What I Learned Photographing NPCs for a Year (2021) SolidArf 2022-07-11 | So, this is a little different from my usual videos — but, if there’s interest, maybe the start of a new series. I got really into people-watching and photographing NPCs throughout 2020 - 2021, and then I started writing about them. Here’s what I’ve learnt: about virtual photography, photo modes, representation, the NPCs themselves and the multitude of ways in which they fill a world. I’ve also grown exhausted of seeing players nitpick small details and graphical hang-ups, and wanted to invert that: I really appreciate the intricacies I observed, even amidst the jank, because it helped me focus in on much more interesting conversations the game’s background characters were having with the worlds around them. It also let me hone in on the details that were being overlooked. I talk about representation a lot because I want to be holistic and it is one of the most fascinating things for me to look at when it comes to NPCs; for example, seeing the authentic hijab design in Spider-Man (2018) was an early epiphany towards what kinds of things I might learn by undertaking this project. This is my longest video yet and the one that I agonized over most — but it goes out to the game devs who tirelessly make this kind of storytelling so dang subtle and yet so dang rewarding to witness. Timestamps:Intro: 00:00 - 02:40Misc. Games: 02:40 - 13:30Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018) / Miles Morales (2021): 13:31 - 24:48Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End / The Lost Legacy: 24:49 - 31:33Gravity Rush 2: 31:34 - 42:41Kingdom Hearts III: 42:42 - 53:17Final Fantasy VII Remake / Final Fantasy XV: 53:18 - 1:08:45Shadow of the Tomb Raider: 1:08:46 - 1:14:53Astral Chain: 1:14:54 - 1:17:12Horizon Zero Dawn: 1:17:13 - 1:28:20Ghost of Tsushima: 1:28:21 - 1:37:19Outro / Conclusion: 1:37:20 - 1:43:30Music Credits: 1:43:31 - 1:44:20Links to stuff I mention below:======== NPCs of Gaming ========NPCs of Gaming: Where I Post my Photos / Writinginstagram.com/npcsofgamingFollow me on Twitter! twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed ======== Spider-Man Articles ========Interview With The Art Director Of Marvel's Spider Man (PS4) | Marvel Voices by MC DCyoutu.be/JvWO3hqolPI ======== Uncharted Articles ========“Video Games Are Lagging Behind in South Asian Representation” by Saniya Ahmedgamespot.com/articles/video-games-are-lagging-behind-in-south-asian-representation/1100-6503195======== Gravity Rush Articles ========“Gravity Rush Central Interview With Keiichiro Toyama, Eric Bailey and Naoko Sato” by Draikingravityrushcentral.com/2018/05/09/gravity-rush-central-interview-with-keiichiro-toyama-eric-bailey-and-naoko-sato ======== Kingdom Hearts III Articles ========“Kingdom Hearts 3: The Challenges and Rewards of Working with Disney” by Joe Skrebelsign.com/articles/2019/02/11/kingdom-hearts-3-the-challenges-and-rewards-of-working-with-disney “KH Insider Interviews Tasha Sounart”youtu.be/7Rb4wJikugk ======== Horizon Zero Dawn Articles ========“Horizon Zero Dawn’s Native American Influences” by Games of Historyyoutu.be/M3mCQoKNwFE "Decolonization is not a metaphor": Settler Colonialism and Indigeneity in Video Games by Game Assistyoutu.be/mKqpMaOu-HU “Horizon Forbidden West: An Authentic World” by Bo de Vriesblog.playstation.com/2021/11/22/horizon-forbidden-west-an-authentic-world ======== Ghost of Tsushima Articles ========“From Infamous to Ghost of Tsushima: Sucker Punch on the six-year journey it took to deliver its magnum opus” by Josh Westgamesradar.com/from-infamous-to-ghost-of-tsushima-sucker-punch-on-the-six-year-journey-it-took-to-deliver-its-magnum-opus “Ghost of Tsushima Photo Mode Top Tips” by Mikthefourthfocus.com/post/ghost-of-tsushima-photo-mode-top-tips ======== Additional Readings ========“The true story behind BioShock Infinite’s Bread Boy” by Simone de Rochefortpolygon.com/videos/23014794/gwen-frey-bread-boy-bioshock-infinite “Final Fantasy VII Remake Revisited” Series by Sunil Godhaniasquare-enix-games.com/en_US/news/final-fantasy-vii-remake-revisited-chapter-1 ======== Additional Resources & Works Cited ========GDC Talks: youtube.com/c/Gdconf The Fourth Focus (VP Resource, Hosts of Annual VP Awards):thefourthfocus.comFollow me or support the channel if you're able! -- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed-- NPCs of Gaming: instagram.com/npcsofgaming-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarf
What I Learned Photographing NPCs in Final Fantasy 16 SolidArf 2024-08-07 | Final Fantasy XVI's approach to NPC storytelling is minimalist -- but extremely effective. Almost every single unnamed character has some kind of narrative arc that carries across the game. They might not have routines or move around much in any given moment, but when you revisit different towns at different points, you'll see something new each time. Hear a new snippet of dialogue. See a relationship progress.This is the longest episode of the NPC photography series yet, mainly because I sought out as many interesting examples as I could (and I genuinely still left out some). It's not necessarily meant to be viewed in a single sitting, and you can get the jist of things by watching till the chapters on The Hideaway / Lostwing. While the other towns have small distinctions and takeaways, they are mostly comprised of examples