Pixel a DayKat explores the hidden cost of utopia in everything from Ursula Le Guin’s fiction, to John Calhoun’s famous rodent experiments, to the game Paradise Killer. Video contains spoilers for Paradise Killer and The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas.
A few notes and corrections: 1) on the quote about capitalism and the end of the world. I know that Fisher has jointly attributed this idea to Jameson and Žižek, but I couldn’t find a Žižek quote actually saying anything like this and a lot of people attribute it just to Jameson (who conveniently directly says it in his writing: “Someone once said that it is easier to imagine the end of the world than to imagine the end of capitalism”) which is why I attributed him only. 2) It seems there's zero evidence the Salem witch trials had anything to do with Omelas. The "Salem" Le Guin named Omelas after was not THAT Salem (it was a road sign for Salem, Oregon). I thought I'd read somewhere that she mentioned the parallel with the other Salem, but I can't find it, so this may be something my brain just made up. 3) The video makes it seem like I agree with all of Calhoun's conclusions - that's absolutely my own fault and people are totally right to point that out. My aim in this video was to emphasise the parallels between these works, but obviously there are many limitations to the generalisability of Calhoun's results to human populations. We did not in fact (despite the scaremongering of MANY dystopian films and books made in the 70s) end up living in one huge overcrowded hellhole where we have to eat each other to survive, so I do think it's fairly obvious that all this stuff was of its time.
Thanks also to Videezy and Videvo for the stock footage
All game footage capped by me
Thanks to Zoltiboi for the thumbnail
Article cited: Calhoun, J. B. (1973). Death squared: the explosive growth and demise of a mouse population. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, 66, 80-88.
Music used in this episode: Welcome - Barry Topping (Epoch) Paradise (Stay Forever) - Barry Topping (Epoch) Breeze With U - Barry Topping (Epoch) Lewis’ Coronation – Jeff Russo Reconciliation – Joe & Bob Johnson Respite – Joe & Bob Johnson Idle Lands - Barry Topping (Epoch) Threat (Outskirts) – James Primate Plateau - Barry Topping (Epoch) Headlights on the Shore - Barry Topping (Epoch)
Paradise Killer: A Late-Stage DystopiaPixel a Day2022-12-16 | Kat explores the hidden cost of utopia in everything from Ursula Le Guin’s fiction, to John Calhoun’s famous rodent experiments, to the game Paradise Killer. Video contains spoilers for Paradise Killer and The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas.
A few notes and corrections: 1) on the quote about capitalism and the end of the world. I know that Fisher has jointly attributed this idea to Jameson and Žižek, but I couldn’t find a Žižek quote actually saying anything like this and a lot of people attribute it just to Jameson (who conveniently directly says it in his writing: “Someone once said that it is easier to imagine the end of the world than to imagine the end of capitalism”) which is why I attributed him only. 2) It seems there's zero evidence the Salem witch trials had anything to do with Omelas. The "Salem" Le Guin named Omelas after was not THAT Salem (it was a road sign for Salem, Oregon). I thought I'd read somewhere that she mentioned the parallel with the other Salem, but I can't find it, so this may be something my brain just made up. 3) The video makes it seem like I agree with all of Calhoun's conclusions - that's absolutely my own fault and people are totally right to point that out. My aim in this video was to emphasise the parallels between these works, but obviously there are many limitations to the generalisability of Calhoun's results to human populations. We did not in fact (despite the scaremongering of MANY dystopian films and books made in the 70s) end up living in one huge overcrowded hellhole where we have to eat each other to survive, so I do think it's fairly obvious that all this stuff was of its time.
Thanks also to Videezy and Videvo for the stock footage
All game footage capped by me
Thanks to Zoltiboi for the thumbnail
Article cited: Calhoun, J. B. (1973). Death squared: the explosive growth and demise of a mouse population. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, 66, 80-88.
Music used in this episode: Welcome - Barry Topping (Epoch) Paradise (Stay Forever) - Barry Topping (Epoch) Breeze With U - Barry Topping (Epoch) Lewis’ Coronation – Jeff Russo Reconciliation – Joe & Bob Johnson Respite – Joe & Bob Johnson Idle Lands - Barry Topping (Epoch) Threat (Outskirts) – James Primate Plateau - Barry Topping (Epoch) Headlights on the Shore - Barry Topping (Epoch)Why Alan Wake 2 Is Simply Sublime - a video essay by Pixel a Day #shortsPixel a Day2025-02-18 | Watch the video now @PixelaDay Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_day Bluesky: @pixeladay.bsky.social Tumblr: @katfrompixeladayI Can’t Get Over How Sublime Alan Wake 2 IsPixel a Day2025-02-14 | Kat explores the dark, twisted recesses of her own obsession with Alan Wake 2, every word a step forward into madness. Will she ever escape?
