Hey! I hope you're all safe and doing OK. For reasons you can probably guess if you've watched it, I've been a little nervous about publishing this video (especially considering the amount of time it ended up taking to make), but I really hope you enjoy it! Links to all the channels I mentioned at the end are in the description! If you enjoy the videos and would like to directly help me continue to make more, consider heading to patreon.com/writingongames and pledging only what you're comfortable with. Doing so gets you access to things like early, completely ad-free video uploads! Your support is what allows me to keep doing this and I'll never be able to thank you enough for that. Stay safe everyone!
20:42 Your summation of the whole Cyberpunk discourse is fucking masterclass dude. Not only literarily hilarious, but a truth that everyone needs to sit down and fucking listen to. I'm so glad you were at least able to enjoy yourself and play games that you loved this past year. We need more happiness in the world
Thank you for being vulnerable and honest. You didn't have to, but you did it, and it means a lot to hear other people talk about their struggles. Much love
Your videos are one of few that I always, unquestionably, make time for in the day. Your respect for the form of media and love for games shines through in every video covering them, even when grappling with frustrating aspects of them such as the Ghost Recon or Death Stranding videos. I'm not in a position to start working on my own content right now, but trust me when I say that you and your content is a genuine inspiration to me, and for what it's worth, I deeply respect your craft and self-introspection in each of these videos!
Hamish, love your vids especially your intricate speech and perspective on this art form But man you need to play more JRPGs, action or turn based lmao Yakuza 7 has one of the most barebone turn based combat systems I’ve played in the genre with laughable “ dungeons” and despite having the most enemy variety in the Yakuza series, the gameplay ironically lost all the depth that the action titles such as 0-5 and Judgment had both with execution based juggle/bounce combos and tactical strategy of careful offensive/defensive play styles with Yakuza 7 trading all that in for little skill and magic variety, weak job class incentives, and high-end late-game strategies boiling down to spamming Kiwami super moves That’s just a broad criticism of the combat gameplay change, don’t even get me started on the half-baked plot and weak scriptwriting (whether it be the soap opera eye-rolling moments such as the ending or “Mirror Face” or even the treatment of certain series staples) despite Yakuza 7 having strong character writing but that is par for the course as every entry prior has accomplished that so far. Looking forward to your Yakuza 7 video essay but I fail to understand how this mixed entry, albeit still a good game, has risen to potentially your favorite Yakuza title when multiple previous entries encompass the strengths of the series much more clearly That’s just the differing opinion of some guy on the internet though! Keep up the fantastic work and hope 2021 brings you better times than the awful last year or even the start of this one so far lol
Much love, Hamish. I feel like it's pretty safe to say that everyone suffered last year to some degree, for so many reasons. I had written a video that I may or may not publish, which details how difficult it is to play games for fun, especially last year. Being stripped of any and all outlets by which I could break from video games made them my entire life for a year. They were almost all I thought about, so it felt like I was working 24/7. Even when I wasn't working, I was thinking about working. It was an exhausting year in part because, for maybe the first time ever, I couldn't figure out how to shut off my brain. I even scrapped a particularly depressing GOTY script that went more into that headspace. It's become hard nowadays to justify spending my time with video games outside of the videos I make, especially since I'm the only person holding myself back. I totally sympathize with the struggle to find passion in this hobby again outside of the job itself, and I'm glad Tony Hawk was able to give you that joy. I'd like to say it's inspired me to start playing games for myself, keep them to myself, rediscover my passion for video games as a hobby. I'm not quite there yet. Still a struggle to sit down on the couch and play Hades without wondering why I'm not in my office recording something instead. Given the events of the past week or two, I'm not totally convinced that 2021 will be a wholly better year than 2020, but one can hope? Maybe? Great video, I look forward to that Yakuza 7 piece especially.
You're the best, Dan. Glad the video could resonate with you. What I've found particularly interesting over my years of doing this is that it's not just full time creators that have that kind of mindset shift, where suddenly their passion gets associated with work/something they need to "optimise". I remember that shift starting to happen before I'd even hit 1000 subs, and I honestly don't know if there's a single creator I've talked to, regardless of size, that hasn't at least experienced something resembling that struggle. You're absolutely right about finding things that are just for you though. I haven't gotten there with games yet, but I find that I've been watching way more movies/reading more recently. Making a lot more music. Before the pandemic, it was the gym and martial arts and stuff like that. Stuff that, because I'm not active on social media, I don't feel inclined to share with the world-a surprisingly nice feeling. Anyway, yeah, turns out the somewhat arbitrary shifting of numbers from 20 to 21 didn't really change shit but hey, at least we have Yakuza. Keep on keeping on, man.
@@WritingOnGames Always great to see two channels I love supporting each other. I hope that both of you can get better when it comes to "switching off" work mode and sitting down to have fun with a good game. Maybe setting specific hours for work and others for "play" might help? As a full-time indie dev I can get an idea where you guys are coming from, but I've found I can enjoy my gaming time much more when it's after "work hours". Wishing you both the best!
It’s hard to put into words just how comfortable I feel listening to you talk about this beautiful medium. Thank you so much for everything you’ve ever uploaded, you’ve shown me time and time again that video games are incredible, and the way you describe your emotions regarding these games is contagious, It’s brought me closer to my own emotions and to understanding them. Thank you, and let’s hope 2021 will be less of a shitshow than last year!
With the overabundance of channels that focus on game criticism/video essays, you manage to stay relevant with your very unique exploration of the medium of video-games. My favorite video you made this year was of the new Samurai Jack Game, and how it failed to capture the spirit of the show. I can't find any other content creator on this platform who tackled that topic. In a year dominated by discussion around games such as Last of Us 2 and Cyberpunk (nothing wrong with those games, it's just that everyone and their mama made a video about them at this point), you provided content that is unlike any other, and I can't get enough of it.
Legitimately I feel for everyone in your situation so fuckin hard right now. Getting screamed at by customers/managers on the daily is bad enough on its own without said screaming containing fuckin rona particles
Speaking "pretty damn significant ".. your channel has been pretty damn significant to me ever since "How Darksouls Helped Me Cope With Suicidal Depression ". Your Art and Player Agency in games is one I go back to and share often, along with your video on Hellblade. I love your take on videos and the reason I found dark souls which led me to bloodborne which is my all time favorite game and has changed my life! I am always excited to see a new video! Thanx so much for keeping at it and sharing!
BIG relate to the voice in ur head constantly insinuating that you haven’t earned anything nice, and that someone WILL come and take it away and scream at you for having it at all. i’m working thru some stuff in therapy myself, and it’s comforting on some level to see that people i admire (you) go through the same issues. i wish the best of luck to you and to everyone going forward
Your concerns about your channel, self-doubt, doing what you do as “work” and feeling bad...it spoke so freaking loudly to me. I have a modest channel that had a viral hit on it years ago. I tried to build off of that and was crippled by having a new following based on a single video. What now? What do I do? I love your channel, Tim Rogers, Thor High Heels, Super Bunny Hop, etc. and got popular for a gag video. I was completely paralyzed. I tried for about 10 videos before petering out completely. This video made me once again think about just going for it. You have all the same doubts I do, the difference is you still put work out. And that’s even more inspiring when you lift the veil and make it clear that you fight that battle and still manage to publish great content. Thank you for making 2020 a little easier with your work, man. It does more than you know for some of us.
Writing On Games is the best writer on games out of everyone and anyone who has ever had a game they've written on. This channel makes "Citizen Kane" look like a very unwell horse trying to navigate a door handle with its lips. I love you. Always have, always will. P.S. thanks for the shout-out you delicious gentleman
I don't think your writing is ever going to be unimportant to me. Were it not for discovering your work (and a few other writers early on in your RUclips careers) at a very specific time, my life would've been in a fundamentally different place than it is today. That place is the best its ever been, surrounded by those I cherish, who fill my life with so much meaning. I'm glad I know you and everyone else I've met over these past few years. Much love, Hamish.
Hi men, I'm just a fan from Argentina and I don't used to coment in english channels but after watching the last minutes of this video I feel that I have to do it. You are one of my biggest inspirations, your videos are incredible and I think that you have some of the most interest perspectives in the whole internet. Thanks you for everything ❤️
@@WritingOnGames bro, I'm Bosnian, living in Kuwait, two countries most people probably haven't even heard of, trust me, you've got reach :D I'm not the only one in my friend group that appreciates your work, much love.
