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THE DIGITISER FRIDAY LETTERS PAGE

30/11/2018

34 Comments

 
Il Papa! Digitiser The Show certainly cannot be accused of not creating a buzz. It's like 1994 all over again! This Sunday's ep is packed - with probably the best balance yet between full-on games stuff and, well, all those bits which really annoy some people. 

We're over the halfway mark now, and the end of the series is in sight. Certainly, I'll miss it... but I'll appreciate having the chance to claw back a bit of my life again. By the time the series has come to a close, I'll have spent over three months editing the episodes - and I need to start earning money again! 

However, this won't be the end. Digitiser the Show will continue in one form or another - there'll be more full eps next year - and I've plans for how we bridge the gap until then, and keep momentum going. More details on that soon.

For now? On with another bumper harvest of 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, or you've got a picture of a bin you wish to share, please send your filthy emails to this place here: digitiser2000@gmail.com
JOEY COME BE-LATELY
Whilst this is a belated message, I really did enjoy the first episode of Digitiser The Show. I took the entire length in one go and was desperate for more. 

I think of myself as a binge viewer of a different kind. I don't like to watch entire television series in one go, but give me an hour of Gaming Mill and I can easily slip into his back catalogue.

​The former seems to make people impatient in the way the latter doesn't - having a brilliant, original show in a quite traditional format feels like the ideal pairing. It gets you excited for another installment.
Joe Spivey
Yeah, I'm hoping these first six episodes will have a long shelf-life, and that people will still be rediscovering them months from now. We're sure there remains a lot of like-minded idiots out there who'd love it but just haven't found it yet...
THE INNER CIRCLE-JERK
I was thinking about the concept that Digitiser The Show is "the show with Biffo and some YouTubers" when I wondered... is Biffo himself a YouTuber now?! I definitely didn't consider you to be one during Found Footage, but now you're onscreen and addressing the camera directly, I'm beginning to think you are.

What do you think, Paul? Do you consider yourself to be one, or ever describe yourself as one? I know it's just a label, but still, I find it interesting.
John Veness
Oh jeez. I mean, I've got a job and career in which I'm already pretty established. I tend to think of YouTubers as people who earn the bulk of their income from YouTube, and see it as their main thing. 

I didn't even put ads on Digitiser The Show, because to me it's just a hobby. That said, I've certainly wound up my kids by telling them their dad's a cool YouTuber now. 

I guess, if I can manage to keep putting out regular videos then I might feel more like a YouTuber. So, ask me again in six months!

A LETTER FROM HOME
Biffofarms grows ever so cold in your absence, I long for your touch and to hold you again. Oh, when will this war of northern aggression end!? Father says you’ll return to us soon.

Yours always,
A, Sent from Jurassic park.
TL: DR.
ROT-ON!
I heard games have limited life expectancy due to disk and bit rot! Apart from keeping games out of sunlight what can we do to help preserve them so future generations can play them in their original state?

Also can you say hello to my dog Wilson!
Late Night Reviews
Isn't that what the Internet is for? Shutting down ROM sites is all well and good, but at least they kept the history of gaming in circulation.
DRAMARAMA
I’m so chuffed you and Paul have pretended to make up after pretending to fall out. Digitiser the telly show has become as much a part of my Sunday as raking leaves and riding the lifts in Bexleyheath.

​I’d take the fact that it “fooled” quite a few as a compliment. My mate’s Mum sat through an entire episode of The Day Today without realising it was a spoof. It would be a shame to have to stick a smiley on the jokey stuff so the context is crystal clear, like adding a laugh track to The Day Today.
 
And I like it that everyone still looks a bit red. Puts me in mind of watching Soylent Green. Only red.
Chris Dyson
Man... that whole thing last Sunday was a chronic faux pas on mine and Gannon's part. We simply assumed that everyone would just get the joke, and didn't for a second think anybody would take our pretend fall-out seriously. Gannon has no conscience, of course, but I know I feel pretty bad about it all.

​While I'm on the subject of YouTube... I've had several people recently suggest that me highlighting rancid comments about Digitiser - say, through the use of the whimsical Bingo Card that I made - has put them off from watching it. Now, enough people have mentioned it for me to take this seriously. 

