UK's first 24/7 game channel announced

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 26 August, 2010

UPDATE: With added info.

UPDATE: We've just spoken with Ginx TV CEO Michiel Bakker and have some new details.

Ginx will launch with at least four shows towards the end of November.

Will be on Virgin and Sky.

There is a chance that it'll broadcast in HD at launch.

"You have to understand that in a 24 hour channel there will be elements of repeat. We're not doing 24 hours fresh content one hour after the other. That would be too ambitious. So there's a healthy level of repeat in it."

GameFace will continue on Bravo.

"People love lists, so there will be shows with lists, countdowns, hottest new games."

"What we will not do is put on half hour interviews with the people who write the code behind the game because that doesn't work from a TV perspective."

"When Ginx captures in-game footage, we behave like camera men and directors. Instead of following a first-person shooter down the barrel, they will step away from the gameplay, turn around, use panning shots and zoom, and really apply a movie director mentality to capture the right in-game footage and make it look spectacular on a big screen."

"I'm going to focus primarily the channel on in-game footage using the review format."

"I wouldn't be a cool dad if I made a gaming channel just about light gamers. You cannot not make programmes for hardcore gamers. They're the bullseye demographic. Of course we're going to give them something."

"There will be a place where hardcore gamers feel really at home, and it might be post 10 o'clock at night, post 11 o'clock at night. Even the channel branding and feel of the channel will probably get a bit darker and edgier. As it moves into the morning it will become a bit more fluffy, a bit more Wii-like."

ORIGINAL STORY: The UK's first 24/7 TV channel entirely devoted to videogaming will launch this November.

It's called Ginx, and will be "fully distributed on cable and satellite TV".

"For us it's about light gamers," said CEO Michiel Bakker at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival this morning.

Ginx will initially focus on game reviews, but will expand to include shows that go deeper on other subjects.

For example, Ginx will include a show that highlights sports stars who like games, will send a tour bus to follow bands who like games, and will even look at army personnel who like games.

Bakker said Ginx will explore high definition and 3D in the future.

"The Ginx channel is going to be an evolution rather than an overnight revolution," Bakker said.

"Is it a good TV show to watch people play games? Does that make for good TV? If it does we'll do it. If it doesn't we won't."

Ginx already produces the UK's most popular videogame show GameFace, which launched in August 2009 on Bravo.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (104) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • AphoticCosmos #1 1 year ago

    Hmm.

    If marketed properly, a channel aimed at casuals might be a good idea.

    Shame it's on Satellite/Cable. I'm not paying Branson or Murdoch to watch a channel about games.
    Edited by 1 at 26/08/10 @ 10:24

  • the_sas_man #2 1 year ago

    If it's anything like the show "Ginx files" on Bravo then this channel is already doomed...

  • Liam64 #3 1 year ago

    "The UK's first TV channel entirely devoted to videogaming will launch this November."

    =D

    "For us it's about light gamers,"

    :)

    "For example, Ginx will include a show that highlights sports stars who like games, will send a tour bus to follow bands who like games, and will even look at army personnel who like games."

    :(

  • redneon Verified Programmer, SUMO Digital #4 1 year ago

    Unless they're going to bring back Games World I'm not interested. That was a classy programme.

  • cherryuk #5 1 year ago

    I'm sure it will just be another Gameface, we need something like Gamesmaster back on the box!

  • CaptainQuint #6 1 year ago

    Well at least it's making an attempt, good luck to 'em.

    I give it two years.

  • Gl3n #7 1 year ago

    I give it 3 months.

  • Fatallyflawed #8 1 year ago

    "and will even look at army personnel who like games"

    cos the rest of the us military types hate games.

  • whizzedout #9 1 year ago

    Videogame TV died with Rab&Ryan.

  • J0rdan_KZ #10 1 year ago

    Yeah, this isn't going to go down well.

    The only audience that gaming ever really had on TV was back in the 90's before the internet took off and constant up to date news wasn't avaliable. Most of the 'Wii audience' play games as and when they are bored not because they actually enjoy gaming culture. This isn't going to be a success.

    Anyone remember Game Network from the early 2000's? All that eventually became was a collection of Sci-fi re-runs and late night semi naked women on call in TV.

  • TonyCocaCola #11 1 year ago

    If it doesnt have a holographic Patrick Moore wearing a foil helmet giving me snes cheats then im not interested.

  • ZizouFC #12 1 year ago

    Cybernet.

