Control Explained - The Bureau Book Club

Hello everyone. Welcome back to the Control Explained segment of Gaming University. Today, we focus on something a bit different. Rather than dive into one of the bigger topics in the Control setting, we will look at one of the most well known Sub Plots.

There are literally hundreds of Documents littered around the Oldest House that provide backstory, insight into other AWEs, and sometimes an insight into the day to lives of Bureau Agents. The Bureau Book Club is comprised of four individuals including the famous Phillip from the Containment Sector. Before the Hiss Invasion, they were given a Novel called Unless You by J.D. Brooks. The thing that was different with this one is that the book changed based upon who read it. In this video we take a look at what forms this book took as well as what it says about the members of the Book Club.

Please feel free to have free discussion in the comments section below.

Enjoy!

Music:
Alan Wake OST: Alan Wake - Petri Alanko
Alan Wake OST: On The Run - Petri Alanko

#ControlRemedy #GamingUniversity #OldestHouse

[EFantasic]

... I legitimately never thought of the bookclub as as a meaningful addition to the game. I was viewing it as a way to make the world feel real. Huh. Now I should go back and look for all the details I could have missed.

[microbark]

Im glad your making these videos. No one else talks about these details.

[KaiInMotion]

I'm over here screaming because when I read through the book club notes I was just laughing at the devs including their hot takes on YA dystopians. The details about Unless You reminded me of Divergent by Veronica Roth and The Defiance Trilogy by C.J. Redwine. Also, DAMN, RIP Samson. I felt bad witnessing that guys death but definitely didn't connect the two lol.

[NicolasDominique]

Amazing how many is still out there, yet to be discovered.

[Izual]

This was SO GOOD! While aware of the book club, i never pieced together that the book changed based on the reader! Once again, another great class by The Dean. Already waiting for the next one.

[ZwiekszoneRyzyko]

I am blown by Remedy's attention to details. I never connected the book club to the actual characters. i wonder what else did we all miss.

[matrim]

Wasn't a Battery Cylinder in the game that kills that agent. It's a transport canister for the pneumatic tubes. The room with the Floppy Disc is even labelled as "Pneumatics" on the map.

[ssimpson]

Hopefully Penny is still alive, it's sad all of her book club friends died.

[TheAce]

The amount of detail in this game even of minor things is absolutely mind-boggling. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it. NOTHING is meaningless.

I can’t believe I didn’t know about this game before… This game is one of the best games I’ve ever played. Thank you so much for explaining these things. They add much to the game!

[JayRican]

This game is sooo deep. So many things went right over my head but I knew there was something with those book club documents. I just never pieced it together. Thanks for making yet another fine video.

[Napa....]

On my fifth control play through atm, just got my control 400 page book on the making of it just a amazing read, your videos are so insightful in what has became my favorite game I have ever played, hears hoping for control 2 before to long thanks man.

[tailgate]

Control is one of the most unique games i have played in recent years. I got the ultimate editon. Last month in a Psn store sale it has made me a fan of remedy and their weird and creepy take. On horror games Controls background lore is amazing. I cant wait for Alan Wake 2 whenever that game comes out oh and a little theory i have for the book. The book club was reading Alan Wake has the ability to have fiction become. Reality maybe the writer of Unless you had a similar power to Alan. Maybe they also had an encounter with the Dark presence

[renrid]

GU:despite the blood splattered the letter says otherwise
Me: oh Phillip could be alive
"end of video"
Me:0__0

[jamesgomez]

It's truly amazing hot much thought was put into every aspect of this game, and I'm glad that I found this channel that explains so much of it.

[mjolnir]

I think the book club and the reviews that reflect the fate of those that wrote them is one of my favourite subtle bits of lore in the game, that unfortunately hardly anyone ever seems to notice. Although I'm pretty sure Lopez's recordings were originally in the Mold Threshold, but then they were changed to Quarry Site Beta when Expeditions was released as DLC. I could be wrong, it's been a while though. Maybe Remedy is messing with us on a meta level by moving the lore around, lol.

Speaking of books, I received the Control art book last week and it is incredible. Really goes into detail on the concept and making of the game, as well as lots of great art - a real treat for the fans.

[TheZeroLatitud]

What a great video. I am very attentive when it comes to lore but had never thought the book club could have a meaning behind

[grimnecksnapper]

I missed all these connections. The details you talk about and the literature, psychology, physics and philosophy connections are enthralling. I love your videos.

[graablik]

I have long moved on from Control to other games/films, but these bits are still very interesting! I only vaguely remember these pieces of evidence and certainly have not discovered all the connections myself. It seems, here Remedy creates yet another spin on notions of in the poststructuralist way (or similar). Well done, sir!

[cregerbot]

It's 4:30 AM here.... But if I see a GU vid, I click

[Szmajdzik]

Reader`s club was the only materials I mostly ignored thinking it might be just a filler, some example of social live in the Bureau. It turned out verything matters. I`m blown away by this game. And your video essay again.

And I was blown away for the second time at the end. Didn`t catch that while playing. I feel sorry for the guy.