This is a genuine question that I'd like feedback on (yeah, unusual I know - normally, I want you to keep your bloody advice to yourselves): why is it considered bad form for creators of things to take the piss out of the people who are laying into them? Don't get me wrong: if somebody has a genuine dislike of the show, fair enough. I've absolutely no problem with that. It doesn't bother me, and good for them knowing what they like and don't like.

I'm talking about the trolls and the ones who just hate out of principle, and vent and lash out.

Why can't you highlight and take the piss out of that? Why is that seen as "off-putting"?! Is it because it's not sufficiently aloof and cool? I mean, what can I say? I'm not a classy guy!

I honestly don't get why we're not allowed to respond by making fun of them. I've even been told that some of the piss-taking is "mean-spirited", which just spins my head around, given that it's piss-taking of people who have said the most horribly mean-spirited things about those who are featured on the show.

On YouTube I started responding to the comments calling us "dicks" and "shit" by linking the commenter to stupid pictures on Google, and asking if that was them. And then one of them turned around and told me to "stop attacking people"...! And called me a "fucking asshole" into the bargain.

Isn't that weird though? That when they do it, it isn't seen as an attack, despite using aggressive language, but when I do something daft in response... it is seen as an attack?  

Is it because the piss-taking is taken at face value, rather than the tongue-in-cheek way it's intended? Is it because - as somebody with a (slightly) larger public profile than the average social media commentator - when I do it it's seen as bullying?

Is it because they're not getting the expected response, which is, I dunno, us lashing out in exactly the same sort of way, or curling up into a foetal position, so their impotent rage has nowhere to go? Are content creators seen as convenient punch-bags, and it's not liked when the punch-bag punches back?

Or is it because it's just not the done thing? Or do people just want to find fault  in anything? Or does it simply display a massive lack of empathy and self-awareness, that they don't realise there's a bunch of human beings who might have an opinion about being called names, and it jars when they say that they do? 

This is a genuine question.

As somebody who really wants to understand the weird ways people work - hell-oh, three years of training to be a psychotherapist! - I'm genuinely curious to try and understand it. I tend to deal with most things through humour, and this is no exception, and I want to know why - in this instance - it is A Bad Thing. The other alternatives are engaging with it in kind - thus creating loads of needless drama - or just ignoring it. But I don't see why we should, when we can alternatively highlight the sheer stupidity and needless nastiness of some of it. 

​What am I missing here?
GAMING MILL'S FRIDAY LETTER
Dear Darling,

I've been a bit 'out of it' lately; a combination of tramadol and other such prescribed drugs being my excuse. That being said, I was the same when I was thirteen and that was only earlier this month.

However, I digress. I do sincerely believe that Chuckie Egg is the best platformer ever made. I bought the 'remake' of it via Steam a few weeks ago and it was dire.

I'd write more but the drugs (only prescribed) are kicking in. Again.

Fancy an essay on why I love Chuckie Egg so much, Mr Biffo? I sent Digi an essay a few years ago on why I thought Elite needed to be rebooted and you graced our screens via teletext with the four pages you granted it. It was was like being famous or something... but I got no sex action from it. My old uni friends thought it was amazing though.

I stuck to playing lead guitar for the sex action.

Forever yours,
Gaming Mill
I sort of stopped accepting unsolicited stuff on Digi for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I was getting inundated with people submitting things, and it was getting overwhelming. Secondly, not all of that stuff was - and I hate to say it - up to scratch. A lot of it had to be rewritten to a degree that it was taking more time to put on the site than it would've been to just write my own article (and the whole reason for featuring other people's work was to lighten the load when I had a lot on). And also... we've a bunch of Patrons who are paying every month to see my writing on Digi.

On the occasions when I do feature other writers, it tends to be Super Bad Advice, whose work rarely needs any sub-editing, and whose style completely fits with the site, or - in recent weeks - Larry Bundy Jr, because of his association with Digitiser The Show.

So, no offence meant to anybody who wants to write for Digi... but this site is chiefly a personal blog, even if it does sometimes pretend otherwise.

Also: get better!

HELTER SKELTER
I love the revamped Digitiser. I was born in November 1999, so I was a bit young for the original, but The Worst Witch, My Parents Are Aliens and Dani's House were very much my cup of tea. All that said - thank you very much for what you do, you make this lazy, game-playing, YouTube-watching, shit-having man very happy.
Charlie Mason
This is what I like! More kids TV fans! Yes! Welcome aboard, Charles. It makes me happy that we're still bringing new people into the Digi Family 
GOTH IN THE LOFT
Dear Mr Bisto-Claus,

I am a spooky goth.  Halloween is every day, but the holidays are chasing the macabre away!

