The Unbearable Now: An Interpretation of The Witness

Рет қаралды 168,706

8 жыл бұрын

SPOILERS FOR THE WITNESS
Twitter: / electrondance
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FEATURED GAMES
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The Witness, Thelka - the-witness.net
Braid, Number None - braid-game.com
Sokobond, Hazelden & Lee - www.sokobond.com
* The Talos Principle, Croteam - www.croteam.com/talosprinciple
* Full Bore, Whole Hog Games - www.wholehog-games.com
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FOOTAGE
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The Last Mimzy
The Karate Kid
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
2001: A Space Odyssey
The Matrix
The Witness Consciousness - Vashishta Cave Talk With Anand [ • Go Beyond the Analysis... ]
MBSR Widening the Circle Video [ • MBSR Widening the Ci... ]
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MUSIC
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Worakls "Toi" - www.beatport.com/track/toi-or...
N'To "Trauma" (Worakls Remix) - / nto-trauma-worakls-remix
Fauré Requiem Op.48, Angus Dei (perf. by The Sixteen) - www.amazon.co.uk/Requiem-Sixt...
Worakls "Salzburg" - www.beatport.com/track/salzbu...
Edvard Greig, Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op 46, Anitra's Dance (perf. by Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra)
Edvard Greig, Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op 46, In the Hall of the Mountain King (perf. by Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra)
b.lakes "Cemetary Walk" - nowdefuncrecords.bandcamp.com...
The.madpix.project "Bad Chick" - www.jamendo.com/track/1111548...
Edvard Greig, Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op 46, Death of Åse (perf. by Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra) - www.amazon.com/Peer-Gynt-Suit...
Howlround "A Viewless Sea" - thefogsignals.com/track/a-view...
Mikael Fyrek "Bathing in a River of Discordant Music" - www.kahvi.org/releases.php?rel...
Push-Pull "Liquid Mountain" - www.jamendo.com/track/24884/p...
Lecyr "Luminautore" - www.jamendo.com/track/24890/l...
Teho "Ade" - www.beatport.com/track/ade-or...
Rémy Bourgeois "Nostalgic Memories" - remybourgeois.bandcamp.com/tr...
* Rémy Bourgeois "Few Minutes of Us" - www.jamendo.com/track/1314962...
* Boris Brejcha "Lost Memory" - www.beatport.com/track/lost-m...
Note: This video was monetized by the copyright holders of Toi & Requiem
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FURTHER READING
=========================
Taming the Inexplicable, Liz Ryerson - thenewinquiry.com/essays/tamin...
The Meaning of the Witness, Sean Han-Tani-Chen-Hogan - www.destructoid.com/the-meanin...
The Witness: What It Means, Jeff Grubb - venturebeat.com/2016/03/06/the...
The Witness - A Great Game That You Shouldn't Play, Joseph Anderson (KZfaq) - • The Witness - A Great ...

Пікірлер: 1 200

@InskayDanork Жыл бұрын

I remembered this video a few weeks ago and finally got around to watching it again. The sequence following 23:15 strongly reminded me of a Cioran quote and since I don't remember it being in the game I wanted to share it. "A zoologist who observed gorillas in their native habitat was amazed by the uniformity of their life and their vast idleness. Hours and hours without doing anything. Was boredom unknown to them? This is indeed a question raised by a human, a busy ape. Far from fleeing monotony, animals crave it, and what they most dread is to see it end. For it ends, only to be replaced by fear, the cause of all activity. Inaction is divine; yet it is against inaction that man has rebelled. Man alone, in nature, is incapable of enduring monotony, man alone wants something to happen at all costs - something, anything.... Thereby he shows himself unworthy of his ancestor: the need for novelty is the characteristic of an alienated gorilla." - Emil Cioran, The Trouble with Being Born

@Electrondance Жыл бұрын

What a beautiful quote, thank you for sharing.

@not_herobrine3752 Жыл бұрын

returning to monke may have its benefits

@angellool9713 Жыл бұрын

Ψγηψψφ

@CassidyBooks 5 ай бұрын

@@not_herobrine3752Agreed

@surrealentertainment 5 жыл бұрын

Nothing short of astounding. Incredibly well put together video!

@Electrondance 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@babbisp1 3 жыл бұрын

I can't believe that the absolute channel that is surreal entertainment could string together such a sentence and be a fan of The Witness. Pleasant surprise.

@rodrigosebastiancastilloac1156 3 жыл бұрын

OMG, ITS SURREAL ENTERTAINMENT. I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS.SURPRISED TO SEE YOU HERE, though

@shakewell42 3 жыл бұрын

Tf you doin, being a fan of the best game ever made?

@thoughtupquick 7 жыл бұрын

This is the importance of critics. There is an art to appreciating art. And this kind of communication has to come from the audience, not the author. So I very much appreciate that you put this together!

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Glad that people are still discovering this film!

@dannyboi7877 4 жыл бұрын

It takes mastery to recognize mastery. This world would be a much different place if this was not the case.

@V_y-r_e 4 жыл бұрын

It takes a commenter to understand a commenter, therefore I do not understand this comment.

@JosephAndersonChannel 8 жыл бұрын

Wonderful video. Thank you for taking what must have been an extraordinary amount of time to make it. I know how much work must have gone into all the careful jumps and timing in clips, especially when flipping from puzzle panel to puzzle panel. I think the payoff was worth it. It's going to be invisible to most. They'll enjoy it without realizing it. I don't have much to say about the content itself because I already stated my case months ago. It's a great game that I am remembering more fondly as time goes by. Especially after playing the recent Inside. I hope this does well. It's one of the best produced videos I've ever seen on youtube.

