A reader looks back at his favourite gaming shows from the pre-YouTube and Twitch era, including GamesMaster and Bad Influence.
During previous generations of consoles there were many TV shows that appeared and proved popular with gamers. These shows were broadcast regularly and ran during the days when streaming wasn’t available. These shows had regular competitions, as well as reviews, news, and various interviews with people in the gaming industry during that time.
Some of the people from these shows are still active today and some of these shows will bring back memories for people who watched them back in the day. Below are my five favourite gaming shows from the past.
Game Guru
One show that cemented itself as one of my favourites was Game Guru on Game Network. Every day at 5pm this show would feature each guru live via video feed and would also take phone calls from people asking for hints and tips or cheats, as well as allow people to text in requests, which the gurus would regularly respond to.
Because this was on a free channel it provided people a lot of entertainment and was a great show until, sadly, Game Network shut down. Some of the most popular gurus where Larry, Boidster, Wez, Janice and many others.
GamesWorld and Gamezville
Two of the best shows to ever appear on Sky One were GamesWorld and Gamezville. GamesWorld featured gameplay between players, as well as competitions and regular segments of various presenters who would also give cheats as well as hints and tips.
Gamezville in the 2000s was similar, however they had their own version of the guru under its Ask the Guru segment. He would give gamers cheats or tips and advice on how to progress with certain games. Both of these shows were great for those with Sky subscriptions and who were gamers and were wanting a show for themselves.
GamesMaster
Channel 4 had its own show for gamers back in the 90s, which had Sir Patrick Moore as the GamesMaster, along with Dominik Diamond, and would regularly feature gameplay competitive competitions, as well as some great tips and tricks. Along with reviews and news this is another show that has had very memorable moments for gamers.
It even had many celebrity guests, which was something no games show had ever done before, ensuring this would be remembered as one of the most iconic games shows that paved the way for the future. It managed to make it to seven series, which at the time was very impressive.
Bad Influence
This was one of the best shows to ever offer in-depth computer and video gaming news. It managed to achieve the highest ratings of any CITV programme at the time and featured presenters Violet Berlin and Andy Crane.
Even the legendary Amiga was featured in this show, as well as regular news coverage of the PC and eventually gaming consoles. For a show in the 90s to accomplish this, and to have one of its presenters appear in Micro Machines 2, is something that not many shows have managed to have accomplished.
Chips With Everything
Many years back .tv was a channel which covered gaming and computer technology and had its own show dedicated to providing technical support for PC gamers. This show would regularly feature readers’ letters asking for support and would even help people resolve gaming problems. It would regularly broadcast with presenters such as Kate Russell and Guy Clapperton and was one show that made Sky’s technology channel worth watching back in the 2000s. Despite it being on a subscription channel it did better than expected and lasted until the unfortunate closure of the .tv channel.
These are my all-time favourite gaming shows to have appeared on TV before the days of live streaming and are the shows that I grew up watching. I will always remember these shows and am confident that in the near future new shows will appear like them.
By reader gaz be rotten (gamertag)
The reader’s feature does not necessary represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.
You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. As always, email [email protected] and follow us on Twitter.
MORE : How the Nintendo Direct proves there’ll be no Switch 2 anytime soon – Reader’s Feature
MORE : GamesMaster reboot to return to Channel 4 with… Patrick Stewart?!
MORE : GamesMaster and GamesTM magazines to close next month
Follow Metro Gaming on Twitter and email us at [email protected]
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.
