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The Real-World Phenomenon at the Heart of CONTROL

i am a dot.

60,167 views

Within ten minutes of entering the Federal Bureau of Control, Jesse Faden becomes its new Director. She has no idea what the Bureau does, what’s going on, where anything is, and who to talk to.

Now she has to lead it.

Control throws its players in head-first, and in doing so mimics a common real-world phenomenon. Jesse doesn’t belong, but there’s no turning back now.

This video will discuss Control’s world-building. It will not contain a plot summary. One critical story spoiler will be time-stamped. This video will not discuss Control Resonant.

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Game Discussed:
Control (2019) / Platforms: PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S / Publisher: 505 Games / Developer: Remedy Entertainment / Genre: Science Fiction, Third-Person Shooter, Action Adventure, Exploration, Metroidvania, Story-Driven

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This video features music licensed from bensound.com
Risian - “Every Minute is an Eternity”
Risian - “First Contact”
Risian - “Down to the Wire”
License No. 202606259509

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Topics Discussed:
Imposter Syndrome, Imposter Phenomenon, New Job, Lingo, Terminology, Science Fiction Terminology, New Hire, Job Search, Government Agencies, Jesse Faden, Remedy, Control, The Oldest House, Lore, Video Game Lore, Video Game Storytelling, Simulating Imposter Imposter Phenomenon, IP, Video Game Design, The Hiss, Objects of Power, Remedy Entertainment, Alan Wake, Control Resonant, Review, Video Game Analysis, Video Game Essay, Confusing on Purpose

20 Comments

@AtaeHone 2 weeks ago

8:10 It should be noted that Jesse IS a low level employee.
She is the Janitor's Assistant.

@DannehBoi90 2 weeks ago

One thing that really reinforces that Jesse is the right person for the job is post-credits. You go back to the people in each department, and ask them their thoughts on Jesse being director, and they all say some form of "I'm so glad you're director because every life matters to you."

@LeoNickle 2 weeks ago

This happened to my friend Jared once

@diafenix 2 weeks ago

I'm glad so many people are clicking with CONTROL.
It is an AMAZING game, a work of art.

@THExRISER 2 weeks ago

Bro just gave me the best career advice disguised as a Control video essay.

@2placename 2 weeks ago (edited)

11:30
I want to clarify, Altered Items are not inherently dangerous. As Emily put it “they are more volatile” meaning they are more likely to be dangerously and the ones that are dangerous are much more serious in comparison. But there are some items like The Fridge (before the Former fucks with it) and the Train Car which do not have dangerous effects. One is simply indestructible and the other replays a memory of an accident to those who walk inside it

Also to also explain the Hiss. Your analysis of the self doubt parallel is amazing. But we do have an actual definition for it. It’s a resonance based virus. A virus that propagates via sound and wavelengths

@HollowTarp 2 weeks ago

Remedy will definitely go down as one of the greatest to ever do it

@anemonemilyyy 2 weeks ago

just started my 3rd replay to prep for resonant, this is SUCH a well done video. my favorite aspect of this game is the push and pull between the idea of trying to categorize and often literally control the supernatural, and the reality of the chaotic nature of the supernatural in this world :) its such a good gaaaaaame

@Toni.Rebello 2 weeks ago (edited)

The inverted pyramid of The Board makes visual sense now 7:15, Really good video, loved it!🎉

@IfYouSeekCaveman 2 weeks ago

Spin is not "semiautomatic", it is fully automatic. The Grip is "semiautomatic", because you don't have to manually cock the gun before firing each shot.

@ArchivistShepard 2 weeks ago

Oooooohhh, my heart soared when you dropped "Kinesthetic Learning." Shame workplaces (or, at least, mine to date) have yet to grasp its full, or even partial, potential. Fantastic video!

@batchampa 2 weeks ago

Brilliant insight here I think. Even if imposter phenomenon wasn't at the top of the minds of people at Remedy, it certainly sits at the core of the story

The misdirection at the start from janitor to director, but then realising throughout you really are both, was so good too

@kaiyl 2 weeks ago

The visual comparison with the Board and the inverted pyramid was really well done. This is such a great take on such a gorgeous game.

@Captain_France 2 weeks ago

Man, I must have read too much SCP Foundation and other magic sci-fi stuff too much, because I kinda had a decent working understanding of most of this stuff . . . pretty much immediately. And aside from not getting the distinction between "parautilitarian" and "utilitarian" my reaction to that explanation was . . .
"yeah makes sense to me. Magic bullshit from the astral plane, controllable vs uncontrollable."

Missing out on the themes on account of genre savvy, I guess.

@jaygould661 4 days ago

This is one of the best videos on Control that I’ve seen. This deserves so many more views. Great work

@megascopsasio2015 2 weeks ago

Really liked the hourglass graphic sequence!

@nicksamek12 2 weeks ago

Control was great, loved playing it blind. Looking forward to resonant.

@nicholasdanger627 2 weeks ago (edited)

I just kinda embraced the weirdness of the Oldest House as dream logic. Familiar places and things warped, so its better to roll with the unreality than fighting it. Otherwise you'll wake up from the dream.

Also the Hiss is explicitly a sound or resonance based entity, an alien hive mind composed of sound. A direct opposite to Hedron/Polaris. Its why the HRA's emit a counter frequency and why the Hiss possess you with a repeated phrase