What do you want from a gaming TV show?

[BGS]

Hi all,

 

Just wondered what people would want from a TV show about games. So many gaming shows have been created and canned in an instant. We all fondly remember GamesMaster but do you think a GamesMaster style show would actually work now-a-days?

 

Just asking as I'm currently making a gaming show for BBCi Hull. Hardly anybody can receive BBCi Hull I know, but I'm hoping if it's good enough it might lead to bigger things...

 

The first episode is now finished, it's kinda good I think but doesn't really do anything new - think of the cybernet format and you're pretty much there.

 

Now I've had the experience of making one fairly basic episode, I'm hoping to be a bit more experimental with the second. I've got a whole bunch of ideas myself but I just thought I'd ask what people want from a games show (i.e. - lots of humour? a more serious tone? mostly reviews? mostly news? people competing at games a la GamesMasters? etc...)

 

Just to be clear, I'm not asking for any specific feature ideas or anything like that, I've got plenty of those myself. Just in general, what would you want from a show?

 

Thanks.

[Rolf]

I'd say 'boobs'.

 

But that would be immature.

 

You'd need a pretty good environment for the show, to keep a well-balanced sense of humour running through an entire TV series. Keeping it serious and factual is a safe bet, so long as you do it well. Humour is what I would want to see, but if you're not entirely sure you could get things to flow naturally, it's probably best not to take the risk and try to push the hilarity on the audience.

 

There's nothing I hate more than a show trying, and continually failing, to be funny.

 

I guess that's my 2 cents.

[weeyellowbloke]

I'd take a look at something like Top Gear. I don't have a huge interest in cars yet I still watch this show. It has regular features which are enjoyable to watch (star in a reasonably priced car), engaging presenters that are actually passionate about the subject and its reviews of the cars themselves are good because they are both informative and entertaining through testing them with different original situations. Although some of it would be difficult to tranfer some aspects to a games show format, I would definatly think this is a kind of formula that I would look at if I were producing a games show.

[Aimless]

In no particular order:

• Don't even bother with a news section unless it's about more off the wall things such as people setting themselves on fire whilst re-enacting Street Fighter moves. And things of that nature.
  
• People competing at games is boring as hell unless they're actually good at the games to start with. Ever watch GameStars? One of the finals was two people competing aginst each other in part of the Tekken series — blatant button-bashing match.
  
• Get the general public involved, even if it's just to laugh at them.
  
• Know what you're talking about.
  
• Cheat sections are also boring. And we have GameFAQs.
  
• Don't be afraid to slate something you don't like.
  
• Don't be afraid to praise something you do.

Personally I think that Top Gear is a programme that shows how to make an entertaining specialist show. I hate driving, cars don't interest me in the slightest, but I still quite enjoy watching it now and again.

[mike-zim]

I will list everything that was wrong with every game show that i have ever seen.

1) 2 friend battaling it out is crap. i dont care if max wants to "lay the smack down" to kamal.

2) when they preview games it was never long enough. give things a proper going over. 1 min of footage wont tell me shit about a game.

3) up coming games innovation all the hot gossip in a news section would be good instead of a 12 sec piece on nothing really worth much.

4) No point with cheats. most of the time they were for games that i never played.

5)interviews with the main people would be good. lets hear what the developers want to get across to us.

5) i dont want chav presenter.

6) Dont target it towards kids. i hate that. kids dont have the money to spend it is older brothers and parents. kid get bored with gaming shows anyway. make it mature and factual but not too technical so you dont alienate the casuals.

 

well i hope that helps

[BGS]

Hey everyone, just wanted to say thanks for the input. I was thinking about making this second show more comedic but as you've all pointed out, there's a thin line between getting it right and drastically wrong. I think i'll give it a go just for one show anyway and see how it turns out. Thanks again.

[MoogleViper]

I'd say 'boobs'.

 

Damn! Beat me to it.

[MunKy]

Heres one thing that would make any game show better: giving Nintendo some positive coverage. Ever watched Gamer TV? Almost no Nintendo in there even when Rev was annouced. A quick quote from Iwata and a short clip of him holding it. But 360 gets almost a whole episode along with big space for PS3. When Games Attack is the only show I watch now but not for reviews cuz it dont give them. I like the head to heads and super models on the dance games.

[Gaijin von Snikbah]

I want information to be presented in the most simple way, so that I can approach it the way I feel like. Then I think the male host could dress up like girls, and otherwise have some variety without missing the big games.

[dukkadukka]

a little sophistication is all that's needed, drooling fanboys are a complete turn-off. also, attempts to cater to the 'yoof maaahket' like hip-hop posturing and intentional grammatical errors are a big no-no. think popworld rather than cd:uk.

[Platty]

I'll say it again:

 

All that is needed is for channel 4 to bring back "Bits"

 

 

 

 

those girls knew how to make a gaming TV show. (Yes she is holding a Test version PS2)

[Haver]

Aimless pretty much nails it.

[Maverick]

I'll say it again:

 

All that is needed is for channel 4 to bring back "Bits"

 

 

 

 

those girls knew how to make a gaming TV show. (Yes she is holding a Test version PS2)

 

Yeah bits was pretty good but gamesmaster is and always will be the daddy of agming television.

