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Is it me or does G4TechTV suck more than both networks did before they merged?
- Thread starter Diablos
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X-Play was kept, as were Sceen Savers, Fresh Gear and a few other Tech TV shows.
On one hand it sucks, but on the other hand Tech TV was losing assloads of money appealing to a tiny l33t demographic and was rumored to be about to close anyway. This way at least we get most of their good shows kept on air.
On one hand it sucks, but on the other hand Tech TV was losing assloads of money appealing to a tiny l33t demographic and was rumored to be about to close anyway. This way at least we get most of their good shows kept on air.
I don't see why the 2 channels merged to begin with. Just cause X-Play was one of the top rated shows on TechTv doesn't mean the entire audience is gamers. Now that the two channels merged, the whole channel seems to be about games. They show more G4 content than TechTV it seems. The thing is that I watched Techtv (before merger) for the actual tech shows...Call for Help, ScreenSavers (when it was actually good and 90 minutes long), and Tech Live. But two of those shows are gone and Screen Savers isn't as good as before. The merger totally screws the Techtv audience who were not interested in Xplay. I want my old Techtv dammit 
enjoy bell woods
Banned
Vibri sed:Wario64 said:I don't see why the 2 channels merged to begin with. Just cause X-Play was one of the top rated shows on TechTv doesn't mean the entire audience is gamers. Now that the two channels merged, the whole channel seems to be about games. They show more G4 content than TechTV it seems. The thing is that I watched Techtv (before merger) for the actual tech shows...Call for Help, ScreenSavers (when it was actually good and 90 minutes long), and Tech Live. But two of those shows are gone and Screen Savers isn't as good as before. The merger totally screws the Techtv audience who were not interested in Xplay. I want my old Techtv dammit
dskillzhtown
keep your strippers out of my American football
Yeah, Tech was dying, G4 was on life support, so they decided to try to merge and hopefully finally make money. With the combined households, the channel now qualifies for ratings, when should allow them to raise ad rates. But hopefully they are looking at this as a marathon and not a sprint because, the network is not where it needs to be at all right now, IMO. A few good shows every now and then are on. I am talking like once a month at this point.
Also, G4 was having a hard time edging onto certain cable and satellite providers, since it is owned and operated by Comcast, itself a cable provider.
Other providers didn't feel like "helping" their competitor by making on of their channels more profitable. So Comcast bought Tech TV and got that channels coveted spot in many more households.
So really, Comcast was after Tech TV's spot on the dial more than its content. The shortage of Tech TV stuff on the new channel is a good reflection of that attitude.
Other providers didn't feel like "helping" their competitor by making on of their channels more profitable. So Comcast bought Tech TV and got that channels coveted spot in many more households.
So really, Comcast was after Tech TV's spot on the dial more than its content. The shortage of Tech TV stuff on the new channel is a good reflection of that attitude.
The Black Gelding
Banned
I already made a thread about this...
Anyone who use to watch TechTV (which I imagine is a lot of people on this board) knows that it has been turned into G4TechTV after being bought by Comcast. Those fuckers turned it into a god damn channel for idiots. Who had the bright idea that videogames could consume over 2 hours of television a day. My fucking Jesus Christ. I sat and watched them do a fucking play by play on a SERIES of games on some baseball game they were pimping. No more good shit like Conspiracies and Call for Help. All us TTVers get is a watered down version of Screensavers. Im pissed.
