What does it mean to be human? And what does it mean to be… a goose?
January 21, 2020 9:46 AM Subscribe
The Untitled Goose Game and Philosophy [Sidequest] “The Goose does good, but it is a self-serving good. Were it not a goose but a man, would we not praise the Goose’s efforts? Would we not commend him for disrupting capitalism? For returning the carefully confined garden to its wild and free nature? Perhaps, and yet the Goose is trapped in an earthly, goosely flesh. Each day the Goose drives the humble village further from God’s light and closer to depravity. But is that not what was foretold? Boehme theorized that not only would the Fall of Man occur, but that it was necessary, that it would catalyze man’s evolution. To the villagers, the Goose can do no good. The Goose is devilry and chaos. The Goose is the catalyst.”
Seems to be an appropriate place to link Daniel Ortberg's I Am The Horrible Goose That Lives in The Town.
posted by praemunire at 9:59 AM on January 21, 2020 [15 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 9:59 AM on January 21, 2020 [15 favorites]
We all contain dualities. We are both the goose, and the townsfolk. Sometimes, we need to let go of our pre-programmed routines, and become an agent of chaos.
posted by SansPoint at 10:01 AM on January 21, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by SansPoint at 10:01 AM on January 21, 2020 [6 favorites]
*steals rake*
“God does not simply will that we should be happy, but rather that we should make ourselves happy.” ~Immanuel Kant Goose
posted by Fizz at 10:07 AM on January 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
“God does not simply will that we should be happy, but rather that we should make ourselves happy.” ~
posted by Fizz at 10:07 AM on January 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
I sound my barbaric honk over the roofs of the world.
posted by Clowder of bats at 10:09 AM on January 21, 2020 [13 favorites]
posted by Clowder of bats at 10:09 AM on January 21, 2020 [13 favorites]
Needs more Herzog voice.
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:31 AM on January 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:31 AM on January 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
Needs more Herzog voice.
The Goose is Herzog.
posted by Fizz at 10:35 AM on January 21, 2020 [5 favorites]
The Goose is Herzog.
posted by Fizz at 10:35 AM on January 21, 2020 [5 favorites]
In a world plagued by lawful-evil billionaires, it turns out the hero we needed was a chaotic-good goose.
posted by Mayor West at 11:03 AM on January 21, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by Mayor West at 11:03 AM on January 21, 2020 [6 favorites]
The Goose is Herzog.
WH on the role of a documentarian, emphasis mine:
WH on the role of a documentarian, emphasis mine:
I want to be involved. I want to shape and sculpt, to stage things, to intrude and invent. I want to be a film director. I was the only person at the festival arguing against these morons. . . . I couldn’t take it any longer. I grabbed a microphone and said, “I’m no fly on the wall. I am the hornet that stings.” There was an immediate uproar, so not having anything more to say, I shouted out, "Happy New Year, losers.” And that was that.posted by Strange Interlude at 11:05 AM on January 21, 2020 [7 favorites]
Needs more Herzog voice.
Suddenly I wish Alexa had the option to use Werner Herzog's voice.
posted by JohnFromGR at 11:06 AM on January 21, 2020 [7 favorites]
Suddenly I wish Alexa had the option to use Werner Herzog's voice.
posted by JohnFromGR at 11:06 AM on January 21, 2020 [7 favorites]
(Hey...UGG was just released on PS4 if you haven't heard...also wattam)
posted by sexyrobot at 11:24 AM on January 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by sexyrobot at 11:24 AM on January 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
I want to try this game but I'm not sure it's worth $20. I just love the title so very, very much.
posted by SoberHighland at 11:25 AM on January 21, 2020
posted by SoberHighland at 11:25 AM on January 21, 2020
Isn't "goose game but humans" just GTA?
posted by rhizome at 11:27 AM on January 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 11:27 AM on January 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
I want to try this game but I'm not sure it's worth $20
IT **HONK** ABSOLUTELY **HONK* IS!!
posted by Fizz at 11:35 AM on January 21, 2020 [14 favorites]
IT **HONK** ABSOLUTELY **HONK* IS!!
posted by Fizz at 11:35 AM on January 21, 2020 [14 favorites]
no the goose is an asshole
Literally saw two geese fighting outside a window in the building today. This is so true. PissyPants goose walloped his opponent, chased it away, re-chased it away, all while constantly checking out his friends for any sign of disagreement lest he whup their asses too howaboutit?
Gooses are assholes.
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:42 AM on January 21, 2020
Literally saw two geese fighting outside a window in the building today. This is so true. PissyPants goose walloped his opponent, chased it away, re-chased it away, all while constantly checking out his friends for any sign of disagreement lest he whup their asses too howaboutit?
Gooses are assholes.
