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Yahtzee Croshaw
Yahtzee Croshaw in 2010
Croshaw in 2010
Born
Benjamin Richard Croshaw[‡ 1]

(1983-05-24) 24 May 1983 (age 41)[‡ 2]
Rugby, Warwickshire, England[citation needed]
Occupation(s)Journalist, video game critic, author, video game developer, humourist, audiobook narrator
Employers
Known for
Spouse
Kess
​
(m. 2018)​
[citation needed]
Children2[citation needed]
Websitefullyramblomatic.com

Benjamin Richard "Yahtzee" Croshaw (born 24 May 1983) is a British journalist, video game critic, author, humourist, video game developer, and audiobook narrator. He is best known for his video game review series Zero Punctuation, which he produced for The Escapist from 2007 to 2023, and its spiritual successor Fully Ramblomatic, which he releases through Second Wind.

Croshaw has developed and released over two dozen indie games, both freeware and commercial titles. He has also published six novels through Dark Horse Books.

Outside of creative works, Croshaw was one of four founders of the Mana Bar, an Australian cocktail bar and video gaming lounge which opened in 2010, and had closed by 2015.

Game journalism

Zero Punctuation

Main article: Zero Punctuation

Zero Punctuation was a video-review column Croshaw released every Wednesday on The Escapist[1] between 2007 and 2023.[2][3][4] Beginning with his review of the demo of The Darkness, the review quickly grew in popularity,[5][6] and after one more review, Croshaw was hired to continue the series on The Escapist.[4][7] Reviews were typically posted initially on The Escapist's site, then uploaded to The Escapist's YouTube channel a week later.[2] The addition of the series to The Escapist led to a large growth in traffic,[8] and the series became the most popular feature on The Escapist,[3] consistently receiving hundreds of thousands of views each episode, with the most popular episodes reaching over a million views.[2]

Throughout the series's lifetime, Croshaw became known for his rapid-fire delivery[5][7] (from which the series's title is derived),[1] as well as his harsh critique of the games he reviewed[1][6][9][10] and the broader video game industry,[11] and the crude humour and illustrations contained in his reviews.[7][10] Additionally, Croshaw coined the term "PC Master Race" in one review, which then became common parlance among PC gamers.[12][13] Reviews were roughly five minutes in length,[3][14] and contained no numerical rating or score,[7] regarding which Croshaw has stated "that's fucking nonsense when you're criticizing from a subjective artistic standpoint."[14]

Fully Ramblomatic

Main article: Second Wind (entertainment group)
Avatar of Yahtzee Croshaw
Avatar of Yahtzee Croshaw
 Yahtzee Croshaw
@YahtzeeCroshaw
 X logo, a stylized letter X

Today, I formally resigned from The Escapist and Gamurs. I don't have the rights to Zero Punctuation, but whatever happens you'll be hearing my voice again soon, in a new place. Join this discord for updates in the coming days:

6 November 2023[‡ 3]

On 6 November 2023, Croshaw announced his resignation from The Escapist alongside other colleagues following the abrupt firing of editor-in-chief Nick Calandra that same day, effectively ending Zero Punctuation as a series.[2][3][4][15] Two days later, Calandra and Croshaw announced the creation of Second Wind,[2][4][15] a new outlet on which Croshaw would continue weekly video-reviews under the title Fully Ramblomatic.[4]

Game development

Yahtzee Croshaw in a group photo
Croshaw (second from left) outside GDC 2008, alongside (left to right) Justin Hall, Merci Hammon, and Duncan Gough

Croshaw has developed many freeware games[7] in Adventure Game Studio, including the Rob Blanc trilogy,[16] The Trials of Odysseus Kent,[17][verification needed] the Chzo Mythos,[18] and 1213.[19] In April 2012,[20] Croshaw released the Cave Story inspired Poacher,[21][22] developed in GameMaker Studio,[22] which he would use to make all his subsequent games.[‡ 4]

In a 2014 Vice interview, Croshaw disclosed that he had been asked to pitch a script for the then-in-development Duke Nukem Forever by a producer. He did so, however the script was rejected due to not fitting the producer's vision of Duke Nukem as a character.[14]

In 2015, Croshaw released the mobile game Hatfall in collaboration with Addicting Games and Defy Media.[23] PC Magazine's Will Greenwald scored the game 3.5/5, describing the game as "a funny little take on casual mobile games that doesn't offer any depth or complexity," while adding that the game "does a good job of taking the piss out of games (and you as the player) with the sharp-tongued Britishness of Yahtzee's writing and the minimalism of his animations."[24]