The WORST part of this merger is not the loss of TTV favorites, but rather the shit that they replaced it with. The shows are mostly either 2 things: Reviews of games OR People playing games. WHAT THE FUCK. Who the hell wants to watch dumb rap/porn stars play videogames. "Yo. Yo. Dis game be off the hook!!!" or "I make my skin have no top on!!!" Or, better yet, a bunch of swinging dicks playing Call of Duty. To make things worse they have commentary "OOOH! He's running! He looks like he's going after their flag!!!" God. I can't stand the banality. Then you have stupid people trying to act cool and review videogames. Think XPLAY Adam Sessler X10 if you want to know how unfunny/stupid these hosts can be. I swear I have seen one of the blowhards on Judgment Day criticize a game for not having enough cuss words. Ugh. This is Crap with a capitol C. Then you have crap like filter which tries to be like all the countdown shows on VH1 and E! Hosted by some halfwit chick who doesn't give two shits about what she's acting like an idiot about. On top of this they have stupid topics like "TRIPPIEST GAMES EVER" UGH! Idiots have enough programming as it is, they have to take helpful stuff on TV and turn it into more mindless drivel. They did it with Discovery and TLC; at least there are digital channels that take the helpful info's place. Not so with TechTV. Holy shit, did I mention they have a show devoted to CHEAT CODES!? YES FUCKING CHEATCODES! The shit that your little brother wastes all the fucking ink printing out to beat easy ass games like Tony Hawk 7. Ugh, nailing my dick to the wall is more entertaining than this shit.
Let's not get it twisted... I am by all means a gamer, hell I LOVE videogames just as much as the next red-blooded American. BUT I DON'T WANT TO WATCH THEM ALL THE FUCKING TIME! GOD!
And did I mention the fucking WEBSITE! Oh geez what the fuck!? I swear Ray Charles could design a better website, even in his current condition. Remember the sites that would have a shit load of frames and stupid animated GIFs running around on your screen? Well, that was the annoying site design of 5 years ago. Now its stupid sites with a shitload of flash, bad Day-Glo colors and INTRUSIVE ADS. The ads aren't even the worse part. It's the fact that they fucking got rid of all the good shit that was on TTV's website. None of the old files of the day, poorly done show notes and poorly organized. What once was a valuble tool in computer troubleshooting has become a mire of ads and asinine tips on how to hook up with girl gamers.
As someone on the G4TechTV boards so eloquently put it "Merging G4 and TechTV is like loading a shotgun shell into a handgun. Doesn't fit, and it's going to go off in your face."
Fuck Comcast, fuck them to pieces. The bitches that made the programming decisions on that network need a swift kick to the throat.
Damn right! And if you like the new merger, do the world a favor and hang yourself.
Helpful links for those of us who are concerned:
G4TechTV Merger Comments Forum
G4TechTV Petition
Contact Comcast info (IMPORTANT)
open_mouth_
insert_foot_
This is a case where the whole is less than the sum of its parts.
They're so bad, they break the laws of mathematics
They're so bad, they break the laws of mathematics
Mike Works
Member
Maybe someone can answer this for me. Why do Electric Playground, Reviews on the Run, AND Judgement Day exist?
mightynine
Member
Mike Works said:
Because ElectricPlaygroundReviewsontheRunJudgementDay was too long of a name for just one show.
Hmm, I thought I was the only one who thought this, glad to see I'm not alone. I didn't watch a TON of Tech TV, but they did have interesting programming. Now it's a mishmash of bullshit the likes of which the Black Stallion has already covered. I still watch X Play and Screen Savers from time to time, but every other show I've given a chance to gets changed come the commercial break, if not sooner.
For the record, Dish Network subscriber here, and we didn't have G4 before the merger. What I'm seeing so far is WAY TOO MUCH G4/Videogame shows (this coming from a guy who has gamed hardcore since the NES days) and WAY TOO LITTLE Tech TV.
I mean, perhaps to a 10 year old, watching other people play games for a half hour would be interesting. I have to admit, I would have watched a show like that as a kid, but to base a whole network around that type of show is rediculous. This channel needs way more variety, the type that Tech TV used to provide, to survive.
Keep the review/gameplay shows to an absolute minimum, especially considering XPlay covers both those bases quite well, and has some nice boobies as well
For the record, Dish Network subscriber here, and we didn't have G4 before the merger. What I'm seeing so far is WAY TOO MUCH G4/Videogame shows (this coming from a guy who has gamed hardcore since the NES days) and WAY TOO LITTLE Tech TV.