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Joseph, the panel flipping was *the* very first scene I edited. It seemed like it would be "hard work" so wanted to get it out the way. But that kind of scene is always fun compared to the endless war with sound levels and transitions. "Oh no I have 0.5s less footage than I need for this bit, what do I do now?" I'm glad there a select few who recognise all that pain in the process :)

@jcrise827 7 жыл бұрын

I have watched this video three times, I believe, and this video, philosophically speaking, is perfect. I felt a sense of clarity and content from beginning to end. I'm glad you included your sense of humor in this video. You did a great job into giving the content of the game a deeper meaning for the rest of us, deep thinkers.

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

J Crise - as you replying to Mr. Anderson I never saw this comment. UNTIL TODAY. Grateful for your kind words. When I released the video I was a little nervous whether anyone would enjoy this or simply call it pretentious rubbish. (Of course, a small minority did, but I can live with that!) Always good to hear it reached people.

@IuliusPsicofactum 6 жыл бұрын

You watched the video only three times? Oh that was 4 months ago. I have watched this videos so many times it is the perfect company while I work. It fills me. I feel I am going to cry. ;-;

@Electrondance 6 жыл бұрын

IuliusPsicofactum, I used to think I held the record for "number of views" simply because I had to watch it during editing so many times! Honestly humbled that people such as yourself have got so much out of it.

@franciscofarias6385 7 жыл бұрын

Holy fuck I can't remember the last time I saw a video on KZfaq that was THAT good.

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Francisco! I've seen some pretty good cat videos, though!

@ilyxr 5 жыл бұрын

I've been in a state of hating what this game is and also fascinated by the fact that it bucks every modern game formula...and I never knew why I couldn't just let it go. This video is an incredible complement to what exactly the game is trying to convey and explains why I have this internal conflict within me. That moment you break through and show the intrusive sounds of modern life and connect it to the pervasive distractions we've welcomed into our day-to-day...I understand now. The Witness wasn't wasting my time. It was just reflecting my own frustrations on how my time *should be* spent. Thank you for making this.

@Electrondance 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Mike. To be clear, I struggle with this too. There are plenty of games that are meant to be savoured - puzzle games are big on taking your time - yet the urge to progress and complete and achieve can be overpowering. You can feel frustrated instead of enlightened or lifted, far from the place you're supposed to be. *shrugs* I guess we can all just try a little better to be a little slower.

@everygameapainting772 7 жыл бұрын

Oh, so that's how the goddamn triangles work

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

At least that's how I act on them now... but yep the number of triangles indicates the number of sides of that square you *must* draw through to solve the puzzle.

@Fickji 6 жыл бұрын

A bunch of walkthroughs on steam and you're the one who gives the best explanation. Thanks. Oh and I hate those sound and color puzzles. Especially when the internet goes out. Now wheres my graph paper....

@Electrondance 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you! And on my bucket list: "to hear the sound puzzles properly". Probably will happen on my deathbed. "I get it, Blow, I get---akkkk"

@Geophaser 5 жыл бұрын

@@Electrondance It's the pitch of the sound! It's really simple!

@Electrondance 5 жыл бұрын

Hello L E I W Δ Δ N! I get that, the only problem is that particular one I had a problem with - which I highlighted at the start of Act III - just didn't seem to match up for me. The number of notes never seemed to match the number of steps in the puzzle.

@NoahAlbrecht 3 жыл бұрын

When playing The Witness for the first time, I never got to experience the “epiphany” of solving my first environmental puzzle. I noticed them from time to time, but I never thought to solve them until learning about them online after finishing the game. I really love this game, and I would do anything to be able to experience the game blindly again but with the addition of “that moment.”

@Electrondance 3 жыл бұрын

I watched my family played and they, sadly, couldn't reach that epiphany without help either. I have a long Twitter thread on this tale over here: twitter.com/ElectronDance/status/1228362576322613250

@EzraKnickelbine 7 жыл бұрын

I think this is the perfect companion piece to The Witness. I never finished the game myself but I don't feel "spoiled" by this video given its thoughtfulness and depth. Also... what an ending!

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Ezra Knickelbine Thanks Ezra! It might seem strange after all this time but I was not sure the ending was going to work at all. Sometimes you're working so much in the dark you don't know whether you've actually disappeared up your own butt. My fave review some months ago was "sometime has actually managed to create a video about The Witness more pretentious than the game"

@EzraKnickelbine 7 жыл бұрын

I gasped when I saw the rest of the link at the first frame, so I think it worked quite well! And now I've gone and looked at a bunch of your back catalog, and dang, you've got some compelling stuff. You might work on a slow schedule but I guarantee it will be a thrill when a new video of yours shows up in the ol' subscription box.

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Ezra Knickelbine I switched to working on my book for the last few months and that's all but exhausted me! I'm probably switch back to working on A Field of Flowers (the next film) soon...

@RonMadYTP 8 жыл бұрын

Take a look at the volume bar...

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Yes, that's actually where I got the idea for what happens in the very final seconds of the film...

@RonMadYTP 8 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video man, I love this game and this was enjoyable all the way

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thank you.

@stephenkamenar 7 жыл бұрын

jon blow wants us to mute all videos... interesting

@DeathnoteBB 4 жыл бұрын

The progress bar too, though....

@christindbk6580 5 жыл бұрын

This is one of the "hidden" gems on youtube. Incredible that probably one of the greatest interpretations of the game sits at 50,000 views. I am new to your videos, and find it amazing the amount of work you put into these, in order to create a great commentary on various games. Thank you, so much. :)

@Electrondance 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Chris. We can never understand the Mighty Algorithm of KZfaq. We can only pray to it and hope it delivers us more views next time around.

@yayflorida 8 жыл бұрын

If the Witness was a gift, this was like the bow on top. Thank you for this!

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

You're welcome. I'm happy that so many people are really getting something out of the film.

@mlodikk 5 жыл бұрын

Ive entered bamboo forest. Ha, easy puzzles, maby this guy have no musical skills. And then I proceded to the forth puzzle... You son of a... Im now crying and laughing at the same time.

