How In-Game Weather Can Regulate Mental Health
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- Опубликовано: 22 янв 2019
- If you run into a thunderstorm in a game, you might begin to think about how you should adjust your play-style. Maybe you should find shelter, or avoid using metal weapons. On a surface level, this is all we think about when we run into adverse weather in a game. But one of the things we don’t often consider is the effect in-game weather has on mood. In this episode of Psych of Play, we’ll talk about Seasonal Affective Disorder, and a recent study that suggests bad weather can actually play a key role in regulating emotion and mental health. In-game weather may be more powerful to us than we previously realized.
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Games Shown:
Celeste (2018) - Matt Makes Games
God of War (2018) - SCE Santa Monica Studio
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) - Nintendo
Metal Gear Solid (1998) - Konami
Fallout 4 (2015) - Bethesda
Minecraft (2009) - Mojang
Octopath Traveler (2018) - Square Enix
Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) - Rockstar Games
Pokemon White 2 (2012) - Game Freak
Horizon Zero Dawn (2017) - Guerilla Games
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015) - CD Projekt RED
Assassin's Creed Odyssey (2018) - Ubisoft
Super Mario Odyssey (2017) - Nintendo
Pokemon Crystal (2000) - Game Freak
Zelda: Wind Waker (2002) - Nintendo
Zelda: Ocarina of time (1996) NIntendo
Journey (2012) - That Game Company
Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006) - Nintendo
Animal Crossing: New Leaf (2012) - Monolith Soft
Undertale (2015) - Toby Fox
Mad Max (2015) - Avalanche Studios
Motorstorm Apocalypse (2011) - Evolution Studios
Rain World (2017) - Videocult
Frostpunk (2018) - 11 Bit Studios
Movies/TV/Clips:
My Hero Academia (2016) - Viz Media, Shueisha
The Garden of Words (2013) - Makoto Shinkai
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999) - Disney
The Emperor’s New Groove (2000) - Disney
50 First Dates (2004) - Happy Madison Productions
Eight Below (2006) - The Walt Disney Company
Good Will Hunting (1997) - Miramax
• [No Copyright TimeLaps...
• SEASONS of NORWAY - A ...
• Scenic Time Lapse: Fal...
• Video
• Best of Dallas Texas b...
• Chicago Summer Time Lapse
• Miami South Beach Time...
• Chicago Weather: Winte...
Music Sources:
Octopath Traveler OST - The Frostlands
Octopath Traveler OST - My Quiet Forest Home
SteamWorld Dig 2 OST - Precipice
The Legend of Legacy OST - A Great Calling
Hollow Knight OST - Reflection
Celeste OST - Madeline and Theo
Research Sources:
Affecting mood (SAD):
psychcentral.com/blog/can-wea...
2) Nostalgia can help regulate mood
www.google.com/amp/s/www.psyc...
3) Reverse SAD
www.globaltimes.cn/content/103...
4) Heat vs Cold and Decision making
www.scientificamerican.com/ar...
5) Nostalgia Study
psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-27...
Welcome to Daryl Talks Games
Hi! I’m Daryl, and on this channel I explore the intersection between video games, psychology, and real life.
I’ve talked about how Pokemon and the Generation Effect can make you a better student. I’ve made a video on why game developers really should understand functional fixedness. And I’ve interviewed some of the best speedrunners on Earth to find out how exactly they make setting world records look so easy.
Primacy and Recency, subconscious associations, classical conditioning, divergent thinking, amnesia (the disorder not the game), if its psychological concept that relates to games, I’ve probably talked about it before or will in the future. But to be clear, psychology isn’t all I talk about. Every now and then I’ll dabble in a little bit of game design and sometimes I’ll just talk about life and how games really can make it better... and for some people are the best way to relate to the world around us.
So if all that sounds like a good time to you, subscribe to my channel, watch my videos, and if you feel so inclined, show a friend! If you take a look at my videos, I truly hope that you learn something or are entertained and that your day is better after watching!
*All images, graphics, and fonts created or found with postermywall.com, Pexels.com, Videvo.net, and Lightworks v14 editing software.*
#PsychofPlay 
Игры
This is a nice video, and weather in games is definitely important, but I just want to point out that people with SAD *aren't* just responding to psychological associations. Their (our) brains need the bright sunlight itself, and a *lack of bright sunlight* causes depression, even if it's warm and pleasant enough outside to go out and be social or play or whatever. In winter, even sunny days are too short to provide enough sunlight, and it's often cloudy and dark. People who live closer to the equator have *longer days* with *more sunlight* in the winter, not just more pleasant weather, and *that* is why SAD is less common closer to the equator. In short, it's about *light*, not weather. This is why seasonal depression is usually treated with bright light therapy. No matter if it's snowing and dark outside, with enough bright sun-level light (far, FAR brighter than normal indoor lights, requiring special ultra-bright bulbs), the depressive symptoms can be managed.