I hope you have a much better 2021. I've always appreciated how upfront and honest you've been with mental health struggles, and I know I'm not alone in saying it makes me feel less alone in my own struggles. The way you cover games is basically the way I wish I could - deftly weaving the personal and the impersonal into something more valuable than the latter and more accessible than the former. That's not in any way something that should define you as a person (though I think it is a hallmark of your work) but it is a compliment I hope you take to heart. Your content has a lot of value to me, and I know it does to many others too.
Love you so much man, I'm bummed we didn't talk as much as usual last year but hopefully we can change that soon. I resonated so hard with everything you said towards the end front to back. 2020 was the WORST and it's all about your perspective on the shit that's going on your hardship isn't nullified by others maybe having it harder. I am so happy to call you a friend I've made through this weird job and life we made for ourselves Also Yakuza 7 was the biggest surprise of the year IT WAS SO GOOD GOD DAMNNNN
Hey, you're right not to focus on growth and subscriber numbers, but I just wanted to step forward and say that I discovered your channel this year, and am greatly enjoying it. Your video on Star Wars: Squadrons captured my feelings about that game and VR so perfectly that I was astonished. All the best, and hope your 2021 fares significantly better.
Hamish, I know me just saying this won't change your brains thinking, but someone will always have it worse. Don't ever think your fears and anxieties are invalid. Everyone has insecurities and gets imposter syndrome, yours is just as imporyant as anyone elses. What you've done with your channel is amazing and you deserve every bit of praise and benefit you get from it! I'm not going to speak for your thousands of subscribers, but I personally love your channel and have watched all your videos. You're actually my favorite essay based RUclipsr, I think your videos are perfect and beautifully executed. I get so excited when you upload because I know there's going to be thought provoking content. Even the ones I don't agree with I end up getting something out of and learning from. I know it's hard to do but dont sell yourself short. Keep going and keep putting out amazing content like I know you will!! Don't forget how awesome you are!!
I don't think there's anything wrong with one's "game of the year" not being a blockbuster or a genre-warping work of the medium or whatever. My GOTY was a four-dollar game with lackluster translation no one else talked about, but it was the only game I played this year that left me thinking about it afterward, about what it did differently and how there's still hope for something unique in the medium. (It's Cruel Bands Career. Please play Cruel Bands Career.)
I usually don't feel good about myself and I constantly question why I escape into video games. Listening to what you said in that end section really helped me put this self loathing in perspective. I don't have to question why I enjoy something and therefore deny myself that pleasure. Keep up the great work
If it's any constellation, your one of my favorite video game channels on RUclips. I rewatched your videos all the time, especially for games I get excited about that seems like no one around me does. Keep up the great work and hope your 2021 is better.
Looking forward to the Yakuza 7 video. Started playing the series this year and I've just gotten to the halfway point of 6 while playing 7 since I got it for Christmas. Videogames got me through the lingering hurt of how 2019 ended for me and most of 2020 and Yakuza was one of the main series that helped with that. Loving 7, it's one of my absolute favourites so far, and I hope 2021 will be a better year for you :)
Man, if it's worth something, let me say that I'm subscribed to a bunch of channels, but this is one of the few that makes me especially happy when there's a new upload.
This video reveals all the reasons why I started following this channel almost religiously. Not only does it go beyond the obvious choices, opting for those games that may reveal something more about the medium itself, as it is an incredible honest commentary about the creator himself, his love for gaming and what it provides. Know that, indeed, your videos count for something for someone, in such an in-depth look at gaming at all its intricacies.
Hi Hamish, I'm just a stranger on the internet so I can't claim to love you, but I do love your work. You have such a wonderful way of talking about games and looking at the heart of the experience with a personal touch that is a joy to listen to. I am always looking forwards to you next upload, and once I see a new video from you pop up in my feed it is accompanied with a small burst of excitement. Even if you worry that your work is insignificant and matters to no one, it matters to me.
Been watching your videos for 5 years now, and I just wanted to thank you for being so honest through all this time. Your videos have helped me to cope with depression and anxiety years ago, and I still come back to watch every video because its not just about the content you make, its about the person that you are! Thank you for being so strong all these years and making all these great videos for us. Whenever that voice in your head starts making you doubt yourself, remember that through your creations you have made at least this one person consistently happy for years. Thank you!
As someone who has just discovered you AND The Golden Bolts channel, both of you are up there with the likes of MandaloreGaming, Raycevik and Whitelight. All of these channels deserve success :)
I really enjoyed this video for reasons I wouldn't have expected when I clicked on it. The game choices are fine, but more importantly, there's an incredible strength to be found in showing your vulnerability. That resonated with me and is truly inspiring.
After a single game, I honestly feel I prefer Ichiban to Kiryu. He has this genuine earnestness about him, replacing stoicism with sincerity. He's a fuck-up who wants to do good and will never stop trying to do good, and in this era I find that super relatable.
@@johnnychopsocky He's proactive rather than reactive which is a great foil to Kiryu. Kiryu will always be great but Ichiban is the energy the series needed especially when he has a more established party/group to play off of throughout nearly the entire game.
26:50 That bit is exactly why I never wanted to actually work in the game business. Tying my relaxation to income lessens the relaxation and possibly leads to a vicious cycle of increasing stress. I admire those who do it though and appreciate the effort, their work and the joy it brings me.
If you don't already, try modding. Noone having leverage on you and infinite time to make good content. Just don't ever try to monetize beyond accepting unconditional donations.
Your videos are comforting. The way you edit them, what you have to say and how you say it, the music, etc... it's all very "comfy". Clicking on one of your videos I know that I'm in for a chill time, and that I'll end up learning more about whatever game it is you're talking about, as well as your own experience with it. To sum it up your videos are well produced and enjoyable. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for being so honest with how you’re feeling. It’s was a very brave of you. You’re videos are amazing! Keep up with the good work. I could listen to you for hours.
Thanks for making this. Hearing you talk about the stress of needing to feel productive and finding it hard to let yourself relax hit me really hard. As a disabled person desperately trying to find a way to not rely on my family forever and to achieve something, it helps knowing that other people can be successful when dealing with similar anxieties.
Your videos have been an absolute pleasure to watch and listen to for me this past 12 months. What you do matters to a lot of people and your hard work is appreciated mate!
I just wanna say thank you for opening up, for me even knowing that I'm not the only one with problems, it's still tough struggling thru everything and sometimes I feel alone, part of it is my fault for not reaching out more but even knowing that there are other people that feel like this, gives me a sense of relief that I'm not a failure for not being able to just push thru like so many other people seem to be doing. So even if you do get some sort of backlash for being open I want to let you know that it helped me. Thank you.
Wow. It's very weird to see a creator describe EXACTLY what's going on in my head when I'm writing on my website, when I'm doing my work, when I'm trying to make my videos. In the 10 years that I've been working in video games, independently and voluntarily in France, I never anticipated that such a mental disaster would befall me. And what you specify at the end of the video is exactly what I'm experiencing: this feeling of not being able to play for myself, of always having to record my games, analyze them, get something out of them to "deserve" to have played them. Thank you for putting words to all this and for showing me that I was not alone. It's doing me a lot of good! Thank you and i wish you a wonderful year 2021
The enthusiasm you have mixed with the obvious pain of hmmm everything else took 100% of my attention. This video was phenomenal, dude. I look forward to all your other videos now. Since you included T Rogers, i'm gonna try out your other recommendations, too. I've never played tokimeki memorial but i've watched that beast of a review TWICE now. Cyberpunk was beautiful and shut the lights off ugly at times, but hot damn i love that game on pc. 206 hours now and i've beaten it 3 times. Keep channeling all that pain and rage and fear and effusive joy into your videos and you've got a dedicated watcher here. Haven't touched Tony Hawk in 20 plus years but cuz of your video here, the new one is now on my list!
That’s quite a list. I too love seeing the games others mention in their top games lists as well as the fun of making my own each year. Happy 5 years. I just hit my 5 year mark too. And damn man, that digression into how rough 2020 was for you was harrowing. I hope you have a much better 2021!
