*Game Theory Intro, FNAF Edition*
Hello, internet!
Welcome to Game Theory in 2018!
A show apparently dedicated entirely to virtual boxes.
Loot box psychology, loot boxes as
gambling, the treatise on the science of fictional cardboard
boxes. It's like box episodes are the new FNAF
episodes for the channel.
Gotta milk 'em dry!
Next episode should be on, I don't know, The Orange Box or something.
But in all seriousness, The Box
Tetralogy reaches its dramatic finale today.
As I cover what is perhaps the most infamous
digital box of the last decade, FNAF 4's
locked chest. Now, last episode
we started to explore the idea that FNAF 6 is all about tying up loose
ends. That, as the last game in "The Purple Guy Saga",
Scott's goal was to give us the information
necessary to close the book on this chapter in Freddy's
story. But to me, as someone who has studied these games
inside and out, if there was one question
that needed to be answered in a final game, it wasn't how
Michael Afton was able to become a living purple corpse through
remnant. Or how Henry was able to create a device that could somehow
simulate child body temperatures.
I didn't even care so much about the timeline at this point. No,
what I wanted answered was the biggest
lingering mystery of FNAF.
What was in the box? Rewind back to FNAF
4, the game that UTTERLY WRECKED
everyone's understanding of this franchise. You beat the game, you get
the iconic line of "I will put you back together," and then
BOOM! A literal "Mystery Box" that would make the likes of
J. J. Abrams proud. A company by the lines,
"Perhaps some things are best left forgotten,
for now." But you know what? I never forgot. The
fans never forgot, and I don't think Scott forgot either.
So now, two years, three games, and
four books later, I think I'm finally ready to break
open the locks and reveal what was supposed to be in this thing,
versus what actually was in the thing.
Because I have reason to believe that the contents of the
box have changed three separate times.
And that, now, in the wake of FNAF 6, Scott has
already shown us what is inside
the box.
Let me explain
FNAF 4 was released on July 23rd, 2015.
And, with it, the mysterious box ending. Exactly
one month later, August 24th, Scott
made a post on Steam referencing a Halloween update for the game.
An update where he had considered opening the
box. *quote*
*canyouhearme?*
*isanyonereallyhere?*
*isupposeyoucant,canyou?*
*end quote* So,
why wasn't the box included as a part of that update? Well, he explains it
later in the post. *quote again*
*doyouwanttohearastory?*
*oncetherewasagirlandherboyfriend*
*theymovedintoanoldhomeoneday*
*thegirlwastakingofftheoldwallpaper*
*herboyfriendworkedonconvertingroomstootherrooms*
*thegirlfeltsatisfactionatpeelingthepaperoffthewalls*
*shesaiditfeltassatisfyingaspeelingdeadskin*
*shefoundnamesanddatesunderthepapersometimes*
*shewrotethemdown*
*theyturnedouttobemissingpeoplenames*
*thedatesmatchedthedaystheywentmissing*
*sheaskedthepoliceaboutit*
*doyouknowwhatthepolicemansaidtoher?*
*"thatwasntwallpaperyouwerepeeling"*
*end quote*
So, clearly in the month after the release of the game,
disappointed that the mysteries where staying hidden, Scott had
already changed his mind about what he wanted to do with this
box. And I've just gotta say, "Scott! My man! You didn't even
give me a shot at this one. You change your mind about a game's
fundamental mystery in a month?" I mean, in
that amount of time, all I could do what release a rushed-out, retro-fitted
prediction theory because I was stuck in Con Season when the
game was released. "Give a theorist some slack, man!"
So that begs the question of what he originally intended to be in the
box. My theory: toys, a badge, a
hospital wristband, and a
picture of what eventually became known as the
Afton family. The only time we would ever
see them truly happy in this franchise. Remember,
FNAF 4 was meant to be the final game in the series.
