Depending on when you're reading this... you've either got just a few hours left to support Digitiser The Show, or we'll have been successfully funded. Massive thanks to everyone who has supported the campaign so far, either financially or by sharing it, or making a special video, or having me on their podcast or whatever. It's probably exhaustion, but I've been feeling a bit emotional and overwhelmed about it all. Nobody deserves that much love, least of all me.
As I write this, the campaign - which, it's fair to say, has done better than we could've hoped for - stands at just over £41,000. That's a huge amount of money of course, but somehow from that pot we've got to make 10 episodes, one of which will be filmed in front of a live studio audience, as well as fulfil pledges that include DVDs, t-shirts, posters and whatnot. And don't forget that Kickstarter also take a cut. Our budget per episode will be something like £3-4k, which is - candidly - a pittance.
We will, of course, be as creative as possible with the money we have, but if you've not yet pledged... please consider doing so. We'll need every penny we can get if we want to prove that a proper, decent, gaming show can work.
Anyway. That's it for now. Keep your eye on the Kickstarter. Here are the Friday letters.
If you'd like to appear here, or you've something you'd like me to give some attention to in our occasional Plug Zone, please send your filthy emails early to this place here: digitiser2000@gmail.com
As I write this, the campaign - which, it's fair to say, has done better than we could've hoped for - stands at just over £41,000. That's a huge amount of money of course, but somehow from that pot we've got to make 10 episodes, one of which will be filmed in front of a live studio audience, as well as fulfil pledges that include DVDs, t-shirts, posters and whatnot. And don't forget that Kickstarter also take a cut. Our budget per episode will be something like £3-4k, which is - candidly - a pittance.
We will, of course, be as creative as possible with the money we have, but if you've not yet pledged... please consider doing so. We'll need every penny we can get if we want to prove that a proper, decent, gaming show can work.
Anyway. That's it for now. Keep your eye on the Kickstarter. Here are the Friday letters.
If you'd like to appear here, or you've something you'd like me to give some attention to in our occasional Plug Zone, please send your filthy emails early to this place here: digitiser2000@gmail.com
BABY GOT BACK
It took a while, but I've finally managed to back the Digitiser Show on Kickstarter.
The process was rather straightforward. First I registered on Kickstarter, where I was told I could only back via Credit Card. As I don't have one of these wretched things after one put me in debt for a year, I first had to get in contact with my bank for a debit card. They sent me a contract I had to sign and send back, which I did. A week later I was sent my card.
However, that card had to be filled with money first, and no instructions were given to me by my bank. A few days later a second account appeared in my banking system, so I transferred the money there. Three banking days and a weekend later the money reappeared in my original account, because I was supposed to send the money to a different account with a different bank, which is handling the debit card business for my bank, so I sent the money there.
Another few days later the money actually appeared on my debit card statement, so I backed your campaign, which cost me more than I anticipated because I forgot currency conversions and international shipping fees are a thing.
Oh, and after this Kafkaesque nightmare was done, and I checked that Kickstarter actually accepted my new card, I was shown a small button which would have allowed me to simply add my SEPA bank account without all this hassle.
I hope you go on and create magnificent content with this haunted money.
Best regards,
halfur
It took a while, but I've finally managed to back the Digitiser Show on Kickstarter.
The process was rather straightforward. First I registered on Kickstarter, where I was told I could only back via Credit Card. As I don't have one of these wretched things after one put me in debt for a year, I first had to get in contact with my bank for a debit card. They sent me a contract I had to sign and send back, which I did. A week later I was sent my card.
However, that card had to be filled with money first, and no instructions were given to me by my bank. A few days later a second account appeared in my banking system, so I transferred the money there. Three banking days and a weekend later the money reappeared in my original account, because I was supposed to send the money to a different account with a different bank, which is handling the debit card business for my bank, so I sent the money there.
Another few days later the money actually appeared on my debit card statement, so I backed your campaign, which cost me more than I anticipated because I forgot currency conversions and international shipping fees are a thing.
Oh, and after this Kafkaesque nightmare was done, and I checked that Kickstarter actually accepted my new card, I was shown a small button which would have allowed me to simply add my SEPA bank account without all this hassle.
I hope you go on and create magnificent content with this haunted money.
Best regards,
halfur
Bloody hell. Well, I thank you for the absurd effort you have gone to in order to be part of this ridiculous nonsense.
VR YOUR FRIENDS
This week, an actual, genuine question. What is the display on the PSVR actually like? I've not been able to try one, and despite the puke-producing downside, it still interests me simply because I do like a bit of stereo imagery from time to time.
