Time loops are a weird genre for an anxious time
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Date: 2023-12-10
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Comments and reviews: 30
-BlakeTheDrake
I just gotta say that it is -intensely- surreal to watch someone who looks so much like my dear old grandma - whose experience with videogames begins and ends with Solitaire on Windows 95 - talk about time-loops and alternate realities as applied to modern videogame aesthetics and philosophy.
Kind of reminds me of that time when I discovered that the most powerful and influential guild in a game I was playing a lot at the time was run by a lady with a very similar age and background to my mum. On the one hand, thinking of my mum as an elite-tier gamer was just WEIRD, though on the bright side, I was able to barter my way to an officer's rank within the guild by leveraging some of my mom's home-made cake-recipes.
I wonder if these people really are that out of the ordinary, though, or if my family is just a bit behind the curve. >_>
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I just gotta say that it is -intensely- surreal to watch someone who looks so much like my dear old grandma - whose experience with videogames begins and ends with Solitaire on Windows 95 - talk about time-loops and alternate realities as applied to modern videogame aesthetics and philosophy.
Kind of reminds me of that time when I discovered that the most powerful and influential guild in a game I was playing a lot at the time was run by a lady with a very similar age and background to my mum. On the one hand, thinking of my mum as an elite-tier gamer was just WEIRD, though on the bright side, I was able to barter my way to an officer's rank within the guild by leveraging some of my mom's home-made cake-recipes.
I wonder if these people really are that out of the ordinary, though, or if my family is just a bit behind the curve. >_>
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-recordsystem6447
im not sure how this all fits into the puzzle so to speak but i also feel like a big part of time loop stories for me is an intersection with power of love. i want to be able to find the canon ending, or at least in the stories where not everything can be saved, the ending i feel is better than nothing, by trusting in those around me. we may not have all the power and information to make things work the first time, and maybe even the structure of the time loop itself is keeping us from remembering the information we need to survive; regardless, i want to believe that as long as we trust in, rely upon, and love each other, we can figure it out together. that is a huuuuuge part of time loops for me.
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im not sure how this all fits into the puzzle so to speak but i also feel like a big part of time loop stories for me is an intersection with power of love. i want to be able to find the canon ending, or at least in the stories where not everything can be saved, the ending i feel is better than nothing, by trusting in those around me. we may not have all the power and information to make things work the first time, and maybe even the structure of the time loop itself is keeping us from remembering the information we need to survive; regardless, i want to believe that as long as we trust in, rely upon, and love each other, we can figure it out together. that is a huuuuuge part of time loops for me.
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-Azerty72200
Hey!
Steins; Gate, one of the best time loops out there, is -not- about having enough information to get out of a of a bad situation. In the original world, there is no big problem. It's our characters' meddling that cause the time loop of doomed timelines.
The solution isn't to become omniscient, because even with more knowledge, whatever he does, Okabe cannot save his friend and is doomed to watch her die.
The solution is to connect with the world, with your friends, find hope again, and defy fate in an epic turnaround! Have the means -and- the will to save your life.
It is overall a much more optimistic outlook on life.
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Hey!
Steins; Gate, one of the best time loops out there, is -not- about having enough information to get out of a of a bad situation. In the original world, there is no big problem. It's our characters' meddling that cause the time loop of doomed timelines.
The solution isn't to become omniscient, because even with more knowledge, whatever he does, Okabe cannot save his friend and is doomed to watch her die.
The solution is to connect with the world, with your friends, find hope again, and defy fate in an epic turnaround! Have the means -and- the will to save your life.
It is overall a much more optimistic outlook on life.
reply
-rissawillis8594
-it-s an old song, it-s an old tale, it-s a tragedy. And we-re gonna sing it again and again. Because here-s the thing. To know how it ends and still begin to sing it again, as if it might turn out this time. I learned that from a friend of mine. - - Hadestown. Jenna I absolutely LOVE this I-m working on a PhD in philosophy (of video games) and these themes of our want of control in and above our willingness to engage the fiction have popped up and I LOVE your analysis. Honestly I might end up citing this video and your interviews in my thesis! Also, if you want watched Hadestown, do so! You-d love it.