@Electrondance 5 жыл бұрын

It's nice to know I am not alone!

@onthespiral4054 3 жыл бұрын

Sound puzzles were garbage. Much like the sound puzzle in Myst. Glad they paid homage

@faresalmia5131 5 жыл бұрын

OMG... I'm one of the players that started playing this game by their own at first and then eventually got stuck and relied too much on KZfaq videos later on until "finishing" the game and being disappointed (like most of the others) that it didn't have any deeper meaning or story.... but when I came across your video I had my mind completely blown away !!! I realize now how brilliant the developers of this game actually are.... I'm speechless !!! Thank you so much for this video !

@Electrondance 5 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! I daresay I haven't figured everything out and I should have probably made more of the implication of "Western tech adopting and packaging Eastern mysticism for its own ends" (thus it fails). But it's good enough!

@lachlanstill4813 8 жыл бұрын

As someone who watches ungodly amounts of "highbrow" (and has even started making some analytical videos myself) let me tell you that this is one of the very best that I've seen. Truly remarkable in so many regards. You nailed the basics of analyzing the game and explaining its appeal, and most impressively you displayed a real understanding of and knack for utilizing the medium of KZfaq to the fullest. Hats off to you.

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Lachlan. I've been doing the odd video for years but it's only recently I've found my groove. But every time I finish one I need to rest for 1,000 years. ;)

@lachlanstill4813 8 жыл бұрын

Electron Dance Trust me, as someone whose own content has not approached this level of ambition I completely understand that. :]

@RiccardoCasula 5 жыл бұрын

- Sakshi bhava, "the witness consciousness", where you become the natural observer of your own mind. The Witness. This sums up the whole meaning of this game.

@Electrondance 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching, Riccardo.

@thefullestcircle 7 жыл бұрын

Fun fact: it's faster to walk from the Quarry dock to the Symmetry dock than it is to take the boat on its default speed setting.

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Yes I think I only used the boat for certain journeys. Just high tailing by foot was sometimes faster.

@LB767 7 жыл бұрын

Sir, this is one of the best video I have ever watched on KZfaq. I've played the game, watched many videos about it, speeches from Jonathan Blow, read articles etc. and this just made everything come together so well. I think I finally "got" what the game was all about. Thank you for making this, a like and a sub is the least I can do!

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for appreciating my short film! Well, not that short really. I hope to have something new out in the next month...

@philc494 3 жыл бұрын

There are so many small choices of quotations, narration, music in this video that I can't begin to list all of them and how brilliant they were. You have produced your own work of art, and it is a beautiful tribute to what this game was and what the game tried to be. Please keep doing similar things, it's great to know there are similar souls out there! Thank you

@Electrondance 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Phil. I've been working on a brand new thing since December and I've already missed all my deadlines for the new one. I'd like to say "it'll be done when it's done" but that just encourages me to sit in front of Netflix and take a break all the time!

@philc494 3 жыл бұрын

@@Electrondance I know the feeling - have you ever heard of the book The War of Art? It talks about "Resistance," a sort of shadow cast by the light of our creativity / desire to create great things that holds us back. As a creator you might find it quite interesting! Either way, I look forward to watching it when it comes out. “Resistance will tell you anything to keep you from doing your work. It will perjure, fabricate, falsify; seduce, bully, cajole. Resistance is protean. It will assume any form, if that’s what it takes to deceive you. It will reason with you like a lawyer or jam a nine-millimeter in your face like a stickup man. Resistance has no conscience. It will pledge anything to get a deal, then double-cross you as soon as your back is turned. If you take Resistance at its word, you deserve everything you get. Resistance is always lying and always full of shit.”

@Electrondance 3 жыл бұрын

@@philc494 Ha ha, I've not read the book - but I know this feeling! Progress is horribly slow. I spent several precious hours on a 30 second sequence yesterday and I'm still unhappy with it. I guess it did move forward, but it's dispiriting. Then again, it's not like I haven't seen this movie before...

@carloscbl3 8 жыл бұрын

Man! Your music timing, and mood, is extremely good

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you, it takes a lot of time getting all of that right. (Oh and I am still not happy, even after publishing.)

@ArsenalAdamAce 6 жыл бұрын

Amazing film. My brother and I just finished this game and were in awe. We had so many questions and no answer and this took care of it for sure. Thank you

@Electrondance 6 жыл бұрын

No, thank you for watching this half-hour beast! And I'm pretty sure I don't have all the answers - nice to leave a little room for mystery. Take care.

@zydeas 8 жыл бұрын

One of the best produced analysis videos I've seen on this site. Marvelous. Keep doing what you're doing, and I will surely watch.

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Zargy. Have a couple of ideas for the next film, but I won't start work on it for a little while. I have a lot of writing on hold and my brain needs a reboot after a recent intensive work on the film!

@gdpakmansanchez0111 6 жыл бұрын

If this isn't the best video that I have ever seen, it's one of the best, you helped me to understand almost all the game, when I first downloaded it (two weeks ago) I didn't think it was going to have meanings in literally ALL THE SMALLEST THINGS OF THE GAME, congratulations, I really loved it

@Electrondance 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I found The Witness really meaty - I've not found satisfying explanations for everything however, such as much of the castle ruins - although the "servants" hidden *below* one of its puzzles did get me thinking on how "chasing the truth" is something that only the wealthy afford.

@rjagda 5 жыл бұрын

It really is one of those games where almost every piece of visual design is so deliberate that it might make one go mad looking for the purpose when perhaps there never was one to begin with. It does give you a goal of making it work eventually as a lot of things don't conveniently look like a puzzle for no reason after all. Like why is there a single dark cloud in the sky. Why is a laser not pointed at the mountain? What is the purpose of this machine here with no puzzle to be found? Why does this move this pedestal where a pot sits go up or down? It is basically "Easter Eggs: The Game".

