The death of sincerity

[GardeniaSky's icon GardeniaSky GardeniaSky]

Comedy and memes sell, apparently. I think it's the same reason why sex is injected into everything we consume. Monkey brain sees boobies and funnies and goes brrrr.

There's no real incentive to push past that when all that ultimately matters is what sells. Watering down content reaches the most audiences. You can't get gritty because kids and some people won't like it. You can't get deep because it'll miss the population that has the depth of a puddle. You can't get too symbolic or obscure because it'll become a niche piece of media with a small, loyal audience.

Eventually everything is going to be haha boob soup.

 

[Graw]

Really? I've played through that game a couple of times and it's always felt remarkably genuine to me. Especially compared to something like the newest Saints Row for instance.

I dunno. Felt like they played the mother series and were like, 'let's make this but ironic.'

YOU WHAT????

Yup. I really can't stand quirky indie games that try to stand out by being weird and quirky by ironically doing something that's already been done.

 

[IyoTheHelpfulWolf]

I fucking love Sanrio, I've heard all the jokes and memes about it and I don't care, I like cute things and I like the characters that come with it.

I recently ordered a Miku figure holding Cinnamon IT'S SO PRECIOUS!

 

[Gorse]

Something else that I think most people forget is that irony and memes travel across language barriers very, very well. Truly strong writing essentially requires fluency in the language you're speaking, which, in an increasingly-globalized society, not a lot of people have at all. (Frankly, most natives don't, either.) Meanwhile, this:

is immediately-understandable and hilarious no matter what language you speak or what your prior knowledge is. It's a pre-school-level understanding of writing, but... it works.

 

[Antilocal123]

I recently ordered a Miku figure holding Cinnamon IT'S SO PRECIOUS!
View attachment 34366

Yooooo! I got a Cinnamaroll Miku plushie but I’d fucking love that, I just know my wallet can't handle splurging on that. ?

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

In our modern, cynical and mechanical world honesty is punished with mockery, so that's why even the most sincere of narratives is dragged through the mud of self-inflicted irony.

People are afraid of being smart, thoughtful or provocative with their ideas or takes because that leads to backlash. And backlash leads to lost profits. It's as bad as it sounds.

 

[Gorse]

Yup. I really can't stand quirky indie games that try to stand out by being weird and quirky by ironically doing something that's already been done.

Well, fine sir, I just can't help but disagree. Undertale's strengths in all aspects of gameplay, music, and graphics are simply all heightened by the clever, devious mind of Toby Fox – and to reject that cleverness is simply illogical. Don't you see how popular it is? What, are you jealous of Mr. Fox's wild, unhinged success?

 

[Kamako]

Well, fine sir, I just can't help but disagree. Undertale's strengths in all aspects of gameplay, music, and graphics are simply all heightened by the clever, devious mind of Toby Fox – and to reject that cleverness is simply illogical. Don't you see how popular it is? What, are you jealous of Mr. Fox's wild, unhinged success?

Nice violence

 

[Tonberry]

Well, fine sir, I just can't help but disagree. Undertale's strengths in all aspects of gameplay, music, and graphics are simply all heightened by the clever, devious mind of Toby Fox – and to reject that cleverness is simply illogical. Don't you see how popular it is? What, are you jealous of Mr. Fox's wild, unhinged success?

Don’t do this to the poor guy…

 

[Donte]

 

[IyoTheHelpfulWolf]

Yooooo! I got a Cinnamaroll Miku plushie but I’d fucking love that, I just know my wallet can't handle splurging on that. ?View attachment 34367

I buy clones from Aliexpress. They aren't quite as high quality, with cheaper materials and minor painting errors, but for $6-20 they're still quite nice and aren't as derpy as you would expect.

Just buy from sellers who have sold 100's or 1000's of that item and are eligible for the Choice (Free shipping over $10) or pick 3 for free shipping deals.

The combined price of all three of these is like $15-20. All unlicensed clones.

 

[RustySK]

Something else that I think most people forget is that irony and memes travel across language barriers very, very well. Truly strong writing essentially requires fluency in the language you're speaking, which, in an increasingly-globalized society, not a lot of people have at all. (Frankly, most natives don't, either.) Meanwhile, this:

is immediately-understandable and hilarious no matter what language you speak or what your prior knowledge is. It's a pre-school-level understanding of writing, but... it works.

This is such a good point. I'm holding back the urge to type a huge, rambly wall of text on this, but as a former professional translator I'd just like to add that I do think it is possible to help even the strongest writing cross language barriers, only that it takes actual effort. Worthwhile effort, at that. Just not usually financially viable effort.

