'Groundbreaking' reveal coming Tuesday

Top-notch indie developer Yach?t Clu?b Games has announced that it will be holding its third "Yacht Club Games Presents" presentation on Tuesday, February 1. The studio states that the show will feature exciting updates and an exciting and groundbreaking "mega announcement."

"You've been patient and we've been hard at work!" said the studio in a blog post. "We're proud to announce t??hat the 3rd official Yacht Club Games Presents will be hosted on G4’s Twitch channel. We’ll be focusing on a selection of games that have bran?d new content currently in development! We also have a hair-raisingly exciting MEGA ANNOUNCEMENT! You do not want to miss this historic event!"

Historic? Groundbreaking? Mega? It certainly sounds like the Shovel Knight developer has something pretty mighty up its sleeve. While it would be very easy to leap to the conclusion that Yacht Club is preparing to reveal a Shovel Knight sequel, there is a lot of interesting entendre at play here. "Groundbreaking" suggests a possible team-up, but also references the act of digging itself, "Mega" has connotations with Mega Man, which is a key influence in the YCG world. It's quit?e?? the riddle.

Or maybe my meds just haven't ?kicked in and I'm look??ing way too deeply into all of this.

Either way, it's sure to be an exciting reveal. If you want to check it out live, then tune in to the G4TV Twitch channel on Tuesday, February 1 at 14:00 PT / 17:00 ET / 23:00 BST to catch all of the hot scoops. And if you can't make it, then sweat ye not, as we'll be sure to bring you the lowdown right here on Destructoid. In the meantime, maybe check out the great Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon, which is now ??available on PS??4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

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'We Never Stopped Playing'

In a surprising announcement, it appears that '00s TV gaming channel G4 is getting read?y to make a comeback in 2021, following a teaser trailer broadcast during this weekend's Comic-Con@Home digital event.

The short clip - which you can check out below, courtesy of IGN - sees a camera pick its way through an abandoned warehouse, filled with gaming paraphernalia old and new, along with references to classic G4 shows, hosts, and running gags. A quiet game of Pong is then interrupted by an "Incoming Transmission," followed by the G4 logo and the simple statement "We Never Stopped Playing." The G4TV Twitter has also been reactivated.

Originally launching in 2002, G4 was a paid TV chann??el comprised of several shows which offered, tips, news, reviews, commentary, and head-to-hea??d gameplay. Thriving in the pre-YouTube/pre-Twitch days, G4 would eventually cease transmission in the winter of 2014.

What form this new version of G4 will take - whether a weekly show, a VOD service, or a continuous Twitch stream - remains to be seen. Regardless, WWE star and video game fan Xavier Woods/Austin Creed has already started a self-promotion campaign to b??ag himself a gig on the new show - having gotten the #Creed4G4 hashtag already trendin??g on social media.

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Kevin Pereira am cry

Gamers and all-around lovers of nerd culture love it when shows or outlets hire very attractive women for their programs in order to cater to that lower demographic and drive ratings. This appeared to be the case back in the day when the G4 network brought along Olivia Munn to a somewhat-popular show amongst us nerdy folk called Attack of the Show.

For some at the time, this signified the downfall of not only the show, but the lack of focus and intent that it and the network originally had -- believe it or not, G4TV was actually pretty good for a decent number of years. During her stint at G4 and after, Munn received the usual am??ount of hate you can exp??ect when thrown into the situation she was tossed into.

But since G4's downfall, Munn has been working hard to keep her foot in the Hollywood door. After a role on HBO's Newsroom, Munn has landed her biggest shot yet to really make it: She's going to be Psylocke in the next X-Men.

Sorry guys, it looks like your favorite female gaming host is going t?o continue to appear in your favorite things.

[Via Flixist and Instagram]

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Happy Easter

G4 and Attack of the Show are no more. What's G4 superstar Kevin Pereria been up to in the meantime? Among other things, he's taken to Machinima with Player Vs Pain, a show about hurting people while they play videogames. Kevin created and produce?d the thing, and all the ingredients for potential internet hit are there. 

It will be interesting to see how the show does from here. There is a fine line between giving people exactly what they want in "dumb fun entertainment" and making them feel pandered to and exploited. Which side of the line do you think the show falls on? What would you like to see them do more or less of in future episodes? Personally, I'd like it if that lady did the robot for five minutes and that was that, but I'm ??not sure I'm in the show's target demographic.