I am in need of microcomputer spookiness to make the Xmas ornaments into gore-naments. 

I've got the usuals (Project Firestart, Soft & Cuddly, Werewolves of London, Elvira and Waxworks, etc), but what do you have that would both appeal to my dark heart and love of games no one has heard of?

And please, if Paul Gannon insists on dressing like a Ghostbuster, can he at least entrap the Christmas Spirit so that I don't have to put my Jack O'Lanterns away?
James Id (32)
Pony Island. Properly creepy. 
THE TAMING OF THE SNARK
Heard you doing snarks at Dungeons and Dragons yeah; you may not have been aware but it is now incredibly en-vogue ACTUALLY. Vin Diesel, the human zeitgeist, does it.

I like D&D because you get to leave the screen for a while and extract value-for-money from your kitchen table, but it's still a bit like Xbox so you don't feel very bored and sad.

There's a new set of "rules" for anyone thinking about pretending to be a wizard for a bit: 

http://media.wizards.com/2018/dnd/downloads/DnD_BasicRules_2018.pdf

Keep up the sterling japes etc.
Alec Richardson
Yes, I have been reminded several times over the past week that D&D is cool, possibly for the first time ever. Unfortunately, I retain a latent muscle-response to any mention of it, given that when I used to play it, it was very much considered something that only the "gentle children" did...
FILTHY
Dear so-called “Digitiser the Show”,

I am frankly appalled after watching the most recent “episode” of your “show” on “YouTube”. When I backed the Kickstarter, I expected it to be a whimsical look back at the golden age of Teletext & gaming.

I thought you might have nice interviews with “people” such as Dave Gibbons and that lovely Stuart Hardy. I was also of the understanding that there would be a regular “section” each week looking at why the Amiga was the “best” of the generation and how it did the graphics for “Babylon” 5.

Instead, I am presented with PURE FILTH of the worst kind. The original Mr Digitiser must be “rolling” over in “his” grave after the mockery that you have made of his work.

This “week’s” episode featuring what I must assume is some sort of fetish costume created purely to draw attention to a Mr Paul Gammon’s “nipples” and “special lumps” while a man who is clearly “deranged” fiddles with poor Mr Gannom’s “battery pack” was just a step too far.

Yes, the section was highly arousing and I struggled to sleep that night thinking of Mr Ganondorf’s “nippular region” and I am now rubbing semi-defrosted “prawns” on myself while I think about it. They feel so good, all prawny & cold. Look at them, the little “pink” devils. I bet they love it, the dirty suborder of decapod shrimps.

​Yeah, that’s it, scavenge for your opportunistic omnivorous diet... erm, what was I saying? Oh yes, I am appalled with the so-called “transport infrastructure” that the “council” sees fit to “run” in this “city”. What happens to the Council “Tax” that we pay? Is it spent on creating orphans for the homeless & other centrist schemes? I shall be writing to my local “MP” immediately!

Paul Gummon esq. (Mrs)
Amiga fans should be well catered-for with this Sunday's episode. We've got a big old thing on Pysgnosis game covers.
MOC-ON
I saw this car the other day and thought of you. Loving the series,Moc Moc Moc 🏼,
Regards
Monkey Head
Picture
This pleases me. We have a Mr T one round our way. 
TWITCHING EYE
​
Having been a bit poorly this week I've not been up to playing games much. I have, however, been kept busy by watching others playing on Twitch. I wonder what you think of the massive increase in this form of entertainment?

Hope that makes sense.
elnikoman 
I've never watched anybody play any games on Twitch. Actually, no - that's not true. I have watched some of Steve McNeil's streams. I guess if people like watching it, and people like doing it, then where's the harm?
THE 500 Qs OF WHYTE
248) Who do you feel is the most influential game developer that is active currently; individual and/or studio?

249) Were Sega still to be producing consoles, how different, if at all, do you think their games would be from how they are now?

250) Has the Nintendo Switch peaked already after its first year?

251) I am always amazed that neither FIFA Football nor PES allow the option to be the referee in games with your friends. Do you have any 'why don't they have that?' moments for any game?
John Whyte
248) In terms of influence, and others trying to copy what they do, it's either Ubisoft or Rockstar. Probably Ubisoft, given that every game uses their open world, map-mopping, model.