and FF16-specific commentary.I hope, however, this more comprehensive overview will be useful for further commentary on FF16's world and politics. Speaking of which: Lots of smart writing on the game out there! I've linked my works cited below. Intro: 0:00 - 0:40Overview and Premise: 0:40 - 12:42Rosalith Castle: 12:43 - 19:43The Hideaway: 19:44 - 40:03Lostwing: 40:04 - 49:34Martha's Rest (feat. Eastpool): 49:35 - 1:01:10Northreach (feat. Moore, Amber and Mikkelburg): 1:01:11 - 1:13:00Dalimil: 1:13:01 - 1:20:54The Boklad Markets (feat. Dravozd and Tabor): 1:20:55 - 1:31:20Haven: 1:31:21 - 1:43:40Conclusion: 1:43:41 - 1:48:41Outro: 1:48:42 - 1:49:44---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Follow me or support the channel if you're able! -- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed [Note my Twitter is mostly political posts as of Aug. 2024, as there is a lot happening in my home country. I appreciate any follows/support regardless; just know gaming hot takes will be interspersed with a lot of that.]-- NPCs of Gaming: instagram.com/npcsofgaming-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarf-- Website: aarafafzal.com/npcsRecommended Videos: -- What I Learned Photographing NPCs in Final Fantasy VII Remake: youtu.be/1iwq1fF45Ts-- What I Learned Photographing NPCs for a Year (Volume 1): youtu.be/9ejkixtIAfwSelected References / Works Cited: -- "Creating the Look of Final Fantasy 16" by Wesley LeBlanc: http://web.archive.org/web/20231009195403/gameinformer.com/exclusive-feature/2023/06/06/creating-the-look-of-final-fantasy-16-- "Final Fantasy XVI Suffers From Its Superficial Handling Of Slavery" by Phillip Russell: kotaku.com/final-fantasy-xvi-clive-slavery-ffxvi-ff16-ps5-square-1850779976-- "Final Fantasy XVI has a medieval approach to diversity" by Ash Parrish: theverge.com/2023/3/1/23620217/final-fantasy-xvi-diversity-naoki-yoshida-interview------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BEHIND THE SCENES:-- Exporting this video has been almost as challenging as writing or editing it. All footage captured for this was in 1080p, so it is not a true UHD experience. However, I exported it in UHD because my usual render settings severely affected the FF16 image quality (especially in shots with shallow focus). I tried multiple variations. The final rendering process took 26+ hours, with my computer not running anything else.-- I included a lot of NPC-voiced lines to illustrate my points. That definitely contributed to the length. I do think this was a bit of a special case due to my specific points about FF16, but it's already affected how I'm curating the next one. I'd love to hear any feedback re: length and density!-- As I'm uploading this, GameInformer just got shut down by its parent company Gamestop. So much of my research on FF16 would have been impossible without the brilliant work of Wesley LeBlanc, whose interview with Minagawa I bring up several times throughout this. I've linked his article via the Wayback Machine. Please go read it and follow the staff of GI! Some of the industry's best damn artists and reporters: twitter.com/LeBlancWes
Searching for One Marvelous Scene SolidArf 2024-06-22 | Five years ago, a slew of video essayists and creators came together to each pick one scene from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and talk about its craft, impact, and deeper meaning. I wasn't making videos back then — but I did have a conversation with my close friends where we asked each other "What would be your One Marvelous Scene?"This is my answer, five years on.At the end of the second act of The Avengers (2012), Steve Rogers and Tony Stark have a conversation that culminates with the exchange: - "Is this the first time you lost a soldier?"- "We are not soldiers!"It is a loaded exchange; one that has lived in my brain for over a decade now. But... is it still my One Marvelous Scene?* What Would be Your One Marvelous Scene? - 0:00 - 2:16* "We Are Not Soldiers" - 2:17 - 17:30* Five Years Later - 17:31 - 21:03* Issue #1: The Joss Whedon Revision - 21:04 - 27:28* Issue #2: Personal Growth - 27:29 - 34:39* Issue #3: Marvel's Mightiest Soldiers - 34:42 - 38:31* Searching for One Marvelous Scene: 38:32 - 41:14---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Follow me or support the channel if you're able! -- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed-- NPCs of Gaming: instagram.com/npcsofgaming-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarf-- Website: aarafafzal.com/npcsPlease don't feel any pressure to donate -- as comments, shares, Tweets, and signal boosts help just as much. :) Genuinely, every little bit matters, as I would like to be able to do all this regularly — and the Ko-Fi is there as a potential tip jar. Selected References:"One Marvelous Scene - The Ultron Afterparty" by Nando V Moviesyoutu.be/A2VQinJxH6A?si=bCiMLjy71m_oFOJb "One Marvelous Scene - Military Ads in Marvel Movies" by Just Writeyoutu.be/ih_iGLowp7A?si=U1qyVEpUFKHPAeVc “Why Do Marvel’s Movies Look Kind of Ugly?” by Patrick (H) Willemsyoutu.be/hpWYtXtmEFQ?si=cE8Pg-G4l39U953j “Why the MCU Turned Grey – and How They Fixed It” by Zero Woolfeyoutu.be/-HEGegeJo7g?si=ZA1I1UoDVIvbhBEj Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Needby Blake Snyder“Avengers Assemble!” – Interview with ARRI Groupweb.archive.org/web/20120422150320/http://www.arri.com/news.html?article=950&cHash=6adfecc263fdc3b7765b4e2f93a73f81 “Don't Worry, 'Avengers' Fans: Joss Whedon Never Actually Kills Off Any Crucial Characters” by David Simstheatlantic.com/culture/archive/2014/07/dont-worry-avengers-fans-joss-whedon-never-actually-kills-off-any-crucial-characters/375205 “When Joss Whedon Was Our Master” by Gita Jacksonvice.com/en/article/v7d34y/when-joss-whedon-was-our-master “The Undoing of Joss Whedon” by Lila Shapirovulture.com/article/joss-whedon-allegations.html Ray Fisher Opens Up About ‘Justice League,’ Joss Whedon and Warners: “I Don’t Believe Some of These People Are Fit for Leadership”hollywoodreporter.com/feature/ray-fisher-opens-up-about-justice-league-joss-whedon-and-warners-i-dont-believe-some-of-these-people-are-fit-for-leadership-4161658 “Fans Discuss Why the First ‘Avengers’ Movie Looks So Much Like a TV Show” by Eric Robinettecheatsheet.com/entertainment/fans-discuss-why-the-first-avengers-movie-looks-so-much-like-a-tv-show.html “Charisma Carpenter Accuses Joss Whedon of Traumatizing Her on Set; Buffy Costars Offer Support”hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/charisma-carpenter-accuses-joss-whedon-of-traumatizing-her-during-buffy-and-angel-4131004“The Westminster Dog Show of superheroes” by Roger Ebertrogerebert.com/reviews/the-avengers-2012 “The Avengers and the Amazing “Critic-Proof” Movie” by Jim Emersonrogerebert.com/scanners/the-avengers-and-the-amazing-critic-proof-movie ‘Supergirl’ Executive Producer Andrew Kreisberg has been fired” by Access Hollywood, YouTube“Pentagon Quit The Avengers Because of Its ‘Unreality’” by Spencer Ackermanwired.com/2012/05/avengers-military “The Works Presents… Seamus McGarvey” by RTÉ Oneyoutu.be/JJnGL3jnJoU?si=uYElZlTM-ieyhhu4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BEHIND THE SCENES:-- So, this one obviously delves into some personal experiences—largely because I wanted to do an essay factoring in what a traditional career path in the industry looks like, how you're encouraged to pursue it, etc.-- A lot of the stories I heard in CA are not mine to tell -- so, the editing in the video reflects that too, only highlighting public knowledge as possible.
Chants of Sennaar Micro-Essay: Language and Discomfort SolidArf 2024-06-19 | A micro-essay on Rundisc's "Chants of Sennaar," a game in which you decipher a language and use your growing vocabulary to solve puzzles. I'm fascinated by the way you're forced to adapt to new rules for grammar as you move through its world -- and particularly fascinated by how the game, at some points, forces you to be complicit in how its language oppresses certain people...Made as part of a one-minute micro-essay collaboration with The Essay Library! Go see their latest collection on "Adaptation":19 Video Essays About Adaptation: youtube.com/watch?v=RqqJ90yqJyoFollow me or support the channel if you're able! -- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarf-- Website: aarafafzal.com/npcs
What I Learned Photographing NPCs in Spider-Man 2 SolidArf 2024-04-09 | Excelsior! We're dropping back in to Marvel's New York for an extended look at the NPC design in Insomniac Games' Spider-Man 2 (2023). Easter Eggs! Weird dialogue! Product placement! And a heap of cool details galore... all enhanced through one of the best photo modes in the biz.A huge thank you to the following translators, who deciphered the NPC dialogue that's spoken in other languages:* Spanish: Stradmire (@Stradmire)* Italian: u/TomSFox, u/Leonardo-Saponara, Max, * German: u/xia_yang, u/tutnichtkleben, Max* Mandarin: Rui Zhang* Korean: u/igemoko* Japanese: Nil Nilgiree (@nil-nilgiree-7965 )* Russian: The Book of Ive (@thebookofive )* Opening Titles: 0:00 - 0:40* NPCs of New York: 0:41 - 42:08* Outro: 42:09 - 43:11---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommended Videos: -- What I Learned Photographing NPCs in Spider-Man (2018): youtu.be/bTaNEULyjBw-- What I Learned Photographing NPCs for a Year (Volume 1): youtu.be/9ejkixtIAfwFollow me or support the channel if you're able! -- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed-- NPCs of Gaming: instagram.com/npcsofgaming-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarf-- Website: aarafafzal.com/npcsPlease don't feel any pressure to donate -- as comments, shares, Tweets, and signal boosts help just as much. :) Genuinely, every little bit matters, as I would like to be able to do all this regularly — and the Ko-Fi is there as a potential tip jar. Selected References:-- Interview With The Art Director Of Marvel's Spider Man (PS4) | Marvel Voices by MC DCyoutu.be/JvWO3hqolPI-- Insomniac Games Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Art Blast on Artstation Magazine: magazine.artstation.com/2023/11/insomniac-games-marvels-spider-man-2-art-blast-- Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Photo Mode Features Detailed - Tips to Get Started: blog.playstation.com/2023/10/19/marvels-spider-man-2-photo-mode-features-detailed-tips-to-get-started------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BEHIND THE SCENES:-- For translations, I reached out to some friends from a wide range of sources -- as well as the popular Subreddit "r/translator." I'm extremely thankful to everyone who helped out with that section. Please do note that some of my sources had slightly different interpretations of some of these lines -- so feel free to chime in if you do as well!
