New Audio (video coming very soon): Can a Game Capture a City?

Hey again everyone,

I'm just uploading this audio version of the next episode in time for Patreon's month-end deadline, in case I end up falling asleep while editing this video part because, uh... I'm very tired. The video is probably a couple of hours from being uploaded, but sleep pending it may end up being early tomorrow. Once again, I will keep you posted and I cannot thank you enough for your patience, understanding and continued support.

This one is fun though—basically I've been on a total Michael Mann kick lately after getting into the audiobook for Heat 2. As someone for whom Heat is almost certainly their favourite movie, for one, I am kinda stunned by how successful the sequel(/prequel) is. Narrator is so good he makes me gutted we won't get to see Pacino and De Niro and Kilmer actually act this stuff out.

That said, it also got me thinking about the concept of the city, specifically in reference to Mann's consistent depiction of the existential disarray and unease found within his frequent backdrop—Los Angeles, and a depiction that, as explored in the piece, I find myself oddly relating to.

With reference to Heat and Collateral, and in games GTAV and Hitman, I discuss how a city is more than just a landmass, a collection of landmarks, and question whether it's possible for games, with all their mechanical incentives to conquer and attain, to truly capture the soul (or lack therein) of a city setting.

This one at once feels a bit different from what I normally do, and also like it fits right in. Camus is mentioned, I guess. Either way, I love finding ways to combine writing about film and other areas outside my typical wheelhouse, with the game analysis I have been doing for almost a decade now. It feels really refreshing, and especially coming off of the behemoth Metal Gear Solid video (and despite the sometimes existentially tumultuous subject matter being discussed), to do something so structurally breezy felt like a real treat. I really do like the writing here, if I do say so myself. I hope you do too.

As I say, the video will be with you very soon. After that, there's a whole lot more stuff coming. When I said in the last post I was getting back into the swing of things, I meant it!

Thank you once again for your continued support and patience. I couldn't do this without each and every one of you.

Hamish

Writing on Games