The two things that I have tried in the home VR mould have been an Occulus Rift, and a Google Cardboard with my phone. Both have been disappointing, the Rift more so because I had heard good things (though this was the one at the Computer Museum in Cambridge, which was a development model, so not feature final). The problem that both these suffered is pixel magnification - things look not just blocky, BUT also you can see the individual RGB pixels in the display. The result being less than stellar.
So what's the PSVR like? Good, bad, or just about passable?
All the best,
Paul
This week, an actual, genuine question. What is the display on the PSVR actually like? I've not been able to try one, and despite the puke-producing downside, it still interests me simply because I do like a bit of stereo imagery from time to time.
The two things that I have tried in the home VR mould have been an Occulus Rift, and a Google Cardboard with my phone. Both have been disappointing, the Rift more so because I had heard good things (though this was the one at the Computer Museum in Cambridge, which was a development model, so not feature final). The problem that both these suffered is pixel magnification - things look not just blocky, BUT also you can see the individual RGB pixels in the display. The result being less than stellar.
So what's the PSVR like? Good, bad, or just about passable?
All the best,
Paul
The PSVR, especially considering its price, is a remarkable piece of kit. The display is great, but I'm not sure that making it even crisper would significantly address my nausea. Also, the other thing which stops me using the PSVR is the connections. There are SO many wires, and it's an enormous bloody faff to set up every time.
DIZZY, MY HEAD IS SPINNING
This took me nearly an hour. I don't have a lot going on.
Craig Hall
Sent from my Xperia XZ1
This took me nearly an hour. I don't have a lot going on.
Craig Hall
Sent from my Xperia XZ1
You just reminded me that I once wrote to Jimmy Savile asking him if he could fix it for me to be a clown, and at the bottom of the letter was a drawing of what I'd look like as a clown. I guess he didn't like clowns very much. CLOWNS.
FIVE BAGS OF POPCORN
With all the excitement regarding the Kickstarter I wondered if you'd had the chance to check out the latest Tomb Raider movie and Ready Player One? Through the power of Google I’ve discovered Fat Sow’s thoughts on video game movies, but not only is the article from 2014 but she’s a fictional pig. Have any of the recent video game movies tickled your human fancies?
Although they get a bad rap I have a soft spot for these flicks, which is why my brother Rory and I have started a podcast all about this much maligned corner of the multiplex: Games On Film.
Whilst we’re both fans of bad movies (we wouldn’t be attempting this otherwise!) we plan to approach every movie with an open mind and give it a fair shake: from Pokémon to Prince of Persia. Hopefully we’ll find some diamonds in the rough, too! (Rampage might be, y’know, AMAZING)!
It promises to be a lot of fun (he says) so it would be great if you could plug us up a notch to our fellow Digi readers! We’re GamesOnFilmPod on the socials, and links to our first few episodes are below:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/gamesonfilmpod
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/games-on-film/id1359054706?mt=2
Acast: https://www.acast.com/gamesonfilmpod
RSS: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:410356593/sounds.rss
Love,
Harry Steele
With all the excitement regarding the Kickstarter I wondered if you'd had the chance to check out the latest Tomb Raider movie and Ready Player One? Through the power of Google I’ve discovered Fat Sow’s thoughts on video game movies, but not only is the article from 2014 but she’s a fictional pig. Have any of the recent video game movies tickled your human fancies?
Although they get a bad rap I have a soft spot for these flicks, which is why my brother Rory and I have started a podcast all about this much maligned corner of the multiplex: Games On Film.
Whilst we’re both fans of bad movies (we wouldn’t be attempting this otherwise!) we plan to approach every movie with an open mind and give it a fair shake: from Pokémon to Prince of Persia. Hopefully we’ll find some diamonds in the rough, too! (Rampage might be, y’know, AMAZING)!
It promises to be a lot of fun (he says) so it would be great if you could plug us up a notch to our fellow Digi readers! We’re GamesOnFilmPod on the socials, and links to our first few episodes are below:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/gamesonfilmpod
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/games-on-film/id1359054706?mt=2
Acast: https://www.acast.com/gamesonfilmpod
RSS: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:410356593/sounds.rss
Love,
Harry Steele
I didn't bother with the Tomb Raider movie, but I did see Ready Player One. It's a weird film, oddly lacking in jeopardy, very linear, everything seems far too easy for the protagonists, and yet... much to my own disgust I enjoyed spotting the references and characters from other things.
Also: don't think I don't know you only wrote this letter so you could plug your podcast.
Also: don't think I don't know you only wrote this letter so you could plug your podcast.
