Eastshade: The Value of Rejecting Conventions
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- Опубліковано 2 бер 2019
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The peaceful open world exploration game Eastshade shows how much the deliberate rejection of genre conventions, especially when it comes to combat and violence, and open world design, can add to the intended emotional experience of a game.
-- Movies shown in this video: --
Home Alone (1990)
-- Video Games shown in this video: --
Eastshade, Eastshade Studios (2019)
Persona 5, Atlus (2016)
Horizon Zero Dawn, Guerrilla Games (2017)
Assassin's Creed: Origins, Ubisoft (2017)
Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar Games (2018)
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles, Prideful Sloth (2017)
Submerged, Uppercut Games (2015)
My Time At Portia, Pathea (2018)
Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book, Gust Co. Ltd. (2015)
Ooblets, Glumberland / Double Fine (To be released 2019)
Fallout 4, Bethesda Softworks (2015)
Mass Effect, Bioware (2007)
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Bethesda Softworks (2002)
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Bethesda Softworks (2006)
Gothic II, Piranha Bytes (2002)
Night in the Woods, Infinite Fall (2017)
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, Atlus (2003)
-- Music --
Uses music from the Eastshade OST by Phoenix Glendinning
store.steampowered.com/app/10...
Jeremy Soule - Peaceful Waters (Morrowind)
Jeremy Soule - Caprice (Oblivion)
Alec Horowka - Pierogi Toss (Night in the Woods)
Jack Wall and Sam Hulick - The Normandy (Mass Effect)
Running in the 90s - Maurizio De Jorio (Initial D)
Contains Music from Assassin's Creed: Origins OST by Sarah Schachner
Contains Music from Gothic II OST by Kai Rosenkranz
Contains Music from Persona 5 OST by Shoji Meguro
--Sources for external footage used in this video:
IGN | 9 Minutes of Ooblets Gameplay Showcase - IGN Live_ E3 2017
• 9 Minutes of Ooblets G...
FruitJuiceSqueezer | Mass Effect 1 Walkthrough #9 Citadel [FemShep | Hardcore | Slow Paced | No Commentary]
• Mass Effect 1 Walkthro...
RabidRetrospectGames | Fallout 4 Walkthrough Part 1 No Commentary Gameplay Lets Play FULL GAME
• Fallout 4 Walkthrough ...
Eichgab | Stardew Valley - Reaching mine level 10 | No Commentary
• Video
DanaDuchy | Marriage (Abigail) _ Stardew Valley
• Marriage (Abigail) | S... - Ігри
Well I do hope death stranding is just a challenging delivery service game
Imagine you're a UPS guy and having to avoid lovecraftian horrors to deliver someone's socks overnight. I'd actually play that.
@@AS-rl5vr I would cross fjords and snow peaked moutains as i hope to god that timey rain doesn't hit me just to deliver some dudes newegg pc components
Turns out Death Stranding is just a post-apocalyptic reimagining of Kiki’s Delivery Service
In a way... you're completely right hahah
It was
This is the first game in a very long time where when someone said, "Go visit the Apothecary," I recognized it by the landmarks I needed to pass in order to get there rather than a map marker.
Hair wise how does my favorite video game essay analyst look so fucking cool I expected some dork
The joke's on you. He's still a dork.
@@Hairthulhu a cool looking dork
he looks like a member of a rock band.
discount curt cobain
My brother pulling off the rock star geek. Can't even hate.
You ever notice how RagnarRox pronounces words like he's pouting sometimes?
like he's talking to a baby or a puppy
I'm still trying to descipher where he is from based on his accent. Probably Germany.
It reminds me dan carlin. He does a very simular pout.
@@noisykestrel he's from Iceland
Man, I've noticed this for the longest time but could not for the life of me find the perfect words to describe it but you just did it. That's exactly what it sounds like, thank you!