249) Modern Sega is a weird beast. There's no real corporate identity to the games they put out these days, so it's very hard to say whether or not a different Sega would've gone the same way. Certainly, one of the strengths of the company back in the day was their arcade conversions. And the main things they have in arcades these days are those ticket-dispensing games. Which would be hard to do on a home system. And pointless.

250) I imagine that depends on who you're talking to. A LOT of people are very excited about the new Smash Bros. That said, Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild are kind of evergreen games - they're not going anywhere. I'm confident that there'll be other Switch games of the same quality and scope. 

251) Yeah, any game where there's a locked wooden door that you can't just kick in.
COOL SLICE
'Allo Biffo!

Have I mentioned how awesome your Friday letters page is? It's such a cool little slice of the internet that I look forward to reading it on my lunch brake every Friday, and feel genuinely defeated when I can't think of anything halfway decent to send in.

That's about as deep as I can manage this time. The next letter will be full of philosophy, revelatory gaming knowledge (that I proably looked up on Wikipedia) and Marillion references. I promise.
HdE
I'm happy that you like the Friday Letters Page. I mean, it's completely redundant in a lot of ways, but I like to think it's the point at which the Digi community gets to sit down after the end of a long week, and pat one another on the back, and have a niiiiice hug.
BELLSTON'S BALL
The world around us may look the same as it did before Sunday night, but for us stout souls who witnessed episode 3 of Digi, we know that’s it’s been irrevocably altered. We are now living in a post-Nivvin’s Pranny world.

Now, I knew to expect something a bit special thanks to the build up. But really - what could possibly prepare anyone for the glorious descent into madness that was the climax to the show?! That it was all completely unplanned just made it even better - I was in absolute bits watching it, and have been grinning at the mere thought of it all week now.

I think this is the moment that the essential Digitiser DNA of the show, that’s been coming through more and more since the first episode, fully burst through like a navvy through a loom, and it all kicked off. The show is glorious, and totally, undeniably Digi. The opening with Kowalski to show us exactly what territory we’re in, Tin Man, Nana Foom, Insincere Dave - right down to the lobster whispering "Kill them!" to Gannon and the out-takes being left in. It’s pure joy.

But that’s not forgetting the gaming content. Some people will of course never be satisfied, but the gaming content is interesting, credible, knowledgeable, and presented in a fun way. You guys all know your stuff, and come across as the experts that you are. That it’s presented with a sense of humour rather than the pomposity that modern gaming coverage so often falls victim to is a clear strength, and something to play up rather than shy away from.

You’ve got the balance right - just the way you promised way back at the beginning of the year.

The best thing is that each episode has been even better than the last, which is giving the sense of ever-increasing momentum building. I can’t wait for episode 4, but I get the feeling that 5 will top it, and be topped in turn by 6. This is the best possible time to be a fan - thank you for putting so much on the line to bring us this unforgettable series.

Now the copious frothing is out of the way, I want to tell you about what is probably the most Biffo-esque incident that has happened or is ever likely to happen to me.

I live on a busy road with a lot of footfall past my house. Consequently, I’m often having to pick crisp packets out of my hedge (not a euphemism), and have been getting increasingly defensive about my bins.

​Recently I found myself going full Mr T when, going to bring my wheelie bin back up the drive after collection, I found lying on the top, brazenly - proudly, even - a full length of fresh dog poo. Not in a bag. Not placed inside it. A long turd laid squarely across the lid. I was enraged enough as it was, but I became incandescent when I lifted the lid to find that it was actually half in the bin, half out of it. Like a length of sausages with the twist where the bin lid comes down.

Who does this?! And moreover, HOW? How did they even manage it?!

I was not happy. Evidently, it’s time for me to be measured up for my mohawk and thousand necklaces.

That is all. Obscene amounts of luck to you for the rest of the series.
Chris Bell
You'll understand this, perhaps better than anyone, Bellston, but nailing the spirit of Digi was the single most important thing about the show for me.

It has been a long, long journey - which, really, started with my Knife & Wife Channel 4 pilot, continued through Biffovision, and then into Found Footage. All of those projects were attempts to bring Digi to life in video form, and I feel I got slightly closer to understanding how with every misstep.

