# Who Knows What I'll Call This Thing, but Here I Go – Memory Card #1
*pokes head up* 🙇🏼♂️ Hello. Odds are no one is actually reading this first slate of newsletters, but if you have found yourself all the way back here at the beginning...👋🏻
I don't know what I will call this yet. The name can change. What I do know is the intent behind these letters. I want to better document and share the creative process behind the creation of [video essays](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxCxW3Sbhy5ZzVOkvmfo4Rme41g6KzJOk). It's a new-to-me format of creation and storytelling. I love it: I wish I started making them sooner.
I do document and share Behind the Scenes posts for each essay, but this is a more in the moment approach. The format is heavily inspired by Craig Mod's *Nightingalingale — 21 Days; A Diary of Book-Making*, which has gone on for...263 issues for the past few years...
This letter is for his members only and it is a real time journey through his creative process of making the book *Things Become Other Things*. From the research and walking to the writing to the *edits upon edits upon edits upon edits upon edits upon edits upon edits*. I think you get the idea. I find this openness about the creative process uplifting. I try to channel that into my own creative works.
I thought this approach would work well with video essays. I have a slew of ideas. I've entered a phase of working on a couple at the same time and think this sort of newsletter/diary could be advantageous to tracing my creativity. It has the benefits of keeping me honest, better documenting BtS posts, keeps me writing semi-regularly, and more. Most of all, it is an exploration of my ideas, motivation, and energy toward a these essays—whether they come out of not.
And like Craig's *Nightingalingale*, there's no committed schedule or length. It can be a few sentences or paragraphs. It can be whatever I want it to be. To me, that's liberating.
At the start, I am keeping this low *low* key. I want to prove to myself that I can actually write this series of letters. I don't want to over promise, hence the whole "no one will likely read these first" thought process.
So, with all the fancy explanation behind us, what am I working on?
Up front, I am focusing on a video I've dubbed "The Spirit of a Galaxy Game." I'm looking to play a string of Nintendo games to analyze why my buddy Phil Summers said that *Splatoon 3* "has the spirit of a Galaxy game." I'm looking to play *Donkey Kong Jungle Beat*, *Super Mario Galaxy*[^1], *Super Mario Galaxy 2*, and, of course, *Splatoon 3*.[^2] Since I have to play so many games, it feels like this video is a ways off. I may tackle one about trailers I have in mind, which effort wise is much lower because I *don't* have to play anything. I just have to write the essay and compile trailers.
That pull between taking a long time to make something and putting out shorter ideas is unique. I wonder how the tension will tighten up or relieve itself. Only one way to find out. Until then, it's time to bust out the DK Bongos...
> [!email]+ Memory Card Newsletter
> This letter is one block from the newsletter **[Memory Card](https://buttondown.com/MaxFrequency)** by [Max Roberts](https://www.maxfrequency.net/about). Thoughts? Send *me* an email at
[email protected].
>
> Max is the writer and producer behind [Max Frequency](https://www.maxfrequency.net), a place where he cultivates and curates curiosity—both for himself and for others—by delighting in the details and growing greatness from small beginnings.
>
> He's written a [[Chasing the Stick - The History of Naughty Dog during the PS4 Era|rich history and dive on the making of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part II]], celebrated the [[MFP23 - “A Passion for Smash” – Celebrating 15 Years of Super Smash Bros. Brawl with Peter Spezia|15th anniversary of Super Smash Bros. Brawl with the voice behind its hype]], and examined how [Zelda "stole" Fortnite's best mechanic](https://youtu.be/kc2l_9Fdpek).
>
> **Memory Card** is a real-ish time, raw, drip feed newsletter of his creative process for telling these stories. It’s *how* The Thing™ gets made. You can sign up below. (Look down)
>
> It's all powered by [Max Frequency](https://www.maxfrequency.net) and [patrons](https://www.patreon.com/maxfrequency).
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> Wanna see The Thing™? [Check it out on YouTube](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxCxW3Sbhy5ZzVOkvmfo4Rme41g6KzJOk). Read it on [The Blog](https://www.maxfrequency.net).
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[^1]: Maybe I will play the Switch port?
[^2]: Which is on [my list of games to beat in 2024](https://maxfrequency.net/2024/01/07/max-frequency-year-four/).