I freaking LOVE 'Eastshade'. So damn much. I've only played it once so far, and I don't know why more people aren't raving about it. I'd love to show it off to my mother. I'm so glad you've highlighted this amazing game. I just wish there were more like it.
I love how you’re trying new video styles. You always hit the nail on the head and the new additions always add to the video rather than seeming superfluous or extra.
This video was a really nice watch for me, because other than your wonderful prose and editing, I enjoyed that you talked about non-combat games. I mostly don’t play games because I don’t like combat, so seeing this video made me a lot more hopeful and excited to maybe boot up the computer and try again.
*sees ragnarox's face*
Me : I've been gayed
I think I remember hearing that Swery originally wanted Deadly Premonition to be combat free, but the publishers forced him to put RE4 style shooting in it. That game would have been so much better if it was just all about exploring the town, talking to the weird characters and trying to solve the mystery.
Also, if Silent Hill: Shattered Memories would have been a new IP that just used Silent Hill as inspiration and took all the dumb chase sequences out, I would have so much more respect for it.
And then they inluded a meele wrench that 1hit kills everything to invalidate all that forced combat. Love it
Remember, family that tacos together rockos together
(Comment written at 8:10)
I think the best example for me about a game that should have never had typical combat is L.A. Noire. You're just an investigator yet you pretty much have more headcounts than some army soldiers in that game. It's like creators think player attention won't be retain the moment no combat is placed, so it will always be there despite how much narrative dissonance it could create. I'd even argue that Red Dead Redemption has way too much unavoidable combat.
It seems only the Indie scene try to really explore such gameplay. In the end, I have no problem with combat; I have a problem with its oversaturation and its "default" attribution to games.
EDIT 1: Welp I'm adding Eastshade in my wishlist.
EDIT 2: Here's another example. While Undertale has combat in it, the way they weaved the narrative with it and how you can "avoid killing" is also another proof that this subversion of combat can be done in a creative and engaging way, other than just "no combat". Just look at how that series blew up, and how many people would talk more about the banters and non-combat scenes in Undertale rather than its combat (and when it's about the combat, it often refers to the unique system and character moments in it, along with the music, rather than the combat gameplay). When combat is truly inevitable in Undertale, it's used in moments that have huge impact (like a certain scene when your Mercy button is "destroyed").
The Outer Wilds did it as well. What an amazing, beautiful game it is.
I've been thinking for a while that it could be interesting to have a game where you play as a journalist, traveling around looking for stories to submit to your editor.
Eventually you could end up coming upon a big exposé regarding one of the paper's advertisers, meaning that you have to negotiate a line between the concerns your boss has over maintaining his business, ensuring that your investigations are not revealed before you have compelling evidence to back up your statements, and covering smaller stories so that you have an income to support yourself.
Well it can be set where the journalist is investigating something mundane but it lead to a huge corruption in the govt and the game is to do stealth to take position to take condemning pictures and videos of corrupt govt workers.
This sounds like a great idea, and you should totally hang on to it. You should think about how the gameplay aspect of this will work though. Point and click adventure sort? Visual novel? I feel like this idea would work well as a very condensed and small open world, where you can really get to know every character in the city.
Yeah, the problem is how to build that mechanically.
Have you looked into "where the water tastes like whine"? it kinda also revolves around stories, but more the campfire kind.
Well my initial thought was that you could have an RPG system where the player character could only buff and debuff other characters in the party, so the question of grinding wouldn't be a problem as each segment could be balanced around a particular party.
However you could adapt that premise so that the 'battles' take the form of interviews with persons of interest, with different actions getting different answers and possibly integrating some abstractive defense mechanics a la Undertale to represent staying on their good side.
Leading up to the interview you could have such 'discussions' with people who work for them in order to gain insight for your interview.
You would then be able to enter quotations into the article you submit regarding the events and people you are covering and how you represent the event could affect how various factions treat you.
Just because you know something embarrassing about someone doesn't mean you should submit it and some people will be more comfortable with you if you have proven to be able to keep a secret.
