Zero Punctuation 'previews' begin on X-Play Feb. 12

by Alexander Sliwinski { Feb 11th 2008 at 8:25PM }

If you can't wait until Wednesdays to get your Zero Punctuation fix, G4's X-Play will begin showing "previews" of Yahtzee's adventures in game-review land every Tuesday beginning February 12 before the "uncut" reviews are posted on The Escapist the following day.

Basically, G4 will probably be showing a watered-down (i.e. censored) version of the profanity-laden reviews before The Escapist gives us our quality fix the following day. Although its nice that G4 is presumably giving Mr. Croshaw some extra cash to spend on hookers with genetic anomalies, perhaps X-Play (and its revamped format) could come up with something original to grab viewers instead of riding The Escapist's coattails? But, this is clearly a win-win for both sides.

Tags: escapist, g4, theescapist, x-play, xplay, zero-punctuation, zeropunctuation

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Naota @ Feb 11th 2008 8:49PM

hmm, g4 is always kinda quick to jump on the bandwagon eh?

DMeisterJ @ Feb 11th 2008 8:50PM

Guess I may watch X-Play on Tuesdays so I can see this before the normal Wednesday.

Is this all that X-Play can do to get people to watch the show, since no one cares about their whole re-worked format, which is basically less reviews than they were doing before? When they had the old format, they'd review 3-4 games per episode, and now it's one. I don't think I've seen a new episode that has done more than that (Granted I've only watched like five) but still... It's so sad that the network that bought us the Screen Savers is watered down into one actual show about gaming, one fake-me-out mashup of all entertainment, and very little gaming, and twenty-two and a half hours of total non-gaming.

Baeron @ Feb 11th 2008 8:54PM

Munn.

NESv1 @ Feb 11th 2008 8:56PM

Keep in mind they're now doing a show every weekday, so they have to stretch it out.

The only thing I've liked about the new show is the occasional hands-on you get to see LIVE. When they showed Prototype in action, I was giddy.

David Hildreth @ Feb 11th 2008 8:58PM

it's nice to see creative people get a break

Feigr @ Feb 11th 2008 9:05PM

I've only seen snippets of that show since that channel isn't available here but the dude that host must have some sort of dysfunction right? He talks like he gets payed by how fast he talks, never breathes and just sounds very annoying and creepy.
Can't really say if the show is good or bad though.

zkey14 @ Feb 11th 2008 9:09PM

What happened to you, Yahtzee? I can't believe you would stoop this low. I can understand selling out to The Escapist, a mediocre yet somewhat recognized zine that would help you claim a bit of never before experienced fame, but this was totally unnecessary.

You have forgotten your roots. You have crossed the fucking Rubicon. Prepare to engage the worst enemy you could have ever made; honest to God, self-respecting GAMERS.

Demaar @ Feb 11th 2008 10:50PM

I think that was always his intention though. Get well known SOMEHOW, then move into game design from there.

Colin @ Feb 11th 2008 9:15PM

"perhaps X-Play (and its revamped format) could come up with something original to grab viewers instead of riding The Escapist's coattails?"

...Original? Guys, this is G4 you're talking about here. You're looking in the wrong place for original.

Disgruntled Goat @ Feb 11th 2008 9:28PM

"perhaps X-Play (and its revamped format) could come up with something original to grab viewers instead of riding The Escapist's coattails?"

This from a site that would gleefully post a "news" entry if "Yahtzee" sneezed. I guess when you're covering video games, EVERY day is a slow news day.

Why create original content to fill a void when you can just lean on someone else's? *cough* No irony there, Joystiq. Cute puns and snark aside, how much of your stuff comes from other sources?

OMGZORZ another 13 year old boy in a 31 year old's body posted a profanity laden tirade on Youtube! Now THERE'S something you don't see every day on the Internet.

That said, ANYTHING is better than XPlay's attempts at sketch comedy. *shudder*

It's a shame that adult gamers have virtually no sources for gaming news. Those who actually "get it" can't present their information professionally; those who present their information professionally don't "get it."

Geist @ Feb 12th 2008 2:24AM

And yet here you are, reading and commenting on Joystiq. Apparently you appreciate unoriginal news sources.

Au @ Feb 11th 2008 9:26PM

"perhaps X-Play (and its revamped format) could come up with something original to grab viewers...."

AHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA AAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA AAHAHAHAAAHAAAA AHAHAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHA AAAAAAAHAHAHAH AHHAH AAAHAHAHAHAAAAHAAAAHAAA AHAAAAAAAAHAHAH AHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAA AHAAAAHAHAHAAHAHA!!!!!!!!ONE!!!11!!!!1!!eleven!!!!!ONEBILLIONONEHUNDREDELEVENMILLIONONEHUNDREDELEVENTHOUSANDONEHUNDREDELEVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!ONE

Zamzoph @ Feb 11th 2008 9:39PM

Yahtzee is really enjoying his ride on that big boat made of money right about now.

Mr.ESC @ Feb 12th 2008 2:11AM

The great "S.S Sellout" (He said that himself in one youtube video).

Actually I think everyone wants a ride in that vote at least once in their lifes.

DangerMouse @ Feb 11th 2008 9:41PM

I would've loved a channel dedicated to video games 10 years ago, but now, who gives a shit? The internet has more info than i have time for, where i can get my news and videos on the fly. I guess it's cool for kids, though. I don't know.

Demaar @ Feb 11th 2008 10:52PM

Television a dying entrainment medium, film at 11!