  • BulletTheory05 #13 1 year ago

    BRING BACK GAMEZVILLE!

    "LOOK AT DEM GRAFFIX! I GIVE IT....3 G's!"

    EVERYTHING got 3G's!!

  • Zomoniac #14 1 year ago

    There was a channel all about gaming many years ago called Game Network. It just had reels of reeeeeally old (even then) trailers on a loop, and had its own MMO thing or something. Then everyone stopped watching, so it turned into Babestation.

  • Shakey_Jake33 #15 1 year ago

    There seems to be a fundimental flaw in the whole thing. Surely 'light gamers' are the kind of people that don't really want to sit down and watch a TV channel about video games?

  • coyote37 #16 1 year ago

    Will there be a role for Emily Booth?

  • Liam64 #17 1 year ago

    Imagine if they used the money to relaunch [.tv]

    Nom nom.

  • Lebowski #18 1 year ago

    "Hello, Gamesmaster, do you have any cheats for Desert Strike on the Megadrive?"

  • JohnnyWashnGo #19 1 year ago

    Sounds like complete shite to be honest.

    Also, why bother to watch a TV channel about playing games when you could, you know, play games?

  • pb #20 1 year ago

    I'm hoping this channel will be added to Freesat, I'm not paying for Sky.

  • ISmoke #21 1 year ago

    We had a gamers channel a when Halo 3 was launching. They had a various selection of shows ranging from clan battle games on GoW and RB6V. There was quite a bit on there it was a sky channel but I can't for the life of me remember what it was called. It was a shame they had a few debates on there but the show was plagued with repeat after repeat even something Dave would have been ashamed of committing.

    The sad thing is though they as long as we have access to the Internet game dedicated shows let alone a channel won't ever be groundbreaking or beneficial to us as it's core audience as we have access to the information pretty much right away.

  • Ryboy #22 1 year ago

    Will it also follow hot housewives who like games too?

  • nightstorm101 #23 1 year ago

    Bring back 'Bits' and add that to the lineup. That was great tv! :o)

  • X201 #24 1 year ago

    "fully distributed on cable and satellite TV".

    Therefore missing out the 50% of the population that haven't got cable or satellite - Ad-spin FTW \o/

  • Mkwone #25 1 year ago

    i think it could work.

    Admitadly i've not seen game face although i used to watch the previous gaming shows on Bravo and i though they were decent. Well apart from when games attack with domonic diamond, but that was because he focus on himself too much for my liking.

    There was a show/channel the otehr year which showed competitive gaming - full length unedited and in all honesty that was rubbish. I don't think people like watching other people play games. If it's giving out tips of showing highlights then fine, but full action is dull i find, although once again sme of that may be down to the over enthusiastic commentators.

    But please please please show gaming shows like E3, Gamescom TGS etc etc.

  • edhe #26 1 year ago

    They really don't know how to approach gaming do they?

    What about a book channel! Let's go follow people that like books! WOOOO!

    How about.. no. How about daily newsblogging like what we all read anyway, how about some in depth hour long shows about deep games, discussing them , interviews and not the stuff on rush hd where they just play crap about games that came out 5 years ago.

    If you want a channel like that to succeed is has to be up to the minute, live, contemporary and actually do proper features. You can get hours of features out of good big games, from interviews to gameplay to tips to investigating characters etc.

    Hell you could do a day on how to differently play through dragon age, or mass effect..Do programs that focus on coop etc. The gaming culture's not about the casuals, it's about us - the core who care.

  • SAMagic #27 1 year ago

    It isn't a single show, it's a channel. They have plenty of time to show all sorts, so why can't they cater to both? Have a hardcore hour of professional Street Fighter, StarCraft 2 and other games, then have light shows about opinion's of gamers across the globe and such.

  • DrDamn #28 1 year ago

    "Is it a good TV show to watch people play games? Does that make for good TV? If it does we'll do it. If it doesn't we won't."

    Don't you normally find out the answers to these sort of questions before deciding to do a full channel about it?

    It's crazy given the nature and popularity of the hobby that there isn't more TV content out there.

  • CaptainQuint #29 1 year ago

    Bad Influence remains the closest thing to a decent gaming show we've had on telly.

  • azz #30 1 year ago

    Hope it's a free channel. Ditto to Pb's comment

  • kinky_mong #31 1 year ago

    Is it a good TV show to watch people play games?

    Quite simply, no.

  • beckyh #32 1 year ago

    I bet the adverts will all be text 4 sex shite.

