Phil Fish made the mistake of letting people know what truly hurt him. Once somebody knows your weakness, it's simply a matter of exploiting it. That being said, Fish definitely could have handled things better, but I can't help but sympathize with him. When somebody personally attacks you, or even worse for an artist: your work, all you want to do is throw insults around until you cut just as deep, or even deeper than they did to you. It's simply human nature. Events like this are what makes it evident that containing one's self is infinitely important. It's unfortunate that Fish was pushed past his limit to the point where he would leave the game industry.
Great analysis. I really enjoyed FEZ. I didn't follow Fish on twitter or anywhere so I was unaware of his temper or who he was as a person. Finding out he quit game development because of interactions he had with people online is sad and upsetting. I'm putting myself in his shoes because I am a creative person who is opinionated but also quite introverted. I've got red hair to go with my Irish ancestry and there is a temper that goes with that as well, so I can really easily see how the same situation could happen to me and that worries me. Stories like this make me nervous to put my work out into the world. I've got a somewhat thick skin but no one is immune to constant negative attention to their artwork. No matter who you are as an artist, you care when someone criticizes it. It's like someone calling your child ugly or stupid. It's just closer to home than, say, commenting on your wardrobe or weight. This is the new world we creatives have to deal with. We interact with the consumers of our art in a way that previous generations never had to deal with. I think, "How would Van Gogh or Pollack have handled Twitter arguments? Not well, I suspect. Nick Drake committed suicide because he couldn't feel the connection his music had with fans but would he have been better off with a constant stream of fan response via Tumblr or facebook? I doubt that as well. I hope that fans begin to ease their expectations of creators as the internet ages and creators find ways of having some distance or filters so they don't end up getting too hurt by fans responses to their work. Artists and their work is pretty closely connected. If you like the work, it comes from the person who made it, good and bad, and that has to be accepted. At the very least, I intend to take away lessons from the entire situation of Fish, Fez and his fans and implement what I've learned if-and-when I become successful in my chosen field.
Enjoy! It's a great game! Also, to add to what i said earlier; James Cameron is known to be difficult to work with. He's got a big ego and he's critical of those working with him and he pushes people really hard but that is not going to change my enjoyment of Terminator or Aliens or Avatar. Similarly, no one has very nice things to say about Steve Jobs when it comes to his personality yet he was extremely well thought of as a corporate leader. The difference for Phil Fish is he came of age in a time when a creator's personality is made front-and-center on Twitter.
I quit game development in the early 90's for similar reasons. I had a very methodical approach to building games, where you start with foundations and experiment - to get a decent game engine built - and then you get into details. I was being asked to do things related to marketing hype before the games even existed, and frankly being worked to death for very little money, so I bailed and never looked back. But I'm very excited now, because we have so much better tools, and I don't have to worry about building the foundations. I can jump in and start working on design, and in fact I've learned an immense amount in the past year to help in that area. If I was to work with anyone collaboratively, maybe it would be Phil Fish, because I also love retro styling combined with the power of modern computers, but from past experience I know better than to deal with personalities or take reviews seriously on the internet. Once a project is good enough for me, I'll jump straight into the next thing. I've been using Unity3D and Blender3D to learn the skills I will need for my upcoming new job as "creative coder" for UW DXARTS. I decided to start out with a faithful "Defender" clone, because it's very well-defined and a long-time favorite. It's been an amazing experience to realize how quickly things can be put together today. It's far beyond where it was even 8 years ago when we were contemplating a space action/adventure and playing with my custom OpenGL game engine. I've been able to build a fully functional game with a professional presentation in a very short time. Making a static retro-style model in Blender and texturing it is only a few hours of work. I spent two hours with "SunVox" today making game music and came up with a great sounding 2 minute composition for the title screen. This weekend is Global Game Jam 2014, and although I'm not taking part formally I'm very much inspired by the idea that so many people are jamming for the next several hours to make new and interesting things with novel dynamics. While waiting for this new job to materialize I submitted an application to Valve Software, in fact, because it sounds like a place where I could pull together a team and make some cool things. But it seems totally random whether they'll want to hire me. I espoused my enjoyment of retro games, and the notion of continuing in that vein, but of course pushing that general idea beyond its original limitations. I cited Fez and FRACT as current inspirations. Of course I'm up against people who have already published things on Steam, so I don't really hold out high hopes. But hey, I'm in Seattle, so why not?
Scott Lahteine Very interesting what you have to say Scott, gives me hope for my own game-based endeavors in the future, coming out of high school and trying to smuggle myself into the industry in some way shape or form! If you don't mind my asking, what games did you work on in the 90s? :) Can only imagine how different it was like developing games back then compared to now.
Sonicisunleashed2008 I did much of the coding, design, sound, and graphics on "Dino Wars" for the Amiga. I wrote the Amiga port of "Bill 'n' Ted's Excellent Adventure." And I wrote music for a few Odyssey Software titles, such as Byteman, Deathbots, and Space War. facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10200796060436946.1073741826.1026195398&type=1&l=2fa5519be6
a lot of people believe that game producers, actors, politicians or anyone that has a very respectable or important job should behave like perfect beings. A game producer is a artist, and when you take a look to a art piece, you taste, analyze and judge the artwork itself, not the artist! if you like a painting that is made by hitler that does not mean you are a bad person. You like what it make not who make it.
it does not matter. when you are appreciating or enjoying a piece of art is because of the product itself, not the artist who made it. If you devalue the work of someone just because you don't like person who make it is prove your lack of good judgement. The person who invented the commercial plane, could be a hateful individual, a rapist nazi, lover of slavery and war with no common sense whatsoever . He might be the most horrible human being you have ever seen. but his invention is something you enjoy, something you respect, something that can be even helpful to you, and for that you are going to pay for that product. Is not because of your lack of values, is because you don't care who made the product, you care for the product itself.
But then you'd end up supporting a douchebag! That's the opposite of what I want to do with my cash. XD I won't lie. The game is _amazing_. I still don't want to support a jerk. It feels really wrong...