The Spider-Man Game Thats So Lost... SolidArf 2024-04-01 | What if... you had to play as a Spider-Man action figure? Join me in the distant future of 2057, as we unpack the story of the lost Spider-Man game... "Spider-Man: Size Matters." April Fools! Alternate timelines! Toy Story-core! This video was made as part of The Essay Library's April 1st anthology on "These Video Essays Do Not Exist," about things that don't exist. But who knows? Maybe they do... in another Spider-Verse.Go check out the full compilation:youtu.be/kGfa6EroxiY?si=Um_Eo-gV0C7T3zi3- Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRuGAa254s9P24esNf73skAtrutR9fLeC&si=BNQZXaiEANZ3uqh2Honored to have been a part of it!-- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarf--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BEHIND-THE-SCENES: - The majority of this video was filmed using the "Action Figure Mode" on Marvel's Spider-Man 2's Photo Mode. It's SUCH a good feature and genuinely showed me the game's setting in a different light — so I wanted to share that with y'all while also making a larger point about the industry. - This does require a bit of suspension of disbelief re: how public domain works -- but it's 2057! Who knows what might have changed?- I shot this concurrently with another Spider-Man video... coming very soon. :)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What I Learned Photographing NPCs in Tears of the Kingdom SolidArf 2024-02-08 | Hylians, Rito, Zora, Gorons, Gerudo & Koroks: The NPCs of Gaming series returns with a look through the camera lens at the NPCs of Hyrule! Settle in, because this is a long one.* Opening Titles: 0:00 - 0:40* NPCs of Hyrule Part I -- Hylians: 0:41 - 22:51* NPCs of Hyrule Part II -- Worldbuilding and Design: 22:52 - 31:00* NPCs of Hyrule Part III -- The Other Hyruleans: 31:01 - 53:05* The Camera Rune: 53:06 - 59:24* The Story Significance of Link's Photography (Minor Spoilers): 59:25 - 1:03:21* Outro: 1:03:22 - 1:04:54---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommended Videos: -- What I Learned Photographing NPCs for a Year (Volume 1): youtu.be/9ejkixtIAfwFollow me or support the channel if you're able! -- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed-- NPCs of Gaming: instagram.com/npcsofgaming-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarf-- Website: aarafafzal.com/npcsPlease don't feel any pressure to donate -- as comments, shares, Tweets, and signal boosts help just as much. :) Genuinely, every little bit matters, as I would like to be able to do all this regularly — and the Ko-Fi is there as a potential tip jar. Selected References:-- "16 More Things You Didn't Know About Breath of the Wild" by Max Blumenthal (Gamespot): youtu.be/KMP0-IS1O08?si=9mX8nNUNv5AJ5HN5-- "Breath of the Wild's NPCs are actually Miis, modder confirms" by Owen S. Good: polygon.com/2021/1/5/22215263/breath-of-the-wild-npcs-are-miis-nintendo-legend-of-zelda-switch-- "Breath of the Wild Dialogue Tumblr" by botwdialogue: botwdialogue.tumblr.com-- Zelda Dungeon: zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Main_Page-- "The Reason Why Gorons are Allowed in Gerudo Town" by kaialone: tumblr.com/kaialone/636034745630965760/the-reason-why-gorons-are-allowed-in-gerudo-town------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BEHIND THE SCENES: -- There's a shot of "Zelda" through the camera lens in this -- but for the spoiler-weary, fret not. It's not actually Zelda! -- This ended up being the longest NPC standalone to date, but I still cut quite a few things from it! These were either: (1) Because they were well-known or widely discussed already, especially with regard to spoilers[Example: Kass, my favorite NPC, is one of the few not to return -- but he is at least mentioned in an off-handed comment by his daughter.](2) Amusing, but probably not intended on the part of the developers[Example A: There's a Goron chef named Cooke, a Rito journalist named Penn, and a Gerudo jeweler named Jewel -- though, she doesn't want you to know it! In BotW, it's revealed that Isha's real name is "Jewel," but she thought it was too embarrassing of a coincidence for a jeweler and so she changed her name.][Example B: In BotW, Konora says she was out of town for so long that she forgot her own address. In TotK, she's straight-up left town.](3) More a cool fact about BotW than about TotK[Example: When the Goron contractors strike rock with their pickaxes, sparks fly out on impact. When Hudson strikes rock with his pickaxe, it SHAKES THE CAMERA SCREEN.](4) Deserving of a full essay on their own (with full discussion of spoilers), by someone more well-suited than me[Example: There's one sidequest I mention about gender dynamics that is incredibly interesting in light of the Gerudo Town arc in this game. There is an intentional parallel to the critical path drawn in it, but one that runs counter to what is depicted with some of the NPCs.]-- Although I plan to re-use the intro/outro shots from this episode in future NPC videos, we filmed it with Legend of Zelda in mind. I hope someone picks up on why (beyond just the t-shirt).