  • reelbigkris #33 1 year ago

    I'm not a big fan of gameface. It seemed very, very cheap and hat a grating presenter! Thing is, would anyone watch a video game tv show if it was dedicated to hardcore gamers? There is a way to develop something but would anyone watch when we have the internet? I would love to see gamesmaster back on television but would it be a thing that you'd liek to see, revamped for the current day?

  • LetsGo #34 1 year ago

    Errrr anyone remember GamerTV which was on Sky about ten years ago? Yes, it was rubbish but it was 24 hours.

  • Mr_Brown #35 1 year ago

    This will fail. Why do they think focusing on casual gamers will be a good idea? Every game relayed program ever created has attempted this and for the most part failed. What they should be focusing on is making an games show for hardcore gamers that is accessible to casual gamers. This would succeed.

    But no, let's go with "oh wow the guys from Blue like games, let's watch them play Wii sports awkardly".

  • Mkwone #36 1 year ago

    I think i remember gametv.

    Did it used to have two blokes sat in a very small studio talking about games with a text bar at the bottom? If thats the one i used to watch that on a daily basis, but wasn't it an adult chanel after a certain time. I also seem to remember they sold buckloads of dreamcast games for £10 or something daft.

    Actually sod Ginx, get eurogamer to do a tv chanel, HD hyphen, seagul cam and bottle bin emptying roulette. :D
    Edited by 1 at 26/08/10 @ 10:55

  • CaptainQuint #37 1 year ago

    Bring back Violet Berlin, she was worth a boom!

  • smithdown #38 1 year ago

    Bits was the best show, nice sense of humour, attractive ladies who actually seemed to know and care about games, good features. Shame it was on so flippin late and then cancelled.

    If they are gonna do this they have to keep it varied, cater to a range of age groups, but realise it is 18-35 year old males that do most gaming and are most likely to watch something like this. I would love a decent show looking att he history of prestigious game series like Zelda, or the game development industry in different countries, or even the intricacies of developing games. They need only look the features in a decent magazine like Edge to get ideas.

    However, I still think it is doomed to fail and become another text chat channel, or one of those things where morons ring up and try to guess a random word. Who the fuck does that??

  • geordiek #39 1 year ago

    Gameface was shite and that bird who hosted it was a reet bell end.

  • afray #40 1 year ago

    What, she was an actual bell end?

  • spekkeh #41 1 year ago

    Expect 100% product placement.

    Here we are at Mensa, where a kid is playing Brain Training™ by Nintendo®. Hi kid, how do you like Brain Training™ by Nintendo®. Oh I love Brain Training™ by Nintendo®, it feels like I'm... Training my Brain™. Do you think Brain Training™ by Nintendo® has gotten you into Mensa? Oh I sure think it helped, what with my Brain being Trained™ and all that.

    etc.

  • Zomoniac #42 1 year ago

    Thing is, would anyone watch a video game tv show if it was dedicated to hardcore gamers?

    If Gameswipe was a regular thing, sure.

  • Lee_Morris #43 1 year ago

    We need programmes on channels 1-4 (channel 5 doesn't count). We don't need a whole channel dedicated to them. I'm surprised channel 4 hasn't done more as they always seem the most progressive.

  • t8yman #44 1 year ago

    get Charlie Brooker as a presenter, for the non mentally challenged viewer of course, and I'll be there.

    I dont see why gamer oriented channels cant work, I'd watch tournaments featuring the worlds l33t players etc, and reviews and trailers always fill the time well, but I just cant see it, unless it goes to freeview/sat - then it might stand a fighting chance.

  • rodpad #45 1 year ago

    Sky only or Freesat too?

  • sneetch #46 1 year ago

    @Milky1985
    "Ginx already produces the UK's most popular videogame show GameFace, which launched in August 2009 on Bravo."

    How are they defining popular? Never even heard of the show (tbh never even heard of the channel either so its not a ringing endorsement) :p

    Are there any other ones in the UK, I don't know of any? Might be the most popular due to lack of competition. :)

    make a show about games and dump it on DAVE! At least then 90% of the population can see it.

    I'm wondering how much use this will be to be honest, I mean I get my gaming news from a number of sites as and when I want it, not tied to some TV schedule.

    I wouldn't mind coverage of the online "pro" leagues for games like L4D or Counterstrike though, if it was well done.

  • richarddavies #47 1 year ago

    Im gonna give it a watch and I hope it's good but nearly every game program out there just makes me feel even more geeky liking games than I already do.

