It's pretty amazing. You make videos about video games but at the same time they are almost self-help videos. Every time I watch one of your videos I find myself introspective and thoughtful because you tell such great stories about these stories. You help remind all of us that we are writing our own stories just by living our lives every day. You have a gift.
I truly appreciate your words. I've always looked at literature as a method of self help. If we can empathize with the characters, it allows us to learn alongside them. I grew up reading Neverending Story and the whole point of the first half of that book is Bastion coping with the loss of his mother who died of an unknown disease. The hero in the book he steals is called to find a cure for the Empress who is dying of a mysterious disease. Through the hero, he is able to help cope with his mother's death. In a sense I try help draw attention to the aspects in the games I find would be beneficial for us. For this video in particular, I have a lot of friends who feel lost and running in circles. If my videos can help even one person it's all worth it for me. Thank you for taking the time to comment!
As someone who started seeing a mental health professional fairly recently, today's video resonated very strongly with me. I reached out to her because I was/am feeling stuck in my life, and so it seems i have accepted the call, and found a mentor to put my on the right path. It's been a rough months, since my own personal Mr. Scratch has been at the wheel for so long, but I'm changing the details to make my own personal Sunrise and take "Control" of my life. (I'm such a huge fan of your work, keep it up!)
The Heroes Journey is always a struggle, however, one that we all are capable of dealing with if we know where to look. I'm glad you have find yourself a mentor to help you out. That by itself is a difficult thing to do. I'm speaking from experience after spending years treading the same grounds. I have faith you will succeed! Take Control!
No wonder why Alan Wake series is the masterpiece. The game taught me not only just the true meaning of 'a battle between light and darkness', but also the real struggle to reach the success through the failures and challenges. Sam Lake did a very good job on the story. Can't wait to see more of Alan Wake.
I just realized that this way of changing the world is kinda similar to SYNCHRONICITY in Control but here the details are compared between the reality and the written word.
Jesse is almost the diametric opposite of Alan. Where Alan rejects the call and is ultimately at odds with himself through much of his storyline, Jesse is a willing participant who seeks out the FBC and the OH and wilfully becomes the Director. Of course if she is the creation of Wake's manipulation of reality then perhaps this is him creating something that wants to help for he is trapped within his own indecision and fear...
He almost certainly is taking advantage of her position in order to save himself at the very least. It's debatable whether he created her or simply caused a crisis which would put her on the path to finding him. Part of the heroes journey is, Rescue from Without. Sometimes assistance must come from the outside.
Wow. This episode hit me hard. I'm after breakdown taking help from psychologist. Its exactly same stuff ive heard. "Get out from the comfort zone" Your videos are amazing!
Well now you're just upping your game (even though you were already operating at a high standard ) with this. A solid analysis with real life lessons and application. As always, a job tremendously done.
Thank you so much NdNprinces! I try my best to make these on two levels. One for the gamer and one for those who wish to learn something through the story. I have the philosophy that good Literature is intended to do more than entertainment us. It can show us characters that reflect a part of ourselves and we can potentially learn from their struggles.
Sometimes just hearing someone give voice to what we know is true can help us push back against our personal Mr Scratch. Thanks for a great video and a nudge in the right direction :)
Dude I would main the crap out of Alan if he made it to smash lol. His Super Smash is just writing that all opponents on the screen walk off the platform and SD!
Yet another great insight into the trials and tribulations of a character, but of our own lives too. Love the channel my man and your insight into how storytelling truly is an art form and reflection into our true selves. Keep being awesome. 👍
You're awesome man! Yeah I truly feel the point of literature is to relate to the human experience. The Heroes Journey entertains us but also helps us to in our own adventure, to slay our own dragons.
@@GamingUniversityUoG nah man thank you, you gotta talent for these type of videos i watch alot of analysts videos and i mean alot but yours is so well formatted and coherent easily the best imo glad i found you when i did 😎
I'm glad you mention AN so frequently, like you said in the description it is very overlooked in regards to Alan Wake's lore. The rewriting reality process is broken down more clearly in AN, and what Alan says in AWE is basically the same thing as well. I think the only thing different in AWE is Alan mentions people believing in the change being a factor, and how the more people believe in it the more it helps reality to change to the new version - fitting for Control with the frequent references to the collective unconscious and how people's beliefs and thoughts act as a guide or structure for the energies or forces that affect reality. However I don't recall that being a factor in AW/AN so perhaps a slight retcon there. Have you seen Polygon's video of the original prototype for Alan Wake 2? A lot of this is mentioned there as well and it seemed Remedy were experimenting with making it a more prominent gameplay mechanic. Would be interesting what next gen systems could do with the concept. Anyway great vid as always. I know I struggle with having a more positive outlook, it's one aspect of my subjective reality I'd love to be able to rewrite!
