When you don't have innovative mechanics, gameplay and graphics, you have to *rely* on characters and storytelling when developing one of these games. While they are indeed video games, I like to think of walking simulators as visual narratives in which you don't have the option to skip to the action, because there is no action. The story IS the game. And that gives developers the ability to explore emotions in ways that RPGs or FPS games don't have the time to. In a walking simulator, you're allowed to slow down, you're allowed to pour all of your focus into your surroundings, into the voices, into the story. You're allowed to fully immerse yourself within these human lives. I love seeing how different experiences, feelings, thoughts and emotions can be expressed through the video game format, and I'm glad walking simulators are being given the respect and attention they deserve. I don't see video games are just entertainment - I see them as a tool through which voices can be heard. And while I do enjoy RPGs and more, I guess, 'loud' games, I always find myself coming back to the slower-paced narratives, the ones that let me get to know their characters. It's really fascinating to me.
EDIT: FOUND IT. A Story About my Uncle. I need help finding a very specific game I can’t remember the title of. The only thing I remember about it is that it’s a variation of Walking Sim, very close aesthetically and tonally to Dear Esther, except that a chunk of the gameplay mechanics revolve around you using these sort of light-energy-whips to propel yourself from platform to platform.
Amazing Video! As a person which usually just played games like Call of Duty and Halo when I was a kid, the moment I was introduced to my first ‘Walking Simulator’ (that being The Stanley Parable), I was completely blown out of the water. I never knew that a game that pretty much boils down to pushing down the ‘W’ key could end up being one of my favourites of all time. And then I played The Beginners Guide. That’s when I realised that this genre can really be something special.
your writing and narration style really reminds me of innuendo studios in the best way. it's uniquely you in its own sen- and i just saw the how to radicalize a normie reference. you probably don't need me to tell you this, but i will anyways. your writing is all the best parts of his plus your own identity.
Thank you for making this video! Sorry I gotta ramble for this. I do wanna account this since I was what you might call an anti-sjw formally. Altho for GG I did hear how the opponents of it were rather not as innocent either considering some takes a bit too far or rather they fumbled it bad even as reasonable it is (just talking esp what I've heard from Anita allegedly or some I can't remember). That then prompted some bad faith reactions. I think it probably started with calling such things pretentious (whether they are or not) or "not for me" in a disrespectful manner, to some overreactions ofc. Then next, right wingers then co-opted this kinda reaction if not mixed together with such the disgruntled gamers from the takeaways they heard. And hey that does include getting women and pocs on their side as well unfortunately (something somehing NotYourShield), despite how paradoxical if you think about it, but who can you really trust at all? Like the worst thing about this bs is how underreported it is in terms of details to the point no one is able to decide what is. Like some things I say, could be rather not as confirmed or are just alleged otherwise. Lastly I did hear how TotalBisuit was initially on its side until disassociating with it becoming what it is, which I can't blame him. I mean what was the goal about "ethics in game journalism" anymore? Also how that situation with how the Night in the Woods creator's death was handled was super disgusting I seen on both sides. Like how that gave a lot of ammo to the anti-sjws is just gnarly enough to he point I fear something like this rolling in my grave. What really happened, we don't know, but to look back on the reaction of such is uhgghhhh. Luckily in this day n age, the anti-wokes we call em nowadays are rather taken less seriously which is lucky enough to see how ridiculous their ideology is anyway. How long until we make human righs sh!t "political" ever? Getting sick n tired of gay or trans people existing being called "woke." Like all they wanna do is game and live like as do straights. Like screw all you grifters, stop going "no politics, no agenda" head up your a$$ while you there pushing your own as well. The left can't meme? SO does the right as well fartface. And you know what's funny? Walking sims out here getting backlash while visual novels out here just standing fine, but ig hrrr drrrr anime, japan good whatever (dunno what the el is with that east vs west shix to that). Like who cares what is game or not, I think some things can still serve a purpose whether with a lack of gameplay or not. It's just niche, it's not for you ofc! Which I think proves something well with Theoretical Rain's I Hate "Video Games" video, def worth checking out. Altho in terms of what I like outta walking sims, Gone Home n Firewatch seems to rather be kinda the stuff I like, considering the freedom you're given to interact around the environment while in a linear structure. I do still enjoy What Remains of Edith Finch tho. Def comes down to the memorable presentation and story of it ofc, despite its very linear approach much akin to Dear Esther, with what I mention felt a bit of an experiment, not as fully fledged I feel, but I still appreciate its qualities to it. I mean with it starting as a HL2 mod does say something with it, which is a backstory I can appreciate esp coming from Source modding. Sorry I really had to let it outta my system with what I had to ramble above, it just reminds me why I'm glad to have changed my stance now that I've grown older and more open of such things. I do wish my past me didn't exist, but it is what it is. Hope for the more better in the present.