  • bad09 #48 1 year ago

    This will fail like the X-league channel (wasn't that the first channel dedicated to gaming?).

    All I want is Gamesnight back (in it's original game discussion format, not the review heavy they later changed it to). Loved that show and miss Jenkins and his socks.

  • Stompy #49 1 year ago

    @spekkeh

    "And here we are at the UK 20/20 vision society, where members are known as Hawks of Farsight. I'm here with Hawk Leader Kevin. Kevin - did playing the Nintendo DS® game Sight Training™ on the Nintendo DS® system improving your sight as you did Sight Training™ on the Nintendo DS® system?"

    "Indeed, sexy lady with cleavage."

    "Please demonstrate your powers of Hawksight by telling me how dilated my hidden lips are right now."

    "Not only can I see that you are in season, but I detect an abundance of humidity."

  • DiamondIce #50 1 year ago

    Game Face and Ginx Files are two awful programmes.

    Why do these shows fail so badly? Video gaming is so massively popular and yet any TV programmes associated with them are dire. I guess the wrong types of people are ultimately in control of the formatting...?

  • Physically_Insane #51 1 year ago

    GameFace is a fucking horrible tv show made for idiots. "THIS GAME IS GOOD BECAUSE YOU GET TO DRIVE THIS COOL RED CAR"

    Seriously, that's a snippet from one of their reviews.

  • Markitron #52 1 year ago

    Unless its got spotty kids asking for cheats for 15 year old games, im not interested.

  • Stompy #53 1 year ago

    "Why do these shows fail so badly? Video gaming is so massively popular and yet any TV programmes associated with them are dire. I guess the wrong types of people are ultimately in control of the formatting...?"

    I am a gamer in the UK. It is highly likely that, as well as owning a games console or hi-spec PC, I have other gadgets that allow access to digital content.

    I can choose to use my TV for:
    1) Gaming (which I feel I do not do enough of as I have more games than I can play)
    2) TV (live or recorded)
    3) DVD / Blu-ray / downloaded media
    4) Relinquishing it to please my family who want to watch fucking X-Factor / play Mario Kart
    5) Watching TV footage of other people using the consoles I own playing the game I am already aware of

    I guess 5 just ain't very popular.

  • drxym #54 1 year ago

    The UK has already had a game channel. Several of them in fact. There was one a few years ago which used to host a lot of XBox multiplayer matches before bizarrely morphing to broadcasting weird motor sports events and then dying completely. Before that there was Game Network a really crappy games channel which was hosted in English but broadcast from Italy or somewhere. Game Network's owners found success in Babe Station and dumped the gaming output.

    So no it's not the first games channel. I also expect it will tank in exactly the same way as its predecessors. There isn't enough gaming related news or interest in gaming related news to sustain a dedicated channel. It will die a death unless gaming is part of a broader portfolio of content.
    Edited by 1 at 26/08/10 @ 11:48

  • Dashnak #55 1 year ago

    This is risky... I hope the presenters are intelligent and talk about games seriously but with humour.
    e.g. [link url=http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=cB70wuweyQI
    ]http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=cB70wuweyQI
    [/link]

    If it is full of loudmouthed hosts trying to use cool language it could fail and only appeal to 13 year olds.

  • Acrid #56 1 year ago

    Bad Influence FTW

  • azazel_fallenangel #57 1 year ago

    I quite like Gameface, though don't often watch it in all honesty, and Julia Hardy is a pretty good presenter.
    I remember that one with Violet Berlin years ago was a bit shite, though she does a good job on FirstPlay.
    best one by far though was When Games Attack. Dominic Diamond was hilarious. Get him and Charlie Brooker, and you've got yourself a veiwer.

  • richarddavies #58 1 year ago

    @bad09 I loved gamesnight. David jenkins is off his tits but in a good way. I love reading his reviews on gamecentral. He just copy's and pastes sentences from other reviews then knocks a point off the score average to make it more edgy. he's great.

  • LR100 #59 1 year ago

    Haven't we already had a couple of games channels before, so this isn't the first?

  • butler` #60 1 year ago

    Same old. Won't last. TV suits don't understand the demographic.

    Sad thing is it can work in the UK -- everyone plays videogames these days in one way or another.

  • metalangel #61 1 year ago

    Game-based TV is and always has been (with the exception of Consolevania) fucking awful.

    Obnoxious, hyperactive presenters (Bits) or endless footage of some who sucks at the game crashing and dying repeatedly (Cybernet) are bad enough. And all of them feature the tedium of someone slowly reading a badly written, ignorant review at you.