All game footage captured by me, except the dark ocean summoning gameplay clip (taken from SourceSpy91) Thanks to Littlebrojay, japanyoshithegamer and Xenonn at Freesound for the samples
Music used in this episode: Driving Around Washington State - Petri Alanko Zane - Petri Alanko Bathtub - Petri Alanko End of the Road - Bill Kiley Subway 1 - Mikko Tarmia Tropical Eden - Simon Chylinski Sun and Moon - Simon ChylinskiThe Pixel a Day Game Awards 2024 #shortsPixel a Day2024-12-26 | Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_day Bluesky: @pixeladay.bsky.social20K Sub Celebration Goo Stream (highlights reel)Pixel a Day2024-09-03 | Friends of the channel join together to laugh at Kat's nonexistent bridge building abilities and celebrate Pixel a Day hitting 20,000 subscribers.Pixel a Day Live StreamPixel a Day2024-08-26 | ...Nintendo is an indie studio #shortsPixel a Day2024-07-31 | Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_day Bluesky: @pixeladay.bsky.socialThe indie game award paradox #shortsPixel a Day2024-07-04 | Watch the video now @PixelaDay Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_day Bluesky: @pixeladay.bsky.socialWhy is Dave the Diver like that? #shortsPixel a Day2024-06-29 | Watch the video now @PixelaDay Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_day Bluesky: @pixeladay.bsky.socialWe’re Celebrating the Wrong Indie GamesPixel a Day2024-06-22 | Are Stray and Dave the Diver even indie games? What's an indie game? If a tree falls in the forest and Dave the Diver gets a Best Independent Game award nomination, can Geoff Keighley hear my screams?
Introduction (0:00:00) Dave the Diver (0:01:59) Stray (0:17:13) Why It All Matters (0:27:15)
Works referenced at 44:42: [1] Ruberg, Bonnie. 2019. Video Games Have Always Been Queer. NYU Press. [2] Shaw, Adrienne. 2014. Gaming at the Edge: Sexuality and Gender at the Margins of Gamer Culture. University of Minnesota Press. [3] Anthropy, Anna. 2012. Rise of the Videogame Zinesters: How Freaks, Normals, Amateurs, Artists, Dreamers, Drop-Outs, Queers, Housewives, and People Like You Are Taking Back an Art Form. New York: Seven Stories Press.
Thank you to my interviewees: Droqen: droqen.com @droqen2 Sylvie: https://sylvie.website/ And thank you to the people who lent their voices: Darkfry @Darkfry Kevin @PixelLit Sam @Afterthoughts Monty @MontyZander Alicia @Transparencyboo Mark @GMTK Chris @ErrantSignal
All game footage captured by me, except the Dave the Diver MGS section (taken from DustDogg Gaming)
Music used in this episode: Clocking In - Logan Hayes Seals and Dolphins - D'Anthoni Wooten Diver - Jukio Kallio Welcome to my Bistro - Jongho Yoo Inside the Wall - Yann Van Der Cruyssen The Notebooks - Yann Van Der Cruyssen Shop Theme - Koji Kondo Restaurant Prep - D'Anthoni Wooten
Games shown (aside from the diving and cat games): Rain World, The Pathless, Dishonored, Rollerdrome, Prince of Persia The Lost Crown, Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy, Sifu, Citizen Sleeper, Neon White, Teardown, Yume Nikki, BABBDI, NaissanceE, Animal Well, Ghost of Tsushima, Forest's Secret, Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Thirty Flights of Loving, The Evil Within, Paradise Killer, A Plague Tale: Requiem, Inscryption, Bury Me My Love, Balatro, Carto, VVVVVV, With Those We Love Alive, Curtain, Problem Attic, Venba, The Witness, A Good Gardener, Dyo, Before Your Eyes, Her Story, Baba is You, Outer WildsWhat city levels mean to me #shortsPixel a Day2024-03-12 | Watch the video now @PixelaDay Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_day Bluesky: @pixeladay.bsky.social Tumblr: @katfrompixeladayThe Pedestrian and what a city at night feels like #shortsPixel a Day2024-03-09 | Watch the video now @PixelaDay Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_day Bluesky: @pixeladay.bsky.social Tumblr: @katfrompixeladayWhat does a city level sound like? #shortsPixel a Day2024-03-06 | Watch the video now @PixelaDay Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_day Bluesky: @pixeladay.bsky.social Tumblr: @katfrompixeladayCity Levels - a video essay by Pixel a Day #shortsPixel a Day2024-03-03 | Watch the video now @PixelaDay Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_day Bluesky: @pixeladay.bsky.social Tumblr: @katfrompixeladayCity Levels: The Most Underrated BiomePixel a Day2024-03-01 | What makes city levels so awesome? Kat has the answer.