Too political, I just wanted to know more about walking sims, stoped and downvoted at soon as i heard “cishead men”. Im mexican btw, but this politics and stupid name calling tires me.
I think you are far too kind to the games journalists. The point of gamergate is that the media was giving unfairly positive reviews to crap games due to personal relationships and political biases. Not one person, anywhere, ever, has ever told any group (except heterosexual white men) that they can't create or enjoy the media they want. Instead what we had was a massive politicization of the entire medium where the types of entertainment the traditional audience wanted was trashed and nothing good put in its place. I don't care what games you create but the undeniable fact is that all the "Sweet Babies" of the world have been going around removing attractive women from games and replacing them with potato-people. That is what GamerGate 2 is about... =|
"Not one person anywhere, ever, has ever told any group (except heterosexual white men) that they can't create or enjoy the media they want" is just factually untrue lmao. People in countries colonised by Britain have historically had their language criminalised. Children weren't allowed to speak Irish, Welsh, [insert non-English language of a colonised country], in schools. LGBT+ artworks and literature were (and still are) targeted by deliberately vague obscenity laws, and by general prejudice. Segregation meant that black Americans were not allowed to perform with white actors, and plays put on by black communities were often raided by police. So many voices historically and now have been pushed down with violence. A video game journalist saying "maybe play a different game, this one is aimed at a different audience" isn't silencing you. 😂 PS your final point is that Gamergate is about putting sexy people "back" into video games? So it's not about ethics in games journalism? Lol?
@@Not2IntoYou Whaaaat? The concept of a "safe space" does not exist in my lexicon, but if you propose that it is something that I can be deprived of for reasons that you don't explain but, apparently makes you quite happy, then what conceivable claim does anyone else have to a "safe space"?
You could have made it a great essay about an art form. Instead you chose to poison it by dragging in random culture war dirt that has nothing to do with it. That's pretty much exactly the attitude that got people in the gamer gate era outraged. No reasonable person ever had a problem with a great work of art that just happens to include certain topics or characters. It's when the artificial squeezing of those - as well as crossing out edgy and potentially offensive parts - becomes the goal of it's own that it starts to damage the actual artistic integrity. When people feel something being forced down their throats, they naturally rebel - as they rightfully should. I understand you're passionate about your beliefs, but I would humbly advise to keep politics and art analysis as separate as possible P.S.: Steel wakes the Deep, btw, turned out to be the straightest game ever😂
When you don't have innovative mechanics, gameplay and graphics, you have to *rely* on characters and storytelling when developing one of these games. While they are indeed video games, I like to think of walking simulators as visual narratives in which you don't have the option to skip to the action, because there is no action. The story IS the game. And that gives developers the ability to explore emotions in ways that RPGs or FPS games don't have the time to. In a walking simulator, you're allowed to slow down, you're allowed to pour all of your focus into your surroundings, into the voices, into the story. You're allowed to fully immerse yourself within these human lives. I love seeing how different experiences, feelings, thoughts and emotions can be expressed through the video game format, and I'm glad walking simulators are being given the respect and attention they deserve. I don't see video games are just entertainment - I see them as a tool through which voices can be heard. And while I do enjoy RPGs and more, I guess, 'loud' games, I always find myself coming back to the slower-paced narratives, the ones that let me get to know their characters. It's really fascinating to me.
