and after checking out "City Levels," and it's super cool the things you're talking about. This video in particular, along with taking that Quantic survey, has me thinking again about what I enjoy from games. These thoughts are still doing the DVD logo thing in my head, but I definitely feel for seeming lack of nurturing and supportive gameplay, especially in multiplayer spaces. I have fond memories of playing support and protecting and enabling my friends in League of Legends, back when I played in high school. I've tried other multiplayer games since with friends, but it feels like there's a trend of "supports and healers ALSO deal damage" as well, in an attempt to combat the typically "boring" support gameplay. I feel like I've been playing multiplayer games less and less, even though I love playing with friends, since it feels like so many try to make all the players on even footing. I'll still play Minecraft on occassion, but it'll be because my friend needs help gathering resources, or even Genshin Impact, if only to leave my world open to join and help any random players I can. These thoughts are really rough, and I can't say I have a particular message to convey, other than that I'm enjoying your videos! I was also having too much fun reading comments, that I reached the less-nice comments, and kind of felt awful reading them, so I wanted to counteract that energy a bit(?) and bring it back(?)? This comment might be more for myself than anything lol. will be checking out more of your videos, and i look forward to any upcoming ones!

[@PixelaDay]

Thank you! You're so lovely for making an effort to drop some positivity in here, I really appreciate it :) I haven't minded the negative comments really, most have been supportive and constructive and my community is fantastic so that has far outweighed the negativity. Feel free to please continue spamming nice comments at me though lol

[@GreenTea4]

this video hits even harder after this year's Game Awards, felt like a single game was announced with 20 trailers, couldn't tell when the trailer for the next one was starting. also the gun shooting was the reason why I couldn't finish Control and Alan wake 2, it felt so out of place, I love these 2 games and their "vibes", but they had to add these boring mechanic(telekinesis was fun in Control), I had to finish them both on youtube. 56:02 - 56:13 this is amazing, you put my feelings for the entire games industry(meaning AAA😉) in this sentence.

[@PixelaDay]

I was wondering whether this video would be out of place releasing at a very "let's celebrate games being wonderful" time of year... but then yeah, The Game Awards were so horrid maybe it highlighted these problems? lol I don't know. I share your feelings about the Remedy games 100%

[@GreenTea4]

@@PixelaDayyes, it highlights the problems even more, they were like "we wanted to make something unique" and than show the most generic looking shooter ever.

[@coffeatus3393]

I only finished Control because I maxed out telekinesis and powers. Throwing rocks at enemies is so much fun. I hardly ever used a Director's gun, and it was a good walkthrough without struggles.

[@vagabundorkchaosmagick-use2898]

I didn't finish Control because it crashed all the time and performance was crap on PS4. But I would have abandoned it anyway, it was really boring. For telekinesis, I think Scarlet Nexus is way more fun

[@FullOfLethons]

I watched a playthrough of Control because it looked too bogged down with repetitive combat to be fun for me. Nice vibes and oh do I dig the SCP feelings, but I would have wanted to play it if the combat had been drastically scaled back and instead of that there was a mechanic for freeing the captured agents from the Hiss. How satisfying that would have been!

[@LeonardoDaSidci]

Excellent video! I too, hid my face, specifically as I knew I wouldn't be taken seriously as a non-white creator. I was able to leverage my accent and voice in a faceless way that enabled me to get the views I did and what I wrote about to be taken seriously without prejudice.

[@PixelaDay]

Sid!! It's been a minute!

[@will_wmgc]

See I always thought I was quite on top of a topic like this and agreed with everything, but you still managed to catch me out and think "wow - i never thought of that"! Great video, thank you for making it!

[@8GigueBits]

The idea of not just noticing, but *staring* at the lack of something is genuinely affecting me in a way I can't really describe. To the point that after 4 chapters building on that idea, Carmen Maria Machado's quote actually made me skip a breath.

[@thegustbag]

It's been a handful of years now that I started (at first playfully) rolling my eyes when a new AAA shooter game got announced in a big games event. I usually watch these with my older brother, to whom I mostly owe my love for gaming. Nowadays, it's gotten to the point where even he's just loudly sighing when another new and interesting aesthetic is revealed to be an excuse to shoot some guys with guns. There are literally so many other verbs out there!!!! Like, just as an example: what if you HUGGED guys with guns? Duck in and out of cover, close the distance and go for a big hug. Or sneak up from behind and do a stealth hug. At least in the movies space I've seen it work before... On the flip side, events have gotten so big we don't really complain about a dedicated shooter segment anymore: gives us a neat bathroom break where we can be sure we won't miss any interesting announcements.

[@eyebrowowl9292]

Huge thanks for persevering and making the video that's been on the tip of your tounge for litaral years - it's a triumph. Part 2 of your video resonated with me especially since I've always felt like an atypical gamer. I just did the gamer motivation test for myself and also found myself a little deflated by the questions as it seemingly tried to pidgeonhole me into a type of player that I'm not. I've got such an appitite for emotionally challenging games that try to do something a little unique with the medium, but they are much rarer than I'd like.

[@Madoc_EU]

Hey, I'm a dad. And I love how you talk about fatherhood. For me, fatherhood has nothing to do whatsoever with violence. If anything, being a father has made me more peaceful, understanding, cuddly and soft. Fatherhood, like motherhood, is an expression of love.

[@adamkrzeslak4326]

I always hated it when people tell me that those companies are "taking risks" to earn their money, yet it seems they always try to play it safe to appeal to as wide audience as possible.. Even though it has been proven many many times that people love more experimental games, movies etc. but as u said all of these are thought of as exceptions, and with that mindset dominating all those industries it feels bleak huge thanks for this essay it feels so good to finally be understood and find many people who share my beliefs, not to even mention how much it broadened my understanding of the subject thanks for all ur work

[@PixelaDay]

Glad the video hit! Thanks for the lovely comment!

