Playtime Co Exposed

After the success of my side blog, @prototype1006defense, I made a new blog to focus more on Playtime co and focus on how the company as a whole as well as delve more into individuals responsible. This should hopefully keep the prototype defense blog free from Stella Greyber call out posts LOL. However, Playtime Co isn't just Stella - this is to show how deep the systemic rot goes.

Thinking about "Sawyer's Secret" (the unofficial wiki name for the recording)

It's NOT a VHS. It's just a very green, glowing light- a button on a radio- just unnaturally bright enough for curious players to get closer and then you'll get the "E" prompt to listen. There is NOTHING like it, ludologically in the entire game.

It's NOT a collectible.

It's a recording, like a cut out, only unlike a cut out, you cannot listen to it again after listening to it once.

And even the VHS, there's some proof that it was actually there once you're done listening. There's the TV screen. But with Sawyer's secret? The light just goes off and the E prompt disappears.

Like it was never there.

And you would miss it if you even were facing at a slightly wrong angle when you exited the room.

and that makes it feel even more significant to me.

If you don't pass over it, you will notice that the glow of the green is a tad bit out of place. It feels shinier and more out of place then the rest of the room. You step forward, and...the 'E' prompt appears.

It's supposed to be hard to find. It's supposed to be something that you would probably miss. It's already in a locked room, and it's positioned so that it's literally behind you when you're picking up the other two collectibles.

It's locked behind deliberately obscure positioning in a room that is already locked and optional for players to unlock it.

And critically, you can only find it either right before you kill Harley, or right after you kill Harley.

You can unlock the room before you kill Harley and play the tape, collect the YGP removal letter, and listen to it while Harley is still alive. This recording is possibly the clearest indication that Harley's motives are rooted in insanity rather then pure evil, and I think the devs chose to place this recording RIGHT when it would be most uncomfortable for players to find.

Because at this point lots of players will have become comfortable with the narrative, "I'm killing a monster."

And then, the monster opens his mouth and begins fervently talking about how he made his victims lives matter. That makes him feel more...mad then monstrous.

And, granted, the first two thirds DO sound like they could pass for ordinary cruelty. He asks "what's a dozen children..." and then he sneers "What would they have been otherwise?" But the way he does it is striking. He's in a rotting factory, all alone, about to die by someone he knows "submits to their whims".

And still he asks "What would they have been otherwise?" And then, after that, it devolves into madness. As he claims they would have been "another drooling automoton" his voice rises and he sounds genuinely incredulous at the idea of them "accepting the offerings of better men"? (Only, in his mind, it's plain to see he is the only Better Man.) Playtime's orphans were not any one minority group - they were a diverse group of children. Even the player, who, in his recap, he stated was "something more". Was "put to good use" and deemed, "just like them. A blind, scurrying rat."

And then he sighs in frustration, no doubt wondering why whoever's listening can't understand his "vision" and proclaims, fervently, "I gave them purpose! I made their LIVES matter!" All this is RIGHT when the player is about to kill Harley. Or RIGHT after they've killed him.

Right then they poke a hole in that "I'm killing a monster" narrative.

And most players - even the ones who found the secret key and unlocked the door - would miss it. Even the completionists would miss it, because this ISN'T a collectible. It's a recording you can play exactly once in the save file.

In Chapter 4, everyone used Harley's usefulness to justify their various choices regarding him. Harley said he was the Prototype's only shot at catching the secret, and Prototype validated that reading.

In Chapter 5, Prototype rights, "Dr. Sawyer's cooperation is useful, if inconsequential." In Chapter 4, Leith says, "We can't kill him Eddie [...] because like it or not, we still need him." He says that the reason Harley is alive in the jar and not dead within Boxy is when he validates that yes he needs Harley's mind & intellect.

But then look: he puts Harley in the secondary labs: not to oversee the main research - but to simply give Bruno advice as the secondary labs euthanize and dissect "failed" experiments - aside from being yet another humiliation tool - another "You're not good enough for the Primary Labs." But, that's not the FULL story, because the story actively shows us that Harley's transformation into Experiment 1354 caused a notable DOWNWARD TREND in experiment's success: The game shows us all the experiments in the late 1300s, after Harley's transformation: they're all small, and they all got sent to secondary labs for salvage: these five experiments were all found in the secondary labs and we can clearly see they failed:

So Harley's transformation did cause a downgrade.

