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Here are the main problems with a TV gaming show:
1) Actually finding a channel. Despite the immense popularity of gaming, it’s still considered to be geeky. This is something that, sadly, gaming may never shake off. Therefore, there are only 2 real channels that you can get these things onto at a decent time, BBC2 and Channel 4. BBC2 are very busy at the moment, however, and might not be able to find a slot. Channel 4 is changing its image and a gaming show wouldn’t help. Channel 4 also has the added disadvantage that it’s a prime-time slot, and they can’t put prime-time adverts into it, because prime-time gaming adverts don’t exist.
2) Footage to show. Stuff that is released by publishers is usually work-in-progress and therefore, they don’t want it plastered over the TV. They do put stuff on DVDs but it’s rarely in a suitable format for TV. Basically, it’s all chopped together and you can’t actually see anything that’s going on. Reviews are no problem though, because you just plug your PC/console into a VCR. Whether you’re allowed to is a different matter.
3) Presenters and writers. This is the biggest problem of all. How many times have you read a feature in a newspaper or TV program about games? It’s always blatantly obvious they know nothing about it at all. You need good presenters who spend ages playing games themselves and actually know what they’re talking about. You also need good writers who play games to write the reviews that they read. Unfortunately, these people are almost always sapped up elsewhere, usually in mags.
4) Targeting. By definition, a decent gaming TV program would be written for people like us who actually know a lot about games. This limits the target audience severely and makes it even more unlikely for the program to be aired at anything like a decent time. If they were to show it at sensible time, it would have to be aimed at your average gamer, which would be no pint at all. Hence why all the “good” shows are on at 2am and all the crap ones (Gamesmaster) are on at 6pm.
So, there you have it. As much as well all want them, nothing short of an act of God will make it happen. I suppose the Upwire will have to do then!
1) Actually finding a channel. Despite the immense popularity of gaming, it’s still considered to be geeky. This is something that, sadly, gaming may never shake off. Therefore, there are only 2 real channels that you can get these things onto at a decent time, BBC2 and Channel 4. BBC2 are very busy at the moment, however, and might not be able to find a slot. Channel 4 is changing its image and a gaming show wouldn’t help. Channel 4 also has the added disadvantage that it’s a prime-time slot, and they can’t put prime-time adverts into it, because prime-time gaming adverts don’t exist.
2) Footage to show. Stuff that is released by publishers is usually work-in-progress and therefore, they don’t want it plastered over the TV. They do put stuff on DVDs but it’s rarely in a suitable format for TV. Basically, it’s all chopped together and you can’t actually see anything that’s going on. Reviews are no problem though, because you just plug your PC/console into a VCR. Whether you’re allowed to is a different matter.
3) Presenters and writers. This is the biggest problem of all. How many times have you read a feature in a newspaper or TV program about games? It’s always blatantly obvious they know nothing about it at all. You need good presenters who spend ages playing games themselves and actually know what they’re talking about. You also need good writers who play games to write the reviews that they read. Unfortunately, these people are almost always sapped up elsewhere, usually in mags.
4) Targeting. By definition, a decent gaming TV program would be written for people like us who actually know a lot about games. This limits the target audience severely and makes it even more unlikely for the program to be aired at anything like a decent time. If they were to show it at sensible time, it would have to be aimed at your average gamer, which would be no pint at all. Hence why all the “good” shows are on at 2am and all the crap ones (Gamesmaster) are on at 6pm.
So, there you have it. As much as well all want them, nothing short of an act of God will make it happen. I suppose the Upwire will have to do then!
I do agree. I never read newspaper articles about games - because they ALWAYS write trash! They don't know what they are talking about. There was this article once comparing the battle between N64 and Playstation, and in the Playstation section, they showed the N64 controller and started to mix and match the consoles! Why don't they get a proper gamer to actually write these reviews!
TV programs I find are not so bad. Cybernet is an OK show, probably the best you are likely to get. You are also right in saying that these shows would not do well in primetime TV because people who know nothing about games wouldn't have a clue.
Its a shame that gamers are still know as geeks, but this term is slightly decreasing as more and more males and femeales are starting to become gamers.
TV programs I find are not so bad. Cybernet is an OK show, probably the best you are likely to get. You are also right in saying that these shows would not do well in primetime TV because people who know nothing about games wouldn't have a clue.
Its a shame that gamers are still know as geeks, but this term is slightly decreasing as more and more males and femeales are starting to become gamers.
Here are the main problems with a TV gaming show:
1) Actually finding a channel. Despite the immense popularity of gaming, it’s still considered to be geeky. This is something that, sadly, gaming may never shake off. Therefore, there are only 2 real channels that you can get these things onto at a decent time, BBC2 and Channel 4. BBC2 are very busy at the moment, however, and might not be able to find a slot. Channel 4 is changing its image and a gaming show wouldn’t help. Channel 4 also has the added disadvantage that it’s a prime-time slot, and they can’t put prime-time adverts into it, because prime-time gaming adverts don’t exist.
2) Footage to show. Stuff that is released by publishers is usually work-in-progress and therefore, they don’t want it plastered over the TV. They do put stuff on DVDs but it’s rarely in a suitable format for TV. Basically, it’s all chopped together and you can’t actually see anything that’s going on. Reviews are no problem though, because you just plug your PC/console into a VCR. Whether you’re allowed to is a different matter.
3) Presenters and writers. This is the biggest problem of all. How many times have you read a feature in a newspaper or TV program about games? It’s always blatantly obvious they know nothing about it at all. You need good presenters who spend ages playing games themselves and actually know what they’re talking about. You also need good writers who play games to write the reviews that they read. Unfortunately, these people are almost always sapped up elsewhere, usually in mags.
4) Targeting. By definition, a decent gaming TV program would be written for people like us who actually know a lot about games. This limits the target audience severely and makes it even more unlikely for the program to be aired at anything like a decent time. If they were to show it at sensible time, it would have to be aimed at your average gamer, which would be no pint at all. Hence why all the “good” shows are on at 2am and all the crap ones (Gamesmaster) are on at 6pm.
So, there you have it. As much as well all want them, nothing short of an act of God will make it happen. I suppose the Upwire will have to do then!
1) Actually finding a channel. Despite the immense popularity of gaming, it’s still considered to be geeky. This is something that, sadly, gaming may never shake off. Therefore, there are only 2 real channels that you can get these things onto at a decent time, BBC2 and Channel 4. BBC2 are very busy at the moment, however, and might not be able to find a slot. Channel 4 is changing its image and a gaming show wouldn’t help. Channel 4 also has the added disadvantage that it’s a prime-time slot, and they can’t put prime-time adverts into it, because prime-time gaming adverts don’t exist.
2) Footage to show. Stuff that is released by publishers is usually work-in-progress and therefore, they don’t want it plastered over the TV. They do put stuff on DVDs but it’s rarely in a suitable format for TV. Basically, it’s all chopped together and you can’t actually see anything that’s going on. Reviews are no problem though, because you just plug your PC/console into a VCR. Whether you’re allowed to is a different matter.
3) Presenters and writers. This is the biggest problem of all. How many times have you read a feature in a newspaper or TV program about games? It’s always blatantly obvious they know nothing about it at all. You need good presenters who spend ages playing games themselves and actually know what they’re talking about. You also need good writers who play games to write the reviews that they read. Unfortunately, these people are almost always sapped up elsewhere, usually in mags.
4) Targeting. By definition, a decent gaming TV program would be written for people like us who actually know a lot about games. This limits the target audience severely and makes it even more unlikely for the program to be aired at anything like a decent time. If they were to show it at sensible time, it would have to be aimed at your average gamer, which would be no pint at all. Hence why all the “good” shows are on at 2am and all the crap ones (Gamesmaster) are on at 6pm.
So, there you have it. As much as well all want them, nothing short of an act of God will make it happen. I suppose the Upwire will have to do then!