(Obviously I'm referring here to winter depression. Summer depression is rarer, but more common closer to the equator, and seems to be caused by things like the nights being too short, which disrupts sleep, and temperatures being too high. Certainly the associations we have with certain weather might affect our reaction to it, but it's not the main factor.)
I'm glad you brought this up! When I was doing research for this I read a lot about the effects of sunlight on the body and how for those with SAD, the light therapy is a great help. In the original script I wrote, I talked about it for a bit, but ended up cutting it because I couldn't find a smooth way to connect it back to gaming. In hindsight, I really should have left it in at least as a caveat, because it is absolutely a huge part of what makes SAD so difficult for so many people. Thanks for mentioning that and for watching!
Yeah, the light levels themselves are really critical, and it definitely relates to games. There are some games which, because of a dark and gloomy atmosphere (even if the actual weather is good), I can't play at all during the winter, because they make me worse. And games with brightly lit settings, especially if that light is shown to be sunlight, can help a ton. So it's definitely related not only to the weather, but to the light levels. Obviously our experiences and associations with various weather is important as well and can have powerful effects in a game, but even if a game setting doesn't have particularly good weather (or is totally indoors!), it can still have a tremendously positive impact if the lighting is nice and bright. I really do use certain games as a sort of treatment on bad days. It's amazing how much it helps.
Wow that’s amazing, I’m so glad to hear that the brightness level actually helps! I did wonder if having a really bright environment in a game as well as having a lot of light in the room you were playing in would be a sufficient form of light therapy. It makes me really happy to hear that actually does help some
I'm one of the unfortunate rare people who has an adverse reaction to the usual bright light therapy, so I can't use it very often. I do have the brightest fluorescent light bulbs my old building can handle, which helps a tiny bit (or at least, it's much worse if I have to use dim light bulbs). Not enough on its own, but yeah, games can really help. Especially if the environment is bright and beautiful. So what you say in your video is also true, certainly, that psychological associations are important, too. Bright, beautiful sandbox games that show natural environments like Yonder, Vintage Story, and Proteus definitely have a positive effect, at least while I'm playing them.
Unfortunately they're not enough to actually treat the depression on their own, though - they just offer a temporary reprieve. And I should definitely note that light therapy bulbs are 10,000 lumens of light, while even the brightest of standard fluorescent bulbs for normal use are only around 4,000 lumens, and that's if you're standing right next to the bulb - that number drops considerably when you get even just a few feet away. So having bright lighting in your house is good, but not effective for the actual overall treatment of winter SAD.
If you're interested in looking at how games can work as psychological tools, I recommend taking a look at the game Far From Noise. It's a little-known indie game which is all about dealing with anxiety and the problems in life that are beyond your control, and I'd love for games like that to get more attention. There's a review of it on my channel if you are interested in taking a peek, and the developer does give out press keys.
I like your channel, by the way, will be looking through the rest of your videos. This one was linked to me by a friend who knows I struggle with depression. I love looking at games through a psychological lens.
“...There was another time when the rain on the window lulled you to sleep in the back of your parents’ Expedition on the way home. You were playing GameBoy color and had one of those Worm Light things, but the batteries died, so you decided ‘eh, guess I’ll just sleep.’”
Who are you and how do you have such specific memories matching my own? Right down to the Expedition!
What's an Expedition? Is it a car? All we had was a compact car because we were poor.
@@Aaron-pv8vm It was back in the 90's and early 00's when there was still a middle class.
That Hollow knight and Celeste soundtrack made me feel nostalgic
Just casually listening away and then the first HK soundtrack notes...
Ah, the hot springs and the bench.
Haveiszal Faroqie Yeah, and Cornifer and the Last Stag :]
This explains why pretty days in Animal Crossing were so helpful during a lonely summer as a teen.
I think this video finally answered why I love the Snow Kingdom in Super Mario Odyssey so much...
From watching this video I instantly understood a strong connection to weather and my mood. I'm from the US south and do have a milder case of reverse S.A.D. Right now living in Texas, and my favorites times? Storms, overcast, foggy mornings.
No wonder Skyrim is my favorite game purely because of the atmosphere of traveling the landscape; Weather, Music, feet into snow. It brings about a sense of wonder for me.
