The Video Game Years

[Medic_wheat]

Figured since it is a heated topic. Let's make a thread for it!




Well. Didn't take long for Mike to get a cameo

[Joe Redifer]

Damn are you watching in 144p resolution?

Mike's been on the show for a while actually.

[Medic_wheat]

Damn are you watching in 144p resolution?

Mike's been on the show for a while actually.

I must have mentally blocked that out.


No off my iPhone. Sometimes the resolution pops in and out though. Must have grabbed the image when it was in a low low resolution. But then that makes it easier on my eyes to look at him.

[Gentlegamer]

Classic youtube resolution. It's appropriate.

[TR0N]

The latest one joe&dave are in it 
The Video Game Years - 1987 Pt 6 - Rad Racer, Alien Syndrome, Kid Icarus, Operation Wolf, LJN Games

What i think it's either a hit or miss for the episodes.Some times,who they get to comment hit's the mark the other time it's nonsense that makes you face palm 

[Joe Redifer]

Agreed on that. I edited the Rad Racer and Alien Syndrome segments in that one. I think I did all of Alien Syndrome but only did the finishing on Rad Racer (someone else put the talking heads in and I keyed them out, added graphics and music, etc). If I did all of Rad Racer I would have never included the "Its a pretty rad game but also a pretty racer game hence the name Rad Racer".

[sirhcman]

Agreed on that. I edited the Rad Racer and Alien Syndrome segments in that one. I think I did all of Alien Syndrome but only did the finishing on Rad Racer (someone else put the talking heads in and I keyed them out, added graphics and music, etc). If I did all of Rad Racer I would have never included the "Its a pretty rad game but also a pretty racer game hence the name Rad Racer".

Joe what did you think of Pat saying the NES version of Alien Syndrome was superior to the SMS version?

[Joe Redifer]

I think he's right. I don't like agreeing with Pat but I definitely have to  on that one.

[FiftyQuid]

I've been watching these from the start.  I gotta say it is very hit and miss too.  Sometimes there are great little nuggets of information and then other times I just zone out because it just filler n' fluff.  Segments like "Video Game Babes" or "It should have been a video game" I just skip through as I don't find them educational or funny.  Even "Forgotten Video Games" is hit or miss.

Maybe I'm getting too old?

[captain_n77]

I love The Video Game Years, but that doesn't mean I'm crazy about everything with the show. I do wish the episodes were longer like they used to be. I understand the explanation behind why they were shortened, but I preferred the longer episodes that I could kick back and soak in.

My other major issue is the snarky comments and gamebashing that seems to have crept into the show. The tone, in that regard, seems much different from the earlier episodes that were more informative and focused on why a game is being talked about decades after the fact.

But overall I still love the show. It covers the classic era of games and has many of my favorite youtube personalities giving some insightful and pleasant commentary. The production values/editing has improved a lot since the beginning. I could do without the "video game babes" segment(not because it's supposedly demeaning to women, I just think it's dull and a waste of time) and the "it should have been a game" stuff. I like it when the show just focuses on the games and the culture of the era they were a part of.

[Joe Redifer]

The reason those segments are on the show are because the show is structured after VH1's "I Love the 90s" or "I Love the 80s" or maybe they did both decades I dunno I never had cable. Anyway that show has similar cheesy segments. You can check out the show on Youtube.

[captain_n77]

The reason those segments are on the show are because the show is structured after VH1's "I Love the 90s" or "I Love the 80s" or maybe they did both decades I dunno I never had cable. Anyway that show has similar cheesy segments. You can check out the show on Youtube.

Yeah, I remember those old VH1 shows and remember when they mentioned the inspiration from the old VH1 shows. I believe it was when everyone got all bent outta shape saying the "babes" segment was sexist.

And for the record, I hope you and Dave continue to contribute to the show. To me, it's still one of the best things on Youtube/tv and I'd hate to see you guys go.

[Medic_wheat]

More Video Game Years up

[PCEngineHell]

I can't sit through these anymore. Half the people on the show remind me of these hipster douchebags pretending to be gaming experts who tried doing this shit a few years back:

Half the info and knowledge coming off the videos seem regurgitated from Wikipedia by collectards, and not by legit gamers who actually experienced the games of the 80s firsthand when they came out.

[ToyMachine78]

The guy who always wears the mega man shirt gets on my damn nerves. I wish he'd shave and wash and comb his hair. It looks like a matted greasy helmet on his head. A bad toupe or something.

[Joe Redifer]

Pat's damn proud of that Alisia Dragoon video, too. Everyone knows he hired that woman. It was made to get lots of viewers using the original thumbnail that it had. Of course it attracts the wrong kind of viewers who are just looking for smut and not those who care about video game stuffs.

