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The Day the Running Started 👟 [Geeks & Grounds #056]

Welcome to a world of science, technology, entertainment ...and 24/7 surveillance?

Jenny Windom

• 4 min read
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The Day the Running Started 👟 [Geeks & Grounds #056]


this week's podcast 🎧

our recap discussion & deep dive on what we played last week

🥐☕ the pastry case // show links

  • I shared a bit about my PAX and GDC travels and confirmed that Littlelands was probably one of my favorite demos of the week.
  • Joel educated me on the Garbage Pail Kids. Did any of you know these existed?! I only know of the Cabbage Patch variety growing up.
  • Both of us have enjoyed getting our sci-fi fix from the 3 Body Problem on Netflix, and Joel finished up Solo Leveling.
  • Outside of American Arcadia, I'm still coasting along in Final Fantasty 7 Rebirth (although the shine has worn off in some ways, I'm still loving my time with it) and winding down my evenings with Stardew Valley (even though the 1.6 update hasn't yet come to the Switch).
  • Some upcoming indie game releases to keep an eye on:

this week's brew ☕

what we're focusing on this week.

Welcome to a world of science, technology, entertainment ...and 24/7 surveillance? For April, we're playing American Arcadia, a game I've been looking forward to discussing since its November launch last year.
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Not only does it blend some of my favorite media and themes to discuss -- movies like The Truman Show, reality television, corporate Disney, and the increasing 'contentification' of our lives -- but American Arcadia is also just beautiful to look at!
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​We'll begin by playing the Prologue and Chapter 1 (ending right about when "Don't Break the Fourth Wall" pops up on your screen). As you dive in, pay particular attention to the use of color, the differences in perspective, and some of the ways that the developers have paced this initial portion of the story. As a side note: if you're uncertain about hopping in, I believe the Steam demo (which is free and still available on the game's page) covers most of this week's section, so if you're on the fence about joining in this month, consider giving that a try!
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And, whether this is your first time playing (or if this is your 15th game with G&G), be sure to check out the playthrough guide for our general timeline for play. Of course, please play however suits you best, but the guide will give you an idea of how the podcast discussions will be paced and keep you on track for finishing by the end of the month if you find timelines helpful.
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​Make sure to finish the game by Saturday, April 27th, since that'll be our monthly community hangout and discussion!

reflection 💭

ponder 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 (with your permission) you may get featured in a future newsletter!

Would you ever willingly move to Arcadia (popularity rankings and all)? Why or why not?

last week's question & community response

While the newsletter was on a bit of a break due to travel, and we didn't have a reflection question last week, I DID want to take a moment to recap some additional suggestions from our community hangout!

In Discord, we got together to share the impact Gris had on us, highlight favorite moments, and generally enjoy one another's company talking about what we've been up to as a community.
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​(We also had an extensive discussion about Hanson, and I learned that clearly I've missed out by only listening to their single, MMMBop! 😆 )​
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​Here are some additional resources folks shared to tie a bow on our discussion of Gris this month!

  • HEARTMACHINE+ recommended Nurture (2001) by Porter as an album to listen to after playing Gris -- and I wholeheartedly second that suggestion. Like Gris, it feels surreal, dreamy, and emotional (although I feel like the emotions from Porter lean more towards whimsy, joy, and a sincere restlessness rather than delving too deeply into grief). The tagline of the album "Everything we need is already here" feels especially fitting when thinking about our discussion. If you enjoy dance/pop/ambient music, tune in and enjoy.
  • If you'd like to dig into the animation of Gris, pixelatedsoul also referred us to this video that provides some more detail about the intention behind the beautiful movement in the game.
  • For anyone wanting a bit of reading, Jack Orchard shared this insightful article about grief, the Kubler-Ross model, and Gris titled Gris, Grief and the Heroine's Journey by Poonam Chowdhury.

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.

  • The Truman Show (1998) was a movie I loved watching when I was younger, and I feel still largely holds up today. At the time, I was morbidly fascinated by the idea that a corporation could hold that much power over someone's life without their knowledge (hah, fast forward to 2024). I love the way the movie asks us to confront reality and performance, lies and truth, privacy, and the concept of living for ourselves...or for an audience.
  • Admittedly, I haven't read the book or seen the movie in a loooong time – and the connection is not as strong as The Truman Show – but I'll be watching Logan's Run (1976) this weekend as it was one of the first sci-fi references that came to mind when playing American Arcadia! In Logan's Run, the focus isn't on reality tv but population control. In a futuristic 2116, people's life span is legislated, capping out at 21 years old. On his final day, Logan attempts to escape his fate by running away from the colony and attempting to find somewhere to begin a new life.
  • Whether you partake or not, reality tv is a major content driver today. How Reality TV Has Reshaped Our World, Whether We Like It or Not by Judy Berman is a nice overview of some of the major ways this type of media has already impacted Western culture, in particular, with lots of good book references if you're hoping to explore this topic further.