TITLE
So what did you think of the Rob Beckett game programme that was on last week, which I sent in about previously? It was unfortunately as I expected, although strangely erring into talk show territory at times during the chat while playing games. I didn't hate it though, which was nice.
This week's has Seaman in it, which suggests some effort to go for more obscure games, but I fear it'll just be mocked for easy lols.
On a tangent, at a funeral I was at last week, they played Fields of Gold. While my family openly wept around me, I was desperately trying to not laugh as all I could think of was the Sting computer sketches from Found Footage. Thank you for bringing some mirth to the occasion!
Christopher Hyde
So what did you think of the Rob Beckett game programme that was on last week, which I sent in about previously? It was unfortunately as I expected, although strangely erring into talk show territory at times during the chat while playing games. I didn't hate it though, which was nice.
This week's has Seaman in it, which suggests some effort to go for more obscure games, but I fear it'll just be mocked for easy lols.
On a tangent, at a funeral I was at last week, they played Fields of Gold. While my family openly wept around me, I was desperately trying to not laugh as all I could think of was the Sting computer sketches from Found Footage. Thank you for bringing some mirth to the occasion!
Christopher Hyde
The Rob Beckett thing was... well, it wasn't what I wanted to see, which is probably the most polite thing I can say about it, Jekyll. I think it was indicative of TV's approach to gaming, where it's celeb-led rather than gamer-led. I mean, we keep talking about Top Gear, but it's the best example of a show which is about a relatively niche topic, but has succeeded in appealing beyond what you would've expected to be its target audience.
Would it have been better if it had been presented by comedians rather than car journalists (Hammond aside)? They had celebrity guests admittedly, but they're not the focus of the entire show.
I dunno. It just depresses me a bit.
That said, I'm loathe to slag off the Channel 4 thing too forcefully, because - working in TV - I'm well aware how many hoops the show would've had to jump through in order to get commissioned. The fact that a show about video games is on air at all is a miracle in itself, and I don't blame the on-screen or behind-the-scenes talent in the slightest.
But really... the worst thing I can say about it is that I don't understand who it's meant to appeal to. Games fans are going to be put off by all the waffle - and turned away entirely by Scarlet Moffatt - while anybody else would've been put off by the games content.
Would it have been better if it had been presented by comedians rather than car journalists (Hammond aside)? They had celebrity guests admittedly, but they're not the focus of the entire show.
I dunno. It just depresses me a bit.
That said, I'm loathe to slag off the Channel 4 thing too forcefully, because - working in TV - I'm well aware how many hoops the show would've had to jump through in order to get commissioned. The fact that a show about video games is on air at all is a miracle in itself, and I don't blame the on-screen or behind-the-scenes talent in the slightest.
But really... the worst thing I can say about it is that I don't understand who it's meant to appeal to. Games fans are going to be put off by all the waffle - and turned away entirely by Scarlet Moffatt - while anybody else would've been put off by the games content.
AW, HONEY HONEY
Happy sugar tax day!
I didn't know anything about the sugar tax until a few minutes ago. Some woman off of the telly has pointed out that there's actually hidden sugar in items such as sugary drinks, chocolate, packets of sugar and cakes. I dread to think how much money this is going to cost me.
This would never happen in America. If only we had guns to defend our rights.
S Hawke
Happy sugar tax day!
I didn't know anything about the sugar tax until a few minutes ago. Some woman off of the telly has pointed out that there's actually hidden sugar in items such as sugary drinks, chocolate, packets of sugar and cakes. I dread to think how much money this is going to cost me.
This would never happen in America. If only we had guns to defend our rights.
S Hawke
A sugar tax isn't going to stop anybody buying sugary things. All it's going to do is raise money. And, apparently, force them to change the recipe of Ribena and Irn Bru (or, as my autocorrect would have it... "Iron Brush").
OOOH... GANNON
I noticed (read on Twitter) that you were low on letters for the letters page. So here is mine. I am sorry in advance.
You have to save 10 video games for prosperity as a great purge is coming to wipe everything else away. Which 10 games do you save and why?
If 10 is too many. Do 5. I really don't care at this point.
lots of love
Gannon
I noticed (read on Twitter) that you were low on letters for the letters page. So here is mine. I am sorry in advance.
You have to save 10 video games for prosperity as a great purge is coming to wipe everything else away. Which 10 games do you save and why?
If 10 is too many. Do 5. I really don't care at this point.
lots of love
Gannon
Hey, everyone - it's Paul Gannon, the podcast and YouTube star! The 10 games I'd save? I mean, I wrote a thing yesterday about my favourite games, which shows how much attention you pay to Digitiser... so let's view this as saving 10 games which best sum up the history of gaming for future generations.
