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TV Execs Go Gaga Over Gaming

Posted by simoniker on from the unfortunate-truth dept.

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."

7 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. TV shows based on video games? by Violet+Null · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

    1. Re:TV shows based on video games? by 2Flower · · Score: 2, Insightful

      X-Play is hopefully better than Judgement Day on G4... they offer ridiculously biased reviews, even if their scoring at least is reasonable.

      Essentially, one of the two reviewers makes a point to endlessly ridicule every fighting game ("It's just stupid button mashing" was his summary of GGX2 and CapvsSnk2) and RPG out there ("Boring" was his summary of KotoR). He basically only likes action games and takes great pains to sarcastically yap over top of the other guy while he's trying to break down the good and bad points of a particular game in a reasonable way.

      I guess the idea is that he's supposed to represent the more cynical and casual gamer, but in the end he's just kind of a dick...

  2. good idea, but there's only one way to succeed: by pezpunk · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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
  3. Re:x-play (TechTV)? by borg1238 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I would say every week is a good week to dislike X-play.

    All I want out of a video game show is to see is reviews and clips of games. Extend... ahem... X-play *used* to be that.

    TechTV took a decent, straight to the point show like "Extended Play," added a shaking/bouncing camera, added a bouncy hostess (who is more "flash" than substance), removed at least one review per episode to make room for more "funny" banter between the hosts, and changed the name to X-Play. Ya know, it's XTREME!!! Sorry guys, I'm not buying it.

    I still watch the show. However, it's TIVOed, so I can skip over the host segments... and any review where Morgan is, you know, talking.

  4. Re:x-play (TechTV)? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I could do without the jokes, but I don't see what is wrong with Morgan's reviews. As an RPG fan I am glad to have someone who appreciates RPGs on the show.

  5. Re:x-play (TechTV)? by StocDred · · Score: 2, Insightful
    IIRC, Ico was released September 01. Gamespot TV/Extended Play became X-Play and added Morgan Webb in May 03.

    If Sessler got to talk about Ico recently, then he must be trying to fight against the marketing machine keeping him in moron mode. KEEP FIGHTING, ADAM!

  6. NO by chris_furniss · · Score: 2, Insightful

    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