Due to character limits in the video description, I am forced to give the credits/citations for my video essay “The Interactive Absurd” here. In the past, I have posted the majority of video essay credits/citations in a pinned YouTube comment, but for some reason YouTube will not let me this time. Cursory online research suggests that this might be a result of the YouTube algorithm flagging my comment for certain words. I tried deleting likely ones but to no avail. I guess YouTube not arbitrarily deleting and blocking certain comments without the input of the channel owner, including comments from the channel owner, would be too much to ask. It is also entirely possible that YouTube decided the post contained too many links.
(Did you know YouTube seems to automatically delete any comment that contains the word “sex”? Scandalous! Imagine what might happen if someone read the word “sex.” I also found somebody talking about how YouTube refused to let them post a comment that included the words “gay” and “autistic.” These were not puerile insults but rather accurate self-applied descriptors on a video about something apparently relevant. But I digress.)
The complete credits/citations:
Video games, in order of first appearance, if not discussed, and in order of discussion, if discussed:
Please, Don’t Touch Anything
Four Quarters, 2014
Original: https://fourquarters.itch.io/pdta-ld
Current: https://store.steampowered.com/app/354240/Please_Dont_Touch_Anything/
Waiting for Godot: A Simulator
Nick Murray, 2020
https://cassette-witch.itch.io/waiting-for-godot
The Life of a Lone Electron
Gereth Pitchford, 1992
Sisyphus
George Prosser, 2016
https://gprosser.itch.io/sisyphus
Proteus
Twisted Tree Games, 2013
Jet Set Radio HD
Smilebit, BlitWorks, 2012
Space Giraffe
Llamasoft, 2007
Comic Bakery
Konami, 1984
Halfquake Amen
Philipp Lehner, 2002
https://store.steampowered.com/app/644320/Halfquake_Trilogy/
LSD: Dream Emulator
Asmik Ace, 1998
Modern Job
Banbanbanban, 2018
https://banbanbanban.itch.io/modernjob
Interactivity: The Interactive Experience
Aetheric Games, 2019
https://aethericgames.itch.io/interactivity-the-interactive-experience
Job Lozenge
From Smiling, 2014
https://fromsmiling.itch.io/job-lozenge
Missile Command
Dave Theurer, 1980
Rob Fulop, 1981 (the 2600 port)
Arcade’s Greatest Hits: The Atari Collection 1
Digital Eclipse, 1996
Intercontinental
Alice Lai, 2017
https://umbrella-isle.itch.io/intercontinental
Tetris
AcademySoft, 1986
Namco Museum Vol. 1
Namco, 1995
Pac-Mania
Namco, 1987
Missile Command 3D
Atari, 1995
Missile Command Recharged
Adam Nickerson, 2020
Jet Set Willy
Tribble Trubble
Software Projects, 1984
Wolfenstein: The New Order
MachineGames, 2014
https://www.gog.com/en/game/wolfenstein_the_new_order
A Single Bug, 2020
I Am Groot, 2020
YWDA, 2020
Baby Labor, 2020
Duck Date, 2021
Evgeni Puzankov
https://awaywardwriter.itch.io/
The Stanley Parable
Galactic Cafe, 2011
https://www.stanleyparable.com/
Every Day the Same Dream
Molleindustria, 2009
https://www.molleindustria.org/everydaythesamedream/everydaythesamedream.html
killer7, 2005
Flower, Sun, and Rain, 2001 (PS2), 2008 (NDS)
The Silver Case, 1991 (PSX), 2016 (Windows)
The 25th Ward: The Silver Case, 2005 (mobile), 2018 (Windows)
Grasshopper Manufacture
https://store.steampowered.com/app/868520/killer7/
https://www.gog.com/game/the_silver_case
https://www.gog.com/game/the_25th_ward_the_silver_case
Math Blaster Episode I
Davidson & Associates, 1993
Rooftop Cop
Lawra Suits Clark, 2014
https://rooftopcop.com/
Mappy
Namco, 1983
Menagerie II: Presentable Liberty, 2014
Menagerie: Archive, 2017
Wertpol
https://gamejolt.com/games/menagerie2/42997
https://gamejolt.com/games/menageriearchive/249693
Flappy Bird
Dong Nguyen, 2013
Illusion of Gaia
Quintet, 1993
Depression Quest
The Quinnspiracy, 2013
http://www.depressionquest.com/
Yume Nikki
Kikiyama, 2004
https://store.steampowered.com/app/650700/Yume_Nikki/
Hikikomori life
PaKoDev, Moogl, 2021
https://pakodev.itch.io/hikikomori-life
Your Amazing T-Gotchi!