Special thanks to Tom of the channel Static Canvas for providing his voice: @Buliaros18-Static-Canvas
All footage from Super Mario Odyssey, The Pedestrian and Paradise Killer capped by me, aside from some trailer footage
Music used in this video: Tostarena: Ruins - Naoto Kubo Jump Up, Super Star! - Naoto Kubo Metropolis IntMusic - Mat Clark New Donk City - Naoto Kubo Rush Hour - Logan Hayes Katamari on the Swing - Yuu Miyake and Yoshito Yano Go! Go! Style - Barry Topping (Epoch) Clocking In - Logan Hayes Lemegton Bop - Barry Topping (Epoch) Leaving - Barry Topping (Epoch) Headlights on the Shore - Barry Topping (Epoch) Moon - Logan Hayes Czar Louie’s Reigna - Logan HayesKat does the Alan Wake dance (Herald of Darkness) #shortsPixel a Day2024-01-11 | Watch the full dance collab: youtu.be/Owyjs34LltQGames Video Essayists Wish You a Happy 2024! (Alan Wake Dance Herald of Darkness)Pixel a Day2024-01-07 | Pixel a Day @PixelaDay Pim's Crypt @pimscrypt Gameservatory @Gameservatory Sputnik34 @Sputnik34 SocraTetris @SocraTetris Novacanoo @Novacanoo Chariot Rider @Chariot_RiderThe Pixel a Day Game Awards #shortsPixel a Day2023-12-23 | Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_dayWhy are Youtube video essays about games so samey? #shortsPixel a Day2023-12-21 | Watch the video now @PixelaDay Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_dayFromSoft games are plenty accessible #shortsPixel a Day2023-12-18 | Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_dayWhats wrong with research on gamer types? #shortsPixel a Day2023-12-16 | Watch the video now @PixelaDay Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_dayWhat Is the Games Industry Missing? - a video essay by Pixel a Day #shortsPixel a Day2023-12-13 | Watch the video now @PixelaDay Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_dayWhat Is the Games Industry Missing?Pixel a Day2023-12-08 | The games industry is an ouroboros, telling the same stories, catering to the same people, and focusing on the same motivations, experiences and mechanics. What are we, as an industry and a community, missing?
Introduction (0:00:00) Part 1: The Demographic Ouroboros (0:01:29) Part 2: Sorry, You Don’t Exist (0:11:52) Part 3: What If You Had a Gun? (0:25:45) Part 4: I Will Not Make Any More Boring Art (0:34:15) Part 5: This is Not Game Maker’s Toolkit (0:40:11) Conclusion (0:49:23)
People who lent their voices Tracy Oliver voiced by Visionpoint on Fiverr The Washington Post voiced by Like Stories of Old Gamer Motivation Profile results voiced by Super Eyepatch Wolf Tevis Thompson voiced by Jacob Geller Martin Scorsese voiced by Adam Millard i am error, hotcyder and SocraTetris voiced by themselves Rose Brie Code voiced by herself Teoh et al. voiced by kikikrazed “Where are the mom games” compilation voices by: Darkfry, hotcyder, I am error, Aranock, Kai After Kai, Intercactus, Kevin from PixelLit, Questing Refuge, Secret Unlockable Goose, That 5th Puddle, kikikrazed, Chariot Rider, The Zapppfish Show
Video essays that are unique, poetic, inventive, vulnerable, surprising or inspiring, or that have a personal flair that is undeniably, distinctly that person’s (also available as a playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLo_y2c7MYxWO3pvZYf5GJtei8YWboNLs4) General Art is Everything | Is Art Still Relevant? | Art is Everything - YouTube Aranock | Queer Relativity Ladyknightthebrave | Remembering With A Twist - A Jojo Rabbit & The Book Thief Video Essay Razbuten | I Hope This Video Doesn't Suck Jacob Geller | Who’s Afraid of Modern Art: Vandalism, Video Games, and Fascism hotcyder | Another Minute Remaining