Wow. This is one of those very very few game reviews that I would show to my old English teacher when we were debating whether video games were art or not.
This is one of the BEST analysis' of FEZ I have ever seen. The only thing that you missed(which is easy to miss) is that the Map actually tells you what you are missing with little icons next to each area. Other than that this video was pretty accurate about both Fez and Phil/how people feel.
I could never post a comment on you channel and I love that. You explained every little aspect of a game and never cross the line when you place your own opinions. I can't ever think of a comment for your amazing videos aside from "Great video as usual". And so I say keep up the great work......
I've been meaning to comment for a long time. Here's my two cents: There's little reason to ever criticize your work. Ya' never cease to amaze, Satch. Always finding an endless array of things to talk about, a bottomless void of insight to shovel out, and a never-ending galaxy of flaws in your videos, flaws so tiny, so small, that many of us may not have ever even known you spotted and perfected them, ALL of them, to a perfectly perfect crisp. CRAZINESS. CONCISE. You and your conciseness.
Realized my last comment seemed kinda negative, so i wanted to say, this is a really well spoken and mature analysis of Fez and video games as an artform in general. The world would be a much better place if we had more 'games journalists'/reviewers like yourself sir.
You deserve more subscribers, views, and likes. You bring up some of the most intelligent points I have seen as a game reviewer. And you're often humorous making your videos that much more enjoyable. Keep up the good work.
You asked, I answered. Stop being so entitled. It's not about lives, and you expect me to know what you mean with 'games like mario' ? Mario has been in literally more games than any other character, I don't know what game you are talking about.
Following one of the recent favorites of JonTron, I have discovered that this is perhaps the most professionally-presented and well-realized analyses of interactive media I have ever encountered. At a time in my life where I was losing hope that perhaps the appreciation and creative deconstruction of media was becoming lost in a slur of popularized mediocrity, I would simply like to thank you, Satchel (like the bag), for showing me that there are still people who are equally as passionate about the quality and representation of media. You have earned yourself another subscriber, and I hope I will have the pleasure of seeing what you produce next.
I cannot stress enough how great your videos are. It's so great to watch someone analyze a game for more than just a game, but also for it's deeper meaning and specific aspects. It's so fun to watch your videos, I can't wait for the next one :D
This is probably one of the best channels on TH-cam. I really don't know how to put it into words, but I'll at least try. You describe certain phenomena and viewpoints related to gaming with such clarity that it's unprecedented. You convey information via the central route with which the cognitive processing of information is essential. You rarely use periferal ways of communicating like over the top flashy edits. You respect your audience. And therefore, you deserve alot of respect
It makes me sad to see that people exploited his weakness when he unvieled it on twitter, I mean, yeah maybe he shouldn't have been they way he was and said the things he did But now, to all the people who said shit about him and horrible things to him on the internet, its your fault there will be no Fez II, and Fez is one of the best games I've played in a very long time, a game with proper feeling and shit
Nice video! I absolutely love Fez and it's great to see somebody else describe those same passions and still calling attention to the problems associated with it and it's creator. Thank you
I think we all can agree that an artist gives life to his artwork. And the life that artwork lives (how we perceive it, enjoy it, experience it, the impact it makes) is in some way separate and detached from the artist.
C'mon people...If you are going to punish Fish for being rude... ..what are you doing buying all the technology from big brands? I'm sure all these bussiness man are laughing watching us being manipulated by them, paying for overpriced junk, isn't it deserves hate and dissaproval too?
You have to remember that there are two parts to every artist, including Phil Fish. There is Phil Fish, a man with a bad temper, and then there is an artist, the one who creates. The artist and Phil Fish are two different people and cannot be compared. What people are doing is comparing Fish, the non artist, to what his artist side has created. It is un fair to Fish to compare him to his art. I don't agree/think Fish's behavior is acceptable, but I know that he is different than the artist that created FEZ. So we know Phil Fish, but do we know the artist? Not exactly, but we can infer aspects about the artist through his art. FEZ is an amazing game that had to come from the mind of a brilliant artist. When you compare what we know about the artist to his art, FEZ, then there is nothing we can really complain about. When you begin to compare the art to the non artist, Fish, is when we get into debates like we currently have. Despite what Fish is truly like or how he behaves, his artist created something beautiful. You can hate Phil Fish, but just know that he didn't create FEZ, his artist side did. Think of it like a Jeckel and Hyde scenario. They are one in the same, but only one is an "artist". Steven Pressfield's "War of Art" goes into more depth about this concept.
The whole story of FEZ is so tragic. But, then again this is kind of what the game industry has devolved to - a bunch of egotists and assholes jockeying for control. The thing about Phil Fish is, neither he nor the public is at fault. Everyone behaved badly and there is no innocent party.
Thank you so much for the hard work and critical thinking that went into the review Satchbags. It's always refreshing to watch videos that take videogames a bit more seriously, with deep research and legitimate reflections on the elements that surround them, I believe they elevate them as a means of creativity and expression.
I love you!! More videos pls!! I know these isnt a huge audience for this kind of thought filled, artsy stuff but there are definitely people who will love it!!
A good artist doesn't have to be a good person, this never was the case. FEZ is an auteur video game, it oozes of the developer's passions, fears, past and aspirations. What's on display is a side to persona that most people ignored, because, and let's be honest, it was fashionable hating him.
+MNanme1z4xs Because most or all of us, under the microscope, act as such. Fez was in development for 5 years, meaning Phil Fish was either 22 or 23 at the time. It was released when he was 27 or 28. That's very young, and classically an age when people are only just learning how to handle themselves personally and publicly. Leo Tolstoy once wrote of his youth until the age of 30 that he was a "scoundrel and fool", and took detailed account of his failings. Being young and under pressure, being the subject of sudden and immense scrutiny, and having HUGE success and a BRIGHT future (as long as you don't, for example, react poorly to constant and mostly negative scrutiny despite the very common human fear of being hated) has killed people and/or their careers for forever. Maybe if we had a better sense of humor about the whole thing (and a lot more empathy) we wouldn't lose all that talent.