Other than that I'd think that some mechanics around avoiding detection and taking photographs and collecting copies of documents would be warranted.
Essentially it would be a case of the theming dressing up proven game mechanics but also using that premise as a springboard to introduce additional strategic options beyond what would normally be expected.
That's my gripe with Fantasy Life. An JRPG where you can take unconventional jobs like Chef or Tailor, but you still have to grind your ingredients/materials fighting enemies.
I get what you mean, I enjoy the game but you do need to fight at certain points in the game to progress the story (If I remember correctly). Though at least with the human enemies I've encountered so far you aren't killing anyone, but rather besting them in a fight. Some even show up later in town as more neutral.
Though not related to the theme of your video, i just wanted to say Thank You Ragnar Rox for the content you provide ! Not many channels i am subbed to warrant such a quick click upon an upload, very few have that effect on me, and these are channels that i've been subbed to for 5-8 years needless to say lol.
Regardless, you never fail in delivering quality work upon each upload, and i can't begin to imagine the process in which the scripting, research and time put into it - the length it takes to put it all together, so all the more your work is appreciated ! Keep up the amazing work !
His videos are the perfect example of Quality over Quantity, it's like a Steak you don't get it very often (unless you're rich and can afford it) but on the rare occasion you do, it's always amazing, and always looked forward to enjoying again.
I deeply appreciate your perspectives and the effort you put into your videos Ragnarox. Your calm and collected, intelligent and tasteful manner in which you make videos is a breath of fresh air. You’re quickly becoming one of my favorites on this platform, please keep it up!
Thanks so much for making this video. Seriously, thank you.
I, for one, am all for seeing your lovely face more often in your videos.
Just wanted to reach out and mention how I appreciate your hard work again, especially that you're still adding subtitles. Thank you very much.
You really don't realize just how ubiquitous combat is in games until it isn't an option, which is exactly why Eastshade struck like a bolt out of the blue for me too. Thank you for this thoughtful and nuanced look at the game -- from pineapples to pacifism, I love it!
The Witness is a good example of an open world with no combat.
and a great example of a shit puzzler
ShakenMike damn dude I like it
fealdorf did you beat it?
Thank you for the nuance and joy you bring to the internet and gaming culture as a whole. You always leave me with something wonderful to think about.
I’M NOT CRYING YOU ARE CRYING
I’m starting to really catch up to your content now… you do really good work and I appreciate you.
I really enjoyed this new format! It made the video feel more like a conversation than a simple video essay. Hopefully, we'll see more videos like this one in the future!
I've revisited this video so many times since its release. It's served as a consistent source of inspiration over the years, and I'm so happy it exists. Thanks for this!
eastshade is just an amazing game. its so relaxing
also this video is amazing. good job with the editing and everything
Three things;
1) This video was excellent. Great job.
2) Eastshade looks great and I'll definitely play it if I can.
3) Your voice and delivery are so chilled out, without lacking emotion or enthusiasm. Perfect for this video.
Great video. Eastshade is potentially my all time favourite game, primarily for the reason this video is based on. Such a breath of fresh air.
Wonderful video! This points to so many things I've been pondering too. The Witcher 3 turned into such a wonderful experience when I turned off the HUD and all the navigational assists. It still had the combat, but it increased the joy of exploration. So much so that playing the game made me go outside and explore the beautiful parks, historic sites, and monuments in Berlin where I live. I also love exploring the city without my phone as it heightens my observations and awareness. After a long walk in a beautiful park I then feel compelled to play a beautiful game. Thank you for introducing me to Eastshade, I will definitely be giving it a try.
@RagnarRox I finally bought and played East Shade. Such a beautiful game and loved every moment of it. Thanks for the recommendation!
I've come across this channel reviewing one of my favorite games, as well as pointing out some very interesting points about game design and genre, plus I just liked the video in general. You sir get a thumbs up, good job :)
Great video as always Ragnar! You're legitimately one of the very few UA-camrs I get excited about when new video's drop. You always have a fresh/different take on video games and life that I enjoy seeing from your perspective.
