pizzasheets

@gkhan:I feel like they were arrested because Anne threw away the file investigating Maria, therefore tampering with/destroying classified FBI information.

@spunkyhepanda: I interpreted the stamp to be a type of drug, since that delinquent kid had them in his wallet - hence the trip Anne has. I'm pretty sure all of the alien stuff is symbolic of something else - perhaps a sense of superstition, a fear of the unknown, or of the truth.

Speaking of symbolism, everything in the game that was coloured of red seemed to me to be indicative of the idea of finding truth - the red door, the red box, the bird, the red room in the Paxton house - they all appear to be in service of discovering what really happened. And there is also the recurring image of the bull (is it a bull? Bison? whatever) that is attracted to the colour red, which probably has it's own little meaning as well.

I like your idea of there being evidence in the box - that is what I initially thought as well. But as to what the evidence and how it would be incriminating I have no idea - nor why Anne would be attached enough to it to keep the broken key.

I wonder if Variable State made Virginia with the intention of eventually making sequels - I feel like the relationships between some of the characters were intentionally not fully explored, and perhaps can be fleshed out in following games set in the same world. I still don't really have a clear idea of what the deal was with that guy running for mayor with the construction van.

@spunkyhepanda: I have no idea, and I don't think the player is supposed to know either. But Anne burns it, so it must be something her father wanted her to get rid of for some reason. Perhaps even something incriminating?

But my real question is, was that Anne's father in that sequence? Was the player Anne there, or someone else? Because before that, in the sequence where you wake up in Maria's home, you can see all the equipment for taking care of a sick person, like the chair-lift and the room dedicated to hospital equipment. Also, the newspaper article in the archives that is praising Maria's mother for her work seems to infer that Maria's father is also in the FBI or some sort of law enforcement position. And there is a dream sequence where you find a police hat in Maria's office. Also, the part with the sick father takes place immediately after the montage of Anne body-swapping through people. So is the player really playing as Maria in that section, and is that Maria's father/box/key? If so, it wouldn't make sense why Anne would have the broken key alongside her for the whole game. Also, a picture of Anne with her "father" is on the bedside table in that scene, but that could also be a result of the nature of the body-swap (i.e., Anne's hands and body still looks the same even when she is in a different body). It almost feels like there is a certain duality to Anne and Maria, or that they may be the same person even? I don't know at the moment.

Sorry for the wall of spoiler-text, everyone! This game sure is puzzling!

I really liked it, and it's gonna be super interesting to see what people make of the whole thing. After playing through three times I think I've got a sort-of-vague general gist of what occurred kind of maybe? There are some contradictions in the story that I can't make sense of at all, and it also feels like enough key pieces of information are missing from the game that it is impossible for it to be fully pieced together, and in those ways it feels very Lynchian.

I feel like the developers were also really inspired by the narrative and editing style of the Coen Brothers, who also use a lot of fade transitions and drawn-out scenes that seemingly don't fit into the plot as a whole. The opening title card stuff is also really really similar to the Fargo intro too.

Regardless, I think the developers did a really great job of blending games and film here in a way that the interactivity does not at all feel inconsequential and unnecessary. It asks a lot from the player in terms of making them seek out and piece together the series of events for themselves, and I found that really refreshing.

Finally, the time for Danjo-KaDrewie is nigh.

oh

are these "[gamer culture thing] you DON'T KNOW ABOUT" headlines a joke or something