    But the main issue always has been why the hell do you want to passively sit and watch someone else talk about or play games when you should be playing them yourself!

  • Rubbish_Russ #62 1 year ago

    I agree with the comment that we don't need a whole channel dedicated gaming - a show would do.

    The Gadget show works on Channel 5 in so much as it has taken a "Top Gear" approach to what is a traditionally geeky subject, and use the different themes of the challenges to showcase various devices.

    If there was a show that took this sort of view of gaming - ie: departed from the one person review that could be found anywhere, and instead had interesting debate or captured the raw fun from playing games, then they'd be on to a winner. almost like a Zero Punctuation episode on TV...

  • DiamondIce #63 1 year ago

    @richarddavies & bad09

    Gamesnight was genuinely good and I would like to see it back. Ellie made appearances on there and David Jenkins was always good to listen to. Surely gaming on TV can work in some format?!?!?!

  • Machetazo #64 1 year ago

    No mention of Playr in here - for shame! Give it a look here: [link url=http://www.youtube.com/show/playr?pl=A562D10D2F370ACE ]http://ww w.youtube.com/show/playr?pl=A56...[/link]
    They've been off-air for several months, though. :( They used to be on Bravo, but the ones in this article took over that patch. Sounds like a thing worth giving a fair go, though, this Ginx. Even if I'd prefer to see more Playr. GamesNight, originally, was good too, I agree.
    Edited by 1 at 26/08/10 @ 12:22

  • kinky_mong #65 1 year ago

    What was the name of the bloke who did the cheat sections on Bad Influenc?He was dressed up like an oik in a puffa jacket who looked like he should be hanging around an arcade bullying kids for their 10p pieces.

  • Mr.DNA #66 1 year ago

    I can see it now. Half-hour skits with slack-jawed Rio Ferdinand in his palatial country mansion, waxing nonsensical about his 360 collection. Braindead antics aboard McFly's tour bus as they discuss how they sometimes like to play a bit of FIFA. Homoeroticism meets video games as Ginx gets all sweaty in the desert with British squaddies, who are shown to play Modern Warfare 2 before going out and acting out their fantasies for realz. Just fucking shoot me now.

    When will these cretins get it? When will they understand that the trick to making a successful video game television show is to not underestimate or patronise your audience? I'd imagine that casual fans would rather watch a sensible show geared at discussing the games in a comprehensive manner, as would "hardcore" gamers, rather than the odd bit of game interspersed with pointless banter with crap celebrities.

    Christ, a Big Boy Barry marathon sounds like heaven next to this nauseating wank.

  • darkmorgado #67 1 year ago

    "People love lists, so there will be shows with lists, countdowns, hottest new games."

    "What we will not do is put on half hour interviews with the people who write the code behind the game because that doesn't work from a TV perspective."

    Yeah, because noone at all would be interested in seeing how something is made. That's why we don't have "making of" documentaries on loads of tv channels and on every movie release.

    And people love watching lists on telly? WTF? What people are these? The ones that watch the league tables on Skysports?

  • Scirvir #68 1 year ago

    G@me Network on Sky in the early part of the century was 24/7 for quite a while. Then it gradually had less and less content, Babestation replaced it during the night and then it went completely.

  • thefold #69 1 year ago

    @kinky_mong What was the name of the bloke who did the cheat sections on Bad Influenc?He was dressed up like an oik in a puffa jacket who looked like he should be hanging around an arcade bullying kids for their 10p pieces.

    You mean Nam Rood? [link url=http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Influence!
    ]http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Influen...[/link]

    Personally as much as I'd love to see gaming tournaments on tv, I don't see a whole channel working if they get the usual dickhead presenters like they had on X-League.

  • Machetazo #70 1 year ago

    Mr. DNA wrote "I'd imagine that casual fans would rather watch..."

    That was the approach that GamesWipe took, and they presented in the result a nice balance, that engaged both groups of players. If they had been able to commision a series, on the back of that, I think it highly likely that things would have developed in to an accessible show for just anybody who was interested in games, once the building blocks of that first show were no longer needed.

  • Mkwone #71 1 year ago

    [link url=http://www.ginx.tv/
    ]http://www.ginx.tv/
    [/link]

    Thats the website. To me reads like only 11% of gamers are classed as hardcore so fuck them, heres our farmville review.

