Hotline Miami and the Rise of Synthwave Michael Saba 2016-12-24 | Synthwave is one of the most compelling and exciting new music genres in years, but where did it start? This is the story of the resurrection of a long-lost French Electro sound, and the definitive soundtrack of two empires in decline.Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsabaIf you enjoy this music, the story continues in this piece I've written for Bandcamp: daily.bandcamp.com/2016/12/01/rosso-corsa-interview
Why Panzer Dragoon Saga is the Greatest RPG Nobody Played Michael Saba 2022-06-24 | This is the story of the most important and influential RPG ever released -- which happens to be a game that next to nobody played, especially when it first came out.This game is also THE case study in why emulation is the key to retro games preservation. Join me on this journey, and bring the legend back to life.0:00 INTRO: The Forgotten Legacy4:35 PART I: Age of Ruin10:44 PART II: A Lost Legend Comes to Life22:33 PART III: End Times34:41 PART IV: How to Train Your Drago[o]n44:26 FINALE: Hope for the Hopeless49:30 CREDITSSupport this channel: http://www.patreon.com/michaelsabaStreaming on Twitch, Fridays @ 4PM EST: http://twitch.tv/dreaminginneonEmail: askdreaminginneon@gmail.com Additional reading / sources:Panzer Dragoon Legacy: panzerdragoonlegacy.comPanzer Dragoon Oasis: http://pdsoasis.github.ioThe Ruinous Road of Gaming's Missing Masterpiece - theringer.com/2018/1/29/16940902/1998-video-games-panzer-dragoon-saga-missing-masterpieceGames Workshop Declares War on its Customers (Again) - pluralistic.net/2021/07/30/space-marines/#fairy-use-taleAzel Resurrection Project: twitter.com/azelr_project#gamespreservation #emulation #retro
JoJos Bizarre Adventure and the Rise of the AMV Michael Saba 2021-02-25 | JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is so much smarter than you think. High fashion, classic art, and killer music come together in one of the best anime ever made. And then, there's the secret weapon that turned JoJo into a meme sensation: The Anime Music Video, or AMV. (Just what is up with the 'JoJo Pose TikTok Challenge' anyway?!)This is a story about how, sometimes, the art of the remix isn't just for copycats -- it's a powerful act of expression unto itself.Support my work: patreon.com/michaelsabaWatch me play games: twitch.tv/dreaminginneonEmail: askdreaminginneon@gmail.com Watch / Listen more:Studio Megaane - youtube.com/user/megaane100'I’m a JoeStar' by Open Mike Eagle | Toonami - youtube.com/watch?v=i3Bt1E6VJ5MRead more:The Metaphysics of Crackle - dj.dancecult.net/index.php/dancecult/article/view/378John Martin at Tate - tate.org.uk/art/artists/john-martin-371Celebrating the Art & Fashion of JJBA - animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2019-07-31/celebrating-the-art-and-fashion-of-jojo-bizarre-adventure/.149560#jojo #jjba #amv
The Game of the Year and the End of Elite Opinion Michael Saba 2021-01-30 | The "GOTY discourse" was so rotten, it forced THE OUTRAGED GAMER to rise from an unquiet grave. Ghost of Tsushima VS Last of Us 2 VS Hades VS Animal Crossing enter the Thunderdome: It's time for a little discussion about 2020, games media and journalism, and how so many outlets seemed to miss (or ignore) the biggest story of the year.(Can you believe it took me THIS long to include a Chomsky clip in one of my videos?!) Support my work:patreon.com/michaelsabaWatch me play games: twitch.tv/dreaminginneonAudio/Visuals:JoJo's Bizarre Adventure but it's made with Animal Crossing: youtube.com/watch?v=3rlJLvA8bdIDOOM CROSSING: Eternal Horizons: youtube.com/watch?v=U4lz8MN6MQANoam Chomsky -- Neoliberalism is destroying our democracy: youtube.com/watch?v=tBzSLu3MZ6IClay Kramer: youtube.com/c/ClayKramerAdditional reading:The Unbearable Lightness of Animal Crossing: wired.com/story/unbearable-lightness-animal-crossingWhy Animal Crossing Calms You Down, Explained: polygon.com/2020/4/2/21201065/animal-crossing-new-horizons-calm-mindfulness-coronavirus-quarantineThe Quiet Revolution of Animal Crossing: theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/04/animal-crossing-isnt-escapist-its-political/610012
Metal Gear Solid V is a Misunderstood Anti-War Masterpiece Michael Saba 2020-08-05 | MGSV is definitely an adaptation of Moby Dick. Only, instead of being about America, it's really about Japan. Trust me, it'll all make sense.It also turns out that it's possible to do a thematic deep-dive on Metal Gear without using the word "nanomachines" a single time. Who knew?Say peace.Support this channel: http://www.patreon.com/michaelsabaStreaming on Twitch: http://twitch.tv/dreaminginneonEmail: askdreaminginneon@gmail.com 0:00 Intro: Chasing the White Whale6:14 Prologue: A Misunderstood Masterpiece13:58 Chapter 1: Black Mirror22:03 Chapter 2: Hellbound32:49 Chapter 3: War Without End42:43 Debriefing: Empty Space, Phantom Pain50:50 CreditsAdditional reading:How Should We Interpret the Story of MGSV? - famitsu.com/news/201602/26099526.htmlWe Are All Aboard The Pequod - truthdig.com/articles/we-are-all-aboard-the-pequod
Japanese City Pop and the Rise of Future Funk Michael Saba 2019-09-13 | You've plunged down the YouTube rabbithole, mainlined 'Plastic Love', and emerged with a burning question: What is City Pop? If you're a fan of anime and Japanese video games, your connection to this music runs even deeper than you know.*****The City Pop Listening Gude: patreon.com/posts/getting-into-pop-29936088Support me on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/michaelsabaEmail me: askdreaminginneon@gmail.com*****The Shared Psychosis of Perfect Blue: youtube.com/watch?v=gHWSlSyjK5cA Guide to City Pop, the soundtrack for Japan's Bubble Era: nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g00631/a-guide-to-city-pop-the-soundtrack-for-japan%E2%80%99s-bubble-era-generation.htmlWhy does the soundtrack to Tokyo's tech boom still resonate?: rollingstone.com/music/music-features/japanese-city-pop-returns-light-in-the-attic-compilation-pacific-breeze-822663*****B-roll of 70s/80s Japan source: youtube.com/watch?v=5BnMipDBx2I
KILL la KILL takedown & reupload (PLUS, DiN SELLS OUT) Michael Saba 2019-05-22 | My KILL la KILL video essay is available to watch on Vimeo: vimeo.com/337603771It was heartbreaking to have my favorite video I've ever done taken down after less than 24 hours. But I'm not going to let this hold me back. DON'T LOSE YOUR WAY, because the fight continues. (Sorry my hair is such a hot mess in this video, I didn't sleep last night.)I'm also officially launching a Patreon crowdfunding page so I can take this thing full-time. Please consider supporting me so I can make it happen: patreon.com/michaelsabaMusic: 'LOVE SPACE' & 'Ride on Time' by Tatsuro Yamashita.Email me: askdreaminginneon@gmail.com
KILL la KILL Decoded: Fashion, Fascism & the Fight for Freedom Michael Saba 2019-05-20 | Yes, KILL la KILL is a dumb and horny action anime about skimpy battle uniforms. But it's also an amazingly relevant coming-of-age tale, and its message changed my life. Let's go naked.Support me on Patreon and help make my videos possible: patreon.com/michaelsabaUr Fascism by Umberto Eco: drive.google.com/open?id=1rEAXakscB8H8hjKEb-zMyHznitI9njjdAngie Speaks: youtube.com/channel/UCUtloyZ_Iu4BJekIqPLc_fQAdditional Reading:- Who Cares About Anime: http://whocaresaboutanime.com/2016/05/27/kill-la-kill-fascism-fashion-and-feminism- Otaku Journalist: otakujournalist.com/fashion-femininity-and-fascism-but-family-foremost-the-themes-of-kill-la-kill
DOOM Eternal, Counterculture, and How We Talk About Labor Michael Saba 2019-03-07 | Doom Eternal looks like a fun game, but is it really giving the series' legacy its proper due? And what does the name say about how we treat the people who make the games we love? This is a story about labor, art, and how counterculture gets absorbed into the mainstream. Thank you to everyone who supports this channel -- you're gonna love what I've got coming up.Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsabaMasters of Doom: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/96382/masters-of-doom-by-david-kushner/9780812972153The Early Days of Id Software (GDC): youtube.com/watch?v=E2MIpi8pIvYThe History of Id Software (RagnarRox): youtube.com/watch?v=OHgET0En8FwDoom level design commentaries (Liz Ryerson): youtube.com/watch?v=VR269ltcjhA&list=PLEdRlER1F5rEoZ9repPcJM2jWvrXVDBSYSum'n to Say Podcast: soundcloud.com/sumntosay/bonus-casting-trapula-after-seeing-horror-noire
How NieR: Automata Tells the Ultimate Humanist Fable Michael Saba 2018-09-24 | A comprehensive analysis / critique / thematic deep-dive of NieR: Automata, one of the best games ever made. What is the meaning of life? And how should we then live, if existence has no innate higher purpose? It sounds unlikely, but this 2017 game about gothic-lolita androids has a very compelling answer: Humanism.Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsabaSources:Archipel's documentary of Yoko Taro: youtube.com/watch?v=L3wScHE28K8Yoko Taro at GDC, "Making Weird Games for Weird People" - youtube.com/watch?v=OO_d3fwTNPoWhat is humanism? americanhumanist.org/what-is-humanism/definition-of-humanism
Philosophy of ＡＥＳＴＨＥＴＩＣＳ: The Floating World of Ukiyo-e Michael Saba 2018-07-25 | The aesthetics of Vaporwave and Synthwave represent more than just a retreat into the past -- they are the modern embodiment of the Japanese artistic tradition of Ukiyo-e. 【ＵＫＩＹＯＷＡＶＥ】Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsabaHauntology, Lost Futures and 80s Nostalgia: youtube.com/watch?v=gSvUqhZcbVgSpecial thanks to ukiyo-e.org, which maintains an incredible online gallery of woodblock prints and paintings: ukiyo-e.org
Daria, Alienation, and the Limits of Irony Michael Saba 2018-07-01 | THE_DARIA_DEFENDER has logged on. (The original version of this video had a few more clips from the show, but Viacom / YouTube's automated copyright machine apparently doesn't like free PR telling everyone how great Daria is.)Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsaba8-bit Sound (My Iron Lung remix): youtube.com/channel/UCE1BEIqOeXjmIFu5G9wU_xg24Firestorm24 (Lithium remix): youtube.com/user/24Firestorm24
The Story of Street Fighter: The greatest bad movie ever made Michael Saba 2018-06-01 | The 1994 live-action Street Fighter is a bad film, but it's also one of the greatest movies you'll ever see. This is the untold story of the how the greatest bad movie of all time got made.Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsabaNotes on Camp, by Susan Sontag: https://faculty.georgetown.edu/irvinem/theory/Sontag-NotesOnCamp-1964.htmlStreet Fighter: The Movie - What went wrong? (Polygon): polygon.com/features/2014/3/10/5451014/street-fighter-the-movie-what-went-wrong
The Joy of GUNPLA: Meditation for Otaku Michael Saba 2018-05-12 | Down through the years, the Gundam anime series has held a special place in my heart. After rediscovering the joy of Gunpla (miniature Gundam models) recently, I was struck by how similar the experience was to meditation and yoga.Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsabaStruggle Session: soundcloud.com/struggle-session-618688589/episode-57-spinning-borisBuilders TV: youtube.com/user/thebuilderstvStudio Megaane: youtube.com/user/megaane100
Confessions of a Kremlin Stooge: Debunking the New McCarthyism Michael Saba 2018-03-21 | After the 2016 US election broke everyone's brain, American centrists and liberals pushed a dark conspiracy theory about Russia into the mainstream. Having worked for the Russian government, I feel uniquely equipped to explain why this is bullshit, and might lead to WW3.Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsaba
Gravity Rush & The Power Of Player Disempowerment Michael Saba 2018-03-07 | The Gravity Rush series is an excellent example of an underappreciated trend in game design: Player disempowerment. This video is a love letter to two amazing games that are destined to be cult classics.Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsabaResident Evil 7 is Brilliant (And Here's Why) [RagnarRox]: youtube.com/watch?v=lnOuAt3-Bus
Radicalization and Gaming: The New Culture Wars Michael Saba 2018-02-25 | The 'angry video gamer' used to be a figure of parody; it's now the default stance.This is a story about how videogames were co-opted by a campaign of radicalization, and about how fictional worlds came to define the real one.Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsaba'Why Are You So Angry?' by Innuendo Studios: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJA_jUddXvY62dhVThbeegLPpvQlR4CjF
A Tale of Two Dystopias: Children of Men VS The Handmaids Tale Michael Saba 2017-06-18 | The Handmaid's Tale has clear aspirations to be the Children of Men of prestige TV in 2017. Can it live up to one of the greatest movies of the 21st century? Let's find out.Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsaba
A Letter to From Software: Please, No More Dark Souls Michael Saba 2017-04-28 | FromSoft said Dark Souls 3 is supposed to be the last Souls game for a while, or maybe forever. After finishing the Ringed City expansion, I hope they're telling the truth. Let's examine what made the first Dark Souls so special, and why the series needs to end with grace.Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsaba
Shin Godzilla: The Most Important Movie of 2016 Michael Saba 2016-10-17 | Shin Godzilla (formerly Godzilla: Resurgence) was an absolute blast, and the best movie I've seen in 2016. Beyond being an entertaining giant monster flick, it has plenty to say about modern Japan and its relationship with the rest of the world.Thumbnail image courtesy RagnarRox. (Totally serious alt title: "The Thinking Man's Kaiju Film: Godzilla Smashes the Neoliberal Consensus")Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsaba
Zack Snyder Ruins Everything Michael Saba 2016-10-04 | Do you ever wonder how zombies became so played out? Or why blockbusters have to be 'dark and gritty' these days? Or why you can't shake that overwhelming feeling of exhaustion and nihilism when you watch a Zack Snyder movie? Dreaming in Neon has the answers.This is a story about a bad film director, and the very bad ideas their movies are spreading. (Parts of this essay were greatly inspired by Christian Thorne's piece "The Running of the Dead": https://sites.williams.edu/cthorne/articles/the-running-of-the-dead-part-1/)Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsaba
Death Stranding: The Silent Hills / Junji Ito Connection Michael Saba 2016-07-16 | A short bonus video for last week's essay. I'm betting dollars to donuts that Silent Hills collaborator and horror manga mastermind Junji Ito is involved in Death Stranding; here's why.Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsaba
Jodorowskys Dune and P.T.: Dead but Not Gone Michael Saba 2016-07-09 | Our worst failures can have meaning and impact that echoes beyond the here-and-now. Let's explore two unfinished masterpieces that have directly influenced their peers, often in surprising ways.Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsaba
How Hyper Light Drifter Escapes the Nostalgia Trap Michael Saba 2016-06-30 | Our love of nostalgia feels like it's slowly poisoning mass culture, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't celebrate the past. Hyper Light Drifter shows us how we can use old ideas in a new and compelling way. Also: Metro Boomin want some more.Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsabaBuy the game: http://www.heart-machine.comHLD OST: http://music.disasterpeace.com/album/hyper-light-drifterMusic:Seeds of the Crown -- DisasterpeaceWhere ya At (Instrumental) -- Future (prod. Metro Boomin)Karate Chop (Instrumental) -- Future (prod. Metro Boomin)Titan -- DisasterpeacePhotos:Vangelis -- http://vangelismovements.com/vangelis.htmDisasterpeace -- http://music.disasterpeace.com
Metal Gear Solid: Requiem for a Theme Michael Saba 2015-08-30 | Hideo Kojima is the Paul Verhoeven of videogames; I mean that in the best way possible. Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/michaelsabaSources:Kojima pic: gamezone.comMGS 2 / 3 / 4 cinematics: /user/Dansg08The Pervert's Guide to Cinema: Slavoz ZizekTNG squad pic: trekcore.comAl-Sabbah pic: thesevenworlds.wp.comAlamut Castle pic: presstv.irKojima interview: The Making of MGS4 documentaryThe Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp: REMBRANDT, SONBuddha pic: elephantjournal.com"Monster" – Kanye West"1984" – David Bowie"All the Love in the World (Instrumental)" – Nine Inch Nails"Vortex" – John Carpenter"Sunspots (Instrumental)" – Nine Inch Nails"MGS Piano Theme" – RagnarRox
