Retro|Spective 219: GamesMaster

[Neon Ignition]

A looming cybernetic head looms into view and eyes you with half with curiosity, half with distain...


Retro|Spective 219: GamesMaster


There have been several shows focused on videogames but perhaps none are as well known and beloved as Channel 4's 90's era titan that balanced its format with challenges, themed settings, around three cheats disclosed per episode and for the most part dry humour that would skirt with the maximum its tea time timeslot would permit them to get away with.

What are your broad memories of GamesMaster and where did it rank in the history of gaming media?


Entry 01 - Season 01: Church



With celeb challenges from famed faces with clearly no gaming experience, the green lit Church was the setting of the original run where the Golden Joystick made its debut as the prize each featured player attempted to win. Dominik Diamond led the show with the infamous wise GamesMaster looking on down from above.

What are your memories and thoughts of the launch of GamesMaster?

[hudson]

I just always remember thinking that guy in the bandana looks a right prat I based it on the bandana alone. I was young!

[wakka]

Your instincts were dead on. He was a complete prat.

[Asura]

Weird one this, because I lived in a place where our regular TV reception was quite poor, and as a result we had Sky/Satellite TV unusually early, since ~1988. This means much of my childhood TV experience in the 80s was a bit different; while my friends were watching a lot of the BBC stuff I was watching things like Voltron on The Children's Channel.

GamesMaster is kinda like that, because as someone who loved videogames I heard about it a lot, but I watched much more of Sky's GamesWorld.

[Neon Ignition]

I think I caught the first episode by sure chance due to it being on a teatime and it was immediately likeable. I think for the first series, as much as the pieces of the show were in place, it was the setting that made it stick in my mind more than anything else.

[Neon Ignition]

Entry 02 - Season 02: Oil Rig
The second run of the show opened just a few months after the end of the first and started the running theme of the opening wireframe credits telling a narrative of how the show transitioned to a new setting each series. Filmed in the same location as the Justice episode of Red Dwarf, the show set itself up as taking place on a Oil Rig for its second run and following the first runs success Channel 4 expanded the budget and episode count from 10 episodes to 26. The shows audience grew rapidly along with its impact and ability to draw publishers and other media outlets to the programme as a result. Dave Perry, who had been the Monk servant in the first series, was swapped out for a Diver and Perry spent more time commentating on the show instead. Celebrity guests for the second run included Frank Bruno, Take That and many more.






What are your thoughts and memories of the second series of GamesMaster?

[Mayhem]

GamesMaster is kinda like that, because as someone who loved videogames I heard about it a lot, but I watched much more of Sky's GamesWorld.

Unsurprisingly they were both Hewland productions, having been on both, and knowing someone who used to work on both behind the scenes.

[hudson]

Unsurprisingly they were both Hewland productions, having been on both, and knowing someone who used to work on both behind the scenes.

Do you wear a bandana?

[Neon Ignition]

Things never changed much in terms of content but if you say to me at any point 'Picture GamesMaster in your mind' it's the second season setting that is the one that immediately pops in thinking

[Neon Ignition]

Entry 03 - Season 03: The Prison
The intro of the third series continues the cross series narrative with the Oil Rig exploding, taking the series to its new setting of a Prison. The shift also marked the introduction of new presenter Dexter Fletcher who informed viewers that Diamond had died in the explosion. The series split itself with focus on two teams but was otherwise the same format, the show continuing to remain popular but Fletcher's presenting style wasn't as well recieved as Diamond's leading to this being the only run he led. The guest list saw several guests from the second run return including several Gladiators, Vinnie Jones and Frank Bruno including Jet from Gladiators appearing as the GamesMistress.



What were your thoughts and reactions to Series 3?

[Atticus]

I vaguely remember watching S3 but it was a shadow without Dozzer Diamond. Those eralier series were great.

[Mayhem]

Time for people to go hunt the episode of this series I was on

Dexter, for all the comments about his presenting style, was excellent off camera, chatting to both the contestants and engaging the audience in between takes. If the energy does not come off on screen, more's the pity.

As it turned out, only the first half of the series was filmed in Oxford Prison. HMG decided to reopen it for actual use, so a new filming location had to be found for the second half of the episodes.

[Mayhem]

[hudson]

what game did you play?

[Mayhem]

That would make searching for the episode too easy it was a sports game though...