Man, your rant/argumentation near the end was amazing and encapsulates a lot of what I've been feeling this year. Very inspiring, and to me, it sums up why I love your content. Also, thanks for some awesome recomendations too - I'm always on the lookout for more content creators who appreciates the medium as much as I do myself.
You're definitely not whining about nothing. This piece has definitely helped at least one person a lot. I've been struggling with some similar feelings of guilt that my problems aren't that bad and like the rug could just be pulled out from under me, and hearing you articulate similar experiences as well as talking about your path toward reaching a better place is really re-assuring. Also, I'm definitely disappointed in RUclips that the Wattam video was "under-performing", I thought it was absolutely great. Those metrics profoundly do not capture it all. Thanks for another year of great videos, here's to another one ahead! I hope it remains sustainable :)
Holy shit Hamish... Thanks for your incredible highes quality list and also a huuuge bucket of love to you! As someone who has uncovered some very deep sitting and somehow life-crippling psychical issues this year myself, your sharing of your personal struggles left me moved. It needs alot of strength to lay out your feelings and issues to so many strangers, and I admire that you did it, and I am thankful for it! Thankful not in a "I am not the only one" way (maybe a bit tho, ngl), but more so in a sense that I believe that you are on a good way to tackle your problems and that makes me just feel good for you and hopefull for my own future. The problems you face are undeniably tough and tricky. However I have full confidence that you will find your way! Sharing it with us might actually enable you to face your problems more head on, since now most of the viewers would understand EVERY step that you try on that way, no matter the repercussions for the channel might be. I hope for your best and again: much love!
Hey, your venting towards the end of the video made so much sense. I just want you to know that you are not alone in feeling that way. I relate to everything you ralked about. I feel extremely similar to what you described, even though im halfway around the world and have completely different struggles. I'm seding much love and appreciation for everything you do. Rock on mr. Black. Rock on.
Yo, just wanted to say your one of my favourite game commentator / reviewer / whatever you call it on RUclips. I always find your perspectives really interesting and well thought out and I think you should be super proud of your work.
Your video's are awesome mate, love the way you deep-dive into your interpretation of these games; been with you since DS obviously! Keep it up dude ;)
28:28 - Goddamn this really got me, my man. I discovered your channel back in 2018 when I build my first gaming pc. And then I started taking more interest in game analysis and critique and it was because of you that I discovered Yakuza Series, Nier Automata, Trackmania or something as obscure as Wattam, I started thinking more critically about the games I play and how general discourse surrounding could be more than just about their story or gameplay. It is because of your introspective nature which leads you to more closely examine a particular and more importantly your relationship with a said game is why I love watching this channel and why I always look forward to your Annual Top 5 Games list. Because I know unlike any other list out there, yours will be much more meaningful and it will contain games that really spoke to you as a person throughout the year. So Yes! You and Your videos are definitely valuable to me. I know 2020 was a terrible year for you and everyone in general. But I sincerely hope that you feel better this year. So just hang in there, my man. 🤗 Because I have nothing but love and respect for you and your content 🙏 and I would feel even better while consuming it when I know that your mental health is not suffering and that you are feeling better.
I am, precisely, right there with you. I am nowhere that you are exactly, but I am so goddamn glad everything that you put into this video made the final cut. Keep it up. You make things better just by putting your full self out there for the rest of us to consume. You are contributing to the whole human experience.
I'm going through the same thing in school right now, especially about letting things pass you by in fear of messing up what you've scrounged up after being in really poor/bad situations. But artists like you inspire artists like me and i think theres a flame of drive that we all can kindle in eachother to keep working like i do on my comic. Hope this comment can give you a little of that to keep making your art like i do mine, and mine hasnt even seen public eyes yet, but i know one day i can be like you and jump into it i hope.
You are probably my favorite videogame youtuber since your video about Dark Souls. I know you have mixed feelings about that video, but I want to say that that video came to me in a very dark and sad time of my life, and I'm not exagerating when I say: That helped me to stay alive. I love your writing style, the way you connect with games and your emotional sincerity, specially knowing how soulcrushing RUclips might be, is comendable and inspiring. I'm rooting for you and as soon I am not broke and down the gutter, you will be the first channel I will ever support trough Patreon. The world needs more people like you.
damn dude , how you talked about your self and this year felt like you were in my head , down to the "at least i don't work retail any more" and even though i know people have had it much worst thankfully living in an area mostly covid free i was able to actually skateboard this year . i found you from your cyberpunk video and i also felt like people didn't play the same game i did franticly trying to convince people they game is genuinely good despite its flaws. thanks man your videos are great and your voice is fantastic
I have a lot of the same looks on games as you and love watching your videos to get thorough extra look at those thoughts from someone like you that does it as their work. But the biggest difference is, my favourite genre in gaming by a mile is Jrpgs. And I think it's so funny how that's so the complete opposite between us, but I'm glad you found Like a Dragon and are enjoying it a lot. Thank you for the video!
I'll always be one of the first to jump into the chorus to sing your praises, you are one the goalpost I hold myself and others up to. May fortune bless you with its presence.
One of the things that helps me with mental suffering is hearing others stories, supporting them and understanding each other's difficulties. We are in it together. There has been such a huge amount of quiet suffering this year, and I hope we can all grow for it. 😊
You hang in there Hamish, there's a whole lot of us here (especially looking at other kind comments) that not only like your videos for their entertainment value, many also have grown to love the character and personality that's always behind them. Greetings, one of the living (and loving) voices behind those anonymous numbers you sometimes see.
Damn I'm late to this video, but thank you for talking about feeling the pressure to be productive. I'm still in school as I write this, and my weekly counsoler meeting didn't happen cause of a long weekend. That and other personal shit has made me really stressed and down on myself today. I always feel bad in the summer cause I'm not consistently studying, reviewing material, or working on personal projects to add to my portfolio so I can prove I'm good enough for future co-ops like the ones I've already failed to get into, and I don't know if the voice in my head telling me to relax for the summer has my best interests at heart, but knowing that I'm not alone in these thoughts is comforting.
It’s so nice to see someone speak so positively about deadly premonition 2. I had also just come off of playing the first and it was pleasant and eerily quirky in all the right ways. Definitely not a groundbreaking title, but a fun complementary experience to the original.
I really, really appreciate - especially after that year - some games talkin' done with insight, kindness and personal openness. Keep it up lad, you deserve your success. 👍
As someone who’s ingested yours’ and so many other greats in the field’s content over the pst 4-5 years or so, I am finally letting the hankering for what you’ve meticulously detailed in the last half of the video, take hold and am trying to start my own essays, reviews or whatever the hell I conjure up. It’s been a wild and arrestingly apparent year for all things horrid to surface, but channels like yours’ keep me anchored against biting insecurities while I’m away at home alone from my girlfriend or occupied in a game myself. I have been aggregating all the equipment I’ll need and now all that stands before me os writing... and well, finishing Cyberpunk because I’ve sunken in and have to see it thru to the end before I chart onwards lol. Much love, Hamish. Thank you for always contextualizing your metaphysical dread in a way that’s uplifting and valuable, never feeding into the harrowing void that constantly forms around us. It’s great to have such incredible figures in this small “games discourse” sphere to look towards for comfort and I can’t wait to see what more comes our way this year not only in terms of phenomenal game releases, but also video content that hopefully everyone creates at their own pace!! Take as much time as you need and thanks for being exceptional!!
yo Hambo, yourself and your channel and your videos mean so much so many different people. So much ❤️ to you dude, it takes a lot to openly talk about what’s been bunking you and the steps you’ve taken to recover and manage. Hopefully these comments of support are sign of how good your shit is, no matter what some pop-ups say. Also holy hell the squash you’ve got to put Bad Guys at School up here 😂 it looks so great
The first advert in this video was comedically timed to perfection: "And at number five we have :- Metal Supermarket, the convenience store for metal."