TH-cam Loves to Fuck with You lol ok we get it. Not like me announcing it hurt anyone anyway. Besides what if there were non Jontron fans watching too? Maybe they would be inclined to check his channel out after seeing my comment.
Because JonTron deserves views simply because some RPer told everyone and their mother on someone else's video, not because he actually MAKES content. That would be silly. Also, +1ing your own comment. lol.
Man, Satch, i just love the way your videos are made; from the editing, to the way you convey your thoughts. Plus, i really like that you bring up good topics to discuss about. Great job on the video! c:
I saw your channel on Normalboots, and I was going to see your series, as it seemed interesting. I don't regret it. Production values in this are out of whack, and the analysis you made is deep and thoughts provoking. Amazing video!
Didn't knew you before this video, and man, it's refreshing to see a well thought-out review on TH-cam. I'm hoping this Anti-Semantics show is long-lived, I can't wait to see the next game you'll be tackling. Keep up the good work!
You put out some of the best video game videos. Thought provoking ,intelligent and progressing the medium from toy to art. Thank you so much for the content
I think we elevate these creators because when we as people put our faith in their work, and have little to no connection to the creators, the only thing we have left is an emotional connection to their work. So we forge that emotional connection based on the joy we received from their work. Therefore those creators become as flawless in our eyes as our love for their work.
Fez is all about the exploration, the secrets and the adventure. I can just open up Fez, look at it, and feel great. In fact, I'm gonna do just that right now. It's been a while
This was an absolutely fantastic video! This is what I want critical analysis of video games to be, and how I would like the general public to think about video games as a medium and art form. Ten minutes ago I would recommend Fez to a friend because of the visuals, the music and the ambience that it presents to the player, the feeling of interacting with something beautiful and emotional. Now I would recommend it to a friend to play it, enjoy those aspects, and watch this video afterwards.
the problem here is isn't if a artists personality effects how well others enjoy there art. (although that does to a lesser amount have something to do with it) as much as it has to do with how that artist handles any and all criticisms of said art. the thing with people who make art/games/movies/etc is that some of them feel like "hey i poured my heart and soul into this so you HAVE to love it" and when anyone thinks differently they "grab there toy and go home" this is pretty much what happened to Phil. he seen negative criticism about what he felt was his life's work. and reacted not just negatively or poorly but outright 2 year old temper tantrum like. which only led to more negativity. clearly he is a person who has never had to deal with negative feedback before and he didn't know how to handle it. it's sort of like how celebrities are getting pissed off because they have no privacy and them and there family's every waking moment is being recorded for the entertainment of there fans. there famous people crying about being famous. this type of attitude is hard to sympathies with. but people try non the less.
Satchbags, thank you for your videos, your work is original and fascinating, you create a seamless blending between game and theory. It is so refreshing to see a youtuber take a new approach at game reviews; god knows we had too many AVGN copy-cats already. You are most certainly underrated, nevertheless, with content like this I´m sure you will rise to the top. Best wishes mate!
Every time I watch one of your videos Satch I get both happy and sad. With production values and writing like yours you should have a million + subscribers. I hope you keep doing your videos for a long time - because this is true game journalism. I expect to see you working for Revision3 any day now.
Fantastic video! You are awesome, and your videos are clearly filled with passion. To answer your questions, A. I believe an artist's personality an character flows into his work, purposely or not. B. When we look up to someone and/or are inspired by them, we tend to think they are above average, almost flawless. Seeing their flaws disappoints us, as we wanted them to be something they weren't. Anyways keep up the good work!
That ending question... while I've always asked it myself, hearing you say it in those words in a neat little package was just... perfect. I always thought it was ridiculous, but I never asked why people did it in the first place. Satch packed a good lunch; food for thought.
like really! hes so in depth and makes all convincing and true arguements if that makes sense. just puts so much work it looks like into it. Very professional. keep up the good work satchell!
Excellent video. Glad to see more content from people who don't feel like criticizing Phil Fish for leaving gaming due to the Internet treating him like garbage
I think anyone doing creative work - and I don't mean just artwork - has a personal connection with that creation. Thats what spurs the desire for others to respond positively to that piece of work. The irony here is that the character of Phil Fish was created by another artist for the purpose of his documentary. And in doing so started a ripple that effected that personally effected Fish. Something Phil and others desire with their art too.
I just started watching your videos, going through some of your older videos while I'm at it. I know this one is over 4 years old, but I feel the need to comment anyways. Your voice and confidence are very strong and I like how you present your videos by moving from topic to topic. That being said, there is something you say in this particular video that really bothers me. "It's pretty common for games to give you a set number of lives... A loss of these lives yields a game over that will most likely push [the player] back a few milestones as punishment for your mistake." I see people make these kinds of comments all the time when they struggle to say something meaningful about a game or highlight what makes it unique. They make these big stretches and leaps in logic like this one. Right of the bat, it must be understood that *Fez is not an action game.* There aren't many gameplay challenges around timing and reflex-based skills. I wouldn't even really call Fez a platformer. There's not much to moving around the environment in terms of jumping most of the time. Engagement with gravity, the core dynamic of platforming, is undermined by the way Gomez "dies" or teleports back up to where he fell when he hits terminal velocity instead of falling off the map. Fez is much more about navigating and exploring the environment, decrypting clues, deciphering riddles, and solving puzzles. In other words, *Fez is an adventure game.* Just because the player moves and jumps around a 2D environment in a 8-bit art style doesn't mean there is any room for comparison with action games like Super Mario Bros. and Mega Man, let alone arcade games that share almost nothing with Fez. Limited lives, set-backs, and game over screens, these are common things in action games, not adventure games. There is no set back to "dying" in Fez because those parts of the game are clearly not the most meaningful or core aspects. There is nothing to be gained from replaying the same action-less sections again (hence the issue with backtracking in this game). So saying Fez is "one of the first popular games to ditch this necessity [dying]" is just... no. This is very standard adventure/puzzle game stuff. These games have been doing it this way for much longer than Fez. It's kind of a fallacious trap: claiming Fez is different and supporting that by giving examples of games that are not like it at all. Obviously Fez is different from these kinds of games, but that's not saying much about how unique Fez may or may not be since there are much better comparisons to be made.
