Like many others in these awful times, the people behind the legendary Mega64 YouTube and Twitch channels saw their revenue drop drastically in the last month. They only have en?ough to keep both the cool RGB lights and even the r?egular ones on for a couple of weeks.

Yesterda?y, in a Twitch stream that proved spooky for the wrong reasons, Mega64 revealed a bunch of serious unexpected hurdles that the group is dealing with.

What happened to Mega64?

Declining ad revenue - The Internet hasn't been kind on content creators lately, and Mega64 has been having it unfairly rough. Though their content retains the same level of quality, YouTube just isn't as lucrative as?? it once was.

Merchandise Problems - While the group takes the blame for taking longer than it should to deliver some of its merchandise, merch also saw an unrelat??ed decrease in sales and profitability due?? to inflated production costs.

Bad Faith actors - The group has sadly fallen prey to a yet-unknown scammer or party of scammers which has stolen thousands ??of dollars in donation money and also prevented the group from getting further donations on their regular donation channels.

What is Mega64?

Mega64 began as an innoce??nt project by friends Rocco Botte, Derrick Acosta, and Shawn Chatfield that turned into one of the most belo?ved gaming-related channels on YouTube.

I was already an adult when I was first exposed to Mega64's conte??nt, but I'd be lying if I were to ignore the group's influence over my work and overall desire to make video game-related content.

Among many other things, Mega64's YouTube channel is a trailblazer of video-game-related parodies. One problem with Internet comedy is that it tends to grow old fast. We all know that. I re-watched some of my ??favorite Mega64 videos of the past to avoid getting dunked on for my possibly outdated humor, and can gladly say they absolutely hold up.

The first Mega64 video I ever saw, VG Fact Checkerz, is a staple of Internet comedy. It does a great job of spoofing an?swers to ridiculous questions not even the highest-level Redditors were asking back then, and features a contender for the best ending for a YouTube video ever:

Mega64 is also unique in that it somehow managed to get actual video game personalities to go along with their hilarious spoofs. Below you can find Final Fantasy?? creator Hironobu Sakaguchi himself spoofing ??his own history at Squaresoft just because he gets it.

They even got Hideki Kamiya, one of gaming's most volatile personalities, to poke fun at his own infamous need to block anyone who so much as says anything? he doesn't vibe with on Twitter.

The holy grail, to me, at least, is possibly their Death Stranding spoof. There's a twist where we learn it was at least partially filmed by Hideo Kojima himself, who then got fired by the Mega64 crew for his poo?r workmanship.

If you're not familiar with Mega64 �a possibility, considering the unbelievable reality of how one of the best things on YouTube for over 20 years has never managed to break one million followe?rs �You might think I'm trolling you, but it's real. It's all real:

Right now, joining the Mega64 Patreon is the best way to directly contribute to the channel. You can also help via Ko-Fi donation. Sharing your favorite Mega64 videos on Twitter will surely remind at least a few people of s?ome of the best moments they've had on the Inter??net, and that's already something.

This past year in the gaming industry has been riddled with disheartening closures of gre??at studios and layoffs of professionals we ??dearly miss �many even on a personal level. Mega64 is giving us the rare chance of actually preventing something good from disappearing, so consider doing with that information the coolest thing you can think of.

The post Mega64 needs help, or it’s potentially going away forever appeared first on Destructoid.

Barney is doomed

Mega64 is still around and just as great as ever, as seen above in this "leaked" God of War 4 footage. Did you know in the upcoming g?ame, not only does Kratos take on Norse mythology, but all the other popular rel??igions too?

I just want to know if Kratos will solve the mystery of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? So many children failed to stop th?at notorious thief from terrorizing the world in the '90s, ?but I have a hunch Kratos is the man for the job.

The post Mega64 spills the beans on God of War 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

Did I mention exclusive?

A disturbing and cryptic press release today from Internet comedy troupe Mega64 is making waves online. Naturally, M??ike Cosimano and I were on the scene with an exclusive interview about their journey from making videos about video games to making video games themselves.

Full Exclusive Interview™ below:

The post Exc??lusive: Mega64 announces foray into indie game develop?ment appeared first on Destructoid.

Petitions are so OVER!