13:33 - Now this was quite surprising because I expected maybe it will be No. 1 considering how much you love this series. And Yes! I was also one of those people who was looking forward to your thoughts on it. After all, it was only because of you that I got into the series and now love it so much. So really wanted to know what was your thoughts on it but then I thought maybe he will dedicate a separate on it and I was right. So now I am definitely looking forward to your video. 👍
Your videos mean a lot! I've always felt bad about enjoying video games, i thought this hobby was somehow inferior and childish. But hearing you speak so personally about these experiences and how they help you is absolutely inspiring. Much love
So I watched the second half of this after I found out a good mate had just lost a 10 year battle with brain cancer. It was poignant, honest and as always brilliantly well written. Content like this makes RUclips, not the other way around. Your videos have value, your Chanel has value, And you have value. Thanks for in some small way making me feel better even though life can be a bit shit. Keep up the good and important work.
Youre so great Hamish! I’m a huge fan of yours! I have so much respect for you for expressing your feelings for us. I always look foward to your vids. Your voice/writing is so perfect. We’re here for you man! Love you! Stay positive! And here’s to THPS 3 levels as DLC for PS 1+2!
When I started working from home full-time a couple years ago I developed a real tendency to get my head stuck in anxiety spirals. We are social animals and not having other people to interact with can really do a number on us. Multiply that by 2020 and yeah, it's quite a lot. The whole planet is going to be being with PTSD over this for a long long time. Also, can confirm that In/Frame/Out is really good.
Please don't be sorry for putting some personal stuff in your script, especially when it's important to the point you want to make. Your writing is so great I don't mind those topics at all, it's quite the contrary - talking about it actually gives me hope that things may turn out better for me one day and that I am not alone (a fact I already know, but I constantly need to be reminded of that I guess). I can relate to so many things you say in this video, I actually shed some tears. I wanted to make my own gaming critique channel for quite a while now, but I am simply scared of failing and screwing it up, wasting time and not moving forward. This may sound cheesy, but your words really give me hope and motivate me to work on my idea of a concept I wanted to work on for a long time. Just thank you! For this video, for your other videos, for your honesty and that goddamn sweet voice and dialect of yours. If anything goes well, Ze Nitpick will accompany the wide range of gaming channels sometime in the future...
Love your content, man. Glad you gave a shoutout to the homie thorhighheels. Man's so close to the big 100K mark. Anyway, I love your content as you open my eyes to so many games I'd usually dismiss.
Hey man my favourite bit was the last bit. My video games this year were dominated by perhaps different feelings but similar ideas. Can't wait for the next vid, take your time or don't either ones good.
Hey man, great video! I understand how hard the constant pressure of forward progression can be, and suggest that it might be good for you to take a break and regroup. I truely appreciate the new perspectives that you are able to share on some of my fav games!
My eyes glazed over a bit when you mentioned ProSkater as your GOTY. But then you explained why. I think, because I feel shit so much of the time, and because I often feel lonely in how shit I feel, I really appreciated that segment of the video. Thank you for making me feel a bit less lonely in how painful my brain can be sometimes.
Have you seen/heard old fans get their hands on it? Maybe you're an old fan and had a go yourself? I'm all secondhand opinions here on this one but it's heartwarming nevertheless how much they ('apparently') got right and what little they screwed up. For a demographic that's had so much of their past chewed up, --monetised-- _whored out_ and generally just trodden into the dirt... a little respect can feel like a truly magical treat.
@@EggBastion I’ve never played it, but I watched a few streamers enjoy the game. The closest it seems to is Rocket League for me. With added nostalgia and history. So I can theoretically understand why the gameplay would be enjoyable. Edit: btw I’ve put like 16 katrillion hours into RL
thanks for being so open when discussing why you picked your number 1. you didn't need to. you could have just said "it's my pick cause I like it the most" and been done with it. you picked the harder option, of being introspective and honest, and then saying it all aloud, to an audience of thousands. I genuinely couldn't do the same even if I was fortunate enough to be given the platform to do so. thanks for not holding back. and thanks for having a cool channel to watch cool videos on.
Wasn't expecting that number 1! Same though! It's tied with Doom Eternal, but I love the complete lack of microtransactions and just having challenges and unlockable content, reminded me of playing a video game back in the day
much love dude. Don't apologize for your struggles with mental health. It's not really a thing you can compare to other peoples issues. It's just a given, that people suffer more than you for various reason, or less. This fact should not diminish your problems or hardships. You matter . You make awesome thoughtful, artful, critiques of games full of insight and wit. You have much to be proud of. Sorry if this sounds corny, but I get it.I know Im just a random dude commenting on your wall-o-comments but I have felt similarly about myself in the past and present. This year fucking sucked donkey balls of all sorts of flavors sizes and questionable textures?( life before a pandemic was hard enough already) but you're still here and you're alive and you're in the world doing the best you can. So yeah.. fuck it. Don't give the barrage of automatic negative thoughts that rule most of our day too much importance, they're gonna be there most of the time. Best we can do is observe them, accept that its automatic and just focus on things we love. Alright rant over. Keep at it man. best of luck . Cheers from New York.
Thanks so much for this! Don't have time to respond to many comments at all nowadays but I read most of them, and positive stuff like this can really brighten someone's day in amongst a wall of more critical stuff.
Dear Haimish (I hope that is how you write your name) I discovered your channel a couple of years back, I think the first video I saw from you was how Dark Souls helped you with depression. I have beeen a loyal follower of yours and plan on keeping it that way because you just have so special of a connection to video games that I honestly think you're one of the best game journalists out there (and believe me I watch A LOT of them). Your takes are always fascinating and eye-opening and I can honestly say I learned a tremendous amount from you. Not just about games but also about perspectives on art and analysing pieces of art. Throughout your videos you became a sort of mentor for me in terms of video game critisism and I will forever be thankful for it. You are a precious human being, every single one of your videos is an event, an opportunity to learn and reflect on multiple things. YOU ARE AN EXCELLENT CONTENT CREATOR Haimish. I hope you read this and belive every word because your videos are to cherished and appreciated. Please keep up the good work, take care of yourself and I sincerely wish you a Happy New Year. Sending lots of love!
Thanks Hamish, your video about tough games inspired me to restart my blog as a form of therapy as well. Ironically, I found myself drawn to less souls-y fare in contrast to my usual taste. My games of the year, pulled from those that I played for the first time: 1. Disco Elysium 2. Hades 3. A Short Hike 5. Pillars of Eternity 5. Hitman 2
Hey! I hope you're all safe and doing OK. For reasons you can probably guess if you've watched it, I've been a little nervous about publishing this video (especially considering the amount of time it ended up taking to make), but I really hope you enjoy it! Links to all the channels I mentioned at the end are in the description!
If you enjoy the videos and would like to directly help me continue to make more, consider heading to patreon.com/writingongames and pledging only what you're comfortable with. Doing so gets you access to things like early, completely ad-free video uploads! Your support is what allows me to keep doing this and I'll never be able to thank you enough for that. Stay safe everyone!
20:42 Your summation of the whole Cyberpunk discourse is fucking masterclass dude. Not only literarily hilarious, but a truth that everyone needs to sit down and fucking listen to.
I'm so glad you were at least able to enjoy yourself and play games that you loved this past year.
We need more happiness in the world
Thank you for being vulnerable and honest. You didn't have to, but you did it, and it means a lot to hear other people talk about their struggles. Much love
Your videos are one of few that I always, unquestionably, make time for in the day. Your respect for the form of media and love for games shines through in every video covering them, even when grappling with frustrating aspects of them such as the Ghost Recon or Death Stranding videos. I'm not in a position to start working on my own content right now, but trust me when I say that you and your content is a genuine inspiration to me, and for what it's worth, I deeply respect your craft and self-introspection in each of these videos!
you have one of my favourite channels in youtube i wish you this year to reach new highs
Hamish, love your vids especially your intricate speech and perspective on this art form
But man you need to play more JRPGs, action or turn based lmao
Yakuza 7 has one of the most barebone turn based combat systems I’ve played in the genre with laughable “ dungeons” and despite having the most enemy variety in the Yakuza series, the gameplay ironically lost all the depth that the action titles such as 0-5 and Judgment had both with execution based juggle/bounce combos and tactical strategy of careful offensive/defensive play styles with Yakuza 7 trading all that in for little skill and magic variety, weak job class incentives, and high-end late-game strategies boiling down to spamming Kiwami super moves
That’s just a broad criticism of the combat gameplay change, don’t even get me started on the half-baked plot and weak scriptwriting (whether it be the soap opera eye-rolling moments such as the ending or “Mirror Face” or even the treatment of certain series staples) despite Yakuza 7 having strong character writing but that is par for the course as every entry prior has accomplished that so far.