Space Invaders
Knight Lore
Dragon's Lair
Super Mario 3
Sensible Soccer
Tetris
F-Zero
Doom
Super Mario 64
Resident Evil
Far Cry 5
Don't have a go if you disagree. That took me about 10 seconds to do, and I've not given it a lot of thought.
Space Invaders
Knight Lore
Dragon's Lair
Super Mario 3
Sensible Soccer
Tetris
F-Zero
Doom
Super Mario 64
Resident Evil
Far Cry 5
Don't have a go if you disagree. That took me about 10 seconds to do, and I've not given it a lot of thought.
POD RACING
Your fave games list yesterday, which included the original Star Wars arcade game, got me thinking about immersive Star Wars gaming.
I was pretty sure someone out there would have built a replica cockpit in their garage, but there isn’t much out there bar some blogs of half finished setups. I suppose the lack of suitable parts and modern software is the problem?
Then I read about the Star Wars Battle Pod, which seems to be a modern arcade setup in the vein of the original. Have you or any of your lovely readers ever played it? I’d like to track one down for a go, if it’s worth it.
Til then it’s Rogue Leader on the GameCube for me, the definitive Battle of Endor experience.
Richard
Your fave games list yesterday, which included the original Star Wars arcade game, got me thinking about immersive Star Wars gaming.
I was pretty sure someone out there would have built a replica cockpit in their garage, but there isn’t much out there bar some blogs of half finished setups. I suppose the lack of suitable parts and modern software is the problem?
Then I read about the Star Wars Battle Pod, which seems to be a modern arcade setup in the vein of the original. Have you or any of your lovely readers ever played it? I’d like to track one down for a go, if it’s worth it.
Til then it’s Rogue Leader on the GameCube for me, the definitive Battle of Endor experience.
Richard
I have played on the Battle Pod and it's pretty good. Nevertheless, it feels weighted to steal your money from you, whereas that original Star Wars arcade game seemed to offer you plenty of bang for your buck. I tell you what I have been playing a lot of recently: Star Wars Arcade on the 32X. That's a better game than history remembers.
HEEDLESS NOB JOCKEYS
Dear Mr Biffolo Soldier. I'm still playing Assassin's Creed Origins and have been since Santa let it tumble from his sack to land 'neath my tree.
The thing is, it's not like I haven't been putting in the hours. As an unemployed (and possibly unemployable) layabout it's quite easy for me to play for at least four hours a day most days, yet I still have a fair bit to do before completing the game. I do wonder how those with actual responsibilities like jobs and families manage.
Congratulations on all your good news over the past week and pay no heed to the nob jockeys in the Bellend Derby that is the world of Internet commentary.
Kissy, kissy.
Treacle
Dear Mr Biffolo Soldier. I'm still playing Assassin's Creed Origins and have been since Santa let it tumble from his sack to land 'neath my tree.
The thing is, it's not like I haven't been putting in the hours. As an unemployed (and possibly unemployable) layabout it's quite easy for me to play for at least four hours a day most days, yet I still have a fair bit to do before completing the game. I do wonder how those with actual responsibilities like jobs and families manage.
Congratulations on all your good news over the past week and pay no heed to the nob jockeys in the Bellend Derby that is the world of Internet commentary.
Kissy, kissy.
Treacle
This is something I've struggled with too. It's useful that big games come out at Christmas, because I tend to force myself to take some time off in December. I've somehow managed to fit a lot of Far Cry 5 in recently - again, forced downtime due to being aware that I was heading for a collision with the stress wall - but that's rare for me.
It's why I currently favour a) Playing on the Switch, because it's portable and I can squeeze gaming into the gaps between doing Other Stuff, and b) Playing old games on my laptop, because I can do it between bits of work.
It's why I currently favour a) Playing on the Switch, because it's portable and I can squeeze gaming into the gaps between doing Other Stuff, and b) Playing old games on my laptop, because I can do it between bits of work.
HOME TAPING
Do You Remember when I made a ZX Spectrum game for Found Footage? Now there's a digital cassette inlay that can be download onto real paper.
(Picture goes here.)
The drawing becomes increasingly terrifying with closer inspection, graphic designers will weep, yet it still makes the game look far more exciting than it is. In summary, pleasingly authentic.
http://arbitraryfiles.com/xfs/xfs.html
David W
Do You Remember when I made a ZX Spectrum game for Found Footage? Now there's a digital cassette inlay that can be download onto real paper.
(Picture goes here.)
