Angry Video Game Nerd
 |
| Angry Video Game Nerd | |
|---|---|
| Angry Video Game Nerd The Angry Video Game Nerd logo. | |
| Genre | Physical comedy, reviewer |
| Created by | James D. Rolfe |
| Developed by | Cinemassacre Productions |
| Directed by | James D. Rolfe |
| Presented by | ScrewAttack |
| Starring | James D. Rolfe Mike Matei Kyle Justin |
| Opening theme | "Angry Video Game Nerd Theme" |
| Composer | James D. Rolfe & Kyle Justin |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 73 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | Varies, usually 2-22 min per episode |
| Original release | |
| Network | Internet: YouTube ScrewAttack GameTrailers CineMassacre |
| Release | May, 2004- April 24, 2006 (Pilot Series), June 21, 2006 – present (Main Series) |
The Angry Video Game Nerd (abbreviated as AVGN, occasionally shortened to The Nerd) is the titular character of a series of farcical retrogaming video reviews by James D. Rolfe.[2][3] The show generally revolves around retro game reviews that involve acerbic rants against particularly low-quality or poorly designed video games. The series began as a feature on YouTube, and later joined ScrewAttack Entertainment, which would later have three of its features, including the AVGN, transferred to GameTrailers exclusively. The show was formerly known as The Angry Nintendo Nerd, a title that was abandoned to avoid legal issues due to the Nintendo trademark, and because the show started reviewing games on other consoles.[4]
The titular Nerd character is an ill-tempered and foul-mouthed video game fanatic. He derives comic appeal from excessive and inventive use of profanity, frequent displays of explicit gestures, and heavy consumption of beer, particularly Rolling Rock or Yuengling, to "soothe the pain".[4] A particular characteristic is his favorable comparison of extremely repulsive and painful, usually firmly scatological, acts to playing the games he reviews. Varying amounts of physical comedy are mixed into the verbal abuse.
History
The series began with a short review of the NES game Castlevania II: Simon's Quest in 2004. Rolfe decided to make another video which was supposed to be the last, because Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was his most hated game. At the time, he was drinking the beer Rolling Rock, and this became a trait of The Nerd, so he decided to use it in later videos. The videos were produced and published on Cinemassacre.com.[4] In 2006, the videos were put on YouTube under the name of "Angry Nintendo Nerd". He later changed the name to "Angry Video Game Nerd" to prevent trademark issues.[4] Along with the name change, the Nerd soon diversified, reviewing games on other platforms such as the Atari 2600, Super Nintendo, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, Virtual Boy, the Atari 5200, the Vectrex on his Star Trek special, the Intellivision and ColecoVision systems in a special two-part episode, the Sony PlayStation on one occasion (its version of a game based on Independence Day), the Nintendo 64 on one occasion (for the game Superman 64), the Commodore 64 for both the Superman and Batman reviews, the VIC-20 for the Dracula review, the Atari Lynx in the first part of his Batman review, the Philips CD-I, and the Atari Jaguar. Along with reviewing games, some episodes have featured other video game-related items, such as the Power Glove, the U-Force and other NES accessories, the two Genesis/Mega Drive add-ons (the Sega CD and the Sega 32X), movie reviews of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III and The Wizard, and a tribute to Nintendo Power. He also references video game culture in a reenactment of the retro console wars in one video in a Wii tribute.
Rolfe has stated on his website that the first videos he made were "just a joke" and he had no intention on making them public,[4] instead showing them only to friends. After two years passed, Mike Matei suggested he put it online. They soon did, and since then, his reviews have become increasingly popular and have developed a large fanbase.[5] Rolfe's videos grew longer, soon turning into an actual series complete with title cards, an intro song and official merchandise, two versions of t-shirts, and the AVGN Volume 1 DVD (2004~2006 episodes), followed by the recently released Volume 2 DVD (2007 episodes).
After his fourth online review on YouTube, ScrewAttack invited him to have his own section on their website and has since been employed by MTV Networks' GameTrailers.com.[6] Since then, new videos are GameTrailers exclusives with Rolfe posting episodes on his YouTube account over a year after its original GameTrailers release.
Rolfe's YouTube account was suspended on May 19 2008, due to an alleged copyright claim by GameTrailers on his trailer for the reviews of the Spider-Man games.[7] Ironically, GameTrailers' YouTube account was also suspended on the same day due to a copyright claim allegedly by its own company. Rolfe's account was reinstated the following day, with GameTrailers claiming confusion over which videos their staff should have reported.[8]
Popularity
YouTube
The Angry Video Game Nerd show originated on YouTube under the JamesNintendoNerd Channel, where it was known as the Angry Nintendo Nerd show until November 15, 2006. The show was aired entirely on YouTube until James Rolfe joined with ScrewAttack, after which the YouTube account was used only for trailers and miscellaneous videos. On July 25, 2008, older episodes that were exclusive only to Gametrailers started being gradually uploaded to the JamesNintendoNerd Channel for the YouTube subscribers.[9]
Opie and Anthony Radio Show
On August 8, 2007, Rolfe's character gained mainstream attention when his videos were featured on the nationally syndicated radio show Opie and Anthony. Opie & Anthony found his obscenity-laced tirades against poorly made video games quite humorous, and took notice of one of their own Whip 'em Out Wednesdays (WOW) promotional stickers being featured quite prominently in several of Rolfe's videos. Since then, additional videos have been played occasionally on the show. Rolfe was later interviewed by Opie and Anthony on January 9, 2008.[10]
Spike TV
The Angry Video Game Nerd was featured during an episode of Spike TV's Game Head during the week of November 25, 2007. The spot included clips of some of his previous reviews such as Die Hard.
