GLITCH ISSUE 1 September 2019

THE INTRODUCTION
Mental health & gaming
 PATRONS Letter From
the editor

Hello Readers,
Jardiel Pinto Marianna Lovegood
@PulpCereal
This is a bit of an odd one for me as I have never had to write anything like this
before. But I will give it a go.

I just want to say a big warm welcome to Glitch. I am beyond excited to share this
publication with you as I have been working on it for a good while now. I couldn’t
Lucy Buglass Peter Shaw have done this without the help and support from all of you, so thank you so much.
But a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed, I am truly blown away by
the support.

Miranda King Aaron Mace
We wanted to take the opportunity
Tom Wray
here at Glitch to say a huge thanks to
all of those who helped with the launch
of this new publication.
Without you we really couldn’t have
made this happen. Your support
Rosa Parra continues to inspire us and pushes
us to continue exploring the subjects
involved. We sinserly look forward
here at glitch to do more together
going forward.
Content
Glitch is very close to my heart, I have
been struggling with my own mental
health issues for most of my life, only
really getting help in the past year or
so, when things got to a breaking point. 4 TO FILL
I want this to be a way of expressing
feelings, of being able to talk and overall
6 NEWS
making the subject less taboo, and not
just in the gaming community.
8 REMEBERING EKITA
I really hope you, as readers find this
publication helpful and enlightening, but 10 PHOTOMODE
I also want you to be critical of it, I want
the opportunity to improve as we go on FEATURE: GAMING MY LONG
14
and I welcome any comments from you, LOST BEST FIREND
so don’t be afraid to contact me.
16 REVIEW: SEA OF SOLITUDE
So without further ado, I want to say one
last thank you, and enjoy the first issue 18 YOUR PICKS
of Glitch!
20 HELPFUL SOURCES