  • Mr.DNA #72 1 year ago

    @ Machetazo

    Yes, GamesWipe definitely had the right idea- and they had that frequent champion of video games and all-round genius Charlie Brooker presenting it, which certainly helped. There have been others in the past- it gets a lot of stick, but I, for one, enjoyed Cybernet. I rarely disagreed with what the professional script-reader was saying, and since there were no people on the show you got to see a lot of the games that were being reviewed. Bits was aimed at the casuals, but it was on so late at night, and so chock-full of tarted up girls who had never played a game before in their lives, but who looked good, that it was easy to enjoy as late-night pap. Even GamesWorld back in the day had something good going- David Walliams's career, for me, has gone decidedly downhill after that show.
    Edited by 1 at 26/08/10 @ 12:45

  • metalangel #73 1 year ago

    TBH this channel would be a million times better if they just showed Youtube videoes of people doing speedruns, dying repeatedly in Syobon, and hot chicks playing the Green Hill Zone music on their acoustic guitar.

  • Dr_Cowley #74 1 year ago

    "People love lists, so there will be shows with lists, countdowns, hottest new games."

    Lists suck
    "heres our list of the top 100 games"
    balls to the 99 losers, who made #1?
    "our #1 is ___________"
    Fuck you you're wrong

  • Gromit #75 1 year ago

    Dear Gamesmaster -
    Why does uncle Dom make me sit on his knee all the time?

  • sneetch #76 1 year ago

    @Mkwone

    Thanks for the link.

    11% are considered "hardcore" huh? I wonder what their definition of "hardcore" is? Last I knew it and "casual" were both vague labels applied semi-randomly by different gamers to other different gamers. I like their decision to say "are considered hardcore" without qualifying it by saying "considered by whom" under what criteria.

    I consider 79% of gamers hardcore therefore 79% of gamers are considered hardcore. That's a cold, hard fact!

    Anyway, I got as far as "Welcome to the Music Television of Video Games" before giving up on it. As the main MTV channel has bugger all to do with music anymore I guess they'll rapidly move past games to crappy reality TV shows. :)

    Coming up next on "The Clan: real life" Clan leader snipaz confronts brad1221 about his lack of sniping skillz with "edgy" (i.e. crap) rapid-zoom-in-and-out-at-random-angles camera work.

  • Lemming81 #77 1 year ago

    An entire channel seems over ambitious. What we need is a Top Gear/Gadget show format. 3-4 different presenters, proper game reviews, feature sections and a celebrity challenge. And yes, sometimes that means developer interviews - but as they post them up online ANYWAY to promote their games just show them. You don't even have to budget for them, ffs.

  • thefold #78 1 year ago

    Just give me a case of beer and stick me in front of the camera, I'll show them how it's done ;-P

  • BuddyChrist #79 1 year ago

    Hello Gameface, I need to know what game is the best to spend five minutes on between bitchez, making my hair point upwards and FOOTBAAALL!

    I need you to compare "GT5" and "Ferrari ultimate challenge 9: bring on the cars".

    .... Gaming tv died post 90s

  • 32768Colours #80 1 year ago

    ""When Ginx captures in-game footage... they will step away from the gameplay, turn around, use panning shots and zoom, and really apply a movie director mentality to capture the right in-game footage and make it look spectacular on a big screen."

    So basically, it's going to be the gaming equivalent of watching something like Cribs, where they spin around and zoom in on various fixtures and fittings like they're being chased by the Blair Witch. I'd much rather just have steady, clear footage thanks.

    The main problem with the majority of videogame shows over the years is that they're little more than an advertisment for the games featured. Cybernet I recall was particularly guilty of this. They hardly ever said a bad word about anything! I'd be surprised if this channel is any different, but in the interests of pragmatism, I'll remain hopeful.

  • Mr.DNA #81 1 year ago

    "People love lists"

    What people? Who are these cretins?

    "What we will not do is put on half hour interviews with the people who write the code behind the game because that doesn't work from a TV perspective."

    Interviews don't work from a TV perspective? Don't be so ridiculous.

    "When Ginx captures in-game footage, we behave like camera men and directors. Instead of following a first-person shooter down the barrel, they will step away from the gameplay, turn around, use panning shots and zoom, and really apply a movie director mentality to capture the right in-game footage and make it look spectacular on a big screen."

    Sounds like a lot of pointless faffing about. Just show the bloody game.

    "There will be a place where hardcore gamers feel really at home, and it might be post 10 o'clock at night, post 11 o'clock at night. Even the channel branding and feel of the channel will probably get a bit darker and edgier. As it moves into the morning it will become a bit more fluffy, a bit more Wii-like."

