We need Gamesmaster back on Telly

[Duddyroar]

After watching Dom Diamond lose all self-respect on Extreme Detox this week, I found myself wishing he was back on telly in something worthwhile (ie: Not 'When Games Attack'). I also found myself thinking he should be less fat at the tender age of 34, but that's another topic entirely.

I really wish Gamesmaster was back on telly. I dug out my Gamesmaster DVD (the one given free with the magazine) and popped it on. I hadn't laughed so much in ages (although I was mainly laughing at Dave Perry's Mario 64 challenge - Dom really stuck the knife in there). The show had its faults (97% for FIFA 97???), but it remains the best attempt at getting gaming on the gogglebox (although there's not much in the way of competition). Above all, it was entertaining.

Dom is a true star, I know a lot people hate him and I know he sometimes talks complete and utter ****e, but the guy is pure gold. Face it - when you were watching GM all those years ago and games were still seen as 'uncool', Dom gave our hobby a bit of credit, cos he was funny. I remember my mum watching an early GM and actually laughing, which I found really, really strange.

I really hope they get another series out before Patrick Stewart dies, too. He can't have long left, how old is he now? 110?? He looked old when he did GM over a decade ago!

[dataDave]

It'd be better if they let him die and THEN did a new series! Digitise his head and voice and the job's a good 'un. That'd be quite literally dead good.

[jezzace]

Yeah gamesmaster was superb. I think domonic diamond really did make the show great and it really sucked when that amercan goober came and did a couple of series. Which is why is was great when Dom came back and took the piss out of the american guy for ages. A new series will never happen, to many friends repeats/ hollyoaks bore-a-thons on C4 nowadays. I actually don't mind 'when games attack' though.

Oh and it was Patrick Moore. Patrick Stewart is the guy from star trek and xmen. Although he'd make a pretty cool Gamesmaster come to think of it.

[Duddyroar]

American guy??? Dexter Fletcher was a cockney mate! He was in Press Gang, and the Elephant Man (as a nipper).

He was ****, though.

And you're right, it was Moore. Typing on autopilot again. D'oh!

[jezzace]

Well, he played an american guy in Press gang, didn't he?

[S0L]

Maybe I was drunk at the time, but I'm pretty sure it was Xylophone maestro Patrick Moore who was the Gamesmaster, instead of Patrick 'Captain Picard' Stewart?

Though there is a tenous link as Patrick Moore once did some links with William Shatner on one of the Brit Awards (Shatner singing 'Everything I do' with Moore tinkling along beside him was one of the most surreal things I ever saw).

As much as I hated it back in the day, Gamesmaster still has been better than pretty much all the current batch of games tv. Though I do rather like When Games Attack, if not to place bets on the Head to Head bit with my daughter.

---
Sol
---

[Duddyroar]

I don't remember Fletcher doing an american accent, but it was long ago.

He was in Lock, Stock... as well. As the cook.

[Darwock]

Moore/Stewart.. whatever.. I still hope they get another series out before Captain Picard dies! That will be a sad day for many reasons!

[Ninja-Monkey]

DD: I'd like to talk to you about the stress of being a sex icon.
Natalie Imbruglia: Oh gosh, I don't realy consider myself a sex icon
DD: No, no. I was talking about me.

[Leon Retro]

Dom is all burnt out, he's a wreck. If someone can find a new genuinely funny and enthusiastic guy to front a new Gamesmaster, then bring it on.

My fear for a new show would be for the makers to have a female presenter and try and make it cool. Gamesmaster was kitch and light-hearted, and Dom was a great presenter back then. Maybe it should be left as a gem of the past though.

[SUMIRE]

I wish they would just do a simple review show, a bit like this website with quality reviews of PAL and import games that are not influenced by outside forces. Have a reporter in Japan, America etc, visits to software houses, interviews with programmers, artists, musicians, features on the making of games etc.

I think Gamesmaster was ok back in the day, but I personally want a bit more from a video game show.

They should ask Dexter Fletcher back to do it .....jesus, that guy was even worse than DD.

[mr_sockochris]

Cybernet is actually half decent these days. There's no on screen presenting so you're looking at game footage for the full 25mins, plus they tend to look at games around the USA release so you tend to see alot of stuff before it gets here. It's just a shame the american voice over is so horrible and that they waste time on alot of crappy games. The 2.30am timeslot isn't exactly great either.

[mid]

TV Programmes about Video Games.

Almost as good an idea as Future's "Monthly Magazine about The Internet".

[Duddyroar]

I wish they would just do a simple review show, a bit like this website with quality reviews of PAL and import games that are not influenced by outside forces. Have a reporter in Japan, America etc, visits to software houses, interviews with programmers, artists, musicians, features on the making of games etc.

No one would watch it. You can't just convert features you'd find in a magazine to the TV. Viewers need excitement, and like it or not, most 'mainstream' videogame players would be bored to tears by an interview with a videogame musician. TV is all about appealing to the mainstream, and that's what GM did. I'm not saying I liked the 'challenge' format, but it was watchable. If they ever did a new series the condition should be that they only use 'established' challenge games (PES, Street Fighter, etc) or they use brand new, yet-to-be-released titles. That way, you get entertained by the challenge and you get to see a forthcoming game in action.

Dom is all burnt out, he's a wreck

Reading those words makes me really, really sad. Because I know that they're true. He's quite bitter and twisted now as well, and I can't see why. Maybe it's just his nature? I can't see any reason why he should be depressed about his life, he's famous to a fair few people and still has a regular income from his writing, plus he has two kids (which he seems proud of). As someone I always wanted to be like as kid, it's sad to see him so self-hateful. I still think he'd be the best bet to present a new series of GM...if you have anyone else it just wouldn't be GM.

[Commander Marklar]

Times have moved on a bit and while GM did appeal back then (and still does now, to me at least), kids ain't interested in it. By kids, I mean the average age group of GM back then, now. Gamezville is targetted at them, which is cool (although I feel old watching it ) and fills the gap, I reckon.

TV Programmes about Video Games.

Almost as good an idea as Future's "Monthly Magazine about The Internet".

o/\o