G4 didn't buy TechTV for X-Play, they bought it for the extra viewership they got by merging the two channels. X-Play's survival into the G4 era was purely because the ratings were good.
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Tech TV, anyone miss those days?
- Thread starter RPGCrazied
- Start date
G4 didn't buy TechTV for X-Play, they bought it for the extra viewership they got by merging the two channels. X-Play's survival into the G4 era was purely because the ratings were good.
Imbarkus
As Sartre noted in his contemplation on Hell in No Exit, the true horror is other members.
Here you go, Good Bad Flicks has a good inside track history on G4.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEBwGOHntro
Buying TechTv was all about adding reach, to get more advertisers. It's true the the TechTv lineup was a casualty of not being the thing that was bought, really.
itwasTuesday
He wasn't alone.
Yes, they were so fun to watch.
I was excited for the g4 merger having never seen any g4 shows before. They got me good.
I was excited for the g4 merger having never seen any g4 shows before. They got me good.
Razgriz-Specter
Member
To this day I remember one of the tech tv shows crew getting hyped for Attack of the Clones a few days before release.
WiseguyMVP
Member
Good old TechTV! I watched the transition from ZDTV. It was pretty groundbreaking television at the time. Very informative, educational and had a vibe that no other television station could match. It was like hanging out with a bunch of geek buddies to talk about about all things tech.
I remember when Morgan Webb worked the phones on the Screensavers and I called in to the show live and won a computer. The contest involved something about what was on Cat Schwartz's t-shirt...lol
I later meet Cat Schwartz at E3 2005 and she thought it was fun that I won because of her.
I also remember having TechTV on in the background during 9/11. They cut in a little later than most stations to the horrible news.
As most fans noted, the merger really screwed things up and it was never really the same after Comcast monkeyed around with the winning formula they had.
TechTV is legendary TV.
I remember when Morgan Webb worked the phones on the Screensavers and I called in to the show live and won a computer. The contest involved something about what was on Cat Schwartz's t-shirt...lol
I later meet Cat Schwartz at E3 2005 and she thought it was fun that I won because of her.
I also remember having TechTV on in the background during 9/11. They cut in a little later than most stations to the horrible news.
As most fans noted, the merger really screwed things up and it was never really the same after Comcast monkeyed around with the winning formula they had.
TechTV is legendary TV.
I worked at TechTV for three years, co-created X-Play, and worked on it at G4 until its last episode. That video isn't what I'd call the "inside track" in this case, although it does reach a few correct conclusions in places.
WiseguyMVP
Member
You guys did a great job on that show. I saw you guys working at E3 during some of those years and although Adam looked like a wreck behind the scenes some days (lol) I could tell how much passion and work went into the show. Thanks for your contribution to the gaming community!
Imbarkus
As Sartre noted in his contemplation on Hell in No Exit, the true horror is other members.
Oh hey sorry, I just meant it went into the real reasons behind the TechTV purchase, the DirectTV addition of 50 million homes. "Inside baseball" more than "inside track."
Thanks for all the hard work all those years, I really enjoyed it!
any memorable hatemail from your stint?
Thanks. I enjoyed working at G4 but TechTV was really something special. It was like a family that hung out together every day but happened to make TV at the same time. Most weeknights about 2/3 of the company would arrange to go meet up at one of a handful of bars in SF large enough to handle us. Maybe the most telling anecdote about what kind of place it was is the Call-For-Helpathon that was done live the day after Christmas every year. Because of the day, it was 100% volunteer only, but every year just about everyone who hadn't left town would show up to help make the show happen for 24 hours straight. It was a group of people who loved what they did, believed in the content, and loved making TV together, and it happened during a time of such explosive growth and change in the tech industry that there was just never a dull moment. I've never had what I would call a "bad" job, really, and we had a lot of great times at G4, but that 2000-2004 span at TechTV was probably one of the best times of my life.