Satch you're so well spoken and intelligent, something I'm glad to see in the video game reviewing community, like seriously there's too much "bleh bleh el game is good even tho i played an hour of it 10/10 it was ok xD" to not be able to appreciate something like this dang dude, keep up the good work! I've been here since the beginning and just woot I'm glad I stayed
I believe ins some forms abstract art, a feeling that the person is trying to convey comes through and creates something on its own, but with other more thought out works, its less about who drew it and more about what who drew it wanted it to be and feel.
I would feel bad, however, he handled things extremely poorly. For one, if you make a product for a large market you WILL get always get asshats who insult you. Welcome to the internet. Secondly, don't feed trolls or let yourself get an ego. If he can't manage to do that, he simply can't deal with such a profession.
the issue is that fish is very clearly mentally ill. i understand that it doesn't change the way he rudely responded to criticism, but being the subject of so much vitriol is something that would be difficult for a healthy person to handle, much less someone in fish's mental state. people very nearly bullied that man into suicide.
This was a very nice video, and I want to thank you for making it. It gives us a different perspective on the whole issue at hand, and you make some very good points. Please continue making more videos like this in the future.
Wow… *__* I just want to keep listening to the beautiful and intelligent words coming out of your mouth. Dude, the fact that you're doing this kind of stuff is so awesome.
Liked, subscribed, added to favorites. This was masterfully done, my friend. And that's putting it lightly. Now I find myself questioning 2 things: Questioning the beliefs I once held as true and questioning why the hell I haven't been watching your videos sooner.
I have a theory; we use stories, regardless of the medium used to transmit the story, in order to essentially deliver information, warnings or lessons to individuals. Stories have the advantage to emotionally effect the listener making it more important and easier to retain the information rather than telling the listener straight up. Whenever we come across a great story that affects us deeply we immediately assume the story teller has alot of wisdom and knowledge, how else could they know thier subject manner so well and deeply and know how to transmit it so effectively. Therefore we expect them to behave as such.
This was a magnificent review that captures what I fear is the biggest issue surrounding media and an expectation relativism of perfection which is ignominiously laced throughout our narrative. I strongly believe in Death of the Author theory, and apply it not just to books but to all other forms of media where it is applicable, and for me, this includes almost every game and movie I watch (with respects, of course, to original sources of influence, adaptation or if I feel it goes against some of my other inherent beliefs, in which I will argue against but not necessarily chastise). I think you do that rhetorical anticipation technique a bit too much, as a bit of criticism for you to take into consideration when what follows seems sometimes a given by the information previously given, but I do understand it is used commonly regarding online reviews to adhere to a wider demographic. You have a nice voice, also. I look forward to seeing and hearing more from you!
Feels good to have subscribed awhile ago. Its clear you put a great deal of effort into the composition of your videos, and I hope to see that effort rewarded with more subs and more content! Best of luck. I'll keep watching.
4:33 Wario Land (2-3) was popular and in my eyes did the no death thing more elegantly. I'm really torn about how Fez does it, similarly to how I'm torn about how Little Inferno discusses throwaway games while being one. I've yet to play Fez though so I've got nothing more than a stump here, just thinking aloud.
There have been some big titles in the past that are noteworthy for ditching the lives system: Abe's Oddysee (1997), Donkey Kong 64 (1998) and Jak and Daxter (2001). Glad more developers are dropping this tradition.
We tend to elevate those we admire to an astonishing height, much like a celebrity, because of our want to have something to strive for. We all have heroes we push forth to set up a goalpost for what we want to be and do, as impossible as it is. This is why the phrase "Never meet your hero" exists, because expectations always seem to be higher then the person. When people admired Phil Fish, they found an angry man instead of their expectation, and the rest played out as we know it.
Phil Fish made the mistake of letting people know what truly hurt him. Once somebody knows your weakness, it's simply a matter of exploiting it.
That being said, Fish definitely could have handled things better, but I can't help but sympathize with him. When somebody personally attacks you, or even worse for an artist: your work, all you want to do is throw insults around until you cut just as deep, or even deeper than they did to you. It's simply human nature.
Events like this are what makes it evident that containing one's self is infinitely important. It's unfortunate that Fish was pushed past his limit to the point where he would leave the game industry.
Its really sad...
Great analysis.
I really enjoyed FEZ. I didn't follow Fish on twitter or anywhere so I was unaware of his temper or who he was as a person. Finding out he quit game development because of interactions he had with people online is sad and upsetting.
I'm putting myself in his shoes because I am a creative person who is opinionated but also quite introverted. I've got red hair to go with my Irish ancestry and there is a temper that goes with that as well, so I can really easily see how the same situation could happen to me and that worries me.
Stories like this make me nervous to put my work out into the world. I've got a somewhat thick skin but no one is immune to constant negative attention to their artwork. No matter who you are as an artist, you care when someone criticizes it. It's like someone calling your child ugly or stupid. It's just closer to home than, say, commenting on your wardrobe or weight.
This is the new world we creatives have to deal with. We interact with the consumers of our art in a way that previous generations never had to deal with. I think, "How would Van Gogh or Pollack have handled Twitter arguments? Not well, I suspect. Nick Drake committed suicide because he couldn't feel the connection his music had with fans but would he have been better off with a constant stream of fan response via Tumblr or facebook? I doubt that as well.
I hope that fans begin to ease their expectations of creators as the internet ages and creators find ways of having some distance or filters so they don't end up getting too hurt by fans responses to their work. Artists and their work is pretty closely connected. If you like the work, it comes from the person who made it, good and bad, and that has to be accepted.
At the very least, I intend to take away lessons from the entire situation of Fish, Fez and his fans and implement what I've learned if-and-when I become successful in my chosen field.
Just started it, no spoilers!
Enjoy! It's a great game!
Also, to add to what i said earlier; James Cameron is known to be difficult to work with. He's got a big ego and he's critical of those working with him and he pushes people really hard but that is not going to change my enjoyment of Terminator or Aliens or Avatar.
