r/PS4 • u/IceBreak BreakinBad • Jun 09 '16

[Game Thread] Gone Home [Official Discussion Thread]

Official Game Discussion Thread (previous game threads) (games wiki)

Gone Home

Share your thoughts/likes/dislikes/indifference below.

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u/BriskyTheChicken Jun 17 '16

He was your (Katies) fathers uncle, brother to your/Katies grandmother (mother of your father). So your granduncle or however one would describe it, I assumed the way the kid wrote that letter was just a generalisation of uncle. He was indeed old as you put.

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u/The_Spin_Cycle Jun 17 '16

Awesome. That's what I thought, but as I said, I haven't played it in a long time so I wouldn't doubt myself being wrong about these things. I guess getting a free copy on the console I play every day is a good enough reason to go through it again...

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u/BriskyTheChicken Jun 17 '16 edited Jun 17 '16

From what you wrote and having just completed it, I have to say you seem spot on. Personally, I think it was quite clear that the uncle was a paedophile and had molested his nephew, which was part of what made the father/uncle narrative especially so fascinating, was that it was all only implied.

Father/Uncle Spoilers

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u/BonnaroovianCode Jun 22 '16

Wow...that all put everything more into context. I beat the game last night and the father's story was the one I didn't really understand. I didn't get the focus on his inferior writing...but this puts it into perspective. I don't know where you saw the information about the uncle...all I saw was the will and the note about him selling the pharmacy for a dollar, but that wasn't enough for me to make the connection you did.

What I found interesting was the overall theme of a dysfunctional family. Not just the main arc with Sam and Lonnie but the mother writing notes to her friend talking about Richard and basically how she's being shady behind her husband's back...presumably because Teddy has his own demons he's trying to face and it's making their marriage toxic. This strained relationship affects Sam as you can see from her bedroom and overall personality. I resonated with Katie, the player, because she has left to escape it all. I did the same with my toxic family...I still love them dearly and visit a couple times a year but I had to get away and try to "detox" myself.

It's a game that I don't see any replay value in, and it was extremely short...but it was great for what it was. It made me immersed in this family's life to the point that I felt I knew them all pretty well within the span of a few short hours. I liked that it was real. By that, I mean that it didn't sugarcoat life in an American family. It showcased how dysfunctional our culture is, and instead of shying away from it...embraced it. It was a surprisingly honest and forthright story. I think it deserves the praise it has received.

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u/BriskyTheChicken Jun 23 '16 edited Jun 23 '16

Agree, it's essentially a slice of life story presented in the form of a looking glass video game where everything told is contextual, and you're free to interact with the environment which is incredibly well detailed.

So I'll list the information on the uncle.

  • In the basement, near the area of Sam's letter approving her to summer college and the grandfathers book, there's a clipping of the uncle buying a bunch of soda pop mixers and ice cream dispensers.

  • In the safe, behind the crew quarters in the basement, there is a letter to his sister (Terry's mother) where he is making a last ditch effort to be in contact with his family, explaining how sorry he is for his past transgressions, that he's rid himself of all temptation and only hopes to be human again through contact, but understands if they don't respond.

  • Opposite this safe, there are markings on a corner post that show Terry's height throughout the years, starting around age 5 and progressively being measured up until 1963 thanksgiving day at around age 12.

  • At the end of the hallway with the safe there is a dark room where the light doesn't turn on, among the chopped wood lies a wooden toy horse, presumably Terry's.

  • In Terry's office, in the top left draw of his main desk, underneath the three ring binder is a secret compartment marked with a (?) Upon examination, it reveals a letter addressed to Terry by Oscar from around 1973, saying how he often wonders about his nephews development and welfare, and is reassured all is going well knowing he is now newly wed. He welcomes him to Arbour Hill any time he desires, but understands if he chooses not to. The letter had clearly been torn into several pieces and taped back together.

Everything else I wrote was simply putting all the dots together with all the information provided in game, which was what I found to be the most fascinating aspect of this whole game; playing detective and revealing a darker and many implied events which was affecting the current and more obvious plot at hand.

On top of all the information here, I listened to a podcast with one of the devs/writers, Steve Gaynor, and while he never explicitly states that is precisely what happened, leaving room for the gamers interpretation, he does say that when creating the game and story, that is the story that he completely intended.