I guess I've found my clone, I absolutely love the Skyrim atmospheres. I live in the south too and I love when the fog rolls down off the hills and basically when it's just generally cooler out rather than super muggy, it's so refreshing. The thunderstorms and rain are nice too apart from when the power goes out and I can't play skyrim for example lol.
its amazing how even the faintest hint of the dirtmouth theme in the background triggers a strong response for me.
also i suffer from SAD largely due to issues with changes in vitamin D intake, but don't usually experience a response to the rain. While snow and slate grey skies bring me down, the rain is comforting to me.
just found this video. Simply hearing somebody talk about the affects of weather (for some reason) made me smile. (Is this happiness?)
I have ADHD, and rainstorms have always been good ways of clearing the static in my head in a way no amount of drugs has.As a result, gloomy weather just feels better.
I've personally love it when it's cold and rainy irl and in game especially with botw
I love when there’s a big thunderstorm and you feel all warm and cosy inside
I love fall and winter too! C:
I love the sharp feeling of the cold and cuddling up under the blankets to warm up.
The summer feels so slow and I don’t savor the feel of cooling off as much as I dread the feeling of overheating.
Hmm... I really hate the summer and love the colder months, mostly due to health reason (heat is really exhausting) but I still prefer clear weather in games, I especially love Super Mario Sunshine, so I guess there can also be a reverse effect: Games can let you experience and master the weather that gives you trouble in real life. When I jump through the sunny levels in Mario Sunshine, it feels like I can do anything. When I go outside in the summer heat, I even struggle with lifting my feet.
That's an interesting take, its like the game gives you a way to enjoy the weather you typically hate. I'm kind of the same way when it comes to the cold. I hate *being* in the cold physically, my fingers and ears go numb if it's bad enough. But in a game cold weather is so magical and relaxing. Thanks for the feedback as always man :)
ATTENTION: This post is really long, but probably one of the most important posts on RUclips. If you suffer from SAD, or just depression in general, this post may help you improve, or even overcome your symptoms like it did for me. Hope it helps.
Uh, while people have pointed out that sunlight is nice and there are benefits associated regular exposure, and there can be conditioning that causes negative responses to certain weather, but there is an actual chemical issue that causes SAD. I have it, and it's much more easily addressed than just hoping for sun soon.
It's Vitamin D.
You see, while classified as a "Vitamin," Vitamin D is more of a prohormone. It is one of the most widely utilized vitamins in your body, playing roles in everything from proper cellular function, to immune response, and perhaps most pertinently, to mood.
Most people have heard the mistaken notion that "Vitamin D comes from the sun!" Not exactly. If the sun was beaming Cholecalciferol (the scientific name for the vitamin D your body can provide) at us, our whole planet would be coated with a gross, slimy layer of vitamin D. The actual source of the Vitamin D in sunlight is the cholesterol in your skin. Cholesterol is essential to human life. While some forms can be unhealthy, not enough good cholesterols can kill you. There is a thin layer of cholesterol under your skin. Cholesterol is a compound molecule that contains 2 separate molecules: A sterol molecule, and a Cholecalciferol molecule. These two molecules are bound together by a weak chemical bond. When exposed to *ultraviolet radiation,* the bond breaks, and your body can then absorb the Vitamin D and use it throughout your body.
Some of the symptoms of a Vitamin D deficiency are:
-Depression
-Lethargy (feeling a lack of energy or motivation)
-Low Testosterone and loss of libido (in particular in men, as Vitamin D is essential for the production of Testosterone; low levels of testosterone in men cause weight gain, depression, lack of libido, etc. which compounds the issue of the Vitamin D deficiency)
-Achy muscles and bones (common among many people during winter months; and yes, your bones can hurt, they've got nerves and blood vessels too)
-Headaches
-Brain Fog
-Regular colds and illness
-Osteoporosis (More common in women, but possible in men too)
There are a few other symptoms but these are the primary ones. Anyone with SAD, and even people without it can experience some of these, if not all. In extremely cold places, like Siberia, school children are required to spend 15-20 minutes a day in swimsuits around a large UV light to ensure they get adequate Vitamin D. Young children who lack vitamin D can develop weak, misshapen bones and have lifelong issues with bone density, as Vitamin D is essential to absorb Calcium through your intestines. That's why milk is 'fortified' with vitamin D; Vitamin D does not occur naturally in milk, so it is added to encourage absorption of calcium from the milk.
I suffered from severe clinical depression for many years. I went to many doctors and they threw pills at left and right, but nothing helped in the long run. The medications, while providing some relief, still didn't address the underlying issue. I was totally unaware of the symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency. I visited a nutrition expert who wasn't an MD but knew nutritional science better than my doctors (you'd be amazed at how little most doctors know about nutrition; they only require a couple of basic classes on nutrition to enter medical school). He immediately recognized the symptoms I had as a vitamin D deficiency. I started taking a liquid vitamin D supplement and within about 2 days, I noticed my mind was clearer, and my mood was elevated. My bones didn't ache quite as much as usual. Within 2 weeks, I had more energy than I had at any point the previous 6 years of depression. My mood continued to improve and within a couple of months, I was able to go down in dose on all of the meds I had been prescribed. I'll be off of them completely soon.
