Game Theory
Season 5
Matthew Patrick delves into common questions about video game stories and tropes and develops theories to explain them.
36 Episodes
- Super Smash Bros TRAGIC Hidden LoreE1
Episode 1Super Smash Bros TRAGIC Hidden LoreWait...Super Smash Bros. has a STORY? Like a plot that runs through all five games? YES! You heard right -- Nintendo's beloved crossover brawler has hidden lore that spans across all five games. It's a story we all can relate to, but it's also one that spells trouble for any future installments in the franchise. - The Pokemon Multiverse EXPLAINS EVERYTHINGE2
Episode 2The Pokemon Multiverse EXPLAINS EVERYTHINGNot too long ago, Nintendo released Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire...games I initially wrote off as shameless HD rereleases. BUT! While the bulk of the story may be the same, there's a bit of post-game content that ROCKS the foundation of the Pokemon world and changes everything we THOUGHT we knew about the franchise! - A Tank's Biggest Weakness...is ITSELF (War Thunder)E4
Episode 4A Tank's Biggest Weakness...is ITSELF (War Thunder)Gaijin Entertainment, makers of the game War Thunder, flew me out to Texas to try out some authentic WWII tanks. They then CHALLENGED me to compare the in-game tanks with the real things. So, how does their virtual MMO tank warfare game stack up on the battlefield of Game Theory? Time to FIND OUT! - Does Isaac DIE?!? Binding of Isaac Rebirth's Endings EXPLAINEDE5
Episode 5Does Isaac DIE?!? Binding of Isaac Rebirth's Endings EXPLAINEDIt's time to get INDIE! Today I'm taking on the indie game YOU have been requesting the most -- The Binding of Isaac. WHAT DOES THIS GAME MEAN? With 16 endings and all just as obscure as the last, it seems like this game has some deep things to say...but what are those things, exactly? Does Isaac die in the box? Is mom really a psycho religious killer? We're getting ready to analyze this incredibly deep and moving game. - Are GTA V Cops Racist? (Grand Theft Auto V)E7
Episode 7Are GTA V Cops Racist? (Grand Theft Auto V)Grand Theft Auto V is a superlative game. It is one of THE most popular games of all time. It also happens to be one of the most realistic virtual worlds ever created in a video game. But the franchise is known for being one of the most CONTROVERSIAL. So would Rockstar go so far as to program in RACIAL PROFILING into its AI. Any other game would be an obvious NO,...but here...you might be surprised by what we found. - Gamers, You're Getting PlayedE8
Episode 8Gamers, You're Getting PlayedOkay, so first off, it's not a FNAF video...and I know that's going to drive people insane, especially since I use FNAF imagery in both the thumbnail and opening. Truth be told, this video was written BEFORE FNAF3 was released, with me already having my heart set on this as the thumbnail. I personally think it's the strongest way to convey the message of the video -- we are being used as puppets and so what better image to represent that than gaming's most iconic puppet? Anyway, that's the reason there. There's a hidden message in the video speaking to the FNAF delay, but I'll address it here too just to make it more obvious since SO MANY people are waiting for that episode. The release of the game caught me entirely off guard, and while I tried to adjust the release schedule of these videos to accommodate doing one immediately after the game launched, I just couldn’t do it. What made it tough was that I had already committed to a lot of other videos/consulting work. But believe me, I tried, and it kills me to see you all disappointed in the comments because I DON'T want to disappoint you. Rest assured, I'm working on it and doing my best to make sure it's worth the wait. And in the meantime, we have some really fun, different games to talk about, a whole new series I CAN’T WAIT to show you that I’ve been killing myself working on, and the next installment of DeadLock. I know it’s no FNAF, but still plenty of awesome stuff for you guys to enjoy. THEORIST FIST! - Handsome Jack, Monster or Misunderstood? (Borderlands 2/The Pre-Sequel!)