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Gaming? Not so much

Remember G4 TV? It's all over now. The gaming channel we all knew and kind of liked will stop being G4 come this April 22. From there it will turn into The Esquire Network, a men's  channel (whatever the hell that means), with the naming?? coming from the popular magazine. 

New York Times says that this rebrand will be "an upscale Bravo for men," which has me scrunching up my face uncomfortably. Gaming is out, and the "modern man" is in, which means fashion, travel, cooking and smarter?, cooler content. NBC is hoping to pick up a more?? sophisticated viewer, it seems. 

“Much of today’s programming targets men in a one-dimensional way,” said Adam Stotsky , the new network manager, with what?? he called “down-market shows” about “tattoos or pawn shops or storage lockers or axes or hillbillies.”

This sounds like a perfectly reasonable television channel. I'm sure it'll be fine. It's just not gaming. But we just can't manage to figure gaming television, can we? It seems one NBC exec, Bonnie ??Hammer, realizes the issue here: 

“Realistically, guys who are?? into gaming are not nec??essarily watching television.”

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A very special Sup Holmes

_{[Destructoid's Director of Communications Hamza Aziz asked Jonathan Holmes to make a show called 'Sup, Holmes?' so that Destructoid could later sell a t-shirt that says 'Sup, Holmes?' on it. This is that show. Subscribe to the podcast feed and find more episodes here.]}

This week on Sup Holmes we're taking a break from talking to game creators by getting in touch with a fellow member of the gaming press. Matthew "Tristero" Walden is a former Destructoid editor who has gone on to write for Geoff Keighley and create The Science of Games segments, both for Gametrailers TV. Since then, he's moved on to working on shows such as LA Ink and Swamp People,?? though that doesn't mean he's done with gaming. 

We'll be talking to Matt about his experiences in the industry, how suffering from Post Traumatic Stress and playing violent videogames h?ave affected him, and whatev?er else he wants to talk about. Join us at 1pm PST/4pm EST for the full experience. It's going to be packed!

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Will still have new episodes until then

We heard last month that NBC was moving G4 away from game coverage, but it wasn't exactly clear how or when this would be happening. Just announced on G4's blog, we now know two of their oldest (and probably best) shows will be pulled from the air by the end of the year. Those being Attack of the Show! and X-Play.

Attack of the Show! has been around since 2005, and X-Play started in 2003 (back when TechTV still existed). For the next two months, both shows will still have new episodes where they will look back on the good ol' days and bring on celebrity guests to join Morgan Webb, Blair Herter, Candace Bail??ey, and Sara Underwood.

Make all the Cops and Cheaters jokes you want, but G4 made a huge impact on gaming culture with these two shows over th??e years, and this truly marks the end of an era. Best of luck to all those invo?lved with both shows.

G4 Marks the End of AOTS and X-Pla??y ??with Two-Month Farewells [G4]

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Feline Flatulence & Mysterious MILFs

Hey guys! Toda??y's Destructoid Show was very exciting, because Tara's mom was here.

Today we talk about G4 trying to become GQ, XCOM: Enemy Unknown's PC pre-purchase perks, Capcom's ten minutes of Remember Me, Rayman Jungle Run, Trials Evolution coming to PC, and most importantly: Fart Cat. Also, Tara's a backup dancer in Zumba Fitness Core, so go buy that right now.

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Television's first and only dedicated gaming channel may call it quits by early 2013, according to a recent Variety report. NBCUniversal plan to rebrand the channel and cater toward older males that read GQ. ?So long and thanks for all the Cheaters and Cops reruns?

G4 launched on April 24, 2002 and has gone under many cosmetic changes and mergers over the past decade -- most notably TechTV in 2004. While the network had a shaky start with some gut-wrenchingly embarrassing stuff like Game On, they eventually found solid footing with Attack of the Show, X-Play, Icons, Cinematech,?? and some others that I fondly remember.

Over the past five years, the channel has catered more and more to the SpikeTV crowd with extreme sports, reality TV, and non-tech related programming. With most of their game programs cancelled and their flagship game authority Adam Sessler gone (still no word on if he quit or was fir?ed), perhaps this is a logical progression toward the end of an era.