So while weather can cause associative mood swings, and sunlight has a mood-enhancing effect, the vitamin D aspect is far and away the more important and direct cause of SAD. If you spend a lot of time indoors for work, or gaming, or due to COVID, you ABSOLUTELY should be taking a Vitamin D supplement. Multivitamins are okay, but the amount of vitamin D in them is far less than you should actually be getting (those multivitamins assume you're getting most of your nutritional needs met outside the pill, and the pill just supplements your nutritional needs). Most experts recommend getting 100 mcg, or 500% of the RDI (recommended daily intake) of vitamin D. The other measurement is "I.U.'s" which stands for International Units, a global system for measuring vitamins and other supplementary substances. For Vitamin D, you want to take about 4000 I.U.'s a day. If you've been suffering from a long-term vitamin D deficiency like I was, a doctor may recommend doubling that dose for a week or two, just to get your levels back to healthy, and then reduce to a "maintenance dose," like the ones I described above.
Hope this information helps and whoever needs to see it, sees it. Happy gaming, everyone.
The cold air of winter and fall makes me feel cleansed
I've noticed that my mood in association with the weather has changed, specifically over the past year and a half which certainly isn't a coincidence. Where I once felt anxiety and depression in rainstorms because of my association with it and my rather unpleasant childhood, I now find it calming and soothing because of my girlfriend who absolutely loves rain and thunder storms.
I've also noticed that I'm a lot happier in the winter than I am in the summer because of the snow (for reference, I live in Canada), but only when it's sunny out. Something about the mix of the bright sun mixed with the white snow just fills my heart with joy. When it's dark and dreary though, I often find myself falling into a depression, especially if there's litter in the snow or a lot of dirt or sand (we sand our streets here to give them more traction, and this can result in pretty ugly looking streets).
While not the exact same, I was able to relate with this from recent experiences.
My pet died a few days ago, so to keep myself motivated, I went to do volunteer work (for breast cancer) by the beach. I was up pretty early so I got to see the full sunrise on the water. I took a picture and put it on my home screen, it reminds me that there is more out there than loss...
finally someone who actually enjoys autumn and winter with me
Love your videos man. This one in particular has a weird nostalgic feeling to it. As a kid I loved the rain but it wasn't until I played Heavy Rain that I realised just how depressing rain could be.
I will always remember the day in primary (elementary) school when it got stormy outside. So stormy, in fact, that it got significantly darker outside. The wind started to howl through the cracks in the windows and thunder and lightning started to dance outside. it was so surreal and so nice.
Fast forward to today, and I was messing around with shaders in Minecraft, specifically sildurs vibrant shaders. With them enabled, I walked into a swamp biome at night during a thunderstorm and felt... content? satisfied? I couldn't describe it at the time, but now I realise that it was a form of nostalgia. Thank you for making this video so I can think about this effect that weather has on me
When me and my sister were six years old, our parents woke us up late at night one day to show us aurora borealis dancing in the sky. I still remember to this day that they said "if you missed it today, you might never see them again." They were right, I never saw those again in real life... but when I saw them in SKYRIM, I was bathed in bliss. For a brief moment, I was a child again, looking in wonder at those strange rainbow curtains floating in the twinkle of the night sky.
Man, what a sight that must have been!
@@DarylTalksGames It's the stuff you remember for a LIFETIME.
I’ve been suffering from this all my life and though I haven’t been properly diagnosed by a doctor, this all relates perfectly to how I feel, and I’m so glad that I can finally know that instead of being in the dark. I just woke up from the worst sleep I’ve ever had in my life because of how hot it was, but watching this video made me feel so much better. Not only reminding me that I can do something about SAD and that I can get over it eventually, but also just watching your videos gives me such a relaxing and calm feel, also reminding me that I’m able to feel good, despite the environment I’m in
I making a game set entirely in winter, and I was gonna try and use the weather to and setting to try and make the player feel different kinds of emotion at different points while still keeping it winters and somber. I feel like that kinda fits into this
Another great video man 👍 but i am really suprised about view count. The quality of your videos are excellent. I hope people dig up these videos and realise its quality 😊
funnily enough you know that sort of strange light thing you see when you look upwards underwater has always reminded me of snow. I love it strangely enough and it is quite calming and I don't know why as the situations that stick out to me when it comes to this are both times when I almost let myself be dragged down by the water it was so calming to me a person who normally hates the idea of letting go suddenly being so entranced by the light as it shimmers like falling snow that I almost do such a thing on multiple occasions. I never understood why it reminds me of snow but I just feel so peaceful like everything will be alright and that I can just rest.