I got a couple of death threats for my Force Unleashed review. And it wasn't hatemail, but in terms of memorable mail, for a few years there was a guy who, the week after E3, would send us insanely long hardcore explicit E3 porn fanfiction involving just about every imaginable name in the game industry, customized each year to fit the big announcements and news stories of that particular E3.
Imbarkus
As Sartre noted in his contemplation on Hell in No Exit, the true horror is other members.
...wow.
WiseguyMVP
Member
Thanks for sharing your memories of that special time. I'm glad to have watched and participated at home in something you guys had such a passion for and fun working on. The camaraderie and kinship totally came through on screen everyday that people watched TechTV. I knew at the time that it was something no other television channel had ever tapped into. You could tell how much fun everyone on the shows were having. It felt like everyone on the shows were our friends in San Francisco hanging out with us at home...lol
I think this thread is reminding us to cherish the positive things people have created and that we've enjoyed in the past while laying the foundation for future innovation that we can all look forward to. Whether it's TV or anything else creatively, the positive vibes carry us forward!
morningbus
Serious Sam is a wicked gahbidge series for chowdaheads.
I wish I had my DVR setup back then. What I wouldn't give for complete runs of Unscrewed with Martin Sargent, the weird BBC documentaries, or Wired for Sex.
I just watched an archived episode of Unscrewed with Martin Seargent. How is it someone like Laura Swisher, who is smart and crazy hot, remains unknown while a hack pie faced Oilivia Munn becomes a star? Life is unfair
Razgriz-Specter
Member
Man seems like so many episodes of Xplay and such are on YouTube.
Oh man, should I take the plunge?
Oh man, should I take the plunge?
kaname-san
Member
This was pretty much the only channel I used to watch back in its goofy prime. It was even great to fall asleep to.
Razgriz-Specter
Member
Yup
Baron_Calamity
Member
Razgriz-Specter
Member
I even found all the way back to the ZDtv era.
Holy crap is it a nostalgia overload.
Honestly its a bit overwhelming how much of gaming history some of it actually documents that I took completely for granted back when watching this stuff and goes to fairly recent times.
One of the E3 specials is hyping up the Dreamcast, Star Wars Episode 1 games and a Planet of the Apes game lol.
AwesomeMeat
PossumMeat
As a teen I enjoyed zdtv but was kind of out of it by the time techtv rolled around. It was enjoyable if not a bit campy. The only thing I really remember from techtv is Patrick Norton. That might have even been zdtv but idk. I just remember him being the living version of the stevebuscemifellowkids.jif... trying to squeeze himself into an Operation Ivy shirt 3 sizes too small.
TheContact
Member
Tech TV was awesome. Leo has a podcast btw it's pretty good. I hear he's a dick IRL tho. G4 was my favorite network when it was out. Sasuke was awesome
Also likes to accidentally show his dick.
He's rebooted the Screen Savers, and the network is generally okay IMO, although it's very hit and miss. In some ways,the podcast format is better. I tend to ignore the drama and speculation.
Security Now, Windows Weekly, Home Theater Geeks are good, This Week in Google is good when Kevin Marks or Stacy Higgenbotham are on (otherwise, it goes off rails quickly),and the rest is largely filler, but then TechTV had plenty of that, too. This Week in Enterprise Tech, the hardware show, and some others are good, but not up my alley. YMMV of course.
Etrian Oddity
Member
Definitely still a fan of This Week in Tech, I've listened to it since it started as that Revenge of The Screen Savers pilot.
I wish he had gotten the old TechTV TSS theme for his reboot of the show, haha.
mightynine
Member
I will freely admit I had a huge crush on Cat Schwartz.
Tech TV was great to just put on in the background and let play. Kind of like how NHK World is for me now.
Tech TV was great to just put on in the background and let play. Kind of like how NHK World is for me now.
Ploid 3.0
Member
I think a lot of people did, and suddenly I'm reminded of a segment they had on how Cat's friendster photo or something was analyzed by fans to reveal the whole uncropped picture. Apparently a nude photo unfortunately. I think it was on Call For Help.