The Essay Library | The Exquisite Relay: An Essay Library Co-Construction Solar Sands | Everything is Television Games Lambhoot | Why I haven't played Hades Static Canvas | The Cost of Horizons | Static Canvas Socratetris | Behind This Waterfall? - Secrets Afterthoughts | World of Warcraft and the Joy of Doing Nothing GST Channel | isn't it weird how newer games manage to look more realistic than older ones? GC Vazquez | Representing Latines and Hispanics In Games Electron Dance | The Five Stages of Starseed Pilgrim John Battle | The Last of Us 2: The Story of a House Leadhead | The Game That Defined Me Samantha Close | Play, Failure, Affect, Sadism
People whose work I used: Ouroboros picture by Gustavorezende on Pixabay Gamer photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels Corporate presentation photo by Kampus Production on Pexels Photos of scientists by Edward Jenner on Pexels, and Hernandez & Sorokina on Stocksy
Music used in this episode: A Glow - Joe & Bob Johnson Thorofare Hike - Chris Remo Lovely Arps - James Primate Seeds of the Crown – Disasterpeace The Machinist – Amos Roddy Maneuvers – Simon Chylinski Petrichor V – Chris Christodoulou
Games mentioned at 29:41-30:03 - Signs of the Sojourner, Wilmot's Warehouse, Umurangi Generation, Overcooked!, Unpacking, Gone Home, Jusant, Subnautica, AER, Little Inferno, Moonlighter, Before Your Eyes, Heaven's Vault, Wandersong, VA-11 HALL-A, A Mortician's Tale, Untitled Goose GameThe limits of agency in games about preserving nature #shortsPixel a Day2023-07-05 | Watch the video now @PixelaDay Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_day Tumblr: @katfrompixeladayIn Search of Undersea Wildness - a video essay by Pixel a Day #shortsPixel a Day2023-07-03 | Watch the video now @PixelaDay Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_day Tumblr: @katfrompixeladayIn Search of Undersea Wildness in My Octopus Teacher, Abzu, and In Other WatersPixel a Day2023-06-30 | Kat tackles the depiction of wild sea life in three pieces of media and asks - which one does it best?
Spoiler info: Mid-late game footage of Abzu is shown between 14:15 - 15:20 and the ending discussed, although frankly the story is so thin it hardly makes a difference. End-game plot spoilers for In Other Waters appear between 20:40 - 22:25 so skip this if you want to discover the story for yourself.
Special thanks to Pam of the channel Cannot Be Tamed for providing her voice: @Cannotbetamed1
Thanks also to Videvo, Videezy and Coverr for the ocean footage and pollution and water treatment footage, Al Jazeera and The Economist for the dead zone footage, NOAA Fisheries for the marine life footage, and WatchMojo.com for the scary sea creature compilation
All game footage capped by me
Music used in this episode: My Octopus Teacher Opening Titles - Kevin Smutts & Matthew Dennis A Strange Shape - Kevin Smutts Underwater Tracking - Kevin Smutts Seriola Lalandi - Austin Wintory Chaos, The Mother - Austin Wintory A Drifting Lens - Amos Roddy Into the Bloom - Amos Roddy The Last Artificer - Amos Roddy
My Octopus Teacher (0:00) Abzu (08:42) In Other Waters (15:37) Conclusion (22:25)Two Strange Worlds of Light and Darkness - a video essay by Pixel a Day #shortsPixel a Day2023-05-29 | Watch the video now @PixelaDay Follow and support me: Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_day Tumblr: @katfrompixeladayStarseed Pilgrim and The Void - Two Strange Worlds of Light and DarknessPixel a Day2023-05-19 | Kat explains why she was disappointed in Elden Ring’s familiarity – and how she found what she was looking for in two very strange games.