Agreed. AN deserves more attention. Combat wise it plays a lot smoother than AW but I understand how some people would be turned off by the Groundhog's Day cycle. But as I mentioned, I feel that mechanic serves a dual purpose. Obviously it makes the level design a lot easier by reusing environments but also serves a thematic purpose as well. It may be a small retcon that collective belief plays a role in creating new realities. Or, depending on how we look at it, the fact that one takes place in the Normal World and one occurs in the Dark Place may be the reason. In the Dark Place, only one creative mind is needed to change things. In the far less malleable 'Real World', it takes a lot more effort to change things. Especially when there is no gate to the Dark Place nearby. I find it interesting that thing started to really shift in the oldest house only after Jesse witnesses the Spiral Door crack open, letting the energies from that Threshold pour out. Without the benefit of that Threshold, collective consciousness is required to make these changes. But that's just my thoughts on it.
@@GamingUniversityUoG Yeah I think Microsoft mandated games on XBLA had to be under a certain size, which would explain a lot of the repeated assets (plus budget). Definitely underappreciated, and I think the first Remedy game with actual FMV? Interesting point about the weird shifts happening after the spiral door opened, I hadn't really put those two together.
We spoke of this before. This is interesting, because I thought about this, then thought about you, and the Darkness. That is the symbolic version of this video, I think.
Thank you so much! Weirdly enough the game itself actually scratches out his name. That part when Alan is speaking in the video is done by the game not me. So I just kept using the sound when I speak too. The reason given by the developers is Mr. Scratch's name is unpronounceable by humans so it is scratched out.
One thing that limits how Alan is allowed to shape reality is that his writings cannot contradict the writings of other people who's stories are being brought to life by the lake. The things talked about in the Old Gods of Asgard songs must come true and the same goes for Tom Zane's writings. I'm not sure how directly this is addressed in the games and other Remedy publications (I haven't played Alan Wake 2 yet or read the comics etc), but it's obviously true within the story of the first Alan Wake game. It's an interesting concept. One man can't dictate reality, but it is shaped by multiple people in concert with each other.
@@GamingUniversityUoG Thanks Bro! Literally been binge watching your videos man ngl 😂😂😂 Such sick analysis I love it. Never played AW but just finished QB Yesterday and Control last week and wishing I never let control go. The remedy verse is great but the more you explain it, the better experience it becomes. You're literally a Golden Jewel in the TH-cam Communitt Broski. Keep doing what you love, I love it too 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
Haha thanks buddy! Welcome to the madness of the Remedy Community. Trust me you'll love AW as well. It's the first game that introduced me to Remedy. I'll make sure to keep the vids coming. Stay awesome!
This video reminds me of persona 5 royal when a character named maruki made a couple of things *PERSONA 5 ROYAL SPOILERS ALERAT* He 1st made a girl named "sumire", into beliving that she is her older sister that died in an accident "kasumi" 2nd after the "phantom theives" killed the final boss he "took control" (lol where have I seen that before ?) Of a place called "mementos" that place is like the collective unconsiocness of the masses/humans in the world/japan. 3rd by doing that he brought back people that were supposed to be "dead" by using he's power of "actualization" every member of the "P.T." fell to he's ideal world except the leader and someone else , "Akechi" he died but was brought back to life by maruki. Akechi and Leder of the P.T. disapproved of maruki's ideal relatity because at the end of the day it was just illusions and yes Akechi the one who died didn't want to live as a puppet again and maruki wasn't a villian just someone who wants to force he's good wishes on others. Hopefully Alan wake doesn't get another Mr.Scratch or someone like Akechi/The phantom theives. And that AW does things in the right direction
I have not played anything in the Persona series. In told it is right up my alley but I haven't gotten around to it. So I'll hold of on reading this in full. Is it a series that requires us to play all of the games leading up to it?
