Aug 27, 20244 min read

A Journey to the Heart of Yorkshire: Thank Goodness You're Here! - A Brilliant Satire of Northern England

Scrolling through TikTok one evening, I stumbled upon a clip that had me in stitches. It featured a group of American gamers trying to navigate the thick Yorkshire accent in a game called "Thank Goodness You're Here!". They were clearly struggling, much to the amusement of the comments section, but what really caught my attention was the setting—a surreal, cartoonish town that felt oddly familiar. After a bit of digging, I discovered that this quirky gem was available on Steam. Without hesitation, I downloaded it, and two sessions later, I was completely hooked.

Set in the fictional town of Barnsworth, "Thank Goodness You're Here!" is a fantastically bizarre adventure that’s part love letter, part satirical send-up of the North of England—specifically, Yorkshire in the 1960s and 70s. The game’s developers, Coal Supper, have created a world that is as charming as it is eccentric, drawing heavily on the idiosyncrasies of life in Northern England. From the moment you step into Barnsworth, you’re transported to a world that feels both nostalgic and surreal, where every corner of the town hides a new absurdity waiting to be uncovered.

The Charm of Barnsworth: A Nostalgic Nod to Barnsley

If you’ve ever been to Barnsley, or any town in Yorkshire for that matter, you’ll immediately recognize the inspiration behind Barnsworth. The terraced houses, cobbled streets, and local characters are all reminiscent of a bygone era in Northern England, specifically the 60s and 70s. But it’s not just the setting that evokes this period—Coal Supper has infused the game with the spirit of the North, from the dry humor to the subtle (and not-so-subtle) nods to Yorkshire culture.

As someone who lives North of the Watford Gap, the game’s portrayal of Barnsworth hit home. It’s a place where the local pub is the heart of the community, where everyone knows everyone else’s business, and where the eccentricities of small-town life are celebrated rather than hidden. The developers clearly have a deep love for their roots, and this shines through in every detail of the game.

Coal Supper: The Creative Minds Behind the Madness

Coal Supper is an indie game development studio that has managed to carve out a unique niche for themselves with this debut title. Led by Joe Sutherland, the studio’s vision is to create games that are not just visually distinctive but also rich in narrative and humor. Sutherland’s background in visual arts is evident in the game’s hand-drawn aesthetic, which draws inspiration from classic British animation and cartoons. But what really sets Coal Supper apart is their ability to blend this artistic style with gameplay that is both engaging and hilarious.

The team’s attention to detail is what makes "Thank Goodness You're Here!" stand out. From the character designs to the environmental storytelling, every aspect of the game is crafted with care and a touch of absurdity. This is a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s precisely what makes it so enjoyable.

Thank Goodness You're Here!: A Surreal Adventure Through Yorkshire

"Thank Goodness You're Here!" is not your typical adventure game. It’s a surreal journey through a town that feels like it’s been plucked straight out of a Monty Python sketch. You play as a nameless protagonist who finds themselves in Barnsworth for reasons that are never fully explained. Your goal? To complete a series of increasingly bizarre tasks set by the town’s oddball residents.

Whether you’re helping the local butcher with a very unconventional delivery or trying to decipher the ramblings of the village idiot, the game keeps you on your toes with its unpredictable scenarios. The tasks are as absurd as they are entertaining, and the humor is distinctly British, with plenty of dry wit and clever wordplay.

One of the game’s standout features is the voice acting, which includes none other than Matt Berry. Berry, known for his roles in The IT Crowd and What We Do in the Shadows, lends his distinctive voice to one of the game’s key characters, adding an extra layer of charm and humor. His booming voice perfectly complements the game’s eccentric atmosphere, making every interaction a delight.

A Satirical Masterpiece

At its core, "Thank Goodness You're Here!" is a satire—a playful, affectionate poke at the peculiarities of life in Northern England. It’s a game that celebrates the region’s culture while also exaggerating its quirks for comedic effect. The result is a game that is not only fun to play but also deeply entertaining, especially if you have any connection to Yorkshire or the North of England.

But even if you’ve never set foot in Barnsley, there’s plenty to enjoy here. The game’s humor is universal, and its surreal scenarios are guaranteed to make you laugh, regardless of your background. And if you do find yourself struggling with the Yorkshire dialect, don’t worry—the game comes with subtitles.

A Must-Play for Fans of British Humor

"Thank Goodness You're Here!" is a game that I can’t recommend enough. It’s a breath of fresh air in a sea of overly serious titles, offering a playful escape to a world that is as strange as it is familiar. Whether you’re a fan of British humor, enjoy narrative-driven games, or simply want to experience something completely different, this game has something for everyone.