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-it-s an old song, it-s an old tale, it-s a tragedy. And we-re gonna sing it again and again. Because here-s the thing. To know how it ends and still begin to sing it again, as if it might turn out this time. I learned that from a friend of mine. - - Hadestown. Jenna I absolutely LOVE this I-m working on a PhD in philosophy (of video games) and these themes of our want of control in and above our willingness to engage the fiction have popped up and I LOVE your analysis. Honestly I might end up citing this video and your interviews in my thesis! Also, if you want watched Hadestown, do so! You-d love it.
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-devforfun5618
i wanted to make a timeloop game because of how videos game work, you can always play the level again knowing what will happen, and that breaks immersion, unless the character is just as informed as the player, just like how dark souls embrace the death of the character instead of treating death like a do over
that also why enemies are alternate versions of the same character, the only monster that will infinitelly respawn to give you resources are copies of yourself fighing for the same resources
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i wanted to make a timeloop game because of how videos game work, you can always play the level again knowing what will happen, and that breaks immersion, unless the character is just as informed as the player, just like how dark souls embrace the death of the character instead of treating death like a do over
that also why enemies are alternate versions of the same character, the only monster that will infinitelly respawn to give you resources are copies of yourself fighing for the same resources
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-hades_town
I like this video, but you're seriously missing out on the time loop/alternate timeline genre if you don't include visual novels, there are a lot in that genre! Zero Escape is a classic series, probably the most well known and deals with everything you talked about in this video. I'm currently playing Raging Loop which has been incredible so far. I know there are many indies in the genre too, the ones I've played so far are Head AS Code and Birth ME Code, but I know there are more too.
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I like this video, but you're seriously missing out on the time loop/alternate timeline genre if you don't include visual novels, there are a lot in that genre! Zero Escape is a classic series, probably the most well known and deals with everything you talked about in this video. I'm currently playing Raging Loop which has been incredible so far. I know there are many indies in the genre too, the ones I've played so far are Head AS Code and Birth ME Code, but I know there are more too.
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-NineWheels
Okay, I was 1000% not prepared for this video. There's a time loop adventure game about Hamlet that I haven't heard of? It's got gay? And then you go and pick a not particularly famous but one of the gayest Hamlets to use as an example, just to murder me.
(Also Elsinore's existence is giving me an existential crisis because I've been working on alternate/branching narrative adaptations of Hamlet for literal years now and umm I think I need to have a lie-down)
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Okay, I was 1000% not prepared for this video. There's a time loop adventure game about Hamlet that I haven't heard of? It's got gay? And then you go and pick a not particularly famous but one of the gayest Hamlets to use as an example, just to murder me.
(Also Elsinore's existence is giving me an existential crisis because I've been working on alternate/branching narrative adaptations of Hamlet for literal years now and umm I think I need to have a lie-down)
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-BandanaDrummer95
Another play time-loop sort of thing is Rocky Horror, specifically noted with a set of call backs about Janet. You may get a response to the first time her normal response is given to give her a chance, to which the normal response is that she WAS given a chance last time but still ended up the same.
Especially with the stage production, you can get characters aware of their presence in a time loop of the events of the musical but helpless to stop it.
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Another play time-loop sort of thing is Rocky Horror, specifically noted with a set of call backs about Janet. You may get a response to the first time her normal response is given to give her a chance, to which the normal response is that she WAS given a chance last time but still ended up the same.
Especially with the stage production, you can get characters aware of their presence in a time loop of the events of the musical but helpless to stop it.
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-elliottapp5611
if u like narratives with timeloops that involve u as a person who is engaging with the media may i suggest the webnovel omniscent readers viewpoint. i cant say much without spoiling it but its a long story that sticks the landing in a phenomenal way - although it starts as a typical isekai it develops in a way that is so facinating and explores typical tropes in a really interesting way. its really good read orv
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if u like narratives with timeloops that involve u as a person who is engaging with the media may i suggest the webnovel omniscent readers viewpoint. i cant say much without spoiling it but its a long story that sticks the landing in a phenomenal way - although it starts as a typical isekai it develops in a way that is so facinating and explores typical tropes in a really interesting way. its really good read orv
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-iamjofo
Spoilers for The Outer Wilds, but
Importantly, the game always ends with the destruction of the universe and the birth of a new one. The game is about learning enough about what's happening to be able to make peace with death, including the inevitable death of your entire universe. Thinking it's about a perfect run to save everything is the hook, but the climax betrays that loop and forces you into acceptance.