I'd mourn the loss of G4 but I did that long ago, after its glory days of 2002-2005. And I discovered a thing called YouTube and Revision3 in the meantime.

[via Variety]

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G4 Films has been putting together a "Epictober Film Festival" event this month, which concluded today with the short, "The Birds of Anger." It's an obvious homage to the 1963 classic The Birds and some little mobile game no one's heard of, Angry Birds. 

The film has some sort of weird love triangle going on, a girl bringing eggs over and birds causing extreme mayhem. Also, a shotgun comes out at one point. You should at least stick around for that part. The moral of the story is never ever let a hot girl bring eggs over to your house. Unless, of course, you want it destroyed by hundreds of crows and doves.

The Birds Of Anger - A G4 Films Presentation [G4]

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G4 has basically bought E3 for the next few years, signing a deal that will grant it exclusive showfloor video coverage. Basically, they get a 24-hour l?ive feed and everybody else can leave their video cameras at home. 

Personally, I'm looking forward to the day that E3 just bans ?everybody else from attending and hosts the show in Ada??m Sessler's kitchen.

LOS ANGELES, November XX, 2010 – G4 and the Entertainment ??Software Association?? (ESA) today announced a three-year deal naming the network the official broadcaster for the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) through 2013. With this media partnership, G4’s team of gaming experts and popular on-air talent, including Adam Sessler, Morgan Webb, Kevin Pereira and Blair Herter, will bring viewers an unprecedented look inside the computer and video game industry’s biggest event with the high caliber coverage of the most important names in video games. 

With over 24 total hours of LIVE broadcast coverage featuring exclusive news and original programming, as well as live-streaming events on g4tv.com, G4 will?? deliver the most extensive E3 Expo coverage and give gaming enthusiasts all the information and news they crave year after year.

“As the global epicenter of the gaming world, E3 Expo is one of the biggest and most important events of the year for G4’s audience,” said Neal Tiles, President, G?4. “We are excited to have solidified G4 as the official broadcaster of E3 Expo for years to come and look for??ward to giving gamers a front row seat to all the big announcements, live news coverage and behind-the-scenes action.”

The multi-year broadcast partnership allows G4 to feature up-to-the-minute news and unparalleled on-air coverage to gaming enthusiasts LIVE from the Expo each year. Broadcast highlights will feature over 24 hours of LIVE coverage that includes a kick-off show, uninterrupted press conference coverage, developer interviews, hands-on walkthroughs and behind-closed-doors demos. With this unmatched level?? of E3 Expo news brought directly from the exposition floor, fans will never be left wanting.

"As we have demonstrated in the last five years, G4 is the only outlet that provides comprehensive cove??rage of an outstanding quality that both entertains and informs for the entire three-day show," said Adam Sessler, host of X-Play and Editor-in-Chief of games content for G4. "With such reach, we can ensure that anyone who is unable to attend will feel like they are in the thick of the gaming madness from the comfort of their couch and with far less ?foot ache."

Stay tuned to G4, g4tv.com, X-Play and Attack of the Show ?in the coming months to get the complete line-up of coverage for the annual expo.

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Congratulations to everyone at G4 for their 1,000th episode of Attack of the Show. They celebrated 1,000 shows this past Thursday by looking back at all of the memorable moments from the show's history. Check out the G4TV Web site for clips of Kevin's first appearance on G4, that episode where Olivia jumped into a giant pie, the return of Sarah Lane to many more clips.

AotS also celebrated the special day by debuting a music video starring Oliv?ia Munn and Kevin Pereira. The song is called “Video Game Girl” and is performed by Nerf Herder frontman Parry Gripp The music video is a blatant ad for GameStops, ??but it’s not bad! Olivia stars as that rare female GameStop employee and Kevin is rocking out on the drums.

Hit the break to check it out.

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First off, thanks to Adam Sessler for giving us props in regards to dropping the rumortoid bomb that Left 4 Dead 2 was going to be announced at E3. Funny how almost no one believed us. Everyone must have thought ?we were crazy. So crazy.

Anyway, on the latest Sessler's Soapbox, Adam had a few things to say about all the people enraged over how Valve has "betrayed" them by making Left 4 Dead 2. The original Left 4 Dead did great in terms of sales, so it was a no-brainer that Valve would want to make a sequel. And as we know, the sequel is going to add a lot of new features that should really set it apa??rt from the original.

