The GSN Video Games Show
The Game Show Network is best known for old Match Game episodes, but now it's airing another type of gameshow: the videogame show. Thursday afternoons, GSN has launched a 2-hour block dedicated to the latest in gaming. Should X-Play be worried?
GSN Videogames, as it's actually called, airs every Thursday on the GameShow Network (DirecTV Channel 309) from 5-7pm Eastern (that's 4-6pm Central for you hicks out there), and re-airs at the same time on the weekends.
Why would one want to watch a television show about gaming? Much like print magazines, they are never as up-to-date as the Internet, but it's still probably the best way to see footage of upcoming games. Sure you can download a movie clip of Halo 2, but seeing it on your T.V. where you will eventually play it just 'feels' better sometimes.
So should you watch GSN Video Games if you want to see new games like Bungie's Halo 2, SOCOM II, Half-Life 2, Final Fantasy XI, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Tony Hawk's Underground, Kingdom Hearts 2, Gran Turismo 4, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3, Ninja Gaiden... well, you get the point.
GSN Videogames is really made up of 2 shows spit up into 3 parts, and these two show arn't even American. They are 'imported' from England (it's why they call the show 'global'). Which is the first of several problems. I mean, what the hell is a "Rockman"? (FYI: That's what we Yanks know as Megaman.) They used to be on G4, but now GSN (and GAS) air them, with new hosts. From about 5:00-5:40 we are treated to a show called "Game Sauce". Then from about 5:40-6:20 we are shown a "Gamer.tv" episode. And finally we are shown another "Game Sauce" from 6:20-7:00.
In order to help give the show a U.S. flavor (and to turn three 30 minute shows into 2 hours), before and after almost every commercial break, GSN adds its own "insight" into the current state of videogames here in North America. These segments are hosted by one Carmen Nicole, who sadly seems to be there only to give 13-year-olds something to umm, "look" at. I have my doubts she even knows what a 'RPG' is. (If anyone does a "does carmen nicole have a boyfriend" search in Google to find this article, like they did with a certain X-Play host, I'll hunt 'em down! But at least we know Morgan actually plays games.) My real problem with these segments is they seem to be nothing more then ads for specific games, rather then anything journalistic. For example, Carmen Nicole went on and on about the N-Gage and how it's the future of hybrid gaming (sure it is). However not so surprisingly, just before the break we heard, "GSN Videogames, brought to you in part by, the Nokia N-Gage." Plus that bottle of Mountain Dew seemed a little too conveniently placed. But it's more then just that. Game Pro and GameSpy both have their own little segment each show.
To say the "Game Pro 120" sponsored segment "sucked" is being nice. Couldn't they have found a better host for starters? He must of won a bet to score that gig the way he mumbles and fumbles about as he races to read the cue cards. Even what he's told to say is off. XIII is the first cel-shaded game since Wind Waker? Umm, ever hear of a game called Viewtiful Joe? Another time, they too were hit by the N-Gage "bug" urging everyone to give it a try (did I see a sack with a dollar sign on it in the background?). Don't think GameSpy's part is any better. It's not nearly as awful, but their "GameSpy Minute" isn't anything special either. Their "Best RPGs" list didn't leave me feeling too "jazzed" about anything. At least they helped keep up the image of the geeky game player. Wait, that's not a good thing.
Okay, so the GSN added elements don't add much, but what about the actual shows, Game Sauce (which is part of the Gamer.tv family) and Gamer.tv?
Let's start with Game Sauce: "Hot and spicy game action!" Like already mentioned, Game Sauce is a British based show. It has two hosts, but we never actually see them, only hear what they have to say. While they move from one review to another (or whatever is next), we are instead treated to a CG sequence. It's best described as an odd looking bottling plant to go with their "Game Sauce" theme I guess. They do the usual previews and reviews, but they also spend a lot of time on game guides, hints, and cheats. Including cheat codes. As you may guess though, it's not very interesting watching them type in a long password. It's still faster (and even less painful) to just check GameFAQs. Otherwise, gameplay is what this show does best.
Since Game Sauce doesn't waste time on annoying hosts, it can spend it on showing off the actual games. It shows TONS of actual gameplay footage. Including demonstrating how various things work in a game. Their reviews are all on a 1-10 scale, but they only reveal their rating on a game's graphics, sound, gameplay, and lifespan at first. You have to stay tuned until the very end of the show (at least the end of that Game Sauce episode) to see the final rating. Yup, that's how they get ya. My biggest gripe here is when they review a pre-final version of a game (ala those EGM bastards). They admit as much, but so then why not wait for the complete version?
The other show is Gamer.tv, which again is hosted by one British host we never actually see. This time the CG segways try to be more 'hip' and less 'odd'. They occasionally start off with a news segment, but when it hasn't been cut, it seems outdated or too European based. Again this show is big on showing off actual gameplay and graphics with previews and reviews (here they rank on a scale of 1-5 and give you the score right away), but instead of a bunch of game guides and faqs, Gamer.tv does a few special features. They seem to mainly be focused on gaming competitions around the world. Like a Counter Strike tournament in Europe, and a CPL (Cyber-Athlete Professional League?) get-together in Texas. However, they also did an interview with a former Star Trek child actor to help keep up the stereotype that games are just for geeks. I had no clue who Wil Wheaton was since I barely know who Captain Kirk is (wasn't he in "Halloween" as Michael Myers?), but they said he was also in "Stand By Me", so it's not all bad and can be interesting at times.
So here we are left with the big question, should you watch GSN Video Games? In short, I'd say don't bother. I'd rather watch "Press your Luck" on GSN. Plus the show seems geared mainly towards just casual gamers. That said, if you go back to my intro, you will remember that the biggest reason to watch a show like this is to see the games in action. And that is the one area in which this show does fairly well. And it's always nice to see more videogame based shows. Still, the show is too dull and lifeless to really hold your interest for long. It drags on and on more then your average crappy RPG, and their idea of a "joke" is an old Russell Crowe reference. I mean if G4 doesn't want these shows anymore... Then you have the added GSN segments that do nothing but give the Game Show Network more ad revenue.
Yes, GSN Videogames does give gamers something else to watch. But if you really want to watch a video game based show, and an American one that's more relevant and entertaining, you are still much better off with TechTV's X-Play. Yes, even with Adam Sessler.