But then...Leith DOESN'T CARE???? Bruno is still head of secondary labs. Anthony, the sicko, is having an anniversary party of the day they put Harley's brain in a jar and inviting everyone.

And Leith and Eddie? They don't even care.

Eddie Ritterman: "You worry too much. Try focusing on the bigger picture: Our friends in Tokyo are coming up to speed. At this rate, this factory won't even be our main focus in a few short years." Leith Pierre: "And the park?" Eddie Ritterman: "Renovations are underway. I'll be inspecting the premises next week. 7th to the 12th. I trust you won't burn this place down in my absence." Leith Pierre: "(laughs) I'll do my best. Though I won't lie, this place is feeling more like a powder keg every day."

Leith seems to at least know that things are going to pot: correctly so.

Now that I think of it this accurately reflects their characters: Eddie didn't care about killing Harley, and he is optimistic about the future of Playtime's great work: Leith is the one who is anxious. Leith is the one who senses an explosion.

As grim as this sounds, I can see Prototype simply lying to Harley about why he's still alive and using him as a scapegoat/pressure valve to vent at whenever he's frustrated.

BUT: we know Harley is genuinely brilliant. So Prototype could also be impatient.

As for Leith, The Brain Trust, and Eddie:

Eddie hasn't changed since Chapter 4. He doesn't care if Harley lives or dies. He doesn't think The Project needs Harley, and he still doesn't, chiding Leith as "worrying too much".

Leith, on the other hand, has doubts. Of course he's too much of a hardheaded jerk to go eat his words after rubbing the experimentation in Harley's face. His pride is too great for him to admit that he killed his golden goose by subjecting a deteriorating mind whose genius he wanted to harvest to immense psychological torture.

The Brain Trust Bullies, as I've taken to calling them, are similar.

I'm sure they rationalized: Like everyone else, they rationalize (badly): "Harley was annoying sometimes, so he deserves torture."

"We all did the same experiments but he was more deranged so he deserves to suffer." "Even if his weekly check ups indicate his annoying behaviors were indicative of profound untreated psychological ailments rather then intentional malice, we still felt burdened by them so we can treat him how he liked."

"LET'S PARTY!" (Anthony)

This whole situation just leaves me with a lot of thoughts...

I wonder if Leith would have profited more from immortality if they didn't ever discover it.

Or if they were in the state where: they can't share it with the world yet, they have to keep the research a secret, and it's valuable that way.

Maybe that's why he doesn't care. He has Harley's BBI. He has investments. He has money. At this point, The Project isn't a money hole - it's a money fountain and he's the only one who sees it: the Brain Trust Bullies and other scientists are obsessed with the work and and their pride too focused on their dislike of Harley.

It's like Leith said in Stella Greyber Project Audit: "We're still working out a timeline." Always the future. Never quite sure when it will happen. But it will. And until it does...we can do whatever we want to justify it. Innovation Is Key.

I think that, by Experiment 1468, even if they hadn't finished the golden path, Leith, Stella, and Eddie had gotten everything they needed.

Had everything they needed. Lily Lovebraids is a practically humanoid body, and even with individually mobile face features, even if she's hardly a perfect copy of a human. But still-

Same height, correct human proportions.

A little cartoony but not overly so. I can see Eddie putting himself in a humanoid body to avoid his disease from going any further. And Leith? Oh, Leith, well...he had his money. Stella could have her child's body if they were able to almost make humanoid dolls, albeit not perfectly immortal ones.

they either think "Harley hurt Quinn/Yarnaby, and that means he felt no attachment to him at all." or they think, "Harley felt attachment for Quinn/Yarnaby, so that cancels out the hurt." BOTH OF THESE ARE WRONG.

When asking ourselves if a relationship is healthy, we don't ask, "Do they care about eachother?" Because abusive relationships can have genuine care, but it's STILL abusive.