Mega64 never ceases to entertain me and its just-released Metroid Prime: Federation Force petition spoof is proof of that. I mentioned the petition during E3 and some people took it that I was attacking all Metroid fans and not just the ones behind the petition. Mega64 takes a bit more of a lighthearted sat??irical approach to the matter??, but still hits the same points. 

Good on you Mega64. Keep up the good work.

The post Entitled terrori?sts at Mega64 demand Nintendo cancel Metroid Prime: Federation Force appeared first on Destructoid.

Whip it good, with Mega64

Mega64 has partnered with the father of Castlevania, Koji Igarashi, to craft a brutal tale of vampire murder to help promote Iga's Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Kickstarter. Currently Bloodstained is just shy ??of the $3.5 million stretch goal for a Vita port, which will almost certainly happen within these last seven days of its campaign. 

Be forewarned, this has one of the most violent scenes that has ever been in a Mega64 video. Th???is video is not intended for the faint of heart, children, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

I'm a big Mega64 fan if you haven't noticed.

The post Igarashi is the world’s greatest vampire hunter appeared first on Destructoid.

Mega64 does it again

"How'd they get him?"

That question comes to mind when I go back and watch some of my favorite Mega64 videos. Somehow, there have been skits with big-name creators like Shigeru Miyamoto, Hideo Kojima, and Ken Kutaragi. Now here'??s another in that vein: "Hironobu Sakagu?chi's Final Fantasy."

Did he?? just staple his computer monitor? He just stapled his computer mo??nitor.

The post So *that’s* how Sakaguchi got stuck making Final Fantasy after Final Fantasy appeared first on Destructoid.

Push everything

The longer we go without a second season of Dark Dreams Don't Die, the more I realize how much I genuinely connected with Swery65's ??strange adventure game. What a tragedy it would be for this story to go unfinished. I need resolution, especially after seeing some of the wild fan theories.

While I wait (potentially forever), the guys at Mega64 recreated the look and feel of D4 for a video.

You're going to be total?ly lost if you haven't played it yet, but the skit should s?till be entertaining.

The post Mega64 does Dark Dreams Don’t Die appeared first on Destructoid.

Just watch

Here's Mega64 taking on Gauntlet, with Rocco and others acting as the "world's biggest Gauntlet fans" demonstrating their love for the game and all it entails. Hilarity ensues, but that's to be expected.?? 

I don't know if this tops "Chin Down, Eyes Up," but it pretty much nails the awkward stage presence I'd have i?f I ever chose to make v?ideos like these. 

The post Mega64’s take on Gauntlet is only something they could do appeared first on Destructoid.

Crime stops here

What do you do when you explore all available paths with a char?acter, and end up ??with nowhere to go? You reboot it, of course! Is that the position that Batman's in?

Mega64 thinks so. It took the unsolicited initiative and reinvented the Caped Crusader. Except now he has a raincoat instead of a cape. Also,?? he's a Puerto?? Rican guy now.

The post Mega64 gives Batman a much-needed makeover appeared first on Destructoid.

I just can't stop laughing, honestly

At this point, I'm pretty much a fan of whatever content Mega64 decides to create. After the Game Gurlz series,? I was down for life. And now with the release of this "Beta Man" video, I'm doubled over with laughter ready to peruse their older catalogue for the hundredth time.

I know they're a pretty divisive troupe, but you have to hand it to them for poking fun at what so many of us bemoan on a day-to-day basis. And this one is now one of my favorites, ranking right up there with the infamous "Chin Down, Eyes Up" skit. Good stuff. 

The post Mega64’s latest spoof takes on Early Access games in a hilarious way appeared first on Destructoid.

I lost it at the part with the hoagie

A city floating in the sky? Sure, I'll buy it. Alternate dimensions? Well, yeah. Nothing new. But eating any old random food scattered throughout town to recover health? You've gone too far, BioShock Infinite. I can no longer suspend my disbelief.

The absurdity of Booker DeWitt's eating habits didn't need to be illustrated, but ??leave it to the Mega64 guys to take the? concept to its grossest conclusion. Stick around for the final scene.

The post Eating f?ood to heal in BioShock Infinite really was too?? much appeared first on Destructoid.