​It was only late last year that I had my eureka moment, realising the way to do it was to have the games stuff in there. Without it, there's nothing for the stupid stuff to be juxtaposed with. And then, earlier this year, it was acknowledging that I needed to find the confidence to just be myself on-screen. I used to tell myself that Mr Biffo was the "character", but I've had to reconcile that he isn't. He's the real me, for better or worse. 

I'm very sorry to hear about your bin-poo incident. Recently, I found an open violin case outside my parents' house which had a fresh poo in it. 
VOMITRON
Alongside the general wonderment and humour of the Digitiser Show, I have to congratulate you on the genius of discovering that Larry is likely to throw up or heave at the slightest smell. Whether it be prawns or Sonic’s ring, watching him retch is hilarious! Is that wrong? Am I going to hell? Either way brilliant stuff. Get him to sniff something else! 
The Porridge King
Larry's gag-reflex was an unexpected gift to the world.
ACE-HOLES
Greetings” Mr. Biffo!!!

Love the show! It’s Brill, Ace and Skill! It’s dead good to look forward to a day cos your favourite programme is on! Just like the olden days eh!?!

Anyways, movies are shite these days aren’t they? It’s all reboots and remakes and all that. Speaking of which, what classic game deserves a remake in these modern times, y’know like what Hollywood does?!? 

I think Dizzy would be totally amaaaaazing!! Also, I got some Double Dragon Ale a couple of days ago, it was awesome.

Sonic Booooom!!! Etc
James Walker
Aren't they doing a new Dizzy? Also: I would like a proper, big budget, remake of Skool Daze set in a BRITISH school. Bully does not count.
HALT.DIGITISER
Dear Digi,

This week I have got nothing done at all. Life has ground to a halt.  And I’ll tell you for why.

I have watched in alternation, and on repeat, “Sniff Sonics Rings” and “Digitiser: The Show Episode 3” none stop since Sunday evening.  It’s a blessing and a curse.  Larry Bundy Jr. is the master of ralphing on camera. Yes ralphing is what it’s called.  Looking forward to Episode 4. 

Yours in thick saliva,
Fletch (Lives)
Part of me wishes we'd never shared Sniff Sonic's Rings out early, but I'm looking at maybe re-editing it so there's some fresh Hell in there...
WASH BISON
Oi Biffo! I interviewed you a few weeks back for orangebison.com. I'd geared myself up for the expected anarchic responses, and written an introduction to match.

Instead, you completely threw me off by giving me incredibly well-thought-out answers to some difficult questions. WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO NOT BE WEIRD?!

How DAAAAARE you ruin my work in such a way! You're obviously trying too hard, or not hard enough! I CAN'T TELL WHICH!
Martin Harder

PS. MOAR ATTEMPTS ON PAUL GAMMON'S LIFE FOR THE SAKE OF ENTERTAINMENT PLZ!
Gawd. Can you imagine how awful it'd be if I didn't take interviews seriously? I mean, Digi's already accused by some of being too try-hard. I always got irritated by interviews with comedians where they're doing their schtick rather than giving straight answers. STOP HIDING BEHIND YOUR WACKY COMEDY PERSONA! We want to know things! Who even are you?!?!

I guess... ask me a sincere question and you'll get a sincere answer.
THE ONE REVIEW OF WHYTE
The Nobel laureate, Andre Gide, when asked who was France's greatest-ever poet, famously replied "Victor Hugo, alas!"

While Mr Hugo's poetry was never to my taste, I feel that Andre was a little hard on Slick Vic who, after all, managed to produce 4,000 drawings, produced La Legende des Siecles, campaigned against capital punishment, wrote a book that was turned into a somewhat successful musical and was buried at the Pantheon, In Paris i.e. 'The other one.' Most of us, of course, know Victor Hugo for the hunchback of Notre Dame and its tragic hero Quasimodo.

Just as Quasimodo asked Notre Dame's gargoyles "Why too could I not be of stone like thee?" I ask the 'creators' of Youtube "Why can you not mix content and humour like Digitiser?"

I don't want to speak for other backers, but I feel able to say that more than most projects I have supported, I really wanted Digitiser to work.

Episodes 1 & 2 alleviated most of my concerns and showed great promise. Both were good television and I enjoyed them, but neither quite felt like a truly cohesive whole, i.e. Digitiser had not quite yet decided what it was to be. Episode 3 is the first so far that rather than simply showing great potential, delivers as a ready-for-TV episode. To me, this is where the programme really found its voice and is a near-unqualified success. 

