What Walt Williams Taught Me

I waited to watch your closing remarks because I wanted to digest your intro and analysis a bit first. "My naivety fuels an industry that leaves its members crying in alleyways." That's so well put. I can't help but wonder if it isn't part of why games are becoming less about anything besides the violence they contain. Obviously, the violence is sanctioned by profit, so studios can always get a green light for a game about violence. On the other hand, there must be a correlation between the prominence of games that are about violence, and violence only, and developers feeling burnt out and creatively unfulfilled/overworked on something they aren't passionate about. Subconsciously, maybe every Division 2, The Last of Us II, and Crackdown 3 has a message of "please make us stop" behind it. I guess The Division 2 is the most obvious, because their PR is denying any sort of statement in such an absurd way; as if trying to tell us "We're not saying that, because the Internet gets upset if we do. But if you think it's a statement, please do something about how this is acceptable." Like, violence is fine. I never considered how violent my games were before the last few years, because they were always ABOUT something besides that violence. That's what makes me feel so unfulfilled in this landscape: so many games are about an alien other that did X, and that means we have to go violate them out of doing that X thing. The Anthem trailer was so off-putting because of that. First they're trying to tout how the story is going to be so central to the game. Seconds later, a voice is saying that a faction is building a weapon so we have to go kill them. But why wouldn't said faction have a right to a weapon? That's an actual theme. Anyway, great video, and a lot of food for thought! Wasn't aware of this punky Williams fellow before :)

I know these kind of videos are long to make and don't exactly cater to a wide audience, but I really wish you'll continue making them. I appreciate your work and thoughts very much !

Brilliant, truly brilliant. I know I am inexplicably late to the crowd, hell, I doubt if it's still there. But I feel I need to connect, and learn from this. This game, this video, you. My story rings a familiar tune as yours, my childhood was fun, but oppressive. I didnt get my first M rated game till I was 14, and now I'm 20. Its been a wonderful time these past few years, catching up on all the gist I missed when I stumbled across The Line. It spoke to me, and lives in my mind, has lived rent free for the past month. I want to talk, and communicate with others about my experience, but the trouble with being so late is that no one cares, or has forgot it entirely. I've searched awhile now, for something to scratch that insatiably deep itch in the deepest crevice of my mind. And i finally stumbled upon you, more particularly, this video. I want you to know how grateful I am for your work. You're insight, and personal experience with this game and medium is unsurpassed. And I thank you for being there, to help me learn and better myself when no one else could. This game means a lot to me, and came at a perfect time in my life after the previous two years of almost complete empty disapointment. With the industry, the games, and myself. I can tell you poured your heart and soul into this project, aswell as your others. You understand, when I thought nobody else did. You inspire me to be better, and honestly I cannot think of a better compliment than that even though I feel you deserve more. I've been curious myself on wanting to be a writer. Critiques and retrospectives, or something of the like. I'm not good with words, or explaining how I feel, but that's why I want to be better. If anything, for myself even. I hope this message reaches you, you deserve it. You deserve more, but I'm afraid my kind words is all I have. Would love a response, but I know you're a busy guy. Stay strong, and dont give up my friend. -Jase

One of the best videos on games that I've seen this year.

Keep uploading Micah!

When you first released this I watched the first 9 minutes and passed on it. But then you mentioned it again during that whole ArenaNet fiasco and I decided to give it a second try and....dude, I'm so sorry that I didn't finish it the first time. You've written some fantasic stuff on this channel but this...this is some of the finest writing you've done. You've caused me to look at myself and how I talk about games. I'm not super negative about video games but self reflection happens so seldomly and I'm always glad to come across works that encourage that. There is always room for self-improvement. So, thanks for making this. I know at the beginning you said that this video would mainly be for you, but it has certainly meant something to others as well. There's a lot of good stuff here, plenty of ideas to mull over.

Mate, This is sweet. Please continue with this work <3

Wow, just wow - this video was very good mate. I love The Line and you gave me a reason to seek that book somewhere (living in Poland doesn't help ;) ).

Great video. Got chills.

Wish I watched that before e3. Great video anyway!

You are honestly one of my favorite youtubers....well, ever. You create personal works of art, not videos.

This is so good keep at it !!!

God bless you and your channel. Amazing work.

That was a very beautiful video! I hope to find more of you in my feed. I subscribed so that I remember to watch more from you! I'd like to think for a moment about the interpretation that Cpt. Walker's and Col. Conrad's relationship is the same as relationship between Player1 and the developer. I think it's really great and anticlimactic that you don't show what choice you'd make in 40:20. Don't the endings represent how the player feels about this relationship? When you make the decision to make Walker shoot himself - to me - that means the player admits "I am the one responsible for agency in the video game before me. Results of all I'm, seeing here are on me. " Also interesting that if you don't make a decision at all, it pushes you into that, because by that point, if you don't want to have an agency anymore and be a passive viewer, you've been played into thinking what they want. If you don't want to have an agency anymore, it's most likely because you regret having it in the first place. If, however, the player chooses to say "No, you're the one that put me in this" and shoot Conrad, the game does an interesting thing and says(almost directly to the player) "don't be too hard on yourself" almost knowing you don't believe this completely. That ending in my opinion speaks "If you want to stay in your fantasy - fine. But you better be careful." The other endings are just "what type of fantasy you like?". There can be a lot said about them, but not much in the context of the Player-Developer relationship.

I had only recently found your videos, it started with Batman Arkham Retrospective. I found while mindlessly going through Arkham Knight videos and others alike, I originally put it on as a background noise to fall asleep to. I found myself intently listening and agreeing and disagree with things you said in that video. And for the first time in a long time I began thinking of why I play games, what do these games mean to me, how have they effected me? It was very humbling to have someone inadvertently explain to me why I love Batman: Arkham Knight and why it's my favorite in the Arkham series. It was truly changing, and I'm incredibly happy to have seen that video and this one. But why did I leave the comment on this video and not the Batman one? Simple, "What Micah Edmonds taught me". I learned from just a few videos that games can be just mindlessly enjoyed but that's not all, they can be think pieces that connect player and story writer(s). I've never realized I was part of the community that thought that these developers owe me something because I didn't like something else. I never realized the care that goes into a game when the people working on it, care about the game. It's weird to say I'm proud of someone I've never met, but I'm proud that you can brings these things into the spotlight and into the minds of those watching. These are fantastic and I hope I get to see much more in the future (after you're video hits 100k), games and other forms of artistic expression alike.

I love your content..I want to see this channel grow and expand. I find I agree with a lot of opinions, feeling and ideas that are articulated in your videos (and yes including the Arkham Knight videos). Video games are both entertainment AND art but unfortunately the industry and the consumers more than often turns it into a dichotomy rather than an harmonious thing. Games are more popular than ever but their audience is divided. I'd like to make a (admittedly very reductive) non-gamer analogy and say that the audience is split roughly in two: the "sports crowd" (the people that are more into competition heavy games, feedback loop, and e-sports) that represents most of the online gamers and the "cinema buffs" (the people that are more into single player experiences, story heavy or experimental content). The "sport" type had a good time in the earliest part of the decade but is now the victim of an industry that does not care about substance. Inversely, the cinema type had to face a bit of an attrition from the AAA market but is now literally showered with wonderful games. I'd be happy to have anyone discuss my bad analogy

Really interesting video, glad I clicked on it

Kid, dont stop. Devote every free minute you have to creating as much (quality) content you can, and do so as if you know you'll catch on. Cause you will.

This video speaks to me

Yeah… Williams has nice tales about his early days but tge guy is full of shit