I absolutely adore your way of writing. You managed to say so much in 19 minutes.
Just came from your Beginner's Guide video (which I loved, wasn't nearly long enough) and I have to say you have a real talent for video essay.
This is so so good, i love how fluid your writing is, easily one of my favorite videos on the genre
Bro keep doing videos like this and you'll totally make it big
I love your videos man, this video is incredible
Funny, I just rewatched your Beginner's Guide video two days ago
EDIT: FOUND IT. A Story About my Uncle.
I need help finding a very specific game I can’t remember the title of. The only thing I remember about it is that it’s a variation of Walking Sim, very close aesthetically and tonally to Dear Esther, except that a chunk of the gameplay mechanics revolve around you using these sort of light-energy-whips to propel yourself from platform to platform.
videos like these remind me why i subscribed to your channel
Once again an incredible video, your storytelling is fantastic!
I should simulate walking some more... Preferably IRL
Writing a comment because this video deserves more traction
Just started the vid, Beginners guide music is a W
I always wondered why the genre name seemed intentionally belittling
Love the vid, great work
Amazing Video! As a person which usually just played games like Call of Duty and Halo when I was a kid, the moment I was introduced to my first ‘Walking Simulator’ (that being The Stanley Parable), I was completely blown out of the water. I never knew that a game that pretty much boils down to pushing down the ‘W’ key could end up being one of my favourites of all time. And then I played The Beginners Guide. That’s when I realised that this genre can really be something special.
clicked as soon as i saw the notification :D!! very nice video!!
As Ranton once said 'I LOVE WOALKING ZIMULATORRSSSSSS! *crazy editing occurs*'
your writing and narration style really reminds me of innuendo studios in the best way. it's uniquely you in its own sen- and i just saw the how to radicalize a normie reference. you probably don't need me to tell you this, but i will anyways. your writing is all the best parts of his plus your own identity.
hey i just played dear esther after watching this and i'm crying why did you do this to me
@@plutooniumITS A GORGEOUS GAME ISNT IT??!?
@@WhaleMilk it's so beautiful both visually and story-wise. i do not understand why people say it doesn't hold up
Does yume nikki counts as a walking simulator or a psychological/existencial horror?
Can anyone give me timestamps where the talk about walking simulator started and resumed? Because I feel lost.
whats up
Thank you for making this video! Sorry I gotta ramble for this. I do wanna account this since I was what you might call an anti-sjw formally. Altho for GG I did hear how the opponents of it were rather not as innocent either considering some takes a bit too far or rather they fumbled it bad even as reasonable it is (just talking esp what I've heard from Anita allegedly or some I can't remember). That then prompted some bad faith reactions. I think it probably started with calling such things pretentious (whether they are or not) or "not for me" in a disrespectful manner, to some overreactions ofc. Then next, right wingers then co-opted this kinda reaction if not mixed together with such the disgruntled gamers from the takeaways they heard. And hey that does include getting women and pocs on their side as well unfortunately (something somehing NotYourShield), despite how paradoxical if you think about it, but who can you really trust at all? Like the worst thing about this bs is how underreported it is in terms of details to the point no one is able to decide what is. Like some things I say, could be rather not as confirmed or are just alleged otherwise. Lastly I did hear how TotalBisuit was initially on its side until disassociating with it becoming what it is, which I can't blame him. I mean what was the goal about "ethics in game journalism" anymore? Also how that situation with how the Night in the Woods creator's death was handled was super disgusting I seen on both sides. Like how that gave a lot of ammo to the anti-sjws is just gnarly enough to he point I fear something like this rolling in my grave. What really happened, we don't know, but to look back on the reaction of such is uhgghhhh.
Luckily in this day n age, the anti-wokes we call em nowadays are rather taken less seriously which is lucky enough to see how ridiculous their ideology is anyway. How long until we make human righs sh!t "political" ever? Getting sick n tired of gay or trans people existing being called "woke." Like all they wanna do is game and live like as do straights. Like screw all you grifters, stop going "no politics, no agenda" head up your a$$ while you there pushing your own as well. The left can't meme? SO does the right as well fartface.
