James Rolfe / James D. Rolfe / Angry Video Game Nerd (AVGN) / Rex Viper and Cinemassacre / Screenwave - Now with not much grieving about a 41-year old man still making videos on YouTube. We're the balls on the dick.

[José Mourinho]

Newest AVGN episodes are more of a hit and miss for me really. I wouldn't say they are unwatchable unless you could count maybe the Black Tiger one or the one where James has to do it in one sitting.

If AVGN's downfall started from making a movie, it was pretty appropriate. Not only we got to see Mike Matei made an ass of himself ("Elmo in Grouchland" for example, not counting the "Brown Bricks" one because at least that one is so bad it's good, too bad Mike was dumb enough to try and take down mirrors at the time) and the horrific timing of the Cheetahmen 2 crowdfunding project (which even though it isn't a scam, it's still shady to try and dump your money on something you can get it at a cheaper price), the movie itself was shit and I laugh at people who try and say it was decent all because "at least he's better than Irate Gamer" (there's actually people who argued like this in defense of the movie) or "at least he delivered the movie".

 

[Pinochet Was Right]

What pisses me off about the movie is that doesn't feel like an AVGN movie, or an extension of the show. Not even an extended AVGN skit as some say. It's a movie about some literally who cartoony knockoffs of the Nostalgia Critic supporting cast doing a video game skit ft. James Rolfe attempting to act as the AVGN.

 

[Anchors-Away]

Who is the leader of the Fat Fucks? Is it Ryan or Justin?

Because I am certain Ryan has been apart of Cinemassacre since before the movie.

It's Ryan.

Originally he was merely the back-end tech guy for the Cinemassacre website, before forming an outright network (ScreenWave media) and using AVGN as his "big steal" to advertise the platform. In time, Ryan obtained more control over the channel (via legal ownership) and it's output shifted heavily as James focused on being a father. James doesn't even write his own episodes anymore, nor edits them. I know for a fact that Game Sack have been responsible for most of the last season (they've gone twitter multiple times to complain about feedback).

In recent (to try and force out more content) they've been filming AVGN in one constant cut. Typically James will play and shoot at the same time. It's a miserable experience for all, especially for those that have to edit them.

Justin on the other hand is a lolcow in every sense of the word.

He was the former creative lead of "Underbelly" until they got kicked out of Normal Boots. Yes, that very Normal Boots. This was pre-JonTron fame, when you could friend people on YouTube. To really date this and Justin's involvement, this was back when they'd ape ScrewAttack and had a Normal Boots news channel segment weekly. Whatever the cause of the kick-out sent them into a raging fit and saw them dox Countine? and take over said reddit. Normal Boots of course have a history of kicking people out so this all shouldn't be too surprising. A lot of this is lost, so you'll have to use wayback machine to find the evidence.

Afterwards, Justin and his crew reformed under the banner of "Silvermania". Creatively they did some impressive stuff in their first few years, most notably being the Paper Boy movie parody. It got them enough attention to be invited onto the TGS podcast! Only for them to waste the opportunity and get forcefully removed and promptly dropped. Not to be bitter, they spent a few good months attempting to spur on some e-drama with TotalBiscuit until this creative pursuit fizzled out.

Justin's work with a certain "Bob" continues to haunt him. He appeared in a skit in which they interviewed Gabe Newell (original was taken down) amongst other videos. He'd later get arrested for possession of child porn.

These are just the more well known issues tied to Justin. There is a good reddit thread that documents many of the internal issues within the website group.

 

[TrippinKahlua]

Game Sack? You mean Joe Reddifer? He is owned under Ryan and Justin?

 

[Dom Cruise]

It's definitely sad that this is where the AVGN has wound up.

James is basically the father of the modern web video as we know it today, you'd think if anyone would be able to maintain a consistent quality today it'd be him.

 

[Anchors-Away]

Game Sack? You mean Joe Reddifer? He is owned under Ryan and Justin?

It's not just Game Sack, a lot of folk from the Retroware TV site have become contributors. They are all partners under the ScreenWave umbrella.

Ryan runs the show. Justin is just an employee

 

[Honka Honka Burning Love]

What is it about Mike that James has always given him special treatment since day one, at least in 2006?

Mike was the editor, helped record half the early videos, helped write a bunch of the early stuff. Mike is the one with the Passion for Video games, James is, was and always has been a Movie guy.