E9Episode 9Handsome Jack, Monster or Misunderstood? (Borderlands 2/The Pre-Sequel!)In honor of the Borderlands: Handsome Collection hitting shelves, allowing you to play Borderlands 2, the Pre-Sequel, and all associated DLC, we're analyzing Jack, the STAR of those games, to determine whether he's truly a monster or just a little misunderstood. - FNAF Mysteries SOLVED (Part 1)E10
Episode 10FNAF Mysteries SOLVED (Part 1)Just to clarify, at 7:37, just because we're using Purple Guy imagery here, we're not implying that this is where the Purple Guy dies -- it's not. That part of the timeline is covered next time. Also, at 8:18, we're using the Springtrap visual to represent an "old" Golden Bonnie. That DOESN'T mean that the Shadow Bonnie suit that killed the worker and the Springtrap suit are the exact same , just the same STYLE of suit. You requested it...and requested it and requested it...and it's finally here! With the release of FNAF 3, Game Theory dives into the ENTIRE Five Nights at Freddy's trilogy to answer EVERY major question from these games. What is Golden Freddy? Who is the Phone Guy? What's the deal with the Shadow animatronics? What's the TRUE timeline of the FNAF series? And most importantly of all, who is the Purple Guy? There's a lot to cover, so this is PART 1 with PART 2 a week away! - Why Star Fox has NO LEGS, The REAL Reason!E13
Episode 13Why Star Fox has NO LEGS, The REAL Reason!One small detail from the Star Fox series that often gets overlooked is Star Fox's metal legs. Look at any of the original artwork or promotional materials, and you see Fox, Slippy, Falco, and Peppy all with robotic-looking legs and feet, with ankles too narrow for them to just be boots. They're even present in Smash Bros! But WHY?!? The Internet's working theory has been that the lack of legs allows for greater resistance to G-forces the pilots' bodies go through when performing high-energy combat maneuvers...but is that REALLY true? I intend to find out! - The Mario Timeline's SHOCKING RevealE14
Episode 14The Mario Timeline's SHOCKING RevealNintendo's star character Mario has been in over 70 games. 70 GAMES!!! Which leads to the question, does the Super Mario series have a discernible timeline? Or are Mario games, like many have been led to believe, a random assortment of games with no attention paid to continuity. While this may ultimately be true, there ARE details in the Super Mario games that allow them to be pieced into a timeline order...and the implications of that are SHOCKING! - Jurassic World Hybrid Dinos ARE COMING!E16
Episode 16Jurassic World Hybrid Dinos ARE COMING!LEGO Jurassic World seems like a far-fetched fantasy, but the reality of genetically-modified hybrid dinosaurs is much closer than you think. In this episode, we look across the board at advances in genetic engineering, from chickens with dinosaur beaks to glow-in-the-dark cats, showing that the hybrid dinosaurs you build in LEGO Jurassic World might be the same ones that science unleashes on us tomorrow. Watch if you dare...and please for the love of all that is holy, let's make better electric fences! A big thank you to LEGO and Warner Bros. for sponsoring this episode! When I told them we had never done a dinosaur Game Theory and wanted to try one with hybrid dinosaurs on LEGO Jurassic Park, they thought it was a pretty nifty idea. ANOTHER big thanks to Robert Irwin and the Irwin family for being a part of this episode. Robert is an awesome dinosaur expert and works with his family at the Australia Zoo. They do some pretty amazing things for wildlife in Australia, so if you'd like to know more, check them out here: http://www.australiazoo.com.au/ - Red vs Blue, The SECRET Color StrategyE17
Episode 17Red vs Blue, The SECRET Color StrategyRed vs Blue. It's the two default colors to differentiate opposing teams in most games, both video games and in real-world sports. But in balanced games, what if the choice between red and blue made a difference? What if choosing either red or blue would give you a strategic advantage, putting you in a position to win right from the moment you press START? Well, the secret is this: COLOR MATTERS. Which color is stronger, red or blue? Watch and choose wisely! - Why ESPN is WRONG about eSportsE19