People shouldn't take seasons for granted, in where I lived it's always summer. Now that I've moved to another country I friggin love the colder winter months, though I still haven't seen snow in real life despite being alive for 2 decades. I think I've always loved winter even before I've experienced it myself
100% agree, I hope you get to see real snow soon! Thanks for watching :)
It could rain every day and I would be happy. When it rains in the river level of Pikmin 3, it is bliss
this is.. interesting for me cause it hit really close to home when you were talking about reverse SAD... it literally brought exactly into words what ive been feeling for really long and it made me realize that perhaps it isnt a coincidence that most of my fave areas in games are the snow areas (route 216/217 from pokemon dppt is my fave game area ever) and that the sound of heavy rainfall really puts me at ease when studying or just relaxing... interesting!! thanks for the great video!!
Dude you and I are cut of the same cloth, heavy rain or snow is just so zen and cozy to me. It just gives me so much peace, ya know? Thanks for watching! :)
Reverse SAD is me. Winter and Fall are these minor challenging factors that make me feel accomplished when I overcome them benefitting my mood. Spring and summer are practically boundless in their potential, as there is little deterrence in them and I struggle with the stress of not making the most of these seasons.
"Someone with S.A.D." sounds really weird (and funny)
They will be quite literally sad
I know this video is mostly about escapism, but I also love when games happen to match the weather outside. It's very immersive. Like when it's cold in my room and I'm playing through an ice area, and I cuddle up in a blanket... I don't think I've ever felt more lost in a game.
Fascinating! I never thought of weather in games this way before.
I feel I might have that thing too, or maybe not, but Associations.. yeah..That, that makes me sad, regret, and ruminate. Been months I played any game, I will go do it now
6:48 I find this fascinating since most nostalgia for me is rooted in unsavory childhood memories. It leads to a sentimentality for familiar, bad things.
Whenever it's really windy out it makes me happy. It reminds me when I was a kid and your power went out so we had to cook food on a wood stove and use candles to see. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for sharing! Glad you enjoyed it :)
Really neat topic and video man! Games designed to not just let someone escape, but to work as passive forms of therapy is a topic I have never even thought of! I've aways wanted to make games just to provide an escape for someone somewhere, but therapy would definitely be better than just ignoring the problems. I don't have much to comment other than asking: Can you think of any other mental illnesses games can help in this passive way?
Ooooooohhh now that's a great question. It's tough to say, because a huge chunk of mental illness is largely biological. Schizophrenia for example can only be combated with medication and psychotherapy. But for some of the less complex issues like anxiety and compulsion, there could be some use in games. I'm toying with a video on OCD & puzzles, but I need to do a lot more research before I can put together a complete episode.
Thanks for the love as always Etra! Hope to see a new vid from your neck of the woods soon ;)
@@DarylTalksGames Thanks for the answer and for the support!
Night ,rain and a far thunder storm, bast way to sleep,I just curl up on my bed,take a deep breath,and just listen the rain fall and the different noises that it makes, with a occasional far thunder.
This was not just beautiful, it opened up so many doors in my own psyche.
I always wondered why I was so affected by weather conditions. Now I can go and explore why I feel what I feel with certain types of weather.
In Breath of the WIld, on the mountain where the snowboard minigame is located, i use to hang inside that cabin during snowstorms, looking outside the small windows and hearing the storm make the cabin creak. It brings me a isolated comfort i rarely get to feel in reallife.
The music of the city of tears fits perfectly for this video (around 4:00) ! Well done :)
Rain, thunder, storms, and snow make me feel cuddled. Sun rising sucks, sunny day sucks. In the summer it is hard to sleep.
I have only ever experienced depression in the summer and on sunny days. "Bad" weather has always comforted me and was a huge relief after suffering through sunny day after sunny day. And I still have no idea what the negative association with summer comes from; I've experienced this since childhood. When I got the chance to live in London from the middle of winter to early spring, in the cold and the rain, it was the most motivated and happy I've ever been. But sunny levels in video games are much more tolerable than real life summer, which has always seemed odd to me.
Solid drawing skills Daryl! Great to hear you in 2019 ! :) As always great content, montage and presentation.
Yesssss, finally SOMEONE can recognize my pure raw talent when it comes to drawing ;) hahaha hanks so much for the kind words as always man!
Hi Daryl, I just wanted to say thank you for these relaxing, informative and fun videos! I've started watching your videos and I'm currently working my way up to your newest ones. I generally feel excited to watch some more when I sit down to relax and have a cup of coffee. Thank you for your hard work, your time and I wish you the best in keeping the good work!