@@GamingUniversityUoG Lol no just persona 5 / persona 5 royal They will give you everything from start to finish However if you played the older games 3 & 4 ( we don't speak about 1 & 2 , we just don't ) you will figure out some spoilers on your own , kind of .. Also take your time on that game it is worth it and lasts like 100-140 hours dependes on your pace
Trust me I'll find a way to get that to 200 hours lol. I take 15 hours playing a 3 hour dlc! I think that is why I haven't played it yet though. I don't have the time to devote to a game that long. Especially if I want to go in with the research hat on. Between my day job and this channel free time doesn't exist haha.
hehehe 4:50 "there are tiiiiiiiiiiimes, when all the world's asleep the questions run so deep for such a simple man won't you pleeeeeease, please tell me what we've learned? I know it sounds absurd please tell me who I aaaaaaaaaaaaam"
It's pretty amazing. You make videos about video games but at the same time they are almost self-help videos. Every time I watch one of your videos I find myself introspective and thoughtful because you tell such great stories about these stories. You help remind all of us that we are writing our own stories just by living our lives every day. You have a gift.
I truly appreciate your words. I've always looked at literature as a method of self help. If we can empathize with the characters, it allows us to learn alongside them.
I grew up reading Neverending Story and the whole point of the first half of that book is Bastion coping with the loss of his mother who died of an unknown disease. The hero in the book he steals is called to find a cure for the Empress who is dying of a mysterious disease. Through the hero, he is able to help cope with his mother's death.
In a sense I try help draw attention to the aspects in the games I find would be beneficial for us. For this video in particular, I have a lot of friends who feel lost and running in circles. If my videos can help even one person it's all worth it for me.
Thank you for taking the time to comment!
Clicked with notebook and pen in my hand, expecting a thorough how-to guide. Ended up getting heavy life lessons. Good times.
While we don't have energies from the Dark Place, we can change our own world and by extension, the world changes with us.
How's studying going?
@@GamingUniversityUoG the online learning systems are apparently broken so I have a free week of freedom.
Jealous! Enjoy the week off man
As someone who started seeing a mental health professional fairly recently, today's video resonated very strongly with me. I reached out to her because I was/am feeling stuck in my life, and so it seems i have accepted the call, and found a mentor to put my on the right path. It's been a rough months, since my own personal Mr. Scratch has been at the wheel for so long, but I'm changing the details to make my own personal Sunrise and take "Control" of my life.
(I'm such a huge fan of your work, keep it up!)
The Heroes Journey is always a struggle, however, one that we all are capable of dealing with if we know where to look. I'm glad you have find yourself a mentor to help you out. That by itself is a difficult thing to do. I'm speaking from experience after spending years treading the same grounds.
I have faith you will succeed! Take Control!
Keep fighting that scratchy bastard. We believe in you ;-)
No wonder why Alan Wake series is the masterpiece. The game taught me not only just the true meaning of 'a battle between light and darkness', but also the real struggle to reach the success through the failures and challenges.
Sam Lake did a very good job on the story. Can't wait to see more of Alan Wake.
I say this honestly, Alan Wake has had a profound impact on who I am today. Sam and the Remedy writers really made something special.
I just realized that this way of changing the world is kinda similar to SYNCHRONICITY in Control but here the details are compared between the reality and the written word.
Interesting observation. In a sense this method allows us to take an active step in making the synchronicity occur.
Jesse is almost the diametric opposite of Alan. Where Alan rejects the call and is ultimately at odds with himself through much of his storyline, Jesse is a willing participant who seeks out the FBC and the OH and wilfully becomes the Director. Of course if she is the creation of Wake's manipulation of reality then perhaps this is him creating something that wants to help for he is trapped within his own indecision and fear...
He almost certainly is taking advantage of her position in order to save himself at the very least. It's debatable whether he created her or simply caused a crisis which would put her on the path to finding him.
Part of the heroes journey is, Rescue from Without. Sometimes assistance must come from the outside.
Wow. This episode hit me hard. I'm after breakdown taking help from psychologist. Its exactly same stuff ive heard. "Get out from the comfort zone" Your videos are amazing!
Thank you so much for your comment and sharing your story. I hope it can be helpful to you in some small way. Take care of yourself friend.