And, based on all the clues Scott left
prior to the release of Sister Location, he absolutely
intended for Freddy's to be a story
told in the mind of a child. Maybe not so much in dreams,
like "Dream Theory" would indicate, but perhaps in a coma,
or on the kid's death bed. I mean, sure, let me be clear, yes,
there was absolutely a real-life string of murders informing this
kid's visions. As evidence by the puppet, and
the murder outside the restaurant. But, I mean, look at what he just said
in that Steam post: "Most people assume that I filled [FNAF 4]
with random easter eggs... I didn't." And now
look at everything that lines up in this game: Toys that match
the look and behavior of the toy animatronics. People getting shoved
into suits by a guy hidden in shadows that would probably
look like a murder to a young child. A boy carrying a
balloon to inspire Balloon Boy. Bullies who wear masks
that perfectly match the Nightmares. Shadows that would literally
inspire Shadow animatronics. A mangled toy.
The concept of a plush Bonnie that bites you. A
child's phone, and a child's fan to simulate the night guard desk.
People around walking in animatronic suits like
Springtrap.
A grandfather clock, like you would find in your home, going off to
signal the end of the nights. The list goes on, and on,
and on.
And, even though he'd moved on with the story, Scott still wanted
us to figure it out, which is why, on our October 5th,
2015 GTLive, Scott
crashed the livestream. Giving us explicit clues to
figure it out. "Four games, one story,"
"Why is Toy Chica missing her beak," and "What is seen in shadows
is easily misunderstood in the mind of a child."
All three clues again pointing to the conclusion of some
sort of Coma Theory. With the box containing
the items alluding to that story. Toys and plushies to
show where all the ideas for the animatronics came from.
A badge to show that this kid's father worked at the restaurant as a security guard
A hospital band to make it clear that the child
was rushed to the hospital in the aftermath of the Fredbear bite,
and a happy family that we see shattered in the
aftermath of a stupid prank.
This box is locked, and hidden away in an attic or a basement
when the child dies. The memories it contains
are too tough to bear. (intense music) But the line of,
"Would the community accept it that way" is the key phrase in all of this.
Scott knew that the story, as he envisioned it, would be
controversial for a fanbase that was literally comparing shades of purple
across the series.
He had a solution to the story that he wanted to tell, but was now trapped
by his own success. People were too interested
in his mystery box. Which is why Sister Location and
everything afterward emphasized more real-life events.
scoopers, and remnant, and literal
purple people walking around outside. But before he
got to that point, there was one other course correction:
FNAF World.
the pimply-faced puberty of the franchise. The game that,
also like puberty, everyone wants to forget,
including Scott himself.
And it was here that Scott tried to unveil the mystery of the box a second
time.
If you played through the game normally, you would
Never see any connections to the box.
You would just play through this bizarre, fever-dream of an rpg
and then finally kill Scott Cawthon himself as
the final boss of the game.
Yeah! In case you skipped over FNAF World,
Scott is one of the final bosses
and complains about how obnoxious the fans of the series can get.
It is strange, it is funny,
certainly meta,
and most undeniably passive-agressive.
Anyway, if you linger on the opening dialogue between your character and
Fredbear, you unlock a hidden quest that lurks beneath the
surface of the game.
That was undoubtedly meant to tie into the mystery of the box.
We're told that the quest requires us to quote,
"Leave breadcrumbs for him, to help him find his way."
The *him* we're helping is FNAF 4's bite victim.
The "Him" we're helping is FNaF 4's bite victim.
And we know this from the opening dialogue
And we know this from the opening dialogue.
QUOTE:
"Something has gone wrong, that's why I'm here."
"But I won't let the same happen to you."
"I will put you back together."
AHAHA!
*chuckle* the Classic FNAF 4 lines
The classic FNaF 4 line!
So INFURIATINGLY vague.