@abanjoplayer 5 жыл бұрын

Want you to know that I still keep watching this, even after having completed the game years ago. Something very special about this game, I don't think it will ever leave me. And this video does it justice. Fantastic work

@Electrondance 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Chris. I *knew* someone was pushing these views up to the 60,000s and now I know it was you all along. I try not to open the film these days because inevitably I get suckered in and watch the whole thing rather than the 30 seconds I was intending...

@abanjoplayer 5 жыл бұрын

@@Electrondance you know you've done a good job when even you struggle not to watch it for I'm sure at least the hundredth time

@Electrondance 5 жыл бұрын

I have to admit to watching all of my "babies" multiple times. There are ones I watch less and the difference usually is a sense of momentum that carries you along. Like Netflix automatically starting up the next episode, there's no downtime in which to reconsider the time you're spending. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing...

@abanjoplayer 3 жыл бұрын

@@Electrondance guess who's back, back again

@Electrondance 3 жыл бұрын

@@abanjoplayer There's always time for one more visit. I still get sucked into it occasionally :)

@trollbreeder2534 5 жыл бұрын

...and a dream.

@martimpintopaiva3628 3 жыл бұрын

The chills...

@TheEliteJohan 5 жыл бұрын

I've kept some videos on hold until I played The Witness and just finished it earlier. To my surprise, this random video that popped up besides them was the one that struck me the hardest. I don't know what specific praise I could give that wouldn't take away from the other aspects of the video, absolutely brilliant work.

@Electrondance 5 жыл бұрын

Hello Johan! Thank you for saying so. People still finding this video two years on is really gratifying. Each film pushes me close to madness, because they feel like impossible to finish, that there is always one more thing to do, one more thing to change, one more thing that feels out of place. And then it's out and you're all "imposter syndrome" about it. Positive reaction to this has been far bigger than I expected. (I still wish I could change the intro sequence though!!)

@MondSemmel 8 жыл бұрын

Wow, that was pretty phenomenal in terms of production value, depth of criticism, etc. I even encountered stuff hadn't seen even on forums hotly discussing the game's secrets, e.g. the source of the final lines before the game resets. Thanks a lot for making this!

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you, that's great! I was hoping I could have surprises for even the most battle-hardened veteran of The Witness.

@arbitrayer 8 жыл бұрын

Wow, I am so impressed by this video. Seriously, I felt like it captured all of the most valuable knowledge I learned about the subjects presented in this game and conveyed them in such a clear and concise, yet extremely thorough way. Truly a great video, keep up the great work man. I'd love to see you're interpretation of a game like Inside as well.

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I tend to write/make films about subjects I find interesting. They don't even need to be *great*. I've a few ideas for the next film but nothing decided yet...

@pbitten 7 жыл бұрын

Beautiful. Thank you for making this. I have just finished playing The Witness after a total of 139 hours (not including time thinking about it) and I have been reflecting on it a lot. This video really adds to my reflection. I especially enjoyed the last two and a half minutes.

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Paulo. I also spent a long time inside The Witness...

@karllenasson 5 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video, probably one of the best pieces of art I've seen on KZfaq ever.

@Electrondance 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you Karl. Still a bit unreal to me to have so many people turn up and stay for the full half hour!

@FrancoBegby 7 жыл бұрын

I even sat through your credits... what have you done to me? Great video

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Oh no, you're going to sit through every Let's Play without skipping forward *forever*!!

@MartSlot 8 жыл бұрын

Definitely your best one yet... and that's saying something! Truly mesmerizing as always, can't wait for your next video

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I have a few ideas... we'll see what comes out in the wash!

@Tokyoriot36 3 жыл бұрын

I come back and watch this video once every month or two. One of the best pieces of content on KZfaq, period. I love the way you use music and connect ideas, everything has such unique flow and voice and it’s such a rich game for analysis and abstraction. Hope to see more from your channel sometime in the future.

@Electrondance 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Joe. I've been working on a new film since Dec 2019 which I lie about every month, insisting it is "almost done".

@brentjohnson9593 7 жыл бұрын

This is a phenomenal video. The Witness was my favorite game of this year so far and watching theories and all of the content produced surrounding it has really nailed it home for me.Keep up the great great work!

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm trying out No Man's Sky right now and I wondered if I should make a film about it but... it just doesn't excite me very much so far.

@inter-loper Жыл бұрын

I spend a lot of time watching essays, critiques and reviews on KZfaq, but this has got to be my favorite one. I keep coming back to it. Thank you so much.

@Electrondance Жыл бұрын

Thank you for coming back all the time.

@Scrivens1 4 жыл бұрын

I found this today and this video made me feel completely peaceful after. thank you so much for making this. it is absolutely beautiful

@Electrondance 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Jason.

@Zindokar 7 жыл бұрын

You are e genious transmiting your ideas and the feeling, I guess. I enjoyed every second, thanks. This is not fake, it's a real gratitude.

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

@Tyronis 7 жыл бұрын

The ending was fantastic. Well done.

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Sometimes you just can't tell which side of the "pretentious"/"no, actually quite fine" line you're sitting on.

@RahulJaniBEng 6 жыл бұрын

This is great, I've just returned to this video for the fourth, maybe fifth time since you released it, and came here to say how much I enjoy coming back to it. It's my favourite video on a game I constantly feel like an apologist for. The complexity in your editing (as noted by Joseph above), and the deft touch you have in weaving your journey through the game hasn't gone unnoticed. I'm clearly not the only one! Love it.

@Electrondance 6 жыл бұрын

Cheers, Rahul. It's appreciated. I'm working on the next one right now... spent half of this year on a house move so everything has sloooowed down!