Episode 19Why ESPN is WRONG about eSportsLast year, ESPN's John Skipper stated that esports are "not a sport" and that on ESPN he's interested in doing "real sports." Today we're on a crusade to prove that Esports and games like League of Legends, Smite, and DOTA can stand toe-to-toe with the NFL, NBA, and the rest of the traditional ESPN roster. Not only do these games require the same rigor and commitment as traditional sports, but the structure of Esports as a whole has even started to look and feel like traditional sports leagues, with everything from internationally-recognized athletes to team sponsorships to league tournaments. It's time for Esports to get the recognition they deserve! - How to SURVIVE the Mad Max Carmageddon!E20
Episode 20How to SURVIVE the Mad Max Carmageddon!Thanks to Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for giving the whole crew over here at The Game Theorists the chance to experience a sneak peek of Mad Max and learn a ton about the real world science of cars in the process! They sponsored this video and helped support us so we can keep the theories coming. Mad Max is all about surviving in the desert apocalypse with just your wits and the car you're driving, but what if the world of Mad Max weren't a game? What if you took your war machine out of the screen and put it into a real-world desert war for survival? Today we built our own war machine from the ground up using the in-game features and tested whether you could actually build a car capable of keeping you alive when the end of the world really comes. - FNAF 4 got it ALL WRONG!E21
Episode 21FNAF 4 got it ALL WRONG!FNAF 4 is here and this time I'm ready! I had originally planned for this episode to come out before FNAF 4 was released, but you can always count on Scott Cawthon to ruin all my plans... Either way, as soon as I started to see what this game was about in the trailers, I knew I had to come in and set the record straight. This episode is all about the evidence in the game that points straight toward the Bite of 87, as well as how the Bite of 87 itself makes FNAF 4 absolutely IMPOSSIBLE! Happy you guys didn't have to wait for weeks for this one--enjoy! :) - Fallout Bottle Caps are Worth HOW MUCH?!?E22
Episode 22Fallout Bottle Caps are Worth HOW MUCH?!?Fallout 4 is coming...and I can't wait. So while I wait for the newest installment in the Fallout series, let me tell you a tale of a young Fallout fan named GatorMacheteJr. and the deal he made with Bethesda. He traded in BOTTLE CAPS for a pre-order of the game. But did he get his money's worth? What did he ACTUALLY pay for his copy of Fallout 4? The answer is shocking! Fallout 4, please come now! - The Assassin's Creed Shared Universe ConspiracyE23
Episode 23The Assassin's Creed Shared Universe ConspiracyIt's that time again: Our yearly Assassin's Creed theory is here! Except this time we're taking it up a notch by not just talking about Assassin's Creed, but finding out how Assassin's Creed is part of a MUCH larger gaming universe of under-cover super heroes sprinkled all throughout the major Ubisoft franchises. Much more than Easter eggs, we're digging deep into the lore to uncover how AC is connected to, well, EVERYTHING. - Why FNAF Will Never EndE24
Episode 24Why FNAF Will Never EndFNAF 4 has been pretty much the only thing you've been talking to me about online for the last eight WEEKS! Well the wait is over because the Five Nights at Freddy's lore theory is HERE! '83 vs '87? We got it. What's in the box? That's covered too. So hold your plushie Fredbear toys tight because we're diving deep into the ending of FNAF...and why it matters so much. - Leave PewDiePie ALONE!E25
Episode 25Leave PewDiePie ALONE!Lately, gamers and YouTube celebrities have been getting A LOT of flak from TV and other news publications. From articles that dismiss us to videos that outright attack and make fun of us. Be it Jimmy Kimmel questioning video games as entertainment with the launch of the YouTube Gaming app to the Teen Choice Awards purposely mispronouncing PewDiePie's name. What is going on here? Why is there so much hate going on right now? You might think it just has to do with views...but there's A LOT more at play... - Is the MMO genre DYING?E26
Episode 26Is the MMO genre DYING?MMORPGs are changing, and fast! The world of the MMO has gone through some major shifts in the last couple of years and have more than a few people calling the "Death of the MMO!" But before we get all doom and gloom and bid ol' Azeroth goodbye, we need to take a closer look here. Is the MMO dying, or is the genre just changing in ways we never expected? - Bowser's BROKEN HOME in Super MarioE27