Anything to hear that narrator's voice again

Mega64's latest video is about one of my favorite interactive experiences from last year, The Stanley Parable. But, these people look confused. Maybe they don't share m??y enth??usiasm for it.

Alternatively, maybe they're confused because not a single one of these people is Stanley. Without Stanley, the name "The Stanley Parable" doesn't make much sense, does it? It could be The John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt Parable for all we know.

The post Mega64’s Stanley Parable video is about guys who aren’t Stanley appeared first on Destructoid.

A documentary on the long process involved with making it all happen

As in years past, Mega64 made some videos for the Game Developers Conference. This year in particular was really special, as they were able to get Ken "Father of PlayStation" Kutaragi himself to be involved. The team had a tight production schedule with two weeks to film this, along with their other GDC videos. All the parts with Ken Kutarag??i was especially tricky, as they only had 30 minutes to film with him.

Also Garrett licks an expired condom.

The post See what it took for Mega64 to make Kutaragi’s Way appeared first on Destructoid.

So handsome

I was only able to catch bits and pieces of the Independent Games Festival awards and the Game Developers Choice awards last week, but I did manage to see what must have been one of the evening's best moments: Kut??aragi's Way. I've been waiti??ng all weekend for this to hit YouTube.

Ken Kutaragi received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Game Developers Conference and as part of the festivities, the "Father of ?PlayStation" presented a short film about his role as a young developer in the PS1 days. A film that happens to be made by Mega64. Yeah.

The post Kutaragi’s Way is some of Mega64’s best work appeared first on Destructoid.

Travel these days, amirite?

In the latest Mega64 video, it seems Derrick has become a bit too enamored with the game Papers, Please. He's set up a border patrol booth at the entrance to the Mega64 offices, which has now been dubbed the country of Acosta (after his own last name). Rocco only wants to go inside to get his iPad that he left behind, but Derrick is getting a little too into the role. Hilarity naturally ensues.

If only bypassing the patrol in the game was as easy as it is to? get past Derrick. But at what cost? WHAT CO??ST?!

The post Mega64 would like your Papers, Please appeared first on Destructoid.

Updates updates updates

This is, sadl?y, our ne??w future with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

The post Mega64’s latest shows us the glory of next-gen gaming appeared first on Destructoid.

Todd and Aaron are back

"Indie games are f*cking easy!"

The post Mega64 gives us the best games of 2013 appeared first on Destructoid.

The game has changed, my friends

One of the coolest game shows from back in the day was Nick Arcade on Nickelodeon. For those too young to remember or living outside the US, it was a quiz show with a videogame hook. There would be "Video Challenge" rounds in which contestants would play one of the available 16-bit games and try to meet a specified score or goal. And the winning team from the main game would get to enter the "Video Zone," a virtual reality room that literally put the players inside a videogame. So awesome.

Mega64 is bringing Nick Arcade back for the 21??st century. The games are a littl??e different, but hopefully you'll agree that the spirit is the same.

Mega64 Video - Nick Arcade [GameTrailers]

The post Nick Arcade, the 21st century Mega64 reboot appeared first on Destructoid.

Goodbye girlfriends

Good news! An Oculus Rift sex game exists already. It even comes with a penis controller!

The post Who nee??ds a girlfriend when you have the Oculus Rif?t appeared first on Destructoid.

All you need are scissors, tape, and towels

Mega64 takes a turn for the dramatic when Rocco wakes up and finds that he is living in the world of The Last of Us. Or so he thinks.

But that's not the real horro?r. No, there is another game that presents a much, much more frightening vision of the future...

The First of the Last of Us [GameTrailers]

The post Mega64: How to survive The Last of Us appeared first on Destructoid.

Drac is back, and seriously needs to hit the gym

That Lords of Shadow 2 trailer? The one with Sir Patrick Stewart? T'was but a farce. Here is the real trailer. And look! ??????????????????????????Mega64 managed to worm their way into the game!

I don't think there has ever been a more sensual depiction of a vampire in a work of fiction than Rocco Botte's Dracula. Up yours, Twilight!

Mega64??: CASTLEVANIA LORDS OF SHADOW 2 TRAILER (E3 2013) [YouTube]

The post Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, starring Mega64 appeared first on Destructoid.