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Spoilers for The Outer Wilds, but
Importantly, the game always ends with the destruction of the universe and the birth of a new one. The game is about learning enough about what's happening to be able to make peace with death, including the inevitable death of your entire universe. Thinking it's about a perfect run to save everything is the hook, but the climax betrays that loop and forces you into acceptance.
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-Dusk_Sarsis
Now I kinda want to see a time loop game that turns this on it's head. Where the more obsessively you search for the right piece of information to get the one right ending, the worse the endings you get. One where the first ending is the best one you could get, where the moral, the message of the game is not to obsess, or give in to the anxiety, but to accept the reality for what it is.
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Now I kinda want to see a time loop game that turns this on it's head. Where the more obsessively you search for the right piece of information to get the one right ending, the worse the endings you get. One where the first ending is the best one you could get, where the moral, the message of the game is not to obsess, or give in to the anxiety, but to accept the reality for what it is.
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-jbaby362
I've been stuck lately with maladaptive daydreaming where despite lots of struggle everything works out all right, which then makes clocking into reality painful.
Talking out why, other than the simple explanation of it feels good, is really helpful even though it is painful. I will have to watch this video again when I put my brain back together but thank you
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I've been stuck lately with maladaptive daydreaming where despite lots of struggle everything works out all right, which then makes clocking into reality painful.
Talking out why, other than the simple explanation of it feels good, is really helpful even though it is painful. I will have to watch this video again when I put my brain back together but thank you
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-trondordoesstuff
I was wondering when Undertale was going to be brought up for the whole video, only to be suddenly rewarded with the catharsis of seeing it mentioned, the regret that it was merely in passing, and the sting of betrayal from -Flowery-. Truly, this is the worst possible outcome. Perhaps, if I were to watch this video again, it could happen differently.
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I was wondering when Undertale was going to be brought up for the whole video, only to be suddenly rewarded with the catharsis of seeing it mentioned, the regret that it was merely in passing, and the sting of betrayal from -Flowery-. Truly, this is the worst possible outcome. Perhaps, if I were to watch this video again, it could happen differently.
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-IanMacMoore
One of the leading theories about the evolutionary purpose of dreaming is exactly this--time-loop scenarios to optimize survival. I hadn't connected these kinds of media to that until now. Thanks. :) I love the idea that in a very real way this kind of story or engagement is a waking dream.
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One of the leading theories about the evolutionary purpose of dreaming is exactly this--time-loop scenarios to optimize survival. I hadn't connected these kinds of media to that until now. Thanks. :) I love the idea that in a very real way this kind of story or engagement is a waking dream.
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-vpoquette8887
I've only watched a third of the videos so far but it reminds me of this book I got at the library when I was a kid, called Meanwhile; it was a graphic novel choose-your-own adventure involving a machine that could either kill whoever was in it or send them back in time
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I've only watched a third of the videos so far but it reminds me of this book I got at the library when I was a kid, called Meanwhile; it was a graphic novel choose-your-own adventure involving a machine that could either kill whoever was in it or send them back in time
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-phoenixangel13
this was such a good video! also made me think about Pathologic when you were talking about dying in video games, as that one has real actual consequences every time you die, and the endings are all mixed feelings of good for some people but horrible for others
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this was such a good video! also made me think about Pathologic when you were talking about dying in video games, as that one has real actual consequences every time you die, and the endings are all mixed feelings of good for some people but horrible for others
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-MaartenBlij
This was way more interesting than it had every right to be. After watching no way home I discussed with my girlfriend that disney will probably run the multiverse thing in to the ground, not realizing this isn't an isolated piece of media. Thank you!
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This was way more interesting than it had every right to be. After watching no way home I discussed with my girlfriend that disney will probably run the multiverse thing in to the ground, not realizing this isn't an isolated piece of media. Thank you!
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-corrinflakes9659
I wonder if there can be different levels on meta awareness for NPC-s. Like you understand destiny, then understand narrative, then understand the specific medium, then understand the world beyond the medium and its differences to ones own.