Since 2008, Spike TV entered into a partnership with Rolfe's company CineMassacre to create reviews for a wide variety of movies.[11] Rolfe has reviewed a number of movies to date including: Maximum Overdrive, Gremlins, and The Shining.
Show
Episodes
Special guests
Occasionally, "special guests" based on famous film and television characters make appearances. These guests often provide additional commentary on the games and mock the Nerd's anguish, becoming increasingly foul mouthed and derisive as the episodes progress. The guests typically meet with unfortunate ends including being physically beaten by the Nerd, or even being defecated on by the Nerd.
Most of the characters are played by Mike Matei, who also illustrates the show's title cards. His roles include Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Bugs Bunny, Leatherface, Chop Top, Michael Myers, the Cowardly Lion, a Klingon, a Metron, the Joker, and Frankenstein's monster.
Freddy Krueger is played by James Rolfe with Matei taking on the role when both were in frame.[12] Also, Kyle Justin played both Spider-Man and Cousin Itt in separate episodes, which were accompanied by him performing the theme songs from Spider-Man and The Addams Family, with reworked lyrics. Justin was also featured in the Battletoads episode as himself.
Some episodes have a basic storyline inspired by the plot of the game or movie being reviewed. In these cases, guests are used to play the episode-specific characters. In the Halloween review, Michael Mulvey and Lil' Liam Mulvey, wearing Optimus Prime and Swamp Thing costumes, respectively, play the parts of the neighbor's Trick-or-treaters. Nicole Mulvey plays the neighbor. In The Texas Chainsaw Massacre review, Jimmy Jim Slugg appears as the hillbilly.
In The Nerd's take on A Christmas Carol, Stuttering Craig and Handsome Tom, co-founders of ScrewAttack, appear as the Ghost of Christmas Past and the Ghost of Christmas Present, respectively. A Dracula sprite from Castlevania II: Simon's Quest represents the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.[13][14]
Music
The Angry Video Game Nerd theme song was composed by independent musician Kyle Justin. The lyrics were the work of both Justin and Rolfe.[15] Some of the lyrics come from comments made by Rolfe in his review of Back to the Future.
The original version of the theme song, which refers to the titular character as the "Angry Nintendo Nerd," features only an acoustic guitar. The second recording is similar to the original but features a more refined performance and an extra lyric at the end referring to the "Angry Video Game Nerd." This version of the theme song was used in the Sega Master System Rocky review, quickly displaced by the third version, then used again in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre review. The third version, which debuted in the "Atari 5200" video, features an overdriven electric guitar and drum set. This version significantly expands on the original song, adding more verses, choruses, and new music. However, a pared-down version, similar in structure to the second version of the theme song, is normally used. The full version is only featured in the Sega CD review and on the DVD set.
The theme song has been covered by fans in genres from heavy metal to chiptune. Rolfe occasionally features a vocal or instrumental cover of the theme song in lieu of the original version in the main titles or end titles of a video. The cover by Dustin Aßmuteit is featured as an extra on the first DVD set.
In addition to the Angry Video Game Nerd theme song, several songs have been parodied and performed by Kyle Justin in Angry Video Game Nerd episodes, including "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (both "Bible Games" episodes), the Spider-Man theme song ("Spider-Man"), and the Addams Family theme song ("Fester's Quest"). "Nintendo Power" features a cover of the theme song from Nintendo Power commercials, while the Intellivision and the ColecoVision reviews feature a cover of Foreigner's "Double Vision".
The scores for Angry Video Game Nerd episodes are culled from a variety of sources, including film soundtracks, television soundtracks, and pop music. Some episodes, including "Friday the 13th" (DVD version only), "Nightmare on Elm Street" (DVD version only), "Rocky" (DVD version only), "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," "Halloween", and "An Angry Nerd Christmas Carol" have necessitated the composition of original scores. Musician Chris Holland has contributed several rock songs, including covers of the opening song from Mickey's Christmas Carol by Irwin Kostal, the "Theme from Star Trek" by Alexander Courage, and the march from Superman by John Williams.