[@secretunlockablegoose]

Thank you so much for making this video. As someone currently looking through games data and player research, it's incredibly frustrating to see such limited categorizations of players and de-emphasis on where the industry can improve to bring in those with much more limited game knowledge into the medium. Games are great and we've come a long way in even the past 10 years, but there is still so much work to be done.

[@PixelaDay]

Heyyyy thanks and thank you so much for helping out with the video! Let me know if I can help out with your project

[@QuestingRefuge]

This came out even better than I imagined when you first mentioned the idea which is unbelievable! You have touched on so many frustrations and a huge potential I truly believe in that games can do. 💜

[@elijahclevenger10]

I've never heard of your channel before, but after seeing this video, I INSTANTLY subscribed! I also have felt this way about the game industry for a while now and like it's seriously time for a MAJOR shift in the industry. Especially AAA. Incredible work! (Leaving this comment to help boost your video)

[@evandumas-pct2498]

This is so incredibly valuable. There are so many stories untold because the people who have the decision making power prefer stories in their own demographic. And so the world stays small, the stories stay stale, and the gaming community stays insular. I can't wait to see a future where "gamers" is a truly inclusive term

[@labdG]

I feel like I can't properly put into words all my thoughts and emotions about this but I'll say one thing. I think what you are saying is extremely important and good, and I think you really should be proud of it.

[@SirLaguna]

I feel like we've having the same thing for years now. Your video is probably one of the best about this, but I can't believe so much time has happened and nothing has changed.

[@Tokyoriot36]

Kat, thank you so much for this work. One of your most important pieces and such important things being said here. I’m very proud to have been supporting you and will continue to do so!!

[@PixelaDay]

Joe you're a gem and I'm so proud to have you as a supporter!

[@MattsPixelGarden]

This is so important! The AAA space is beyond stale. btw Returnal is a beautiful game about mothers, but it is also very action-oriented.

[@anditemporary]

What an incredible video! This was my intro to your channel, and I cannot wait to dig into your back catalogue! Though I anticipate returning to this one again, and I will certainly be pointing friends toward it as well. I have also felt at times like I'm aging out of this hobby. But I'm not left with a sense of dread or the feeling that this will be an inevitability after watching your video! You've so beautifully articulated the case that things can and should be different, and you've left me at least walking away with a sense of hope that they will be. Thank you for advocating for that better future in a medium I'm not ready to age out of just yet.

[@PixelaDay]

That's really nice to hear, thank you so much for your heartfelt comment. I have much hope (for the indie scene at least), and who knows what the future will bring!

[@anditemporary]

Thank goodness for the indie scene!!

[@magoverce]

I wanna show Part 3 of this video to literally everyone with gaming as a hobby. I can't think of how anyone can disagree with it. Once you notice the void, it becomes impossible to ignore. You perfectly put into words how I (and probably many other people too) have been feeling about the industry for a while now.

[@PixelaDay]

Thank you, that means a lot.

[@Lexithepoptart]

I was recommended this video, and I really appreciate how you direct attention to other innovative artists.

[@bsmarques]

ok, ok, I admit, I might be binge watching your channel, it's soooo good

[@idontknowshark]

that song from the ror2 soundtrack always awakens something in me whenever i hear it. it sounds so melancholic yet hopeful such a banger choice for this video

[@imrastar7055]

This is an incredible essay. When you mentioned the gaming survey I took it and similarly didn’t feel like it described my reasons for playing games. It ended up giving two different types that were almost opposites, Bard/Gladiator, and neither really fit. Something I’ve noticed in myself is that the stereotypes and blindspots in the games industry and the way games are talked about has made it difficult for me to figure out what I actually like in games. I don’t enjoy most AAA and got started playing more puzzle, narrative, and simulation type games. I tried playing CoD and Halo once or twice with family, but struggled with reacting quickly and dexterity/skill with a controller, and always ended up being too anxious and frustrated to enjoy playing them. Because of that, I assumed I just didn’t like action or FPS and stuck to more laidback games. But then a friend of mine convinced me to try playing Borderlands 2 in co-op mode with her and I ended up having a lot of fun. It turns out I just needed some time to learn where I wouldn’t immediately fail and end up panicking and getting frustrated, and then I could have fun and even get pretty good. More recently, I’ve been discovering that I enjoy hack and slash games despite avoiding them for similar reasons as FPS. I decided to try out Hi-Fi Rush because it being a rhythm game felt more approachable, and really enjoyed it. Or two games that are now in my top five favorites, Lucah: Born of a Dream and Death of a Wish, which I bought on a recommendation because of the queer themes and storytelling even though they were souls-like action rpgs, and ended up falling in love with the combat mechanics as well as the story. I’m only now starting to find that I can enjoy more fast-paced, challenging action games because all the ones I had tried previously were standard AAA titles that didn’t give me a chance to learn how to play them and didn’t have any emotional resonance to keep me from just giving up when I got frustrated.

[@MattyStoked]

I watched this on my TV and forgot to comment. Absolutely fantastic video, mate. Really important topc and something we should be actively addressing.

[@FullOfLethons]

I'm a MUDder and remember the discussions about the limitations of the Bartle test back in the day. It was a good start but really only scratched the surface. It feels like that new test actually took some steps back by narrowing focus to AAA games, rather than expanding to the full range already on display (not to mention the even greater possibilities.)