Coal Supper has delivered a fantastic debut that is sure to leave a lasting impression, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next. In the meantime, I’ll be revisiting Barnsworth, where the tea is strong, the accents are thick, and the laughs are guaranteed.

TikTok ban: An Act of Market Control, Not Freedom

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15 January 2025

Connor Banks

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The Supreme Court of the United States met on Friday the 10th of January to discuss the imminent TikTok ban in the United States, and it's looking like the Supreme Court is going to uphold the ban. This means that TikTok will have to be sold off to an American company or be banned from America.

Facebook and Tiktok fighting each other. Felt design

The United States has long prided itself on being a champion of innovation and free-market competition. Yet, the recent push to ban TikTok exposes a different reality. While the ban is often framed as a measure to protect American "freedoms," closer scrutiny reveals that the motivations behind it are less about safeguarding national security or personal liberty and more about protecting the dominance of American tech giants who have failed to create a competing product.

The National Security Argument: A Convenient Scapegoat

The primary justification for the TikTok ban centres on national security concerns. Critics argue that TikTok’s ownership by a Chinese company poses risks of data misuse or surveillance by the Chinese government. While these concerns warrant investigation, the evidence presented so far has been largely speculative. Moreover, TikTok has taken significant steps to address these concerns, such as pledging to store U.S. user data domestically and offering unprecedented transparency in its operations.

In contrast, American tech companies, including Facebook and Google, have faced numerous scandals over data breaches and misuse, yet these incidents rarely spark discussions of bans. This double standard suggests that the TikTok ban isn’t truly about protecting users’ data but about something far more self-serving: market control.

A Failure to Innovate: American Companies’ Struggle to Compete

TikTok’s meteoric rise exposed a glaring weakness in American tech innovation. Despite their immense resources and influence, companies like Meta (formerly Facebook), Google, and Snapchat have failed to develop a platform that resonates with younger audiences in the same way TikTok does. Meta’s Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, both designed to mimic TikTok’s short-form video format, have not captured the same cultural zeitgeist or user engagement.

Rather than innovating, these companies have leaned heavily on their lobbying power to stifle competition. The push to ban TikTok can be seen as an attempt to remove a superior competitor from the market, allowing American platforms to reclaim dominance without addressing their own shortcomings. This approach not only stifles competition but also sets a dangerous precedent for using regulatory measures to quash innovative foreign products rather than improving domestic ones.

The Hypocrisy of “Freedom”

American lawmakers have framed the TikTok ban as a measure to protect citizens' freedoms, yet the ban itself directly contradicts the principles of choice and access that underpin those freedoms. TikTok’s success is driven by millions of Americans who have chosen to use the app, finding value in its unique algorithm, diverse content, and engaging user experience. Restricting access to the platform undermines these users’ autonomy, suggesting that their freedoms are secondary to corporate interests.

Furthermore, the United States’ tech landscape is already dominated by monopolies. Companies like Meta, Google, and Amazon control vast swaths of the internet, often using their market power to squash smaller competitors. The TikTok ban does not address this monopolistic behaviour; instead, it reinforces it by eliminating a rare instance of genuine competition in the social media space.

A Global Perspective: The Irony of “Protection”

The ban also highlights a broader irony. For years, American tech companies have championed global free markets, often entering foreign countries and out-competing local businesses. Yet when faced with competition from a foreign company on their own turf, the response has been to cry foul rather than adapt.

This hypocrisy weakens America’s global standing as a proponent of innovation and fair competition. Instead of banning TikTok, the United States could use this moment to examine why its own companies failed to create a comparable product and what can be done to foster domestic innovation.

The Real Solution: Compete, Don’t Constrain

If the goal is to protect American freedoms and ensure data security, a TikTok ban is a shortsighted solution. Instead, lawmakers should focus on regulating data privacy across all platforms, domestic and foreign, to ensure robust protections for users. Simultaneously, the tech industry should be incentivised to innovate rather than rely on protectionist policies.

TikTok’s popularity is a testament to its ability to connect with users in ways that American platforms have failed to replicate. Banning the app does not solve this problem; it simply papers over it. To truly champion freedom, the United States must allow competition to flourish, even when it means facing uncomfortable truths about its own shortcomings.

The push to ban TikTok is less about protecting American freedoms and more about protecting American monopolies. Framed as a national security issue, the campaign against TikTok is ultimately an admission that American tech giants have failed to keep up with their global counterparts. If the U.S. truly values innovation and freedom, it must resist the urge to eliminate competition through regulation and instead focus on fostering a market where the best product, not the most powerful company, wins.