    Yes, because "dark" and "edgy" are adjectives which perfectly encapsulate the average hardcore gamer. And way to be utterly patronising and stereotypical towards the Wii. Initial fears for this show deepening by the second.
    Edited by 1 at 26/08/10 @ 14:11

  • SpaceMonkey77 #82 1 year ago

    This again. Once upon a time, I would be all bunny hoping enthusiam and positivity, but we've been burned enough times, thanks.

    Some factors play aginst this channel from the get go. The first is that tv had plenty of chances to get this right, and has failed. On top of that, the rise of the internet negates any need for such a channel anymore. Gamers can fill this tv gap themselves online, without suits or stupid timeslots or censors dictating what you can and can't do.

    There's much more choice online too. From Game Trailers TV, to Zero Punctuation, plenty of game machinima like The Legend of Neil, Red vs Blue, The Guild or There Will Be Brawl. Add stuff like awesome podcasts of Giant Bombcast, CAGcast, Weekend Confirmed (and Eurogamer podcast too, but you guys are too square for my liking) etc, which cover deep discussions on game and the industry, there's countless hours of gaming content out there, so who really needs a dedicated games tv channel. Any podcast can come with me anywhere on my iPod or phone, and yes, at times even while I'm gaming. I do expect that this games channel possibility has arisen, because gamers are abandoning tv watching in droves, due to the lack of actual scripted content mostly (comeback soon, Sherlock). And what's the point in a 24/7 channel when we all have DVRs now, thus no chaining to dumb tv schedules? Answers on a postcard, please.

    I'll wish Ginx luck (awful name by the way, but I shall check it out). I agree that the fact they want to go casual, kills it dead, IMO. Better to go with a more Top Gear/Edge/Games TM route, where its not afraid of what it is, to dig deep into games, the industry and its culture and the people who create and play them. Anything less is pandering crap, with cheesy peas on top. Besides, I like unabashed fun, crude humour and swearing in my content (thank CAGcast and Giant Bomb), and tv channels hate that, so I'll stick with pods and other online content.

    And yes, Consolevania was awesome. There was another 30 min show with a U.K northern guy besides this one, that was also cool and fun, but I can't recall the name of it.

  • woodnotes #83 1 year ago

    Amazing that you only need four shows to launch a channel these days.

  • RobTheBuilder #84 1 year ago

    These things never work because they are either gamers with no TV knowledge, or TV folks with no gaming knowledge.

    There is SO much potential in gaming TV, why is it only Gamesmaster and Charlie Brooker can do anything decent?

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #85 1 year ago

    /sends CV

  • Nephirion #86 1 year ago

    Will be like sky new 4 articles on a never ending loop spaced out by adverts ever 10 mins?

  • SpaceMonkey77 #87 1 year ago

    Sure there's potential in gaming tv, but its not going to happen on tv itself, where's there's countless channels also after attention. I still want my Top Gear style gaming show, and so far Game Trailers TV is just that, but I wish it was longer than 20-30 mins. The 1up show also used to fill this gap, because they knew their stuff.

    Many people want reviews, and its far to easy to get caught in the trench of just focusing on them. Funnily enough, as far as games shows go, I have to hand it to Cybernet, which is still the longest running games tv show on U.K tv. Back when all games tv shows tanked, it was the last bastion of hope before the net, that I used to set my video to record it.

    1995-2008, not at all bad, considering it got buried and tossed about tv like a tainted lady of the night. RIP Cybernet.

    These shows largely fail because of the advertising and money angle. Online, you don't have to worry about that, and can put passionate content out there for free, like podcasts and meet your audience. When they try to monetize, a model that tv is heavily based on, that's what's killed the majority of past efforts. Upkeep of a website or server for such content, is a fraction of the cost, than launching some big tv channel.

    Hate to say it, but I give it six months to one year before it bombs.

  • chrisjm #88 1 year ago

    super mariothon weekend!
    get a few semi pro people in to play them back to back and see how long it takes.

  • mega7ech #89 1 year ago

    Yea but...Julia Hardy - would you?

  • DVR #90 1 year ago

    My favourite gaming show was a programme called Gamerweb. They used to have televised Xbox Live games with viewers and IIRC at least one of the presenters used to be a games tester, so had at least a little actual knowledge of the industry. It was also three hours long and, at least as best as I can recall, never repeated any of the content in that time.

