Game Theory: My Reaction to the Fine Bros React World Controversy

Today, I'm getting a bit personal. Only four months into the new year and already 2016 has seen a ton of scandal on YouTube, but the biggest story of all focused around React World and the Fine Bros. As a friend of the Fines, it got me to really think about their situation, the React scandal, and how YouTube is changing. It's a weird time for YouTube and YouTube creators...and here are some of my thoughts. It was a very different, and very personal, episode for me to work on. I hope you like it.

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[GameTheory]

To everyone saying that this video is "late" -- as I mention in the video, it's hard for people to look at a situation objectively when the Internet is raging. I wanted to take some time and look BACK at the situation with a clearer head. Would views have been better on this video had I released it in the middle of the drama? Probably...and that's the danger of YouTube culture right now -- rushing to hop on bandwagons with kneejerk responses to rake in views. But that isn't the point here. For me, it was much more important to do the subject justice and get a true assessment of my personal thoughts and feelings about what this means for digital content in general, hence it coming out now.

[austinevans]

Dropping some serious knowledge. Respect.

[ChippyGaming]

I always love the theories you do on actual YouTube itself, it's definitely more suited for content creators than your regular audience and I really appreciate you doing that

[shailendrasorout]

There probably exists an alternate timeline in which Matpat trademarked the word 'Theory' and finebros would be reacting to it

[Aryc]

The "Seriously, Thank you for watching" at the end with the pictures of all of the crew members made me actually cry. That's an achievement, and I'm not going to say why because I don't want to sound sappy and attention-grabby, just know that I have a depressing backstory and that you need to know nothing further on the matter. But, in all honesty, MatPat, thank YOU for making your content, and, with the addition of GTLive, making me feel like a member of a community of awesome like-minded individuals. It's not often that I find a group of people that I actually like, and both you and Markiplier have brought together two of the most amazing communities I've ever seen. Markiplier has created a community of compassion, and you have created a community of intellectual pursuit and a quest for answers to life's questions, both of which I hold very closely to who I am, and how I think of myself. Once again, thank you, MatPat, for giving me one of the places I can look to and have faith. Faith that, even after I die, there will still be others like me that want to know, and to learn. Faith in the logical power of others. Faith in humanity as a whole. And thank all of you theorists reading this, with your big and beautiful brains.

[lukefrederiks]

I want to shake the hand of the person who created this intro

[Patterrz]

This video is a must watch for anyone that spends a lot of time on Youtube content creation

[odessa]

You know, for so long I thought MatPat was about 25 and just had a girlfriend but today I found out he's 31 and has a wife...mindblown

[wheezywaiter]

Thank you for lumping me in with creators who just want to express themselves, which is why I've decided to finally abandon this business and make the switch over to my true passion, finger painting!

[whatkindofnameisella]

I think the most important thing to me, is your personality, and that, even though the channel is growing, you are staying you. That is why I tune into every live stream I can, I watch and re-watch game theory episodes, it is because I am watching you.

[lucynsuns]

"One change to the algorithm could devastate whole YouTube channels"
*one year later*
WELL WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT. LOOK WHAT HAS HAPPENED. MATPAT PSYCHIC CONFIRMED

[taylorjohnson]

If I ever meet MatPat IRL, I'm buying him a diet coke.

[oddwright]

I'm loyal. I'll never leave this channel

[山岡アンドリュー]

MatPat, I've been watching for years now and honestly, one of the things I've realized about WHY I watch certain content and WHAT content I watch is almost entirely dependent on PERSONALITY.

You are who I'm watching. The content certainly is interesting, but even if it grew "stagnant" I would still watch this over something a corporation is churning out because it's YOU. I don't know how true this is for other people, but this is also why, above all other "Let's Players" I watch Markiplier and a as a VERY close second, Game Grumps. I watch the odd video by PewDiePie, jacksepticeye, cinnamontoastken, etc. But Markiplier and Game Grumps are where I go to watch new Let's Play videos because I LOVE Mark, Arin, Danny, Suzy, Ross (not so much...), Barry and Brian... They are like internet family to me. The years I've spent watching them also would make it really hard for me to stray regardless of the content produced (which yes, I have felt at times the content might've started lacking, but the fans give them a virtual slap in the face and things go back to normal again).

I've been watching videos on YouTube since the very beginning and I will likely be here until the site no longer exists. People like YOU (and everyone who works for your channel) are the reason I will be staying too. If every independent YouTuber disappears because of the corporate interest and massive networks migrating to YouTube from TV, I will find a new location to get my media. There is a reason I haven't paid for cable/satellite in over a decade.... And it's because of the entertainment I can find on the internet. No other reason. And again, I'm getting into the territory of redundancy, but it's people like you who made YouTube what it is, so I really hope they realize that and don't start prioritizing TV content over the content of people who made YouTube what it is today. I believe in equal opportunities for everyone, so if certain content is better, or equally entertaining then sure, it deserves as much praise as anything else. But I hope money doesn't start completely influencing every facet of YouTube like Cable television has for 4 or 5 decades now.

What a long post... sorry... I'm quite passionate about this as well even though it isn't really something that impacts my livelihood at all.... However it impacts my lifestyle and that is VERY important to me.

LOTS OF LOVE AND APPRECIATION MATPAT and GAME THEORY!!! You guys are phenomenal!

[annispatz.]

Watching this in january 2018 I feel like the drama of 2016 was just the beginning of what was coming to YouTube in 2017& now in January 2018. It's really weird to look back to a time that was said to be a big hit for YouTube...

[ytsejam]

Well said Mat! I can't remember exactly when I started watching your videos but it was WELL before the whole FNAF thing so... a couple of years so far? anyway. I've stuck around because I loved your style of video making then and I still love it today. So much research and care you put into gathering your information as well as bringing it to the viewer in an interesting humor filled way. You should be a college professor. Video Game History 101 or something. But then you started Movie Theory and GTLive and while, yes, those channels do limit the time you spend on Game Theory, it widens your range of interests and your audience. People who want to see you wrestle with Freddy with Stephenie go to GTLive and those who are burning to know if Anna and Elsa are really sisters or not should go to Film Theory.... I'm subbed to all 3 btw, because you are an amazing content creator.
I'd hate to see the day where you're not on youtube anymore, but if it does, I will go to the next platform with you. I'm not subscribed to youtube because of youtube. I'm subscribed because of you! (And Markiplier, Game Grumps, Jeremy Jahns, Peanut Butter Gamer, Smooth McGroove etc.)

[lunablossom]

No way MatPat, we wouldn't leave you for bigger companies theories...

[ericfieldman]

Every once in a while, a theory that isn't by game theory catches my eye, but most of those theories aren't thought out well and I always come back here eventually.

[nauticaphantasma]

honestly I follow a lot of theorist channels like the carlin bros, watso, etc. but game and film theory are my top favorites to watch. Honestly even when I struggle with nights of insomnia or depression, a lot of these funny animated videos with easy to follow theories with exciting, thought provoking questions, that often are questions only you guys would come up with, help me take my mind off of things, and the voices of both you (Matpat) and Austin are terrific to listen to, and honestly have conditioned me to find them relaxing whenever I'm stressed out. I've learned so much from y'all watching y'all's theories, and I hope y'all never give up theorizing, and I hope y'all have a long, prosperous channel!

[neildivins]

I GOT IT
LET'S TRADEMARK THE WORD TRADEMARK
THEN PEOPLE CAN'T TRADEMARK WORDS ANYMORE