@OldWorldFanatic 3 жыл бұрын

I saw this not long after it debuted. In the years since and the now dozens of times I've seen it, this remains one of the most impactful things I've ever witnessed. As a game developer, this, along with your video essay on video game exploration, has shaped my view of the medium. Thank you.

@Electrondance 3 жыл бұрын

It's lovely to know, CCCD, that the rather-a-lot-of-hours I spent on the making the film has had such an effect on others and still does! Keeps nudging me on with the current project :)

@Zamzummin 7 жыл бұрын

Just finished The Witness after 106 hours of gameplay spread over 8 months and no guide. This is a very well produced video and I'm impressed with your amount of research into eastern spirituality to describe the game's inner concepts. I also really enjoyed the connection to 1983's Mountain King in your secret video. Fascinating stuff.

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks +Zamzummin! I think it would be possible to go even further to properly address the "Western appropriation of Eastern spirituality" angle... well, if I'd spent maybe another month on the film, but you have to draw a line somewhere... The Mountain King bit was cut from the main film because it was just a bit of fun that didn't add anything substantial. But I'd spent a good week on that scene so wanted to release it somehow!

@Lowezar 4 жыл бұрын

Huh. And I thought I was a slowpoke having taken 43 hours to solve everything, paint all obelisks white and scout for audio logs I might've missed... I'm still quite a bit disappointed with the game. This "message" Electron describes is so obscure it might be just a coincidence. Kinda like searching for hidden meanings in books or songs. You can interpret them a dozen different ways and they all kinda make sense. Then you ask the author about it, and they say "woah... uh... um... No, I meant exactly what I said. ...But I like your interpretations too."

@bradleywalker8642 2 жыл бұрын

"The Witness" is a game about learning, about seeing new perspectives, about the journey up the mountain and what we see when we look back down. They started with a small island, and as their ideas evolved, the island grew to accomodate them. "The Witness" as it exists today is the final point of that thought process - an island full of puzzle screens, cables, shores, and castles. It's a game about learning without a single tutorial. The key to unlocking the island's mysteries is all about perspective. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/j8qDl9l6t9HPdI0.html

@HalloAnno 7 жыл бұрын

This video is so good. Glad I found it. Great job man!

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@VojtaIsLame Жыл бұрын

Best sound design I have ever seen on KZfaq, I love your use of music and sync!

@Electrondance Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much Vojta. I think I'm more interested in making music videos than videogame essays! 🤔

@dave88866 8 жыл бұрын

Brilliant, in terms of both interpretation and production. Your narration is very easy to listen to. Thank you for putting so much time and attention into this, it greatly enhanced the whole experience.

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I'm glad you got something out of it.

@ngwoo 4 жыл бұрын

Every now and then I look for a new let's play of this game since I can't experience it from the start blind again myself. When I can't find one or I find one where the person is clearly just using a guide, I come back and watch this video instead. It's maybe the best video essay about a video game I've ever seen.

@Electrondance 4 жыл бұрын

Gosh, thank you, ngwoo! There's been another surge of interest in the video again this week and I made the mistake of watching a little bit again and OH NO I CAN'T STOP

@galic249 7 жыл бұрын

this video is pure brilliance. thank you very much for making it!

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you! It makes the months of grind putting this film together worth it :)

@mehdi5491 5 жыл бұрын

That was truly beautiful, most interesting and fascinating video I've seen in a while. Thank you sir for the amazing work you've done.

@Electrondance 5 жыл бұрын

Much appreciated that you sat down and took the time to watch it.

@darcyhayes6664 3 жыл бұрын

this is the best video on youtube. i keep coming back to it and it makes me feel awe every time. thank you for this

@Electrondance 3 жыл бұрын

Still trying not to watch it myself and failing. I can't keep losing half hours like this :)

@rodrigopacheco12 8 жыл бұрын

you just won a new subscriber! Wow, I didnt expect this much talent and effort in this video, but im glad I made the leap to watch it. Fantastic stuff.

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it! It really wasn't supposed to be half an hour long, meant to be something like 10-15 minutes...

@JamesOKeefe-US 6 жыл бұрын

What an awesome video. Loved the ending :) Thank you for this, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

@Electrondance 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you, James. Two years after it was made, I'm still getting nice comments on this film. Sorry for the late response as I've been on holiday for a week!

@darkgiggsxx 6 жыл бұрын

As many others have said, this is the best video I've seen. It's only fitting that it's about one of the best games I've ever played. I've watched it "a few" times already and will probably continue doing so. Not only did you nail what the game was about, but the presentation and pacing is flawless. Thank you for what you did.

@Electrondance 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you :) Keeps me energised to work on the next film! On watching more than once: I try not to start watching any of my films - particularly this one - because I have a horrible tendency to just watch them through when I was supposed to be doing something else! You know, like the next film...

@indijohnson 2 жыл бұрын

Genuinely a great review. I look forward to watching more, and I appreciate your attempt to communicate more than what you said or showed, and instill a feeling in the viewer. It's taken me about three days of setting aside ten minutes each to watch this, and I really appreciate that you took so much time to put it together and post it.

@Electrondance 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Indijohnson. It's true, I tend to spend much more time in trying to convey a feeling instead rather than just presenting information for consumption. Somewhat the bane of my video work :S

@indijohnson 2 жыл бұрын

@@Electrondance I think it's worth it, but that's just, like, my opinion, man.

@jessed1709 Жыл бұрын

I come back and watch this video every year. It is as brilliant as the game itself.

@Oldstalk 3 жыл бұрын

I watched this video 3 or 4 times now, and this is still the best content I've ever seen on KZfaq.

@Electrondance 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Still amazed that this one gets replayed a lot.