Similarly, no one has very nice things to say about Steve Jobs when it comes to his personality yet he was extremely well thought of as a corporate leader.
The difference for Phil Fish is he came of age in a time when a creator's personality is made front-and-center on Twitter.
I quit game development in the early 90's for similar reasons. I had a very methodical approach to building games, where you start with foundations and experiment - to get a decent game engine built - and then you get into details. I was being asked to do things related to marketing hype before the games even existed, and frankly being worked to death for very little money, so I bailed and never looked back. But I'm very excited now, because we have so much better tools, and I don't have to worry about building the foundations. I can jump in and start working on design, and in fact I've learned an immense amount in the past year to help in that area.
If I was to work with anyone collaboratively, maybe it would be Phil Fish, because I also love retro styling combined with the power of modern computers, but from past experience I know better than to deal with personalities or take reviews seriously on the internet. Once a project is good enough for me, I'll jump straight into the next thing.
I've been using Unity3D and Blender3D to learn the skills I will need for my upcoming new job as "creative coder" for UW DXARTS. I decided to start out with a faithful "Defender" clone, because it's very well-defined and a long-time favorite. It's been an amazing experience to realize how quickly things can be put together today. It's far beyond where it was even 8 years ago when we were contemplating a space action/adventure and playing with my custom OpenGL game engine. I've been able to build a fully functional game with a professional presentation in a very short time. Making a static retro-style model in Blender and texturing it is only a few hours of work. I spent two hours with "SunVox" today making game music and came up with a great sounding 2 minute composition for the title screen.
This weekend is Global Game Jam 2014, and although I'm not taking part formally I'm very much inspired by the idea that so many people are jamming for the next several hours to make new and interesting things with novel dynamics. While waiting for this new job to materialize I submitted an application to Valve Software, in fact, because it sounds like a place where I could pull together a team and make some cool things. But it seems totally random whether they'll want to hire me. I espoused my enjoyment of retro games, and the notion of continuing in that vein, but of course pushing that general idea beyond its original limitations. I cited Fez and FRACT as current inspirations. Of course I'm up against people who have already published things on Steam, so I don't really hold out high hopes. But hey, I'm in Seattle, so why not?
Scott Lahteine Very interesting what you have to say Scott, gives me hope for my own game-based endeavors in the future, coming out of high school and trying to smuggle myself into the industry in some way shape or form! If you don't mind my asking, what games did you work on in the 90s? :) Can only imagine how different it was like developing games back then compared to now.
Sonicisunleashed2008 I did much of the coding, design, sound, and graphics on "Dino Wars" for the Amiga. I wrote the Amiga port of "Bill 'n' Ted's Excellent Adventure." And I wrote music for a few Odyssey Software titles, such as Byteman, Deathbots, and Space War. facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10200796060436946.1073741826.1026195398&type=1&l=2fa5519be6
a lot of people believe that game producers, actors, politicians or anyone that has a very respectable or important job should behave like perfect beings.
A game producer is a artist, and when you take a look to a art piece, you taste, analyze and judge the artwork itself, not the artist!
if you like a painting that is made by hitler that does not mean you are a bad person.
You like what it make not who make it.
it does not matter.
when you are appreciating or enjoying a piece of art is because of the product itself, not the artist who made it.
If you devalue the work of someone just because you don't like person who make it is prove your lack of good judgement.
The person who invented the commercial plane, could be a hateful individual, a rapist nazi, lover of slavery and war with no common sense whatsoever .
He might be the most horrible human being you have ever seen.
but his invention is something you enjoy, something you respect, something that can be even helpful to you, and for that you are going to pay for that product.
Is not because of your lack of values, is because you don't care who made the product, you care for the product itself.
But then you'd end up supporting a douchebag! That's the opposite of what I want to do with my cash. XD I won't lie. The game is _amazing_. I still don't want to support a jerk. It feels really wrong...
Wow. This is one of those very very few game reviews that I would show to my old English teacher when we were debating whether video games were art or not.
Check. Out. ExtraCredits.
: D
Really man, You'll love it.
This is one of the BEST analysis' of FEZ I have ever seen. The only thing that you missed(which is easy to miss) is that the Map actually tells you what you are missing with little icons next to each area. Other than that this video was pretty accurate about both Fez and Phil/how people feel.
I could never post a comment on you channel and I love that. You explained every little aspect of a game and never cross the line when you place your own opinions. I can't ever think of a comment for your amazing videos aside from "Great video as usual". And so I say keep up the great work......
I've been meaning to comment for a long time.
Here's my two cents: There's little reason to ever criticize your work. Ya' never cease to amaze, Satch. Always finding an endless array of things to talk about, a bottomless void of insight to shovel out, and a never-ending galaxy of flaws in your videos, flaws so tiny, so small, that many of us may not have ever even known you spotted and perfected them, ALL of them, to a perfectly perfect crisp.
CRAZINESS. CONCISE. You and your conciseness.
Realized my last comment seemed kinda negative, so i wanted to say, this is a really well spoken and mature analysis of Fez and video games as an artform in general. The world would be a much better place if we had more 'games journalists'/reviewers like yourself sir.
your words are so incredible. loving this channel.
You deserve more subscribers, views, and likes. You bring up some of the most intelligent points I have seen as a game reviewer. And you're often humorous making your videos that much more enjoyable. Keep up the good work.
Scawking Like "lives are obsolete and only there to want your quarters'"
You asked, I answered. Stop being so entitled.
It's not about lives, and you expect me to know what you mean with 'games like mario' ? Mario has been in literally more games than any other character, I don't know what game you are talking about.
this guy conveys his ideas in such an amazing way! honest, realistic, fair, very eloquent and non-dogmatic!!!! very refreshing indeed! love it!
Following one of the recent favorites of JonTron, I have discovered that this is perhaps the most professionally-presented and well-realized analyses of interactive media I have ever encountered. At a time in my life where I was losing hope that perhaps the appreciation and creative deconstruction of media was becoming lost in a slur of popularized mediocrity, I would simply like to thank you, Satchel (like the bag), for showing me that there are still people who are equally as passionate about the quality and representation of media. You have earned yourself another subscriber, and I hope I will have the pleasure of seeing what you produce next.