We've expressed the same feelings as Adam has on the issue and agree with everything he had to say here. Valve -- like all the other game companies -- is a business, and they don't owe us anything. Check out what The Sess had to say afte?r the break.

Seriously. All you whiners could be doing better things with your time ... like making nude patches for Left 4 Dead!

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Last Friday, we found out that Attack of the Show co-host Olivia Munn would once again be ??appearing in Playboy. We got to see a video from Olivia's Playboy photoshoo??t and were promised a look at the cover of the new issue the following week.

G4 has delivered on that promise and the cover was revealed on Attack of the Show yesterday. She graces the cover all wet and in a little red bikini. She won'?t actually be naked, just wearing next to nothing. I guess you can? draw some nipples on the pages or something to trick yourself into thinking she's naked. Whatever floats your boat, man.

Even more exciting was the reveal of Kevin Pereira's surprise announcement of his upcoming magazine cover issues. Damn Kevin, you looking mighty fine! MEOW!

Hit the break to check out the cover revea??l. The new issue of Playboy will be out this F?riday. 

The post Wet and red: Olivia Munn’s Playboy cover revealed appeared first on Destructoid.

Whoa, what's going on?! The Olivia Munn does Playboy article from way back in 2007 is the top third story on Destructoid right now!  Gasp! Could this mean ... Yes! Yes it's true! Olivia? Munn is doing Playboy again! Oh joyous day! Hallelujah!

Oh wait ... She's not getting naked. Again. Damn.

Still, Olivia will be nearly naked and that's like being fully naked. Almost! T??he Attack of the Show co-host showed off a video from her Playboy shoot last night where she gets really wet. She also pees in the pool. Hawt.

C?heck out the video for yourself after the jump. G4 will show off the cover of the new issue of Playboy with Olivia next week. I have five-to-one odds that she will be wearing bear costume on the cover. Any takers?

You'll be able to pi??ck up the new issue later this month (or next maybe next month. I'm not sure how Playboy's circulation works) which will be filled with a ton of sexy sexy sexy words. Damn, Playbo?y sure knows how to print up sexy alphabets. 

On a more serious note, I'll never understand why Playboy has cover stor?ies on women that don't get naked now. It's like the equivalent of a videogame blog covering something that's barely videogame related ... Oh shi-

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As a late night talk show host, Jimmy Fallon is, like, totally way cooler than those other guys. I mean, seriously -- did Johnny Carson ever have a Twitter account where he re??count fights h?e had in NY pizza joints? No! King of Late Night my ass!

Also, Fallon talks about videogames a bunch on his show, and guess what? We have heard of these things, and we like them. Seriously though, if Fallon is making the ground-floor creative decisions for NBC's The Jimmy Fallon Show, good for him. Why? Because he's doing some sort of pre-E3 coverage tonight, with G4's Morgan Webb as his guest. 

So heads up -- set your DVR for The Jimmy Fallon Show tonight (12:35 AM on NBC) if you're interested in Fallon and Webb talk about God of War III (or Wii Sports 2) and play them there videogames. You know you have nothing b??etter to do.

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Say whatever y??ou want about Adam Sessler (and because you're hiding behind the Internet, you very well may). But having hung out with him on a few occassions, I can confirm ??that he's good people. And he also knows his games. 

So it's good news to hear that the X-Play host has been promoted to Editor-in-Chief of G4 Games Content. He'll now be keeping an eye on all editorial content for X-Play, as well as overseeing the gaming content for the entire G4 network. Sessler will continue to host X-Play, and I hope will continue his ?weekly online rants, as I'm easily amused. 

I look forward to congratulating Adam in person, and the confused look on his face as he knows he remembers me from somewhere but can't quite figure it out. (Hint: It involved d?rinks. But d??oesn't it always?)

“X-PLAY” HOST AND GAMING INDUSTRY VETERAN ADAM SESSLER
PROMOTED TO EDITOR IN CHIEF, G4 GAMES CONTENT
                                                                           
Los Angeles, CA. December 17, 2008 – “X-Play” host and one of the most respected names in videogame journalism, Adam Sessler, has been promoted to Editor-in-Chief, G4 Games Content.   In his new role, Sessler will oversee editorial content for “X-Play,” the most w?atched videogame show on television, as well as all gaming content for the network.  Sessler will continue to serve as host of “X-Play,” along with Morgan Webb. The announcement was made today?? by Neal Tiles, President, G4.