Harley cared about Yarnaby in his own warped, toxic, delusional way, but he still turned Quinn into Yarnaby, and still essentially brainwashed him and treated him like a pet for fifteen years.

Happy Pride everyone! There are some juicy secrets in this new pride art Mob posted:

@Chocovanillakatie123 found this.

There's a tiny eye in here

@Chocovanillakatie123 also made this point: The balls juggled by The Prototype: "represents the new trio in poppy playtime, sawyer is blue, player is yellow and giblet is red, but for some reason, the blue ball is cracked?"

I agree with this, because if the blue ball represents Sawyer (based on the eye) and yellow is the player color, and Giblet has red hair...

However, I feel like this is going to foreshadow that Harley is going to die somehow. Notice that it's implied that the Prototype took a bite out of his ball (as jugglers sometimes take bites out of the things they're juggling and he's looking up at the broken ball with big smile) To me this indicates that Harley, at least, will not be a boss post-Prototype-which makes the idea he will die as an anti hero slightly more likely.

I like the fact that he may - based on color scheme - be paired with Giblet and the Player, as three juggling balls, indicating he won't betray us.

There is one other thing: (This is something else @Chocovanillakatie found, I'm sorry guys, I wasn't very on the "ball" this time!)

"L Pierre"

The odd thing to me is that Harley doesn't seem to be part of the pride parade. He's not wearing Leith's name on a T-Shirt or anything.

He's focused on something just off screen and we only see part of his eye, discretely holding up the note.

I think this means that we will delve deeper into Harley & Leith's toxic relationship in six. See more of the toxic relationship that's been hinted at in the ARGs. Lots of people see it as Harleith-and I get that! The characters definitely are connected and the voice actors have chemistry and all. To me the only thing stopping me from simply leaving it at that is Harleith is extremely toxic for obvious reasons and I am wondering if this might be something different then Harleith.

My working theory based on this art and previous theories: Harley will join the player and giblet. They obviously cannot treat his delusions, but by and by he realizes one thing: Leith was lying to him about publishing the research. Playtime was lying to him. Maybe he still thinks that the research could have made him famous, maybe he still doesn't fully get morality, but he knows he's going to die, and he wants to die accomplishing something. He doesn't want his only allies to only have bad things to think about him. So he genuinely helps fight the Prototype but is killed, maybe his hard drive smashed like how the ball is shown smashed.

I can't see any scenario where he is fully "recovered", but he dies on the side of the player and dies trying to stop some of the nightmare he helped bring to life.

The Chapter 4 ARG is pretty clear about this- hardly any speculation on my part.

So, for those who do not know, there was a recording ARG

Lockharte is investigating, bodies are being counted

Exactly like in Theater Imcident 93

There is a hidden message at the end of the updated version that says "Baptism by Fire"

So, here is the wiki link to this recording:

Notice right after Stella asks how many bodies have been recovered, this exchange occurred.

Stella: *traumatized* "Those poor... poor people. Did we really have to-"

Leith: *talking over her* *sounding very menacing* "We did... what was necessary, Ms. Greyber."

Stella: *in a very small,scared voice* "Of-of course."

Who would those "poor, poor people" be unless those were the visitors? And if it was impossible to save them, why would Stella question what they did and why would Leith shut her down so fast, in such a cruel, intimidating manner?

So yeah...whoever lit the match, the 66 casualties are ultimately not only on the culprit, but Leith somehow.

Also, before you say that it was Leith only killed them because "the visitors couldn't risk seeing the BBIs"

I BEG YOUR PARDON?! IT WAS THE THEATER FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! THERE WERE MILLION EXCUSES THEY COULD HAVE GIVEN

"Special Effects"

"All Part of the Show"

Like that. Leith's thoughtless act of concealment was not necessary.

Bit of speculation on my part but it seems to me like the fire happened first before the BBI got loose, given Stella's reaction and the fact the BBI did not eat any of the corpses. But even if that is wrong...

There was a chance they could've been saved.

more hints Harley had a harsh childhood or at least a harsh past.

Harley clearly wants to BE loved, at least, in his own way- (he seeks fame for his experiments, he wants the children he conditioned to be his "pets" to adore him and nobody else), but doesn't understand how to love others. Now love seems to be something he doesn't want to think about.