I cannot stress enough how great your videos are. It's so great to watch someone analyze a game for more than just a game, but also for it's deeper meaning and specific aspects. It's so fun to watch your videos, I can't wait for the next one :D
this is a really good in depth look at what makes Fez so great. so much love for this game
I honestly miss this your content in my opinion was ahead of its time.
This is probably one of the best channels on TH-cam. I really don't know how to put it into words, but I'll at least try. You describe certain phenomena and viewpoints related to gaming with such clarity that it's unprecedented. You convey information via the central route with which the cognitive processing of information is essential. You rarely use periferal ways of communicating like over the top flashy edits. You respect your audience. And therefore, you deserve alot of respect
Very insightful, thought out, and well presented video. I can tell you out a lot of thought and effort into this. Thanks for making it, I enjoyed it.
This black man makes me ponder philosophical ordeals whilst stroking my chin whiskers.
I think it's the glasses, I like this guy.
What does him being black have to do with anything?
I'm black, he's black, it's a thing.
Kayshot
I'm black too. And race doesn't control my mine.
It makes me sad to see that people exploited his weakness when he unvieled it on twitter, I mean, yeah maybe he shouldn't have been they way he was and said the things he did
But now, to all the people who said shit about him and horrible things to him on the internet, its your fault there will be no Fez II, and Fez is one of the best games I've played in a very long time, a game with proper feeling and shit
Nice video! I absolutely love Fez and it's great to see somebody else describe those same passions and still calling attention to the problems associated with it and it's creator. Thank you
I find your style of review refreshing. It's concise and clean. A nice break from the jump cut style that almost every youtuber uses.
You have earned my sub. One of the best, and most educated, as the Reddit link suggested, commentaries on youtube. You deserve so many more viewers!
God dammit Satchbag, your intro is too good.
I think we all can agree that an artist gives life to his artwork. And the life that artwork lives (how we perceive it, enjoy it, experience it, the impact it makes) is in some way separate and detached from the artist.
C'mon people...If you are going to punish Fish for being rude... ..what are you doing buying all the technology from big brands? I'm sure all these bussiness man are laughing watching us being manipulated by them, paying for overpriced junk, isn't it deserves hate and dissaproval too?
You have to remember that there are two parts to every artist, including Phil Fish.
There is Phil Fish, a man with a bad temper, and then there is an artist, the one who creates. The artist and Phil Fish are two different people and cannot be compared. What people are doing is comparing Fish, the non artist, to what his artist side has created.
It is un fair to Fish to compare him to his art. I don't agree/think Fish's behavior is acceptable, but I know that he is different than the artist that created FEZ.
So we know Phil Fish, but do we know the artist? Not exactly, but we can infer aspects about the artist through his art. FEZ is an amazing game that had to come from the mind of a brilliant artist. When you compare what we know about the artist to his art, FEZ, then there is nothing we can really complain about. When you begin to compare the art to the non artist, Fish, is when we get into debates like we currently have.
Despite what Fish is truly like or how he behaves, his artist created something beautiful. You can hate Phil Fish, but just know that he didn't create FEZ, his artist side did.
Think of it like a Jeckel and Hyde scenario. They are one in the same, but only one is an "artist".
Steven Pressfield's "War of Art" goes into more depth about this concept.
BlueKyuubi64
phil fish did nothing wrong
The whole story of FEZ is so tragic. But, then again this is kind of what the game industry has devolved to - a bunch of egotists and assholes jockeying for control.
The thing about Phil Fish is, neither he nor the public is at fault. Everyone behaved badly and there is no innocent party.
I listen to a lot of video gaming commentary on TH-cam while doing other things, but yours is the only one that I must watch. Great video!
Thank you so much for the hard work and critical thinking that went into the review Satchbags. It's always refreshing to watch videos that take videogames a bit more seriously, with deep research and legitimate reflections on the elements that surround them, I believe they elevate them as a means of creativity and expression.
I love you!! More videos pls!! I know these isnt a huge audience for this kind of thought filled, artsy stuff but there are definitely people who will love it!!
This is quickly becoming one of the best series on gaming ever
A good artist doesn't have to be a good person, this never was the case. FEZ is an auteur video game, it oozes of the developer's passions, fears, past and aspirations. What's on display is a side to persona that most people ignored, because, and let's be honest, it was fashionable hating him.
+ww wifi I don't understand why man with a huge success and a bright career can still act like insecure baby?
+MNanme1z4xs Because most or all of us, under the microscope, act as such. Fez was in development for 5 years, meaning Phil Fish was either 22 or 23 at the time. It was released when he was 27 or 28. That's very young, and classically an age when people are only just learning how to handle themselves personally and publicly. Leo Tolstoy once wrote of his youth until the age of 30 that he was a "scoundrel and fool", and took detailed account of his failings.
Being young and under pressure, being the subject of sudden and immense scrutiny, and having HUGE success and a BRIGHT future (as long as you don't, for example, react poorly to constant and mostly negative scrutiny despite the very common human fear of being hated) has killed people and/or their careers for forever. Maybe if we had a better sense of humor about the whole thing (and a lot more empathy) we wouldn't lose all that talent.
Jontron liked and favorited this.
Man, 11 people think youtube doesn't already tell us this shit. Thanks guys, glad to know we share DNA.
Man, it's almost like TH-cam TELLS YOU THIS SHIT.
Ever think of that? No? Not surprised.
TH-cam Loves to Fuck with You lol ok we get it. Not like me announcing it hurt anyone anyway. Besides what if there were non Jontron fans watching too? Maybe they would be inclined to check his channel out after seeing my comment.
Because JonTron deserves views simply because some RPer told everyone and their mother on someone else's video, not because he actually MAKES content. That would be silly.
Also, +1ing your own comment. lol.
TH-cam Loves to Fuck with You I love +1ing my own comments.
Intelligent commentary, great editing. Instant sub!