2 3
4 5
 Gaming addiction Becomes
Official Disorder
Earlier this year the World Health
Organisation (WHO) classified gaming
addiction as an official disorder in its
International Classification of Diseases
the organisation’s official diagnostics
manual. They define the disorder as:
“Increasing priority given to gaming
over activities, to the extent that gaming
takes precedence over other interest
and daily activities and continuation
or escalation of gaming despite the
occurrence of negative consequences”.
These symptoms have to be occurring
for up to 12 months for the disorder to
be classified.
The initial response to this classification
by WHO has been mainly negative,
especially from the gaming community.
The gaming community comes under a
lot of negative press, and this only seems
to alienate the past time even more.
The Global Video Game Industry
Associations released a statement in
response to WHO’s decision stating
that:
“We encourage and support healthy
game play by providing information
and tools, such as parental controls,
that empower billions of people around
6 7
the world to manage their play to ensure
it remains enjoyable and enriching. As
with all good things in life, moderation
is key and that finding the right balance
is an essential part of safe and sensible
play.”
There are so many pro’s and con’s in
this debate and it all comes down to
how this classification is being used.
On the surface it feels like an attack on
the gaming industry, one that has come
under a lot of negativity over the years,
and it is easy to be defensive however,
creating a dialogue about the negative
implications of how gaming can get out
of hand is surely a positive thing.
We asked the gaming community on
Twitter to give their views on the news:
@TheRealViktorK1:
“There are many reasons that
people decide to play games for
hours a week, myself included
in this! Gaming for many is an
escape from the many problems of
life, gaming itself has helped me get
through depression. Also with the rise
of digital socialization many people
play online games to connect with
friends from all over the world, another
example from my own experience is an
old friend from Denmark, who now has
The main issue perhaps with the
built up his own game development
classification is that it is quite pointed
studio of which he has give me the
at gaming. Whereas, you could put
role of PR and Marketing. These
the same classification on reading, on
friendships and connections made
watching television, watching films. So
through gaming is something that
why has gaming been targeted.
other digital social sites often struggle
to achieve, Facebook especially being With the popularity of games such as
more on the toxic side compared with Minecraft and more recently Fortnite
online games. with children in particular, there is
Gaming addiction should not be an increasing concern from parents
classed as a disorder, it is if anything a about how much time their children
symptom.” are spending playing games. The
issue perhaps isn’t purely the games
@sambishoppp1: themselves, it could be an underlying
“To me I dont agree with it because of mental health condition that needs
the implications, but the thing it raises attention, rather than focusing solely on
for me is that gamers as a community
the gaming factor.
are way too quick to respond with
Whilst the classification could be
knee jerk aggression. We need to
suggested to be wrong in pointing the
acknowledge how gaming can be
blame at games, it is good in that it could
addictive, rather than dismissing any
help parents and doctors in diagnosing
and all criticism of our hobby. If we can
peoples mental health issues that they
meet non-gamers halfway, then they’ll
hopefully do the same.” might not have been aware of.
 Remembering Etika
by Trent Ostrom
Desmond Amofah, best known as the
popular live-streaming gamer and
reaction YouTuber “Etika”, died on
Saturday, June 22 at the age of 29 by
taking his own life in Brooklyn, New York.
Etika was best known for his Youtube
Channel “EWNetwork” where he live
streamed himself playing a variety
of games but with a specific focus
on Nintendo produced games and
Pokémon. Outside of his live streams,
Etika was also known for his reactions
to Nintendo’s annual “Nintendo Direct”
conference announcements, most
notably announcements for the “Super
Smash Brothers” franchise. He was also
active on multiple social media websites
including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook,
Reddit, Discord, and Twitch.
Etika founded his main Youtube Channel
“EWNetwork” in 2012 and consistently
had nearly a million subscribers.
Additionally, he had the secondary
Youtube channel “EtikaFRFX” where
he posted additional content. In Fall
of 2018, he began posting on social
media outlets such as Reddit and Twitter
regarding his mental health and suicidal
thoughts.
During his time on Youtube, Etika had
a very dedicated fan base known as
8 9
“JoyCon Boyz” and “9 Gang”. The
“JoyCon Boyz” name came from his love
of the Nintendo Switch and it’s JoyCon
controller. He was extremely interactive
with his fan base often responding to
their comments on his streams. His
larger than life personality often resulted
in subscribers sending him videos to do
reactions to. Etika would often react to
YouTube videos fans would send him or
video that were part of a compilation.
While video games was Etika was known
best for, many of his fans found his
reactions to videos to be his funniest.
Additionally, while Etika’s primary video
game interests were Nintendo games and
Pokémon, his fans wouldn’t always buy
it. In one instance, his fans discovered
that he was playing a game of Minecraft.
Ever since they saw him play the game,
they gave him a hard time that he was
a Minecraft fan. Though he would insist
over and over again that he wasn’t, fans
would continue to troll him. Along with
the YouTube videos Etika would react
to, he also reacted to creative fan made
videos that highlighted that Etika was a
fan of Minecraft.
Since his passing, many of his fans
have made tribute compilation videos
of their favorite Etika moments.
Additionally, many gaming YouTubers
have paid homage
to Etika. Keemstar,
host of YouTube’s
drama alert and
long time friend of
Etika, offered to raise
money for Etika’s
funeral to help support
his family. In response,
Etika’s family wished
that the proceeds of this
stream go toward a mental
health organization of their
choice in Etika’s memory.
This was only one of many cases where
Etika’s death inspired YouTubers to
donate, encourage others to donate,
and discuss mental health. Pewdiepie, a
fellow gaming YouTuber with the most
subscribers tweeted, “Hard to grasp that
he’s actually gone, left us way too soon. Numbers
You will continue to live in our hearts.
Rest in Peace Etika.” Etika’s passing
reached far beyond the YouTube as
major news outlets covered his story and
brought mental health to the forefront of
the news. While some have speculated
that his YouTube fame affected his
health is unclear. What is clear is Etika
will be missed by fans and YouTubers
alike and left a profound impact on the
community.
 photo mode INFO ABOUT PHOTOMODE AND HOW
TO SUBMIT FOR FUTURE ISSUES.