Now THIS is interesting. Because, in the same ARG, there's a teeny, tiny detail about the Young Geniuses Program Memorandum that mentions the child applicants for YGP had vetting process of 6 to 9 weeks.

I brought this up in the mock trial, but usually IRL when there's a vetting process for child applicants THAT long? Uh, usually they are testing the child applicants for compliance or something, and then that means there's something shady going on at the place....

"If you believe you're up to snuff, simply fill out the application on the back of the flyer and follow the (process)-- A series of tests will follow. Vetting period will consist of six to nine weeks of careful examination." And this reference within Harley's thoughts makes me feel like they wanted us to notice that detail, that MAYBE. Just MAYBE they didn't.

This one is probably a reference to Harley missing the sense of taste. He seems to be hiding his vulnerable thoughts.

On the comedic side, Harley has some surprising reactions to some unusual things.

He has some inexplicable beef with Amtrak.

for context, THIS is amtrak: a railroad company (and it does go through michigan)

and clouds & thunder...

New headcanon, Harley doesn't like amtrak and thunder because in addition to his sensory reaction to sweet things and pickles, he has a sensory response to loud noises.

Birds: (notice that foul/fowl gets the same reaction from him)

Here they all are if anyone is interested XD

The results turned back nothing. Apparently Carrizales is just a word in spanish (it means) "reedbed"

Anthony means "Flower" Chat which name is worse,

(I get super happy)

Defense: Name, please.

Anthony: Dr. Anthony Carrizales, head chemist of Playtime Co, member of the brain trust.

Defense: ...Dr. Carrizales. May I call you Anthony?

Anthony: Uh, I'm not...picky over my title. Unlike some people. (Luckily Harley wasn't in the courtroom to react to this. After the disaster with Leith and Carmine, everyone pre emptively decided to keep Harley out of the courtroom when his former coworkers were testifying.)

Defense: (carefully) You have anyone in mind when you say that, Anthony?

Anthony: Oh, I'm sure you can figure it out.

Defense: ...I see...Now. Anthony. On to the first order of business.

Anthony: Yes?

Defense: (shows a projector of various white boards. All with the same memo: "Annual celebration of Dr. Sawyer's removal coming up! BYOB - Anthony)

Defense: (with a tight, mirthless smile) "Anthony...?"

Anthony: "Yes...?"

Defense: "Did you write all these?"

Anthony: "Perhaps...?"

Defense: "Give me a serious answer, Carrizales."

Judge: "I concur with the defense, Dr. Carrizales. This is a yes or no question."

Anthony: "Fine! Yes!" *Grins* "So this is what you're spending your state money on? A trial just because I decided to celebrate a bit when one annoying jerk was going to get his desserts? This was an act of communal joy. And *grins like a shark* Guess what, Ms. Defense? It's not illegal to throw a party, so you can't do anything to me! The only charges I have are the ones I already walked in here with!"

Defense: "I wouldn't be so sure, Dr. Carrizales."

Anthony: "I might not be a legal expert, but even I know that throwing parties isn't illegal. Or are you going to charge me for being a meanie? I wasn't a meanie. Look at those notes. I'm being fun, friendly, gathering people for a party."

Defense: "First of all, it was a Mutilation Day Party. You were planning to celebrate the anniverary of a mutilation."

Anthony: "And, what? You're going to charge me with that? Mutilation is illegal, but last I checked, mutilation anniversary parties are not mentioned anywhere in any US laws? You can harp about the party all you want, but at the end of the day, I'm not the real jerk and I'm not in trouble for that party." (He sticks out his thumb and wiggles his hands behind his ears, grinning at the defense) "Sorry to spoil your fun, you eel!"

Judge: "DR CARRIZALES!"

Defense: (Not even remotely moved by the taunt) "You'd be mistaken, Dr. Carrizales. This is exactly the kind of behavior that could land you with an IIED, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, provided Dr. Sawyer was present for the party. Given that you were planning to replace his vision with an entire bunch of security feeds, he would have seen it. Any such infliction can apply if the charge is 'sufficiently outrageous' I would say a 'Mutilation Day Party' is very outrageous indeed...