[@daoshen]

I remember these too! Love the dear doctor's work of course, but we recognized then the need to expand on it. Some did (much later)! Yee for instance? But yes, much more is needed.

[@iamerror]

Damn Kat, this video is so impressive and meaningful to me as a woman and mother who has often felt alienated from the games industry. I am honored to have even a small role in this important work. (also, I now want to make a game where you breastfeed a baby)

[@PixelaDay]

"breastfeeding simulator" is now immortalised in my search history for all time Also I can tell you that I now know there is a gap in the market here

[@iamerror]

@@PixelaDay Good to know!

[@RichoRosai]

On top of everything else, you use "comprise" correctly as a transitive verb! We need dozens more hours of this.

[@PixelaDay]

I didn't spend four years getting a PhD for nothin

[@RichoRosai]

Still, even among the most well-educated, there are some errors so pervasive that that the petty quasi-prescriptivist in me just has to give up on caring about. So it's soothing to hear. :)

[@TheMovingEye]

Excellent video. I liked the numerous examples in Part 1 and Part 2. It really helps to understand this Blind Spot when you see it in action. Also, your comment about growing out of Video Games hit home for me. It's not that I am getting too old for video games, Video Games as a medium fail to grow with me (with some notable exceptions, of course). It's not that I don't want to game anymore, it's just I don't want another AAA game with some boring chosen one storyline and crafting system, I have done that long enough. Games like Citizen Sleeper, Paradise Killer, Signalis and even Death Stranding on the other hand are an auto-buy.

[@PixelaDay]

Thanks so much for the comment!

[@batataComPolvo]

If you think games dont have diversity, thank god you dont watch anime. 99% is the same and its really hard to find good mature stories on that medium.

[@PixelaDay]

I used to watch a LOT of anime. Guess why I stopped! XD

[@emanuelblake7860]

It will get missed in the excellence of the rest of the video, but I love that your example for "people the AAA industry doesnt bother to represent" was "adults". I watched Jacob Gellers top ten kist just before this, and as much as I loved hearing about all these interesting games, it mad me sad and kind of angry that so many wonderful experiences are locked behind 40+ hours of game play: AAA Will Never Die, But You Will

[@mpmpmp2727]

You are one of my favorite creators in the platform. Thank you for everything you create, especially this video.

[@broston_]

really good video and about playable game moms, i can only think of Saga Anderson from Alan Wake 2 but her parenthood is not as prominent as with the dads, but still a step in a good direction i think also, hyper light drifter score detected based

[@MrMysterious420]

Thanks for opening my eyes to this.

[@ziccodx]

Opinion -> Altering AAA industry is almost impossible, since it's driven by money and not by innovation/art. Mainly indie as you said is where gems are from and which occasionally change the larger mainstream industry. It's a nice dream to have a more diverse AAA industry, but I don't believe there's a world where that happens without some indie blowing up (which would probably bring in only a one genre to AAA). I work in the gaming industry and do game porting to consoles - the idea that a cool and largely innovative project will come out of AAA is almost unthinkable for me. The teams are large and often are separated by place/time - multiple time zones, countries/cities, soit's difficult to get across/communicate new ideas. The development is slow due to bureaucracy and a lot of leadership/execs are looking at the potential money, they look at trends and so new ideas just get shut down due to a potential risk. Maybe I have blinders on and it's always good to have a discussion about things and criticize, but it's very difficult for me to see a potential change there. Ouroboros feels like exactly what you're fighting. Niche -> I don't find it atrocious that certain games are niche and have a very dedicated player base, which is not representative of whole industry. I think there's a certain beauty in it. There are bonds, which are tighter than anything that could happen ever in AAA space (I'm exaggerating, but I do also mean it). Industries will keep chasing trends, but there will be always an indie scene which is amazing/innovative/weird. What I find amazing about your channel is that it celebrates games like Outer Wilds, Celeste, Rain World, Undertale, Citizen Sleeper, Edith Finch, Venba and other awesome ones which I don't even know of. (I know I've added a game not covered ^^) PS: Great video and I'm looking forward to seeing the discussion this video brings

[@madspunky]

Yeah!

[@PixelaDay]

You're not the first person to yell at me on here about playing Venba XD I'll make sure I get to it over my summer break

[@b.delacroix7592]

The movie industry went through this (probably needs to again) and it began the rise of the indie film makers. Same thing with the game industry. I've always held to the philosophy of "do a good job, the money will come". Rather than chase the money and have neither money nor a good product.

[@Jules4878]

Wonderful, thank you so much for this! Voices like yours give me hope for the future of this medium.

[@maxteeth]

“i like to think of it as an ouroboros though, because it sounds cooler to say” had me rolling

[@PiBoi314]

I found your channel through your recent indie game video and am loving the content. I won't repeat all the deserved praise from everyone else, I just want to say I'm like 80% sure the poster from part 3 is from Pathologic 2 and I love it.

[@PixelaDay]

IT IS!

[@nikluz3807]

Just found your channel after watching your SOMA review. Love your work.

[@julians26]

Many thanks for this Kat - you covered a lot of ground there, and I'm pleased for you that you managed to finally make this video! The timing is beautifully fortuitous; a great counterpoint to the massive and unavoidable hype around the GTA VI trailer in the last week or so. Nothing against GTA, but there's so much more this industry could and should be, and so much more we should be excited about. A lot of progress has been made, but there's still so much further to go. Yours is an important and unique voice - keep going. If I may, I'll also take this opportunity to say I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

[@PixelaDay]

Happy Christmas and NY!