  • FortysixterUK #91 1 year ago

    They should look to G4TV for how to do a decent games channel.
    I just hope its not hours of boring player against player tv...talk about dull.
    News, reviews of Tech, games, movies, music, perhaps " buy in" some of the G4TV shows.
    That would work.

  • RandomRash #92 1 year ago

    I hardly watch TV cause I play games!

  • PearOfAnguish #93 1 year ago

    "For example, Ginx will include a show that highlights sports stars who like games, will send a tour bus to follow bands who like games, and will even look at army personnel who like games."

    Spotting a theme here..."Kids love games, right, and they love celebrities, yeah? So how about this - brace yourselves - celebrities who love games"

    "darker and edgier"

    Iif it's anything like games that boast about being dark and edgy this will mean tits and swearing. Games: they're for grown ups too.
    Edited by 1 at 26/08/10 @ 18:33

  • ScottyXTUK #94 1 year ago

    Excellent news, about time we had a channel dedicated to gaming.

  • hahayou #95 1 year ago

    coyote37: "Will there be a role for Emily Booth?"
    Zomoniac: "...it turned into babestation."

    So, eventually, yes?

  • PearOfAnguish #96 1 year ago

    "Now there is no point."

    There's always a point if something is well made and entertaining, but the chances of that happening here are slim. Be worth it if we could get more shows like Gameswipe and Consolevania.

  • bad09 #97 1 year ago

    Astro-Creature is right in terms of magazine shows. You know the format news, reviews and the odd feature. Internet now as that covered.

    Personally I would prefer deeper games shows on TV. Gameswipe, Gamesnight that sort of thing looking at the industry rather than shows just pimping hype and bull that we already get overkill of that on EG ;)

  • n_nlemon #98 1 year ago

    make it a game channel and not a game "magazine" channel..
    light gamers don't give a fuck..

    cover some tournaments, help generate a tournament scene.. talk to the people who are in the respective scenes for each game..

    the last game channel, whatever it was called, started out pretty well.. then after 6 months you realised the players were the same 6 players who they had for every game for every week.. and noone cared about their bio, or their favourite game or favourite gaming beverage..

    even so, it was interesting to watch game tournaments even for games you didn't play..

    it failed 'cos 8 guys in a room doesn't make interesting viewing.. tournaments are far more interesting 'cos of the hype from the people who are genuinely interested in the games..

    check out some fighting game streams to see how hype these events could be..

    there are so many games that could work and make good tv too..
    super street fighter 4, halo 3/reach, starcraft 2, MW2..
    so much potential..

    this "director, cameraman" thing has me troubled too.. I don't want to see players gurning in match and feverish mouse clicking.. I want to see the celebrations and the saltiness after.. but in game is in game.. that's all there is while the game is taking place..
    if they mean arena cams for fps, then that's a bit more understandable, but in that case you need both the player screen and the overall view..

    it's going to be the same story again..
    take the wrong angle..
    market it to people who don't give a shit..
    realise there is no revenue in this sort of evdeavour..
    selll out..
    fail..

    luckily the godlike streaming teams like teamspooky and iplaywinner are doing a great job at great expense to themselves..
    that's the sort of thing I expect from a gaming channel..

    I hope their "hardcore" focussed content is of that sort of caliber.. not "people loves lists"..

    :/
    Edited by 2 at 27/08/10 @ 00:20

  • joedix88 #99 1 year ago

    @Liam64

    You forgot two things:
    "Ginx will explore 3D in future" :C

    "GameFace will continue on Bravo" :C

  • Skorms-Boss #100 1 year ago

    "game face will continue on Bravo"

    When!?!?! they don't show it anymore, and when they did, 8am on a sunday morning?! Who the hells awake at 8am on a sunday morning!

  • Retroid #101 1 year ago

    Bits was fucking awful, I can only presume it's rosy glasses and teenage hormones to blame for so many people thinking it was any good.

    It was truly, truly awful stuff.

  • Xboxfanuk #102 1 year ago

    will it be on sky player? be nice to watch on console

  • Soton4084 #103 1 year ago

    Would have been nice if this had been on freeview!

  • bonker #104 1 year ago

    "What we will not do is put on half hour interviews with the people who write the code behind the game because that doesn't work from a TV perspective."

    Yeah cos it may actually be interesting to people who really put time and money into gaming which is 99.99% of the people that you're not going to target ...

    This is going to be one long infommercial for casual games and the few AAA games that are released by the uber corp's and run on a 24 hour loop ...

    Shame.