Anthony: (The smile thoroughly wiped off his face as he hears this) "What? Hey! No! THAT'S NOT FAIR! THAT'S NOT FAIR!" 

Source:

also, question, why do you think the maze of messages is... like that? i get that it's harley's thoughts which were cached in the domain, presumably so that the scientists could look in if he refuses to give them information (as implied in the secondary lab mission statement) but why are they only the messed-up ones? do you think that there might be any reason or just... for storytelling purposes lol ^^'

The hesitant way he is like "I believe...I had...a cat in my youth." :,(

The way he impulsively grabs us in anger but calms down when a trusted friend (Giblet) talks him down really hammers in "these experiments are traumatized children, not evil"

especially as he quickly shows that his default state of being is timid, (as shown by Prototype derisively saying Chum often hides from him) generous, (Giblet says Chum has given him tons of food rations to the point where Giblet is irritated by his "charity")

and gentle (him patting us on the head)

His sadness at leaving us shows a very rapid attachment shift. He probably doesn't meet many people he can trust in this place...

It makes you wonder if Mommy and Huggy and Catnap had had a "Giblet" to talk them down before they went on the offensive... :(

I was going through materials for Part 2 of the insanity defense argument of Harley Sawyer, and what I found jogged my memories.

With the idea that The Doctor Cinematic Trailer may be canon, and the discrepencies are due to Harley's own mental distortions.

One frame indicates that Harley was trapped in the theater during the incident.

Now it doesn't prove he caused it, but it does look like he's trapped in some kind of burning area. Those frames are towering all around him.

And then I remembered Harley's "incineration" speech.

"Mortality is the curse of the weak. The fire that incinerates the flesh. I strive to snuff that flame. Call me a monster, but I am simply a man who will escape incineration, and embrace the infinite!"

A message involved in the end of the ARG that involved "the baptism of fire"

How does this fit into the insanity defense?

It is actually MUCH MUCH MUCH more easy to argue Harley was criminally insane for the theater incidents for the experiments

A) He's talking about fire like it's some kind of baptism and how he will escape incineration/the curse of the weak. If he thought that he was "baptizing" the theater visitors and that if they died to the fire they were "weak" and also endangers himself due to the utmost certainty he will "escape incineration". B) Harley is NOT impulsive by default.

But...as we talked about in Part 1, Harley was clearly grandiose even before Playtime and Leith seemed to deliberately be catering to his delusions by validating the idea awful experiments would be legitimately recognized.

If Harley's natural state is careful, but his mental illness deteriorating under Playtime's coercive control caused him to become more grandiose and more reckless, he could likely have deteriorated.

We even see what appears to be his default paranoid state and his reduced inhibititions clash with eachother. His brain pulling him in two different directions. If the heads weren't exaggerating Harley's newfound recklessness, it could be that Harley was having a serious crisis.

C) Harley, based on this memory, nearly got himself killed as well. This would not have been a calculated act of malice. And experiments got loose and caused havoc.

Two Last Things:

I'm not FULLY sold on this theory. There are a lot of odd details. - Leith allowing Harley free reign of the factory and Harley having no awareness of there being anything wrong between them for nine months. If Harley were really that dangerous, why would Leith not be worried Harley would try any more "baptisms"? And why wouldn't Harley try more "baptisms"?

2. Leith STILL don't get to sit on his high horse here. If this theory is correct, he IDENTIFIED Harley's mental vulnerabilities, EXPLOITED them by validating those vulnerablities. He did nothing as Harley's mental state worsened because it was useful to him, and then instead of the cheap option (finding out WHY his "most valuable scientist" lit the theater on fire, and getting him care) He throw Harley's brain into a jar. Not for the first time do I wonder. So if my theory about Harley's mental issues is true, then maybe Leith took the most ridiculous option because he knew if Harley got psychiatric help, then his main leverage over Harley (using his mental vulnerabilities to keep him on board) would evaporate.

I hope that he does help!

I admit it's possible he won't, sincerely help but after learning everything about him, his pain and madness, I want him to at least have a little bit of closure and peace.

I agree he wasn't lying either,

And Playtime did hurt him. We can see that.