Russian Doll Micro-Essay: Becoming Someone Else SolidArf 2024-01-28 | "Mother, mother, on the wall..."This is a one-minute micro-essay on Netflix's Russian Doll, created for The Essay Library's collaboration "Becoming Someone Else." Go check out the full compilation:youtu.be/zM2Fa-NpBE4?si=pqoXvsJZ_2J9MjISSome incredible micro-essays in there that push the boundaries of the medium. Honored to have been a part of it.-- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarf--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BEHIND-THE-SCENES: - This video started out at ~1:40 minutes long. The hardest part of this was shaving it down to fit the one-minute mark for the collection -- but it was the most fun part as a challenge! I've wanted to make something on Russian Doll for a while, so this theme felt like the perfect opportunity. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SolidArf - Channel Trailer 2.0 SolidArf 2024-01-28 | Hi and welcome! I'm Arf, and this is what I do here.An updated channel trailer for 2023, since I made my original two years ago.Ways to follow/support me:-- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed-- Instagram: instagram.com/npcsofgaming-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarf-- Website: aarafafzal.comSpecial FX from Visual Lifestyle: youtu.be/OE4IylbkyLQ?si=oiDS2q-zGpQKRUy5
The Kingdom Hearts 3 Trailer We Never Saw SolidArf 2023-09-13 | In 2014, a small crowd of Kingdom Hearts fans was shown an exclusive preview for Kingdom Hearts III. What they saw became the basis for both a marketing and storytelling arc years in the making…This is the road to Cable Town. -- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarf--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BEHIND-THE-SCENES: This script went through several iterations, and acts as a nice "season finale" to my first two years of videos: It is in conversation with my very first one on "Inside" + my recent piece on "Hollow Knight," features the closest thing to NPC photography you could get in a world without NPCs, and borrows from the thesis on Crash 4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------==========================Featuring Guest VO from:==========================– KingK: @KingKlonoa – ChipmunkuChan: @ChipmunkuChan – Scruffy: @ScruffyMusic – PostMesmeric: @PostMesmeric – ChipmunkuChan Recommendation: The Era that Changed Gaming ForeverChip’s editing is *electric,* never failing to convey heaps of information while speeding through cool visuals, sick transitions, and a fascinating script. Their video on the clear craze that gripped console / hardware design in the early 2000s is a must-watch:youtu.be/dcbdbH81v-c?si=UcLElb5gorXw80LX – KingK Recommendation: The Duality of Dream Drop DistanceYou can’t go wrong with any of the KH retrospectives— and while the KH3 one is a personal favorite, I have to recommend DDD because it’s so uniquely structured. It is everything I love about video essays. youtu.be/H_MQZgmmlCc?si=LZ53luExBNgKhJ6K – PostMesmeric Recommendation: Kingdom Hearts III and FulfillmentPostMesmeric was the first to really nail how I felt about KH3. His piece is both a sharp reflection on the long wait for the game, *and* self-reflection on how complicated finally having it to process it could be. The result is a critique that is equal parts sincere, empathetic, and thorough.youtu.be/yJv7Hn85Opk?si=eGIDDEBjZxOdwCK5– Scruffy Recommendation: Musical Maps in A Short HikeIn addition to being an insightful essayist, Scruffy is a fantastic musician. Their sound design videos are some of my favorites on here — and their "A Short Hike" piece has especially stayed with me. Also: It features the game’s composer!youtu.be/PCtQFf6us0c?si=W92B2NjRssJ-1a5M ==========================Art by:==========================– Tophatting: twitter.com/toppiegames – Zephyr: twitter.com/khizephyr – KHWaterBlock: twitter.com/KHWaterBlock [Cable Town Minecraft Map: planetminecraft.com/project/cable-town-kingdom-hearts-iii/] – Namico: twitter.com/Namico_x [Dream Code for Namico's ACNH Island: DA-9190-5681-1391]-- CableTownArt: twitter.com/cabletownart==========================Works Cited / Footage and Info==========================KH-Vids: www.kh-vids.net World of Longplays: youtube.com/@worldoflongplays?si=Glbw509Gw_yVv0_f Recap! Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Launch Event by Cecily @ KH Insiderkhinsider.com/news/Recap-Kingdom-Hearts-HD-2-5-ReMix-NA-Launch-Event-4824 KHI Render of KH3 Footage by Cecily @ KH Insider:khinsider.com/news/khi-rendition-of-kh3-footage-4866 “Nomura's favorite world is where Kingdom Hearts III's last battle will take place,” Translation by xionskeyblade @ KH13: kh13.com/news/nomuras-favorite-world-is-where-kingdom-hearts-iiis-last-battle-will-take-place/ “What New Game Hype Does to Your Brain” by Daryl Talks Games: youtu.be/SDBL7Qj0SB8?si=YSeJCEFh4yIJu1is “The Ecstasy of Influence” by Jonathan Lethem: harpers.org/archive/2007/02/the-ecstasy-of-influence/ “Kingdom Hearts 3 - Cable Town Recreated in Minecraft!” by TheGamersJoint:youtu.be/OrS88UMCNy8?si=E34Ep5Cooh4VtNeB “KINGDOM HEARTS III - Exploring Scala ad Caelum [Out of Bounds]” by 13th Vessel:youtu.be/HJvYoFr3tuU?si=7CsKf_g-W46Mai2t “KINGDOM HEARTS III - Xehanort and Eraqus’ Classroom [Room Mod]” by 13th Vessel:youtu.be/PvILaJSuV8I?si=QH8oZ0UbCMa0GzkE “Kingdom Hearts 3 - Exploring Scala ad Caelum Up Close - Hidden Details” by TheGamersJoint:youtu.be/Oucd_EJXVkM?si=1rIm-eg-BeOge_X0 ===========================Footage and / or Mods by: ===========================– 13th Vessel: youtube.com/@13thVessel – Everglow: youtube.com/@everglowKH – TheGamersJoint youtube.com/@TheGamersJoint– Sarah Key: youtube.com/@SarahKey (Plus Soraalam1, LimitForm72, HMK, DMLX Gaming, Shleb)
