How a wellness craze inspired Pokemon
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Date: 2023-12-10
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Comments and reviews: 19
-Fopenplop
I loved this video because it expressed a new idea that connects video games with a wider culture and history, both things that are usually absent from popular video game media.
BUT, although the thesis - that the popularity of simulated pets in japan was a direct result of the emotional needs of a nation after its economy collapsed - seems very plausible to me, I feel like there isn't enough evidence or really any evidence presented to show that this was actually the case. I understand that these kinds of concise explainers are the kind of thing Vox Media likes its people to make, but so much of the commonly believed history of games, especially japanese games, is based on assumptions, misinterpretations, and hearsay, and never gets corrected, challenged, or elaborated on because it's not treated as a serious field of study.
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I loved this video because it expressed a new idea that connects video games with a wider culture and history, both things that are usually absent from popular video game media.
BUT, although the thesis - that the popularity of simulated pets in japan was a direct result of the emotional needs of a nation after its economy collapsed - seems very plausible to me, I feel like there isn't enough evidence or really any evidence presented to show that this was actually the case. I understand that these kinds of concise explainers are the kind of thing Vox Media likes its people to make, but so much of the commonly believed history of games, especially japanese games, is based on assumptions, misinterpretations, and hearsay, and never gets corrected, challenged, or elaborated on because it's not treated as a serious field of study.
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-Belleuchtung
Jenna, I love your videos and the information you share! But you may want to brush up on your Japanese pronunciation if you're going to discuss Japanese media. Iyashi is pronounced EE-yah-shee, and Doraemon is pronounced Doh-RAI-mohn. Vowel sounds in Japanese don't vary the way they do in English, and so if you see an I two times in a word, it's going to be pronounced with that EE sound every time. I normally wouldn't get too pedantic about this, but this IS an informational video.
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Jenna, I love your videos and the information you share! But you may want to brush up on your Japanese pronunciation if you're going to discuss Japanese media. Iyashi is pronounced EE-yah-shee, and Doraemon is pronounced Doh-RAI-mohn. Vowel sounds in Japanese don't vary the way they do in English, and so if you see an I two times in a word, it's going to be pronounced with that EE sound every time. I normally wouldn't get too pedantic about this, but this IS an informational video.
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-teddyb. 6205
I feel it's really important to mention that this -healing boom- and desire for closeness wasn't the main reason that Satoshi Tajiri liked collecting bugs so much. Tajiri is autistic, and had a special interest in collecting bugs, so he just expanded his interests by merging it with another special interest of his, game design.
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I feel it's really important to mention that this -healing boom- and desire for closeness wasn't the main reason that Satoshi Tajiri liked collecting bugs so much. Tajiri is autistic, and had a special interest in collecting bugs, so he just expanded his interests by merging it with another special interest of his, game design.
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-samus323
Really enjoyed this video. One thing I'd suggest is standing a bit father away from the camera. Check out how people are framed on Feminist Frequency. A white background generally works better than black as well. Hope to see more videos like this in the future: )
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Really enjoyed this video. One thing I'd suggest is standing a bit father away from the camera. Check out how people are framed on Feminist Frequency. A white background generally works better than black as well. Hope to see more videos like this in the future: )
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-hbfrts5519
Why did japanese people need virtual pets and robot puppies to get attached to? Not even extreme economic depression was enough to bring their people together? Is it THAT hard in their culture to simply cling to, idk, other people?
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Why did japanese people need virtual pets and robot puppies to get attached to? Not even extreme economic depression was enough to bring their people together? Is it THAT hard in their culture to simply cling to, idk, other people?
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-pcg13
thanks for the reminder. gonna go get me a glass of water rn. (also my fondest memory of -2006 era pokemon was listening to my college-aged friend yell at the likely 12-year-old beating them while fighting. gosh)
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thanks for the reminder. gonna go get me a glass of water rn. (also my fondest memory of -2006 era pokemon was listening to my college-aged friend yell at the likely 12-year-old beating them while fighting. gosh)
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-Nessisma
If you are quoting a foreing word, the least you must do is try to pronounce it correctly. The moment I hear -aiyashi-, instead of -iyashi-, all professionalship was gone. Please, put attention to details.
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If you are quoting a foreing word, the least you must do is try to pronounce it correctly. The moment I hear -aiyashi-, instead of -iyashi-, all professionalship was gone. Please, put attention to details.
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-mcknightlight3419
You guys should change your thumbnails. The pink border makes it look like I've already watched the video because it is similar in color to the red bar that appears under a watch video.
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You guys should change your thumbnails. The pink border makes it look like I've already watched the video because it is similar in color to the red bar that appears under a watch video.
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-schuylerdade
I wonder how many people with social anxiety were turned off by the requirement to trade. To quote Griffin McElroy, -It was easier to buy two gameboys than to make one friend. -
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I wonder how many people with social anxiety were turned off by the requirement to trade. To quote Griffin McElroy, -It was easier to buy two gameboys than to make one friend. -
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-lam-ben-yam4015
Jenna reminds me of that cool teacher you had in Highschool that let you bring snacks into class. Such a friendly yet insightful and didactic tone. A very pleasant video: )
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Jenna reminds me of that cool teacher you had in Highschool that let you bring snacks into class. Such a friendly yet insightful and didactic tone. A very pleasant video: )
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-HerFirstTime
I've been visiting certain game websites daily for over 12 years. I never knew this was the sort of content Polygon produced. I have a lot of catching up to do.
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I've been visiting certain game websites daily for over 12 years. I never knew this was the sort of content Polygon produced. I have a lot of catching up to do.
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-JohnGottschalk
Getting a real Vsauce vibe from your video essays, Jenna! It's not quite my favorite, but interesting to see you experiment with other formats at polygon.
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Getting a real Vsauce vibe from your video essays, Jenna! It's not quite my favorite, but interesting to see you experiment with other formats at polygon.
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-TheTrueSir0Robin
How are there 35 people who did not like this, even if you don't like the game it is still an interesting way that Japan overcame eccinomoc instability.
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How are there 35 people who did not like this, even if you don't like the game it is still an interesting way that Japan overcame eccinomoc instability.
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-jacq4112
luv this new jenna content! also the reminder about posture because i was literally hunched over like a gremlin with a leg on my desk and my foot on my chair.
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luv this new jenna content! also the reminder about posture because i was literally hunched over like a gremlin with a leg on my desk and my foot on my chair.
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-hithere6199
When the video ended, I literally sighed, got up, got a glass of water, and returned to my desk to sit up straight. Thanks for that, for real.
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When the video ended, I literally sighed, got up, got a glass of water, and returned to my desk to sit up straight. Thanks for that, for real.
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-LobsterFusion
What exactly is happening at 0: 50 there? It looks incredible. That girl looks so happy. We need whatever that is here in the west.
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What exactly is happening at 0: 50 there? It looks incredible. That girl looks so happy. We need whatever that is here in the west.
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polygon
The wlw power of Jenna-s haircut is too much for the str8s
lookin great Jenna + this was a very interesting and informative video!
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The wlw power of Jenna-s haircut is too much for the str8s
lookin great Jenna + this was a very interesting and informative video!
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-joshbenson4453
I wouldn't know what to do if
Pokemon never existed and gotten me through all of the tough times in my life
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I wouldn't know what to do if
Pokemon never existed and gotten me through all of the tough times in my life
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-mitkitty
Pokemon helps me fight depression and meet people, so the healing continues to this day. Thanks Pokemon: )
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Pokemon helps me fight depression and meet people, so the healing continues to this day. Thanks Pokemon: )
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