the power of a stupid game
10,620
Published 2023-10-26
Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon are two of the most nostalgic properties of the 90s and 2000s, surely topping any lists of the sort. Each had an anime, multiple video games, and of course card games to pair with the TV shows, launching massive entertainment franchises. Yugioh was all about the card game, with the Duel Monsters anime focusing on Yugi’s journey to being King of Games, and Pokemon was what we all imagined the games, like the gen 3 Ruby and Sapphire or gen 4 Diamond and Pearl games, to be like. Seeing as both Yugioh and Pokemon centered around games, I was curious to dig deeper into my nostalgic feelings and see why they loomed so large. What I discovered of course was less about these properties, and more about the world around us and its often depressing qualities, as well as the loss of childhood ignorance that made life so interesting.
But, when this led me to reconsider my history with the Duel Monsters trading card game (TCG), I saw an unintended meaning to them. Of course, they are just some rich person’s way to make money, but they’re a common point among many different people. They can bring anyone and everyone alike in a shared interest, and that can have the kind of far reaching and super beneficial impact that some video games and anime could only dream of having. There’s no better way to meet people and make connections than a stupid game.
Amazing Plan - Distressed by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
NirvanaVEVO by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
A video essay discussing nostalgia (90’s kid / 2000’s kid shows)
0:00 Introduction
3:33 Nostalgia
16:05 Connection
#yugioh #pokemon #nostalgia #videoessay #professorviral
All Comments (21)
-
I didn’t wake up this morning expecting a piece about a children’s card game to make me bawl. Fantastic work!
-
I started friendships by playing DuelMasters with other kids in my neighborhood, my first 3 friendships i still have today when we are worlds apart.
-
Thank you so much for making this. I needed to hear this on so many levels. I really appreciate your self awareness. Also, if you feel some type of way about accepting praise, someone once told me that rejecting praise is the easy option. It's much more difficult, and more admirable, to accept that someone else finds value in what you make.
-
This is a lot of my friends from the last 15+ years - Yu-Gi-Oh Friends. This is why I felt so sad when Kazuki Takahashi passed. He represented my experiences around this game and the silly ideas of friendship around a show that spouted that. Thanks for sharing what friendship means to you.
-
I loves the videos where you’re more personal and let-loose! I still adore the usual analysis videos, but when someone adds their own experience to it- it somehow draws me in more. This video, fear of love, and obsession would be my favorites from your channel. Keep up the good work, I need background sound for when I draw after all :)
-
Wow what an emotional piece, wonderful video
-
"Being an adult is needing an excuse for everything you do" -ProfessorvViral Holy shit that hit hard for me currently...
-
Your videos are very transformative. I love listening to your videos during hard times. You make me wanna be a writer/philosopher
-
I remember reading something about the author of Yu-Gi-Oh! Kazuki Takahashi. He had a great passion not just for card games, but all sorts of board games, because he believed that great friendships can be forged through playing them. Even if people playing them have different personalities,they can come to understand one another through common passion for board games and he wanted to spread that idea. I have also come back to playing yugioh as an adult after 15 years of not playing it and I am grateful for it. Because it led me to geting out of my comfor zone and going to board games club where I got to know a few interesting people I now call my friends.
-
I just can't wait for your next video. The way you write and read your video essays is just amazing to me. gives me a moment to chill and relax
-
You never fail to motivate me to doing stuff and trying to push myself. I have social anxiety, and it's anything but helping me in my new situation. I started on a new school, in a very specific field, and found myself alone. The people in my department are so different from me, that it feels difficult to even talk to them. I tried making friends at the school house (dormatories), and people there have just abandoned me and left me every time I tried to arrange something. But this truly motivates me. I resonate deep with your videos, and they never fail to bring me something, even if it is just food for thought. Thank you, truly. I may not know you, I may never know you, but your produce is something I admire, and I wish to put the same into my work. Thank you.
-
The local game shop here has been my 'third space' for a while. I love the people I play magic with there and they are definitely family.
-
I love this, this is what I needed, thank you for telling about such a beautiful part of being a human I appreciate this so much
-
I see cyber dragon, that is, no joke, my favorite deck archetype! I have so many fond memories with that deck, and still casually play it with friends. Should do that more often.
-
Thank you for making this, hits right in the feels.
-
row row fight the power
-
Its nice to see someone have the simple outlook and connection with these "stupid things" the power that fuels your passion to make such a compelling essay is astounding god bless your words for what thats worth and thank you for your childish honesty truly.
-
This has gotta be your best essay to date. sooo relateable!!! thanks for bringing back nostalgia for me....
-
You MIGHT like the anime Goodnight, World. As far as I know it's a new one
-
You really had me in the first half, thinking this was just gonna be doomer bullshit. And then you started the anecdote, and then you got to the point. Pretty good stuff right here.