In November 2013, Croshaw released the beta version of the Lovecraftian horror roguelike The Consuming Shadow,[25][26][27] On 30 July 2015, the full game was released.[28][29] Destructoid's Stephen Turner scored the game 4/10, describing the game as "more Frankenstein's Monster than Eldritch Abomination, shambling along [...] with once fresh parts, dug up from here and there."[29] On 20 November, a new version of the game was released on Steam, which included new features.[30]

In May 2019, Croshaw began a new video series called Dev Diary, wherein he would develop 12 freeware games over the course of a year.[31]

Writing

In 2010, Croshaw's first novel Mogworld, was published by Dark Horse Books.[32][33] Tor.com's Chris Greenland stated that the book "isn't going to bowl anyone over," while adding that "Croshaw undoubtedly has a strong, unique voice and I would hate to see that limited to only critiques."[32]

Later that same year, the short story collection Machine of Death was published, featuring a story by Croshaw[34] titled "Exhaustion From Having Sex With a Minor".[35] The Times Herald-Record's Jim Higgins described the story as "a talky tale of political intrigue that could be straight out of Isaac Asimov's Foundation series, with a snappy twist at the end that O. Henry might appreciate."[35]

In 2012, an ebook version of Mogworld was released, which included an excerpt of Croshaw's second novel, Jam.[33] The novel was published later that year on October 10.[‡ 5] The Quad's Kelly Baker described the book as "very funny, but [...] also surprisingly disturbing to boot."[36]

In 2017, Croshaw's third novel, the sci-fi comedy Will Save the Galaxy for Food was published. In 2019, its sequel Will Destroy the Galaxy for Cash was published as an audiobook on Audible; a print version followed in 2020.[37]

In 2018, Croshaw's fourth novel Differently Morphous was published as an audiobook, with a print version following on 10 April 2019.[38] A sequel followed in 2021, titled Existentially Challenged.[‡ 6]

Bibliography

  • Mogworld. Dark Horse Books. 2010. ISBN 978-1-59582-529-2. OCLC 589017680.
  • North, Ryan; Bennardo, Matthew; Malki, David, eds. (2010). "Exhaustion From Having Sex With a Minor". Machine of Death. Illustrated by Cameron Stewart. Bearstache Books. pp. 227–38. ISBN 978-0-9821671-2-0. OCLC 678476546.
  • Jam. Dark Horse Books. 2012. ISBN 978-1-59582-957-3. OCLC 794973812.
  • Will Save the Galaxy for Food. Dark Horse Books. 2017. ISBN 978-1-50670-165-3. OCLC 950635680.
  • Differently Morphous. Dark Horse Books. 2018. ISBN 978-1-50671-164-5. OCLC 1053611265.
  • Will Destroy the Galaxy for Cash. Dark Horse Books. 2020. ISBN 978-1-50671-511-7. OCLC 1154255211.
  • Existentially Challenged. Dark Horse Books. 2021. ISBN 978-1-50673-359-3. OCLC 1322812492.

Other works

Game Damage

Game Damage was a planned video game-centred TV show co-starring Croshaw.[39] A pilot was released on YouTube in December 2008.[39][40][41] In October 2009, a trailer for the first season was released.[42] In November 2009, CNET's Nate Lanxon reported that the show was "looking for international funding".[10] The show was ultimately never picked up. In a 2014 interview with Vice, Croshaw stated that he believed the show never saw success because "TV networks tend to be antsy about gaming content because video gaming is one of TV's main competitors".[14]

Mana Bar

Main article: Mana Bar

Croshaw was one of four founders of the Mana Bar,[43] an Australian cocktail bar and video gaming lounge.[44][45][46][47] The bar initially opened in Brisbane in 2010,[48] with a second venue opening in Melbourne in 2011.[49] By May 2015, both venues had closed their doors.[50][51][52]