Well now you're just upping your game (even though you were already operating at a high standard ) with this. A solid analysis with real life lessons and application. As always, a job tremendously done.
Thank you so much NdNprinces! I try my best to make these on two levels. One for the gamer and one for those who wish to learn something through the story.
I have the philosophy that good Literature is intended to do more than entertainment us. It can show us characters that reflect a part of ourselves and we can potentially learn from their struggles.
Ah yes, *a rewriting reality tutorial.*
Use non-Aristotelean logic, it works
Sometimes just hearing someone give voice to what we know is true can help us push back against our personal Mr Scratch. Thanks for a great video and a nudge in the right direction :)
You got it friend! On that very note stick around for the next video. I'm diving deeper into the point you just brought up.
**Alan Wake for smash**
Dude I would main the crap out of Alan if he made it to smash lol. His Super Smash is just writing that all opponents on the screen walk off the platform and SD!
Thank You! I love these games but some of the concepts fly over my head at times!
These games are absolutely incredible. This idea honestly didn't hit me until recently and I'd been playing it since 2012.
Yet another great insight into the trials and tribulations of a character, but of our own lives too. Love the channel my man and your insight into how storytelling truly is an art form and reflection into our true selves. Keep being awesome. 👍
You're awesome man! Yeah I truly feel the point of literature is to relate to the human experience. The Heroes Journey entertains us but also helps us to in our own adventure, to slay our own dragons.
I like how the further back you go the closer Dean gets to the microphone
Great Video as always you’re soaring to becoming my top 5 TH-camrs already made it to top 10 👍😎
Wow thank you so much! I can't tell you how much it means to me that you enjoy our little channel here.
@@GamingUniversityUoG nah man thank you, you gotta talent for these type of videos i watch alot of analysts videos and i mean alot but yours is so well formatted and coherent easily the best imo glad i found you when i did 😎
All this makes me wanna go back to the University and write a thesis on "Modern philosophy concepts contained in Remedyverse"
Same here! Honestly, I feel video games deserve to have literary and philosophical attention in University Classrooms
You can also check the channel games as lit
I used the watch that channel all the time!
You still can write that thesis. ;)
I'm sure someone would be interested to read it.
Thought this was going to be a genuine person talking about how to rewrite reality for some reason I didn't see Alan wake lol
Haha total bait and switch. Sorry for the confusion.
I'm glad you mention AN so frequently, like you said in the description it is very overlooked in regards to Alan Wake's lore. The rewriting reality process is broken down more clearly in AN, and what Alan says in AWE is basically the same thing as well. I think the only thing different in AWE is Alan mentions people believing in the change being a factor, and how the more people believe in it the more it helps reality to change to the new version - fitting for Control with the frequent references to the collective unconscious and how people's beliefs and thoughts act as a guide or structure for the energies or forces that affect reality. However I don't recall that being a factor in AW/AN so perhaps a slight retcon there.
Have you seen Polygon's video of the original prototype for Alan Wake 2? A lot of this is mentioned there as well and it seemed Remedy were experimenting with making it a more prominent gameplay mechanic. Would be interesting what next gen systems could do with the concept.
Anyway great vid as always. I know I struggle with having a more positive outlook, it's one aspect of my subjective reality I'd love to be able to rewrite!
Agreed. AN deserves more attention. Combat wise it plays a lot smoother than AW but I understand how some people would be turned off by the Groundhog's Day cycle. But as I mentioned, I feel that mechanic serves a dual purpose. Obviously it makes the level design a lot easier by reusing environments but also serves a thematic purpose as well.
It may be a small retcon that collective belief plays a role in creating new realities. Or, depending on how we look at it, the fact that one takes place in the Normal World and one occurs in the Dark Place may be the reason. In the Dark Place, only one creative mind is needed to change things. In the far less malleable 'Real World', it takes a lot more effort to change things. Especially when there is no gate to the Dark Place nearby.
I find it interesting that thing started to really shift in the oldest house only after Jesse witnesses the Spiral Door crack open, letting the energies from that Threshold pour out.
Without the benefit of that Threshold, collective consciousness is required to make these changes.
But that's just my thoughts on it.
@@GamingUniversityUoG Yeah I think Microsoft mandated games on XBLA had to be under a certain size, which would explain a lot of the repeated assets (plus budget). Definitely underappreciated, and I think the first Remedy game with actual FMV?