This video felt like someone took my thoughts about this game outside my head and put them in an amazing video
Thank you so much
I am so glad somebody with an audience and the time and skill to put together this video did so. I think this is important and I wish more people who make games considered this!
I love your videos, and your take on what makes games great experiences! I'm glad you're still at it.
Love your stuff, as always.
Amazing video, I love your channel!
Your videos are amazing! You really make my days way better. Thank you for what you do 🇲🇽💙
Your channel is absolutely fantastic omg
Very cool putting yourself in front of camera and expanding what can be done with the video essay!
Loved this video, bro. Well done. Loved the on-camera interactions!
personally I've always loved merchant simulator games, where all you do is try to become a trade giant in a variety of settings, but I always struggled to get into something like port royal, because I found the combat so jarring. I preferred the challenge of balancing maintenance costs and finding where to best sell certain produce, over the clunky combat.
Patrician games.
Just wanted to say that i like the way you did this video Ragnar :) keep up the amazing work
I am so glad of the first half of the video, it is so noticeable how these combat conventions is damaging to the experience of some games. Video games can be much more than a simple challenge, it can be an experience or an escape of the real world, by removing violence, something that is ever so present in the real world, you can make a surreal experience of which you can be able to experience things you can't in the real world. Discover beauty and thought provoking sceneries, make friends and build upon concepts that are otherwise not possible here. An spiritual experience above all else, can be truly life changing. As always, nice work Ragnar
I Love your Videos
Your voice is really soothing and your structure feels very natural
Just wanted to say that this video is amazing, and easily one my favourites.
Insightful as always RagnarRox. Thanks for bringing interesting perspectives to the medium :)
*Deadly Premonition* had combat forced into it by the publisher. Great game with lots of NPC interaction in the sidequests.
Also games like Elite: Dangerous / Eve Online / (Maybe Star Citizen) kinda do with you say. You can get really far without doing combat.
@@Vanlayale I think so it was a looooong time ago.
I was looking for someone to mention the destruction of Deadly Premonition. I'm wiling to bet if Swery's team didn't have to waste precious time writing in and crafting a full combat system, the glaring issues with visuals and the map would have likely gotten more attention. Rule of Rose is another example of forced combat completely decimating a game that would otherwise be incredible. It's just a shame that games that would otherwise be better without combat are forced to include it in an attempt to appeal to one specific type of gamer.
thank you ♥ !
this is what i needed , plus , goddammit...your narration style and your overall sense of delivery (information and eloquence ) is just wonderful !
so again , thank you for the video , and of course , the recommendation !
Master piece of a youtube content. My hat goes down for you, Sir.
I’ve been eyeing Eastshade and now I absolutely need it. This was a great video :)
Did you enjoy the game?
Eastshade has been on my to-play list forever and has now been bumped up on the priority list
Great video, most gamers wouldn’t look at this style game because of normal conventions like you stated, but videos like this get players who aren’t normally into a certain genre to try something new, i for one will be checking this game out for myself thank you
😧
Thanks for this video. It was cool to learn about a different type of game play design philosophy.
Because of you I found out Eastshade was finally out! Thank you for your interesting video! It looks like the game will live up to what I was hopeing for
Did it live up to your expectations?
Man, I am super into what you're suggesting here in the beginning of the video. I mean this is a fantastic suggestion.
Wonderful video dude! I always look forward to your uploads. :)
I've been philosophizing a lot on violent-free games lately, so this video was fantastic to watch! Also, as a huge fan of Gothic II my heart just melts a bit with nostalgia everytime you mention it, Ragnar.
I liked seeing you in the video. Reminded me of documentaries like those of David Attenborough where he would narrate over prerecorded footage of the subject matter and would later cut back to him.