References

  1. ^ a b c Stasse, Terrence (5 March 2008). "Zero Punctuation: Yahtzee cries about DMC4". Engadget. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Middler, Jordan (7 November 2023). "Video series Zero Punctuation is seemingly ending following The Escapist staff exodus". VGC. 1981 Media. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "Zero Punctuation star Yahtzee Croshaw quits after 16 years". BBC News Online. 7 November 2023. Archived from the original on 20 January 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e Crider, Michael (8 November 2023). "'Zero Punctuation' game review series ends after 16 years". PC World. IDG. ISSN 0737-8939. OCLC 1117065657. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b Sterling, James Stephanie (11 February 2008). "Destructoid interview: Ben 'Yahtzee' Croshaw". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b Francis, Tom (5 August 2010). "Community heroes: Yahtzee, for Zero Punctuation". PC Gamer. Future plc. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e Singal, Jesse (3 August 2013). "Video game critic brings a biting wit, and a mission to reform". The Boston Globe. ISSN 0743-1791. OCLC 66652431. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  8. ^ Berens, Kate; Howard, Geoff (2008). The Rough Guide to Videogames. Rough Guides. p. 281. ISBN 978-1-84353-995-7. OCLC 221163889.
  9. ^ Santos, Wayne (April 2008). "Zero Punctuation Review Terrorizes EA Game Development". GameAxis Unwired. No. 55. SPH Magazines. p. 7. ISSN 0219-872X. OCLC 166355936. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Lanxon, Nate (4 November 2009). "Interview: Zero Punctuation's Ben 'Yahtzee' Croshaw reveals all". CNET. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  11. ^ Santos, Wayne (April 2008). "Video Of The Month". GameAxis Unwired. No. 55. SPH Magazines. p. 11. ISSN 0219-872X. OCLC 166355936. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  12. ^ Wilde, Tyler (14 January 2015). "Let's stop calling ourselves the 'PC Master Race'". PC Gamer. Future plc. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  13. ^ Hartup, Phil (21 January 2015). "It's OK for PC gamers to be a little arrogant – they know they've backed the right platform". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d Diver, Mike (12 November 2014). "An Interview with the Man Behind the Internet's Best Video Game Reviews". Vice. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  15. ^ a b Tassi, Paul (8 November 2023). "Zero Punctuation Ends As 'The Escapist' Faces Mass Resignations After EIC Firing". Forbes. ISSN 0015-6914. OCLC 6465733. Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  16. ^ Wells, Audrey. "Just (Free) Adventures: Rob Blanc I and II". Just Adventure. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  17. ^ "AGS Showcase". PC Plus. Future plc. November 2003. p. [page needed]. ISSN 0952-2565. OCLC 610585368. Retrieved 15 November 2006.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)[permanent dead link‍]
  18. ^ Wilds, Anastasia (30 January 2022). "10 Great Obscure Point-And-Click Games". Screen Rant. Valnet Inc. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  19. ^ Goodness, Richard (17 March 2006). "1213 (review)". PopMatters. OCLC 1122752384. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  20. ^ Smith, Adam (5 April 2012). "Yorkshire-Man Belmont: Poacher". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  21. ^ Smith, Adam (12 January 2012). "Yahtzee's Rabid Rabbits: Poacher". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  22. ^ a b Ponce, Tony (12 January 2012). "Yahtzee's new game takes cues from Cave Story". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  23. ^ Koziara, Andrew (7 July 2015). "Yahtzee of Zero Punctuation Made a Mobile Game! 'Hatfall' Available Now". TouchArcade. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  24. ^ Greenwald, Will (10 August 2015). "Hatfall (for iPad) Review". PCMag. Ziff Davis. ISSN 0888-8507. OCLC 960872918. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  25. ^ Pitcher, Jenna (28 November 2013). "Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw develops survival horror roguelike". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  26. ^ Cook, Dave (28 November 2013). "Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw releasing horror rogue-like The Consuming Shadow". VG247. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  27. ^ Purslow, Matt (29 November 2013). "Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw is creating a Lovecraftian roguelike". PCGamesN. Network N Media. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  28. ^ "The Consuming Shadow". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. OCLC 911795326. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  29. ^ a b Turner, Stephen (24 August 2015). "Review: The Consuming Shadow". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  30. ^ Smith, Adam (20 November 2015). "The Call Of Croshaw: The Consuming Shadow Out now". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  31. ^ Lopez, Rachel (1 October 2019). "Free, fun games by a top game maker: Recharge by Rachel Lopez". Hindustan Times. HT Media. ISSN 0972-0243. OCLC 231696742. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  32. ^ a b Greenland, Chris (14 September 2010). "Stepping into Fiction: Mogworld by Yahtzee Croshaw". Tor.com. Macmillan Publishers. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  33. ^ a b "Dark Horse Releases 'Mogworld' e-Book with Sequel Excerpt". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz, LLC. 25 April 2012. ISSN 0000-0019. OCLC 2489456. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  34. ^ Simmons, Amy (28 October 2010). "Indie anthology defies literary odds". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  35. ^ a b Higgins, Jim (6 February 2011). "'Machine of Death': killer stories to die for". Times Herald-Record. Gannett. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  36. ^ Baker, Kelly (15 April 2019). "Behind the Controller: Jam by Yahtzee Croshaw". The Quad. West Chester University. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  37. ^ McMillan, Graeme (12 May 2020). "Dark Horse to Publish Sci-Fi Comedy 'Will Destroy the Galaxy for Cash'". The Hollywood Reporter. ISSN 0018-3660. OCLC 44653726. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  38. ^ Jackson, Frannie (5 April 2019). "Exclusive Excerpt: A Magical Serial Killer Terrorizes England in Yahtzee Crowshaw's Differently Morphous". Paste. ISSN 1540-3106. OCLC 49937508. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  39. ^ a b McElroy, Justin (18 December 2008). "Yahtzee gets in front of the camera on Game Damage". Engadget. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  40. ^ Sterling, James Stephanie (17 December 2008). "Pilot for Game Damage, aka 'that show with Yahtzee and two guys'". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  41. ^ Garratt, Patrick (18 December 2008). "Yahtzee pilots "GameDamage" TV show". VG247. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  42. ^ Garratt, Patrick (5 October 2009). "Yahtzee moves ahead with Game Damage". VG247. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  43. ^ Serrels, Mark (2 April 2012). "A Brisbane Brew: The Mana Bar Story". Kotaku Australia. Allure Media. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  44. ^ Turi, Tim (11 January 2010). "Australia Opening Their First Video Game Pub, Mana Bar". Game Informer. GameStop. ISSN 1067-6392. OCLC 870151871. Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  45. ^ Broughall, Nick (11 January 2010). "Brisbane Gets Australia's First Video Game Bar". Gizmodo Australia. Allure Media. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  46. ^ "Australia's First Dedicated Videogame Bar Opening February 2010". IGN. News Corporation. 11 January 2010. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  47. ^ Wildgoose, David (12 January 2010). "Australia's First Video Game Bar Opening Next Month". Kotaku Australia. Allure Media. Archived from the original on 3 March 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  48. ^ Liz, Foo (23 March 2010). "The Mana Bar: Australia's first gaming destination". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  49. ^ "Mana Bar launches Melbourne venue, confirms plans to expand". MCV. 19 July 2011. ISSN 1469-4832. OCLC 1064402076. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  50. ^ Serrels, Mark (5 August 2013). "The Melbourne Mana Bar Is Closing 'For Good'". Kotaku Australia. Allure Media. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  51. ^ Serrels, Mark (20 May 2015). "The Mana Bar Is Closing Its Doors". Kotaku Australia. Allure Media. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  52. ^ Bochenski, Natalie (20 May 2015). "Game over for gaming hangout Mana Bar". Brisbane Times. Nine Publishing. Archived from the original on 3 March 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2024.

