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TV Execs Go Gaga Over Gaming
Thanks to Wired News for their article exploring the influx of videogame-related programming on cable TV networks. The writer suggests the channels are "focusing on original programming that revolves around video games in an effort to regain the loyalty of an audience segment coveted by advertisers", and points to expansion by Spike TV, whose awards show was not well-received by gamers, but who've "licensed television programming rights to a game that ships next Christmas... [and are planning] to base a half-hour adventure show [on it]." It's also noted that "If a [still rumored] purchase is finalized, Comcast is expected to combine San Francisco-based TechTV... with its Los Angeles-based video game channel, G4", potentially giving videogame programming a larger presence. Finally, UPN has announced Game Over, a CG animated show which "takes place within a video game universe in which race car drivers and archeologists come home after a long day's work and deal with life in the suburbs and raising kids."
Why, that's a brilliant idea! If only they'd done that for...uh, Pac-Man. And Mario. And Sonic the Hedgehog. Oh, and that old Nintendo Power show. And probably a few dozen more I'm forgetting.
What I, as a gamer, want to see is the Roger and Ebert (or, I guess, Ebert and Roeper now) version of game reviews.
When I first got cable, I was really excited over G4. Then I watched some. I don't care about "The Top 10 Best Dressed Videogame Characters". I would've been interested in their head-to-head games if they'd shown more of the game, tactics, strategies, etc, and less of the two hosts. As it was, I never went back to G4.
Gamers don't like watching cut scenes, much less two hour bullshit that panders down to the "dude..." mentality.
You want to reach gamers? Use games.
If Spike does a TV show it's going to take a lot more T&A to get anyone to care.
The only thing TV video game programming manages to accomplish is to make the viewer (who presumably likes video games) want to turn off the show and start playing the game itself. Beyond video game reviews, which are more convenient when televised because you get to see the games in action without waiting for a download, video game television is doomed to failure.
this just reminds me of how many days of my life i spent watching the the mario bro's show... I always remember being excited for friday when instead of the mario cartoon... it was link! woo! As far as game review shows go, Electric Playground is probably the only good one out there. We spent a lot of time when i was in school watching it... and while not a great show... its definately the best ive seen by far.
Wouldnt you like to be a pepper too?
Finally, UPN has announced Game Over, a CG animated show which "takes place within a video game universe in which race car drivers and archeologists come home after a long day's work and deal with life in the suburbs and raising kids."
Doesn't sound like a bad premise, but probably won't be too funny. I'd rather see it shown up on CN's Adult Swim done by the guys that work on Space Ghost: C2C, Sealab, Aqua Teen, or Home Movies.
Upgrade your grey matter, cause one day it may matter
...especially that part about combining G4 with TechTV. WOOHOO! Half as many options as I have right now?! Please make it a premium subscription channel!
"Lawyers are for sucks."
- Doug McKenzie
What I, as a gamer, want to see is the Roger and Ebert (or, I guess, Ebert and Roeper now) version of game reviews.
Roger IS Ebert you dumkoff!
Mods: +5, Informative for me!
This goes into my "Why executives should be euthenised" pile."
I tried to have a "Why executives shouldn't be euthenised" pile, but after months of having a post-it that said "put reasons here" sitting all alone I eventually scribbled a phone number, an illegible message, and url on it.
Wait, I forgot. This week... is it lame or cool to say that you like x-play?
put it in the hands of some people who actually take the subject matter seriously. Spike's Video Game Awards was like a 2-hour insult to anyone who watched it. gamers don't WANT cheerleaders and stupidity. well i mean, sure we do, as much as anyone, but if we're told you're about to show us video game content, don't just show us boobs and bad jokes instead.
i could live a little longer in this prison
Well. I've seen various game-related programs, and they all have the samme issue; they only test _new_ games, and are not focused on how many gamers tend to stick to pretty old games, and try improving in those. This is of course not that easy for game-tv, since they won't get any commercials for old games...