Looking forward to your Yakuza 7 video essay but I fail to understand how this mixed entry, albeit still a good game, has risen to potentially your favorite Yakuza title when multiple previous entries encompass the strengths of the series much more clearly
That’s just the differing opinion of some guy on the internet though! Keep up the fantastic work and hope 2021 brings you better times than the awful last year or even the start of this one so far lol
Much love, Hamish. I feel like it's pretty safe to say that everyone suffered last year to some degree, for so many reasons.
I had written a video that I may or may not publish, which details how difficult it is to play games for fun, especially last year. Being stripped of any and all outlets by which I could break from video games made them my entire life for a year. They were almost all I thought about, so it felt like I was working 24/7. Even when I wasn't working, I was thinking about working. It was an exhausting year in part because, for maybe the first time ever, I couldn't figure out how to shut off my brain. I even scrapped a particularly depressing GOTY script that went more into that headspace.
It's become hard nowadays to justify spending my time with video games outside of the videos I make, especially since I'm the only person holding myself back. I totally sympathize with the struggle to find passion in this hobby again outside of the job itself, and I'm glad Tony Hawk was able to give you that joy. I'd like to say it's inspired me to start playing games for myself, keep them to myself, rediscover my passion for video games as a hobby. I'm not quite there yet. Still a struggle to sit down on the couch and play Hades without wondering why I'm not in my office recording something instead.
Given the events of the past week or two, I'm not totally convinced that 2021 will be a wholly better year than 2020, but one can hope? Maybe? Great video, I look forward to that Yakuza 7 piece especially.
You're the best, Dan. Glad the video could resonate with you. What I've found particularly interesting over my years of doing this is that it's not just full time creators that have that kind of mindset shift, where suddenly their passion gets associated with work/something they need to "optimise". I remember that shift starting to happen before I'd even hit 1000 subs, and I honestly don't know if there's a single creator I've talked to, regardless of size, that hasn't at least experienced something resembling that struggle.
You're absolutely right about finding things that are just for you though. I haven't gotten there with games yet, but I find that I've been watching way more movies/reading more recently. Making a lot more music. Before the pandemic, it was the gym and martial arts and stuff like that. Stuff that, because I'm not active on social media, I don't feel inclined to share with the world-a surprisingly nice feeling.
Anyway, yeah, turns out the somewhat arbitrary shifting of numbers from 20 to 21 didn't really change shit but hey, at least we have Yakuza. Keep on keeping on, man.
@@WritingOnGames Always great to see two channels I love supporting each other. I hope that both of you can get better when it comes to "switching off" work mode and sitting down to have fun with a good game. Maybe setting specific hours for work and others for "play" might help? As a full-time indie dev I can get an idea where you guys are coming from, but I've found I can enjoy my gaming time much more when it's after "work hours". Wishing you both the best!
It’s hard to put into words just how comfortable I feel listening to you talk about this beautiful medium. Thank you so much for everything you’ve ever uploaded, you’ve shown me time and time again that video games are incredible, and the way you describe your emotions regarding these games is contagious, It’s brought me closer to my own emotions and to understanding them.
Thank you, and let’s hope 2021 will be less of a shitshow than last year!
lmao what's up bro i didn't know you watched writing on games too
@@GordonTS course i do mang i love video essays
With the overabundance of channels that focus on game criticism/video essays, you manage to stay relevant with your very unique exploration of the medium of video-games. My favorite video you made this year was of the new Samurai Jack Game, and how it failed to capture the spirit of the show. I can't find any other content creator on this platform who tackled that topic. In a year dominated by discussion around games such as Last of Us 2 and Cyberpunk (nothing wrong with those games, it's just that everyone and their mama made a video about them at this point), you provided content that is unlike any other, and I can't get enough of it.
Thanks a bunch! The Samurai Jack piece is actually one of the videos I'm most proud of from 2020, so it's really cool you enjoyed it.
okay the "at least I'm not in retail anymore" made me laugh pretty hard, pray for us
Legitimately I feel for everyone in your situation so fuckin hard right now. Getting screamed at by customers/managers on the daily is bad enough on its own without said screaming containing fuckin rona particles
It's a rough job, I did it for 15 years. All I can do is promise I will always be nice and respect the sales people. Y'all are appreciated
I'm going to be looking to get out the moment I get my car in a month. Even without the pandemic I need to escape this shit.
I am done with retail did it for some time I feel for you! Hang in there!
Speaking "pretty damn significant ".. your channel has been pretty damn significant to me ever since "How Darksouls Helped Me Cope With Suicidal Depression ". Your Art and Player Agency in games is one I go back to and share often, along with your video on Hellblade. I love your take on videos and the reason I found dark souls which led me to bloodborne which is my all time favorite game and has changed my life! I am always excited to see a new video! Thanx so much for keeping at it and sharing!
Huge HUGE shout out to 13 Sentinels Aegis Rim. It was criminally underadvertised and it is very underlooked despite being absolutely fucking amazing
THIS
@@0uttaS1TE Try it out. Watch the first episode of a playthrough or something. It hooked me fucking instantly
I... don't know that I've even heard of that. Which goes to your point about it being criminally underadvertised. XD Gonna take a look at it!
I'd love to play it, but it's a PS exclusive. Heard a lot of good things about it.
It's alright, it's mostly a love letter to every sci-fi trope that exists and the ending was very disappointing to me
Your work is an inspiration man. The value of what you do is incalculable.
BIG relate to the voice in ur head constantly insinuating that you haven’t earned anything nice, and that someone WILL come and take it away and scream at you for having it at all. i’m working thru some stuff in therapy myself, and it’s comforting on some level to see that people i admire (you) go through the same issues. i wish the best of luck to you and to everyone going forward
Your concerns about your channel, self-doubt, doing what you do as “work” and feeling bad...it spoke so freaking loudly to me. I have a modest channel that had a viral hit on it years ago. I tried to build off of that and was crippled by having a new following based on a single video. What now? What do I do? I love your channel, Tim Rogers, Thor High Heels, Super Bunny Hop, etc. and got popular for a gag video. I was completely paralyzed. I tried for about 10 videos before petering out completely. This video made me once again think about just going for it. You have all the same doubts I do, the difference is you still put work out. And that’s even more inspiring when you lift the veil and make it clear that you fight that battle and still manage to publish great content. Thank you for making 2020 a little easier with your work, man. It does more than you know for some of us.
Writing On Games is the best writer on games out of everyone and anyone who has ever had a game they've written on.
This channel makes "Citizen Kane" look like a very unwell horse trying to navigate a door handle with its lips.
I love you. Always have, always will.
P.S. thanks for the shout-out you delicious gentleman
That's facts
I don't think your writing is ever going to be unimportant to me.
Were it not for discovering your work (and a few other writers early on
in your RUclips careers) at a very specific time, my life would've been
in a fundamentally different place than it is today. That place is the
best its ever been, surrounded by those I cherish, who fill my life with
so much meaning. I'm glad I know you and everyone else I've met over
these past few years. Much love, Hamish.
Hi men, I'm just a fan from Argentina and I don't used to coment in english channels but after watching the last minutes of this video I feel that I have to do it. You are one of my biggest inspirations, your videos are incredible and I think that you have some of the most interest perspectives in the whole internet. Thanks you for everything ❤️
This really means a lot-always wild to see that the videos reach as far as they do. Thanks a lot!
@@WritingOnGames bro, I'm Bosnian, living in Kuwait, two countries most people probably haven't even heard of, trust me, you've got reach :D I'm not the only one in my friend group that appreciates your work, much love.
I hope you have a much better 2021.
I've always appreciated how upfront and honest you've been with mental health struggles, and I know I'm not alone in saying it makes me feel less alone in my own struggles.
The way you cover games is basically the way I wish I could - deftly weaving the personal and the impersonal into something more valuable than the latter and more accessible than the former. That's not in any way something that should define you as a person (though I think it is a hallmark of your work) but it is a compliment I hope you take to heart.
Your content has a lot of value to me, and I know it does to many others too.