 

[wtfNeedSignUp]

I feel like modern AVGN are just a script about the history of the game/s and James is told to ad lib insults at specific points.
It makes the episodes informative but not really funny except the few times when the jokes land. It also create a widely varying ratio of insults per episode.
Also I think YouTube promoting 20+ minutes and the Screenwave team adjusting to it fucks over the episodes even more.

 

[José Mourinho]

Well this is very meh. Literally just James Rolfe sitting in front of the camera talking about video games, which can be fine for an AVGN episode and an informative one at that, but to nitpick, it doesn't even involve him putting games into the consoles. Even though most of the ripoffs are arcade ones which might explain why he doesn't, can he at least do it for some of the games? I suspect some of the footage were taken from some other YouTube videos ala ConnerTheWaffle but it's most likely the Screenwave guys doing the footage.

 

[Dom Cruise]

Disappointed he didn't cover Naughty Dog's Way of The Warrior.

Not a bad video but nothing special, he's well past his prime but to be fair like that saying that the the flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long, AVGN's peak was actually not that long, I'd say by 2009 he was already starting to feel a tad stale.

Am I wrong to feel that way? Not that there weren't some great videos 2009 and up, just that his absolute peak was 2006-2008 in my opinion.

 

[KillThemCrackasBabies]

Disappointed he didn't cover Naughty Dog's Way of The Warrior.

Not a bad video but nothing special, he's well past his prime but to be fair like that saying that the the flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long, AVGN's peak was actually not that long, I'd say by 2009 he was already starting to feel a tad stale.

Am I wrong to feel that way? Not that there weren't some great videos 2009 and up, just that his absolute peak was 2006-2008 in my opinion.

By 2009 everyone and their mothers was an "angry reviewer" so a lot of the novelty wore off.

 

[Anchors-Away]

Not a bad video but nothing special, he's well past his prime but to be fair like that saying that the the flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long, AVGN's peak was actually not that long, I'd say by 2009 he was already starting to feel a tad stale.

Am I wrong to feel that way? Not that there weren't some great videos 2009 and up, just that his absolute peak was 2006-2008 in my opinion.

Not at all. Various factors came into play that not only helped aid his success, but also exposed his limitations.

What a lot of people tend to forget is that prior to Google's financial takeover of YouTube, the platform lacked functionality and focus. An almost ironic statement considering what Google have done since, but we'll get into that later on. Back then, most channels weren't able to upload higher than 480p nor could users upload video content that lasted longer than 15 mins. Profiles where structured like MySpace, with a large emphases on being able to rank your friends, subscriptions and favourite videos. That said, the 5 Star system was far more effective than that of the Like/Dislike ratio currently in place.

Allow me to be blunt: YouTube was no different to what we see on Dailymotion today. It was a dumping ground of illegal Anime rips, miscredited songs (System of the Down never performed the Zelda theme) and Russian hardbass AMV's. If you wanted to engage with more creatively focused content, you either had to visit eBaum's World (Skits & News) or Newgrounds (Animations & Music).

Anyone who developed any sense of notoriety or following on YouTube wasn't even able to make income either. Whereas some opt to go the route of advertising like Tay Zonday and Keyboard Cat, others like Bo Burnham, iJustine and Hannah Minx got agents to become more than a kid with a webcam. Then you have Neil Cicierega, a man that frankly achieved so much too early and got very little for it... And that itself is the harsh reality of pre-Google YouTube. Most are memes of yesteryear.

But what about those within the "Gaming" scene like AVGN?

The proverbial "geek culture" we know and loath today hadn't evolved yet beyond the stereotype of basement dwellers. So it lacked marketability or appeal beyond those into it. Additionally the modern day "fair use" defence channels like to parrot didn't really work; gaming studios where far more protective of copyright. This allowed for outlets like IGN, ScrewAttack, Gametrailers and Escapist to snatch up "hosting rights" from a variety of would-be gaming channels. MEGA 64, Zero Punctuation, Jim Sterling, Brentalfloss, AVGN amongst others all cashed out to be on the front page of these respective websites at one point in time. Not only could the videos be uploaded higher than 480p, but they'd earn revenue amongst other perks like merch and convention appearances. Indirectly creating the first wave of e-celebs.

It's these actions that lead to A LOT of collectives to form (Channel Awesome, RoosterTeeth, Rertroware TV, Punk Effect, TeamFourStar, Normal Boots etc.) as a means to host content exclusively, tip-toe around copyright law and take advantage of Google adsense in the process. Costly, but with enough names in your group and you are set. And it worked! A vast majority of these names I've listed above either are still around in some capacity, some more relevant than ever!

