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Classic Game Room |OT| Lord Karnage Approved!

This is sad :(

Link to the announcement is here http://classicgameroom.com/forums/topic/cgr-announcement-site-show-changes/

Quoted below

Mark said:
Greetings from the Intergalactic Space Arcade.

There’s many changes upon us. The Classic Game Room web store, and many of the interactive features on our website will be closing by the end of the year.

With the closing of our web store, it’s unlikely that we’ll re-order t-shirts, DVDs or beer mugs when they sell out. We may not even sell them next year. If you’ve had your eyes on CGR or Undertow DVDs and gear, now is the time to get them.

CGR Undertow will cease production by the end of the year. Thank you to all of the fans who have supported Undertow and the creators of the show. I’ve witnessed many smiles when positive comments come in, or a box of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arrives at the door!

I’m going to be entering another phase of my life soon and will be concentrating on my writing, art and another career outside of the gaming industry. I plan to continue CGR as a hobby. The show originally started as a hobby, so in a way it will be returning to its roots. I certainly have enough games to keep me busy!

Thank you for being the best fans in the universe. I’ve always enjoyed that CGR has been appreciated for a being a positive review show. We’re happy that our films and products have been well received. Please give a round of applause for the amazing CGR Team who has worked hard behind the scenes to keep this crazy train rolling. Personally, I think we’ve done the best job shipping products in the galaxy! You wouldn’t believe the work that goes into carefully packing things and dropping them from orbit!

There will be a new production schedule next year, I’m not sure what form it will take yet or where the shows will be. Please continue to follow, and once again, thank you.
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This is awful news. There is no gaming review show greater than Classic Game Room and it's a shame that their recent stuff can't keep up with the corperate, personalityless nonsense of the more successful Video Game media channels - or even just people playing games and talking above them. At least we have thousands of hours archived on the internet of CGR Undertow reviews, just such a shame to see them go. CGR inform and entertain better than anyone and their output is simply incredible.
 
Very sad news, but hopefully this is a positive change for Mark. It's a real shame that companies have been claiming his revenue. I hope CGR is fulfilling as a hobby so I may selfishly continue to enjoy it.
 
This is really sad... I have been watching CGR since 2008. I hope the best for Mark and crew. I have to make sure to buy some merchandise before they are all gone... Sad day for The Intergalactic Space Arcade, Lord Karnage, Wind Squid, Ethel the Cyborg Ninja, Heyzoos the Coked Out Chicken, Mohammed from Qatar, and the countless other things that this show provided.

It was a great run... favorite review was Seaman from the original run of the show.

:(
 
Fuck, that one hurts.

I loved watching some CGR videos while eating breakfast. I love the dude. He really seems to be a great guy. Since this will turn into a hobby, I hope he finds the time to review more of the Front Mission games. It's crazy how his taste in games align with mine (Shmups and SRPGs). He even enjoys the Onechanbara games.

Good luck with your future endeavours, Mark!
 
I literally felt like I got punched in the gut. Probably my favorite gaming review site ever. It doesn't hurt that Mark has almost 100% the same tastes as me (even if he's a Pens fan).

Really really sad about this.

edit: my wife is convinced a baby is on the way.
 
Boogdud said:
I literally felt like I got punched in the gut. Probably my favorite gaming review site ever. It doesn't hurt that Mark has almost 100% the same tastes as me (even if he's a Pens fan).

Really really sad about this.

edit: my wife is convinced a baby is on the way.
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Very possible and congrats if so.

However i'm not sure that would explain CGR Undertow, unless Mark just wants to end the entire business.
 
rNi3l5F.gif
 
Jonneh3003 said:
However i'm not sure that would explain CGR Undertow, unless Mark just wants to end the entire business.
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Yeah, not really sure, that's just her gut. But if he's anything like me (and he's almost a clone if I'm completely honest), the games industry and all of the politicization and secondary garbage that comes with it is kind of a slog anymore. The industry is quite different from the glory arcade/early console days, I find myself entertaining the thought of finding another hobby more and more.
 
Sad news. Probably the only gaming youtube channel were I can click on any video and enjoy it in some way.
 
aw geez, that's what the clearance sale on merch email's about? i got the mugs & DVD's, debating the irish gamer shirt or something...fuck this sucks. Mark is literally the most enjoyable game reviewer out there, no other GOTY lists matter to me.

Kilrogg said:
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! :(

I bet the new YouTube policy has had a lot to do with this.
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can't help but feel this affected his decision, yeah - he's been working a ton on his comics & such lately, can only imagine that just felt better/less maintenance in comparison
 
I really want to own all the DVDs, but they're so pricy. Especially with the exchange rate

I hope Mark releases them digitally. I'd be very grateful for that
 
I was going to be all like "Oh hey, I love CGR! I've been watching those guys for years!" and then I clicked to the last page and read the news :(
 
For a long time i considered Youtube to be something that you do on your spare time if you wanted to let your opinion be heard or simply for fun yet it seams that it's all business, hitting views and subscribers and it makes it more depressing or less enjoyable to watch it. As for CGR it's really sad that it turned out this way, Mark was one of the first people i began watching on Youtube regularly and to see this end is extremely sad.
 
Rap2thaMoon said:
For a long time i considered Youtube to be something that you do on your spare time if you wanted to let your opinion be heard or simply for fun yet it seams that it's all business, hitting views and subscribers and it makes it more depressing or less enjoyable to watch it. As for CGR it's really sad that it turned out this way, Mark was one of the first people i began watching on Youtube regularly and to see this end is extremely sad.
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Unfortunately, when it starts involving money the output becomes more product than passion for many people. Mark always kept things in the realm of passion, which is why I like what he's done so much.
 
