One concept mentioned in the introduction for Chapter 3 is about how streaming video games have become quite popular. It’s an avenue where users can interact with streamers and watch them play live. In “Free Guy” there are three specific references to streaming. At the 28 minute mark, we are shown a montage of news and streamers talking about Guy very excitedly. In the movie, we are shown the game is so popular news sites talk about Guy” At around one hour in, Guy has a conversation with Mr. Buttons, who is a streamer, where Guy is asked to put on a performance for Mr. Buttons audience. Shortly after, we see videos of people talking about Guy in a positive light about how they are changing their minds about NPCs. We see how playing games is starting to change a small portion of society’s thinking. A game is getting people to communicate. At the very end of the movie, Keys and Millie mention how people are now watching how the artificial intellegences (AIs) interact with one another and live their normal lives. Now streaming is taking place, but not with real people, but rather with NPCs as the focal point.
Section 3.3.3 mentions how one way people interact online is through virtual worlds. This is how Millie and Guy first meet. We also see how through streaming Guy becomes popular with people in real life. For example, Jacksepticeye and Pokimane (both popular streamers in real life) talk about Guy. News clips are shown in the movie talking about Guy’s popularity. We see misinformation spread easily online about how Guy is a player.
In section 3.2, it talks about spam. Although there are no direct mentions of spam in Free Guy there are mentions of pop up ads and product placements showcasing how commercialism permeates video games. These elements serve to critique the pervasive nature of advertising in modern media while adding to the film's comedic tone.
Section 3.4 is about cryptocurrencies. Although there is no cryptocurrencies in Free Guy there is in-game currency which can be bought with both real money and by playing in the game completing quests. This allows players to buy certain items for their characters. In Guy’s case we see him buy jump shoes which he was admiring for a long time.
Section 3.9 talks about children getting exposed to violent content online. We can see that at 11 and a half minutes in, 2 children are playing “Free City” with their character heisting a bank. Then at 31 minutes in, a little Japanese boy is seen dressed up as Guy indicating he too played Free Guy. Throughout the movie we see various violent content such as shooting, shooting with bazookas, tanks, giving and receiving punches, as well as character death.
In section 3.11 it mentioned internet addiction and how many people are spreading an unhealthy amount of time online. In the movie, we can see that Mr. Buttons is most likely addicted to the internet. He lives at home at 22 years old and streams very often. Millie can also be considered addicted to gaming with the amount of time she spent on the “Free City” she even felt an emotional connection purely through gaming shown by her allowing Guy to kiss her character.