Schastye
Garage Heathen, 2020
https://garage-heathen.itch.io/
Donkey Kong
Nintendo, 1981
Kung-Fu Master
Irem, 1984
Papers, Please
Lucas Pope, 2013
https://papersplea.se/
Continue?9876543210, 2014
Skrillex Quest, 2012
Jason Oda
https://store.steampowered.com/app/263340/Continue9876543210/
Super Puyo Puyo 2
Compile, 1995
Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
Konami, 1987
Happy World, 2018
Happy Zone, 2017
JMAS
https://jmaslaki.itch.io/
t- e ni hтm-are of·`a c ty
Pol Clarissou, 2016
https://polclarissou.itch.io/the-nightmare-of-a-city-i-thought-i-knew
Mondo Agency
Cactus, 2007
http://cactusquid.rf.gd/?i=1
Super Tetris 3
Tose, 1994
Only If
Creability, 2014
https://store.steampowered.com/app/298260/Only_If/
Virginia
Variable State, 2016
https://store.steampowered.com/app/374030/Virginia/
Super Mario 64 DS
Nintendo, 2004
Takeshi’s Challenge
Taito, 1986
Frog Fractions
Twinbeard, 2012
http://twinbeard.com/frog-fractions/
Knytt Underground
Nifflas Games, 2012
https://store.steampowered.com/app/248190/Knytt_Underground/
Yume 2kki
Yume 2kki Team, 2007
https://yume2kki.fandom.com/wiki/Yume_2kki_Wiki
Maria on Tour
BaSe1 PrOdUcTiOnZ, 2005
Gadget: Invention, Travel, and Adventure
Synergy, 1993
Additional footage:
Please, Don’t Touch Anything VR footage
The Nutella Files
Rhinoceros – full show
Uploaded by Peepolykus
The Bald Soprano, recorded on 15 October 2016, directed by Ryan Kerr, starring Dan Smith, Kate Story, Lindsay Unterlander, Luke Foster, Elizabeth Mood
Uploaded by theperfectpencil
Waiting for Godot
Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, 2001
Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle season 1 ep. 1 “Toilet Books”
Directed by Tim Kirkby
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead
Directed by Tom Stoppard, 1990
Marat/Sade
Directed by Peter Brook, 1967
Endgame
Directed by Conor McPherson, 2000
The Stranger
Directed by Luchino Visconti, 1967
Bladerunner
Directed by Ridley Scott, 1982
CALIGULA
Directed by Christopher Brandt
Pac-Man Kill Screen Explained
Retro Game Mechanics Explained
Jet Set Willy COMPLETED COMMODORE 64
morpethtown77
Soft & Cuddly Walkthrough, ZX Spectrum
RZX Archive
Matthew Smith 6 – Jet Set Willy Creatures
Uploaded by marasmusine
Silent Hill 2 – Eddie Dombrowski HD
Uploaded by LIQUIDSNAKEz28
Jet Set Willy II Walkthrough, ZX Spectrum
RZX Archive
Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt ep. 5 “Vomiting Point”
Directed by Yamamoto Sayo, 2010
Footage of Fridays for Future Nov. 2021 Glasgow protest
WHAT DO I DO? (Presentable Liberty:All Endings)
Godrekefalcer
DEAD MALL SERIES : FROM THE 80s to the 70s
This is Dan Bell.