The 'Kowalski' short was genuinely funny and was well-done. These sorts of segments can cross into self-indulgence or Little Britain-style repetition easily, but I felt that there was some tight editing to prevent this and overall I thought that this was a welcome inclusion.

The introductory panel discussion was again interesting, and your choice of question allowed for plenty of good points to be made.

Digitiser is not meant to educate, I know, but please do not underestimate how much the audience can learn from the knowledge of the panelists; I was prompted by this initial discussion to find out more about some of the games discussed.

This section is important to set the tone for the rest of the programme and is the right way to open the show. Again, for me, it could be slightly longer so that it doesn't feel compressed, but overall, I think that you have this almost perfected. Credit to you (Paul) for not simply turning it into a stand-up routine. You are clearly growing into the role of host more in each episode.

The Pokemon or Gandhi quiz worked really well, I thought - perhaps less opportunities for laughs than last week's Street Farter, but it was certainly easier to follow and I liked the way that the guests were still able to bring in a few Pokemon elements to the game.

Perhaps as a bit of constructive criticism for a future series - maybe keep a score of which team/player wins each of the challenges, this way it will help with continuity of the segment. Even without this element, this is good and as with the intro panel - you seem to have this locked-in.

A general comment, especially based on episodes 2 & 3 is that I feel that around 40 minutes is the right length for an episode. It allows each segment to have a natural length and prevents the slightly uneven pacing of episode 1. It might be psychological, but the extra minutes really improve the show overall.

Show and Tell vies with the 'debate' for the best segment in my opinion. The Lock-On was a great choice because it is something that many of us might have had and enjoyed but didn't know much about. Nostalgia Nerd was a welcome addition to this section and I found his contributions to be informative and detailed.

He really came across as knowing about the product , rather than simply exaggerating the retro aspect. I also feel that you added to the discussion, Paul; you allowed Mr Nerd to speak and did not take over the discussion while keeping the discussion flowing. It was good to see Yuji Naka appear, too.

The Mario vs Zelda debate was my highlight of this episode. Obviously the debate was helped by having two genuinely titanic series to discuss, but nevertheless this was really good, and, to be honest, was probably the first true debate of the series. I and many others know plenty about these series but I really like that you begin both sides with a basic introduction - it really helps accessibility and stops the show feeling too much like your club.

A great performance all-round here highlights the consistent improvement in almost every aspect of the programme episode-by-episode.

This continues with the interview, which, quite simply was the best of the series so far. The Ashens one was interesting but felt long because of the shorter episode, Big Boy Barry was also good but rode close to him and Paul G amusing themselves more than the audience (they did stay on the right side though).

This interview was the apotheosis of the form; Paul asked relevant questions, kept the pace going well and showed his versatility as a presenter and Steve spoke really well and gave plenty of interesting details about his work on TV and with games. If I had one criticism it would be that the actual game being played wasn't really discussed/introduced much.

This could be editing and it could be choice, and while my preference would be for maybe 60 seconds on the game itself before the interview proper, if the interviews work as well as this one did then perhaps it isn't necessary. 

As you know, I really like the top 3 and Larry's Fact, this week about the Xbox. Not really much to add on this because they are really good. Personally I'd like 1 more of each but obviously that might affect pacing - I trust your judgement on that.

Where to start with the final segment? Others can put it more poetically, but this was really funny. Even before poor Larry's break-down at the end this is when I think that you were absolutely on-target with your desire for it to be similar in feel to e.g. Going Live/Live & Kicking. Credit to miss Kitten (I don't know her real name, sorry) for showing such concern for poor Mr Gannon.

This was, what I think that Digitiser should be about, namely organised chaos. Many will disagree with me, but I think that this was so funny in part because of the relative restraint shown in earlier segments, which made this feel like a natural evolution of madness rather than it being forced.

To conclude, I must agree with you that it was the best episode yet. It feels like an organic, developing yet quality programme.

A couple of minor troughs were that despite my enjoyment of 'Kowalski,' I am not sure if it should have opened the programme. It definitely fits the Digitiser outlook and I think that it MUST be included to maintain Digitiser's authenticity, but it might confuse first-time viewers and turn them away.

Related to this, the content is superb currently, but the first time I watched the programme, it felt back-heavy so perhaps the order of segments is sub-optimal right now? This could just be me, though. Also, it might simply be editing/schedules, but I'd like to see a bit more of Gameplay Jenny - she seems slightly under-used at this stage. 

