Politics. War. Police Drama. A Dead Body Hanging From A Tree.

Crime is rampant. Corruption seeps through the city’s veins. People need a hero, someone to bring justice to an unjust world. The only issue is that you don’t remember who you are, why you are naked, and why your mouth feels like you were fermenting alcohol in it. Through the video game Disco Elysium, I’d like to explore how one can make a recovery even after hitting rock bottom.

Credit Links:

Host (My Gaming Library) - Pranav

References:

The Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer: Studies In Pessimism - https://www.gutenberg.org/files/10732/10732-h/10732-h.htm

The Truth About Cold Water - https://mariovittone.com/2010/10/the-truth-about-cold-water/

All Credit for music goes to: Disco Elysium Original Sound Track

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lost Ship. Dead Crew. Bodies Everywhere. Unknown Fate.

Usually, when we think of mysteries like this, the idea of playing Detective comes to mind. After all, most problems require rational solutions, and who could be a more rational person than a detective? But can anyone be truly rational as we imagine them to be in pop media? Through the game video game Return Of The Obra Dinn, I’d like to explore this question and show that rationality often leads to more absurdity than we’d imagine.

Credit Links:

Host (My Gaming Library) - Pranav

Books Referenced:

Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka

Return Of The Obra Dinn Steam Link:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/653530/Return_of_the_Obra_Dinn/

All credit for music goes to:

Return Of The Obra Dinn Original Sound Track

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mind Control. Player Psychology. Meta-Narratives. Satire.

How do you define something that is constantly trying to change its identity? How do you categorize the un-categorizable? How do you begin to understand something that laughs at all your attempts to try and do so? Through the video game The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, I’d like to show off my attempt at doing so, as well as my slow descent into madness.

Credit Links:

Host (My Gaming Library) - Pranav

Videos Used For Reference:

The Existential Fear of The Stanley Parable - Munt Chunk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZNH7mJZuQU&t=2008s

The New Stanley Parable Game is Completely Unhinged - Leadhead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJxSssx5PqM

THE MEANING OF THE BUCKET - The Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe – Midnight Lab

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlluew0pPg8

Complete Narrative Analysis of The Stanley Parable - Boogs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib7ZsZx4Dkk&t=3707s

Reviews Used For Reference:

This is not a review of The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe - Grayson Morley

https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23131262/stanley-parable-ultra-deluxe-review-not-windows-pc

Review: Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is a mandatory game for comedy fans - Sam Machkovech

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/04/review-stanley-parable-ultra-deluxe-is-a-mandatory-game-for-comedy-fans/

The Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe Is The Smartest, Silliest Game Of The Year - John Walker

https://kotaku.com/the-stanley-parable-ultra-deluxe-sequel-crows-new-endin-1848878469

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe Steam Link:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1703340/The_Stanley_Parable_Ultra_Deluxe/

All credit for music goes to:

The Stanley Parable Original Sound Track

The Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe Original Sound Track

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inescapable. In your walls. In your veins. It will always find you. 

What if there was a monster that was part of your blood? What if this monster made up the roof under which you slept? What if this monster was made of your own mind? Through the video game What Remains of Edith Finch, Nikki and I explore how a family may cope with misery and fate.

Credit Links:

Host (My Gaming Library) - Pranav

Guest - Nikki

What Remains of Edith Finch Steam Link:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/501300/What_Remains_of_Edith_Finch/

All credit for music goes to:

What Remains of Edith Finch Original Sound Track

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rules define the game. Laws define our life. We live within limits.

But what if changing the rules was part of the game? What if you could change reality as you know it to solve your problems? What would you change? How much do you think you can change? Through the video game Baba Is You, I’ll explore how the rules of reality are not set in stone like we think they are.

Credits Links:

Host (My Gaming Library) - Pranav

Baba Is You Steam Link:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/736260/Baba_Is_You/

All credit for music goes to: Baba Is You Original Sound Track

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Escaping urban monotony. A free life. A rural life. A life we choose for ourselves. That is something a lot of us often wish for. But it’s a very hard thing to live freely and make choices at every possible moment, especially when your choices feel almost infinite. Through the video game Stardew Valley, I’ll explore how trying to live a free life in the countryside can be so liberating, and at the same time so paralyzing. 

Credit Links:

Host of 'My Gaming Library' -Pranav

The Iyenger and Leppar Study: https://faculty.washington.edu/jdb/345/345%20Articles/Iyengar%20%26%20Lepper%20(2000).pdf 

Wand of Sparking YouTubeChannel: https://www.youtube.com/@WandofSparking 

Stardew Valley Steam Link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/413150/Stardew_Valley/ 

All credit for music goes to:

The Stardew Valley Original Sound Track 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.