Love you so much man, I'm bummed we didn't talk as much as usual last year but hopefully we can change that soon. I resonated so hard with everything you said towards the end front to back. 2020 was the WORST and it's all about your perspective on the shit that's going on your hardship isn't nullified by others maybe having it harder. I am so happy to call you a friend I've made through this weird job and life we made for ourselves
Also Yakuza 7 was the biggest surprise of the year IT WAS SO GOOD GOD DAMNNNN
I love how horrific your avatar is in Nioh 2. Truly inspiring work.
Making your character a paralysis demon is pretty much a tradition in these kinds of games now.
Hey, you're right not to focus on growth and subscriber numbers, but I just wanted to step forward and say that I discovered your channel this year, and am greatly enjoying it. Your video on Star Wars: Squadrons captured my feelings about that game and VR so perfectly that I was astonished.
All the best, and hope your 2021 fares significantly better.
I love how honest you are about your feelings, man. I can assure you that what you create has a lot of value to me personally and you are not alone.
Hamish, I know me just saying this won't change your brains thinking, but someone will always have it worse. Don't ever think your fears and anxieties are invalid. Everyone has insecurities and gets imposter syndrome, yours is just as imporyant as anyone elses. What you've done with your channel is amazing and you deserve every bit of praise and benefit you get from it! I'm not going to speak for your thousands of subscribers, but I personally love your channel and have watched all your videos. You're actually my favorite essay based RUclipsr, I think your videos are perfect and beautifully executed. I get so excited when you upload because I know there's going to be thought provoking content. Even the ones I don't agree with I end up getting something out of and learning from. I know it's hard to do but dont sell yourself short. Keep going and keep putting out amazing content like I know you will!! Don't forget how awesome you are!!
I don't think there's anything wrong with one's "game of the year" not being a blockbuster or a genre-warping work of the medium or whatever. My GOTY was a four-dollar game with lackluster translation no one else talked about, but it was the only game I played this year that left me thinking about it afterward, about what it did differently and how there's still hope for something unique in the medium.
(It's Cruel Bands Career. Please play Cruel Bands Career.)
commenting for later
I usually don't feel good about myself and I constantly question why I escape into video games.
Listening to what you said in that end section really helped me put this self loathing in perspective.
I don't have to question why I enjoy something and therefore deny myself that pleasure.
Keep up the great work
This is one of my favorite channels, thanks for your work man
If it's any constellation, your one of my favorite video game channels on RUclips. I rewatched your videos all the time, especially for games I get excited about that seems like no one around me does. Keep up the great work and hope your 2021 is better.
Looking forward to the Yakuza 7 video. Started playing the series this year and I've just gotten to the halfway point of 6 while playing 7 since I got it for Christmas. Videogames got me through the lingering hurt of how 2019 ended for me and most of 2020 and Yakuza was one of the main series that helped with that. Loving 7, it's one of my absolute favourites so far, and I hope 2021 will be a better year for you :)
Man, if it's worth something, let me say that I'm subscribed to a bunch of channels, but this is one of the few that makes me especially happy when there's a new upload.
This video reveals all the reasons why I started following this channel almost religiously. Not only does it go beyond the obvious choices, opting for those games that may reveal something more about the medium itself, as it is an incredible honest commentary about the creator himself, his love for gaming and what it provides. Know that, indeed, your videos count for something for someone, in such an in-depth look at gaming at all its intricacies.
Hi Hamish, I'm just a stranger on the internet so I can't claim to love you, but I do love your work. You have such a wonderful way of talking about games and looking at the heart of the experience with a personal touch that is a joy to listen to. I am always looking forwards to you next upload, and once I see a new video from you pop up in my feed it is accompanied with a small burst of excitement. Even if you worry that your work is insignificant and matters to no one, it matters to me.
Been watching your videos for 5 years now, and I just wanted to thank you for being so honest through all this time. Your videos have helped me to cope with depression and anxiety years ago, and I still come back to watch every video because its not just about the content you make, its about the person that you are! Thank you for being so strong all these years and making all these great videos for us. Whenever that voice in your head starts making you doubt yourself, remember that through your creations you have made at least this one person consistently happy for years. Thank you!
This channel is so important to me. Thank you so much for your part in getting me through another year. This video is fantastic as always.
As someone who has just discovered you AND The Golden Bolts channel, both of you are up there with the likes of MandaloreGaming, Raycevik and Whitelight. All of these channels deserve success :)
Writing on Games is the worst thing to happen to cats since dogs!
that ricky gervais joke though
I really enjoyed this video for reasons I wouldn't have expected when I clicked on it. The game choices are fine, but more importantly, there's an incredible strength to be found in showing your vulnerability. That resonated with me and is truly inspiring.
Ichiban has for sure been my favorite character in years. Such an amazing Yakuza entry and it makes me so optimistic for future games
After a single game, I honestly feel I prefer Ichiban to Kiryu. He has this genuine earnestness about him, replacing stoicism with sincerity. He's a fuck-up who wants to do good and will never stop trying to do good, and in this era I find that super relatable.
@@johnnychopsocky He's proactive rather than reactive which is a great foil to Kiryu. Kiryu will always be great but Ichiban is the energy the series needed especially when he has a more established party/group to play off of throughout nearly the entire game.
26:50 That bit is exactly why I never wanted to actually work in the game business. Tying my relaxation to income lessens the relaxation and possibly leads to a vicious cycle of increasing stress. I admire those who do it though and appreciate the effort, their work and the joy it brings me.
If you don't already, try modding. Noone having leverage on you and infinite time to make good content. Just don't ever try to monetize beyond accepting unconditional donations.
@@NamelessBody That or just game dev as a hobby. There are plenty of options to be creative without the stress of having to deliver results
Your videos are comforting. The way you edit them, what you have to say and how you say it, the music, etc... it's all very "comfy". Clicking on one of your videos I know that I'm in for a chill time, and that I'll end up learning more about whatever game it is you're talking about, as well as your own experience with it. To sum it up your videos are well produced and enjoyable. Keep up the good work!
I don't like you very much, but you're the first RUclipsr that is really careful not to spoil anything and that earns my respect and trust.
Thank you for being so honest with how you’re feeling. It’s was a very brave of you. You’re videos are amazing! Keep up with the good work. I could listen to you for hours.
Thanks for making this. Hearing you talk about the stress of needing to feel productive and finding it hard to let yourself relax hit me really hard. As a disabled person desperately trying to find a way to not rely on my family forever and to achieve something, it helps knowing that other people can be successful when dealing with similar anxieties.
Your videos have been an absolute pleasure to watch and listen to for me this past 12 months. What you do matters to a lot of people and your hard work is appreciated mate!
I just wanna say thank you for opening up, for me even knowing that I'm not the only one with problems, it's still tough struggling thru everything and sometimes I feel alone, part of it is my fault for not reaching out more but even knowing that there are other people that feel like this, gives me a sense of relief that I'm not a failure for not being able to just push thru like so many other people seem to be doing. So even if you do get some sort of backlash for being open I want to let you know that it helped me.
Thank you.
Wow. It's very weird to see a creator describe EXACTLY what's going on in my head when I'm writing on my website, when I'm doing my work, when I'm trying to make my videos.
In the 10 years that I've been working in video games, independently and voluntarily in France, I never anticipated that such a mental disaster would befall me. And what you specify at the end of the video is exactly what I'm experiencing: this feeling of not being able to play for myself, of always having to record my games, analyze them, get something out of them to "deserve" to have played them.
Thank you for putting words to all this and for showing me that I was not alone. It's doing me a lot of good!
Thank you and i wish you a wonderful year 2021
that was moving as hell man, love you & your work
The enthusiasm you have mixed with the obvious pain of hmmm everything else took 100% of my attention. This video was phenomenal, dude. I look forward to all your other videos now. Since you included T Rogers, i'm gonna try out your other recommendations, too. I've never played tokimeki memorial but i've watched that beast of a review TWICE now. Cyberpunk was beautiful and shut the lights off ugly at times, but hot damn i love that game on pc. 206 hours now and i've beaten it 3 times. Keep channeling all that pain and rage and fear and effusive joy into your videos and you've got a dedicated watcher here. Haven't touched Tony Hawk in 20 plus years but cuz of your video here, the new one is now on my list!