Episode 27Bowser's BROKEN HOME in Super MarioWe've all fought Bowser through every Mario world and universe since the very beginning of the Mushroom Kingdom. We know his penchant for kidnapping princesses and running over us in Mario Kart, but how well do we REALLY know everyone's favorite Nintendo villain? Turns out, Bowser has a soft side left over from a lonely and sad past that will make you feel guilty every time you chop that bridge out from under him! - Exposing Destiny's LOST PLOT!E28
Episode 28Exposing Destiny's LOST PLOT!You think you know the story of Destiny, but do you really? Who IS the Traveler? What are you even really fighting for? This episode will shake even the most hardcore Destiny's fans' understanding of the game they're playing. Who's side are you on, anyway? Credit: A big thanks to Dmazzetti, ||Rantz||, and pbralek for lending their Destiny expertise for this episode! - EXPOSING the Real Gangs of Assassin's Creed SyndicateE29
Episode 29EXPOSING the Real Gangs of Assassin's Creed SyndicateWhen you think of Assassin's Creed Syndicate, you think gangs. But our version of gangs are the Bloods and the Cryps...not the Peaky Blinders, the 40 Elephants, and the Green Gates. London gangs in the 1800's may have had the cutest names ever, but they were serious business. In AC Syndicate, we know there's gang activity going on, but this episode of Game Theory exposes whether the activity you see in the game could have actually been a real London gang or whether the in-game history is just a load'a'rubbish! - Zelda Rupees are REAL?!? (ft. PBG)E31
Episode 31Zelda Rupees are REAL?!? (ft. PBG)It's ZELDA MONTH over on PeanutButterGamer's channel, which means we're overdue for a deep look into the ABSURDITY of Zelda items. And I decided to tackle what I think is probably MY FAVORITE video game currency -- the RUPEE. Who wouldn't want enormous gemstones as their item of trade? But did you know you can actually OWN YOUR OWN Zelda rupee? It's true! And the true value of one Zelda rupee will BLOW YOU AWAY! - Until Dawn's TRAGIC HeroE32
Episode 32Until Dawn's TRAGIC HeroUntil Dawn is all about making sure you make the right choices to make it out alive... But what if the most important character in the game is the only one who gets NO CHOICE in whether they live or die. What does that mean for you playing the game? What does that say about the game itself? Get ready for a completely new understanding of Until Dawn! (plus a few spoilers!) - The Human Hive Mind Theory (Starcraft 2: Legacy of the Void)E33
Episode 33The Human Hive Mind Theory (Starcraft 2: Legacy of the Void)Starcraft's Zerg - some of the most iconic, yet misunderstood aliens in all of Sci-Fi history. We tend to despise these locusts of mass obedience - viewing them as a plague upon our individual freedoms. But what if I were to tell you we have more in common with that swarm than you even realize? Get ready to view the Zerg in a whole new light! Thank you to Blizzard Entertainment for sponsoring this video. - FNAF, The Clue that SOLVES Five Nights at Freddy's!E34
Episode 34FNAF, The Clue that SOLVES Five Nights at Freddy's!With the FNAF Halloween update finished and Scott moving on to the Five Nights at Freddy's novel and the upcoming FNAF World, it's time we look back and finally put to rest the original FNAF tetrology. We have all the pieces...but what are we missing? Scott Cawthon have us theorists some clues to go off of during our Five Nights at Freddy's livestream, which led to new revelations and me to discover the clue that breaks the entire FNAF series wide open! Prepare to have your mind blown! - Will 2015 be THE END of YouTube Rewind?E36
Episode 36Will 2015 be THE END of YouTube Rewind?With the year winding down, I wanted to do my own "YouTube Rewind" - recapping the highlights of my year with all of YOU. But then I noticed, YouTube was not the only platform recapping it's year in a snazzy video, Facebook did so too. And with all the hype about Facebook video I thought it might be time to analyze these two platforms (which seem to be going head to head in a battle for the internet video); and, discuss the future of digital media. What does the future hold for our beloved platform? Let's find out!