[@JoshForeman]

This is a wonderful message. I've been sharing it around to all my industry networks. I've been in the games biz since the mid 90s when virtually all studios were basically frat houses, and it's been amazing watching the evolution, yet frustrating how slowly the demographic change of the workforce has manifest in the levels of leadership that could actually steer the industry out of our current stagnant water. I truly believe videogames can be the most powerful artform humans have created, but first it's gotta break free of the teen boy edgelord phase we've been trapped in for over 3 decades! Thanks for your admonition and testimony. Keep up the great work!

[@PixelaDay]

Ah, thank you so much for sharing with your people, that's a huge compliment! It's so great to hear from people who feel the same way

[@davyhotch]

I still come back to the Paradise Killer video occasionally. The story of rat universe 25 added such great context I would not have found otherwise thanks for raising it Pixel. I really wish more games had reading lists / Civilopedia styles of teaching in them so you could directly use them as a step to further knowledge.maybe it would nudge them into more real world concepts.There are so many interesting technologies and social relations that never seem to be modeled, compared to the amount of shooting simulators ove seen

[@MrOpellulo]

Amazing essay! The only thing I would add is that, as a recent father, I find the 'dadification' of games quite disturbing, because all we've got are 'great games about being a (horrible) dad'. It's not just all the "guns and violence", but also because the emotional examples shown on screen are largely toxic and abusive. Children and family threatened as property, subjective, skeved views sold as universal truths and, as you pointed out, there is a total lack of the mother's perspective (when this is not directly "fridged" off-screen). It's not that I want a game about sharing house chores (even if that could be an idea worth exploring) but to see comments, reviews and essays that threath those psychos as "relatable" it's something quite concerning.

[@anedaneran5666]

I cant really offer more than the verbal encouragement that your voice is unique and important among video essayists covering games, and that i truly hope that you'll continue your work.

[@PixelaDay]

That means a lot, thank you so much

[@hooby_9066]

Without indie games, I probably would have quit the hobby years ago. I believe it was somewhere around the financial crisis of 2007/08 - and up until 2012 or so? During that time, I felt like all the games were multiplayer shooter sequels, with even beloved franchises of the past being "re-imagined" as first-person shooters. While other games (and series) got cancelled for "putting the focus on the core business" reason, and the entire AA-tier of games almost died out entirely. I really, really struggled to find anything interesting to play during those times - and it was only the indie boom brought about by crowd-funding, digital distribution and the rise of let's plays - that turned things around for me. It was that indie boom that invented new genres and gameplay types, and revived long abandonded/discarded older types, that the AAA-industry and the big video game journalism completely ignored.

[@Zer0_Ph34r]

Absolutely fantastic video. It's well written, articulate, and while you're calling for action, you're not disparaging what already exists. Honestly, you'd think that this all would be bare minimum for youtubers, but it's remarkably rare. It's really funny to me, the section of this video where you brought up the player types, because I went to school for Game Design and Development and we spent some times talking about these types, but in an incredibly un-critical fashion. My professor, who was a woman, presented these as fantastic tools to find and cater to our intended audience. The reason this is so funny is because, when reflecting on them even a little, it's so obvious that they don't really hold any water. The same week we learned about these player types, we also learned that the average gamer is a middle-aged woman because of how popular mobile phone games had become, and most of those games don't really factor into these player types. On top of that, there are so many obvious player types that aren't accounted for, like the person who is waiting in line and wants to distract themself, the person playing purely to spend time with a loved one, a player who games to improve motor skills or brain function, and of course the gamers that act differently based on the kind of game they happen to be playing. All of that is just to say that, i can't believe this is the first video I've seen critiquing this, and it's fantastic to see you not stop there, but continue to illuminate the flaws we currently have in how games are thought of, let alone created. Why do we believe that games should be a certain way, when art has shown us time and time again that it has no restraints. it's too bad not enough people will see this video, but i'm so glad I started following you so I could. Don't ever try to be like other creators, I don't need 10 channels all telling me the same thing.

[@PixelaDay]

Amazing to have a comment from someone who actually did game design studies! I wonder where you're writing from and if there's a strong AAA industry there that college is seen as sort of a direct pipeline to? I've been reading Brendan Keogh's wonderful book The Video Game Industry Does Not Exist and my favourite chapter has been how game design courses are positioned and taught. There seems to be a disconnect between how these courses are marketed (targeting largely traditional Gamers, many of whom lack critical thinking about their favourite hobby) versus the sort of critical mindset and open mindedness that will actually help one succeed in this very unreliable field. At least here in Australia where we basically don't have a AAA industry any more, the lecturers in these courses seem to be aware of this and do their best to embed flexibility (and often also critical thinking) in their grads.

[@Zer0_Ph34r]