Another strength that went in favour of ol' AVGN was his ability to capture video-game footage. Prior to 2010, there wasn't really viable way nor did a market exist. Elgato's weren't a dime a dozen on ebay. Hauppauge's had to be re-rigged to even get non-HD gameplay (with the company later inflating the price of its cards to over $200+ to get 720p) and you couldn't just Amazon a Black Magic and begin your LP the following day. No, AVGN's bizarre set-up (via VHS) allowed for him be ahead of the curb and seem far more technically sound than the reality of things.

The shift into the 2010's hurt not just AVGN, but most of the old guard.

YouTube became part of Google's fold, allowing for monetary intensives to be implemented onto the platform via it's adsense program. Networks like Machinima and TGS provided a third party layer of protection from copyright claims, whilst also pulling away a substantial amount of business / video exclusivity from GameTrailers, ScrewAttack and more. Social media begun to phase out conventional forums, killing off the need for collective sites. Video-capture software had become so cheap that kids as young as 11 could ape and imitate AVGN's format to a tee. HD had become standardised, forcing AVGN to learn a new system for recording. Generational shift of those online meant that retro wasn't trendy anymore.

You can point your finger at so many things, it was going to happen regardless.

 

[Guts Gets Some]

I must be in the minority; I was unsubbed from Cinemassacre for awhile because of how bad the AVGN was getting. Constant skit heavy episodes, which is something I've always loathed.

Back to game reviews in a documentary style and less poo poo mouth talk; I was impressed James managed to make something interesting again, I resubbed. I never thought he was all that funny; I've just always been a fan of reviews that are entertaining. But I'd prefer more documentary leaning than 'performance' in front of the camera.

 

[Pinochet Was Right]

Hannah Minx

Oh god, the precursor of twitch thots. I forgot about her.
Back then I couldn't ever understand why retards would keep giving her views if she wasn't gonna show her tits on purpose to keep the neckbeards drooling. It only got worse.

Did she ever got naked? They always eventually escalate, as modern thots have proven

Another strength that went in favour of ol' AVGN was his ability to capture video-game footage. Prior to 2010, there wasn't really viable way nor did a market exist. Elgato's weren't a dime a dozen on ebay. Hauppauge's had to be re-rigged to even get non-HD gameplay (with the company later inflating the price of its cards to over $200+ to get 720p) and you couldn't just Amazon a Black Magic and begin your LP the following day. No, AVGN's bizarre set-up (via VHS) allowed for him be ahead of the curb and seem far more technically sound than the reality of things.

Hypercam already existed then though

But I'd prefer more documentary leaning than 'performance' in front of the camera.

That was the great thing, these were always so well researched. I guess Mike was responsible for that?
Because when you put on JMM, it's always James who spouts the ignorant garbage like debunked rumors, newbie misconceptions, obsolete fan theories and other "common knowledge"

 

[Anchors-Away]

Did she ever got naked? They always eventually escalate, as modern thots have proven

Did a few b-movies and some "cosplay" videos for the Japanese.

Hypercam already existed then though

For PC sure, but most gameplay online then was always via console

 

[Dom Cruise]

Not at all. Various factors came into play that not only helped aid his success, but also exposed his limitations.

What a lot of people tend to forget is that prior to Google's financial takeover of YouTube, the platform lacked functionality and focus. An almost ironic statement considering what Google have done since, but we'll get into that later on. Back then, most channels weren't able to upload higher than 480p nor could users upload video content that lasted longer than 15 mins. Profiles where structured like MySpace, with a large emphases on being able to rank your friends, subscriptions and favourite videos. That said, the 5 Star system was far more effective than that of the Like/Dislike ratio currently in place.

Allow me to be blunt: YouTube was no different to what we see on Dailymotion today. It was a dumping ground of illegal Anime rips, miscredited songs (System of the Down never performed the Zelda theme) and Russian hardbass AMV's. If you wanted to engage with more creatively focused content, you either had to visit eBaum's World (Skits & News) or Newgrounds (Animations & Music).

Anyone who developed any sense of notoriety or following on YouTube wasn't even able to make income either. Whereas some opt to go the route of advertising like Tay Zonday and Keyboard Cat, others like Bo Burnham, iJustine and Hannah Minx got agents to become more than a kid with a webcam. Then you have Neil Cicierega, a man that frankly achieved so much too early and got very little for it... And that itself is the harsh reality of pre-Google YouTube. Most are memes of yesteryear.