Primary sources

In the text these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):

  1. ^ Croshaw, Yahtzee (7 October 2003). "I Am Jack's Thoughtful Introspection". fullyramblomatic. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2024. I am Benjamin Richard Croshaw.
  2. ^ Croshaw, Yahtzee (8 April 2006). "Fucking Ada". fullyramblomatic. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024. I was born on May 24th 1983 ...
  3. ^ Croshaw, Yahtzee [@YahtzeeCroshaw] (6 November 2023). "Today, I formally resigned from The Escapist and Gamurs. I don't have the rights to Zero Punctuation, but whatever happens you'll be hearing my voice again soon, in a new place. Join this discord for updates in the coming days:" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ Croshaw, Yahtzee (21 May 2019). Yahtzee's Dev Diary 2: Belts, Backrests and Bubbles. The Escapist (Video). Enthusiast Gaming. Event occurs at 4:49. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2024. I'm using GameMaker Studio 2 by YoYo Games for this (and probably all my projects), the same thing I used for Hatfall and Consuming Shadow ...
  5. ^ "JAM novel". darkhorse.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024. Publication Date: October 10, 2012
  6. ^ Croshaw, Yahtzee (10 December 2021). "Existentially Challenged is now out!". fullyramblomatic. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ben Croshaw.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Ben Croshaw.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Zero Punctuation.






To do

  • Find Game Damage LDO
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