The Games That Helped Me Grieve SolidArf 2023-07-08 | This is more personal than my other videos, so please do not feel any pressure to watch it. This is for myself and my family + friends first and foremost. It was written and recorded one year ago, when my grandma passed away. I wrote it over the course of a single, difficult day -- and recorded it over the course of two long nights. The games covered:-- A Short Hike: 0:00 - 8:19-- Night in the Woods: 8:19 - 21:19-- Outer Wilds: 21:20 - 39:06-- Conclusion (A Thank You to my Loved Ones): 39:07 - 43:15It's the shortest amount of time it's taken me to write something and the longest it's taken me to edit. I finished it a while back and sat with it for a bit, not sure how ready I was to share it. This is my story.I do want to make more personal essays in the future, though perhaps not as tough as this one. If you do decide to watch, thank you for spending time with it. We will return to our regularly scheduled programming in the next one. -- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarf--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BEHIND THE SCENES:-- I would be remiss not to mention the video that helped me discover Outer Wilds, and kind of changed my life as a video itself: youtu.be/9zCevFE0fMs
What I Learned Photographing NPCs in Guardians of the Galaxy (2021) SolidArf 2023-06-07 | We're back with a look at the NPCs in Eidos-Montréal's "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2021), published by Square Enix. There are a *lot* of different types of alien races here, and their origins / cultures are more fleshed out than you might expect.It turns out there's a lot to complement my photos in developer notes and presentations. I've brought it all in one place, so sit back and enjoy our guided tour of Knowhere... and maybe even how the NPCs tie in to the game's themes.* NPCs of Knowhere (Minor Spoilers): 0:00 - 20:56* The NPCs' Story Significance (Major Spoilers): 20:57 - 35:08Music Used:---(1) Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (2021) - Official Soundtrack by Richard Jacques"Gardeners of the Galaxy" | "Entering the Zone" | "Cavern of Lamentis" | "Good People Never Really Die" | "Family Reunion" | "Hala's Hope Revisited" | "The Huddle" | "The Collector's Emporium"---(2) Guardians of the Galaxy - The Telltale Series Soundtrack by Jared Emerson-Johnson"Knowhere Bar" | "Nova Corps"---(3) Shadow of the Tomb Raider - Soundtrack by Brian D'Oliveira"Campfire Tales"---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommended Videos: -- What I Learned Photographing NPCs for a Year (Volume 1): youtu.be/9ejkixtIAfw-- What I Learned Photographing NPCs in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order: youtu.be/xnUDFr6XwSEFollow me or support the channel if you're able! -- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed-- NPCs of Gaming: instagram.com/npcsofgaming-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarfI'm trying to amp up production for 2023. Please don't feel any pressure to donate -- as comments, shares, Tweets, and signal boosts help just as much. :) Genuinely, every little bit matters, as I would like to be able to do all this regularly — and the Ko-Fi is there as a potential tip jar. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BEHIND THE SCENES: -- Minor correction: So, I didn't mention Universal Translators in this video, but they're a pretty important part of GotG's world-building! At one point, I say the Leezko are fluent in English -- but it's more likely that their language is more readily available on the Universal Translator than some of the other alien races', hence why their lines are voiced and *recorded* in English.-- An addition to the point about GotG's living spaces: You might notice Gamora keeps her mirror in her room covered up. I think we can make our own conclusions about what that entails.-- .......Okay, fine. You have questions about that one shot. But isn't it funnier if I don't explain?All I will say is, that's an alpaca. Not a llama.
What I Learned Photographing NPCs in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order SolidArf 2023-05-04 | May the Fourth be with you! Just in time for Star Wars day (and the release of Survivor), the NPC series returns with a look at the NPCs of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019). There aren't a lot of them, but there *is* a lot to talk about: Stormtroopers, Clone Troopers, and Wookiees abound!Expect more new entries in the "What I Learned Photographing NPCs..." series soon. :)-- What I Learned Photographing NPCs for a Year (Volume 1): youtu.be/9ejkixtIAfwFollow me or support the channel if you're able! -- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed-- NPCs of Gaming: instagram.com/npcsofgaming-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarfI've been trying to amp up production for 2023. Please don't feel any pressure to donate -- as comments, shares, Tweets, and signal boosts help just as much. Genuinely, every little bit matters, as I would like to be able to do all this regularly — and the Ko-Fi is there as a potential tip jar. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BEHIND THE SCENES: -- Yes, I've heard about Turgle. Yes, I'm excited to meet him.
