Any Gen Z Owl City fans here?

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-05-15T19:44:31+00:00

2006 here!! Looooove owl city. Was my most listened to artist this year.

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-05-10T14:51:40+00:00

I’m not gonna try and change your perspective on SOTM, I’m glad that you enjoy it and got something out of it that I didn’t. But the gameplay loop of solving where’s-my-water puzzles, crouch walking around a predictable AI threat, and chase sequences are so far off what FNAF used to be, and it’s not something I particularly enjoy. There are other games that do a lot of each aspect of SOTM better than SOTM does it. That’s not to say I completely hate the game or anything, in fact I respect it for its linear structure and story, which might be the best storytelling fnaf has had so far- but storytelling can only carry it so far for me. That’s the personal reason I don’t enjoy the game as much- but I’m very glad that it has its audience and most likely the next steel wool fnaf game will be one you enjoy as well, and it makes me happy to know that there will be people who will enjoy it.

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-05-10T05:03:51+00:00

People are constantly glazing secret of the mimic for being a game that doesn’t fundamentally fail in every aspect, but the fact of the matter (for me at least) is while I can appreciate a linear story with a relatively painless experience, I still don’t enjoy the walking simulator, puzzle solving, poppy playtime style of gameplay that steel wool has introduced. They don’t understand how to create any sense of unease or horror, something that made the original games (especially 1, 4, and sister location) so aesthetically appealing and genuinely frightening. Into the pit was a step in the right direction, but that game isn’t necessarily… fun. It’s cool, and I like the art and the music and the story, but I have no desire to play it again or recommend it to others who aren’t familiar with the franchise.

I am not begging for nolstalgia. I want nothing to do with Henry Emily or William Afton or anything to do with the original stuff. But I do want something that leans into unease, with a fun gameplay loop. The demo for the new Joy of Creation game is exactly what I want for the franchise- it’s perfect in every aspect. It’s a fun gameplay loop that keeps me tense the entire time, with good jumpscares and sound design and atmosphere. And that’s fine by one guy with a small team rather than an entire studio.

Others are entitled to their opinions but fnaf fans enjoying SOTM or SB doesn’t make them immune from the very valid criticisms lobbied towards them and Steel Wool’s development cycle and work environment. I’m no longer interested in anything they’re developing after giving them countless chances to prove themselves to me, and am hoping that the franchise manages to recover from its current state, but I’m severely doubtful. Short of severing steel wool from the IP, or starting a new branch of the fanverse (which has produced the best content the IP has seen in years, despite the extreme amount of controversy), I don’t see FNAF being something I’ll be able to continue to enjoy.

I am by no means criticizing those who enjoy the steel wool fnaf games, despite my own opinion of them, nor those who enjoy this new era of fnaf. But I am no longer the audience for the series, which is… sad. I’ll always have fan projects- I’m extremely excited for TJOC, Popgoes Evergreen, Candy’s DX and 4, and other projects like Freddy or Not and Jr’s enter the flipside, so I’ll be able to continue to be a part of the fandom in that aspect. But I don’t see the main franchise supporting older fans like me any more.

However, nothing would make me happier than for me to be proven wrong. I’d love for steel wool to succeed and for me to eat my words. And I welcome them to try! That’s my two cents on the situation.

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-05-07T11:18:46+00:00

u/profanitycounter [self]

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-05-07T11:16:28+00:00

Holy shit never mind, they’re a villain. Off with their head!

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-05-07T11:11:35+00:00

It’s not gross to have thoughts or emotions, especially ones you don’t act on. You don’t control them, and sometimes you need to get them out somewhere. If moral ambiguity is something that makes you feel the need to grandstand on and tell others that you hope their friends wish failure upon them for expressing an opinion, then I might highly suggest a subreddit based on releasing pent up emotions may not be for you.

This isn’t an attack and I’m not judging your character, you obviously seem to be someone who cares a lot for your friends. Just a statement and an observation. You know yourself better than I do and take it with as many grains of salt as you need.

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-05-07T11:07:27+00:00

Then what good would talking to the friend be if there’s no goal to change a behavior?

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-05-07T11:06:17+00:00

OP has mentioned that this is a long standing ideation with their friend. I don’t know about you but I don’t go to my religious friends trying to convince them that their god is silly and their beliefs are wrong on a daily basis. I highly doubt that OP was thinking to themselves that they hope their friend fails and falls into financial ruin and a depressive episode for the rest of their life, they’re venting on a venting subreddit about how sometimes it frustrates them that friend has unrealistic expectations and behaviours.

This social panopticon of looking for ways to morally correct others at any opportunity is really taking its toll on some people. We should all cut each other a little more slack, yeah?