I think the numbers speak for themselves:
TOP NETWORK GAMES:
Half-Life (probably 99,9% Counter-Strike) Battlefield 1942 Jedi Knight 2 Unreal Tournament 2003 Medal of Honor: Allied Assault Diablo II etc.. I guess StarCraft is pretty high too..
In Korea they've learned that they have to focus on this.
"How big is Starcraft in Korea? Many people have said how big it is in Korea, but could you give us a more in depth description?
-Being a professional gamer is nowadays one of the most popular and respected carrer in high-school (among boys... of course:).
-The finals of the Ongamenet tournaments are broadcasted on Cable TV and they break viewership records, almost reaching the records of national TV stations.
-A few professional gamers are recognized in the streets by normal people. "
(from this article.)
At the Machinima awards in NY this year I heard about a Machinima TV show called Game that's previewed at www.gameisnotagame.com. Looks pretty interesting.
I have to say G4 does offer some interesting programing. Show like 'Icons' which give a mini bio of groundbreaking games, trends and developers. The Warren Spector show was great as was the rise and fall of Atari episode.
I also enjoy 'Cinematech' quite a bit. If you don't know it, this show basically shows clips of games (new and old) with no annoying voice overs or reviews. It's just clip after clip after clip.
TV execs have been "gaga" for a long time.
Some of there are even stupid, evil and deluded...
You can't take the sky from me...
The one thing I recall quite clearly is that they were sponsored by SoBe, who makes all those stupid energy drinks. Someone at SoBe Marketing must be very unemployed today, if they indeed sponsored this show. It can't have possibly been the image they were going for; nor, in fact, did the hosts show any particular enthusiasm for the product (the highest praise ever conferred upon it was the fat fellow opining, "It's all right.").
I guess it wasn't really a good show at all. But it evoked a certain unreal atmosphere, as if the show was shot entirely in the Simulacrum. An irreverent video epistle from the Kingdom of Dreams...
Why bother paying for TV or cable or twatever
they're telling you, that you NEED to watch,
tell em to fuck off and send the cash to your
ISP instead.
Wait! Don't. Please pay for more Cable
and watch as much as possible.
(It makes the world Sooooooo less competative.)
That 'Game Over' show looks like it has potential. Who knows? It could turn out to be reasonably entertaining.
The things that will destroy that potential, however, are the same things which often befall TV shows that are supposedly game-related - bad writing, crappy acting, cheesy dialogue, and extreme lack of knowledge of video gaming/gamer culture on the part of the writers.
NO NO NO NO NO! The problem with this is that people ARE going to watch it. People who really shouldn't be gamers. People who have never HEARD of Slashdot or SLashdot games. The people who keep buying all those damned Madden games. Like the guy who walked into my store one day, picked up Madden 2003 AND the college football version of said football video game. I asked him: "Why? Why would you buy TWO football games?" He replied: "Cause they're different" NO THEY'RE NOT! GIVE ME BACK MY HOBBY, DAMMIT! These people drive up the market for games. They make gaming mainstream, which tells companies that games now make money. The only problem with this is that quality gaming companies like Nintendo get the shaft when they don't sell as much to non-gamers. Nintendo is selling as much now as they WOULD have anyway, just not to the jerks who used to beat us up in high school. Have you seen the crap they put on the VGA awards show? Did you see the HORRID games that won? Our hobby is being steamrolled, and there's nothing we can do about it! NEEDLESS TO SAY I'M FRUSTRATED. Frodo onlinecomic.net
I really hope if gaming is on tv more that there are people who can play games. If you watch an hour of G4 you will experience shock on the level of gaming they display when they bust out the so called "reviews" for games. There is one show where the hosts were playing soul caliber 2 and all they did was button mash and when some1 got close enough to throw they thought they were doing something special. What should happen is they should make an update to starcade or video power so we can see people who can actually play games and not some fashionable male and females button mashing and trying to act edgy. It is pretty sad when the best show on G4 is an early 80s game show where people play zoo keeper.