Glass Onion & See How They Run: How a Mind Deceives Itself SolidArf 2023-04-29 | What do 2022's Glass Onion and See How they Run have in common? Despite being whodunnits modeled after classic Agatha Christie, both films are less interested in being puzzles -- and more in being cinematic roller coaster rides.Twists, turns, and surprisingly simple truths await... but that simplicity is clouded by our own desires to seek something more complex. Put your deerstalkers on, friends. We're going to examine why. The game is afoot!Follow me or support the channel if you're able! :)-- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarfWORKS CITED:-- Berkowitz, Reed. “Perspective | Qanon Resembles the Games I Design. but for Believers, There Is No Winning.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 11 May 2021, washingtonpost.com/outlook/qanon-game-plays-believers/2021/05/10/31d8ea46-928b-11eb-a74e-1f4cf89fd948_story.html. -- Hühn, Peter. “The Detective as Reader: Narrativity and Reading Concepts in Detective Fiction.” MFS Modern Fiction Studies, vol. 33, no. 3, 1987, pp. 451–466., doi.org/10.1353/mfs.0.1310. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BEHIND THE SCENES: - So, my day job is, I'm a teacher -- and I teach a freshman writing seminar in the fall. I tend to assign both of the readings cited here to my class, so this has been on my mind for a bit. These two films helped me generalize some of the things I like to stress early into their college education, especially as they start crafting college-level papers for the first time.
Hollow Knights Loneliest Levels SolidArf 2023-04-14 | Like everyone else, I adore the combat of Hollow Knight -- but in its beautiful, bug-infested world, the areas I find myself reflecting on are the ones that use combat minimally. Why do I love the White Palace and the Abyss so much?Feel free to follow me or support the channel!-- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarf------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BEHIND THE SCENES: - After editing this video, I rewatched Razbuten's 2021 video "How Sound Design Makes Games Feel Lonely" to make sure I wasn't repeating anything he'd already said. Instead, I realized something interesting to add: As he points out, the Abyss has *extremely* quiet music, which adds to the sense of isolation. Taking this into account, note that the loudest part of the Abyss is actually inside the lighthouse -- where you can hear the light *itself* S-C-R-E-E-C-H-I-N-G. It is the brightest part of the Abyss, in the same way the King's chamber is the darkest part of the White Palace.(I highly recommend watching Razbuten's video for more specifics about the music!)- This is the first video I'm putting out as a YouTube partner! :)
Art and the Environment in Concrete Genie SolidArf 2023-02-11 | Who is the true antagonist of Pixelopus' Concrete Genie? And what does the game have to say about art and environmentalism? The answers might be murky... but, I think, for a compelling reason.‐-------‐------------------‐-------‐------------------‐-------‐-------------‐-------‐------------------‐-------‐------------------‐-------‐-------------BEHIND THE SCENES:- I'm a bit bummed I couldn't release the original cut for this where I used Concrete Genie’s original OST. It was one of my proudest edits. Foolishly, I like to edit to music -- so swapping out songs for copyright is tough. :(
TOEM, and Why I Love Scrapbooking in Games SolidArf 2023-01-25 | I loved TOEM: A Photo Adventure for its gameplay -- but my time with it also sparked some ideas for me about *why* we scrapbook in video games. How do in-game journals, scrapbooks, and compendiums record our journeys? How can those records be made to feel personal and handmade by the player? And finally... how does it shape our relationship with collectibles?How did I come to love TOEM so dang much? 0:00 - 7:45 — A Photo Adventure7:46 - 14:55 — A Personal Journey, or What I Learned Photographing NPCs in TOEM14:56 - 23:11 — Why I Love Scrapbooking in Games-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Hundred Histories of Crash Bandicoot 4: Its About Time SolidArf 2022-12-20 | Five dimensions. Renew - 0:00 - 17:52Reboot - 17:53 - 30:14Revise - 30:15 - 34:06Replace - 34:07 - 40:41Resume? - 40:42 - 44:14I spent far too much of my formative years reading about Crash Bandicoot news. This is my strange tribute to the series: the one it is, the one it could have been, and the infinite that keeps me coming back.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ottselesque font by Christopher Kirk-Nielsen: chriskirknielsen.com/fonts/ottselesque
What I Learned Photographing NPCs in Kingdom Hearts III SolidArf 2022-07-30 | My deep dive into the character design, clothing, worldbuilding, and ambient dialogue of NPCs from Kingdom Hearts 3, after I spent a year watching and photographing NPCs. KH3 is fascinating because in adapting worlds from a variety of different properties, it pulls details from each of those properties in vastly different ways. Let's dive into how it tackles its Disney worlds: the 3D animated, the adapted from 2D, and the adapted from live action... and of course, how it tackles the townspeople of its beloved original world Twilight Town. How do the game's NPCs compare to the vibes established by their source material? As a camera-wielding Sora might say... "Let's see!"This video is excerpted from a longer deep dive into several games I photographed NPCs in. See below.NPCs of Gaming Year in Review 2021 (Full Video): youtu.be/9ejkixtIAfw======== Kingdom Hearts III Articles ========“Kingdom Hearts 3: The Challenges and Rewards of Working with Disney” by Joe Skrebelsign.com/articles/2019/02/11/kingdom-hearts-3-the-challenges-and-rewards-of-working-with-disney “KH Insider Interviews Tasha Sounart”youtu.be/7Rb4wJikugkFollow me or support the channel if you're able! -- Twitter: twitter.com/YouJustGotArfed-- NPCs of Gaming: instagram.com/npcsofgaming-- Buy Me a Coffee: ko-fi.com/solidarf