The drawing becomes increasingly terrifying with closer inspection, graphic designers will weep, yet it still makes the game look far more exciting than it is. In summary, pleasingly authentic.
http://arbitraryfiles.com/xfs/xfs.html
David W
Wheeeeeeeeee! David is also making the Digitiser The Show game for us, now that we've reached that particular stretch goal. It will be "sweet as a nut".
ANGRY ANGUS
I only recently learned your Amiga hatred was genuine (rather than just the cool thing to do in 1995) so you may appreciate this story from my youth.
One day when bored of playing the same old games on the same old floppies, 4-year-old me thought loading a foot file into DF0: would do something interesting. Instead it angered Agnus and/or was too rough to Kickstart; the infernal machine refused to boot until the file was literally removed.
Nowadays a USB socket is biggest opening any device has. The only opportunity today’s kids have for creative destruction are carefully-formed paperclips and maybe a Disco inserted into the CD slot of your PS4. How boring!
While as a new parent I’m glad today’s gadgets are harder to destroy, won’t new generations miss these tales of juvenile technological stupidity?
Jamie Sandwich-Enaveseer
I only recently learned your Amiga hatred was genuine (rather than just the cool thing to do in 1995) so you may appreciate this story from my youth.
One day when bored of playing the same old games on the same old floppies, 4-year-old me thought loading a foot file into DF0: would do something interesting. Instead it angered Agnus and/or was too rough to Kickstart; the infernal machine refused to boot until the file was literally removed.
Nowadays a USB socket is biggest opening any device has. The only opportunity today’s kids have for creative destruction are carefully-formed paperclips and maybe a Disco inserted into the CD slot of your PS4. How boring!
While as a new parent I’m glad today’s gadgets are harder to destroy, won’t new generations miss these tales of juvenile technological stupidity?
Jamie Sandwich-Enaveseer
I'd say that my Amiga "hatred" was more trolling than genuine. It was closer to ambivalence than anything. I'm not an idiot, though; there will be Amiga stuff in Digitiser The Show. Anyway, the main thing I take away from your letter is that I don't have a clue what you're talking about.
50 Qs OF WHYTE
1. You greatest games ever list included, rightly in my opinion, The Last of Us. In your summary you mentioned how much you cared about the characters. Does how much you enjoyed the game make you more or less interested in the upcoming sequel?
2. Which games console had the best game box design? I remember years ago that you thought the Mega Drive had the best boxes, but that was more to do with build quality.
3. Who, for you, is the most iconic computer games character that isn't Mario? Years ago I'd have said Sonic but now I'd probably say Pac-Man or Lara Croft.
In fact, Lara Croft seems like a constant missed opportunity, especially as an original female character that leads games. The recent film was decent, I thought but I think that she could be a bigger icon than she is.
John Whyte
1. You greatest games ever list included, rightly in my opinion, The Last of Us. In your summary you mentioned how much you cared about the characters. Does how much you enjoyed the game make you more or less interested in the upcoming sequel?
2. Which games console had the best game box design? I remember years ago that you thought the Mega Drive had the best boxes, but that was more to do with build quality.
3. Who, for you, is the most iconic computer games character that isn't Mario? Years ago I'd have said Sonic but now I'd probably say Pac-Man or Lara Croft.
In fact, Lara Croft seems like a constant missed opportunity, especially as an original female character that leads games. The recent film was decent, I thought but I think that she could be a bigger icon than she is.
John Whyte
1. Yes absolutely. I bloody well can't wait for it.
2. Box, as in packaging, or box as in the actual casing of the hardware? If it's packing... no idea. If it's the latter, it certainly wasn't the Mega Drive. I think it had the most interesting design, but it felt incredibly cheap to hold in your hands. Ironically, liked the Dreamcast best, closely followed by the GameCube, SNES and original PlayStaiton.
3. Hmm. I think of this in terms of which characters my mother would recognise. She wouldn't have a clue who Lara Croft is, but would probably get Pac-Man. Sonic I wonder about. I'll ask her!
Good to have you back, John.
2. Box, as in packaging, or box as in the actual casing of the hardware? If it's packing... no idea. If it's the latter, it certainly wasn't the Mega Drive. I think it had the most interesting design, but it felt incredibly cheap to hold in your hands. Ironically, liked the Dreamcast best, closely followed by the GameCube, SNES and original PlayStaiton.
3. Hmm. I think of this in terms of which characters my mother would recognise. She wouldn't have a clue who Lara Croft is, but would probably get Pac-Man. Sonic I wonder about. I'll ask her!
Good to have you back, John.
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