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:42 AM on January 21, 2020
⚞honk⚟
posted by boo_radley at 11:51 AM on January 21, 2020
posted by boo_radley at 11:51 AM on January 21, 2020
I heard honking is an alt-right meme now, so I don't know how to goose anymore.
posted by I-Write-Essays at 2:11 PM on January 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by I-Write-Essays at 2:11 PM on January 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
Geese fly in a V pattern sometimes, and the V is for Victory, but 4Chan told me it's a cryptic reference to Churchill combined with an obscure F-you symbol in some language so you can't play as a goose without being a Nazi now. Technically. ALSO: goose-stepping and shitting everywhere.
posted by SoberHighland at 2:14 PM on January 21, 2020
posted by SoberHighland at 2:14 PM on January 21, 2020
Isn't "goose game but humans" just GTA?
No, but I can't put my finger on exactly how. Something about the scale, consequences, and being the only goose in the village.
posted by asperity at 2:50 PM on January 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
No, but I can't put my finger on exactly how. Something about the scale, consequences, and being the only goose in the village.
posted by asperity at 2:50 PM on January 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
I Have No Beak But I Must Honk
posted by poffin boffin at 2:57 PM on January 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 2:57 PM on January 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
I saw this shirt shortly after the game came out and I found it delightful. Take bell, indeed.
posted by hippybear at 5:34 PM on January 21, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 5:34 PM on January 21, 2020 [7 favorites]
> I want to try this game but I'm not sure it's worth $20.
When I was busy dropping the gardener's keys down the well (LIKE you DO), I noticed that honking has a loverly echo effect applied to it.
If that doesn't immediately resolve your decision-making process, I don't think we can be friends.
posted by sourcequench at 5:37 PM on January 21, 2020 [7 favorites]
When I was busy dropping the gardener's keys down the well (LIKE you DO), I noticed that honking has a loverly echo effect applied to it.
If that doesn't immediately resolve your decision-making process, I don't think we can be friends.
posted by sourcequench at 5:37 PM on January 21, 2020 [7 favorites]
I want to try this game but I'm not sure it's worth $20.
Well, how do you define the value of $20? That's an evening at a decent pizza joint for a couple of people, maybe not even based on the place. That's not two people going to the movies. That's more than a CD, about the same as a DVD... It's less than most hardback books these days. It's a carload of toilet paper from Costco.
It's something like 2-4 hours of being a goose. Maybe that's worth $20 to you, maybe it isn't. It's really just how you value $20.
posted by hippybear at 6:29 PM on January 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
Well, how do you define the value of $20? That's an evening at a decent pizza joint for a couple of people, maybe not even based on the place. That's not two people going to the movies. That's more than a CD, about the same as a DVD... It's less than most hardback books these days. It's a carload of toilet paper from Costco.
It's something like 2-4 hours of being a goose. Maybe that's worth $20 to you, maybe it isn't. It's really just how you value $20.
posted by hippybear at 6:29 PM on January 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
The goose is a trickster god, like Loki or Coyote or Woody Woodpecker.
posted by condour75 at 6:50 PM on January 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by condour75 at 6:50 PM on January 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
Personally I think the "geese are assholes" thing is a bit overplayed. A goose hissing at you because you got into its personal space isn't a prelude to a FIGHT TO THE DEATH.
posted by Pyry at 7:14 PM on January 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Pyry at 7:14 PM on January 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
Clearly Pyry has never actually been attacked by a goose, which is an IRL terrifying experience.
posted by hippybear at 7:18 PM on January 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 7:18 PM on January 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
I once saw a goose, entirely unprovoked, attack a man in a wheelchair.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:04 PM on January 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:04 PM on January 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
I haven't played the goose game, and I won't. As I described to a loved one who wanted to buy it for me: "Everything I know about it says it's a video game for people who don't like video games. I like video games."
That's not to say it can't provide some insight for some people. Personally I prefer LSD.
posted by booooooze at 9:07 PM on January 21, 2020
That's not to say it can't provide some insight for some people. Personally I prefer LSD.
posted by booooooze at 9:07 PM on January 21, 2020
I also prefer LSD. I haven't seen it around much lately, though.
posted by hippybear at 9:31 PM on January 21, 2020
posted by hippybear at 9:31 PM on January 21, 2020
Do violent games lead to violent behavior? Will we see a rash of sock-stealing and gratuitous flapping among youth? I reckon no, but do know this: being the goose and vicariously experiencing assholishness imparts a certain adrenaline rush which carries over into reality. I made him wear his sun hat! I can honk at my daughter as I waddle triumphantly around the kitchen.
posted by St. Oops at 10:03 PM on January 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by St. Oops at 10:03 PM on January 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
God I miss LSD. I’m pretty sure it loved me.
Geese, on the other hand, fuckin’ hate me, judging by the number that have tried to take my head off while I walk down the street harming no one.
posted by aramaic at 10:18 PM on January 21, 2020
Geese, on the other hand, fuckin’ hate me, judging by the number that have tried to take my head off while I walk down the street harming no one.
posted by aramaic at 10:18 PM on January 21, 2020
I’m honestly completely puzzled as to how you could say it’s a game for people who don’t like video games.
posted by MysticMCJ at 11:12 PM on January 21, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by MysticMCJ at 11:12 PM on January 21, 2020 [5 favorites]
MysticMCJ:, I don't understand it myself, but I will say that this is the first video game I have coveted. I'm not generally interested in video games, but this one I needed to have. I find this interesting because Goat Simulator didn't appeal to me, despite some thematic similarity.
