Consolevania: Episode 3

[Wickedkitten Veteran]

Basically a UK thing, but just wanted to let anyone that watches it know that Consolevania will be available for download on Monday.

For anyone that hasn't heard of it, a guy on another forum I post at (which I won't name cos I might get done for soliciting) makes it and not only is it insightful about video games, but it is also funny as hell. It was also mentioned on Sky News, here's the blurb.

SHOW DOESN'T PLAY GAMES!

  Darren Turpin brings you the latest news and gossip from the world of games. This week he highlights the launch of Consolevania; a new type of games show.

Game fans have never been particularly spoilt when it comes to television coverage.

   

GamesMaster certainly had its moments - especially when it was hosted by Dominik Diamond - but setting aside the rose tinted glasses for a second it is arguable that the classic episodes (which usually involved laughing at the bandanna-wearing Dave Perry) were far outweighed by a majority of rather average ones.

The situation today is even worse, with a severe shortage of quality TV games shows; the few shows that actually make it to air rarely offer anything more than bland, uninspired coverage of a pastime which really deserves a lot better.

It is perhaps for this reason (but also because it is really rather good) that the first episode of an amateur games show called Consolevania is causing quite a stir among game fans.

Refreshing approach

Developed by true gamers and distributed free via the internet, it is a refreshing new approach to the idea of how games shows should work.

The name Consolevania is a homily to the classic Konami whip 'em up series of Castlevania games, featuring the vampire-hunting Belmont family.

Episode one of Consolevania lasts 55 minutes, and coming in at around 553MB the show is really only a download option for broadband internet users, but it is possible to request a copy on CD by contacting the team through the show's website.

Consolevania is clearly aimed at serious gamers and the content reflects this, with a reviews section that includes imported Japanese games, and in-jokes and references to various games magazines and online forums.

Male nudity

Unlike most games shows, Consolevania is certainly not aimed at children - or anyone easily offended, for that matter: Episode one is irreverent, featuring plenty of swearing and one scene that includes male nudity.

The humour is very much 'hit and miss': at times laugh-out-loud funny, at others a little wide of the mark.

Free from the restrictions imposed by TV regulations, Consolevania is able to explore its own unique approach to gaming, but as a result, things occasionally stray a little off-course, with a poorly judged 'Hitler' section the biggest culprit.

However, Consolevania has something that almost every other games show ever created has lacked: true passion for the subject matter.

Nowhere is this passion clearer than in the game reviews, which not only offer intelligent insight into the games' qualities and flaws, but - just as importantly - never give you the impression that the reviewer is anything other than a game fan talking about a hobby he loves.

Hilarious analysis

Each of the four reviews in episode one are excellent. But the coverage of Siren (released as Forbidden Siren in the UK) is the highlight of the show - a thoughtful and hilarious analysis of an ambitious horror game.

Enjoyable in its own right, episode one is also an extremely promising start for the Consolevania team. If future episodes match the passion and quality of the first one (and a few rough edges are smoothed off) the series could become a big cult hit.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,15410-13040726,00.html

You can download the first 2 episodes here: Consolevania here and the the next one should be up sometime next week.

[biglime]

Yeah.

It's brilliant.

:shifty:

R.