Mega64's latest gets them in trouble with the heat

Mega64's latest parody sees them taking on Journey as they simply go about town l?ooking for friendship. Sadly no one wants to be friends with a well-dressed armless creature.

The post Apparently people don’t like Journey cosplay appeared first on Destructoid.

Will you help save a GameStop executive?

Will you sit there and just watch as GameStop executives suffer from low sales of used games?

The post Only YOU can help save GameStop appeared first on Destructoid.

This explains all the mysteries!

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag hasn't come out yet, but that's not stopping the gang from Mega64 to guess what Assassin's Creed V will be all about. And Assassin's Creed VI. And even Assassin's Creed VII.

The post Mega64’s vision of Assassin’s Creed V, VI, and VII appeared first on Destructoid.

This is precisely what happens ALL THE TIME

Thanks to your efforts, the Mega64-sponsored indie studio Sarnotech was able to meet its Kickstarter goal of $350K. Unfortunately, progress on the potentially greatest game of all time, Sakred Diamonds, has ground to a halt due to unforeseen financial hiccups. Turns out 350 large really doesn't get?? you far in the high-stakes world of indie development.

You know what that means? Another Kickstarter! Sakred Diamonds is gonna happen come hell or high water!

MEGA64: KICKSTARTER RESULTS!!! [YouTube]

The post Look at what Mega64 did with that Kick?starter money appeared first on Destructoid.

Basically every indie game Kickstarter rolled into one

Sakred Diamonds sounds like the most original and revolutionary videogame of all time. It defies all comprehension. And Mega64 needs your help to make it happen. C'mon! You know that any project with Dave Grohl, Jr. on music duty is a guaranteed winner!

Just give them your money. All your money. Your pocket lint. A cheese curl. Pr??etty please?

MEGA64 "SAKRED DIAMONDZ" KICKSTARTER!! [YouTube]

The post Mega64’s super best Kickstarter, please give money appeared first on Destructoid.

OUCH!

I haven't played Hotline Miami yet. I have??n't played many games yet. I'm so buried in backlog that I wonder if it's even worth buying anything new when I barely even touch the stuff I do buy. But that's a discussion for another day.

Mega64's latest skit involves neon filters, white (pink?) suits, animal masks, and a baseball bat. That bat looks real to me, meaning the boys allowed themselves to get beaten like speed bags. According to this post on the Mega64 site, someone was actually hea??vily injured during filming. Damn, guys!

Mega64: HOTLINE MIAMI [YouTube]

The post Mega64 beats the sh*t out of one another appeared first on Destructoid.

Jonathan Holmes talks fast with interweb humoredians

While at PAX East this weekend, Holmes took a swing by the merchandise booth of Mega64 to discover what drives them to produce their unique brand of satirical humor?? and who they're trying to reach with it.?? 

Check out more of Holmes' Talk Fast interview series!

The post Inside the minds (and merch booth) of Mega64 appeared first on Destructoid.

The VG Fact Checkerz are on the case!

Pokémon's elusive Missingno! Where is it? What is it? Is it based on a real-life animal? Are there any other undiscovered creatures in the wild a?s mysterious and incredible as Missingno? The VG Fact Checkerz take to the coastline to dig up undeniable proof!

You may have seen these segments before if you caught the the June 29, 2012, episode of GameTrailers' Pop Fiction series. Mega64 has released it as a? stand??alone video for your delicious and nutritious enjoyment!

Mega64: IS MISSINGNO REAL? (VG FACT CHECKERZ) [YouTube]

The post Does Missingno exist!? Mega64 will s??olve this mystery! appeared first on Destructoid.

"I hate pickles!"

Mega64 has been putting out videogame parodies long before YouTube was even a thing. One of their earlier works from Mega64: Version 1 featured a BurgerTime parody, wh??ich happens to be one of my favorites skits from them.

It's really cool seeing what their videos were like in 2005, as it just shows you how far the guys have come with making dumb Internet videos. The commentary on the DVD for this spoof is also pretty funny, as you get the backstory on how some random dude started talking to Shawn while he was trying to film (you can hear it in this video in fact), and how the guy w??aiting for his order next to Rocco prevented the restaurant from calling the?? cops on the guys.

The post Mega64 revisits a classic with BurgerTime appeared first on Destructoid.