What I Learned Photographing NPCs in Spider-Man (2018) SolidArf 2022-07-11 | My deep dive into the character design, clothing, worldbuilding, and ambient dialogue of NPCs from Insomniac Games' Spider-Man (2018) and Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020), after I spent a year watching and photographing NPCs. Insomniac's take on Manhattan is filled with diverse faces, funny dialogue, and lively animations -- but what made it such a rewarding playground for this project was its robust photo mode. By pairing my findings with developer notes from interviews, GDC talks, and ArtStation, I try to pay tribute to their hard work on a breadth of cool details.This video is excerpted from a longer deep dive into several games I photographed NPCs in. See below.NPCs of Gaming Year in Review 2021 (Full Video): youtu.be/9ejkixtIAfw======== Spider-Man Articles ========Interview With The Art Director Of Marvel's Spider Man (PS4) | Marvel Voices by MC DCyoutu.be/JvWO3hqolPI
What I Learned Photographing NPCs in Gravity Rush 2 SolidArf 2022-07-11 | My deep dive into the character design, clothing, worldbuilding, and ambient dialogue of NPCs from Japan Studio's Gravity Rush 2, after I spent a year watching and photographing NPCs. Gravity Rush 2 was my favorite game to people-watch in, because a lot of storytelling work went into where and how its character models show up. NPCs in Hekseville and Jirga Para Lhao do more than just flesh out the world; they also have little story vignettes of their own that might pop up in the background of certain sidequests. Bonus: GR2's camera encourages that kind of attention to detail. Let's look at the how, the why, and the whoa!This video is excerpted from a longer deep dive into several games I photographed NPCs in. See below.NPCs of Gaming Year in Review 2021 (Full Video): youtu.be/9ejkixtIAfw======== Gravity Rush Articles ========“Gravity Rush Central Interview With Keiichiro Toyama, Eric Bailey and Naoko Sato” by Draikingravityrushcentral.com/2018/05/09/gravity-rush-central-interview-with-keiichiro-toyama-eric-bailey-and-naoko-sato
What I Learned Photographing NPCs in Final Fantasy VII Remake SolidArf 2022-07-11 | My deep dive into the character design, clothing, worldbuilding, and ambient dialogue of NPCs from Final Fantasy VII Remake, after I spent a year photographing NPCs. Through subtitled dialogue, the best feature of 7R's NPCs is that they draw your attention to a ton of world details and story vignettes, often in visually interesting ways. Also featured: the NPCs of Final Fantasy XV, who seemed to have laid some of this groundwork -- and starkly reminded me how important food is to the world & culture of FFXV. This video is excerpted from a longer deep dive into several games I photographed NPCs in. See below.NPCs of Gaming Year in Review 2021 (Full Video): youtu.be/9ejkixtIAfw
The Camera(s) of NEO: The World Ends with You SolidArf 2022-04-03 | I'm fascinated by the camera through which NEO: The World Ends with You presents its Shibuya. While you adventure in the foreground, a GoPro-style wide-angle lens distorts your background. Why is that, and how does it tie in with NEO's story?Written and edited by Aaraf AfzalInterview Translations by TProofread by Sifana Sohail
Gravity Rush: A Hierarchy of Sinking Worlds SolidArf 2021-10-10 | Gravity Rush is about a magical girl superhero who fights dark monsters. It is also, I think, about corrupt governments and climate change. So. Let's unpack that.Written and edited by Aaraf AfzalFeedback from Sifana SohailGravity Rush (PS Vita) Footage: Tsunao @ World of Longplaysyoutu.be/fg9DL9N5u_QI tried to avoid using too much IRL footage because I don't want to cast a voyeuristic gaze on any one community and "how bad they have it." That said...-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Works Cited:Kiribati: Battling for Survival by United Nations: youtu.be/hW9EAkqu6aYSwathes of Central Bangladesh Flooded after Heavy Monsoon Rains, by AFP: youtu.be/zStCpnKNgL4How FF7 Remake Uses Architecture from All Over the World, by Polygon: youtu.be/hG7WzStbnzgLife in the Shadow of Midgar, by Jacob Geller: youtu.be/hQAQ92dsOw4dailyposter.com/does-not-present-sufficient-cause
Rediscovering Spira: Learning to Love Final Fantasy X-2 SolidArf 2021-07-20 | Just in time for the 20th anniversary of one of my favorite games: Why I love Spira so much, why it'll stay with me, and how Final Fantasy X-2 changed my understanding of it two decades later.Written and edited by Aaraf AfzalFeedback from Sifana SohailFinal Fantasy X Footage: Snoman Gameplayyoutube.com/channel/UCeP1Enud_t8FBRrDroYPJvQ/featuredFinal Fantasy VI Footage: Ironsharp @ World of Longplayslongplays.org/infusions/longplays/longplays.php?cat_id=16&longplay_id=2305
Psychonauts: Video Game Drowning and The Aquato Solution SolidArf 2021-06-17 | According to TVTropes: "Having your character be able to swim means adding an entirely new form of gameplay that's usually boring, annoying and nowhere near worth it." Why does Psychonauts (2005) have my favorite iteration of video game drowning?Well, it all comes down to a small hero named Razputin Aquato... and his complicated namesake. Let's dive in!
Inside: Storytelling Without Words (But With 14 Exceptions) SolidArf 2021-06-14 | Playdead's Inside is often praised for its approach to storytelling: silent, ambient, and bursting with meaning. The gameplay mirrors the storytelling too, signaling information to the player without instructing them outright.Can I unpack all of that? Probably not. But am I fascinated by the places where text might play into your experience of the game? Oh hell yes.
SolidArf - Channel Trailer SolidArf 2021-06-14 | Hi and welcome! This is me, and what I do. Stick around if you'd like. Or safe travels on your *this,* your daily odyssey, around the internet. Mints by the door on the way out.