All game footage capped by me, except: Culaine for the Dark Souls ending footage worthplayingvideos for the Ice Pick Lodge interview footage Nick Parisi for the Starseed Pilgrim ending footage
Music used in this episode: Opening – Tsukasa Saito Overworld – Ryan Roth Heathen - Vasily "Mushroomer" Kashnikov Turgor Theme - Vasily "Mushroomer" Kashnikov Synopsis - Vasily "Mushroomer" Kashnikov Sister’s Greenhouse - Vasily "Mushroomer" Kashnikov Maiden in Black - Shunsuke Kida
Intro (0:00) Light (3:09) Darkness (11:52) Conclusion (21:07)Why SOMA is the Scariest Game Ive Ever PlayedPixel a Day2023-03-11 | Kat untangles the reasons SOMA took up residence in her mind and refuses to leave.
Thank you to : Pim of the YT channel Pim's Crypt (@pimscrypt) Phil of the Pixel Lit podcast (pixellitpod.com)
All game footage capped by me
Music used in this episode: Laboratory - Mikko Tarmia Subway 2 - Mikko Tarmia Examination Room – Mikko Tarmia Subway 1 - Mikko Tarmia Ark - Mikko TarmiaSmall Games with Big VibesPixel a Day2023-01-27 | Kat talks three short games with absolutely outstanding vibes.
Spoiler warning: this video includes late-game footage from FAR: Lone Sails, The Pedestrian and Wide Ocean Big Jacket. It contains puzzle footage for The Pedestrian (so, possible visual spoilers for the occasional puzzle) and I explicitly give away a gimmick in one small puzzle. Nothing that I think would ruin your experience (the vibes are simply TOO STRONG for that), but I’d still recommend you play them yourself first for full impact.
All footage from FAR: Lone Sails, The Pedestrian and Wide Ocean Big Jacket capped by me
Music used in this episode: Warmth in the Cold - Joel Schoch Inconvenient Circumstances - Joel Schoch Night - Joel Schoch Czar Louie’s Reigna - Logan Hayes Moon - Logan Hayes Sunrise - Logan Hayes Highway (Title Screen) – Scott Archer Wide Ocean, Big Jacket (Kids On The Beach) - Scott Archer
FAR: Lone Sails (0:00) The Pedestrian (06:30) Wide Ocean, Big Jacket (14:07) Conclusion (19:31)Three-year Channeversary Clone Stream (highlights reel)Pixel a Day2022-12-05 | Pixel a Day turns three years old as friends come together to watch Kat get murdered by clones, in 2017's ECHO.Getting Lost in Dark Souls and MiasmataPixel a Day2022-10-21 | Kat takes a stroll through the strange pleasures of getting lost in virtual landscapes.
Special thanks to Sam of the channel Afterthoughts for providing her voice: youtube.com/c/Afterthoughts Thanks also to Videezy and Videvo (users Khaj1t, M_Broz, Beachfront and Kiril Dobrev) for the stock footage All game footage capped by me
Research referenced: Singer, D., Singer, J. L., & DeLong, R. (2009). Children’s pastimes and play in sixteen nations: is free-play declining? American Journal of Play, 1(3), 283-312. Milligan, C., & Bingley, A. (2007). Restorative places or scary spaces? The impact of woodland on the mental well-being of young adults. Health & Place, 13(4), 799-811.
Music used in this episode: Moonlit Melody - Ryan Amon Hail the Nightmare - Ryan Amon Hunter’s Dream – Ryan Amon Dillion – David García Díaz & Andy LaPlegua A Glow - Joe & Bob Johnson The Island – Joe & Bob Johnson Thorofare Hike - Chris Remo Prologue - Chris RemoIn Search of MysteryPixel a Day2022-08-20 | What is it about certain games that makes them “mysterious” – strange, enthralling, and unknowable?
All game footage capped by me, except for a few bits and pieces, so thank you to: SilphSpectre for Pokemon Red & Blue footage LPDarkSoulsHD for Abyss footage IGN for Ocarina of Time speedrun Weegee for SM64 speedrun
Music used in this episode: No Mercy - Ilan Eshkeri Prologue - Kow Otani On That Day, Five Years Ago - Nobuo Uematsu Divine Beast Vah Ruta - Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata, and Hajime Wakai Firelink Shrine - Motoi Sakuraba Lovely Arps - James Primate Sundown Theme - James Primate Twyrin - Vasily Kashnikov Synopsis XG Mix - Vasily Kashnikov The Prettiest Weed - Jim Guthrie
Intro (0:00) Hidden Things (04:17) Strange Places (13:10) A Living World (19:17) An Endless Search (23:42)A Love Letter to Video Game Oceans: From Banjo-Kazooie to SubnauticaPixel a Day2022-05-27 | Kat explores the appeal of video game oceans, and how they tap into her real-life love affair with the sea. Video contains spoilers for Subnautica.