UBOA CARAMELLDANSEN
Null Primarch
Arcade Game: Kung-Fu Master (1984 Irem)
Old Classic Retro Gaming
Albert Camus présente Les Possédés au Théâtre Antoine (1959)
Rien ne veut rien dire
Pete Seeger talking
Uploaded by folkarchivist
Leslie Feinberg talking
UCLAFilmTVArchive
Sartre and de Beauvoir clips
archivesRC
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Directed by James Cameron, 1991
Ikiru
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, 1952
Sora no Woto ep. 7 “Showering Sound of Cicadas: Spirits Down the River”
Directed by Matsuo Shin, 2010
THE DICTATOR -BY ISSAM MAHFOUZ
RAS THEATRE GROUP
Double Suicide: Japanese Summer
Directed by Ōshima Nagisa, 1967
The Elusive Avengers
Directed by Edmond Keosayan, 1967
Repentance
Directed by Tengiz Abuladze, 1987
L’Invasion d’Arthur Adamov
Uploaded by Joel Caby
Maria on Tour Walkthrough, ZX Spectrum
World of Spectrum
Gadget: Invention, Travel, and Adventure (1994) PC Playthrough
NintendoComplete
The space footage comes from Space Engine: https://spaceengine.org/
Music:
The opening track is from Continue?9876543210
“Title Screen”
“Screen OFF”
“Main Theme”
“Runes”
“Future”
“Cleavage”
“Viva la Atome”
“Black Hole”
“Awaiting Input”
“Dark Times”
“Ancient Town”
“Don’t Touch My Papers”
“Meteor Rain”
Please Don’t Touch Anything Soundtrack
Blinch
“Moonlight Sonata” played by Paul Pitman
https://musopen.org/music/2547-piano-sonata-no-14-in-c-sharp-minor-moonlight-sonata-op-27-no-2/
“Shop Channel”
Wii music (composer?)
“Humming the Bassline”
Jet Set Radio SEGA Original Tracks
Hideki Naganuma
“Gregorian Chant”
Kevin MacLeod
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=usuan1600052
CC BY 3.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The brassy music track in Baby Labor is apparently also from MacLeod, but Puzankov doesn’t seem to specify which song it is anywhere, I think in violation of the license, and I have not been able to track down the title.
“Introducing Stanley”
“Contemplating Stanley”
“Exploring Stanley”
Bits of Music from The Stanley Parable
The Blake Robinson Synthetic Orchestra
https://syntheticorchestra.bandcamp.com/album/bits-of-music-from-the-stanley-parable
“F.S.R.”
“Step”
Flower, Sun, and Rain OST
Takada Masafumi
“Real Live Murderers”
Doesn’t Speak, Doesn’t Listen
Lawra Suits Clark
https://lawraclark.itch.io/rooftop-cop
“Mural World”
“FC Dungeon”
“Working… Please Wait…”
“Witch’s Flight”
Yume Nikki OST
Kikiyama
“Parisian”
Kevin MacLeod
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100120
CC BY 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
“Gameboy cafe”
“Forest of 513 Sycamores”
“Blowball – ¬«»¿∩”
T-Gotchi! Complete Soundtrack
Garage Heathen
https://garage-heathen.itch.io/tgotchi
“Her House piano”
HAPPY WORLD soundtrack
Jimmy Maslaki
https://jimmymaslaki.bandcamp.com/album/happy-world-soundtrack
“Ukulele mystery song”
To Do List OST
Blinch
Images:
Photo of Albert Camus
https://www.goodreads.com/photo/author/957894.Albert_Camus?page=1&photo=1180850
Photo of Luigi Pirandello
https://www.pirandelloweb.com/pirandello-biografia/
Photo of Matthew Smith
http://oldoilhouse.weebly.com/home/coder-bio-matthew-smith
Photo of William Pugh
Photo by Game Developers Conference
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Pugh_-_game_developers_conference_2015_cropped.jpg
CC BY 2.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
Photo of Davey Wreden
https://the-beginners-guide.fandom.com/wiki/Davey_Wreden?file=Davey.jpg
Photo of Suda51
Photo of Ooka Masahi
https://www.4gamer.net/games/341/G034117/20161109032/
Crucifixion musical.jpg