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I wonder if there can be different levels on meta awareness for NPC-s. Like you understand destiny, then understand narrative, then understand the specific medium, then understand the world beyond the medium and its differences to ones own.
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-Alex-tg9jj
sometimes i see a video that i like the premise of so much that it's hard for me to watch bc i think i'll get so excited that my head will pop like a balloon. i love time loops so much and i've loved them for years this video is so good
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sometimes i see a video that i like the premise of so much that it's hard for me to watch bc i think i'll get so excited that my head will pop like a balloon. i love time loops so much and i've loved them for years this video is so good
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-soomink
I so badly want someone at Polygon to play the Pathologic games. I feel like there's so much they could do with it. It's got time-loops, performance as a frame narrative, direct addressing of the player, plague, sacrifice and selfishness.
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I so badly want someone at Polygon to play the Pathologic games. I feel like there's so much they could do with it. It's got time-loops, performance as a frame narrative, direct addressing of the player, plague, sacrifice and selfishness.
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-chrisgewirtz5875
Long live the Queen is another game that matches this genre. Not explicitly a time loop game, but the goal is just to not be assassinated and you repeat your choices on a loop until you have enough information to not die.
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Long live the Queen is another game that matches this genre. Not explicitly a time loop game, but the goal is just to not be assassinated and you repeat your choices on a loop until you have enough information to not die.
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-emmanuela5619
I was surprised that OXENFREE wasn-t mentioned in the video, but great video nonetheless! Time loops always have a special place in my heart with it-s message on how the past is unable to be changed. Love it -
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I was surprised that OXENFREE wasn-t mentioned in the video, but great video nonetheless! Time loops always have a special place in my heart with it-s message on how the past is unable to be changed. Love it -
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-bloobla7305
I've never doom scrolled and I don't get overly anxious when I read or get told bad news. Is this a zoomer thing? Or is this a personal thing? Or is this just a result of not living in the hell hole USA? Idk
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I've never doom scrolled and I don't get overly anxious when I read or get told bad news. Is this a zoomer thing? Or is this a personal thing? Or is this just a result of not living in the hell hole USA? Idk
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-ClairedaCupcake
Great video! I do wish that the description listed the games that had footage shown in this video. I recognized most of them, but what was the one looking down into the room with the couple in it?
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Great video! I do wish that the description listed the games that had footage shown in this video. I recognized most of them, but what was the one looking down into the room with the couple in it?
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polygon
This was a super interesting watch! Also, I'm loving the inclusion of actual experts in the field. Hearing from game devs and academics is refreshing in this weird world we are living in today.
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This was a super interesting watch! Also, I'm loving the inclusion of actual experts in the field. Hearing from game devs and academics is refreshing in this weird world we are living in today.
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-aleatoryw
late to the comments, I know, but I adored this video as a time loop aficionado AND r&g fan. and if you like meta time loop games, I can't recommend oxenfree enough!
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late to the comments, I know, but I adored this video as a time loop aficionado AND r&g fan. and if you like meta time loop games, I can't recommend oxenfree enough!
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-BryanSchultzitis
This made me think of the hook to the song -daylight- by Aesop Rock:
-All I ever wanted was to pick apart the day
Put the pieces back together my way-
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This made me think of the hook to the song -daylight- by Aesop Rock:
-All I ever wanted was to pick apart the day
Put the pieces back together my way-
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-dmerco
I LOVE Run Lola Run, and ARQ is also one of my favorite films. I think both did a great job taking the time-loop concept and spinning it in a unique way. Time is fun!
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I LOVE Run Lola Run, and ARQ is also one of my favorite films. I think both did a great job taking the time-loop concept and spinning it in a unique way. Time is fun!
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polygon
Jenna,
Thank you.
I'm so glad this was said.
And you said it with such graceful gustow.
We benefit from your brain.
Please be well.
Alex
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Jenna,
Thank you.
I'm so glad this was said.
And you said it with such graceful gustow.
We benefit from your brain.
Please be well.
Alex
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-nikolaswaney9187
i love when y'all bring in professors & other experts! it's fascinating to see someone so knowledgeable speak about their field of interest
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i love when y'all bring in professors & other experts! it's fascinating to see someone so knowledgeable speak about their field of interest
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