Stock footage provided by Videezy and Videvo Stock photo by Şahin Sezer Dinçer at Burst Beach footage provided by Murphy Travels and Dean McMaster Diving footage courtesy of: The Jacob’s Well Exploration Project, jesetomson, MicBergsma and Wimberley Valley Watershed on Youtube DKC footage courtesy of hotcyder: youtube.com/c/HotCyder DKC Tropical Freeze footage courtesy of NintenDaan Free diving footage courtesy of Lexie Limitless, Daan Verhoeven and Nat Geo on Youtube
All other game footage capped by me
Music used in this episode: Banjo-Kazooie Main Title - Grant Kirkhope Treasure Trove Cove - Grant Kirkhope Great Bay Coast - Koji Kondo Jolly Roger's Lagoon - Grant Kirkhope Atlantis - Grant Kirkhope Crush Depth - Simon Chylinski Aquatic Ambience - David Wise Zora's Domain - Koji Kondo Beach Bowl Galaxy - Koji Kondo Dragon Palace - Rei Kondo God Rays - Simon Chylinski Dire Dire Docks - Koji Kondo Sun and Moon - Simon Chylinski Funky Waters - David WiseAll of Us Are Dead: an in-depth critiquePixel a Day2022-04-23 | Kat never met a South Korean zombie drama she didn’t love. So why did Netflix’s new show All of Us Are Dead feel like…too much? Video contains spoilers for All of Us Are Dead and Train to Busan.
Music used in this episode: Get Out of Here - Mowg Transformation – Mowg Reunion – Mowg Seed of the Crown – Disasterpeace The Resonant Canyon – Disasterpeace Entry of the Gladiators – Julius Fucik Maneuvers – Simon Chylinski Factotum aria from Barber of Seville - Gioachino RossiniIn Defence of Walking SimulatorsPixel a Day2022-03-04 | Kat explores what makes walking simulators controversial and excellent by comparing them to a modern classic of literature – Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.
Thank you to Jacob Geller for providing his voice: youtube.com/c/JacobGeller Thanks to Darkfry, Sam (Afterthoughts), Harry (Video Games Are Bad), Willow (Questing Refuge) and Evelynn (I am Error) for giving me feedback on the script.
All game footage capped by me
Music used in this episode: The Boy - Nick Cave & Warren Ellis The House – Jeff Russo The Finale – Jeff RussoNature’s Harsh Truths in Outer Wilds and Rain WorldPixel a Day2022-01-21 | Kat explores how Outer Wilds and Rain World convey the fearsome power of nature, encourage humility and respect for nature, and depict the cycle of civilisational death and rebirth. Video contains spoilers for both games.
A special thanks to patron Michael Coolwood who due to a technical difficulty didn't get a shout out in the end credits!
All game footage capped by me
Music used in this episode: Space – Andrew Prahlow Sundown Theme – James Primate The Nomai – Andrew Prahlow Threat (Shoreline) – James Primate Threat (Outskirts) – James Primate The Museum – Andrew PrahlowTwo-year Channeversary Bonus Video - Top 10 Underrated Indie GamesPixel a Day2021-12-06 | Kat celebrates Pixel a Day's two year anniversary with a list of her 10 most underrated indie games. Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_day
Intro (0:00) If On a Winter’s Night, Four Travelers (00:51) Frozen Synapse (2:51) Gemini Rue (5:27) Dungeon of the Endless (6:55) DUSKERS (9:57) Fatum Betula (13:08) Stories Untold (15:10) Hidden in Plain Sight (16:40) Steamworld Heist (18:49) The Last Door (20:43)
Other games shown: The Haunted, Island, a Frog Detective Game A Case of Distrust Deliver Us the Moon The Unfinished Swan Nidhogg
All footage capped by me (Except Nidhogg which is courtesy of the PS4 reveal trailer)
Music used in this video: Gnossienne No.1 - Erik Satie Concentrate - Paul Taylor (aka nervous_testpilot) Another Day’s Work - Nathan Allen Pinard Duskers "Bootleg Soundtrack" - Frönäs Drifting - Simone Peltier Stories Untold – No Code Glinhorn Forest – Stemage Scrapper Battle – honestly not sure, Steam Powered Giraffe are credited for the proper songs but I couldn’t find out who composed the battle music The Last Door – Carlos ViolaNinja Theory: A RetrospectivePixel a Day2021-11-27 | Kat takes a look at Ninja Theory’s four major titles and tries to find the words to describe what makes this studio special. Video contains spoilers for all four games.