On “X-Play,” Sessler brings fans the?? latest news and information on the cons?tantly evolving world of gaming, including live demos of the titles gamers are most excited to see, exclusive interviews with the biggest names in videogames, sneak peeks at games still in development and behind-the-scenes profiles with gaming’s biggest developers. Sessler leads daily comprehensive coverage for the network, as well as news gathering from key industry events such as CES, E3 and Tokyo Game Show.  

Sessler has been front and center on the most watched videogame shows on television for over 10 years including nearly 1,000 episodes as the host of?? “X-Play.” Prior to “X-Play,” Sessler hosted “Extended Play” and “Gamespot TV” for TechTV and ZD??TV respectively. Throughout his career he has conducted interviews with the industry’s top luminaries, secured an unprecedented number of exclusives and broken numerous news stories on “X-Play.”

“Adam is an incredible resource and has helped position G4 and “X-Play” as the center of the gaming universe,” said Neal Tiles, President G4 TV.  “We are lucky to h??ave an industry expert with his experience, wisdom and passion, as well as his strong relationships throughout the gamin??g community, leading our team.”

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Oh, we're all holding out breath waiting to find out -- what will bec??????????????????????????ome of the Electronic Ent??ertainment Expo?

Hell if we know, but we're about to find out! G4's X-Play will exclusively be revealing t?he first details on next year's ??E3 tonight. To get the skinny, you'll have to tune into G4 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. 

Unfortunately, that's all of the information we have. We can, of course, speculate. Dtoid's Chad Concelmo thinks that maybe E3 will make its way outside of LA, or that it will "go back to its chaotic, sweaty, boobie-filled days of yore." I think it's interesting that the info is going to be revealed on ??a mainstream, very public cable channel -- will E3 2009 be open to the public? 

Who knows. No one tells us anything. But we'll tell you as soon as we know. Or you could tune into the X-Play tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Your call.

[Image source: As the Gaming World Turns]

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Say what you will about G4 (and I know you'll say it), but X-Play is a damned fine show.?? So I'd say it's pretty great news that the show will be expanding this December, according to G4 president Neal Tiles. 

"I'm excited to announce that X-Play will expand to one full hour each weekend night for month of December," he wrote in a recent online Q&A, "as we take a look at all the holiday releases and look f?orward to?? 2009 titles."

He continues to say that the expa?nded show will be a test, and if the show experiences growth, may become permanent moving in to 2009. G4 currently ??airs new half-hour episodes daily. 

Personally, I've always been a fan of the show, which may or may not be one of the last surviving pieces of G4 programming that truly gets videogames. Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb both know their stuff (no really, trust me ... they do), and they'v??e gotten a fair amount of solid exclusives lately that definitely make the show worth watching.

Now, what's up wit??h G4 going high-definition? There's a ball, Comcast ... get on it. I know high-definition videogame footage would make me want to watch a show more; what abo??ut you guys?

[Thanks, Greg!] 

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Around the time of the Oscars every year, I often hear people say things like, “Who picks the winners, anyway?” When I explain that it’s the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, an organization with 6,000+ “motion picture professionals,” a few people say, “They should let the people pick ’em.” Frankly, I think it’s a good thing that life doesn’t work that way, as the general populace often doesn’t know what the hell it’s doing (e.g., American Idol).

Here’s some more evidence of that. Last night, X-Play aired an hour-long special on its “G-Phoria 2008” Awards, which are purposely set during the summer so “gamers can find respite from the heat and take advantage of time off to engage in their passion.” To be eligible, a game had to have been released between July 31, 2007, and July 31, 2008. All 19 awards were selected by viewer votes (online at G4tv.com and via text message), so I guess it’s no?t enti??rely fair for me to bitch since I didn’t voice my opinion. Whatever, I’m going to do it anyway.

You’d think that, with the window shifted to include the first seven months of this year and the last five of last year, people would’ve gotten over the whole “ZOMG Halo 3 IS THE BEST GAME EVAR!” thing -- but apparently not. So they picked it as the best game released in the past twelve months. *Sigh* Personally, I could name at least five games that are better in my opinion, but obviously, the massive cultural phenomenon that is the Halo series doe?sn’t give a damn about what?? I think.