Thank you for this vid, just what I needed.
Glad to hear it :)
Wow! All your videos are of such high quality! Im impressed !
Ahh..so this is where you going with the weather topic. I love this idea!! Amazing job :-) I honestly wish I can enjoy the Fall and Winter months..I DO enjoy the sound of rain and the sight of snow,but with that there's cold weather,terrible traffic,etc.
But with Spring and Summer there's sunlight,flowers blossoming,birds chirping,amazing weather,and I just can't seem to find a drawback to it all. I just have trouble finding "any" pleasure or joy in the colder months,but this video helped remind me that while that just because I have a thorn in my side won't mean it'll be there permanently.
I'm so glad this helped in some way man! That's really what I was hoping for with this one :) Thanks so much for the suggestions on Pokemon B&W as well, I really need to pick those up again soon haha
My aunt actually has S.A.D and currently she is moving to Florida because of the weather there. I clicked on this video because 1. It's Psych of Play, why wouldnt I click on it and 2. Because the title reminded me of her condition.
I'm one of the people who likes rainy weather because I'm a writer and it gives me inspiration, but that's just me. I interpret rain to be inspirational and relaxing, but some people might think of it as being miserable and hopeless. I also prefer Winter over all other seasons because I love the cold, and I like being covered in blankets while breathing in the cold air and drinking hot chocolate. I find it amazing how we each interpret things such as weather so differently. And a lot of it depends on our own personal experiences. Every person is so different, it's kinda cool. And I think questions like "what's your favorite type of weather?" can tell you a lot about a person.
I love this series, and it's gotten me into quite a few games that are now my top favorites. Hearing about how games can tangle with mental health is interesting, especially since I'm intrigued by both topics. All of this is just amazing.
i also suffer from seasonal depression, the darker months are the toughest months of the year, especially january. but i still really find comfort in them sometimes. i like big heavy rainstorms, it feels so nice. but the gloominess day in day out still makes me really depressed. snow makes me feel peace, or when i go out in the snow my inner 5 year old comes out and i'll be rolling in it and chucking snowballs at everyone, but a full week or two of snow gets exhausting, and at the end i just want to see the sun again. my favorite season is spring, it has the perfect mix of gloomy days/rain and sun. despite my seasonal depression, i still seem to be most generally happy in the winter days since i associate summertime with a lot of trauma, and thats such a shame, because at times when im not plagued by it, i am at my definite peak in summer. summer makes me feel like i can do anything!
for me, all seasons are necessary. if i was in a perpetual summer, i'd be depressed as hell, because its a constant reminder of my past. if i was in a perpetual winter, also depressed as hell, where is the sun? please a crumb of sun? im lucky to live in the netherlands, it has a perfect mix of weather that fits me.
awesome videos makes me appreciate weather both in and out if games more . thank you :)
Your narration is satisfying...
And you have answered all my questions.
I have been constantly antagonised because of my body shape. I've been through Midna's desperate hour before. What relevance does this have to weather?
I love winter and autumn. I live at the equator. I love the snow. No one goes out. It is cold, and there is this feeling of serenity and calmness, and times to admire the scenery. I would dream to just hang out alone in an autumn park, but that may be a dream. Rain also seems to make me feel positive as well. As if the raindrops are needles, it makes me wake up and face the reality of everyone's phase of harsh fate. The bustling mood of summer makes me feel uncomfortable. The sun makes me feel drowsy. Sweat... Doesn't seem to have the same effect as rain. Horizon Zero Dawn with the HUD off, Scotland in Uncharted 4, much more snowy locations in video games makes me appreciate what I have. No distractions.
Don't ask about my profile. It's a mask.
When I was a kid Summer would frequently give me migraines so bad I’d be confined to my room in the dark while everyone else was out having fun. Where as we where told storms were just natural light shows. Autumn is my absolute favourite season the temperature is perfect and it’s usually not sunny or hot enough for migraines
My favourite atmosphere for a while has been Rain with nature around it. Living in the UK I often get to enjoy the green landscape drenched in rain; however, in the dryer months I don't really feel that. I really appreciate the rainy scenes in The Last of Us part 2 because they hold that same reflective tone. Thanks for the video!
Your videos are so in depth I love it
I totally agree with taking the rainy day over the sunny day. Overly bright weather stresses me out. I think it’s because I’m from New York and since it’s snowy/cold most of the year here I think it’s comforting for me?
Rain literally soothes my anxiety. This speaks to me to.
5:32 - 5:57 is scarily accurate each summer
This video actually helped me put an explanation on the reaction I had back when I played Valkyrie Profile 2 and reached the Kythena Plains. The music, the lighting and the gentle breeze rustling the tall grass... I had to drop the controller for a minute or so just to appreciate it, while it's mostly an unimportant early transition zone between two regions it always stuck with me for some reason. Now I know why.