(I don't see that claim as precluding people who do like video games from enjoying it too, by the way.)
posted by Belostomatidae at 4:37 AM on January 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
(I don't see that claim as precluding people who do like video games from enjoying it too, by the way.)
posted by Belostomatidae at 4:37 AM on January 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
> In a world plagued by lawful-evil billionaires, it turns out the hero we needed was a chaotic-good goose.HONK HONK
posted by farlukar at 6:20 AM on January 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
(Hey...UGG was just released on PS4 if you haven't heard...also wattam)
I wonder whether Wattam will end up ported to the Switch at some point. I don't fancy shelling out for yet another console even if it's Keita Takahashi.
posted by acb at 6:22 AM on January 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
I wonder whether Wattam will end up ported to the Switch at some point. I don't fancy shelling out for yet another console even if it's Keita Takahashi.
posted by acb at 6:22 AM on January 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
"Everything I know about it says it's a video game for people who don't like video games. I like video games."
You mean it's a video game for people who don't like what you think of as video games. In which case, yes. Like movies, there are lots of kinds of video games.
posted by HypotheticalWoman at 8:24 AM on January 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
You mean it's a video game for people who don't like what you think of as video games. In which case, yes. Like movies, there are lots of kinds of video games.
posted by HypotheticalWoman at 8:24 AM on January 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
I once saw a goose, entirely unprovoked, attack a man in a wheelchair.
Rude. Also hilarious, but mostly rude.
I sleep soundly knowing that geese have no thumbs.
posted by rhizome at 8:37 AM on January 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
Rude. Also hilarious, but mostly rude.
I sleep soundly knowing that geese have no thumbs.
posted by rhizome at 8:37 AM on January 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
I feel obligated to attach the following ancillary article :
http://falsemachine.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-greatest-image-known-to-man.html
For, tho ostrich is not goose, goose writ in its entirety IS ostrich
"I find birds fascinating. I think it's the eyes. You can read a mammal's eyes. You can't read a bird's."
"You can read them quite easily but all they say is death"
posted by Transylvania Metro Android Castle at 8:47 AM on January 22, 2020
http://falsemachine.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-greatest-image-known-to-man.html
For, tho ostrich is not goose, goose writ in its entirety IS ostrich
"I find birds fascinating. I think it's the eyes. You can read a mammal's eyes. You can't read a bird's."
"You can read them quite easily but all they say is death"
posted by Transylvania Metro Android Castle at 8:47 AM on January 22, 2020
I feel obligated to attach the following ancillary article
Surely you mean "anserlary."
posted by fiercecupcake at 9:09 AM on January 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
Surely you mean "anserlary."
posted by fiercecupcake at 9:09 AM on January 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
The enormity of their stupidity is just overwhelming... when you're out in the countryside and you see a chicken, try to look a chicken in the eye with great intensity, and the intensity of stupidity that is looking back at you is just amazing.
posted by acb at 9:13 AM on January 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by acb at 9:13 AM on January 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
All I can say is that I finally got around to playing Untitled Goose Game with my 11-year-old daughter over the weekend, and we had the absolute best time. The game is a delight to my shriveled black soul.
When I was busy dropping the gardener's keys down the well (LIKE you DO), I noticed that honking has a loverly echo effect applied to it.
I particularly love that, when the goose puts its beak into a milk bottle, it sounds like a goose honking into a milk bottle.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 9:26 AM on January 22, 2020 [7 favorites]
When I was busy dropping the gardener's keys down the well (LIKE you DO), I noticed that honking has a loverly echo effect applied to it.
I particularly love that, when the goose puts its beak into a milk bottle, it sounds like a goose honking into a milk bottle.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 9:26 AM on January 22, 2020 [7 favorites]
UGG is also out on Xbox and it's on their Game Pass system, so if you have a membership to that (they had a discount sale recently) you can try it out.
I got frustrated with UGG. I just wanted to HONK and cause chaos, but to advance to the next section you have to finish 90% of the Todo list and a lot of those challenges require more hand-eye coordination than I can muster. I wish there was a sandbox chaos mode where the Todo list was optional and you could just do whatever whenever.
posted by divabat at 5:26 PM on January 22, 2020 [4 favorites]
I got frustrated with UGG. I just wanted to HONK and cause chaos, but to advance to the next section you have to finish 90% of the Todo list and a lot of those challenges require more hand-eye coordination than I can muster. I wish there was a sandbox chaos mode where the Todo list was optional and you could just do whatever whenever.
posted by divabat at 5:26 PM on January 22, 2020 [4 favorites]
"Everything I know about it says it's a video game for people who don't like video games. I like video games."
This attitude is why I don't identify as a gamer, despite them being my life's work.
posted by inpHilltr8r at 4:15 PM on January 23, 2020 [3 favorites]
This attitude is why I don't identify as a gamer, despite them being my life's work.
posted by inpHilltr8r at 4:15 PM on January 23, 2020 [3 favorites]
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At least, if I were the goose. Because the village is problematic at best.
Be seeing you.
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:54 AM on January 21, 2020 [7 favorites]