Anyway, other winners included skate. as the Best Sports Game; Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare as the Best Online Multiplayer Game; and Turok as the Game Most Deserving of an Uwe Boll Movie. Hit the ju?mp for the f?ull list, and then debate its contents in the comments.

The “G-Phoria 2008” winners include:
 
Game of the Year
Halo 3
 
Favorite System
Xbox 360

Best Graphics
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Best New Character
Niko Bellic - Grand Theft Auto IV

Best Party Game
Rock Band
 
Best Strategy Game
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

Best Sports Game  
skate.
 
Best Action Game
Grand Theft Auto IV
 
Best Shooter
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
 
Best Racing Game
Mario Kart Wii
 
Best Role-Playing Game
Mass Effect

Most Original
Portal

Best Online Multiplayer Game
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Best Downloadable Content
Rock Band

Best Handheld Game
God of War: Chains of Olympus
 
Best Voice Acting
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
 
Best Soundtrack
Rock Band
 
Game Most Deserving of an Uwe Boll Movie
Turok

Longest Lasting Game presented by Stride
Grand Theft Auto IV

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In what can only be described as a brilliant move, G4 announced today that they will be partnering with Microsoft to release several of their series via Xbox Live. The shows up for grabs are "Code Monk??eys", a show about coding that may or may not feature monkeys, "The Block", which features people strappi?ng themselves to wooden planks right before they fling themselves down a hill, and, of course, "Attack of the Show". I'm not really sure what that last one is about.

In addition to releasing their content over Live, G4 will be releasing special weekly episodes created with Xbox fanb?oys in mind. The long, slow trek toward a widely accepted digital distribution method for most media is gathering steam, my friends. With more media outlets finally realizing the resource they have available to them in consoles, it won't be long before gaming rigs become all-in-one entertainment systems. I, for one, can'??t wait.

Full release after the jump. 

G4 ANNOUNCES AGREEMEN??T WITH MICROSOFT TO OFFER POPULAR P??ROGRAMMING ON XBOX 360

Free Sneak Preview of “Code Monkeys” Season Two Available for Download on Xbox LIVE Video Store in Advance of Telev??ision Debut

Los Angeles, CA, May 27, 2008 – G4, the multi-media destination that feeds young guy’s addiction for the latest technology, web culture, animation and video games, announced today that the network has teamed up with Microsoft to offer a selection of its popular series on Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system.  Shows available for download immediately are animated comedy series “Code Monkeys,” including a free sneak preview of season two, snowboarder reality series “The Block” and a special weekly episode of “Attack of the Show.”  The agreement marks the first ti??me that G4’s content has been made available for download on a gaming console.

??“G4 is a natural fit to be part of the Xbox LIVE community.  Our young male audience spends more time interfacing with technology than any other network,” said Neal Tiles, President,?? G4.  “This partnership underscores G4’s commitment to bringing relevant and authentic content to young guys in more ways than ever before.”

“G4 is one of the industry leaders for gaming and entertainment content and we are thrilled to offer its shows on the Xbox LIVE Video Store,” said Ross Honey, senior director of the media and entertainment gr?oup, Microsoft. “We’re sure the Xbox LIVE community is going to jump at the chance to download G4 shows, especially the never before seen free episode of Code Monkeys.”

Episodes from the following?? G4 series are available for download now at the Xbox LIVE Video Store:

&ldquo??;Code Monkeys” – G4’s hit animated comedy of 8-bit proportions centers around GameAvision, a 1980’s videogame company, and the misadventures of its staff whose crazy antics ascend any of their own video creations.  Creator Adam de la Peña (“The Man Show,” “Crank Yankers”) sends the rowdy staff on side-splitting adventures that parody the golden age of videogames, including cameos of industry icons who help them along the way.  Season two of “Code Monkey” debuts June 1 on G4 but a new episode is ava??ilable for download now at the Xbox LIVE Video Store.

“The Block” – This reality series, currently in its second seaso??n, gives viewers a free lift ticket inside the world of hard-core snowboarders.  The series is filmed at the world’s only hotels run by and for snowboarders and offers a candid look at the insanity of “The Block,” where the action behind the front desk is only topped by what happens on the slopes.  It’s up to the hotel’s owners, pro-snowboarding icon Marc Frank Montoya and hotel entrepreneur Liko Smith, to balance the company and the craziness to make sure guests live in true rock-star style.  Season one of the series takes place in Lake Tahoe and season two goes to the hotel’s branch in Big Bear, CA.