Despite these minor issues, the show is brilliant, and is fulfilling the promise of the Kickstarter. The production values are incredible for your (assumed) budget and I think that the editing is of a higher standard than episode 1. I feel that all of the cast work well together, and your role as host should not be underestimated.

​Digitiser is highly-enjoyable as it is, but has the potential to improve further and I cannot think of higher praise than that.
John Whyte
Loving these reviews, John. They feel really considered, and given the rather throwaway nature of some of the feedback we get on social media, it's refreshing to read something where the author has really thought about it. 

More lovely still, I reckon Sunday's ep addresses all of your (minor) constructive criticisms. The Commodore 64 vs ZX Spectrum section is a proper debate, the interview with Imran Yusuf is really passionate (man, does he LOVE Killer Instinct), there's a good intro section... I dunno... Of all of the ones so far, Ep 4 feels to me like it really nails what the show can be. And, of course, descends into the usual utter chaos at the end...

​Totally hear you on some of the hosts feeling a little under-used. That was my fault, really, because I wasn't to know how confident they'd ALL be on camera, and I wanted everyone to feel comfortable before throwing them in at the deep end.  

I knew I had to be front-and-centre, and I knew Gannon could be relied upon, but if we do a second series, and if they all came back, I'd make certain to use everyone much more. They're a great bunch.
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34 Comments
DEAN
30/11/2018 10:24:38 am

Yeah, totally, Biffo - when you do it you're punching down - piece of piss, right, and your feigned ignorance is very off putting!

But there's more to it than that even!

You're also a lot better a being a shit than they are - their comments' are thoughtless rubbish and the ones you make are thoughtful rubbish so it's like being flicked behind the ear by a bully and then turning around and punching the bully right on the nose.

But most damningly of all, it makes you look like a petty and spiteful cunt.... probably!

But get a load of this!

So I overheard a conversation yesterday between my neighbour and his son (son is about 30 fyi):

Dad: "I'm fed up with being called a dickhead and a cunt all the time."
Son: "Yeah."

No matter how you look at that, it IS one of the funniest things ever!!!
And no, I don't know the context which in and of itself is a bloody gift because it could have been the Dad's first steps to self-improvement and mindfulness.... could be!

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Mr Biffo
30/11/2018 10:37:13 am

I can't tell whether you're being serious or not...

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DEAN
30/11/2018 10:58:47 am

HA!

I'm never sure either.

Suffice to say, as somebody who enjoyed your confessions of a chatroom freak book, I love it when you makes idiots look stupid.

So much so, at times I've enjoyed the comments and comebacks as much as the show!

Pete Davison link
30/11/2018 10:26:04 am

Love this letters page, really reminds me of old-school Digi. Between this and the show, it's been a real nostalgia trip recently!

Regarding your musings over people feeling "attacked" about your bingo card thing... in my experience some of the objections to this sort of thing come from memories of suffering unfair assumptions. Mocking people who are actually being an arsehole is totally fine... attempting to "pre-empt" them can sometimes rub the broader community up the wrong way, however. Said community can come to feel like a creator is expecting to act them a certain way, even if they have absolutely no intention of doing so, and that can lead to a bit of disconnect.

This happens a lot with modern popular culture journalism, and especially in gaming. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen professional games journalists saying something along the lines of "lol, gamers are sure gonna HATE that this game has a woman in the lead role!" when in fact 98% of "gamers" are absolutely fine with whatever protagonist they get, regardless of age, sex, gender, sexuality, race or anything else you'd care to define them by. Sure, that 2% is 2% we could do without, but you shouldn't let an annoying minority define a passionate community.

It's hard to explain. I think it's the sweeping generalisation in this sort of comment that I, personally, find a bit distasteful -- though to clarify, I don't think your "bingo card" is guilty of what I'm describing here, and nor was your Twitter beef with "Megatron" the other day. I'm just attempting to offer a bit of insight based on my own experiences, both as a former professional games journo and a gaming enthusiast. I am someone who likes obscure Japanese games and visual novels that tend to feature attractive female characters (often in leading roles) and I get a ton of abuse for it as a result of this sort of sweeping generalisation, despite the fact I have a website featuring probably over a million words at this point explaining why these games are interesting and noteworthy, and not at all "just porn" as some seem to assume. But I digress.