That’s quite a list. I too love seeing the games others mention in their top games lists as well as the fun of making my own each year. Happy 5 years. I just hit my 5 year mark too. And damn man, that digression into how rough 2020 was for you was harrowing. I hope you have a much better 2021!
Man, your rant/argumentation near the end was amazing and encapsulates a lot of what I've been feeling this year. Very inspiring, and to me, it sums up why I love your content. Also, thanks for some awesome recomendations too - I'm always on the lookout for more content creators who appreciates the medium as much as I do myself.
You're definitely not whining about nothing. This piece has definitely helped at least one person a lot. I've been struggling with some similar feelings of guilt that my problems aren't that bad and like the rug could just be pulled out from under me, and hearing you articulate similar experiences as well as talking about your path toward reaching a better place is really re-assuring.
Also, I'm definitely disappointed in RUclips that the Wattam video was "under-performing", I thought it was absolutely great. Those metrics profoundly do not capture it all.
Thanks for another year of great videos, here's to another one ahead! I hope it remains sustainable :)
Holy shit Hamish... Thanks for your incredible highes quality list and also a huuuge bucket of love to you! As someone who has uncovered some very deep sitting and somehow life-crippling psychical issues this year myself, your sharing of your personal struggles left me moved. It needs alot of strength to lay out your feelings and issues to so many strangers, and I admire that you did it, and I am thankful for it! Thankful not in a "I am not the only one" way (maybe a bit tho, ngl), but more so in a sense that I believe that you are on a good way to tackle your problems and that makes me just feel good for you and hopefull for my own future. The problems you face are undeniably tough and tricky. However I have full confidence that you will find your way! Sharing it with us might actually enable you to face your problems more head on, since now most of the viewers would understand EVERY step that you try on that way, no matter the repercussions for the channel might be. I hope for your best and again: much love!
Hey, your venting towards the end of the video made so much sense. I just want you to know that you are not alone in feeling that way. I relate to everything you ralked about. I feel extremely similar to what you described, even though im halfway around the world and have completely different struggles. I'm seding much love and appreciation for everything you do. Rock on mr. Black. Rock on.
Yo, just wanted to say your one of my favourite game commentator / reviewer / whatever you call it on RUclips. I always find your perspectives really interesting and well thought out and I think you should be super proud of your work.
Your video's are awesome mate, love the way you deep-dive into your interpretation of these games; been with you since DS obviously! Keep it up dude ;)
28:28 - Goddamn this really got me, my man. I discovered your channel back in 2018 when I build my first gaming pc. And then I started taking more interest in game analysis and critique and it was because of you that I discovered Yakuza Series, Nier Automata, Trackmania or something as obscure as Wattam, I started thinking more critically about the games I play and how general discourse surrounding could be more than just about their story or gameplay.
It is because of your introspective nature which leads you to more closely examine a particular and more importantly your relationship with a said game is why I love watching this channel and why I always look forward to your Annual Top 5 Games list. Because I know unlike any other list out there, yours will be much more meaningful and it will contain games that really spoke to you as a person throughout the year.
So Yes! You and Your videos are definitely valuable to me. I know 2020 was a terrible year for you and everyone in general. But I sincerely hope that you feel better this year. So just hang in there, my man. 🤗 Because I have nothing but love and respect for you and your content 🙏 and I would feel even better while consuming it when I know that your mental health is not suffering and that you are feeling better.
I am, precisely, right there with you. I am nowhere that you are exactly, but I am so goddamn glad everything that you put into this video made the final cut.
Keep it up. You make things better just by putting your full self out there for the rest of us to consume. You are contributing to the whole human experience.
I really enjoy your work on this channel, for what it's worth. Here's hoping this'll be a better year for all of us!
please dont feel discouraged about your channel! I count on your videos, they help me get through my day!
I'm going through the same thing in school right now, especially about letting things pass you by in fear of messing up what you've scrounged up after being in really poor/bad situations. But artists like you inspire artists like me and i think theres a flame of drive that we all can kindle in eachother to keep working like i do on my comic. Hope this comment can give you a little of that to keep making your art like i do mine, and mine hasnt even seen public eyes yet, but i know one day i can be like you and jump into it i hope.
You are probably my favorite videogame youtuber since your video about Dark Souls. I know you have mixed feelings about that video, but I want to say that that video came to me in a very dark and sad time of my life, and I'm not exagerating when I say: That helped me to stay alive. I love your writing style, the way you connect with games and your emotional sincerity, specially knowing how soulcrushing RUclips might be, is comendable and inspiring. I'm rooting for you and as soon I am not broke and down the gutter, you will be the first channel I will ever support trough Patreon. The world needs more people like you.
damn dude , how you talked about your self and this year felt like you were in my head , down to the "at least i don't work retail any more" and even though i know people have had it much worst thankfully living in an area mostly covid free i was able to actually skateboard this year . i found you from your cyberpunk video and i also felt like people didn't play the same game i did franticly trying to convince people they game is genuinely good despite its flaws. thanks man your videos are great and your voice is fantastic
Keep it up, we appreciate the work you put into these videos! Much love.
Yoooo, you’re a Killer7 loving man as well?!? No wonder I so thoroughly enjoy your channel.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us, your channel is awesome!
I have a lot of the same looks on games as you and love watching your videos to get thorough extra look at those thoughts from someone like you that does it as their work.
But the biggest difference is, my favourite genre in gaming by a mile is Jrpgs. And I think it's so funny how that's so the complete opposite between us, but I'm glad you found Like a Dragon and are enjoying it a lot.
Thank you for the video!
I'll always be one of the first to jump into the chorus to sing your praises, you are one the goalpost I hold myself and others up to. May fortune bless you with its presence.
One of the things that helps me with mental suffering is hearing others stories, supporting them and understanding each other's difficulties. We are in it together.
There has been such a huge amount of quiet suffering this year, and I hope we can all grow for it. 😊
You hang in there Hamish, there's a whole lot of us here (especially looking at other kind comments) that not only like your videos for their entertainment value, many also have grown to love the character and personality that's always behind them.
Greetings, one of the living (and loving) voices behind those anonymous numbers you sometimes see.
Damn I'm late to this video, but thank you for talking about feeling the pressure to be productive. I'm still in school as I write this, and my weekly counsoler meeting didn't happen cause of a long weekend. That and other personal shit has made me really stressed and down on myself today. I always feel bad in the summer cause I'm not consistently studying, reviewing material, or working on personal projects to add to my portfolio so I can prove I'm good enough for future co-ops like the ones I've already failed to get into, and I don't know if the voice in my head telling me to relax for the summer has my best interests at heart, but knowing that I'm not alone in these thoughts is comforting.
It’s so nice to see someone speak so positively about deadly premonition 2. I had also just come off of playing the first and it was pleasant and eerily quirky in all the right ways. Definitely not a groundbreaking title, but a fun complementary experience to the original.
I really, really appreciate - especially after that year - some games talkin' done with insight, kindness and personal openness. Keep it up lad, you deserve your success. 👍
As someone who’s ingested yours’ and so many other greats in the field’s content over the pst 4-5 years or so, I am finally letting the hankering for what you’ve meticulously detailed in the last half of the video, take hold and am trying to start my own essays, reviews or whatever the hell I conjure up. It’s been a wild and arrestingly apparent year for all things horrid to surface, but channels like yours’ keep me anchored against biting insecurities while I’m away at home alone from my girlfriend or occupied in a game myself. I have been aggregating all the equipment I’ll need and now all that stands before me os writing... and well, finishing Cyberpunk because I’ve sunken in and have to see it thru to the end before I chart onwards lol. Much love, Hamish. Thank you for always contextualizing your metaphysical dread in a way that’s uplifting and valuable, never feeding into the harrowing void that constantly forms around us. It’s great to have such incredible figures in this small “games discourse” sphere to look towards for comfort and I can’t wait to see what more comes our way this year not only in terms of phenomenal game releases, but also video content that hopefully everyone creates at their own pace!! Take as much time as you need and thanks for being exceptional!!
This rules and I'm so glad you're able to start making your own stuff. Your support has meant more than you know, so thanks a lot.
yo Hambo, yourself and your channel and your videos mean so much so many different people. So much ❤️ to you dude, it takes a lot to openly talk about what’s been bunking you and the steps you’ve taken to recover and manage. Hopefully these comments of support are sign of how good your shit is, no matter what some pop-ups say.
