Dante Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 www.mcvuk.com - Future in discussions to relaunch industry’s favourite TV show GamesMaster could be back on TV in time for Q4, with a new series on a terrestrial channel. The brand is in the process of being re-invigorated, having been acquired by Future late last year. Previously the firm simply published a magazine under licence from Double Act Films (the company owned by GamesMaster’s original producer, Jane Hewland) and was prevented from doing anything online or on-screen. In the last few months, however, with the shackles off, Future has been talking to production companies, TV networks, publishers and even potential presenters. It is understood that one terrestrial channel has shown considerable interest and is already looking at an early evening slot. The original GamesMaster was last on Channel 4 in February, 1998. There have been some half-hearted re-runs on Challenge TV, but with little publicity, relevance or, inevitably, viewers. New GamesMaster would retain some of the elements of the original format, but will be a different proposition, focusing on big new releases, upping the production values, and benefiting from cross-promotion across the Future network. In a neat dovetailing of skills and opportunity, GamesMaster looks like returning as Future unveils its own video reviewing capabilities as part of First Play (its interactive PSN-distributed show) and the plan is for that element of GamesMaster to be created in-house. From a marketing point of view the industry is bound to be salivating. Don’t be surprised to see the series sponsored by one of the biggest retailers, while publishers will be clamouring to have their products featured and as a targeted advertising slot it’s a bullseye. Future Publishing’s James Binns told MCV: “GamesMaster was fun and inclusive. No games show before or since has come close to what it achieved. It’d be great to bring it back.†The presenter slot is the subject of fevered discussion within Future (and elsewhere). MCV understands that a few approaches have been made, but a replacement for Dominik Diamond is yet to be appointed. If anyone’s wondering, yes, Diamond himself has been ruled out. Although he remains a more likely option than Dexter Fletcher. GamesMaster magazine will relaunch in May. Future won’t create a website for the brand as it doesn’t wish to complicate a strategy that includes CVG, GamesRadar and Edge Online, but it will look at podcasts and utilising social networking sites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
or else you will DIE Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 does anybody remember that "gaming" channel that was on sky about 7 years ago? the one that broadcasted italian softcore porno 98% of the time and repeated the same review of this shitty GBA game the other 2%? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dante Posted March 11, 2010 Author Share Posted March 11, 2010 Anyone remember Bad Influence and Bits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tapedeck Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Bad influence (andy crane and violet the lisper). Bits too. Damn that was fun...If only because you got to SEE the games running. Internet has killed that IMO. They should leave Gamesmaster, it will only be another childhood memory which gets tarnished. Surely Patrick will be on his death bed anyhoo?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goafer Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Surely Patrick will be on his death bed anyhoo?! Maybe when he carks it, they can attach his head to a machine and make him a real GamesMaster. No Dominic Diamond? Pants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPAMBOT4000 Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 This is probably the worst television show resurrection idea EVER. It was of its time and shit. Let it rest in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mokong Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 does anybody remember that "gaming" channel that was on sky about 7 years ago? the one that broadcasted italian softcore porno 98% of the time and repeated the same review of this shitty GBA game the other 2%? Gamestation It wasn't that bad when it started, I enjoyed when they showed games footage with music (when the songs were good) like a gaming music video. There were a few "shows" too that talked about news and new games... I actually think I got Cube-Europe mentioned on a few emails I sent in, haha. But then more and more the softporn krept in Does anyone remember YEARS ago, Sky One had a show based entirely on Mario games. I think it was called the Super Mario Super Challenge... no that doesn't sound right. It was like a gameshow, they'd have contestants on each week who'd compete soley on Mario games from the NES, so SMB, SMB2 and SMB3. I still remember one the best contestants (maybe the eventual winner) was nicknamed "Iceman" Sky One also later had another Game Show where people competed across various games and consoles and it was done kinda like Gladiators and they had "pro-gamers" for contestents to compete against called "Vidiators". I still remember one was called "Big Boy Barry" who was one of the best, haha Jesus those were the days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbob Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 does anybody remember that "gaming" channel that was on sky about 7 years ago? the one that broadcasted italian softcore porno 98% of the time and repeated the same review of this shitty GBA game the other 2%? Yes, yes i do. Gamestation It wasn't that bad when it started, I enjoyed when they showed games footage with music (when the songs were good) like a gaming music video. There were a few "shows" too that talked about news and new games... I actually think I got Cube-Europe mentioned on a few emails I sent in, haha. But then more