I mean, perhaps to a 10 year old, watching other people play games for a half hour would be interesting. I have to admit, I would have watched a show like that as a kid, but to base a whole network around that type of show is rediculous. This channel needs way more variety, the type that Tech TV used to provide, to survive.
Keep the review/gameplay shows to an absolute minimum, especially considering XPlay covers both those bases quite well, and has some nice boobies as well
Mike Works said:
Exactly. There are too many shows with the same purpose on. Especially considering XPlay is better than any of these shows. Please program some variety into your lineup G4TechTV.
Perhaps this will work out like the merger of the two comedy channels in the early 90's. Many probably don't remember, and I don't remember the channel names, but there were two channels based around comedy. One had short "cuts" of comedy specials played ala MTV Video style. They would take a "joke" out of a comic's routine, say a few minutes, and play it followed by another comic ad nauseum. It was a cool concept, but it didn't make for long term viewing. The other channel was set up similar to Comedy Central, except without the stand-up. So they took the concept of half-hour/hour shows and added stand-up (albiet not cut to shreds thank god).
Now we've got two gaming channels. Except not really. Tech TV wasn't a gaming channel, it had a gaming show. G4 took this show, and one or two others, and apparently added it to their lineup. That's the wrong way to set up the channel. It would be like the comedy channels showing stand-up 20 hours a day with the occasional original series or SNL repeat. They needed to take more of Tech TV's original Tech-based programming, and add a FEW more videogame shows to XPlay.
BTW XPlay is nothing special (although I've got a crush on Morgan like many geeks), but it certainly covers the bases when it comes to videogames. We don't need another 20 hours worth of videogame coverage, but thanks for trying G4TTV.
Guys. Cable Television as a whole already sucks donkey balls! But atleast WE ARE GETTING A DAMN VIDEOGAME CHANNEL Geez, would you rather be without G4/techTV? I wouldn't...and I just got the damn channel last week. It aint the greatest channel in the universe, but I am quite happy watching it...since it *is* about one of my favorite past times...games. So maybe we should all just relax and appreciate what we got....a 24 hour game channel.
That's true isamu, but I think the general consensus is that Tech TV was much better without G4. Now, if Tech TV was going under, then I guess they did what they had to do. But I still think the merger should have leaned much more heavily towards TTV than the apparent G4 lean. As a TTV viewer, it appears they only took 2-3 shows from the plethora that they had (one of which was already a gaming show), and added a bunch of unwatchable crap. I don't watch the channel much at all anymore as a result.
I agree it's nice to have a videogame channel, I just think there needs to be more of a balance of technology and games than there currently is.
BTW, thanks for posting those vids on OA of Outrun2/et al. They're great. Just watched some dude SMOKE the expert course on Scud Racer.
I agree it's nice to have a videogame channel, I just think there needs to be more of a balance of technology and games than there currently is.
BTW, thanks for posting those vids on OA of Outrun2/et al. They're great. Just watched some dude SMOKE the expert course on Scud Racer.
They're still merging - the press reports at the time said the new combined network launches in 2005 so the lineup you see now is probably transitional while they survey ratings, figure out the right tech/game balance etc.
You can't compare networks like MTV, Comedy Central and ESPN that have been homing their programming for 20 years to something totally new and unproven like a video game network, that's been around for less than two. People dissed the credibility of online game media for the first few years as well. Give them a chance.
The fact that they already have a couple of shows that are pretty popular with game geeks (Xplay, Icons) is a sign that they CAN get it right. The rest is down to ratings, i.e. the viewer.
edit: one thing is for sure, the advertisers seem to love the network. Nike, cars, Coke, movie studios, all pretty huge accounts are all over the network. Hopefully they don't become too MTV.
You can't compare networks like MTV, Comedy Central and ESPN that have been homing their programming for 20 years to something totally new and unproven like a video game network, that's been around for less than two. People dissed the credibility of online game media for the first few years as well. Give them a chance.