Speaking of, I remember that 24 hour episode. Those were good times. It's good they don't need network tv anymore, it's for the best. I don't even look at tv anymore.
I have fond memories of G4, sure, but I always realized they were doomed. Attack of the Show was my goto while working out, or after I had got a good buzz on. X-Play was of course great as a gamer. I thought Sessler and Webb were engaging and a great team.
They didn't have to die as quickly as they did. Gross mismanagement and content selection seemed to kill them a good decade earlier than probably would have died under competent leadership.
They didn't have to die as quickly as they did. Gross mismanagement and content selection seemed to kill them a good decade earlier than probably would have died under competent leadership.
squallheart
Member
I used to love tech TV. Would look forward coming home from school turning on the TV and watch for hours and then it turned into g4....i still watch the new screen savers on YouTube though so I'm glad it's back.
YakuzaArk92
Member
I had the amazing opportunity and great fortune to interview, Tommy Tallarico in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia in 2012 during the Video Games Live Tour. I grew up watching The Electric Playground and Reviews on The Run/Judgment Day on TV back in the late 90's to mid 2000s. I learned so much about the gaming industry especially the people behind the games. I also grew up playing a lot of the games Tommy composed; Earthworm Jim, Wild 9, MDK etc by Shiny Entertainment. It was a dream of mine to meet him one day and thank him for making my gaming childhood special. When I read in the papers that Video Games Live will be performing in Malaysia in 2010, I totally freaked out. Coming from Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, I was studying abroad in Connecticut and even attended Video Games Live in Boston and New Jersey which surprised Tommy and the VGL gang. I have a video of Tommy reacting to some of my most treasured games he composed (hard to find ones especially) on my channel. We've been good friends since.
Here's an in-depth interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxEOLNQJFvc
We also did a full review on Earthworm Jim for the SEGA Genesis and Super Nintendo. Tommy also provides some 'behind the scenes' info about the making of EWJ.
Here's our review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXvz7vbfYZI
Here's an in-depth interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxEOLNQJFvc
We also did a full review on Earthworm Jim for the SEGA Genesis and Super Nintendo. Tommy also provides some 'behind the scenes' info about the making of EWJ.
Here's our review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXvz7vbfYZI
The thing about Leo being in a relationship with his producer while he was married (but possibly separated from his wife, who knows or cares...) is true. The funny part was that he accidentally exposed his relationship on the air by broadcasting dick pics and lewd text conversations on one of his streaming shows. It's pretty hilarious and sad.
Go to this site, https://totaldrama.net/, if you want oddly specific and overly vindictive Leo Laporte gossip.
TheContact
Member
TechTV primarily got me interested in tech and thus my career. I really miss that show but Leo has a host of podcasts that help me fill that hole. I missed g4 too. Sasuke..attack of the show..code monkeys..icons. All such great shows. Sort of related but I miss gametrailers too. End of an era
Japanmanx3
Member
Heck yes. Extended Play. Screensavers. Loved those
Badlucktroll
Member
I remember in 8th grade my well off friend had that super premium digital cable that had ZDTV. I was shocked that such a channel existed and we would always watch gamespot TV together!
Lights and Waves
Member
X-Play was so damn awesome. Morgan and Adam were my heroes. I loved getting hype for their reviews.
x Power Pad Death Stomp x
Member
I used to stay up late and watch Call
For Help to swoon over Cat Schwartz.
For Help to swoon over Cat Schwartz.
Wow the vindictiveness of this website is amazing lol
Me too man... me too
Spoony Bob
Member
I didn't happen across Tech TV as early as others in this thread but x-play and screen savers were regular viewing once I did.
I still get a chuckle out of "Dik Dik".
I still get a chuckle out of "Dik Dik".
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
What happened to the guys behind Screen Savers?
UrbanDandy
Member
I miss those days, yes.
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
TechTV was a lot of fun to watch. The personalities made up for any lack of production value.