@limme2001 3 жыл бұрын

Found this video now and the witness has since it came out been my favorite game. I didn’t necessarily reflect on everything in such a deep manner but I sought truth and played the game for hours on repeat. The effort put into this video matched the effort put into the game. One of the best videos I’ve seen on KZfaq! Thank you

@Electrondance 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Linus. I can confirm that this video was responsible for many late nights but I can also confirm I didn't take 7 years to make it!

@Losty316 4 жыл бұрын

I think this is the closure that I needed after finishing The Witness. The 20 seconds of emptiness bit at the end was perfect. Thank you so much for this amazing work.

@Electrondance 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for being so kind.

@Sabbz22 7 жыл бұрын

just wanted to let you know how much your work is appreciated with this video. after watching a few others with millions of views, all of which dissed the game and sadly must have deterred people from playing it, it was great to see someone "get it" as much as you. and you have the video chops to back it up and make an entertaining video. keep up the good work!

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I was hoping the film would be interesting even for those who didn't/wouldn't play the game.

@rjnye 7 жыл бұрын

What a fantastic breakdown of the themes in The Witness. Super well-produced!

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you RJ!

@PopstarCharles 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely brilliant. I watched a popular review of this game years ago and haven’t thought much of it. My life lead me to study non-duality and Rupert Spira, and it brought me back here. By far one of the greatest explorations of the piece, and you approach the game with such an innovative grace. I felt the peace and fulfillment of awareness within the finale of the video, the music was just lovely to simply watch a boat go by. The game isn’t for me but I adore everything that it stands for. I’ve uninstalled most of my social media apps and want to enjoy the world around me as it is. Thank you for this.

@Electrondance 2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you managed to get something out of my little film! Much appreciated that you stopped by to share.

@VideoG101 4 жыл бұрын

Just recently went on the witness journey, and saw a few vids on youtube talking about it (including this one, of course). This is the best one, because it blends your own style and love with the game. You express ideas so well that i think others on this platform may have missed. I think you get it right. I like this a lot.

@Electrondance 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Still happy to be wrong about anything, really, although I do think I missed out on covering the McMindfulness critique.

@limousinfabien625 3 жыл бұрын

Hi! I recently "uncompleted" The Witness (about one week ago) and I currently am in the "now that it's done and my mind is blown, let's watch every video about it and see what the other players thought" phase. Your video is AMAZING. It made me feel this sense of epiphany the game conveys again. Your video enlights me in many ways. Incredible job. I feel smart again after having uncompleted the game and felt very dumb and impatient (these words might be synonyms in the game's universe). Thanks a lot, really.

@Electrondance 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for dropping by and writing some nice things about my little KZfaq adventure. Much appreciated, all of it.

@StevenJosephLee 6 жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed this video. The Witness has endured with me a long time since I first played it and I find myself thinking about it a lot. This is one of the best analyses of the game I've seen. Thank you very much for your work.

@Electrondance 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you Steven. I, too, still reflect positively on the time I spent with the game.

@StevenJosephLee 6 жыл бұрын

Electron Dance I find myself thinking perhaps too much on how the game should be perceived. Obviously there is the construct idea, but I cannot help but be drawn to the notion that it is in a decayed state, but that state is too intentional to be true.

@Electrondance 6 жыл бұрын

Some of the unanswered questions keep me up at night, too :) e.g. full meaning of the figures inside of the castle

@StevenJosephLee 6 жыл бұрын

When I was first playing the game I was tempted to go through and document all of the statues. I love their style and wonder what each of them means, or why they are where they are. I feel like there is so much more to pick through in The Witness, even if that's not the point.

@Electrondance 6 жыл бұрын

And that's the thing, right? The Witness warns you to stop searching, that beyond a certain point you're grasping at truth straws: you're not actually achieving anything and constructing meaning from phantoms. That's why I don't do any more digging into The Witness, even though I haven't understood some parts of it. There are still players who think there might be another ending to the game and making "clues" out of the noise. I don't want to fall into that trap here, even though that can be fun at times - during my videogame childhood I could draw labyrinthine mysteries out of the smallest game glitches!

@gaming_mantra 8 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video! Very well put together!

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@fandegw 8 жыл бұрын

This is beyond any quality video I could find on KZfaq. This video is fantastic. Always perfect moment for each joke, the video is less about the game than your perception and analysis of it, and at this level of analysis, presented in a comprehensive and meaningful way, this is just brilliant. The end with the little meta-joke is also brilliant. Even the little secret challenge make a reference to the game. I could not handle your video without feeling overwhelmed emotionally, and your 20s of silence just finished me.

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! The silence & boat was sketched out very early on and I wasn't sure it would work until it was in place. (You can't really tell unless you've got all that weight of content before it.) The original pause was actually meant to be a countdown with some dramatic music but I realised that silence was probably way more effective/appropriate. I'm really pleased you got something out of the ending; for me, it's the most important part of the film.

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

I had a little browse of the video! I tried out KZfaq's unreliable English subtitles and it was pretty horrible :) But I get the point. Silence is, indeed, powerful in many films. My memory of watching Trois couleurs is lots of silences. That's not true, but strangely that's what I recall.

@MrPekmano 2 жыл бұрын

Just finished the game and the algorithm blessed me with this masterpiece! If the game is a journey of deep diving into the bellies of mindfulness, this video is like the perfect decompression chamber to help you re-balance and realign...In a sense, your video essay makes the experience whole. To me, this is the definitive ending of The Witness experience.

@Electrondance 2 жыл бұрын

That is very high praise, I am humbled.

@Roxfox 7 жыл бұрын

Sharp. And extremely well produced. Wish I could show this to everyone I know, but... first I somehow have to convince them to play the game... Nicely done.

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Well, that's a puzzle in itself! I'm still waiting for my wife to come back to the game so she can finally watch herself slapping my face in the appropriate context.