The fact that they already have a couple of shows that are pretty popular with game geeks (Xplay, Icons) is a sign that they CAN get it right. The rest is down to ratings, i.e. the viewer.
edit: one thing is for sure, the advertisers seem to love the network. Nike, cars, Coke, movie studios, all pretty huge accounts are all over the network. Hopefully they don't become too MTV.
Vibri said:
No, I agree totally. I only brought up the CC comparison as an example. The CC we see today is a far cry of what the channel looked like directly after the merger. I don't see how MTV or ESPN compare, but yeah, CC definitely had a time of adjustment.
I'm not saying I'm giving up on the network, and us geeks are glad to have it. It's just that Tech TV was better
Hopefully they'll fix that balance as you say.
Tech TV was better if you're strictly a hardware junkie. The only thing missing is Leo Laporte (who let's face it, hosted a computer show for my dad's demo) and some of their more Discovery Network style tech shows.
I for one would rather have a weekly one hour news show like Pulse which actually travels to all these game events and reports on them pretty well, and also Icons which for my money is better than anything that was ever on Tech TV. I don't see how anyone on this forum can complain about a video game show that takes you behind the scenes of shit like Sonic Team, Capcom Japan, etc.
It's just a pity that some of the other G4 programming is SO BAD (the sports and celeb shows, ugh) that it's a real slap in the face for gamers who want our hobby taken serious. But people shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
I for one would rather have a weekly one hour news show like Pulse which actually travels to all these game events and reports on them pretty well, and also Icons which for my money is better than anything that was ever on Tech TV. I don't see how anyone on this forum can complain about a video game show that takes you behind the scenes of shit like Sonic Team, Capcom Japan, etc.
It's just a pity that some of the other G4 programming is SO BAD (the sports and celeb shows, ugh) that it's a real slap in the face for gamers who want our hobby taken serious. But people shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Alcibiades
Member
I would rather have NO videogame channel than a Nintendo-bashing game channel.isamu said:
One reason I didn't push my parents to get digital cable (which has had G4), was cause my friend who has it (a Nintendo fan also), says there's a bunch of picking on Nintendo.
I hope that piece of crap dies, unless their programming is going to be fair to Nintendo.
What happened to that Call for Help guy from a few years ago (nerdy English major w/ curly hair and kinda young-looking; he was host for the longest time I think, he's the only call-for-help host I ever saw), he says he would have chosen GCN over XBox because he's a Mario, Zelda, and Star Wars fan. Is he still around?
FortNinety
Member
isamu said:
I used to have G4, but not anymore, and I don't miss it. I used to have TechTV, but not anymore, and I miss that. That being said, I'm quite happy that I don't have G4TechTV.
Mike Works said:
WTF?!?!? Tollarico has a third fucking show?
efralope said:
Most of that is just Tommy from JD bashing certain Nintendo games from a casual and honest yet, somewhat offensive point of view. Despite his trashing, Vic is always right there to counter it all from a more fair and hardcore perspective. Other than that, G4 has always been pretty fair to Nintendo, at E3 they were all over the new Zelda more than any other game except Halo and they cover every bit of new news about the DS and N5. It's really Nintendo's own fault for not having more people get in contact with G4TV. They are always open to interviews, especially on G4TV.com which has always been a very fair and balanced show for all consoles, but Nintendo's influence is very rare except on Filter and Icons, but those are mostly discussions about the older titles. Nintendo's PR department really needs to get a move on, as large as G4's viewerbase is becoming, they can't afford to pay so little attention to G4.
People complain, yet alot of those people are still always current and up to date about what's on G4. G4's evil, but you just can't stay away for too long, I hate G4, but I know it's a necessary evil for now. Fans are pissed, but I really doubt they are going anywhere(most anyways), and thanks to the huge install base G4 acquired thanks to the merger, it's obvious they are bringing in millions of new casual viewers as well. You ever visited the official forums? There's like a million TTV fans there complaining and vowing to never watch G4 again, but they all still post in Xplay and TSS boards about the newest eps.
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