and more the softporn krept in I'm sure it was originally called "Games Network" before the first of 2 name changes. I think the softporn started at 10 or 11pm, after the final showing of the same GBA review that had been looped for the past hour or so. Bringing this show back is not a very good idea to be fair. It was good to begin with, Patrick Moore as the "Master" was such great-ness. If it came back, i would probably check it out to see if it was any good. Anyone remember the show "Gamezville"?. Had them two black dudes hosting, and had some strange, angry games guru giving out cheats/hints to "non-tryers" of them games Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happenstance Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 I remember Games Network, wasnt it actually based in Italy or something? I remember one of the presenters, Bettina someone used to play Tennis professionally as well. They also had a weird show which used to air in the middle of the day, you'd text in and your avatar would appear onscreen and walk around, interacting with other peoples who had also text in. Of course texts cost about £1.50. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
or else you will DIE Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 yes! games network! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EEVILMURRAY Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Anyone remember the show "Gamezville"?. Had them two black dudes hosting, and had some strange, angry games guru giving out cheats/hints to "non-tryers" of them games Yeah. Rokhed has a pr0 avatar/sig taking the piss of them, giving five G's to Pac-Man. One thing that always pissed me off was that there was this prick with dreadlocks call Simon who pronounced Sega "See-Ga", and no one corrected him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayseven Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 All about ThumbBandits, duh. I don't get the ref to Dexter Fletcher in the OP. Was he ever in GamesMaster?! Anyway, if they bring back the floating 'GM' idea, I vote for stephen hawkings as the new maestro. ... But obv. The entire idea of a FAQ/cheats thing on TV is ludicrous with the internet around. That's basically what all games shows have to combat - a way to beat the net. I think the real-time games challenges (golden joystick!) could be a way, and also I think games-based TV shows should look at the successful youtube channels that operate around the genre - I'm not talking about the reviews gurus such as Yahtzee's Zero Punctuation, but more the comedy sketches such as Mega64 and the 'mythbuster' content such as those focused on Halo or MW2. Also, I think sentuamessage on the XB dash is a great video content spearhead that should be looked at... but simply all that I do not want is a dweeb (or two) wandering around games conferences pretending to be best buds with the developers, who are, in turn, simply churning out the same faux-information about up-coming releases. If this 'Future' company is the publishing house, then there is hope. They were (in my narrow opinion) the first publishing company to really try to focus on editorials and nostalgia pages in the face of the ever-immediate internet. And no Dom Diamond is a fantastic thing. No qualms there. Essentially if we're hearing about a new mainstream gaming show, then it's potentially great news, regardless of whether it's trying to reanimate a dead corpse or not. tl;dr? I don't know either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnold Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 Dexter presented it in 93ish, I vaguely remember him in it, had to wiki to confirm but he did for 1 series, nobody liked him, so Diamond came back for the last 4 series. the series with big boy Barry was Gamesworld, had a different show every night (Monday/Fridays was the challenges), and Tuesdays(or Wednesday's) had Jet (gladiators), in lots of leather and nice outfits, I remember that one very well, Thursday's was the Gamesmaster type head, but it was a woman and digital, gave out cheats and shit, Wednesday/Tuesday was the gaming news if I remember. Was Games Network the one with the challenge show with that duo Simon and dunno the other guy, they were on Live and Kicking back in the day. Anyway, I wouldn't mind seeing another Gamesmaster, needs to have Diamond in it or someone just as good, can't have someone stale and boring...or like the guys from Gamesville, Craig Charles possibly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorty Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 All about ThumbBandits, duh. Did you watch The Virtual Revolution? Aleks Krotoski presented it and it took me ages to remember what I'd seen her in. Iain Lee was cool as a games presenter too, you felt a genuine passion for gaming from him. I remember when he did RI:SE he did the film reviews of the upcoming week's television. Goldeneye was on and he managed to sneak in how awesome the N64 game was. Bad Influence was the real gaming show of my youth though. I remember seeing the Sonic and Knuckles lock-on cart on there for the first time, that must've been the first game I ever really wanted before it was even out. Violet Berlin was awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platty Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 Bits was the way to go. I was in love with Emily Booth and I think watched it more for her than the gaming bit.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigfrogmonkey Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 (edited) [Anyone remember the show "Gamezville"?. Had them two black dudes hosting, and had some strange, angry games guru giving out cheats/hints to "non-tryers" of them games The Blonde bird in this was well fit Sarah Rees was her name Edited March 12, 2010 by pigfrogmonkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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