Chris Munoz (munozc83)

Shadow of the Tomb Raider / Xbox One

Stranger Shin (Darkshinfei) Mechxican

10 Horizon Zero Dawn / PS4 Assassins Creed Odyssey / PC
11
 Wabdeerrer
Battlefield V / PC

Niki (Smudgedhorizon)
Assassins Creeed: Odyssey / PS4 Pro

LouisyLou
12 13
Spider-Man / PS4

Gaming: My long lost best friend
ZOEY RIBBONS
Me and video games go a long way
back. From my earliest memories with
a Nintendo 64, my relationship with
gaming is a long and complex one. The
vast majority of my life up until a few
years ago was spent with a gamepad in
hand, exploring new worlds to escape
the reality I found myself in.
A reality where I was alone, confused,
anxious, and downright depressed. To
the outside world, I was someone who
could quite possibly be classified as
addicted to gaming, a disorder which
has just been classified by the World
Health Organisation a few weeks ago.
I’m not someone who believes this
choice by the WHO to be the right one
since in my opinion humans can be
conditioned to become addicted to
anything. I do, however, understand the
appeal of losing yourself in a world that
is not your own to numb the pain of day
to day life.
I suppose to understand how my
fascination with video games started
you first need to understand a little
of my backstory. I was born in
1993, right on the cusp of the
revolutionary switch from 2D to 3D
graphics.
My parents separated when I was
one year old, with my Mother holding
onto the fact that my Father left her
with a burning hatred which bled out
14
onto me and my sister.
My dad bought me a Nintendo 64 for my
birthday when I was 5, with Diddy Kong
Racing being a staple between us in
those early years.
I went through 18 years of my life
thinking it was normal for boys to want
to be girls, before having the brutal
realization that no, that was not the
case. I came out as Transgender when
I was 19, suffering from a lot of deep-
rooted depression and anxiety before
and after that time. At least my doctors
told me it was just that. I was eventually
diagnosed with Bipolar disorder when I
was 25, which to me came as a relief due
to years of living in limbo, not knowing
what was wrong with me.
As you can imagine, this was the perfect
mixture of circumstances to create
someone who was looking for the
sweet fix of escapism. I was unhappy
and anxious at home most of the time,
so what better way to ignore that than
to shut myself in my room with a
PlayStation?
I was an outcast in my all-male social
group at school and lived an hour
away from the school itself, so I was
never a kid who went out to play until
the break of night. I would get home
from school and the first thing I would do
was to boot up a game for the night. I’d
have a break to eat, and possibly spend
a bit of time with my family in the rare
moments that tensions weren’t running
too high. I didn’t need someone to tell
me I played a lot of games, I had the save
data utility of a PlayStation 3 to tell me.
The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion = 700+ hours.
Demon’s Souls = 600 Hours. Metal
Gear Online = Another 600. Fallout 3:
300 Hours. And this is just a select few
games from memory, for one console
generation. Weekdays, weekends,
holidays, all the time. If I was away from
my main console for too long, I wouldn’t
get irate, just unhappy. At least if I
went on holiday I could bring a portable
console with me, but forcing me to be
away from even that… I would just be
miserable. I think my parents knew this.
It was clear to them I was an unhappy
child and teen. Even during the peak of
“Video games will ruin your children”
hysteria of the early to mid-2000’s, my
parents would leave me be.
No restrictions on time, age rating, or
any specific content. They would try and
coax me out of staying in my room, but
nothing ever worked.
Video games and I were just synonymous
with each other at this point, and
everyone around me knew that.
While it might sound like I’m painting
my experience with games in a negative
light, that couldn’t be farther from the
truth. I consider my relationship with
video games in my youth to have played
a formative role on the person I am today.
Firstly, video games taught me to be
tenacious. After spending so much time
playing games, more so competitive
multiplayer during the seventh
generation of consoles, It’s safe to say
I got pretty good at them. Video games
nurtured a drive in me for competition,
and more so, not giving up. This all
happened quite early on. My Dad will
never let me forget when I was a kid,
no older than 7, who cried in frustration
over and over when I couldn’t beat the
final boss of Diddy Kong Racing. Sure, I
got angry with games, and still did even
in my teens. But I never gave up, a trait
which now applies to all aspects of what
I do in life. It’s a trait I am extremely
proud of.
15
 Review:
Sea of Solitude
A FANTASTICAL & VERY PERSONAL
JOURNEY THROUGH MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES
dEVELOPER: Jo-Mei Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Format: Windows, PS4, Xbox One
I was only made aware of Sea of Solitude a
day after its release, but I was captivated
by the screenshots I was seeing from
the game but more importantly, I was
intrigued by its focus on mental health
issues.
Sea of Solitude is an adventure-based,
story-driven game that follows Kay, a
young woman who as seemingly turned
into a kind of ‘monster’ who, in exploring
a submerged version of Berlin, tackles
various issues in her life in the form of
bigger and more threatening monsters.
“The entire game was
incredibly beautiful,
equally serene and
haunting”
16
there was one moment of pure frustration
for me that was more of an annoyance
Overall, Sea of Solitude was a strong
entry into the world of video games
than anything, mainly because nothing dealing with mental-health issues. It was
like this had happened in the game a sublime and very personal struggle
previously, but narratively it made that is relatable and brutally honest that
sense, and after all, dealing with and doesn’t get too emotionally draining,
having issues with mental health can ending on a very hopeful note that I think
be frustrating, so they do work within could have a positive impact on some.
the context of the game, rather than
just feeling like a pointlessly irritating
mechanic.
The main element of this game that
surprised me most was how much it
focused on the other people in Kay’s life
and the message that emerged toward
The game is part of an emerging (and
the end of the game was a completely
welcome) trend of games that tackle the
different one to what I was expecting,
topic of mental health, ones that often
which was great. The game is more
produce an emotive experience for the
about taking care of yourself first,
player. Sea of Solitude is no exception.
rather than trying to fix everyone
The game feels so personal, which is
else, and I think the way that
something to be admired, as I think a lot
the game did this was excellent
of us know how much courage it takes
and the way Kay works through
to tell your story in such a public way,
each obstacle is a wonderful
but not just that, have people playing
visual metaphor.
through your experiences in such detail.
Herein lies the games biggest
I did think at first that the concept of
strength, its visuals. The entire
the ‘monsters’ could potentially be
game was incredibly beautiful, equally
problematic, in that we have to vanquish
serene and haunting. The cel-shaded
the demons inside, rather than managing
and living with them, however, as the
style works so well in this world, making
it feel like it is in Kay’s mind rather than
game progressed it made sense, and
again it is a very personal interpretation,
what her reality looks like. This paired
with the incredible score made Kay’s
so who am I to dictate how people view
their own mental health issues?
surroundings feel entirely dream-like.
The game isn’t a massive challenge,
17
 Your picks Explain what this section is.