Certainly enjoy the format and it gives it a more personal touch then just the omniscient bodiless voice.
Keep up the great work, always worth the wait
Nothing beats the feeling than seeing a new upload
I found this game through your video and I completely agree - it's amazing. I have generalized anxiety and this is exactly what I need. It's so beautiful.
Thank you. I already loved the game before, and this was a lovely tribute to it.
Insightful, well edited, well written - the kind of content I've really enjoyed lately. You've got yourself a sub! :D
I hate it SO much when people come up with examples like “You could be a tailor who plants and gathers materials for clothing” or “you could be a traveling doctor” because GOD DAMN IT DO I WANT TO PLAY THAT GAME and I know no one will ever make it (or at least a AAA studio won’t ever make it).
This video is so good. Thanks!
Wonderful video as always, makes me look back at the games I played and wonder how would they feel without combat.
PS. every time I see that you uploaded a video, I think to myself "Looks like I'm adding some new games to my wishlist today"
So awesome so refreshing... a new video once again!!!
Edit: was just about to go to sleep(its 2am here in the Philippines) but this happened
This is great and the view at the end is breathtaking.
its cool seeing you in this :)
This video was the David Attenborough commentary of video games. Great job! I feel the same exact way about Eastshade.
That music at the beginning, it brings back so many memories! Great choice!
That pineapple pizza bit was a really good analogy! Great video overall. I really wish there were more games that focused on living in a world over challenging combat and puzzles and whatnot.
I remember playing HZD for the first time, adoring the combat, but loving exploring and wandering the city even more. I could spend hours in Meridian, just watching the beautiful graphics and the npcs go about their business. It was incredible
Thanks for creating this!
Great video, looking forward to more! I do not think that a game like Eastshade is a game for me, but I do understand the need to reject conventions of games, movies, books, and so on, if only just to evolve them.
This is your best video ^-^
A few years ago I played an indiegame called Miasmata, where you can map an island using compass triangulation. However, as you go along you get stalked and attacked more and more frequently by an unseen monster. I finished the game, but the monster was more a distraction and I just liked wandering around this tropical island looking at the scenery and reading notes.
Amazing video.
I didnt knew about this game.
thanks!
Eastshade is probably my favorite video game. The ludo narrative coherence is so pleasant. The landscape of Eastshade is beautiful and the people are nice. That's why you play the game and that's HOW you play the game.
Loved this video. Totally agree with you.
Fantastic work, Rag! Also, you're looking really good, buddy!
Another great video.
I feel this is a trend that is gaining more traction on the simulation side too: For as much as some people make fun games like Euro Truck Simulator have been successful and include no combat or even aggressive mechanics (Aggressive driving unceremoniously disables your truck and fails objectives punishes you and you basically gain nothing of substance) There's also a resurgence of City Building simulators like Cities Skylines that also have no central conflict that revolves around violence at all: your only challenge is to manage resources, peacefully. This two games even remove much, if not all of the other widespread prevailing characteristic of most games: Competitiveness.
half expecting the sphere hunter to plug another video in the comments
Great Video BTW, convinced me to purchase the game on steam
Excellent video and nice editing.
*_The reason I believe combat is so prevalent in videogames is because it is one of the rawest, most universal manifestations of conflict._* And conflict is at the core of most games, even lighthearted ones.
Person A wants something and must defeat Person B to get it. Something as simple as that already carries drama and tension from its conception, which will in turn maintain the player engaged for a while.
*_For me, the bigger problem is how conflict has been almost exclusively associated with fighting, when in reality it could arise from a plethora of different situations._*
Just from the top of my head, I image a game about rescuing people from a devastating natural disaster could be fascinating.
Most games I play aren't "Person A wants something and must defeat Person B to get it". They're more like "Person A wants something and Person B must defeat them to prevent it".