DangerMouse @ Feb 11th 2008 10:55PM

what website?

Cheese Muffin @ Feb 11th 2008 10:02PM

I'd rather gouge myself in the eye then watch X-play or anything else on G4. Yahtzee or not.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Feb 11th 2008 10:48PM

Oh lol.

I guess this is when we start calling Yahtzee a sell-out.

DangerMouse @ Feb 11th 2008 11:42PM

We all knew it was coming...

Zamzoph @ Feb 12th 2008 12:29AM

This already happened before we even heard of him.

http://kotaku.com/assets/resources/2008/01/Picture%2013.png

Mr.ESC @ Feb 12th 2008 2:08AM

Actually I'm glad ZP made it to the small screen, I would like to see AVGN working for G4 as well without those losers of screwattack.

Well as long X-play doesn’t get the uncensored version or more episodes than the escapist everything is aright.

Mr.ESC @ Feb 12th 2008 2:03AM

*shuders.

I feel a great disturbance in the force.

Stephen Broida @ Feb 12th 2008 2:08AM

I've had my fair share of upsets at G4 since the format changed a few years ago, but the new revamped Xplay is something I am giving applause too.

Outside of reviews, X-Play filled it's time with stupid skits, and witty jokes along with the occasional trip to Japan and looking at some of its more whacked out games.

The thing is that you could tell that a lot of this was getting rather BORING for the hosts and staff, especially during summer slumps and times in between games. It would certainly give them a lot of time to do nothing.

And now with the re-vamp, the X-Play hosts get to do a lot more than silly skits and reviews. Now they've got hands-on time with exclusive betas of upcoming titles, interviews in-studio and on-location with some of the big names in game making these days, and frankly...

...BE THE TV SHOW EQUIVALENT OF GAME JOURNALISM THAT MAGAZINES LIKE EGM AND BLOGS LIKE JOYSTIQ ARE!

X-Play is the closest thing to full game coverage off the net, and with the new format it gives them more cool things to do, more chances to do cool things, and interact and talk with some of gaming's biggest names. (Like where Adam Sessler sat down and talked one-on-translator-on-one with Tetsuya Mizuguchi).

With News, Previews, Reviews, Viewer Mail, Behind the Scenes, and even weekly challenges from Mr. Sark, X-Play has become a full blown video-game news channel.

And I only have ONE gripe:

It should be an HOUR long show, not 30 minutes. I often find myself going "Wait, the show's over?" when the 30 minutes is up and keep wishing that I had more show to watch.

(Okay, maybe two gripes since I REALLY don't like Kristin Holt who just comes off as too much of a twit in the Cheat segments)

So to all you naysayers and haters out there, SHAME ON YOU! X-Play has the coverage, interviews, and exclusive footage to make it interesting, relevant, and FUN! On top of that, we still get the reviews we know and love.

So if they get a chance to preview Yahtzee on Tuesdays before the Wednesday review, then I am ALL FOR IT! It helps promote The Escapist, Yahtzee, and Zero Punctuation, while giving X-Play some cool stuff to put on there.

Frankly, I'd love to see Yahtzee work more with X-Play while still doing his own thing. X-Play and Zero Punctuation are both insanely funny, and I think that if the two joined forces and collaborated on some things, the result would be gaming comedy gold.

I Hope.

In the meanwhile, shut up, zip your lips, sit on it, and watch to see what happens.

Okay?

Good.

~Otaku-Man

Mr.ESC @ Feb 12th 2008 2:12AM

Off topic:

If ZP made it to X-play I wonder if YGO:TAS will ever make it to Adult Swim.

LK is a genius,I would love to see YGO:TAS in adult swim one of these days.

Stephen Broida @ Feb 12th 2008 2:27AM

Way I see it, anything could happen. If not on Adult Swim itself, maybe Super Deluxe.com

Who knows?

~Otaku-Man

RogueJedi86 @ Feb 12th 2008 5:44AM

Wow, what's with Adam Sessler being cool in that video? I wish he could play serious like that a lot more often, it'd help his credibility as a gaming spokesman than his forced childish antics. He seems very intelligent and respectful of Zero Punctuation in that video, like he's a genuine fan of it. I liked.

And best of luck to Zero Punctuation previews on X-Play, and I look forward their interview with him at GDC.

Freelancepimp @ Feb 12th 2008 9:57AM

Sessler, That guy from 3rd Rock called. He doesn't want his persona back, just royalties.

aaron_k7 @ Feb 12th 2008 12:12PM

I think I'll wait for Wednesday because the cussing is half the fun! Still, I'm glad that Yahtzee is getting more exposure; he deserves it.

Odog4ever @ Feb 12th 2008 12:39PM

Wow, so much to say. First of all don't be angry that you aren't getting paid to shoot off your snarky angry opinions to the world like Yahtzee.

If most of you could quit your job and do what he is doing, you would do it in a heart beast. But because it's you, you wouldn't be a sellout.

I don't think those of us (including me) are the best people to judge if G4s video game programming (X-play) is good enough. Guess what? We are a small minority that combs the internet for video game news everyday.

Yes the internet is more timely but we are talking about TV. TV is not going away anytime soon. Eventually it will but not today.

What TV show is more timely, accurate and relevant for video games than X-play? Tell me what channel its on and I'll watch. I'm serious.

Until IPTV is widespread across the US, better, internet video game shows will not be viewed by the majority of population. I give X-play credit for trying. Plus I don't mind watching the exclusive hands on demos they get.