The Long Dark is a meditative game for me. Idk, it's beautiful and raw and I feel so peaceful playing it.
3:41-5:15 I hear that Hollow Knight music! You know that you now have to cover it in an episode right?
Is it bad that after he said "How does the snow make you feel?" The Skyrim theme started playing in my head?
I immediate remember winterhold , that place is amazing,My only "experience" with snow are from videogames or with the "snow" that build on the freezer after it just have beem cream,but I dont know if it counts hahaha
OH MY GOODNESS. SPRING AND SUMMER ARE MY TRIGGER MONTHS TOO. I THOUGHT I WAS COMPLETELY ALONE IN THIS THANK YOU.
I can get behind the conditioned response thing, because I definitely don't remember getting as bummed about the winter when I was younger. But getting older means that more experiences build up. Once you reach a point where you're driving, suddenly road conditions matter in a world where previously they didn't. Grade schools may have lots of windows to let the sunlight in, but universities less so. The later you can stay awake, the more absurdly late walks you can take, but winter nighttime doesn't let you wander the neighbourhood as long. All the stressors have more chances of being encountered, and slowly build up. And that's not even counting events that would be irrelevant to season, but coincidentally fall into winter, like a breakup with a long-time partner.
That all said, in university we discussed SAD and it had links to sunlight exposure, and even showed more prominence in people depending on which part of the year they were born. But as with most things in life, multiple factors interact with each other, and I'd bet the conditioned responses compound the rest.
It is interesting how you connect sun rises with darkness and depression, and the cold as being a reminder of more positive times.
Right? It's strange man, but I will say that it's not absolute. I do love a good sunrise, and sunny days are nice. But I feel the most at peace in bad weather for some reason
You already had someone else point out that the physical phenomenon of the seasons themselves affect our brain chemistry more than just our associations with the weather, but I wanted to say something more personal for me.
I live in Dallas. I know it's not "officially" winter yet, but the weather just went from a 61-degree low last night to a 28-degree low tonight. Texas weather isn't so much "you might have to put on a jacket" as much as "roll dice to decide whether to wear shorts or a heavy coat today." I've seen it hit 80 in December, and I've seen it snow in April. Oh, and tornadoes. Don't forget about tornadoes.
I'm heat-sensitive and cold-resistant, like the temperatures I like to be at are shifted down about 20-40°f. I get so overheated and nauseous in the summer months, I struggle to handle leaving AC for long, and need AC in the spring and fall... sometimes in the winter if it's still too hot. I also dislike my body, and shorts emphasize that with venerability. Summer is being trapped inside, or feeling miserable when you're not. Even in a pool, I have to stay in the healing waters otherwise I feel terrible again.
In winter, I can handle -10°f in a long sleeved shirt and sweatpants for at least a half hour before needing to go in, the feeling of "cold shivers" is the same as "nostalgic shivers" for me, and I actively enjoy being too cold. Winter is freedom, to explore the outside world when both homelife and inside my head are so limiting and full of manipulation and others controlling me.
When I was deeply depressed, I used to play Talos Principle. Most of the levels were beautiful, lots of sand, palm trees and bright sun. It really soothed me. In real life I live in the Nordic countries, in Sweden. Almost half the year is blistering cold and pitch black darkness.
When I was researching this, everything I found suggested this would be the case for a lot of people. But It's so nice to see comments like this that actually back it up. Amazing that games can help like that. Thanks for commenting :)
*Your channel is underrated*
You deserve more subs
I don't have SAD personally, but I don't think I could live somewhere where the seasons didn't change. Seasons and weather in games are really underappreciated too, so I'm glad you brought them up. Great video as always Daryl, your videos are way too good for you to only have 5k subs
100% agree, the variety is a total necessity, ya know? And I really appreciate that man, but hey, slow and steady wins the race :)
Keep up the great work 👍
I got zelda breath of the wild one early october. that fall and winter was hard for me because I had just moved away from the home I loved, and i had dozens of wonderful memories of that house, and particularly the winters I had spent in that house, and I have generally always been really nostalgic about the early winter, but the kind of nostalgia that makes you sad, and I was really depressed after moving away. I played the legend of zelda for nearly 400 hours, because it's all I would do. It offered me a great distraction from my sad and I now regard it as my favorite game ever. It's basically a yearly thing when winter starts to come around and we start getting snow that my brain picks one fond memory of a previous winter and it's all my mind is stuck on. One year it was playing assassin's creed rogue in the early winter, the next year it was star wars the force unleashed , again in early winter. I remember playing star wars then going outside and building a massive mound of snow in my yard that eventually turned to solid ice. The year after that it was binge watching jon trons starcade then watching the MOST BEAUTIFUL sunset I had ever seen in my life. I watched the sun set over the thick white blanket of snow and as the beautiful red and orange of the sunset wrapped around the occasional cloud illuminating the cloud the same brilliant red as the sky and reflecting off the snow. I also have a lot of fond memories of just swinging while it was snowy out and just watching the clouds and sunset and thinking of video games I wanted to make.