This is one of the best written and presented channel in videogaming. I'm glad FantasyFiction turned me onto this.
Man, Satch, i just love the way your videos are made; from the editing, to the way you convey your thoughts. Plus, i really like that you bring up good topics to discuss about.
Great job on the video! c:
I saw your channel on Normalboots, and I was going to see your series, as it seemed interesting.
I don't regret it. Production values in this are out of whack, and the analysis you made is deep and thoughts provoking. Amazing video!
This video is amazing, please do more!!
Didn't knew you before this video, and man, it's refreshing to see a well thought-out review on TH-cam. I'm hoping this Anti-Semantics show is long-lived, I can't wait to see the next game you'll be tackling. Keep up the good work!
You put out some of the best video game videos. Thought provoking ,intelligent and progressing the medium from toy to art. Thank you so much for the content
You've outdone yourself again Satch. Incredible work, you're setting the bar for gaming content on TH-cam.
I must say, you are the most incredibly articulate youtube gamer I've ever seen. I love your videos.
I like the way you present your ideas not as facts but simply as ideas which are to be concidered. Great style.
I think we elevate these creators because when we as people put our faith in their work, and have little to no connection to the creators, the only thing we have left is an emotional connection to their work. So we forge that emotional connection based on the joy we received from their work. Therefore those creators become as flawless in our eyes as our love for their work.
This show just reeks of production quality. I wish more people could produce content like this, it'd be a nice change of pace.
Fez is all about the exploration, the secrets and the adventure. I can just open up Fez, look at it, and feel great. In fact, I'm gonna do just that right now. It's been a while
I wish I could sit down with you at a coffee shop, and talk to you for hours about this kind of stuff. Your videos are my favorites by far.
This was an absolutely fantastic video! This is what I want critical analysis of video games to be, and how I would like the general public to think about video games as a medium and art form. Ten minutes ago I would recommend Fez to a friend because of the visuals, the music and the ambience that it presents to the player, the feeling of interacting with something beautiful and emotional. Now I would recommend it to a friend to play it, enjoy those aspects, and watch this video afterwards.
the problem here is isn't if a artists personality effects how well others enjoy there art. (although that does to a lesser amount have something to do with it) as much as it has to do with how that artist handles any and all criticisms of said art.
the thing with people who make art/games/movies/etc is that some of them feel like "hey i poured my heart and soul into this so you HAVE to love it" and when anyone thinks differently they "grab there toy and go home" this is pretty much what happened to Phil. he seen negative criticism about what he felt was his life's work. and reacted not just negatively or poorly but outright 2 year old temper tantrum like. which only led to more negativity. clearly he is a person who has never had to deal with negative feedback before and he didn't know how to handle it.
it's sort of like how celebrities are getting pissed off because they have no privacy and them and there family's every waking moment is being recorded for the entertainment of there fans. there famous people crying about being famous. this type of attitude is hard to sympathies with. but people try non the less.
Satchbags, thank you for your videos, your work is original and fascinating, you create a seamless blending between game and theory. It is so refreshing to see a youtuber take a new approach at game reviews; god knows we had too many AVGN copy-cats already. You are most certainly underrated, nevertheless, with content like this I´m sure you will rise to the top. Best wishes mate!
I love your videos Satch, they're so thought-provoking.
8 times the views now, I think these guys will become a very reliable and big voice in the near future.
Every time I watch one of your videos Satch I get both happy and sad. With production values and writing like yours you should have a million + subscribers. I hope you keep doing your videos for a long time - because this is true game journalism. I expect to see you working for Revision3 any day now.
Fantastic video! You are awesome, and your videos are clearly filled with passion. To answer your questions, A. I believe an artist's personality an character flows into his work, purposely or not. B. When we look up to someone and/or are inspired by them, we tend to think they are above average, almost flawless. Seeing their flaws disappoints us, as we wanted them to be something they weren't. Anyways keep up the good work!
That ending question... while I've always asked it myself, hearing you say it in those words in a neat little package was just... perfect.
I always thought it was ridiculous, but I never asked why people did it in the first place. Satch packed a good lunch; food for thought.
Hey this was pretty great, Keep them coming.
like really! hes so in depth and makes all convincing and true arguements if that makes sense. just puts so much work it looks like into it. Very professional. keep up the good work satchell!
Gosh this intro was already amazing and the video was too
Your reviews are amazing Satch, so informational and interesting. :)
Masterful exposition. Love your videos' Satchel! Thanks
you are like the king of small youtubers who have amazing quality
Excellent video. Glad to see more content from people who don't feel like criticizing Phil Fish for leaving gaming due to the Internet treating him like garbage
I think anyone doing creative work - and I don't mean just artwork - has a personal connection with that creation. Thats what spurs the desire for others to respond positively to that piece of work. The irony here is that the character of Phil Fish was created by another artist for the purpose of his documentary. And in doing so started a ripple that effected that personally effected Fish. Something Phil and others desire with their art too.
I just started watching your videos, going through some of your older videos while I'm at it. I know this one is over 4 years old, but I feel the need to comment anyways. Your voice and confidence are very strong and I like how you present your videos by moving from topic to topic. That being said, there is something you say in this particular video that really bothers me.
"It's pretty common for games to give you a set number of lives... A loss of these lives yields a game over that will most likely push [the player] back a few milestones as punishment for your mistake."
I see people make these kinds of comments all the time when they struggle to say something meaningful about a game or highlight what makes it unique. They make these big stretches and leaps in logic like this one. Right of the bat, it must be understood that *Fez is not an action game.* There aren't many gameplay challenges around timing and reflex-based skills. I wouldn't even really call Fez a platformer. There's not much to moving around the environment in terms of jumping most of the time. Engagement with gravity, the core dynamic of platforming, is undermined by the way Gomez "dies" or teleports back up to where he fell when he hits terminal velocity instead of falling off the map.