Presentable Liberty This game is

By Corey Hauck a fantastic
depiction of depression, isolation and anxiety. In
this game people reach out to you, but you can not
physically reply as much as you want to, you can’t
because you are trapped in a cell. While in this
You start the game alone in the world
Limbo surrounded by violence and it’s
prison you start to lose the people you care about
most at the time. The big question is are any of the
a great depiction of loss and grief. The world
events that take place in the game real or not?
is dark and dreary and there is no one to help
you. The same aspects that form when you
experience loss. You feel alone and everything
around you seems empty. The gameplay is all
about problem solving, and has an open ending
When I feel like I’m
to be left up to the players interpretation. Civilization 4 losing control of my
life and starting to spiral downward this game
has helped me by giving me control of a country.
Creating a lasting country where everyone in it is
One game that has helped me
Fallout 3 tremendously is Fallout 3. I
happy made me feel like once again I had some
control.
played that game personally when I was going
through a depression a while ago. I went on
the quests to help random NPCs in the Capital
Wasteland it made me feel better. I know they
aren’t real, but helping them helped me. The
A beautiful game with great
moral aspect of the game is great for boosting Journey visuals and music. The music
personal moral. You are immersed in this world
and forget about the real world around you. and atmosphere is really calming. It is all about
overcoming obstacles. It is also a short game so
you don’t feel like you’ve wasted the day playing,
but so what if you did because it is helping you
figure yourself out.

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