@bradleywalker8642 2 жыл бұрын

If you plot the locations of the 6 Black Obelisks, you can draw lines between them that intersect near the lake. If you then connect Obelisks 1,3,5 via the intersection, and Obelisks 2,4,6 via the intersection, they form "inverted triangles" or "Y" shapes. Well, after solving all environmental puzzles for an Obelisk, it turns white. Do you remember what the white "Y" symbols do in a puzzle? They cancel out puzzle rules and thereby solve the puzzle. So if you find all the environmental puzzles on the island, and turn all 6 Black Obelisks into White Obelisks, then you form 2 giant white "Y" symbols on the island, which cancels out all the island's puzzle rules, and means you've solved the final puzzle - the island itself. Understand?

@DeltaForce1522 2 ай бұрын

I watched this video long ago but didn't comment, and I wanted to come back here and let you know that it's one of the best videos I've ever seen. Thank you for making it. It expanded my thoughts about this beautiful game and is an absolute pleasure to watch as well.

@Electrondance 2 ай бұрын

Thank you. I still dream of posting something new to this channel. It is not abandoned...

@Hi-sk3kc 5 жыл бұрын

The greatest video on KZfaq for the greatest game I have played. Thank you so much for this and good job

@Electrondance 5 жыл бұрын

I am humbled that you think so!

@mineraljunction 3 жыл бұрын

I really love this game and since playing it have been looking for a video or piece of writing that aptly articulates why I loved it so much. finally found that in this excellent video!

@Electrondance 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, mineralzone!

@NikolasRex 6 жыл бұрын

I'm not quite sure what to make of this. I stumbled upon it quite by accident while watching The Witness playthroughs, and I loved it. I love the music you used and the somewhat cheeky but also overall introspective nature of your critique.

@Electrondance 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I have an automatic reflex to undermine myself if I get too serious, it's an built-in safety feature in my writing to protect me from going full-frontal pretentious. I like to think even if viewers didn't learn anything, at least they were entertained.

@twentypp 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, this video is fantastic. Must have been a lot of work but it was worth all of it. So much to love here ❤️ well done

@Electrondance 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Trent. I can't even remember how long it took now, but I do remember some rather late nights...!

@galic249 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this. You are an amazing person

@Electrondance 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Although I can think of some people I know IRL who might disagree! :)

@AlecPrice 5 жыл бұрын

Criminally underrated video, I love this

@Electrondance 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Alec, much appreciated.

@Dom-zr9kj 8 жыл бұрын

Your videos are stellar and clearly a lot of thought has been put into them. I look forward to your future videos

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much. It's always nice to hear such sentiments.

@mariana.r 3 жыл бұрын

I always return to this video at least once every year since 2017. Beautiful interpretation!

@Electrondance 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Mariana!

@YouFightLikeACow 7 жыл бұрын

Amazing video! And that ending is awesome!

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Victor!

@bradleywalker8642 2 жыл бұрын

28:14 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jrGlYLiV2sCcXZc.html

@kyriakoszarifis833 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for creating this. Watching it brought some more of those amazing feelings and thoughts that came while playing the game. I, like most people, consider anything on KZfaq longer than a few minutes "too long", and yet at the end of this video I found myself wanting more. Just like with those 20 seconds, which I had to go back later and check they weren't 10, because you managed to make them feel precious, although I like most people, can't normally sit still for just a few. I think you really hit the nail on the head. Among everything I have seen, your analysis is by far the best - and closest to what I too got out of the game. Everyone who played the Witness needs to watch this; and everyone needs to play the Witness.

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

I'm glad others have managed to "feel" the game like I did and be able to experience it again through this film. I deliberately included that I didn't "get" Braid to clarify that I fully expected to bounce off any messages in The Witness. It won me over, as opposed to being some sort of Braid fanboy. What I love about those 20 seconds - without any countdown which I'd considered in the early draft script - is how long they really feel. Just 20 seconds! I don't know if everyone needs to play The Witness. Some people are absolutely terrible at logic puzzles and making them play the game would probably be a special kind of hell for them. Actually, if they led a bad life, I imagine Hell would involve being forced to play logic puzzles forever.

@Felixicity 8 жыл бұрын

You've made some wonderful videos over the years, but this is hands down perhaps my favourite. Excellent, excellent work.

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you Felicity, so kind.

@CassyCZ 7 жыл бұрын

such an incredible video! thanks so much for all the time this must have taken to create, it helped me finally "get" The Witness. definitely favourite YT thing in a while... now to check the rest of your stuff :)

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Yes, this one was a lot longer than it was intended to be but I kept having ideas of what I wanted to put across. Something new is coming out *hopefully* in the next week. And it clocks at a more reasonable time under ten minutes...

@ab14g22 7 жыл бұрын

This video is the best documentary so far, about the amazing feeling we feel when playing The WItness.

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Currently trying to add full English subtitles...

@mjmalkin 8 жыл бұрын

This video is incredible. Why it has only 4K views I will never understand. I went through your whole back catalog of videos and they are all thought-provoking.

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you Michael! It's always great for people to discover and, moreover, LIKE the previous films. Why does it only have 4,000 views? I do not know. The mysteries of the internet. Perhaps I do not appeal enough to people to share or retweet. But each new film I do seems to do better than the last. If I recall correctly, Into the Black got around 1,500 views in its first week - whereas The Unbearable Now got 3,000. Maybe the next film will do 6,000 during opening week...

@OlleLinge 4 жыл бұрын

I played The Witness after a friend sent it to me as a gift. I knew nothing about the game in advance, and read nothing about the game before finishing the cave challenge. It is, without doubt, the strongest gaming experience I've had as an adult. I finished the game a few months ago and have watched your video twice, once right after finishing the game, and once today. I also watched a bunch of reviews, interviews and so on, but your video distills the experience so much better than anything else I've seen. I very rarely watch, let alone re-watch, 30-minute video clips on KZfaq by people I don't know anything about, so that's saying something. Thank you so much for creating the video and capturing the essence of the game!