Fez is much more about navigating and exploring the environment, decrypting clues, deciphering riddles, and solving puzzles. In other words, *Fez is an adventure game.* Just because the player moves and jumps around a 2D environment in a 8-bit art style doesn't mean there is any room for comparison with action games like Super Mario Bros. and Mega Man, let alone arcade games that share almost nothing with Fez. Limited lives, set-backs, and game over screens, these are common things in action games, not adventure games. There is no set back to "dying" in Fez because those parts of the game are clearly not the most meaningful or core aspects. There is nothing to be gained from replaying the same action-less sections again (hence the issue with backtracking in this game).
So saying Fez is "one of the first popular games to ditch this necessity [dying]" is just... no. This is very standard adventure/puzzle game stuff. These games have been doing it this way for much longer than Fez. It's kind of a fallacious trap: claiming Fez is different and supporting that by giving examples of games that are not like it at all. Obviously Fez is different from these kinds of games, but that's not saying much about how unique Fez may or may not be since there are much better comparisons to be made.
I was so upset to find out fez II was cancelled I wanted another fez game really badly :(
YES before even viewing this video I tingle with delight out of mere anticipation!
Satch you're so well spoken and intelligent, something I'm glad to see in the video game reviewing community, like seriously there's too much "bleh bleh el game is good even tho i played an hour of it 10/10 it was ok xD" to not be able to appreciate something like this
dang dude, keep up the good work! I've been here since the beginning and just
woot I'm glad I stayed
Dude! Love the visual revamp. Your editing/graphical wizardry is bordering on network TV here.
This was excellent! I'll be watching your other videos asap!
I believe ins some forms abstract art, a feeling that the person is trying to convey comes through and creates something on its own, but with other more thought out works, its less about who drew it and more about what who drew it wanted it to be and feel.
Congrats on 10,000 Subscribers Satch! You deserve every one! :)
If you're like me, you misread the title as 'anti-semetics.'
Yet another deliciously thought provoking video.
I love your sense of design
Nice vid!
This is one of the best game "reviews" I've seen in a _long_ time, hope to see more of this! You've got yourself a new subscriber! :D
i love the unique quality of your videos. And the well done editing and camera work as well! keep it up
I would feel bad, however, he handled things extremely poorly. For one, if you make a product for a large market you WILL get always get asshats who insult you. Welcome to the internet. Secondly, don't feed trolls or let yourself get an ego. If he can't manage to do that, he simply can't deal with such a profession.
the issue is that fish is very clearly mentally ill. i understand that it doesn't change the way he rudely responded to criticism, but being the subject of so much vitriol is something that would be difficult for a healthy person to handle, much less someone in fish's mental state. people very nearly bullied that man into suicide.
I love how your videos are like documentaries
"8 bit" U wot m8?
Fez's music really puts me at peace
This was a very nice video, and I want to thank you for making it. It gives us a different perspective on the whole issue at hand, and you make some very good points. Please continue making more videos like this in the future.
This guy is deep, love this channel
Wow… *__* I just want to keep listening to the beautiful and intelligent words coming out of your mouth.
Dude, the fact that you're doing this kind of stuff is so awesome.
holy shit, most in depth review i have ever seen! you sir get my awe.
Yeah, he has the best editing I think I've ever seen.
Thanks for sharing this well thought commentary.
Liked, subscribed, added to favorites. This was masterfully done, my friend. And that's putting it lightly. Now I find myself questioning 2 things: Questioning the beliefs I once held as true and questioning why the hell I haven't been watching your videos sooner.
Dude I can't believe you don't have more subs or views. Keep doing what you're doing. Be encouraged
Flipping the world into a Third dimension. Anyone else having paper Mario flash backs?
Wow great video, gave me a lot of insight to this whole issue, love the new transitions and themes of the reviews! Keep up the great work!
I have a theory; we use stories, regardless of the medium used to transmit the story, in order to essentially deliver information, warnings or lessons to individuals. Stories have the advantage to emotionally effect the listener making it more important and easier to retain the information rather than telling the listener straight up. Whenever we come across a great story that affects us deeply we immediately assume the story teller has alot of wisdom and knowledge, how else could they know thier subject manner so well and deeply and know how to transmit it so effectively. Therefore we expect them to behave as such.
This was a magnificent review that captures what I fear is the biggest issue surrounding media and an expectation relativism of perfection which is ignominiously laced throughout our narrative. I strongly believe in Death of the Author theory, and apply it not just to books but to all other forms of media where it is applicable, and for me, this includes almost every game and movie I watch (with respects, of course, to original sources of influence, adaptation or if I feel it goes against some of my other inherent beliefs, in which I will argue against but not necessarily chastise). I think you do that rhetorical anticipation technique a bit too much, as a bit of criticism for you to take into consideration when what follows seems sometimes a given by the information previously given, but I do understand it is used commonly regarding online reviews to adhere to a wider demographic. You have a nice voice, also. I look forward to seeing and hearing more from you!
Feels good to have subscribed awhile ago. Its clear you put a great deal of effort into the composition of your videos, and I hope to see that effort rewarded with more subs and more content! Best of luck. I'll keep watching.
4:33 Wario Land (2-3) was popular and in my eyes did the no death thing more elegantly. I'm really torn about how Fez does it, similarly to how I'm torn about how Little Inferno discusses throwaway games while being one. I've yet to play Fez though so I've got nothing more than a stump here, just thinking aloud.
There have been some big titles in the past that are noteworthy for ditching the lives system: Abe's Oddysee (1997), Donkey Kong 64 (1998) and Jak and Daxter (2001). Glad more developers are dropping this tradition.
Really like the style to these videos, got that great 80s aesthetic that I oh so enjoy :D
The analysis was good enough to subscribe for
We tend to elevate those we admire to an astonishing height, much like a celebrity, because of our want to have something to strive for. We all have heroes we push forth to set up a goalpost for what we want to be and do, as impossible as it is. This is why the phrase "Never meet your hero" exists, because expectations always seem to be higher then the person. When people admired Phil Fish, they found an angry man instead of their expectation, and the rest played out as we know it.
2:40 Wow. That's some dedication right there!
Satch, great taste on the Totoro painting, ha! Bought a print of that a few months back, surprised to see others into it as well. Good video as well.