Charlie Brooker's Gameswipe on BBC Four
Guardian Columnist Hosts Screenwipe Special about Video Games
Sep 30, 2009
Anyone who has followed the work of Charlie Brooker through the various print or television ventures is aware that he is a big fan of video games - one of his previous jobs was as a contributor to magazine PC Zone. Brooker has previously referenced games on his Screenwipe show and Guardian columns so it kind of makes sense that he would eventually devote a special or a series on one of his favourite pastimes. And here it is, Gameswipe – note the clever rewording of the title there.
A History of Video Games and Reviews
As ever with these programmes there was a brief history of video game development from early footage of a primitive pong system to the modern day sight of middle aged types wiggling a white remote around in a vain attempt to lose weight, but told with the expected level of humour.
The comparisons of old and new gave way to a handful of reviews of the current crop, namely the updated version of FPS granddaddy Wolfenstein (lacked charm and a bit boring), 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (confirming the idea that all gamers are adolescent idiots) and The Beatles: Rock band (fun experience). Of course this was done in typical Brooker vitriolic style so there was much hyperbole and metaphor banded about from the safety of his darkened living room.
In between he led a simple run down of the various genres, which Brooker noted would baffle the uninitiated but that “dweebs like him” liked to hear them discussed, including contributions from Dara O'Briain and Graham Lineham on their main their gripes including unlocking rewards and the pathetic nature in which some games tell a story.
Charlie Brooker on the Media Representation of Video Games
The main focus however was on how the media have vilified video games over the years by blaming them for influencing violent acts or depraving society. Brooker noticed, as many before him have, that just as movies and TV itself were once seen as the Boogieman corrupting the youth this has now moved on to video games, and as large sections of the mainstream media don’t understand them they are an easy target for wild exaggerations or gross misrepresentation despite being harmless entertainment not just aimed at children.
His points ring true. No right minded person who plays Grand Theft Auto is going to re-enact the crimes in real life and given the worldwide success the series has been if it was affecting at least 0.1% of gamers we would know about it. Although he was largely defending games not all is great in his world though as he showed a dislike for some dark shooters such as the Condemned series for being depressing.
Sadly Brooker’s messages on how games aren’t evil won’t reach those who need to hear them given that his is already a niche show on an obscure channel (seriously, how many people do you know who tune into BBC Four on a regular basis? It’s a shame really) without the “nerds lurk here” tag worn proudly on top. Perhaps a primetime version on one of the mainstream stations might do the trick, heaven forbid it might actually make game players seem like reasonable souls.
Gameswipe on Video Games
If anything could have been different maybe he could have talked less about GTA and the Guitar Hero/Rock Band games, as everybody else is pretty much flogging their fame to death. Saying that the shots of earlier games and clips detailing long forgotten British retro classics, courtesy of a brilliant and hilarious segment featuring the guys from Consolevania, should bring a smile any veteran’s face.
As a gamer it’s ultimately refreshing to stumble across a TV programme that not only takes a fair and honest view on the past time but is actually presented by someone who knows what they’re talking about. At 50 minutes long it didn’t feel enough to cover the subject in the depth it deserves; perhaps a miniseries would have sufficed where each episode takes a different slant.
And why stop there? Why not bring back the likes of Gamesmaster and Games World for a new audience. It’s astounding that a growing section entertainment industry is completely ignored by broadcasters except when they need to dust off professional moral outragers meaning that gamers have to trundle online for news and reviews, thus spending more time on the computer. No wonder they’re always so bloody miserable.
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