If you read this whole thing thanks for listening to my story.
I had the problem of feeling alone and depressed in botw. In this big areas without much music in the background
I had no idea that the way I felt about summer had a name and was such a prevalent thing, thanks for the video!
Another amazing video, you totally deserve more subscribers!
Thank you so much!
I’ve got reverse S.A.D. But I’m in a northern state so I’m a lil odd. But this is a really interesting idea. I feel dumb for not making this connection. I listen to stormy weather sounds when I’m anxious to fall asleep, so playing video games with that weather could definitely help a little bit. It’s worth a try this summer :) this is brilliant thank you.
I have bad associations with Spring because of allergies and Summer because I have low blood pressure and POTS. Not exactly depression but I'm definitely more active in Fall and Winter (which are both mild where I live).
When you are in the middle of climbing a mountain in Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Then, it suddenly rains...
That mountain passage from helgen to Riften in Skyrim before sunrise, which starts rainy, wide and mundane, and grows gradually steeper. Wind starts to blow and snowfall sets in, and everything gets more wintery, less green, more gray, and more depressing. And then on the height, the snow stops, the weather clears, the wind stops and as the sun rises, it bathes the pure white of the snow and Ice in golden warmth, while the dampened silence of the snow feels intimate and present in the moment, and the narrow, birch tree seamed path very comforting. Then follows the curvey descent into an autumnly birch forest, with bright, warm colored leaves and a suttle breeze rustling through them, and Godrays soothing the soul.
5:51
Just that picture with those words sum up literally every single summer for me
Man, your content is top-notch. Seriously, it's awesome. Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much!!
@@DarylTalksGames Thank you, too! I just love this kind of videos with the analysis of games and it is rare, I'm always looking for it and I'm very glad that I've found your channel.
Lmao, that big snow ball thrown at the kid made me laugh more than it should.
I’d still argue that rain in BotW is anti fun
Climb 3 steps then leap, Trust it works
@@feezee5196 already know about that, you still cant climb very far during the rain, and end up standing still until the rain ends most of the time
everything you mentioned for winter in northern states is perfect for an introvert. and lucky me i’m an introvert from minnesota
The heat makes me exhausted and gross
The cold makes me feel alive while its killing me
5:43 jeez that hit me hard deep down
I've hit this video exatcly after talking to a friend about how Persona 5 and 4 manage weather, music and colors differently to give different melancholic feelings
Love this channel
3:16 "Who else will I eat my ice cream with"
8:23 yo why is that so accurate
That was my childhood in a nutshell haha, I knew it had to be someone else's too
Me, I just can't get enough of modded Skyrim's auroras.
That, and looking out the window on a rainy day makes me feel that much cozier.
The absolute monotony of sunny Summer/Spring days used to be really grating too me, but not so much as an adult. Still feel like I don't get enough rain though.
love your vids :D
I’m RSAD too, and during one sleepless summer night I started a new game in Metroid Prime at 2 am just to get to Tallon and watch the raindrops bead on my visor
For me the toughest season is actually spring, I've always associated it with when I was in high school starving myself along with my friends in order to lose weight for the summer for beach season. However I find it funny because I live in the north.
Interesting vibes of my retreat being building some abode, cozy or otherwise in a snowy Minecraft biome, especially ice spikes and snowy mountains ... something something haven't gotten much snow cover since I was a child and having rather good memories of it?
All that applies regardless of season and outside weather I think .. (barring actual snow cover, stan that, maybe due to how much time I spend outside when it's snowed because well .. it snowed!!)
I can relate to the weather effecting peoples moods as I live in Florida and hate vary brite light and sunny days. the few weeks of cloudy cold days make me full super human.
Bro I played the long dark for like 8 months straight and got super depressed because the weather in game was so cold, dark, and snowy. Couple that with the anxiety of surviving and hunting/being hunted, and it’s a weird ride.
Beating the “special” levels in Super Mario World to unlock the autumn coloration completely changes the feel of the game to me.
Interesting topic. Really enjoyed it
Glad to hear it!
I really love games with winds and rain and the first watch dogs did especially that, at least the E3 version did, btw great videos!!!
This was interesting, and something I never considered the impact of weather in games.
Tbh I love a good hot sunny day but I do love a rainy gray sky day too!