So infuriatingly vague
Anyway, that confirms that the "you" being talked about here is the bite victim,
Anyway, that line confirms that the "you" being talked about here is the bite victim
that the "something has gone wrong" is referring to the bite ITSELF,
that the something has gone wrong is referring to the bite itself,
And that the yellow eyes doing the talking, the one that is trapped here, is the puppet.
and that the yellow eyes doing the talking, the one who is trapped here,
is The Puppet
From here, your secret quest is to find a series of clocks
From here, your secret quest is to find a series of clocks,
and complete minigames that directly relate the steps neccessary
And complete mini-games that directly relate to the steps necessary to unlock FNaF 3's Happiest Day Ending.
to unlock FNAF 3's "Happiest Day Ending"
You push balloon boy into a box,
You push Balloon Boy into a box,
You press 4 arcade buttons,
You press four arcade buttons,
You set up four cupcakes, et cetera, et cetera.
You set-up 4 cupcakes, etc.
And if you do everything correctly,
And if you do everything correctly, your secret ending reads as follows:
Your secret ending reads as follows:
Quote:
"We're still your friends, do you believe that?"
"The pieces are in place for you."
"All you have to do is find them."
And we know from FNAF 3
And we know from FNaF 3, that the pieces are indeed found!
that the pieces are indeed found.
On the cutscenes between nights, we find the clues that FNaF World left for us hidden in the hallway!
On the cutscenes between nights,
We find the clues that FNAF World left for us
hidden in the hallway.
Telling us to do things like double click Balloon Boy
Telling us to do things like double click balloon boy and collect the four cupcakes.
and collect the four cupcakes
which then enables us to complete the glitched minigames
Which then enables us to complete the glitched mini-games,
And release the spirits once and for all.
and release the spirits once and for all.
But the important line of this FNAF World ending is:
But the important line of this FNaF World ending is
" T h e p i e c e s a r e i n p l a c e f o r y o u . "
A line that very intentionally mirrors the language Scott used to describe the contents of the box in the first place
A line that, very intentionally, mirrors the language Scott used to describe the contents of the box in the FIRST PLACE.
"What's in the box? IT'S THE PIECES PUT TOGETHER."
And if you think this is just a linguistic coincidence,
And if you think that this is just a linguistic coincidence,
It's not. IT'S NOT Remember, Scott doesn't do coincidence!
IT'S NOT
Remember, Scott doesn't do coincidence!
Because here's the real shocker:
Because here's the real shocker:
While trolling through the game's texture files,
While trolling through the game's texture files,
Reddit user "POIUY2010_2011", or
Reddit user u/POIUY2010_201,
or at least his was the post that I could find discussing this discovery,
at least, his was the earliest post I could find discussing this discovery,
found that FNAF 4's box was actually hidden in FNAF World's code.
FOUND that FNaF 4's box was actually HIDDEN in FNaF World's code!
But it wasn't just the box
it was a texture of the box...
unlocked
and opened
So for a second time, we clearly see
that Scott had plans to reveal what was inside his mystery box.
Which then begs the question:
"What was in it this time?"
And honestly, it's hard to say.
As you can probably tell, FNAF World played with the lore of the main series
in some very unusual ways
For instance,
The Clock Quest showed that this weird, self-aware, video-game world
was somehow able to influence the events of the real world.
Leaving breadcrumbs in the real world
that you would be able to follow in FNAF 3.
But because the game ends with the line
The pieces are in place for you to follow,
it implies that the guard we are playing as in FNAF 3,
the one who is actually finding these clues,
was the bite victim.
Which then opens an entirely different can of worms.
AND if it's all true that the puppet is stuck in this
weird, nebulous FNAF World,
then the world of the game is literally or symbolically
Limbo *Jimbo haha memes* or death?
Anyway, it's very messy
If I were to guess,
Scott planned on FNAF World, the game,
actually being the box.
A game that literally contained all the pieces of this franchise put together
Yeah, it's a bit symbolic and half-baked,
but you know,
so is FNAF World
*BA DUM*
*TSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS*
But it was here that the mystery would change direction
yet again (aw for god's sake why)
this time though it wasn't the community that prompted the change
but rather Scott himself.
