Hey,
PlayItEssays is a video essayist who makes horror content similar to me, his videos are enjoyable deep dives into indie horror content. You’ve probably seen some of his more popular videos.
He was completely demonetised and deplatformed by YouTube recently for quoting from an infamous manifesto. It’s explained in this video; I don’t want to comment too much on it or repeat the quote for obvious reasons, but it’s a pretty popular meme online. Watch the video and form your own opinion.
Other much larger YouTubers have covered this manifesto in much greater detail and not seen such harsh punishment, so this is very likely just an AI censor arbitrarily destroying a channel with no human involvement.
If you can go show him some support and put some pressure on YouTube to have someone take a look at the ban.
Just getting the confirmation that an actual real human has taken a look at the guys ban before his career totally ends would be great. This is a pretty nasty precedent for YouTube to set.
watch video on watch page
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ANNOUNCEMENT
I figured out a way to compile a load of requests and half-complete projects into a single video, so will be hard at work on this project, which is 'Gothic Horror in Games'.
It'll be an anthology video essay with reviews/retrospectives on both conventional gothic horror and gothic fantasy, as well as an introduction to the world of gothic literature. Subjects that will be discussed are:
- Bloodborne
- Pathologic 2
- Scarlet Hollow
- Darkest Dungeon
- Layers of Fear
- Amnesia (Franchise)
- Various fantasy game DLCs (Blood and Wine, Dawnguard)
- Castlevania
- The Excavation of Hob's Barrow
- Gothic Tabletop Roleplaying Games
- Various Gothic Horror Novels
Before this we've got another quick Fear & Hunger theory in the pipeline, but after that will be hard at work on this project, which is shaping up to be the biggest project I've ever worked on.
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THIS MONTH IN RAT LAND/NEW VIDEO POLL
CHANNEL UPDATE:
Hey hey, been really busy and sorry for the time between uploads. Here’s all the updates:
There should be TWO new videos out NEXT WEEK. Supermassive Ranking Monday, and a Fear & Hunger Theory video later in the week.
The Scarlet Hollow video continues to be worked on in the background but this is an immense project unlike anything I’ve ever made before, so is delayed until I can find out the best way to present my takes on it.
I’ll be back with Cube Escape streams sporadically throughout September, and Rusty Lake as a whole will be beaten on stream. I recon a video about it is on the horizon, but let’s see.
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NEW VIDEO POLL:
In the meantime, here are some ideas for videos that I’d be interested in making and dropping at some point in September. Whichever gets the most votes will be made. I’ve included a mix of thinkpiece diatribe stuff, returning to the channels manga discussion roots, and the more standard game review/analysis format, so vote for whatever kind of content appeals most to you.
Some of these suggestions were pulled directly from the community discord. Thanks to everyone who contributed.
🐀🐀
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I’ve been prodding around in the Termina source code and files (for no particular reason don’t worry about it), and would like to confirm once and for all that this sprite is labelled ‘butterfly’ and not ‘moth’.
I’m not crazy, you’re crazy!! 🦋🦋
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SORRY FOR LONG POST. PLEASE DONATE IF YOU CAN!
Today, right now in fact, in my home country of The United Kingdom over 200 people have been arrested for peacefully protesting their right to freedom of speech, and challenging the governments repeated and flagrant atrocity denial.
The metropolitan police have responded with far more zeal than they have to any number of explicitly violent actions across the country in previous years, notably the Southport Riots of 2024.
Andrew McIntyre, who orchestrated this series of riots up and down the country with the explicit aim of causing as much violence and suffering as possible was sentenced to only 7 years in prison. Some of these peaceful protestors could be sentenced to double that.
The message is clear: the British government has absolutely no interest in allowing its citizens to criticise them, no matter how peacefully they protest. I am witnessing my nation devolve into an Orwellian nightmare.
As a relatively small video game YouTube channel it might seem silly for me to bring this up, and I promise this isn’t indicative of a content pivot. We’ll be back to horror slop in no time at all.
That said, I cannot in good conscience not attempt to draw attention to this incident that many of my international viewers might not know about. So much of my content is centred around how important art and expression is and how much censorship curtails it. I will always be an ardent supporter of people’s right to be critical.
I find such authoritarian censorship disgusting, and am of the opinion that irrespective of your own leanings you should too. It is not the place of any democratically elected government to disregard the voice of its citizens, especially not with such cruel and disproportionate displays of force.
If you believe that the people of a nation should have a right to speak freely without fear of disproportionate legal recourse, please look into the organisers of this demonstration, and consider donating to their cause and aiding in their goal of freeing political prisoners.
defendourjuries.net/
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TONIGHT 10PM BST/5PM EST
We're playing the cube escape collection, trying to get through all of them so I can better understand Rusty Lake.
Come hang out and solve some puzzles with chat!
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What is Scarlet Hollow Even About? Is in production now and being worked on as my next project.! Hopefully out within the next month.
You can play the first episode of the game entirely for free if you want to get clued up before the deep dive: store.steampowered.com/app/1406040/Scarlet_Hollow_… (Not sponsored, just adore the game).
The members choice of Supermassive Character Ranking is also being worked on, but that video is becoming slightly huge so has taken a bit of a backseat for now.
I’ll be back with more Rusty Lake streams next week, with the Cube Escape games. Thanks to everyone who showed up to the last one it was a blast!
Also thanks for all the comments and support on the newest video, I’m sharing my favourite comment here because it’s amazing. Please comment this on all of my videos.
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TONIGHT 10PM BST/5PM EST
I’m going live to play Rusty Lake: Hotel off the back of a friends suggestion. Please show up if you can, because, in spite of my constant online pretension, I’m very very stupid and need help with puzzles.
Feel free to also use this opportunity to come ask any questions about videos or upcoming projects you want answered. See you there!
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New video out! Go check it out if you’re interested!
I’ll be live next week with Rusty Lake, and starting on the Ranking All Supermassive Characters video.
Thanks and take care!
watch video on watch page
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Next Three Videos decided on by member vote, comment suggestions and prior poll.
In no particular order they will be:
- Ranking Every Supermassive Character
- How 'Lore' Kills Games
- What is Scarlet Hollow Even About?
Stay tuned for those and sporadic streams over the next month or two.
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I make videos about things I find interesting.
Usually horror games/movies/novels/manga, but sometimes we do other stuff.
Most of the time I'm on about Supermassive Games or Fear and Hunger.
Profile Picture by the wonderful DrearyLane.
Contact me:
✉️ratatinquiry@gmail.com
@ratattherat on Discord