Also holy hell the squash you’ve got to put Bad Guys at School up here 😂 it looks so great
You are the best my dude and we should definitely get in a Bad Guys at School lobby at some point ♥️
The first advert in this video was comedically timed to perfection:
"And at number five we have :- Metal Supermarket, the convenience store for metal."
13:33 - Now this was quite surprising because I expected maybe it will be No. 1 considering how much you love this series. And Yes! I was also one of those people who was looking forward to your thoughts on it. After all, it was only because of you that I got into the series and now love it so much. So really wanted to know what was your thoughts on it but then I thought maybe he will dedicate a separate on it and I was right. So now I am definitely looking forward to your video. 👍
Hey man, your vids do have value. You constantly remind me why I love videogames. You represent games as art, instead of products. I love that.
Your videos mean a lot! I've always felt bad about enjoying video games, i thought this hobby was somehow inferior and childish. But hearing you speak so personally about these experiences and how they help you is absolutely inspiring. Much love
Been playing Yakuza 0, my first Yakuza game, and I love it so much I've already bought the rest.
So I watched the second half of this after I found out a good mate had just lost a 10 year battle with brain cancer. It was poignant, honest and as always brilliantly well written. Content like this makes RUclips, not the other way around.
Your videos have value, your Chanel has value, And you have value.
Thanks for in some small way making me feel better even though life can be a bit shit. Keep up the good and important work.
Youre so great Hamish! I’m a huge fan of yours! I have so much respect for you for expressing your feelings for us. I always look foward to your vids. Your voice/writing is so perfect. We’re here for you man! Love you! Stay positive! And here’s to THPS 3 levels as DLC for PS 1+2!
Hey man, you're great and the videos kick ass. Keep on being you
it's a big value to me, look after yourself bro. Never stop doing what you love, I'm along for the ride whatever that is.
When I started working from home full-time a couple years ago I developed a real tendency to get my head stuck in anxiety spirals. We are social animals and not having other people to interact with can really do a number on us. Multiply that by 2020 and yeah, it's quite a lot. The whole planet is going to be being with PTSD over this for a long long time.
Also, can confirm that In/Frame/Out is really good.
Please don't be sorry for putting some personal stuff in your script, especially when it's important to the point you want to make.
Your writing is so great I don't mind those topics at all, it's quite the contrary - talking about it actually gives me hope that things may turn out better for me one day and that I am not alone (a fact I already know, but I constantly need to be reminded of that I guess). I can relate to so many things you say in this video, I actually shed some tears.
I wanted to make my own gaming critique channel for quite a while now, but I am simply scared of failing and screwing it up, wasting time and not moving forward.
This may sound cheesy, but your words really give me hope and motivate me to work on my idea of a concept I wanted to work on for a long time. Just thank you! For this video, for your other videos, for your honesty and that goddamn sweet voice and dialect of yours.
If anything goes well, Ze Nitpick will accompany the wide range of gaming channels sometime in the future...
Love your content, man. Glad you gave a shoutout to the homie thorhighheels. Man's so close to the big 100K mark. Anyway, I love your content as you open my eyes to so many games I'd usually dismiss.
Hope you have a great start to the year Hamish 🤝
Hey man my favourite bit was the last bit.
My video games this year were dominated by perhaps different feelings but similar ideas.
Can't wait for the next vid, take your time or don't either ones good.
I can definitely relate to your feelings near the end. Life's always stressful but thanks for making these great vids! I always look forward to them.
Another year and another amazing list
Ive watched ur videos for a long time and i have great respect for you. I wish you best luck and energy.
I'm not going to pretend I have solutions for you.
Just, remember, you're not alone in all of this,
and you too are worthy of love and kindness.
Hey man, great video! I understand how hard the constant pressure of forward progression can be, and suggest that it might be good for you to take a break and regroup. I truely appreciate the new perspectives that you are able to share on some of my fav games!
Great list! Your feelings towards JRPG’s hurt me a little but that’s okay haha Happy you enjoyed these games
My eyes glazed over a bit when you mentioned ProSkater as your GOTY. But then you explained why. I think, because I feel shit so much of the time, and because I often feel lonely in how shit I feel, I really appreciated that segment of the video. Thank you for making me feel a bit less lonely in how painful my brain can be sometimes.
Have you seen/heard old fans get their hands on it? Maybe you're an old fan and had a go yourself? I'm all secondhand opinions here on this one but it's heartwarming nevertheless how much they ('apparently') got right and what little they screwed up. For a demographic that's had so much of their past chewed up, --monetised-- _whored out_ and generally just trodden into the dirt... a little respect can feel like a truly magical treat.
@@EggBastion I’ve never played it, but I watched a few streamers enjoy the game. The closest it seems to is Rocket League for me. With added nostalgia and history. So I can theoretically understand why the gameplay would be enjoyable.
Edit: btw I’ve put like 16 katrillion hours into RL
thanks for being so open when discussing why you picked your number 1.
you didn't need to. you could have just said "it's my pick cause I like it the most" and been done with it.
you picked the harder option, of being introspective and honest, and then saying it all aloud, to an audience of thousands.
I genuinely couldn't do the same even if I was fortunate enough to be given the platform to do so.
thanks for not holding back. and thanks for having a cool channel to watch cool videos on.
Wasn't expecting that number 1! Same though! It's tied with Doom Eternal, but I love the complete lack of microtransactions and just having challenges and unlockable content, reminded me of playing a video game back in the day
I think your videos are awesome and you're kicking butt! Here's to a great 2021!
Love your videos! Hope new year would be nicer to you
much love dude. Don't apologize for your struggles with mental health. It's not really a thing you can compare to other peoples issues. It's just a given, that people suffer more than you for various reason, or less. This fact should not diminish your problems or hardships. You matter . You make awesome thoughtful, artful, critiques of games full of insight and wit. You have much to be proud of. Sorry if this sounds corny, but I get it.I know Im just a random dude commenting on your wall-o-comments but I have felt similarly about myself in the past and present. This year fucking sucked donkey balls of all sorts of flavors sizes and questionable textures?( life before a pandemic was hard enough already) but you're still here and you're alive and you're in the world doing the best you can. So yeah.. fuck it. Don't give the barrage of automatic negative thoughts that rule most of our day too much importance, they're gonna be there most of the time. Best we can do is observe them, accept that its automatic and just focus on things we love. Alright rant over. Keep at it man. best of luck . Cheers from New York.
Thanks so much for this! Don't have time to respond to many comments at all nowadays but I read most of them, and positive stuff like this can really brighten someone's day in amongst a wall of more critical stuff.
you're awesome
Dear Haimish (I hope that is how you write your name)
I discovered your channel a couple of years back, I think the first video I saw from you was how Dark Souls helped you with depression. I have beeen a loyal follower of yours and plan on keeping it that way because you just have so special of a connection to video games that I honestly think you're one of the best game journalists out there (and believe me I watch A LOT of them). Your takes are always fascinating and eye-opening and I can honestly say I learned a tremendous amount from you. Not just about games but also about perspectives on art and analysing pieces of art. Throughout your videos you became a sort of mentor for me in terms of video game critisism and I will forever be thankful for it.
You are a precious human being, every single one of your videos is an event, an opportunity to learn and reflect on multiple things. YOU ARE AN EXCELLENT CONTENT CREATOR Haimish. I hope you read this and belive every word because your videos are to cherished and appreciated.
Please keep up the good work, take care of yourself and I sincerely wish you a Happy New Year.
Sending lots of love!
Thanks Hamish, your video about tough games inspired me to restart my blog as a form of therapy as well. Ironically, I found myself drawn to less souls-y fare in contrast to my usual taste.
My games of the year, pulled from those that I played for the first time:
1. Disco Elysium
2. Hades
3. A Short Hike
5. Pillars of Eternity
5. Hitman 2
Your little Cyberpunk rant really touched my soul. Would love to hear more of your thoughts on that game.
I made a video on it last month!
@@WritingOnGames oh shit somehow missed it. Gotta check that, thanks for the response.
Dude. U one of my fav youtubers. Easier said than done, but just be u man. U matter.
seconded