Who made it clear that he was dissatisfied
with FNAF World as a rushed and unpolished release?
Embarrased by the game,
he quarantined it off to its own little segment of the franchise.
AND in the process, he retconned its story to focus
on the new, more human drama-esque direction that the series would take moving forward
You can see this actually through creative changes
like the game's new ending which revealed Henry and Baby for the very first time
as well as some lines that got added between updates
with Glitched Fredbear foreshadowing something terrible, coming
A.K.A. Baby
Instead of being focused backwards on details from previous games,
like the bite victim
and the FNAF 3 minigames,
the game was now looking forward to a game that had yet to be released,
which left the box,
and the resolution it promised for the entirety of the Freddy Story, once again, abandoned.
And when both Sister Location and FNAF 6 rolled credits with no mention of boxes,
that's exactly where it seemed like it would stay:
Forgotten
Forgotten Forever
But I wasn't convinced *yay?*
For as convoluted as the story often is,
Scott cares too much about it
and cares too much about this community
to leave a mystery, this big, unanswered.
My first thought about connecting the box to the new game was
Candy Cadet *I will tell you a story. ;D*
The best character to ever come out of this franchise.
CANDY
CANDY CANDY
CANDY CANDY CANDY CANDY CANDY CANDY CANDY CANADA CANDY CANDYA CNDY CANDY
If you visit Candy Cadet enough times and give him enough tokens,
he'll tell you one of three separate stories
All sharing the same general theme:
Of 5 Objects merging into one object
And then being put into a box
In the first, five keys are melted together into one key
by a mother trying to save imprisoned kids
with everyone dying trapped in their own room.
The second, has five (5) kittens
in danger of being eaten alive by a snake,
The remains of which got sewn together and stored in a shoebox.
And the third...
*chuckle* Well, the third is the most uplifting story as
five (5) orphans get adopted by a man who wants to protect him from a burglar
aaaand it doesn't go so well
Candy Cadet: "He left one day to buy food.
His heart being filled with gladness,
but returns to find that the burglar had chosen his home.
And killed all five of the children *why. just why.*
The man could only afford one coffin *ok..thats not creepy*
so he stitched the five bodies together to make one *nevermind...*
and buried the child that night.
There was a knock on the door
*JUMPSPOOK*
*GET REKT SKRUBS*
*for real though, that was messed up*
So clearly the Candy Cadet's stories were making some connection to boxes.
But what did all these stories mean?
Characters getting stitched together immediately make me think of Ennard,
but even at Ennard's peak, he only had 4 characters inside of him
Freddy, Foxy, Ballora and Baby
so that one didn't quite work out..
Famously, there are 5 children killed as a part of the missing children's incident.
but their souls individually ended up in animatronics
rather than being put together and crammed into the same box.
There are 5 other games in the series..
so maybe this is all meta commentary about the franchise itself...
but then.. what would it mean to stitch them together?
Just solve the story
where the story's fixating on different moments of the Freddy timeline?
Suffice it to say Candy Cadet led me straight to a dead end
A DEAD AND stitched together end that is.
I gotta say I scoured the game.
I knew the box was hidden here somewhere
and I suspected that Candy Cadet was involved in some way..
but I was so overwhelmed with information at this point.
Clues whirling past me
vague minigames and stories that had no concrete answers,
details of games upon games,
cut unused content,
the box needed to be some solution that brought together all of these separate pieces,
and then FINALLY
The storm cleared and it all clicked.
The final image of the game.
During the true ending, Henry calls in to unveil his trap.
Voice in-game: "You have all been called here into a labyrinth of sounds and smells; misdirection and misfortune.
A labyrinth with no exit
We then see the schematics of the ventilation system
we've been working with throughout the entire game.