[Kav]

so... pretty much a Gamesmaster/Bits hyrbid.

[Fields]

Do you ever wonder why the general public don't take games seriously, and think that all gamers are 'geeks'? It's not because of shit like Bits and Gamesmaster (to name some examples from this thread), but they really don't help. I want to see a serious show about the games industry, with in depth features, interviews, opinion etc. Not all gamers are complete morons.

[Colin]

Do you ever wonder why the general public don't take games seriously, and think that all gamers are 'geeks'? It's not because of shit like Bits and Gamesmaster (to name some examples from this thread), but they really don't help. I want to see a serious show about the games industry, with in depth features, interviews, opinion etc. Not all gamers are complete morons.

 

Yeah I agree with this. I think you need to avoid previous stereotypes that have been attached to gamers and what they want, and now focus on the mainstream.

 

Think of Jonathan Ross' Film 200X, it features interviews, his quick opinions/views on recently released films, a run down of the current boxoffice charts and also manages to keep a slice of humour throughout in someway.

 

I think that's what you should be aiming for, as gaming has now reached mainstream unlike when GamesMaster was around.

 

It may be boring stuff and not be what the majority of the hardcore want to be watching, but I'm no big film buff unlike I am with games for example, and while I watch Film 200X I feel like I'm being informed.

 

Maybe you should be asking the typical EA game buying crowd, as that's where future audiences lie in a gaming TV show.

 

 

Also, I may need to speak to you soon BGS about Lincoln/Hull and recent developments there to do with the Hull Campus (if you get what I'm talking about?)

[BGS]

Also, I may need to speak to you soon BGS about Lincoln/Hull and recent developments there to do with the Hull Campus (if you get what I'm talking about?)

 

Yeah, yeah I know exactly what you're on about. It's a right sorry state of affairs :\ If you wanna talk about it then feel free to add me to msn ([email protected]) or send me a pm.

[rokhed00]

Ever watched Gamer TV? Almost no Nintendo in there even when Rev was annouced. A quick quote from Iwata and a short clip of him holding it. But 360 gets almost a whole episode along with big space for PS3.

 

 

You don't watch the show regularly, do you?

360 is getting the most coverage now, but that's because of it's launch, revolution has had about as much coverage as the PS3 overall and they review all the big GC and DS games, perhaps if Nintendo produced more of them then they'd get more screentime.

[Caris]

Rokhed said it all really.

[Charlie]

I'd take a look at something like Top Gear. I don't have a huge interest in cars yet I still watch this show. It has regular features which are enjoyable to watch (star in a reasonably priced car), engaging presenters that are actually passionate about the subject and its reviews of the cars themselves are good because they are both informative and entertaining through testing them with different original situations. Although some of it would be difficult to tranfer some aspects to a games show format, I would definatly think this is a kind of formula that I would look at if I were producing a games show.

 

Got it in one, Top Gear is awesome, people watch it even if they don't like cars.

[JonathanEx]

I'd say, Videogaiden, but longer, not a 6 episode run, and in English. Blinkin' scots.

[Ten10]

Do everything opposite to Gamezville and your doing alright

[Towers]

I don't mind the whole 'V's' competitions if they're done right. When games attack didn't do a bad version with the PES 4 comptetition. The way I would do it though would be to gather 4 different types of people. 7 year old who, Old man, a woman and possibly a foreigner and let them play a game like a golf game. Or if it's a racing game they'd play like 20 tracks. However it would all be pre-recorded so every now and again you could cut back to them and show only the best bits. I wouldn't have them play in a studio but instead a nice comfy room where they'll be more likely to argue.

 

I agree on the news though. Only show funny/weird news as your show would be out of date before going on air. Previews of upcoming games is good as it shows you games in motion which magazines can't. And when reveiwing a game be brutatly honest. I hate it when people review games on games shows and want to say the game is crap but instead say. It's not very good.

 

I like honesty and I hate it when people try to make games 'cool'. It doesn't need that it just needs to be fun. I loved GamesMaster and bits but I thought Thumb Bandits was very good too. That only got one series unfortunetly

[bryanee]

I agree fully with weeyellowbloke, I've thought this for a while now.

 

For the best gaming show you really need to make it like Top Gear but with videogames. I dont even like cars but I watch Top Gear because its funny and entertaining and the challenges they have are fantastic. You need good presenters aswell. You have to make it appeal to people who arent into videogames aswell as the hardcore, just like Top Gear.

 

Oh and Bits sucked then and it'd suck even more if it was still on today. The hosts were ugly ass munters who didnt know shit. And none of that consolevania/videogaiden tripe either, its pathetic, makes me want to give up gaming.

[Josh64]

Something with good features and reviews would be good. Try not to be biased aswell, it annoys me when shows have 5 seconds of nintry stuff and then the rest is PS2 and XBOX, I love watching 'when games attack', its funny and has some good features. I also like the top 5 thing they have. There are also quite a few nintendo mentions in that show. Dont make it too boring, I cant remember what it was called but I saw this really crappy games show where it had a person talking and a white background with some odd music quietly in the back ground and tons of army games. I got so bored of that