[Medic_wheat]

Considering he hired a BDSM porn star I would imagine he has ANOTHER video behind the scenes that isn't just if him being spanked.

I'll be honest the idea of the video was kind of funny but the video quality is so bad it kind of looks like a wast now.

I am also surprised the video never got flagged due to the explicit imagery.

[CPTBadAss]

Did someone say BDSM? Got my interest

[Psycho Punch]

Pat = MPEG encoded shame.

[mackdanger]

I can't sit through these anymore. Half the people on the show remind me of these hipster douchebags pretending to be gaming experts who tried doing this shit a few years back:

After clicking that link and viewing roughly 10 seconds of what was contained within, I can say that I am finally able to understand the growing number of people running around the internet hysterically caterwauling about "trigger warnings." HOLY. SHIT. You would have to invent new words to describe that, like "retardiculous" or "digi-smeg." Damn that was bad.

[Gentlegamer]

The term you're searching for is douche chills.

[technozombie]

i really like the concept of the this show but I always felt like it was missing something. Perhaps if it stays around long enough it will hit its stride. I agree that the "video game babes" and "should have been a game" segments need to go. Even if they are meant to emulate those VH1 shows, that's a poor reason to keep a segment that doesn't really work.

[Medic_wheat]

I agree with many other and I know Joe doesn't have a say he just provides segments and at times edited it probably all for free to.



But there is taking inspiration from something else like VH1s I remember the ___, or American Pickers into Game Chasers. But at some point you have to make it your own thing and reform are parts of a show that simply do not work in the context of your topic or target audience.

[shawnji]

I guess I have a higher threshold for tolerating some of this stuff.  Sometimes I actually find it pretty funny when someone is grossly misinformed about something.  I just sort of shrug it off and remember that we're all just flawed human beings.  I know I'm definitely not some walking encyclopedia of gaming knowledge. 

I guess some will get annoyed with it because they assume it will spread misinformation, but I honestly don't really understand that particular worry.  Generally speaking, I don't take most things said on any gaming show (sorry Joe, even Game Sack) as absolute gospel truth if I'm not familiar with the game at hand because, frankly, I expect people to make mistakes.  Honestly, I think it would be disrespectful to the intelligence of the audience to assume they're all so naive as to take The Video Game Years as a straight documentary and think everyone involved is some kind of "certified gaming historian."

I like the show just because I like to hear people's unique opinions on anything gaming related, even if they weren't born at the height of a certain title's popularity.  It's interesting to see how someone else's life experiences and the picture of the past that's been painted for them has affected the way they percieve things; even if the lens isn't quite aligned right; if you take my meaning.

I just take the show for what it is, and try to remember that the way everyone experienced these games was vastly different.  I don't really expect a show like this to do a lot of research either, since it's done in the spirit of humor and nostalgia rather than really trying to be informative (which is exactly what "I love the 80's /90's / New Millenium" was like).  Yeah, a lot of jokes fall flat, but the moments where I get even a slight chuckle are part of why I keep watching.  It's entertaining enough, and the subject matter being about something I enjoy makes it that much more so.

I will say I don't really care for Pat, though.  He has just always rubbed me the wrong way.

P.S. Also, wow!  This is my first post on here in, like, three months.  I've been a little preoccupied with things I guess.

[esteban]

I guess I have a higher threshold for tolerating some of this stuff.  Sometimes I actually find it pretty funny when someone is grossly misinformed about something.  I just sort of shrug it off and remember that we're all just flawed human beings.  I know I'm definitely not some walking encyclopedia of gaming knowledge. 

I guess some will get annoyed with it because they assume it will spread misinformation, but I honestly don't really understand that particular worry.  Generally speaking, I don't take most things said on any gaming show (sorry Joe, even Game Sack) as absolute gospel truth if I'm not familiar with the game at hand because, frankly, I expect people to make mistakes.  Honestly, I think it would be disrespectful to the intelligence of the audience to assume they're all so naive as to take The Video Game Years as a straight documentary and think everyone involved is some kind of "certified gaming historian."

I like the show just because I like to hear people's unique opinions on anything gaming related, even if they weren't born at the height of a certain title's popularity.  It's interesting to see how someone else's life experiences and the picture of the past that's been painted for them has affected the way they percieve things; even if the lens isn't quite aligned right; if you take my meaning.

I just take the show for what it is, and try to remember that the way everyone experienced these games was vastly different.  I don't really expect a show like this to do a lot of research either, since it's done in the spirit of humor and nostalgia rather than really trying to be informative (which is exactly what "I love the 80's /90's / New Millenium" was like).  Yeah, a lot of jokes fall flat, but the moments where I get even a slight chuckle are part of why I keep watching.  It's entertaining enough, and the subject matter being about something I enjoy makes it that much more so.