And you know what's funny? Walking sims out here getting backlash while visual novels out here just standing fine, but ig hrrr drrrr anime, japan good whatever (dunno what the el is with that east vs west shix to that). Like who cares what is game or not, I think some things can still serve a purpose whether with a lack of gameplay or not. It's just niche, it's not for you ofc! Which I think proves something well with Theoretical Rain's I Hate "Video Games" video, def worth checking out. Altho in terms of what I like outta walking sims, Gone Home n Firewatch seems to rather be kinda the stuff I like, considering the freedom you're given to interact around the environment while in a linear structure. I do still enjoy What Remains of Edith Finch tho. Def comes down to the memorable presentation and story of it ofc, despite its very linear approach much akin to Dear Esther, with what I mention felt a bit of an experiment, not as fully fledged I feel, but I still appreciate its qualities to it. I mean with it starting as a HL2 mod does say something with it, which is a backstory I can appreciate esp coming from Source modding.
Sorry I really had to let it outta my system with what I had to ramble above, it just reminds me why I'm glad to have changed my stance now that I've grown older and more open of such things. I do wish my past me didn't exist, but it is what it is. Hope for the more better in the present.
Too political, I just wanted to know more about walking sims, stoped and downvoted at soon as i heard “cishead men”. Im mexican btw, but this politics and stupid name calling tires me.
I think you are far too kind to the games journalists. The point of gamergate is that the media was giving unfairly positive reviews to crap games due to personal relationships and political biases. Not one person, anywhere, ever, has ever told any group (except heterosexual white men) that they can't create or enjoy the media they want. Instead what we had was a massive politicization of the entire medium where the types of entertainment the traditional audience wanted was trashed and nothing good put in its place. I don't care what games you create but the undeniable fact is that all the "Sweet Babies" of the world have been going around removing attractive women from games and replacing them with potato-people. That is what GamerGate 2 is about... =|
"Not one person anywhere, ever, has ever told any group (except heterosexual white men) that they can't create or enjoy the media they want" is just factually untrue lmao. People in countries colonised by Britain have historically had their language criminalised. Children weren't allowed to speak Irish, Welsh, [insert non-English language of a colonised country], in schools. LGBT+ artworks and literature were (and still are) targeted by deliberately vague obscenity laws, and by general prejudice. Segregation meant that black Americans were not allowed to perform with white actors, and plays put on by black communities were often raided by police. So many voices historically and now have been pushed down with violence. A video game journalist saying "maybe play a different game, this one is aimed at a different audience" isn't silencing you. 😂
PS your final point is that Gamergate is about putting sexy people "back" into video games? So it's not about ethics in games journalism? Lol?
I’m glad your safe space is being taken from you and you’re never getting it back LOL
@@Not2IntoYou Whaaaat? The concept of a "safe space" does not exist in my lexicon, but if you propose that it is something that I can be deprived of for reasons that you don't explain but, apparently makes you quite happy, then what conceivable claim does anyone else have to a "safe space"?
You could have made it a great essay about an art form. Instead you chose to poison it by dragging in random culture war dirt that has nothing to do with it. That's pretty much exactly the attitude that got people in the gamer gate era outraged. No reasonable person ever had a problem with a great work of art that just happens to include certain topics or characters. It's when the artificial squeezing of those - as well as crossing out edgy and potentially offensive parts - becomes the goal of it's own that it starts to damage the actual artistic integrity. When people feel something being forced down their throats, they naturally rebel - as they rightfully should.
I understand you're passionate about your beliefs, but I would humbly advise to keep politics and art analysis as separate as possible
P.S.: Steel wakes the Deep, btw, turned out to be the straightest game ever😂
Too political wtf 💀 ts is sad bro you still are insecure like this
GamerGate happened when I was 12. I have zero emotional connection to it
first! :D