“Attack of the Show” – G4 brings viewers an irreverent interactive daily live trip to the digital water cooler with reports on the latest hot topics and breaking news, including non-mainstream guests and in-depth coverage of events such as CES, E3, GDC, SXSW and Comic-Con.  Hosted by Kevin Pereir??a and Olivia Munn, “Attack of the Show” takes viewers inside, underneath, around and behind tech, games, Internet culture, comic books, sports, gadgets and more.  A special weekly episode, created e?xclusively for Xbox users, will be made available for download each week.

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Today, The Guardian reports that The Halcyon Company -- a media company ??un??heard of in the gaming world -- has obtained the right of first option to Philip K. Dick's works and plans to adapt two of his novels into games. The two games would mark The Halcyon Company's introduction to the gaming world, and to be perfectly honest, I'm a little worried.

N?ormally, the news of one of my favorite author's works being adapted to games would be cause for celebrati??on, but a company in its infancy toying around with Philip K. Dick novels as a basis for games is unsettling. However, Victor Kubicek, co-CEO for The Halcyon Company, allays the fears of sci-fi aficionados thusly:

"Philip'??s daughters have never allowed anyone this kind of access before. Until we closed the deal we didn't realise how coveted the library was?? in Hollywood."

While a few of his novels have been adapted to games before, they've never done particularly well (with perhaps the exception of Blade Runner). If The Halcyon Company does the novels justice with their adaptations, this has the potential to produce some very interesting games backed by the hardware they really n??eed??.

[Via NeoSeeker -- Thanks, Jonathan!] 

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Rockstar Games' Vice President of creativity and Grand Theft Auto writer Dan Houser has very vocally attacked the "casual gaming" craze currently gripping the games industry. He didn't feel the need to be part?icul??arly eloquent about it, either.

"F*** all this stuff about casual gaming," ranted the man who co-wrote GTA IV. "I think people still want games that are groundbreaking. The Wii is doing something totally different, which is fantastic. We're hopefully going to prove that there's also a very big audience for people who want entertainment i?n another form, who think? of games as being a narrative device that can challenge movies."

Houser also attacked videogames with fantasy themes such as "orcs and elves, or monsters, or space." Houser believes Rockstar's themes are superior, as his company's games are "about something we could actually relate to. Or aspire to." Now, I love Grand Theft Auto, don't get me wrong -- but I can't say I particularly aspire to be an Eastern European human smuggler, drug runner and murderer. Nor do I w?ish to be an escaped ??mental patient on a killing spree, or a table tennis player. I can't say Rockstar makes games with life goals that echo my own. 

Houser also spoke up about GTA IV's violence by saying; "If you don't like a??ny violent content in your entertainment, then I apologize because I do. And I've unfortunately been exposed to it my entire life. If we equally got rid of a lot of books that talk about violence, okay."

I think the casual gaming buzz term is stupid, but to tar fantasy games with the same brush isn't very fair. Nor is it correct to hold Rockstar Games up as a bastion of thematic creativity. There is a lot of inventiveness in GTA,?? but it still plays many of the same notes it did almost a decade ago, and there's not a lot else Rockstar has done to push gaming forward as an art form.

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Life is a funny thing. Sometimes, what may seem like a brilliant idea that just can't lose often turns out just the opposite when put into play. Ironically enough, those thoughts that were cast aside as worthless occasionally find their mark, leaving us all scratching our heads in wonderment -- and cursing the powers that be. That would seem to be the case with what was once know?n as G4 TV. 

Launched in 2002, it was designed to cater to a very specific demographic, and it was surmised that with enough money, talent, and exposure, it could do for videogames what MTV did for music. As we now know, it floundered. There were a couple of standout shows such as Cinamatech, Filter, Judgment Day, and Icons, but the station just didn't have enough content to keep? things fresh and interesting. As someone who liked to frequent the station when nothing else seemed inviting on cable at the moment, I can personally vouch for this. More often than not, you would either find constant reruns of shows that had already a??ired, or even worse, long blocks of infomercials. Looking back, it's not exactly the eighth wonder of the world as to why things had to change.