I will say I don't really care for Pat, though.  He has just always rubbed me the wrong way.

P.S. Also, wow!  This is my first post on here in, like, three months.  I've been a little preoccupied with things I guess.

We need more posts like this

Or even shorter ones of just a sentence or two.

I hear you and, yes: I could lighten up a bit about these shows in general.

I think you made several very strong points in your argument and I agree with you.

...

...

...but it is a shame that something with potential to be more than mere entertainment is unable to achieve some level of consistency and an occasional moment of genuine insight.

I'll stop there. Otherwise, I'll go into a rant about all the trash that is produced. Everywhere. Not just on TooYube.

[NightWolve]

I can't sit through these anymore. Half the people on the show remind me of these hipster douchebags pretending to be gaming experts who tried doing this shit a few years back:

That's interesting, something that was pointed out in that video was how arcade producers never really did commercials. Funny, it never occurred to me till now, but yeah, I can't really think of any commercial from back then that promoted a new arcade release... They always stuck with flyers and magazines I guess.

[Gentlegamer]

I can't sit through these anymore. Half the people on the show remind me of these hipster douchebags pretending to be gaming experts who tried doing this shit a few years back:

That's interesting, something that was pointed out in that video was how arcade producers never really did commercials. Funny, it never occurred to me till now, but yeah, I can't really think of any commercial from back then that promoted a new arcade release... They always stuck with flyers and magazines I guess.

You walked into the arcade, and there was a new game. That's how you found out about them.

Any marketing materials put out would have been directed at the venue operators.

[esteban]

I can't sit through these anymore. Half the people on the show remind me of these hipster douchebags pretending to be gaming experts who tried doing this shit a few years back:

That's interesting, something that was pointed out in that video was how arcade producers never really did commercials. Funny, it never occurred to me till now, but yeah, I can't really think of any commercial from back then that promoted a new arcade release... They always stuck with flyers and magazines I guess.

You walked into the arcade, and there was a new game. That's how you found out about them.

Any marketing materials put out would have been directed at the venue operators.

Exactly.

Sometimes magazines would briefly mention arcade games, but it was rarely a feature article, but rather a blurb or passing reference.

[Gentlegamer]

GamePro had a "Hot at the Arcades" page about new games. I remember that's how I first saw Final Fight back in the day.

[Joe Redifer]

I will say I don't really care for Pat, though.  He has just always rubbed me the wrong way.

Did you know that last year at Too Many Games they put Pat's clothes in the freezer? He was not a happy Pat. Everybody laughed and regales the tale of this event to this day.

[sirhcman]

Did you know that last year at Too Many Games they put Pat's clothes in the freezer? He was not a happy Pat. Everybody laughed and regales the tale of this event to this day.

When is he ever happy? He seems to have many of the same traits as me, a whiny complainer! The only time he seems to be happy is when he is relishing in the misery of others.

[shawnji]

I will say I don't really care for Pat, though.  He has just always rubbed me the wrong way.

Did you know that last year at Too Many Games they put Pat's clothes in the freezer? He was not a happy Pat. Everybody laughed and regales the tale of this event to this day.

Wow.  He strikes me as a bit brash and condescending, so I could easily see him butting heads with people and heaping trouble on himself.  Ian doesn't seem as bad at all, and I'm kind of surprised they're friends, but I haven't seen much of him outside of The Video Game Years episodes either, so maybe that's just a false impression that I'm getting.

We need more posts like this

Or even shorter ones of just a sentence or two.

I hear you and, yes: I could lighten up a bit about these shows in general.

I think you made several very strong points in your argument and I agree with you.

...

...

...but it is a shame that something with potential to be more than mere entertainment is unable to achieve some level of consistency and an occasional moment of genuine insight.

I'll stop there. Otherwise, I'll go into a rant about all the trash that is produced. Everywhere. Not just on TooYube.

Well, I appreciate you saying that (though I'm sorry it kind of ran away with me there ). 

Despite all I said, I can somewhat understand why it gets people so riled up, especially people as passionate about gaming as there are on these boards.  I guess I just wanted to offer up another perspective because I was a little overwhelmed at the level of animosity towards it when I started reading through the posts, so please don't feel like I was trying to say you shouldn't feel free to rant if you want.  That's half of what the internet and message boards are for, anyway! 

I can even get a little annoyed with specific things like that myself sometimes, particularly in regards to the film industry, for example.  Hmm... that actually brings up a good side question for Joe, though.  What's your opinion on color grading in modern films, if you don't mind me asking?