But what about those within the "Gaming" scene like AVGN?

The proverbial "geek culture" we know and loath today hadn't evolved yet beyond the stereotype of basement dwellers. So it lacked marketability or appeal beyond those into it. Additionally the modern day "fair use" defence channels like to parrot didn't really work; gaming studios where far more protective of copyright. This allowed for outlets like IGN, ScrewAttack, Gametrailers and Escapist to snatch up "hosting rights" from a variety of would-be gaming channels. MEGA 64, Zero Punctuation, Jim Sterling, Brentalfloss, AVGN amongst others all cashed out to be on the front page of these respective websites at one point in time. Not only could the videos be uploaded higher than 480p, but they'd earn revenue amongst other perks like merch and convention appearances. Indirectly creating the first wave of e-celebs.

It's these actions that lead to A LOT of collectives to form (Channel Awesome, RoosterTeeth, Rertroware TV, Punk Effect, TeamFourStar, Normal Boots etc.) as a means to host content exclusively, tip-toe around copyright law and take advantage of Google adsense in the process. Costly, but with enough names in your group and you are set. And it worked! A vast majority of these names I've listed above either are still around in some capacity, some more relevant than ever!

Another strength that went in favour of ol' AVGN was his ability to capture video-game footage. Prior to 2010, there wasn't really viable way nor did a market exist. Elgato's weren't a dime a dozen on ebay. Hauppauge's had to be re-rigged to even get non-HD gameplay (with the company later inflating the price of its cards to over $200+ to get 720p) and you couldn't just Amazon a Black Magic and begin your LP the following day. No, AVGN's bizarre set-up (via VHS) allowed for him be ahead of the curb and seem far more technically sound than the reality of things.

The shift into the 2010's hurt not just AVGN, but most of the old guard.

YouTube became part of Google's fold, allowing for monetary intensives to be implemented onto the platform via it's adsense program. Networks like Machinima and TGS provided a third party layer of protection from copyright claims, whilst also pulling away a substantial amount of business / video exclusivity from GameTrailers, ScrewAttack and more. Social media begun to phase out conventional forums, killing off the need for collective sites. Video-capture software had become so cheap that kids as young as 11 could ape and imitate AVGN's format to a tee. HD had become standardised, forcing AVGN to learn a new system for recording. Generational shift of those online meant that retro wasn't trendy anymore.

You can point your finger at so many things, it was going to happen regardless.

I find it fascinating that it was long enough ago that we can consider something like the peak days of AVGN nostalgic, even though the theme of it was nostalgia.

Nostalgia for nostalgia.

 

[BrunoMattei]

Well this is very meh. Literally just James Rolfe sitting in front of the camera talking about video games, which can be fine for an AVGN episode and an informative one at that, but to nitpick, it doesn't even involve him putting games into the consoles. Even though most of the ripoffs are arcade ones which might explain why he doesn't, can he at least do it for some of the games? I suspect some of the footage were taken from some other YouTube videos ala ConnerTheWaffle but it's most likely the Screenwave guys doing the footage.

I'm not trying to be a contrarian fag but I thought this episode was okay. It helps that I played nearly all of those games. They're bad but fun in a so bad it's good way. Especially the Jackie Chan game which has had actual tournaments and is a meme within the Fighting Game Community.

6.5/10

 

[Dom Cruise]

I'm surprised the Jackie Chan game would have gore, doesn't really seem like Chan's style.

 

[Anchors-Away]

I find it fascinating that it was long enough ago that we can consider something like the peak days of AVGN nostalgic, even though the theme of it was nostalgia.

Nostalgia for nostalgia.

Nostalgia always sells.

Well, that and due to the advancement of modern tech and how we consume/distribute information online; things age much faster. Think back to the early 2000's internet humour and reflect on just how rigged and defined it was. Today's memes have a month at best shelf life before being phased out or deep fried beyond any recognition.

 

[BrunoMattei]

I'm surprised the Jackie Chan game would have gore, doesn't really seem like Chan's style.

There was a site that covered it. The first game was made in cooperation with Chan for one of his movies. So the publisher made a deal to use his image and all that in exchange for partially funding one of his movies. The first game had the fatalities but people complained they couldn't play as Jackie. So they pump out a 2nd game where you can play all of the Jackie boss characters but they didn't photograph any fatalities and Chan probably put the kibosh on that too.