Interesting point about the weird shifts happening after the spiral door opened, I hadn't really put those two together.
We spoke of this before. This is interesting, because I thought about this, then thought about you, and the Darkness. That is the symbolic version of this video, I think.
Always loved your videos! They are so thought provoking!
Btw why do you add that sound when you say Mr. Scratch?
Thank you so much!
Weirdly enough the game itself actually scratches out his name. That part when Alan is speaking in the video is done by the game not me. So I just kept using the sound when I speak too.
The reason given by the developers is Mr. Scratch's name is unpronounceable by humans so it is scratched out.
I'm entering the threshold.
One thing that limits how Alan is allowed to shape reality is that his writings cannot contradict the writings of other people who's stories are being brought to life by the lake. The things talked about in the Old Gods of Asgard songs must come true and the same goes for Tom Zane's writings. I'm not sure how directly this is addressed in the games and other Remedy publications (I haven't played Alan Wake 2 yet or read the comics etc), but it's obviously true within the story of the first Alan Wake game. It's an interesting concept. One man can't dictate reality, but it is shaped by multiple people in concert with each other.
Thanks/gratitude for/because the video/work.
My absolute pleasure.
U always watch thses videos twice lol, keep it up man, love ur channel
Haha thanks buddy!
What song do you use at the end of your videos it's lit!
It's an orchestrated version of Frog's Theme from Chrono Trigger. That OST was incredible!
@@GamingUniversityUoG Thanks Bro! Literally been binge watching your videos man ngl 😂😂😂 Such sick analysis I love it. Never played AW but just finished QB Yesterday and Control last week and wishing I never let control go. The remedy verse is great but the more you explain it, the better experience it becomes. You're literally a Golden Jewel in the TH-cam Communitt Broski. Keep doing what you love, I love it too 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
Haha thanks buddy! Welcome to the madness of the Remedy Community. Trust me you'll love AW as well. It's the first game that introduced me to Remedy. I'll make sure to keep the vids coming. Stay awesome!
Came from Reddit, very cool stuff. 👍
Thanks buddy!
when is the next control / alan wake video from the DLC
I think it was done
Interesting!
This video reminds me of persona 5 royal when a character named maruki made a couple of things *PERSONA 5 ROYAL SPOILERS ALERAT*
He 1st made a girl named "sumire", into beliving that she is her older sister that died in an accident "kasumi"
2nd after the "phantom theives" killed the final boss he "took control" (lol where have I seen that before ?) Of a place called "mementos" that place is like the collective unconsiocness of the masses/humans in the world/japan.
3rd by doing that he brought back people that were supposed to be "dead" by using he's power of "actualization" every member of the "P.T." fell to he's ideal world except the leader and someone else , "Akechi" he died but was brought back to life by maruki.
Akechi and Leder of the P.T. disapproved of maruki's ideal relatity because at the end of the day it was just illusions and yes Akechi the one who died didn't want to live as a puppet again and maruki wasn't a villian just someone who wants to force he's good wishes on others.
Hopefully Alan wake doesn't get another Mr.Scratch or someone like Akechi/The phantom theives. And that AW does things in the right direction
I have not played anything in the Persona series. In told it is right up my alley but I haven't gotten around to it. So I'll hold of on reading this in full.
Is it a series that requires us to play all of the games leading up to it?
@@GamingUniversityUoG
Lol no just persona 5 / persona 5 royal
They will give you everything from start to finish
However if you played the older games 3 & 4 ( we don't speak about 1 & 2 , we just don't ) you will figure out some spoilers on your own , kind of ..
Also take your time on that game it is worth it and lasts like 100-140 hours dependes on your pace
Trust me I'll find a way to get that to 200 hours lol. I take 15 hours playing a 3 hour dlc!
I think that is why I haven't played it yet though. I don't have the time to devote to a game that long. Especially if I want to go in with the research hat on. Between my day job and this channel free time doesn't exist haha.
hehehe 4:50
"there are tiiiiiiiiiiimes, when all the world's asleep
the questions run so deep
for such a simple man
won't you pleeeeeease, please tell me what we've learned?
I know it sounds absurd
please tell me who I aaaaaaaaaaaaam"