@@PixelaDay Actually, my experience is probably fairly unique in the grand scheme of things. I went to UCCS where they have a Bachelors of Innovation program, and in this program, one of the 12 disciplines is "Game Design and Development". For better or worse, there is exactly zero pipeline from that program into the AAA industry. In fact, I had to work fairly hard and get lucky to even have a chance to work in the industry after graduating, and I currently do not work as a game developer. I do use the majority of what I learned in my current job, and I think the program at UCCS is probably one of the best when it comes to making you think like a good developer. Most of the Game Design focused classes have extremely open ended assignments where the whole goal is to make you think like a game dev (and in some cases work like one too). One of the first assignments in my first course, prior to even learning programming, was to create a short game (maybe 5 minutes long) and I created a Zelda like dungeon with enemies from different games. In my final semester, one of the classes I had was for each student to think of, create, and officially release a full game to the world. The professor would grade your game at the end based on literally how good of a game it was. I ended up making a Bejeweled style game, but rather than moving a piece in one of the 4 cardinal directions to create a match, I had you swapping pieces with a set of gems in your "hand". I also made it so you could rotate the whole board so you could decided which direction the gems would fall in. While not an incredible game by any stretch, I did have to create a whole game and release it within about 3 months of time (a single semester) and, for me at least, I found this process to be incredibly inciteful and useful, even though I don't create games presently. In general, most colleges that have "Game Design" degrees are exactly like what you stated above, and it's a real issues as it doesn't generate good game developers, it just generates useful code monkeys for the industry, and usually for the worst parts of the industry. Most of the marketing for these degrees and colleges promise that each year the students create a full game that you can put on your portfolio, the issue is that this process doesn't really teach the students much and instead just prepares them to take orders. To make a good game, you actually have to critically think at every stage in the process. You have to consider what you want to create, then deal with set backs, what your team is capable of, deadlines, bugs and other unforeseeable issues; but you still need to create something fun in spite of all of this. This means that you constantly have to make decisions about what to change, what to continue focusing on, when and how to pivot development, and the whole time you have to make your employees happy and your customers happy. Game Development is often marketed as this holy grail style job that is perfect for people who like to play games. Enjoying a game and making a game have almost nothing to do with each other. I mean, it's like saying that, "You love watching movies? Well then you can become an amazing director just like all your favorites! Sign up today and join your classmates in making a movie over your 4 year college education!" Just because you like movies doesn't mean you can act or direct or write a good script, it just means you like movies. In the same way, enjoying video games has nothing to do with creating enjoyable video games. To really give you an idea of how difficult making a game really is, here's an interesting stat for you. In my degree, about 150 students joined the Game Design and Development program at the same time as me. Not a ton of people, but a pretty healthy amount based on how little known the degree was at the time. When I graduated, there were 11 other people who graduated with me, and most of them came from the year prior to mine as they needed extra time to get enough credits. The hemorrhaging rate for people out of the program was huge, and it's not because the classes sucked or the teachers were terrible (actually my teachers were pretty fantastic) it's because a ton of gamer bros joined the program thinking that they could make games since they liked playing them, and then they discovered how difficult the process actually was. Most people that started the program ended up switching to either cyber security or software engineering because they were easier. I had one class senior year where we had to design, develop, and show off a game each week that was not only enjoyable, but also something that could possibly teach a simple skill to the player. That class started with about 30 students and ended with about 6. Bottom line, you hit the nail on the head, but I luckily had a great program, but even this program didn't guarantee a job in the industry . Sorry for long response

[@PixelaDay]

Thanks for the extremely insightful reply!

[@ahuman7027]

Thanks a lot for doing this. It absolutely helps to talk about this collective blind spot we have, all thoses things that could have been (and could be). So important!

[@sunfos]

theres 'Undying' where you are a mother, raising/teaching your child. It's a few years old now I think.

[@pixeljurnee]

As a Black, female, older gamer (40s) who has been a gamer for decades and who has been making video essays for about a year, this video really really spoke to me. Before I started this channel (I had another one before this), you were the only female gaming video essay channel that I could find. So I took the more "traditional" gaming channel route of tips and guides, but that wasn't fulfilling for me. So I started over with this channel and found a few other female video essay creators such as eurothug4000 and IzzzyIzzz and I gained my confidence to at least really try in this space. But I've been so worried about making it in this space because, to be honest, I don't play the types of games that are often found on video essay channels. I don't play God of War or Resident Evil or Silent Hill, although they are wonderful games, they are not the ones I am drawn to to play. I enjoy indie titles, games like My Child Lebensborn or Spirit of the North or Night in the Woods. Games that most gamers have never heard of. One of the first videos of yours I saw was your video about Dear Esther, one of my favorite games. And you used Everybody's Gone to the Rapture in your walking simulator video, and that's also one of my favorite games. And the way you speak about these games with such love is something that is very much needed in this space. But I still don't show my face out of concern that either my race or my age would be an influencing factor in who is willing to listen to me. And I just want to thank you for your inspiration and dedication to the gaming community...this has helped me more than you know.

[@PixelaDay]

Wow, thank you!! Much love to you! I wish you success although to give some unsolicited advice I've found shooting for success on this platform has been unfulfilling and frustrating since it is not really in your control. So I also (and especially) wish you the intrinsic fulfillment of making stuff you love!

[@HugoBDesigner]

What a fantastic video! As a puzzle afficionado as well as an indie game designer, I felt really seen. It's so rare to find games that I like because most "non-action" games are lumped together into this one master indiscriminate "puzzle" category, from Bejeweled to Portal 2, from Braid to 5D Chess. And even when I do find puzzle games that I enjoy, they'll have one element or another of what I call "mainstreamness". For instance, The Talos Principle 2 released recently, and having played the first, I was really looking forward to the second. My about-average graphics card, however, was not. Though the focus of the game is puzzle-solving, with some elements of narrative, the game tries its absolute hardest to sell itself as this grand, ultra-realistic, very big blockbuster AAA game with ultra HD graphics and raytracing. Even the story left a sour taste in my mouth towards the end in how it tried to appeal to certain ideals of story-telling. Conversely, a huge surprise for me was the game Outer Wilds, which rocketed itself (pun unintended) to my top 2 games of all time. Creative and innovative in every single facet: gameplay, narrative, visuals, everything. You can see passion and love pouring from every prop, from every bit of text, and from every narrative thread. It reminded me that yes, games can still be pieces of art. Even when designing my own games, I feel like I'm swimming against the current. Time and again I have heard about how the types of games I enjoy aren't commercially viable, or how they need X and Y to draw attention, and how we can take inspiration from so-and-so big studio game. But if the friends I made in these niches can enjoy what I make at face value, free of biases, why can't a broader audience? I'm happy to have been recommended this channel - albeit a little later than I wish I had - and am about to binge all of your videos. The Outer Wilds/Rain World ones seem especially appetizing 👀 Looking forward for more amazing and insightful commentary from you, keep up the spectacular work!