 

[Deleted member 171852]

Well, fine sir, I just can't help but disagree. Undertale's strengths in all aspects of gameplay, music, and graphics are simply all heightened by the clever, devious mind of Toby Fox – and to reject that cleverness is simply illogical. Don't you see how popular it is? What, are you jealous of Mr. Fox's wild, unhinged success?

I don't like undertale too, fhite me

 

[pasin7ru]

Yeah but i think this shouldn't be the case of art, or even the action of telling stories. I think there should be a place and time to just be sincere and expose ideas in an unapologetic way, and these places are slowly disappearing, and getting less time. Well, at least if you consider video-games art, but this is another topic that is way more discussed around

not that this will bring you solace, but consider that every era will have its cultural downturn. exposing every idea you have in a story will just not be acceptable all of the time. but even when "sincerity" is valued, that does not mean that all lines can be crossed, all subjects explored. you need to manipulate to get it out there.

 

[Gorse]

Don’t do this to the poor guy…

Are you doubting my sincerity, Tonberry? For shame. Did you even get to the part of the game where you expected something to happen, and then it DIDN’T? Toby Fox is a crafty, rascally genius of the video game world, and he deserves every last bit of praise he receives.

 

[Antilocal123]

I buy clones from Aliexpress. They aren't quite as high quality, with cheaper materials and minor painting errors, but for $6-20 they're still quite nice and aren't as derpy as you would expect.

Just buy from sellers who have sold 100's or 1000's of that item and are eligible for the Choice (Free shipping over $10) or pick 3 for free shipping deals.

View attachment 34370
The combined price of all three of these is like $15-20. All unlicensed clones.

Ali is good yeah, I usually just rob them.

 

[IyoTheHelpfulWolf]

Well, fine sir, I just can't help but disagree. Undertale's strengths in all aspects of gameplay, music, and graphics are simply all heightened by the clever, devious mind of Toby Fox – and to reject that cleverness is simply illogical. Don't you see how popular it is? What, are you jealous of Mr. Fox's wild, unhinged success?

Undertake managed to use quirky humor to amplify it's love and sincerity rather than mask it. I think a lot of writers trying to do what Undertake did screw that up.

 

[Deleted member 171852]

This is such a good point. I'm holding back the urge to type a huge, rambly wall of text on this, but as a former professional translator I'd just like to add that I do think it is possible to help even the strongest writing cross language barriers, only that it takes actual effort. Worthwhile effort, at that. Just not usually financially viable effort.

Feel free to add huge walls of text, i love those

 

[Gorse]

I don't like undertale too, fhite me
View attachment 34372

Wow, what’s with all the Undertale haters on this forum? Do you people not understand innovation when you see it? Ugh!

Post automatically merged: Feb 28, 2025

Undertake managed to use quirky humor to amplify it's love and sincerity rather than mask it. I think a lot of writers trying to do what Undertake did screw that up.

I agree 100% with zero issues.

 

[IyoTheHelpfulWolf]

This is such a good point. I'm holding back the urge to type a huge, rambly wall of text on this, but as a former professional translator I'd just like to add that I do think it is possible to help even the strongest writing cross language barriers, only that it takes actual effort. Worthwhile effort, at that. Just not usually financially viable effort.

Write that wall of text! Go off king/queen!

 

[Antilocal123]

Well, fine sir, I just can't help but disagree. Undertale's strengths in all aspects of gameplay, music, and graphics are simply all heightened by the clever, devious mind of Toby Fox – and to reject that cleverness is simply illogical. Don't you see how popular it is? What, are you jealous of Mr. Fox's wild, unhinged success?

What’s your thoughts on Deltarune Mr. Goose?

 

[Tonberry]

Are you doubting my sincerity, Tonberry? For shame. Did you even get to the part of the game where you expected something to happen, and then it DIDN’T? Toby Fox is a crafty, rascally genius of the video game world, and he deserves every last bit of praise he receives.

Have you played Off yet?

 

[Kamako]

What’s your thoughts on Deltarune Mr. Goose? View attachment 34373

That bong looks like it was ripped out of Day of the Tentacle, pun not intended, even though written

 

[Gorse]

What’s your thoughts on Deltarune Mr. Goose? View attachment 34373

Frankly, it's even better than Undertale! Toby Fox's crazy sense of humour just never gets old, and I hope we'll see it for a long, long time. I've got my copy of the full game pre-ordered... how about you? :)

 

[Kamako]

Frankly, it's even better than Undertale! Toby Fox's crazy sense of humour just never gets old, and I hope we'll see it for a long, long time. I've got my copy of the full game pre-ordered... how about you? :)

Diabolical