Game Club

Going Nowhere 🪑 [Geeks & Grounds #057]

This week, we're finishing our time with American Arcadia!

Jenny Windom

24 Apr 2024 • 6 min read

this week's podcast 🎧

our discussion of what we played over the last week and other media that's captured our attention

What do the developers of American Arcadia hope we get out of playing? And would they choose to live in Arcadia...or stay the heck outta there? Joel and I get the chance to chat with three of the team members of Out of the Blue Games, and we have a wonderful time. Don't worry: you'll still get our final thoughts, as the podcast detailing our thoughts on the game's finale launches next week. Enjoy!

🥐☕ the pastry case // show links

The Vigilante Diaries is the next title from Out of the Blue Games, if you'd like to keep track of what they're up to next (you can also find them on Twitter and Instagram if you'd like to stay in the loop with their work).
- Alfredo mentions a book you can find on Angela's bookshelf in American Arcadia: The Evolution of Cooperation, by Robert Axelrod. If you'd like to have a read, here's a publicly available PDF.
Fallout (the TV show) has consumed our attention these past two weeks: have any of you started it? It was initially a bit too gory for me, but - for anyone who also isn't a fan of gore - know that it tones down a substantial amount after the first two episodes and the story is worth the watch.

this week's brew ☕

what we're focusing on this week.

This week, we're finishing our time with American Arcadia! If you haven't yet picked up the game and are wanting to join in the conversation, you've still got a chance! The game is about 5-6 hours long, and our hangout is this Saturday in Discord. Get ready for a discussion with the community kicking off at 3pm PST (bring questions, in-game highlights and feedback, and your favorite cozy beverage!)

Trevor's run has spanned the Dome: we've followed his journey through his work offices, Hotel Cygnus, and even the neighborhood of Old Arcadia (cue the Tom Cruise running meme thanks to community member, pixelatedsoul). At every turn, Trevor and Angela have been moving forward with the plan to have him escape, but there are still so many questions we (as players) have.

Who is Six? What does the organization, Breakout, truly want with Trevor? How much does Angela really know? We've been trusting that everyone has the best of intentions, but now that we're nearing the end - still with no definitive answers - it's become increasingly apparent that we have a lot to learn. As you play, take note of your feelings about the end of the game, as they've already been a point of discussion in our community forums, and feel free to email me here or post in Discord to share your thoughts. I'd love to read your thoughts and theories.

reflection question 💭

reflect on a question related to the game by drawing in your experiences, other media, and the game itself in your response. if you'd like, send your thoughts my way – i read all of them – and you may get featured in a future newsletter!

Whether or not if you have a social media presence: do you feel pressure to publicly portray and curate your identity (e.g. posting your interests, your hobbies, what you're doing, etc)? What do those pressures feel like, and how do you choose what to share and what to keep for yourself?

last week's question & community response

Would you ever willingly move to Arcadia? Why or why not?

Frankly, Arcadia is tantalizing to me because of the perceived elements of security and (admittedly, perceived) community. As a player who sees the bars of the gilded cage -- or the Jingle of the golden Dome - of course my gut says it's not a place I should want to live! But, while we don't have all the details, this seems to be a place where everyone has access to a home, food, healthcare: things that, out in the 'real world', aren't necessarily a guarantee. While my answer is still, if given the choice, no, I wouldn't willingly move to Arcadia, I would be lying if I didn't admit to wanting some of those benefits. Of course, the ideal would be to have those rights without the constant surveillance and commodification that Arcadia stands for.

Our latest podcast - A Conversation with Out of the Blue Games - illuminated another layer of this question to me: in what ways are we already living with or in Arcadia?

While we may not be a part of a TV show, our lives -- to varying degrees -- are accessible and broadcast to the rest of the world. Privacy is continuously chipped away, whether at the airport and stores (through increased bio-metric scanning) or even while we're online in our homes (as our data is constantly being collected and sold). Influencers and reality TV stars have taken the mantle as our new celebrities, and we'll watch them go about their lives - Arcadia style - as part of our entertainment. Instead of movies, we'll spend our time consuming get ready with me shorts, travel vlogs, let's plays videos, and mukbang livestreams... not to mention dating shows and talent competitions.

The degree to which our lives have become publicly accessible - with and without our knowledge and consent - is unhealthy, but the desire for this type of content and the desire to share speaks to a core element of humanity. We crave community and human interaction. The tech companies and power structures currently exploit that desire to create systems and products that make us feel like we're creating those connections through (over)sharing, but in reality, many of these tools have done the opposite.

So, what do we do about it?

Our attention and time are powerful: we know this because it's what all of these companies attempt to capture from us daily. So, while there are places we can get involved with to make change on a macro level -- from supporting the push to unionize reality TV participants to advocating for privacy protection in our local, state, and federal legislation -- on an individual level, the simple matter of paying attention to what you spend your time on can be a powerful first step.

Educating yourself - and sharing knowledge - on skills as seemingly straightforward as managing privacy settings and staying in the loop on general privacy news (through media outlets like Wired and their dedicated Privacy coverage, or organizations like Privacy International), can also help you -- and others in your community - continue to stay informed.

So, consider taking that first step, even if occasionally, to start. Consider the content you click on, the headlines that attract your eye, the pictures you choose to post, and the time you spend with various forms of media. Perhaps you'll be happy with what you find! And if not, perhaps you'll be able to see where you can make small shifts to better reflect how you hope to spend your attention and time.

pour over ☕

sift through these supplementary links and suggested activities to help explore the game's connections to your life and the world around us.

What happens when the trauma of other human beings becomes a core component of our entertainment? That's a question that both American Arcadia and Nanette address in different ways, and if you haven't watched Nanette, I highly recommend it. In an extremely personal set, Hannah Gadsby talks about the roots of creative expression, making art, the tools of comedy, and about the strength of people who've gone through immense pain, yet are able to heal themselves.
What happens when the most average, unassuming - dare I say, boring - man goes viral? We've got one example in American Arcadia, and in A24's movie, Dream Scenario (2023), the question is approached in a slightly more surreal way. Nicolas Cage plays a man who suddenly shows up in everyone's dreams, turning him into a viral sensation. What ensues is a bizzare horror-comedy about excess, power, and attention that's worth a watch.
As an activity challenge, take some time this week to do something fun for yourself - whether visiting a spot, partaking in a hobby, picking up a treat - and NOT post about it or let other people know. Have it just be for you!
Reading this article and exploring this website about Cotino and Asteria, two Disney-themed neighborhoods, feels like taking a glimpse into early Arcadia. While I know I often dream of creating a community with friends and family, held together through shared interests and values, something about a neighborhood 'infused with the magic of Disney' - and with an annual membership price tag going to The Mouse (TM) - feels more insidious to reflect on.

Until next week, thanks for joining our digital café and game club.

🌻☕ Jenny