Animated characters
The show also makes use of original animated characters to add commentary or advance an episode-specific plot. The review of Master Chu and the Drunkard Hu uses a character called "Shit Pickle" to comment on the game play. In the Wizard/Super Mario Bros. 3 review, the Nerd calls upon the "Super Mecha Death Christ 2000 B.C 4.0 Beta" to assist in the destruction of a demonically possessed Super Mario Bros. 3 cartridge. This character is a combination of Jesus, robotic components, assorted weapons, and a tank. Both Shit Pickle and Super Mecha Death Christ are originally from Rolfe's film "The Wizard of Oz 3: Dorothy Goes to Hell"[16] and are voiced by James Rolfe and created by Mike Matei. Rolfe explained on his website that Super Mecha Death Christ was created as a spoof on the numerous Mecha-characters found in the Godzilla movies, such as Mechagodzilla.[17] In the episode "Odyssey" a character called "The Nerdy Turd" (who is a clone made from the nerd's feces) is introduced.
DVD
On November 18, 2007, the first AVGN DVD set was released. It includes all of the episodes up to the first Bible Games episode. Some material, such as movie clips from Back to the Future and Rocky, were removed to avoid copyright infringement and replaced with new material. The DVD includes extended versions of the "Wally Bear and the NO Gang!" and "Rocky" reviews as well as an original documentary, deleted scenes, and most of the videos posted exclusively on ScrewAttack.com. In all, the DVD set contains approximately three hours and 15 minutes of content.
According to Rolfe, the initial pressing of the DVD sold out in less than a week.[18] In addition, there were 100 DVDs sold with James Rolfe's autograph on the front cover.[19]
Around November 15, 2008, the second AVGN DVD set, which spans three discs[20] was released. It includes the GameTrailers.com episodes[21] from the Atari 5200 review to An Angry Nerd Christmas Carol as well as a scene from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III review, the trailers posted on YouTube, commentaries,[22] outtakes (from the 2007 videos as well as some from 2008), and other material.[23]
Related media
"You Know What's Bullshit?" is a series of short videos in which Rolfe angrily complains about seemingly inconsequential problems in a style similar to that of the Angry Video Game Nerd. Topics have included security labels, pennies, shoelaces, printers, hotel TVs, movies about penguins and DVDs. On December 12, 2007, Rolfe's "You Know What's Bullshit?" penny rant was featured on CNN's "News to Me" segment.[24] The most recent video was released on Cinemassacre.com on June 22, 2009.
References
- ^ James Rolfe. What Was I Thinking?: The Making of the Angry Video Game Nerd (DVD). ScrewAttack.
{{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter|year2=ignored (help) - ^ James Rolfe (August 8, 2007). "AVGN: Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout". GameTrailers. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
- ^ James Rolfe. CineMassacre 200 (YouTube). CineMassacre.
{{cite AV media}}: External link in|title=|year2=ignored (help) - ^ a b c d e "Nerd FAQ". The CineMassacre Productions. no date. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Carlo Carrasco. "Do you play?". Sun.Star Publishing, Inc. Retrieved December 4, 2007.
- ^ James Rolfe. "James Rolfe resume". Cinemassacre. Retrieved August 14, 2007.
- ^ James Rolfe. "SPIDERMAN TRAILER - Angry Video Game Nerd". Cinemassacre. Retrieved May 20, 2008.
- ^ ScrewAttack.com. "James' Youtube account got suspended?". ScrewAttack.com (May 20, 2008). Retrieved May 20, 2008.[dead link]
- ^ JamesNintendoNerd channel description
- ^ Opie and Anthony (November 2, 2008). "Angry Video Game Nerd Opie and Anthony Interview Pt 1". Opie and Anthony Radio Show. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
- ^ Spike TV. "CineMassacre". Spike TV.com. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
- ^ James Rolfe. "AVGN: Nightmare on Elm St commentary". GameTrailers. Retrieved December 30, 2007.
- ^ James Rolfe. "AVGN: A Christmas Carol Pt. 1". GameTrailers. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
- ^ James Rolfe. "AVGN: A Christmas Carol Pt. 2". GameTrailers. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
- ^ Kyle Justin. "Kyle Justin's AVGN Music Page". Retrieved 2009-03-24.
- ^ "The Wizard of Oz 3: Dorothy Goes to Hell" at YouTube.com
- ^ James Rolfe (2008-10-13). "Godzillathon #20 - Godzilla Vs. MechaGodzilla (1993)". CineMassacre.com. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ James Rolfe (November 25, 2007). "AVGN DVD SOLD OUT!". Cinemassacre. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
- ^ James Rolfe (March 12, 2008). "AVGN DVD Autograph". Cinemassacre, ScrewAttack. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
- ^ James Rolfe (August 8, 2008). "Updates from me". Cinemassacre. Retrieved August 29, 2008.
- ^ "Angry Video Game Nerd DVD FAQ". The CineMassacre Productions. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
- ^ "Official AVGN Merchandise". ScrewAttack, Yahoo!. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
- ^ James Rolfe. "AVGN DVD - Volume 2". Cinemassacre, YouTube. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
- ^ James Rolfe (December 9, 2007). "News To Me". Cinemassacre. Retrieved December 9, 2007.
External links
- Articles with dead external links from December 2008
- 2004 television series debuts
- 2006 television series endings
- 2006 television series debuts
- Internet personalities
- Video game review websites
- Internet memes
- Video game podcasts
- Internet television series
- American comedians
- American Internet personalities
- YouTube videos
- Retrocomputing