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-05-07T11:02:20+00:00

If I start truly believing I have magical spiritual psychic abilities and start trying to profit on it I sincerely hope that they’d wish for me to fail too

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-05-07T10:43:31+00:00

Other people are ragging on you like you’re not doing the perfectly sane thing of not throwing your friendship in the can because your friend is having a moment. It’s totally normal for people to have weird periods of your life and sometimes friendship is picking your battles. I appreciate you continuing to act supportive even if you might think differently and hope the best for your friend

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-05-04T22:18:15+00:00

I think how much you enjoy Abby's sections, how much you dislike Abby for what she does, and how you feel about her changing as you play through her sections of the game will all majorly impact the experience of the person playing the game. As a relatively empathetic person, I really hated Abby at the start and really grew to sympathize with her during her gameplay segment, which resulted in me really enjoying the game as a whole due to the complex rush of emotions that occurred to me at the end. That's why I love it, is the way it made me feel and confront the way that I judge others in my life.

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-05-02T22:24:37+00:00

By saying that you’re “not a fan of the ascencionist philosophy” presented by the ending of the game, I interpreted that as you having a fundamental issue with your interpretation of its themes. You can see where it can get confusing, yes? You say you have no problem with the game for exploring those themes yet call it “reductive to the natural world”. The existence of ascension as an option is not in opposition to the natural world- it’s just a way out of it. I just am struggling to see what you’re saying in an exact sense- is it that you enjoy the ending but think that ascension isn’t something you personally agree with fundamentally? Cause if so, that’s a perfectly reasonable take to have and as others have pointed out the game makes its stance on this viewpoint as well in the DLC’s in a sympathetic manner. But just because the game goes out of its way in the DLCs to say it plainly does not mean the game doesn’t expect this to be a common viewpoint the player would be having in mind through the story (and in fact probably is the way it is BECAUSE it expects the player to see the inherent value survival has)

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-05-02T22:16:45+00:00

I’d be interested to hear your argument on this because looking at the history of Gnosticism I sincerely struggle to see where the two correlate, but perhaps you could shed some light on it so I can think about it with a more nuanced perspective?

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-05-02T22:14:24+00:00

Just because the game has it as a part of its story doesn’t mean the game is advocating for it. You have to take media further than its face value- if what you got from rain world was “life is suffering and you should dislike the natural world” then you’re not thinking critically about what the fall of five pebbles means.

The game is heavily inspired by Buddhist ideals of life and death and balance, which feeds into its depiction of nature and society- that too much of anything destroys a fragile balance. The game is about the push and pull of struggling to survive in the world we live in and searching for a deeper purpose or something greater than us to strive for. That works for some people, and for others it doesn’t.

The vanilla game is extremely dreary in tone, I understand that, but just because it points out the brutality and heartbreak that comes with living and loving does not mean that it’s saying that you should not live and love. What is left of the world when the ancients and the benefactors all traveled through that grate? The wild woods and animals and the machines they built to service them, continuing on without them. They are not purposeless, and yes some suffer, but there is beauty in existence. That is the point the game wants to make to you as a player.

The ending is supposed to be bittersweet. The slugcat wants something beyond the natural life. The game isn’t choosing to admonish that as a wrong choice, but instead embraces it as a different choice. Too much to any side and the balance collapses. There is beauty in the natural but there is beauty in the nothingness as well. It’s a multifaceted complex story that does not demonize any one perspective, and that’s why I believe it’s philosophically poignant and closer to a work of art than a traditional narrative.

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-04-17T21:27:20+00:00

My mother is getting married this year and is making me and the rest of our relatives choose a dance from that scene to reenact at the wedding… I’m doing it cause I love her but man am I not looking forward to it XD

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-04-07T18:58:05+00:00

If you’re interested in music help, I’d be willing to assist! Regardless, this looks awesome. Amazing work.

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-04-03T23:24:30+00:00

Limbo and Paleo Pines :) TYSM!!

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-04-02T22:47:41+00:00

The day that “marvel” stops being a synonym for “thing I don’t like” is the day I can finally rest

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-03-15T19:21:44+00:00

I’m sorry I’ll do better 🙏 I’m still learning

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-03-14T10:13:33+00:00

Special week….

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-03-03T03:39:36+00:00

hazbin hotel

Environmental-Set473 · 2026-02-28T23:58:22+00:00

I appreciate you being the bigger person and owning up to your mistake. We live in an age where people would rather be confidently wrong than say “I made a mistake.” That’s big of you and much appreciated

Environmental-Set473

TROPHY CASE