Intro (0:00) Heavenly Sword (02:28) Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (28:09) Intermission (54:41) DmC: Devil May Cry (55:35) Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (1:22:30) The Future (1:52:43)
Music used in the video: Nariko's Theme – Nitin Sawhney Escape – Nitin Sawhney Night Attack – Nitin Sawhney Enslaved: Odyssey to the West Main Theme – Nitin Sawhney Catch The Dragonspy – Nitin Sawhney Throat Full of Glass – Combichrist Druth - David Garcia The Northmen - David Garcia River of Knives - David Garcia Gramr – David Garcia Hela – David Garcia & Passarella Death Squad Dillion - David Garcia & Andy LaPlegua Shadow - David Garcia The Hidden Elevator Song - FlyByNoEdith Finch and the Power of Family StoriesPixel a Day2021-08-07 | Kat dives into What Remains of Edith Finch, and what it has to say about the fallibility of memory, the silencing effects of trauma, and the power of family stories. Video contains spoilers.
Heavyweight podcast episode #16 “Rob” youtube.com/watch?v=EuqQc1ddoSA Quotes: Part 1: Rosalind D. Cartwright, The Twenty-Four Hour Mind Part 2: Gerald Handel and Robert Hess, Family Worlds Part 3: Suzanne B. Phillips, The Dangerous Role of Silence in the Relationship Between Trauma and Violence: A Group Response Part 4: Vienna Pharaon Thank you to: Annie Spratt, Patrick Hendry, Brigitta Schneiter, Yusuf Evli, and Roman Kraft on Unsplash for the photos used in the opening montage
Intro (0:00) Part 1: Memory becomes story (0:56) Part 2: Story becomes legend (5:51) Part 3: Stories become silenced (11:51) Part 4: Stories become re-written (16:33)NieR: Automata critiquePixel a Day2021-06-26 | Kat breaks down all the ways in which she was disappointed by NieR: Automata. Video contains spoilers for NieR: Automata and Ex Machina.
The Saga Begins (0:00) Part 1: Story and Character (0:34) Part 2: Structure (12:01) Part 3: Themes and Ideas (18:35) Part 4: Portrayal of Women (29:00) Part 5: Gameplay, Innovation, Lore, Madness, End (34:26)Descent and Ascent in Dark Souls, Hellblade, Dear Esther and CelestePixel a Day2021-04-30 | Kat looks at some games that use verticality to tell meaningful stories and explores what descent and ascent represent in these stories.
Thank you to @zoltiboi for being the voice of Jung. Check out his channel!
evanonline, Linn (@PinkBat_Linn), Darkfry, Brudlee, Chris (@retrohistories) and IamError for providing screenshots for the ending credit roll.
Preamble: (0:00)
Part 1: Descent (4:23) Part 2: Ascent (9:20) Conclusion: (17:07)A Short Video About A Short HikePixel a Day2021-03-05 | Kat talks about how A Short Hike connected with her own emotional struggles, and gave her a holiday right when she needed it most.
All game footage capped by mePlaying with Death: The Long Dark and Pathologic 2Pixel a Day2021-02-05 | Kat asks why games don't make death more meaningful, and looks at two games that do.
Correction: Existential psychology wasn't founded by Viktor Frankl (he just contributed his version which has been hugely influential for the last 70-80 years). Swiss psychiatrist Ludwig Binswanger is probably the founder of the field of existential psychology. Thanks to commenter Kasper Fabricius Laursen for the correction.
All game footage recorded by me, except for: The Binding of Isaac – provided by Collin Hill Resident Evil – provided by Game Show Matty SOMA – provided by BuddingBasil
Thank you to Pim “Pims Crypt” and Sid “Leonardo Da Sidci” for lending their voices to this video. Give their channels a visit!