@Electrondance 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Olle. I initially just set out to share a bit of my experience and express how much I got into The Witness, but it did seem to take on a life of its own. I never intended it to be 30 minutes either! I hear from a lot of commenters who rewatch. The amazing thing is that it's not just me who does that :)

@bacon_sammich2845 7 жыл бұрын

Absolutely brilliant video. Subscribed!

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Cheers!

@dafurious6457 3 жыл бұрын

This is a really beautiful interpretation of this amazing game! There are so many people who don't like the game for a lot of reasons, but I absolutely love it.

@Electrondance 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, DaFuriouS. Glad you enjoyed the video.

@playingitstraight 7 жыл бұрын

Thoughtful, well-paced, and brilliantly executed. Much like the game it pays homage to. Thank you.

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

No, thank you!

@notaaroniswear 2 жыл бұрын

Watched this video some years ago. At least once a year I come back and watch it again, it's too good.

@Electrondance 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Not Aaron. Hopefully they'll be something new on the channel within the next month... hopefully...

@Videogamewalkthrough 2 жыл бұрын

Beautifully put together video🤙🏼

@BrunoB78 8 жыл бұрын

best videogame youtube video ever

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Damn it I knew I should've monetized :)

@michelottens6083 8 жыл бұрын

A brilliant and inspired reiteration of the game. Thank you. Odd this need of constant and extensive reminders, for the simplest of truths.

@Electrondance 8 жыл бұрын

Thank you Michel. I hope you received your KZfaq reminder direct to your inbox or smartphone this morning to interrupt your day :)

@michelottens6083 8 жыл бұрын

Wouldn't have found the video otherwise, so yes I'm happy I did.

@NickKrefting 4 жыл бұрын

Found your video in my ramp-up to a replay of this amazing piece of art. This is really well done criticism, taking the game for what it is and organically building your interpretation from the text itself. You've beautifully put to words things I felt while experiencing the game. Thanks for this video and your analysis!

@Electrondance 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Nick. Almost four years on and people are still finding their way here.

@Venator-ym8pm 4 жыл бұрын

Best video on the game I've seen. Amazing work.

@Electrondance 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much.

@niallsb 4 жыл бұрын

"This video is unavailable." Why do I feel that the link has always been an unavailable video and that this is a deliberate point you're making. I may never know.

@Electrondance 4 жыл бұрын

I fear you do not have the full link. There is something on the other side of the rainbow.

@niallsb 4 жыл бұрын

@@Electrondance I did see both sides of the rainbow, but perhaps it is the lens with which I view it that's leading me astray. One second...

@niallsb 4 жыл бұрын

Haha, it was neither. I had all the information but a cross became a zigzig in my fatigue-blurred mind. Thanks for the response. I enjoyed the videos and you've got another subscriber.

@Electrondance 4 жыл бұрын

@@niallsb Wonderful. I thought for a moment I had to direct you to the other half of the link! I should learn my lesson. KZfaq links are notoriously difficult to scribble down intact...

@ethanheadrick7027 4 жыл бұрын

Just found these!!! I had hmfound the first part!!! Now to find out he second!

@Dropdeaddonuts 3 жыл бұрын

I played this game for hours and didn’t understand what I was experiencing or why. This video was incredibly well made and gave me the answers I sought

@Electrondance 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you N W.

@BerkeHitay 7 жыл бұрын

I'm joining the herd of admirers! Fantastic, fantastic video! It is so detailed and meticulously done that I'm tempted to make an analysis of your analysis masterpiece. In fairness, I should leave it with my utmost praise. Thank you for making this. In my eyes, one of the best on this domain.

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Berke! It... really wasn't supposed to be this long! And I had all this extra material about the design of The Witness I still had lying around so pushed all that into the secret video. I hope to get on with the next project soon.

@BerkeHitay 7 жыл бұрын

I'll be following eagerly :) once again, well done!

@MasDouc 8 ай бұрын

This is one of my favorite youtube videos of all time. Criminally underrated.

@oscarloria 7 ай бұрын

Agree, even Dayo loves this video.

@hotdog782 7 жыл бұрын

Amazing video. I'm working on my own interpretation video about The Witness and it's nice to find someone who agrees with a lot of the things I thought. And thank you for those 20 seconds of silence. I'm a teenager with ADHD and a total wuss when it comes to even thinking about jumpscares, so both of those made me twitch my hand towards the mouse, but I sat through it nonetheless. Again, great video, thank you for making it!

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Oh man, jumpscares would be totally inappropriate! (Although saying that there was something sudden at the end of the preview video which I did receive a complaint about.) Thanks for the kind thoughts and good luck with your own piece! I'm sure there's plenty more to be excavated! I didn't talk very much about individual statues or some of the landscape features, for example.

@hotdog782 7 жыл бұрын

Also I wanted to ask: what's the creepy audio at the beginning?

@Electrondance 7 жыл бұрын

Uh that would be my daughter's night terrors slowed down and played over itself a few times. And there's another sound effect on (rising to climax) which I cannot remember offhand.

@ch10031a 6 жыл бұрын

I just finished the game and watching stuff online about it. This is the first video of yours that I'm watching, and I gotta say, it so impressive that I had to pause to instant fave it and subscribe. I didnt manage to decipher the link in the end (cant make out the last letter is neither S or 8), but anyway, hope you post more in the future. Im off to watch your other vids.

@Electrondance 6 жыл бұрын

The link is not complete. You might need to go back to the beginning. The answer may have been in front of you all along.

@bradleywalker8642 2 жыл бұрын

@@Electrondance Ah, the clue I needed.

@bradleywalker8642 2 жыл бұрын

28:14 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jrGlYLiV2sCcXZc.html