'Elden Ring changed our lives' - PerriKaryal and MissMikkaa interview

Key Concepts:

1. Introductions and Backgrounds

Laura from the BBC introduces MissMikkaa and Perri Karyal, streamers known for their unique Elden Ring challenge runs.
MissMikkaa: Specializes in Elden Ring challenge runs, including dance pad runs, one-handed runs, and various other self-imposed restrictions. Has approximately 2,000 hours in Elden Ring.
Perri Karyal: Known for playing Elden Ring with mind control using EEG technology. Also involved in tech projects like 3D live streaming and controlling drones with mind control.
Before streaming Elden Ring, MissMikkaa focused on Dark Souls 3 challenge runs, such as level one runs, emphasizing challenging gameplay without using overpowered weapons or spirit ashes.
Perri Karyal is relatively new to gaming, starting during university while studying neuroscience. She initially used an EEG to enhance horror game streams by displaying brain activity. Elden Ring was the first game she completed.

2. Mind Control Gaming with EEG

EEG Explanation: An EEG (Electroencephalogram) picks up brain waves and electromagnetic activity, determining their frequency and origin.
Mind Control Process:
1. Imagine a specific action (e.g., spinning a plate) for 10 seconds.
2. The EEG records the brain activity pattern associated with that action.
3. Repeat the process hundreds of times to train the software to recognize the pattern.
4. Bind the recognized pattern to a virtual Xbox controller button.
Dark Souls games are relatively easier to play with mind control because they require fewer commands and allow for target locking, reducing the need for precise aiming.
Challenges:
- 1-second delay: Biological delay between thought and action.
- Reliability: Brain patterns change with calmness, affecting recognition accuracy.
- Timing: Difficult to time moves due to the delay and pattern variability.

3. Elden Ring Challenge Runs and Virality

MissMikkaa created challenge runs to extend the lifespan of Elden Ring and cater to viewers, including those with disabilities.
Examples of challenge runs include one-handed and one-finger runs, requiring complete remapping of controller functions.
Viral Moment: Jake Lucky, a gaming news spreader on Twitter (now X), shared MissMikkaa's content, significantly increasing her viewership. Her average viewership doubled from 500 to 1,000 after starting Elden Ring and grew further with challenge runs.
Perri Karyal's mind control gameplay also went viral after Jake Lucky shared it, increasing her average viewership eightfold overnight.
Elden Ring's difficulty and community creativity provided a good foundation for Perri Karyal's career. Clips of her beating the DLC with mind control were featured when she was nominated for a streamer award.
The game broadened Perri Karyal's horizons, making her more open to different genres and challenges.

4. Night Rain: Multiplayer and Genre Shift

Initial reaction to the multiplayer aspect of Night Rain was mixed among FromSoftware fans, who typically prefer solo experiences.
The multiplayer is designed to be cooperative rather than competitive.
Night Rain balances independence with the ability to play with friends, addressing the demand seen in the seamless co-op mod for previous games.
The game feels like a new genre, with some joking it's a "Dark Souls Fortnite."
Night Rain expands on elements from previous games, such as the day/night system and class systems.
The game is difficult to categorize into a specific genre, as it combines elements of roguelike, action RPG, and online multiplayer games.

5. Challenge Plans for Night Rain

MissMikkaa is considering whether to play Night Rain solo to maintain the challenge, as playing online might diminish the difficulty due to reliance on teammates. She also joked about playing co-op with herself using two PCs, one with a controller and one with a dance pad.
Perri Karyal will play Night Rain with mind control, balancing the cooperative gameplay with the challenges of mind control, such as the 1-second delay and the need for precise timing. She anticipates potential anxiety about being slower than teammates.

6. Elden Ring Movie Adaptation

Reactions to the Elden Ring movie announcement were initially skeptical, questioning how the story could be coherently adapted into a film.
Perri Karyal hopes the movie will capture the beauty of the game's world, design, and music.
MissMikkaa hopes the movie will maintain the mystery of FromSoftware storytelling and focus on the lore, potentially exploring events before Elden Ring, such as Marika's journey.
There's a risk of balancing fan service with creating a genuinely good film, emphasizing the need to maintain the symbolic and layered nature of the story.

7. Conclusion

The discussion highlights the unique approaches of MissMikkaa and Perri Karyal to streaming Elden Ring and their plans for Night Rain.
The interview covers the technical aspects of mind control gaming, the challenges of creating engaging content, and the potential of the Elden Ring movie adaptation.
Both streamers express excitement for Night Rain and the challenges it presents, as well as cautious optimism for the Elden Ring movie.

'Elden Ring changed our lives' - PerriKaryal and MissMikkaa interview | BBC News