Taken by bigbirdz
https://live.staticflickr.com/5162/5295674108_58eddf4dd3_q.jpg
CC BY 2.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Photo of Jean-Paul Sartre
Taken by Moshe Milner
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sartre_1967_crop.jpg
CC BY 3.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en
Semaine des barricades Alger 1960
Taken by Christophe Marcheux
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Semaine_des_barricades_Alger_1960_Haute_Qualit%C3%A9.jpg
CC BY-SA 3.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
Members of the Gay Liberation Front in 1969
Photo by Diana Davies
https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/ef4c5390-8dcc-0135-8616-6d47676aff5b
Pete Seeger with the Weavers
https://teachrock.org/resources/image/883-the-weavers-left-to-right-pete-seeger-lee-hays-ronnie-gilbert-fred-hellerman-1952/
Sisyphus comic
https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/2014-02-05
Cartoon of Mizuki Shigeru painting
https://whatismanga.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/8b-mizuki-shigerus-manga-surreality/
Research:
The Theatre of the Absurd
Martin Esslin, 1961
https://edisciplinas.usp.br/pluginfile.php/4892127/mod_resource/content/2/THEATRE%20OF%20THE%20ABSURD%20BY%20MARTIN%20ESSLIN.pdf
“The Myth of Sisyphus”
Albert Camus, 1942, translated by Justin O’Brien
https://www2.hawaii.edu/~freeman/courses/phil360/16.%20Myth%20of%20Sisyphus.pdf
“The Creation of Missile Command and the Haunting of Its Creator, Dave Theurer”
Alex Rubens, 2013
https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/8/15/4528228/missile-command-dave-theurer
“Tetris: A Game of the Absurd”
Robert Harries
https://philosophynow.org/issues/75/Tetris_A_Game_of_the_Absurd
“Show us your Willy!”
Tommy Nash
https://worldofspectrum.org/archive/magazines/your-sinclair/2#42
“Matthew Uncaged”
Chris Bourne
https://worldofspectrum.org/archive/magazines/sinclair-user/33/0/1984/12/0#88
“An Arrow Through The Code? Jet Set Willy’s Weird Bug Explained”
Sharopolis
“The Stanley Parable”
Amanda “AJ” Lange
http://tap-repeatedly.com/2013/10/stanley-parable/
“Take an Art Trip to Russian Provinces at St. Petersburg Manege”
Galina Stolyarova
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/08/20/take-an-art-trip-to-russian-provinces-at-st-petersburg-manege-a71205
“Rooftop Cop Investigates the ‘Ritual Manifestations’ of Police Violence”
Chris Priestman
https://web.archive.org/web/20150203013116/http://killscreendaily.com/articles/rooftop-cop/
“Rooftop Cop: 5-Year Retrospective with Steph L. Clark”
NYU Game Center
Analysis of Presentable Liberty for DST 3880W Fall 2019
Gracechlanda
https://medium.com/dst-3880w-fall-2019-section-2/presentable-liberty-is-a-video-game-that-calls-attention-to-the-effect-large-monopolies-have-on-ce1cdeb9b3a8
“Existentialism Is a Humanism”
Jean-Paul Sartre, 1946, translated by Philip Mairet
https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/sartre/works/exist/sartre.htm
“Existentialism”
Georg Lukács, 1949, translated by Henry F. Mins
In Marxism and Human Liberation, edited by E. San Juan, Jr., 1973
https://www.marxists.org/archive/lukacs/works/1949/existentialism.htm
“Resistance, Rebellion, and Writing”
George Scialabba
https://www.bookforum.com/print/2001/albert-camus-s-dispatches-on-the-algerian-crisis-appear-in-english-for-the-first-time-11228
“Camus and the Algerian Revolution”
Nicholas Blincoe
Camus and the Algerian Revolution
“Interview: Only If”
http://www.permanent-beta.net/interviews/2015/3/18/interview-only-if
“Errant Signal – Only If”
Errant Signal