By far the best review of this game i've seen ... maybe one of the best game reviews i've seen overall. I really wish there were more games like this. A beautifully crafted world to explore with interesting places and characters, a peaceful atmosphere, no combat, no soul less random fetch quests without any backstory, no gps gaming (i really hate this trend, just following a map marker or fast travel without paying attention to the beautifully crafted world).
Eastshade was to me like some kind of virtual vacation. Definitely my personal game of the year. Hope it sells well so we see more games like this in the future.
Thank you for introducing me to this game! I've always wanted exploration without combat as well
I always dreamed up a different beast of a game, though in a similar vein. Being someone very interested in and practicing historical combat I always liked it being the focus of games I played, typically fantasy RPG's. What always bothered me though, was that I could never find a game with combat, that would treat killing seriously. I'd love an open world game where violence is indeed an option, but it is a last resort, as in reality. Back in the middle ages even proffessional duelists would've had only several fights in their lives. Vastly uncomparable to the mounds of nameless enemies you mince through in most games. I'd love a world where every NPC you meet is an actual character, with backstories, relations, aspirations and motivations, an actual part of the world. Where killing someone would have real consequences for the story you're telling with your actions. No more heaps of nameless bandits. If you knew that each and every one of those brigands ended up where they are for a variety of reasons I doubt the player would be so carefree in taking lives. If we add simulation elements, killing animals could also tip the delicate balance of game's ecosystem. Combat system in such a game should also have more realistic escalation of aggression. Ways to defuse the situation, scare away the opponent or incapacitate them in a way that doesn't necessarily end their life, and their part in the story. Combat should also be very risky and unforgiving, and every wound should have a lasting, sometimes even permanent consequence to the player. Like in reality, it would be another incentive to stay away from violence.
Some people might say that discouraging combat in a game with a combat system woukd be counter productive, but I firmly believe that if fights to the death were very rare, but tense and with high stakes it would make them all the memorable. Unlike killing bandit #278 and moving on, instantly forgetting it.
I loved this Rag! I've been intrigued by this game seeing it often on Steam and am very intrigued now! Combat is never one of my strong suits in games due to Hand-Eye coordination and such, this sounds like the perfect game to relax after homework with! Also you're adorable and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise!
That video was amazing Ragnar. You really outmatched yourself. The cut-ins of you talking in your living room and outside really fit in well and i look forward to more uploads in this style. Keep doing your thing bud!
Brilliant video... thank you for making it. It has me thinking, how combat being at the core of gaming may be the source for the conflict and toxicity in gaming discussions and communities as well. And what kind of communities could arise from and around a games industry which focused on other experiences
This is the first video of yours I've ever seen.
That's a subscribe.
Discovered your channel recently (through P.T.) and love it! Thx! This was also super interesting and I totally agree :) - would be nice to have some games w/o combat
I was not expecting that voice out of that face but I'm v e r y pleasantly surprised.
Also love the Horizon Zero Dawn thing. It's my favorite game!! I spent hours just exploring the towns and watching the people go about their day
Such a nice breath of fresh air this game is I'm so glad I chose to play this instead of one of my 30 action games in my backlog
Your videos are so amazing
The fact that they made an organically navigable world that doesn't require those tedious waypoint's has me quite excited as well as impressed. I know requires a lot of resources but it's something that I value very highly in games. It's also an absolutely achingly beautiful game. This was a topic I hadn't really thought about in a while and you did a fabulous job of flushing out all the little corners of thought using this as a powerful example of what can be accomplished. Here's hoping this game does well and we see more like it in the future.
I was just thinking you look like a metal gear character then you put on the foxhound jacket, love it
Eastshade has been on my wishlist for a while but it's one of many games on that list so I had forgotten what it was even though I recently received a notification that it is on sale. This video convinced me to buy it.
Thank you for voicing an opinion I've had for a while but never knew why I had it
Well done, my man. You sold me 2 games. Both eastshade and Assassins creed origins. I would not even bother about the second without this nice mode. To travel the ancient Egypt, just to see that magnificient nation is enough for me.