History WebVideo / ErrantSignal

''{Errant Signal}'' is an AnalysisChannel run by Chris "Campster" Franklin, dedicated to the analysis and essay-based discussion of the plot, central themes and conceits of various video games. His series, which can be found on Website/YouTube, covers game design and discussion of usage of gaming tropes, sometimes analyzing an aspect of game design through examination of a game and other times discussing a game design concept by itself. His show favors a cerebral style that tries to make game design concepts more accessible to the common gamer.

Errant Signal can be found [[https://www.youtube.com/user/Campster here]], and he has a Patreon [[http://www.patreon.com/errantsignal here]]. Franklin is also a regular on the LetsPlay group ''LetsPlay/SpoilerWarning'', which is dedicated to similar motifs from a let's player's perspective but in less depth.

* GreyAndGreyMorality: Praises ''VideoGame/SleepingDogs2012'' for its take on this trope, particularly how it asks the player to wrestle with the duality of being a cop who stops crimes and a criminal who causes it rather than making the player chose between the two.

* GreyAndGreyMorality: Praises ''VideoGame/SleepingDogs'' for its take on this trope, particularly how it asks the player to wrestle with the duality of being a cop who stops crimes and a criminal who causes it rather than making the player chose between the two.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wZoVyxdFRg&t=1s TikTok: Life on the Algorithm]] is a deep-dive into Tik Tok as a creative platform, looking at both its pros and cons styled as a Tik Tok video.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRhjLKe1EkQ&t=12s The Company Intro Cinematic Universe is Bad]] is video about the into splash trend.

* FormulaBreakingEpisode: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNYLCrR6LeE Riffin' On An Old Universal Promotional Video Because I Need A New Creative Outlet]] is, well, a [[AlternateDVDCommentary riff track]] of a short film advertising [[Ride/UniversalStudios Universal's Islands of Adventure]]. There's not much in the way of critical analysis (and it's not trying to be one), and aside from a short quip about the ''Theatre/PoseidonsFury'' segment looking like a questionable ''Videogame/BioShock'' remaster, it's not even about video games.

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNYLCrR6LeE Riffin' On An Old Universal Promotional Video Because I Need A New Creative Outlet]] is, well, a [[AlternateDVDCommentary riff track]] of a short film advertising [[Ride/UniversalStudios Universal's Islands of Adventure]]. There's not much in the way of critical analysis (and it's not trying to be one), and aside from a short quip about the ''Theatre/PoseidonsFury'' segment looking like a questionable ''Videogame/BioShock'' remaster, it's not even about video games.

* AngstWhatAngst: [[invoked]] One of his main criticisms of [[VideoGame/HalfLife2 Alyx Vance]] is that she doesn't seem to have any emotional baggage; for example, about the [[MissingMom implied death of her mother]], or resenting her father for unintentionally helping cause the Combine takeover.

* {{Filler}}: Argues that the middle part of ''VideoGame/Prey2017'' is essentially this, [[TropesAreTools though he doesn't necessarily consider it a bad thing]]. While he feels that it doesn't advance the plot much, he does find the gameplay solid and considers some parts of it an interesting exploration of the game's themes.

* {{Filler}}: Argues that the middle part of ''VideoGame/Prey2017'' is essentially this, [[TropesAreTools though he doesn't necessarily consider it a bad thing]]. While he argues it advances the plot much, he still finds the gameplay solid and considers some parts of it an interesting exploration a few of the game's themes.

* AwesomeMcCoolName: Part of his video on ''VideoGame/Rage2'' is him listing off the many instances of this trope he found in the game. There's a sequence after the credits where he shows even more of them.

* CluelessAesop: Frequently discussed. Many times, he finds games that are fully capable of delivering a message but are too reluctant to take a stance or games that merely feature something to discuss rather than actually discussing it. He notes that ImmersiveSim games with multiple choices and pathways tend to this since its focus is encouraging and ensuring a stable middle ground and that works only in a narrative where your options are extremes of one kind or another. He is especially critical of ''VideoGame/{{Bioshock}}'' and ''VideoGame/BioshockInfinite'' for this kind of storytelling, especially the latter game that makes the false equivalency between slaveowning white supremacists and a slave uprising.

!!Tropes found in {Errant Signal} include:

* AffectionateParody: He describes ''Videogame/SaintsRowIV'' as a light-hearted tribute to various pop culture kitsch in contrast to the vitriolic ShallowParody found in ''Videogame/GrandTheftAutoV''.
* AngstWhatAngst: [[invoked]] One of his main criticisms of [[VideoGame/HalfLife2 Alyx Vance]] is that she doesn't seem to have any emotional baggage; for example, about the implied death of her mother, or resenting her father for helping cause the Combine takeover.
* BerserkButton: {{Jerkass}} protagonists who aren't admitted to be as such by the narrative; his entire ''VideoGame/WatchDogs'' video is a scathing indictment of Aiden Pearce and his reckless and selfish actions throughout the game, and apparent belief Ubisoft had he would be regarded as inherently cool.

''{Errant Signal}'' is a web series by Chris "Campster" Franklin, dedicated to the analysis and essay-based discussion of the plot, central themes and conceits of various video games. His series, which can be found on Website/YouTube, covers game design and discussion of usage of gaming tropes, sometimes analyzing an aspect of game design through examination of a game and other times discussing a game design concept by itself. His show favors a cerebral style that tries to make game design concepts more accessible to the common gamer.

* CluelessAesop / LostAesop : Frequently discussed. Many times, he finds games that are fully capable of delivering a message but are too reluctant to take a stance or games that merely feature something to discuss rather than actually discussing it.

''{Errant Signal}'' is a web series by Chris "Campster" Franklin, dedicated to the analysis and essay-based discussion of the plot, central themes and conceits of various video games. His series, which can be found on YouTube, covers game design and discussion of usage of gaming tropes, sometimes analyzing an aspect of game design through examination of a game and other times discussing a game design concept by itself. His show favors a cerebral style that tries to make game design concepts more accessible to the common gamer.

* AngstWhatAngst: [[invoked]] One of his main criticisms of [[VideoGame/HalfLife2 Alyx Vance]]; for example, she doesn't seem to have any emotional baggage about the implied death of her mother or resent her father for helping cause the Combine takeover.

* BerserkButton: JerkAss protagonists who aren't admitted to be as such by the narrative; his entire'' VideoGame/WatchDogs'' video is a scathing indictment of Aiden Pearce and his reckless and selfish actions throughout the game, and apparent belief Ubisoft had he would be regarded as inherently cool.

* AccentuateTheNegative: He noted in his review of ''VideoGame/{{Bastion}}'' that this trope had effectively become the norm in video series about gaming, and described his review of ''Bastion'' as a spirited attempt to avert it.

* NothingIsScarier: Criticizes the use of the ''VideoGame/Doom3'' Duct Tape mod [[note]] ''Doom 3'' normally forces you to choose between having a weapon ready and having a flashlight where most of the game is set in darkness. The Duct Tape mod makes the player able to use both at the same time. [[/note]]. He feels that having to switch to darkness to fire your weapon adds to the tension and atmosphere of the game.

* AccentuateTheNegative: He noted in his review of ''VideoGame/Bastion'' that this trope had effectively become the norm in video series about gaming, and described his review of ''Bastion'' as a spirited attempt to avert it.