10. Exploring Humanity through Visual Storytelling

10. Exploring Humanity through Visual Storytelling

Author: A.S.K. July 18, 2020 Duration: 28:32

In this unusual (mostly spoiler-free) episode, we sit down to discuss two amazing story-centric games "A Normal Lost Phone" {https://bit.ly/2OkwkNM} and "missed messages" {https://bit.ly/38VvUXr}. So join us as we try to talk about the different themes, mechanics and stories both the games have to offer but end up with Shreyas hijacking the episode midway. However, one thing is for sure - all of us enjoyed both the games and with how short their playtimes are there's no reason to not give them a go!

Legend: [N - Note] [S - Standoff] [V - Video] [F - Followup] [T - Topic]

Things we discuss this episode:

[T] 00:00 - Why these games?
[N] Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality {https://bit.ly/2ZqhCeg}
[T] 01:58 - The LGBTQ themes in both the games and our experiences with them
[T] 10:50 - How the games explore their characters (Warning: Shreyas' rant starts here)
[T] 15:40 - Summary of rant (which covers the entire planned discussion): Game mechanics, interactability and how it gets one invested in the characters
[T] 16:56 - How the games craft their stories
[S] Would missed messages have been better if structured like a normal lost phone?
[V] A defence of video games {https://youtu.be/Xs6qBDuY1ww}
[F] Shreyas would like to correct himself: He does not consider visual novels "not" to be games.
[T] 23:47 - How "missed messages" beautifully handles heavy topics like self-harm
[N] Rathi really liked that they touch upon the implications of providing superficial help to those in distress
[T] 25:07 - Shreyas randomly interrupts the discussion (and the weirdness that ensues)

Intro Music: ktvsky - Its just another day


Every Saturday, Aditya, Shreyas, and Kshitij-three friends navigating the uncertainty of post-college life-gather for A Random Mexican-Standoff. The premise is simple: bring a passionate, often fiercely held opinion about any piece of art, media, or culture into the room. What follows is never simple. Each conversation is a spirited, unscripted clash of perspectives, where a debate over a beloved film's ending can spiral into an exhaustive analysis of its soundtrack, cinematography, and cultural impact. The terrain of these friendly skirmishes is wildly unpredictable, covering everything from the sublime to the seemingly trivial with equal intensity. You'll hear the energy of three voices diving headlong into the things that genuinely move them, dissecting video games, books, music, and movies with a depth that borders on obsessive. This isn't a formatted review show; it's the sound of lifelong friendships tested by passionate disagreement and solidified by shared curiosity. Tune in to this leisure-focused podcast for the feeling of pulling up a chair at a lively, ongoing argument among friends, where the only guaranteed outcome is a thoroughly examined opinion. New episodes arrive weekly, each a fresh battlefield for their latest cultural fixations.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 14

A Random Mexican-Standoff
Podcast Episodes
What makes Chernobyl a compelling watch? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:12
Following our long discussion on the movies of Tarantino, we sit down to talk about the hit HBO-miniseries "Chernobyl". With Shreyas indisposed, the task fell on Rathi and Kshitij to discuss the horrors of a nuclear disa…
13. An In-Depth Discussion on Tarantino [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:43
This time we are going to have a very long discussion on the genius director Quentin Tarantino. So sit back, relax, grab some popcorn and enjoy this ride as we look at Tarantino and his movies from all possible angles. S…
12: Summer anime in depth: A case study of the 3 episode rule [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:24
Welcome, one and all, to our latest case study of the 3 episode rule - where each of us watches 3 episodes of currently airing anime and passes judgment on whether it is worth our time. As you'd expect, sparks fly again…
11. 1917: A Cinematic Tale through the Horrors of War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:31
In this episode, we attempt to understand the cinematic masterpiece that is 1917 - an award-winning movie set during the First World War. With most of the episode dedicated to deconstructing the cinematography, we find o…
9. Taxi Driver - An Existentialist Perspective [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:13
This time around (with tight time-constraints) we sit down to discuss the "instant-classic" Taxi-Driver. In a first where the fanboy was actually disappointed, we talk about the different themes, endings, and parallels t…
8. Accidentally discussing the wrong anime season [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:24
With an amazing summer season right around the corner (https://bit.ly/3dObWPi) we sit down to discuss the anime that aired the last season (full disclosure: we were supposed to discuss the next season). So join us as we…
7. Comprehending the genius of The Man from U.N.C.L.E [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:13
This time around we discuss Guy Ritchie's "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."; a movie that exudes so much style, that we had to bring in our friend Shakya to even begin to comprehend it. Join us as elitists are born, filming deci…
6. 3 Idiots play Overcooked [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:03
Do watch on Youtube for the full experience. https://youtu.be/DDUFL8Se8Ac This episode is somewhat different from the usual discussions that we have. This time we play the game 'Overcooked' which is supposedly a cooking…
5. What happens when you dabble with "Art" Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:41
In this episode, on the fanboy's behest, we task ourselves to experience "art" games (after painfully enabling flash). Join us as Rathi grills the fanboy on his definition of art while Shreyas fails to produce examples t…
4. Is the Dichotomy between Fun and Seriousness as Rigid as it seems? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:17
In this episode, we try to understand the nuances of getting serious about something you are passionate about. To help us tackle this and other such serious questions we call upon our friend Akhil, who is invested in all…