Playdate: TOTAL DISTORTION (10/12/2018)

When I was a kid, I went to a local computer expo, and Total Distortion was one of the booths, with a presenter explaining the game and everything. Even then I couldn't wrap my head around it, outside of the basic plot that you were in some music dimension and trying to make the world's best music video or something. They were also making a big deal in the presentation about the music quality and FMVs, since it was the 90s, after all.

I owned this way back when, sadly the adventure portion of the game isn't nearly as good as the fun of editing videos. Joe Sparks was very unhappy with what he shipped and thought of it as an unfinished game.

That said, the only way you're gonna complete this game is to play on easiest and use a walkthrough. Several puzzles have a solution where you need to know to click on a random thing in a random place.

I haven't laughed this hard in years than i did watching this. They NEED to come back to this

@dirkturgid said:

@thepilgrums said:

...this has to be the actual inspiration for Celery Man, right?

It has to be right? Like, the Tim and Eric staff seems like the exact people who would've messed around with these kind of programs.

Actually looking it up, these virtual dancers may have actually just been a thing in the 90s. See "das modul 11001"

Yeah, a lot of stuff like that was part of the VideoToaster, Newtek's precursor to the Tricaster that GB used for a long time.

That weird collage style was everywhere, probably in part only because it was technically possible, and part because it was something of a visual representation of the "information age", multimedia and the Internet and all that stuff that was starting to reach the mainstream throughout the late 80s and early 90s.

In Sweden we had multiple TV shows very much in this format, and I'd be surprised if it wasn't a common thing elsewhere too:

That last song had a weird off-brand Devo sound to it.

Holy shit, that's some "game". Alex got lucky on this one.

The video was great though.

@zopilotemachine: Alex stays sippin'

"I think I might hate this game" - Vinny 2018.

Every part of this is absolutely perfect. Oh my god.

Yay the “You Are Dead” song! First heard of it because of Outside Xbox, I was hoping the whole video that they would die and get to hear it. Hooray!

is that jesse farrar lol

They should definitely play through this.

They poked and prodded, but it seems as though we've only scratched the surface of this game's gooey contents. Someone or something poured their souls into this interactive playscape. There needs to be more videos on this game and perhaps an interview with the genius(es) that conceived it, whoever they are.

This is what they mean when people talk about games as art.

I need someone to find the rights holder and put this out on GOG or Steam. Best recent video I've seen in a while.

Oh god I'm so happy you started playing this. Pending Alex being able to stand it, I would love to see you dive in further

PLEASE continue this series. This is an incredible video and i need to see more of the complete insanity of this game explored

This is why premium exists. This is why I pay. Absolutely amazing!! We need a part 2.

Dan's look of wonderment and amazement is my new favourite thing. His eyes keep opening wider.

i feel like i needed to see this before the it all goes away, THANKS BEASTERS

Wow. Please play this more. Next time get Bianca to show you *how to play*.

Also if there was a way to get all of these video assets for future use that would be awesome.

My two worlds just crossed over and it was awesome (Giant Bomb and Outside Xbox)

Best "Game Over" screen in the history of video games.

Not really high enough for this game.

Wasn't the game over song here referenced on a recent GameInformer podcast? I know I heard it very recently.

I played this game a lot when I was a kid. It never gets less stupid. I need to see them play more of this.

This was amazing.

lol

This out-jazzpunk'd jazzpunk

Parts of it also remind me of Lego Island, especially the music

ADIOS SEE YOU LATER BYE BYE

That beatnik poet dude really kinda looks like Rorie.

This was a beautiful stream.

Alex's face at around the 17 minute mark is emote worthy

I have a mouth, and I must scream, but I have no words.

17 minutes into Total Distortion and Chill and he gives you this look

@nivomi said:

17 minutes into Total Distortion and Chill and he gives you this look

Alex is a treasure

@jeffgoldblum: yup I remember when they had this song on the show. I was always a hotspot/giant bomb guy first, but talkradar was pretty amazing.

I so so hope they come back to this at some point, it's so wonderfully absurd.

What a batshit crazy game, I sort of love it.

I feel like this is a game Tim and Eric would make.

I havent laughed this hard in a very long time. Please finish it. ?

Loved this, thank you!

@fisk0: oo, thanks for putting up those cool Swedish examples.

My grandma gave me this on disc in 2006 for no reason. I have no idea where it came from. I was intrigued about it. I never got too far. How weird to actually see people talking about it.

Wow. This is one of my new favorite GB videos. I'll add to the choir and request a revisit to this game!

Dan's face when the end music starts. holy shit so funny

If only GB still made their GOTY videos as elaborate skits....

I was inspired to check this out after seeing it at the tail end of the Goosebumps stream. BOY, this sure is a thing, isn't it?

Please come back to this

I am 90% sure I heard that Hooked on Slang sound clip downloaded as part of a comedy supercut off of, I'm going to say, KazaA. I think it was listed as Artist: SNL Lost Sketch.

Also the Shame Company ad is a parody of Bay Area staple ShaneCo diamonds. That is a VERY local joke.

This game is perfection.

Really wish they would revisit this.