More, after the jump: 

The channel has seen a couple of programming changes since then, but if you flash forward to the present time and compare it to G4's earliest days, you would think that the two were never related. Now, you are likely to find that the vast majority of programming seems to include videogames as an afterthought. Now here's the kicker: viewership is at an all time high. According to G4's President, Neal Tiles, business is better than ever:

Let me preface all of my comments on these types of questions by saying tha??t G4, and TechTV?? before it, has never been watched more than it is right now, since shifting away from an "all videogame" format…the network has realized huge ratings gains and web, VOD and podcasting traffic. We are in our 35 consecutive month of ratings growth (not sure if any other TV network can match that) and we have more VOD and podcasting views than any other ad supported cable network. I say this off-the-bat in an attempt to minimize what will inevitably be future callous flaming responses of "G4 sucks!" or "G4 went downhill ever since it moved away from ‘all gaming’"….simply, the network has never been stronger as a business.

So what does this tell us about the state of videogame? television? G4 is saying that they've been there, done that, and it just doesn't work. It could be argued that videogames tend to displace television, and that we look to the Internet ?to keep us abreast of what is going on in the gaming world. Equally so, it could be said that G4 was its own worst enemy from the start. They hyped up the channel, but just didn't follow it up with enough relevant content to keep themselves afloat.

None of us seem to have all of the answers, but the next time you happen to click on the channel and are met with episodes of Cops, Cheaters, or Star Trek, at least you know the reason why. The old model for videogame television is broken. If there's any hope of ever making a new one that works, it's going to have to magically attract gamers and nongamers alike. You know, like regular TV shows. Until then, you can always console yourself with a trip back in time, if urge hits you, I suppose.

The post G4’s President tells us what we already knew: Money talks, BS walks appeared first on Destructoid.

[Editor's note - A contact at G4 confirmed that the top ten shown above are actually being submitted as nominees to be a new G4 host. Winning this contest does not guarantee that the winner actually gets a job at G4, so it looks like all ten ladies above still have a chance. Thanks to G4 for clearing that up!]

You may remember mention of the G4 hunt for a new female host (or "Gamer Girl", as they called it) recently, bringing many a hopeful out of the woodwork and double the amount of overdone MySpace pictures to accompany them. It seems a winner has been announced, 18 year old bunnyXablaze, who has been gaming since age 4 and apparently enjoys putting game-related items in her mouth.

Of course, several good friends of Destructoid were in the running for this contest as well, so I'm sorry not to see them as winners, but I'm sure bunnyXablaze will do a fine job. She's attractive, which sadly was the major underlying motive in this contest anyway. It seems the competition ruffled quite a few feathers with its style, seemingly pitting girls up against one ano??ther in a fashion that seemed cheap to gamers.

The theme of women in gaming provides quite a conundrum for young females, in my opinion. Many of the games we play are littered with images of barely-clad women with huge breasts and skintight clothing. If we present ourselves in such a fashion, we are quickly labelled "whores," but men continue to wallpaper their bedrooms with posters of those women and idolize them openly. I can't support or criticize the girls in th??is contest who are guilty of that (and not all of them are.) It's a major societal pressure to appear sexy, and not just in videogames.

Did this contest bother you? If so, why?

[Via Gaming Today - thanks Justin]

The post G4TV?? chooses their new Gamer Girl nominees (update) appeared first on Destructoid.

G4’s hit show X-Play is premiering a brand new segment tonight -- dramatically titled Head to Head -- and the producers have g??enerously asked me to be a part of it. Yay!

When I first heard the segment’s name, I immediately imagined I would be fighting some kind of? dragon or chimera, armed with only an ice halberd and my limited knowledge of black magic. After asking if Firaga was allowed to be cast in the studio, the very patient producers informed me that the segment had nothing to do with me battl??ing a mythical beast. Instead, I will be having a healthy, spirited debate with another member of the videogame industry about the future of the PlayStation 3. You’re a lucky bastard, chimera!

Check out all the verbal drama tonight at 8:00 p.m. EST on G4 (right after Attack of the Show). I am extra nervous, but I will do anything it takes to make Destructoid proud. Any last minute words of advice? Shoul??d I bring along a?? healing staff, just in case?

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