Sad news :(
I wish Mark all the best.

CGR has always been good but the PSP time frame will hold a special place in my heart. Mark was one of the few putting out great videos of all the random jrpgs that were coming out. Even now when there is a PSN sale with a bunch of PSP games I'll check out his reviews.
 
HamPster PamPster said:
Sad news :(
I wish Mark all the best.

CGR has always been good but the PSP time frame will hold a special place in my heart. Mark was one of the few putting out great videos of all the random jrpgs that were coming out. Even now when there is a PSN sale with a bunch of PSP games I'll check out his reviews.
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When my girlfriend got me a PSP last year, I let my laptop just play through every CGR PSP review that Mark made to get a better grip on the available PSP library.
 
It you listen to the Q&As, Mark's been a bit down on the industry. Too much AAA and too much indie, not enough middle tier.

And this is why he focuses on classic games and the occasional modern game that catches his interest.

A lot of the YT money is in Let's Play aimed at preteens and below (Minecraft streamers, PewDiePie, etc)

Retro gaming channels just don't as well.
 
thechristoph said:
It has everything to do with it. Falcon's post that I quoted is from May, but it's pretty clear that it's been weighing heavily upon him.
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Stupid YouTube... sometimes I wish he would start streaming on Twitch with the same format as the Bob Ross stream (his shows play out) plus he could be under "Gaming Talk Shows". Plus on Thursday he can go live with a Q&A or some live review etc.
 
It really sucks that proper Video Game review shows can't thrive on Youtube, people would rather watch someone else play a game than discover it for themselves and it's just awful. That being said Classic Game Room hit it's peek in the Wii era with videos like Ben 10 and Mario Kart Wii if I remember correctly, it's a shame that kind of audience just isn't around anymore. All the best to the CGR staff, i've been a consistent viewer since 2007 and they encouraged me to create my own Youtube channel, i've been called out for copying CGR's structure several times but it's hard to follow the corperate critics oppose to a happy guy behind a microphone who just wants to have fun playing games. All the best!
 
Jonneh3003 said:
It really sucks that proper Video Game review shows can't thrive on Youtube, people would rather watch someone else play a game than discover it for themselves and it's just awful. That being said Classic Game Room hit it's peek in the Wii era with videos like Ben 10 and Mario Kart Wii if I remember correctly, it's a shame that kind of audience just isn't around anymore. All the best to the CGR staff, i've been a consistent viewer since 2007 and they encouraged me to create my own Youtube channel, i've been called out for copying CGR's structure several times but it's hard to follow the corperate critics oppose to a happy guy behind a microphone who just wants to have fun playing games. All the best!
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Wow, that's really interesting. Ben 10 Alien Force for Wii has over 55.5 million views, and Mario Kart Wii has over 20.6.

Meanwhile Mario Kart 8 has less than 64 thousand.
 
thechristoph said:
It has everything to do with it. Falcon's post that I quoted is from May, but it's pretty clear that it's been weighing heavily upon him.
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watching this now, thanks for that (to you & ABF). disheartening but good to know all the same

entrement said:
It you listen to the Q&As, Mark's been a bit down on the industry. Too much AAA and too much indie, not enough middle tier.

And this is why he focuses on classic games and the occasional modern game that catches his interest.
Click to expand...

this is one of those great areas where Mark's taste & mine overlap; he clearly has a strong love for AA titles, and extensively covers SHMUPs, run & guns, his favorite codemasters racers & lots of others that barely get/got a nod from other corners.

it's what's going to leave a huge hole in the scene for me as he winds it down, too. not to be dramatic, but it feels like we're collectively getting away from not just a more diverse scene, but a healthier one without the indie/AAA false dichotomy.

Lebneney said:
Stupid YouTube... sometimes I wish he would start streaming on Twitch with the same format as the Bob Ross stream (his shows play out) plus he could be under "Gaming Talk Shows". Plus on Thursday he can go live with a Q&A or some live review etc.
Click to expand...

you know, this kinda thing might really be a good fit for him - whenever he's more inclined to return to the scene, like he did with the HD relaunch

EleventhHourSuperpower said:
Wow, that's really interesting. Ben 10 Alien Force for Wii has over 55.5 million views, and Mario Kart Wii has over 20.6.

Meanwhile Mario Kart 8 has less than 64 thousand.
Click to expand...

wow, had no idea it was this heavy a dropoff...just like nintendo i guess
even so, i think it's pretty clear the guy's loaded & just does what he loves - it's looking more & more like this labor of love felt more like labor lately, so again can't knock his decision
 
IrishNinja said:
you know, this kinda thing might really be a good fit for him - whenever he's more inclined to return to the scene, like he did with the HD relaunch
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Honestly, someone who knows Mark, or can get into contact with him, should suggest that. It would be a really interesting thing. He doesn't even need to spend that much to get started with that. If it takes off then awesome for him, but if not then I guess it's goodbye CGR. :(
 
I haven't really checked in on the channel in quite some time (since I haven't really been paying attention to games and what as of lately), but this is a damn shame, as Mark is my go-to guy for reviewing games. Anyways, I hope that he is able to find success outside of the channel and that even though he is continuing the channel as a casual thing, he is still able to get some enjoyment out of it!
 
IrishNinja said:
new Q&A, gets into the forthcoming stuff a bit more!

...any idea what "shitty top 10 video" he's referring to here that jacked his footage without credit?
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WatchMojo recently did an N64 vs Playstation video and used a lot of footage from his various controller review videos. I'm guessing that's what he's referring to.
 
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