Imagination Vs. Immersion: Why Your Brain Loves Pixel Art

Have you ever thought of pixel art and 3D graphics being similar to "books vs. movies?"
Did early 3D weird you out the same way it did me?
Are you bored with hyper-realistic visuals in video games?
Are you also a 40-year old nerd with bad eyes?

This video was born out of a realization that, for a variety of reasons, I just don't enjoy 3D games as much as I used to. I discuss the evolution of pixel art graphics, how and why they tickle your brain, their relegation and use as "nostalgia bait," and their resurgence with the indie gaming scene.

This video focuses primarily on Sergio Paez's "A Visual Renegade: A Phenomenological and Aesthetical Examination of Pixel Art," with additional passages from Sebastian Deken's "Final Fantasy VI," published by Boss Fight Books. (Links below!)

0:00 - Intro
1:12 - I. Nostalgia
7:50 - II. Semiotics
15:44 - III. Abstraction Vs. Conventionalism
24:43 - IV. Hi-Bit & Conclusion

MUSIC CREDITS:
Chiptune - Liborio Conti - @liborioconti
"Long Stroll" Music ⓒ - Kevin MacLeod
"Local Forecast" Music ⓒ - Kevin MacLeod

FOOTAGE CREDITS:
World of Longplays (@worldoflongplays) https://longplays.org/home.php
- Venture footage captured by DiggerandIndy
- Radar footage captured by RickyC
All other retro footage recorded locally.
Hi-bit and modern footage taken from official trailers.

LINKS:
A Visual Renegade: A Phenomonological and Aesthetical Examination of Pixel Art - https://www.researchgate.net/publicat...
Boss Fight Books: Final Fantasy VI - https://bossfightbooks.com/products/f...
Heart Machine - https://www.heartmachine.com/
Mierdinsky - https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/mierdi...
Sabotage Studio - https://sabotagestudio.com/
The Game Kitchen - https://thegamekitchen.com/