Music used in this video: You Aren’t Welcome Here - Vasiliy Kashnikov (Pathologic 2 OST) Into the Unknown - Simon Chylinski (Subnautica OST) God Rays - Simon Chylinski (Subnautica OST) Darkness Falls - Cris Velasco/Sascha Dikiciyan (The Long Dark OST) Rust and Blood – Vasiliy Kashnikov (Pathologic 2 OST) Twyrin – Vasiliy Kashnikov (Pathologic 2 OST) You and Everybody That You Love Will One Day Die – Slime City [slimecity568491172.wordpress.com]
Quotes taken from: Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl (1946) Three Discourses on Imagined Occasions - Søren Kierkegaard (1845)
Preamble: (0:00) Intro: (1:09) Title screen, roguelikes: (3:05) The Long Dark: (7:42) Pathologic 2: (12:21) Conclusion: (18:12)GLOW vs Cobra Kai: Grappling with Gender NormsPixel a Day2020-12-19 | Kat takes a look at how GLOW and Cobra Kai evoke nostalgia for the 80s while also providing a gender-based critique of the 80s. Video contains spoilers for all seasons of Cobra Kai and GLOW.
Documentary footage from How to Survive a Plague (2012)
Copyright-free music used in this video: Frau Holle - Ascending Souls Nightcrawler Music - Nightcrawler Knight rider autocruise botnit - Drive The Best Ableton 2016 - 80s Aries Beats - RETRO WAVE - 80s Music in Fl Studio Freesol - Dreamy Positive 80s Synthpop
Intro: (0:00) Cobra Kai: (6:15) GLOW: (11:02) Parenthood: (15:11) Conclusion: (20:31)One-year Channe-versary Celebration!Pixel a Day2020-12-06 | Kat celebrates Pixel a Day's one year anniversary with cake and questions. Patreon: patreon.com/pixeladay Twitter: @pixel_a_dayECHO: Self-Transcendence in SpacePixel a Day2020-10-16 | Kat talks about ECHO and how it draws on religious themes to tell a story of personal growth and transcendence. Video contains spoilers.
All ECHO footage capped by me Temple footage by DeathbyVlogThe Romantic Sublime in Subnautica and The Long DarkPixel a Day2020-09-11 | Kat from Pixel a Day examines how the Romantic concept of the Sublime is illustrated by survival games, particularly Subnautica and The Long Dark.
All Subnautica and The Long Dark footage capped by me
Thank you to: Boss Fight Database for the Shadow of the Colossus and Bloodborne footage Aaron Miller for Sea of Thieves footage Izuniy for the Uncharted 3 footage Eugene Belsky for the footage of Arizona Seri! Pixel Biologist! for the Shelter footage The RadBrad for the Monster Hunter footage FightinCowboy for the Dark Souls footage
Thank you to JDMMidnight, James1o1o, Oct_Dr, Captain Cross (twitch.tv/cpt_cross), Chirag Mangnaik, HealPleaseHeal, Alienware Arena, Hasgaha, Cleverstar, ilcontepier, Sciencey, Hope, Business Insider and HiP Wallpaper for the images used in the end credits.
Part 1, Intro: (0:00) Part 2, You are Alone: (7:07) Part 3, You are Tiny: (9:20) Part 4, You are Awed...and Terrified (11:44) Part 5, You are You (15:58) Conclusion: (19:07)The Last of Us 2 Fails to Convey the Tragedy of ViolencePixel a Day2020-07-19 | Kat from Pixel a Day looks at how The Last of Us 2, What Remains of Edith Finch and Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice portray the tragedy of death.
All footage from The Last of Us 2, Edith Finch and Hellblade capped by me
Thanks to: Gaming Portal for the Spec Ops: The Line footage Izuniy for the God of War footageDear Esther: The Poem That Was Mistaken for a GamePixel a Day2020-07-03 | Kat from Pixel a Day explains the meanings behind Dear Esther, and why the people who called it a bad game were wrong (but maybe not for the reason you think). Video contains spoilers.
All Dear Esther footage and some Dark Souls footage capped by me
Special thanks to: Duck360Gaming2 and Boss Fight Database for the Dark Souls footage Etabeta95 at imgbin for the cartoon sailor image lonemonk for the bar noise Good Ware, Roundicons Freebies, Flat Icons, Icongeek and Freepik from flaticon.com
Intro: (0:00) Part 1: (4:53) Summary and Part 2: (15:24)