We see it for a long time as the center square - the actual pizzaria, filled with kids - fades away
and what we're left with is a familiar shape:
A box
A rectangular box.
A Locked box
A box with no exit.
A box where, according to our responsibilites in
Paragraph 4,
We "Put all the pieces together"
By salvaging the remaining animatronics,
playtesting the minigames for all the hidden lore,
and finally bring the FNAF storyline to its end
once and for all.
As we bring the story to a close,
What did Scott finally decide to do with the box?
He made it Henry's trap in FNAF 6 to lure the final pieces together
and finish him off once and for all.
Like Candy Cadet told us over and over again and its three stories:
The box is filled with five dead things becoming one.
Five children killed, sewn together and buried in one coffin.
Five dead kittens, sewn together. and kept in one shoebox.
Five keys melted together and torched in one room.
And in our case in FNAF 6,
Five animatronics, trapped in one pizzeria simulator, and burned.
And this works anyway that you counted
Baby, Spring Trap, and Molten Freddy,
who we know according to his blueprint, has three animatronics in him,
thus making five (5),
OR
you can count it
Baby (1),
Baby (1), Spring Trap (2)
Baby (1), Spring Trap (2), Molten Freddy (3)
Baby (1), Spring Trap (2), Molten Freddy (3), The Puppet (4)
Baby (1), Spring Trap (2), Molten Freddy (3), The Puppet (4), and our character who we play as Michael (5)
Five characters all essential to the FNAF story brought into one box to die.
Even Henry himself has a role here in the Candy Cadet Stories
He's the INNOCENT of those stories.
The one who started with good intentions
who ultimately fails to protect those under his care
He's the mom who let the kids burn.
He's the kid who leaves the snake's cage open.
It's Henry's negligence that allows the snake, the burglar,
William Afton,
to claim so many lives.
We hear him lament this in the insanity ending
Voice in-game: "It's only now that I understand the depth of the depravity of this....
creature, this monster, that I unwillingly helped to create."
This was Scott's subtle nod to the box in FNAF's final game.
The way to work it in after all the twists and turns his story had to take over the years.
Wasn't what he originally intended for it?
Absolutely not.
Is it the most obvious explanation?
*chuckle* Not by a long shot.
But when you consider that this animatronic empire started as one, big, unexpected twist in Scott's life.
and was then fuelled by a story full of not-so-obvious narrative moments
having the box end up being a symbol for the franchise's final climactic moment ('lil puberty there)
It..feels right
If I can borrow from Scott's original description,
*on le screen*
And with that, there's only one theory left to go:
The analysis I promised for midnight motorists,
and the mystery of the lore keeper graves.
Two questions that close out these games for what feels like
the final time,
but begin to point towards what the future might hold for the Freddy's series.
MORE ON THAT SOON! *Seriously. 3 years, 20 10-20 minute episodes. You're still not tired?*
not next episode since if I do more of these things 2 things in a row
people will be really mad at me,
but definitely soon since I want to put this thing to rest as much as you guys.
*HALLELUIAH*
I could use, at the very least, a complete refresh on this whole thing and start from scratch again. *please no*
So ring the bell to ensure that we all close out
the Freddy's Saga together.
and in the meantime, remember..
Scott, Please let this be the last FNAF.... for at least a year. Sincerely, Captioneer
That's just a theory
A
GAME
THEORY
Thanks for watching!
*captioned by awesome users.*
*approved by kool youtube users*
(ok I really need to think what do I have to do with my life.)
(yes of course extend until the 18:12 mark.)
(so if you're still here, did you know that The Game Theorists covered 20 episodes on FNAF alone?)
(total watch time is 7 hours, 6 minutes, and 9 seconds.)
(that's crazy)
(anyways, subscribe to The Game Theorists to see new theories every week.)
(or watch another theory at the left side of your screen)
(and buy their merch.)
It is selling like a godchurch
WE ARE NOT PAID TO DO THIS.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét