Uploaded June 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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A deep dive into one of the medium's most divisive and evocative games to date.

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Introduction - 00:00
Summary - 03:17
Some Asides - 21:54
Adaptation - 27:12
Shooter History - 44:45
Do You Feel Like A Hero Yet? - 50:46
Credits: 1:11:15

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Extracurricular Reading:
The Full Story of Spec Ops The Line: polygon.com/2012/11/14/3590430/dont-be-a-hero-the-full-story-behind-spec-ops-the-line
Spec Ops The Line... Five Years Later: youtube.com/watch?v=8dzstxE_5Rc
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare... Five Years Later: youtube.com/watch?v=BgrnLDYRPgk
How Call of Duty Lost Its Identity: youtube.com/watch?v=nwxKOcteZlw&t=380s
We Are Not Heroes (GDC talk by Walt Williams): archive.org/details/GDC2013Williams
Journey Into the Heart of Darkness: youtube.com/watch?v=Q_hF0xurPqg
Behind the AI and Storytelling of Spec Ops The Line: youtube.com/watch?v=Y--BgBOPduE
How Spec Ops The Line Communicates Meaning Through Its Visuals: youtube.com/watch?v=4HcJz4gV0yM
Max Derrat's series on Heart of Darkness: youtube.com/watch?v=UkoB-hS1sts

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Music:
Arcade Academy, by Pixel Head -
soundcloud.com/pixel-head/arcade-acadmey

Art:
Jimi Bonogofsky-Gronseth - jkbono.com

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Patreon: patreon.com/gamesaslit101