[@PixelaDay]

Thanks for the amazing comment! I have the same feeling too of swimming against the current on this terrible bloody website with its preference towards videos that are shorter, more frequent, more spicy and reactive and drama-y, with more clickbaity thumbnails, and the list goes on. The pressure is constant. I'm sure you have already but make sure you tap into a supportive community who will remind you every day that the stuff you make is valuable BECAUSE it's uniquely yours.

[@matthewwoodyard2141]

I basically never comment on youtube videos because the comment section is, well, we all know, BUT thank you for making this video. I feel genuine glee whenever I see a new one from you and this was an important video to share with everyone.

[@PixelaDay]

Thank you!

[@virtualvolt7716]

at 33:40 you exactly enunciate why i graduated with a game design degree and have fallen completely out of love with the medium

[@AssasinZorro]

I agree with you about the core problem. I would call it a teen treadmill - boys are attracted to violent games, then boy grows out of those games, the industry gets the new teens, discarding people who need more and need deferent. I have switched to indie games years ago because AAA doesn't cover my needs at all, so I mostly not play AAA. I see the lack

[@nathanielraefraughton5218]

I took the motivation survey and also got the Slayer type and I thought yeah maybe it kind of it fits, but your description of the Seeker was way more accurate to how I play games.

[@cfriesen222]

Alright, time to add this to the "Hold on for personal development" playlist.

[@bongobongo3661]

We need more perspectives like this in the video game space.

[@cobaph]

I also wish there was more emphasis on game variety and what it means to be a gamer. Most conversations I have with new people I meet when we find out we are both gamers, it almost always boils down to "Oh! What games do you play?" "I've been really into Elden Ring and Baldurs Gate, [bigger game to initially sound less niche] recently!" "Oh, never heard of it. Do you play Valorant though??" Another challenge to creativity is the fact that FIFA can annually make more money than Elden Ring in its lifetime. So we get stuff like gachas, live service, and battle passes emphasized over content or substance.

[@PixelaDay]

I almost never mention I game to people I don't know well, for this exact reason!

[@thedrellum]

Thank you so much. This was great! I imagine someone might have already mentioned this, but We Happy Few has a distinct mothering section. It's mechanical and the infant you take care of is more like a timer than a living being, but added something I'd never experienced before.

[@PixelaDay]

Ooh, I own this but haven't played it!

[@thedrellum]

@@PixelaDay It's somewhat of a frustrating game, but worth it (I think) to make it through the first section of the campaign to see that mother/child dynamic.

[@darklorty]

Why is this channel getting so few views? this is criminally underrated

[@lgob7]

Thank you for making this video. It's nice to hear smart people talking about these things I feel, and helping me find words to describe them. I particularily liked the rise to colour at the end :-)

[@andspenrob]

Appreciate the thoughtful take on the opportunities we're missing! I, too, remember Razbuten's series with his wife being a shock to my system, as I'd taken for granted so many of the basic mechanics and UI conventions of modern gameplay. Accessibility, diversity of tone and focus, and a broadening of the "culture" of gaming can go along way. Forbidden City, Outer Wilds, Return of the Obra Dinn, and Witness have been some of my favorite experiences without a hint of FPS ultra-violence among them...

[@jestingrabbit]

Great points. The bad survey got me thinking about Myers Briggs and similar psych inventories. One thing that could be done, that would at least get some sort of clarity on the gamer classes that actually exist in the wild rn would be to do some sort of cluster analysis on the steam libraries that folks have + playtimes etc. Of course, this excludes the mobile space, or the libraries folks have on itchio or other services, and it of course fails utterly to see what isn't there atm, but it could at least advance us past the silliness of that survey. Great essay!

[@etamr60]

Those data ain't free... then again, steam is probably not at all reprensentative.

[@PixelaDay]

Don't get me started on the Myers Briggs!

[@jestingrabbit]

@@PixelaDayyeah, just invented from whole cloth, whereas say big five comes from a more 'let the data speak' approach. So, how would you do that with games is I guess the question that survey made me think about. But its valve and apple and google who would have the biggest, beefiest data sets. Maybe gog or itchio would be more amenable. And that could only map the terrain that is, not the terrain that could be, that you're gesturing towards.

[@Hel1mutt]

Ive been trying to write a couple different video essays for a while, im not sure if i will ever get them done or not, maybe they might be kinda doodoo but youre definitely one of the channels i hope to match! thank you for all your hard work and good thoughts!

[@PixelaDay]

Thanks for all your support over the years

[@daoshen]

I've gone so far as to not describe what i'm working on, and hoping for, as a "game". I simply call them "experiences". Afraid it might be difficult to get this to catch on. Not going to stop trying though (at least until someone suggests something more useful for me to latch onto)! Thank you so much for laying these sets of problems out, with much needed intellectual and emotional depth. Thank you, thank you, thank you! 💖

[@Alykkat]

Great video! At a games industry event in November last year, I had to explain to two dads that Xbox Game Pass coming to smart TVs wasn't going to magically make it easier for women to play games. And even though I'm not yet a mom pointed out the dynamic that most moms are always on the go and rarely get a chance to sit down and that mobile games make it that much easier... we had just listened to a great talk about the mobile game Sky: Children of the Light's success with women. Even though they were both dads they couldn't arrive to that conclusion on their own... and after a moment it seemed like a lightbulb came on for them.

[@sion_9698]

This!!! Oh god this! I've watched pretty much all the essays from the people you mentioned, both on political and gaming topics, but never before has one seemed so personal to me. I always struggled describing the games I like. And every time I try, it starts with an exclusion - "I like games that aren't mainstream 3D shooters with a lot of violence" - and then I move on to my list, but there is very little in common between the games in it. Even something as basic as genres - I have never been able to say that I'm a fan of any specific one, because every new game that catches my eye doesn't correlate with the genres of games before that, to help define my tastes. And I only now realized why. The games that I like can't be easily classified because... I love experimentation. I love unique mostly non-combat game mechanics. I love recognizable and distinctive non-photorealistic art styles. I love games with free progression, focused on giving the player the options and freedoms of what to do. I love games with atmospheric music and captivating sights that make me feel something beyond simple immersion. Of course my favorite games aren't similar - or if they are, it mostly vibes, rather than actual substance - because if I'm impressed by a game, I don't want to play a clone of it. I want to play something as good as it, with the same passion, but applied to a different idea. It seems so simple now, but then your preference is "novelty" mixed with "quality", it's not something you can pin down and concretely describe. It's by definition vague and elusive, something you know only when you see it. I like games that fill in the gaps. And it's stupidly fitting because... I write stories that fill in the gaps. That's what I do, that I pride myself in - I explore all the popular ideas in my specific area and then create stories out of missing pieces, out of everything I didn't see during my research. I just do it in a different medium. And there is always this initial fear when I upload, that my Ideas are too niche, that if someone wanted them, then they would have written it already. But... No. As it turned out - and shock me in the process - I have an audience much larger than I ever expected, and many of them told me that my stories were something they either always wanted, or never knew they wanted. I just was the first one to actually implement it, to actually capture it in the text. And many said that that's what made my creativity stand out, leaving an imprint in their minds to a point, that other works didn't impress them anymore. Because everything around was too samey, and I have effectively set a new standard. It's strange, to be honest - to get compliments like that. It's always feels like a guilty pleasure, like I didn't do anything special and didn't deserve that much praise, no matter how stupidly happy I am to hear it. But this video, this whole talk of yours... It made me realize much more than just my tastes in games. It's empowering and reassuring in ways I can't describe. The only thing I can do is wholeheartedly agree. There is a lot of trends, and a lot of gaps they inevitably leave behind. Following a trend is eazy. Exposing a gap takes some effort, but generally possible. But finding what to fill these gaps with - that's the actual challenge, that is criminaly underappreciated. But when someone does it, it's never a waste of effort. It's risky, it's hard, it takes immense creativity and passion. And results are rarely a success in metrics we recognize. But for people like me, the existence of such works is essential! And I would always advocate for more! Thank you for this essay. Really. It has finally put into words this series of confusing thoughts and feelings of mine, transforming them into something understandable and meaningful. You filled the gap in my soul I didn't know was there.

[@PixelaDay]

You don't know what it means to read this! It really fills my heart to hear my video resonated so much. Thanks and all the best for your very valuable and important creative work!

[@diribigal]

(Disclaimer: I'm a cis het white guy) Thank you for making this amazing video. 1. Everyone deserves games that are accessible to them and that speak to their interests and experiences, and I want there to be games that address the common blind spots of people like me, and of the industry as a whole! 2. I personally want more variety in games! I certainly like some traditional AAA games, but I also like a bunch of obscure indie games that have premises and verbs and approaches and artistic visions that are unique/underrepresented. That Quantic Foundry survey doesn't really include me well at all. My favorite games are mostly games that don't yet exist, which take some refreshing vision and give it AAA-level polish.

[@kaiyaweird-pegeensc3679]

Amazing video as always! I can imagine it took a lot to put this out there, especially considering how critical gamers/gaming community can be when the issues within the industry/community get pointed out. A lot of what you said made clear to me some nagging feelings I've had about games for a long time. Like why I've become so bored with new AAA games when I used to love that style of game. And you also made me see some of my own blind spots, like groups who are left out this conversation that I never even thought of before. I'll definitely be thinking about this video for a long time and I'll have to come back and watch it again. As always, thank you for what you do, I really love your work and your insights.

[@PixelaDay]

Thank you so much for your support too!

[@olaf.forkbeard]

Creating a cultural shift is very, very difficult. The necessary shift cares not for how needed the change might be. Recycling, voting, overworking for underpay, etc. Historically telling and retelling the narrative with a view on perspective has been the solutions that have had some success (Martin Luther, Woman's Suffrage, Arab Spring, etc). It really does not help that a lot of these are framed as the individuals problem despite the system being in control of it. You are correct, it is a two way street. But the power is not on the individual, but rather the organized (please unionize!). When both parties are organized, mediation actually occurs. So I am commenting in the hopes that the algorithm reads this data point and juts it out towards someone who'll listen.

[@Trianull]

Took the survey, got *The Skirmisher* which states I want "fast-paced team arenas that are accessible and easy to jump into," and that I "dislike games that require thinking and planning." The Legend of Zelda is my favorite franchise. Sure, I also enjoy Team Fortress 2 a lot, but that game isn't quite accessible with how mechanically deep it is.

[@Pollymacho]

You did an outstanding job with this video and this makes me want to try checking out games that are trying unique ideas and different perspectives. Regardless of the amount of views this gets, this is a very well crafted piece of art. Awesome work!

[@rudetuesday]

Thank you for making such a thoughtful video, and for posing questions I'll be thinking about for a good while. iamerror included your work in her 2023 round-up list, and rightly so.

[@geggiiis]

You know, I wrote some notes while watching this but, honestly, they feel mostly trifling or redundant because you covered so much here, and so eloquently. I will say though, as a 'Bard Acrobat' (cheers Quantic Foundry), I think this might be your best video Kat, and certainly the most important. I can't imagine how difficult it was to put together. You've called it a manifesto but it feels like an invigorating rallying cry because by the end I was all fired up! Okay, a few of my shorter notes: - YES! - Ah, Miasmata music. - Have you seen Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror? - Haha, Bioshock Infinite. - Wait, The Forgotten City was a Skyrim mod?! - Ah, Hyper Light Drifter music. - 'If you're upset or angry about the opinions in this vid--' NO KEEP GOING LET'S GOOOOOO. - I started playing the 2010 racing game Blur recently and my mouth was agog when I returned to it and it started with 'Previously on Blur' and gave me a recap on where I was. ARGH THIS IS AN OLD RACING GAME WHY DON'T I GET THIS IN MODERN STORY GAMES WHY?!? - Ah, Risk of Rain music. - YES!

[@ForeverMasterless]

As one of those white males I won't lie, I feel like my tastes were perfectly catered to this year. Between Armored Core, RE4 Remake, Alan Wake II, Remnant II, Lies of P, Lords of the Fallen, Spider-Man 2, FF16. Amazing indies like Cocoon, Dredge, Jusant, Sea of Stars, and Chants of Sennaar. Just absolutely insane year. Sucks that not everyone gets to feel the same way. I do wish more big AAA money would get thrown at experimental projects. Indies are killing it these days, but imagine what some of these studios could do with the same budget Insomniac gets for Spider-Man.

[@thethreels2944]

I also feel like my tastes have been catered to lately - not as a white male (although I am that, too), but as a language nerd. Heaven's Vault, Tunic, Chants of Sennaar... but notably, that's all coming from indie developers.

[@soratheorangejuicemascot5809]

6:45 Drakengard 3 is an mc about being a mother figure towards her dragon.

[@Hanayuni]

This video is so important! Thank you so much for having the courage to make and post this. I watch a lot of video game essays and every time I stumble upon a channel made by a woman or a minority, it makes me so happy! We should be able to tell our stories in video or video game format. There is an audience for it, for real!

[@PixelaDay]

I believe this too!

[@TheMrWarm19]

Fantastic work, one of the best video essays in a month stacked with great video essays!

[@Soundole]

You're doing very important work. I think you speak for a very wide audience with the sentiments you've expressed here, and your summary of existing gamer-type research was especially illuminating - you just made the rationale behind decades of ill-fitting marketing decisions make sense to me! I always look forward to your insightful discussions :)

[@PixelaDay]

Lovely comment

[@PixelLit]

We STAN KAT on PIXEL LIT POD. We are siblings in having "Pixel" in our names. Hell yeah. Loved the video, love your work. You're an awesome person and creator.

[@PixelaDay]

Playing the game of trying to guess whether Kevin or Phil wrote this lovely comment XD

[@NetherDescend]

This was a pretty great essay! Hopefully it does really well!

[@theobrominator]

Amazing essay! Confirmation bias is so strong in the gaming world. 😔 Being challenged is a great thing that gets lost on the monoculture

[@gilgamesh310]

It’s strong everywhere, including on every KZbin channel. Like how on this one, everyone agrees with what she says. I disagree with most of it, but I sat through it anyway.

[@etamr60]

Even though I'm way closer to the "core gaming demographic", I also stopped playing games for ages. I only came back through indie games. One particular game challenged my view of the world, and I began searching again for those kind of experiences. Slow-paced, thought-provoking games. And I have found so many! Just rarely in the triple A space.

[@etamr60]

Thank you for this thought-provoking essay ! 😁

[@TheGuyWithTehHat]

What game was that?

[@etamr60]

@@TheGuyWithTehHat Talos Principle! It was really groundbreaking for me, I didn't know those kind of experiences existed. (Currently playing the sequel, but I prefer - my memories of - the first one).

[@PixelaDay]

Thanks so much for taking the time to watch and leave a comment. If you're not already make sure you're following Electron Dance for the ultimate in thought-provoking puzzle game analysis - he just did an interview with CroTeam :)

[@leo_mars]

We are all trapped as you said. Gamers, developers, creators. It is "sadly" the world we live in. You see the problem is not because of the game industry, but an upper layer that determines incentives. We want time. To have time we need money. We have little time to spare, we have only a limited time to make a game, to make a video. The time we put into our videos, into your games, into our creations, we want to get the most out of it. We want the reassurance, the money. We are not at the point where we create things solely because we enjoy creating. We may enjoy creating, but we develop games, or we make youtube videos because we NEED money. Instead of saying need, we can say we want, we want money, so that we can do the things that we enjoy, like playing a video game, or making an essay about a video game. The problem that I see is that we are all scrambling to make money, and therefore we are incentivised to satisfy the algorithm, or we are incentivised to develop shooting games of dads killing hordes, so that we can make money, and then we can do whatever we want. Only when we get past the incentive of money can we get to what this video is about. I must argue that is very hard to achieve. It is very hard to not want to satisfy the collective society so that we can reap a benefit.

[@therealsunnyk]

I love your work. I have to say I agree with the exasperation of most popular discourse in the community being "guy with gun". But... You mention by name, and also have reviewed, several games which lie outside that narrow spectrum. I can't help but feel like the only real missing thing is the community and taxonomy we can use to have these conversations, to grow the pool in. Right now we just use words like "indie", then talk about specific games but there's no "scene" as such. I actually think the community is pretty good at trying out new ideas. I think many indie games get their day in the sun, but it's all ad-hoc, there's no sustained safety in continually trying these new things.