A number of gaming fans today are under the (not entirely unreasonable, it has to be said) assumption that some people who are supposed to be providing content relevant to their interests actually hate them, and that's led to a bit of thin skin on all sides. And this has been brewing since about 2010 or so -- the Mass Effect 3 ending debacle was the real "breaking point" for a lot of people -- so the idea of a "culture war" is unfortunately fairly well-established at this point.

If everyone could just be a bit nicer to one another it'd be lovely. Unfortunately it seems we will always have trolls, and one of the things trolls seem to relish is getting other people caught in their shitty crossfire. Sigh. I miss the days of the CompuServe GO GAMERS forum where everyone was always nice to everyone else, and I made $200 from 10 Wolfenstein 3D levels I'd slapped together...

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Mr Biffo
30/11/2018 10:36:30 am

Interesting. Yeah, there's definitely a disconnect, so you might be onto something there, Pete.

Speaking for myself... I think what wasn't seen from the outside was the sheer weight of negativity I got after Ep 1. I mean, it has changed completely over the subsequent weeks, but man... there was A LOT of shit coming my way, and... well... I could've responded in a far worse way, frankly. Highlighting some of the repeated comments we got, in what I felt was a tongue-in-cheek fashion, was me dealing with it in a way that wasn't a massive public rant. But yeah, I accept that some people didn't like it. You live and learn.

If you've followed me over the past four years, you'll know I'm pretty zen, and would rather we loved one another; turn thy other cheek and all that, and I'll try - I'll really try - to return to that. But yeah, the flack after ep 1 would've tested anyone's resolve.

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Pete Davison link
30/11/2018 10:58:03 am

I understand completely! It is unfortunately a sad reality of today's Internet that any creative project that is at least moderately high-profile will attract some form of abuse. I wish we hadn't ended up down this road, but, well, here we are, and it's absolutely understandable to want to react to negativity. I don't blame you for that at all!

Hopefully as the series continues, the "haters" (as the kids say) will lose interest and bugger off so we can all enjoy living in happy Zen Biffo-land.

Life's too short to waste on hating things, which is why I make a point of trying to avoid negativity wherever possible these days; my website is dedicated to attempting to "find the good" in the most overlooked and underappreciated games from over the years. Even PS2 and Wii-era shovelware. :)

Col. Asdasd
30/11/2018 04:49:40 pm

I do think you have a point regarding this tendency to pre-empt and assume in the enthusiast media-audience relationship. It reminds me of a recent article by a certain journo who I will refer to as Mr X.

Mr X: *Writes a longish post featuring many tongue in cheek but really rather inflammatory jabs at people who like game Y*
Commenter: Er, why do you always have to be so rude about fans of game Y? I realise that it's a bit of a running joke for you but you're coming off as rude and hostile and I kind of feel attacked.
Mr. X: I love it when people opt-in to insults.
Commenter B: Yeah, get him Mr. X! Fucking gamers!

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Col. Asdasd
30/11/2018 05:07:13 pm

Actually I also want to add that in general I think your post and Mr. B's response are ace, as is generally everything in this thread. The sense of community is really one of the biggest things I love about Digi and what keeps me coming back to the site. The big forums and sites seem to be so chaotic and divisive - I don't just mean in terms of people disagreeing - disagreement is healthy and should be permitted, and if necessary moderated - but seeming to have fostered a 'warfare mentality' where if users aren't actively at each other's throats then all they seem to talk about is how much they hate the other team, even after they banned them from coming around and should presumably be living in a harmonious utopia. I go to sites both left- and right-leaning and see this pattern replicated almost everywhere (Shamus Young's website is another haven which I recommend checking out).

It's the culture war as you said, and I think that you're right that Mass Effect 3 was probably the starting gun. Prior to that there I remember (perhaps with the benefit of rose-tinted specs) a generally brilliant relationship between gamerdom and the press, especially during the golden era of British gaming mags, but even there must have been accusations of corruption and bags of hate mail we didn't see, which would have been the troll comments and tweets of the time.

The way everyone across the hobby rallied around to oppose Jack Thompson is almost unthinkable today, even though when there is widely shared common ground across the spectrum on things like EA killing studios and lootboxes being bad.

I'm definitely going to check out moegamer as I love Japanese games of all stripes, and have more than once fallen for some moebait kusoge on the strength of the, ahem, *artwork* as a result!

Pete Davison link
4/12/2018 01:23:54 pm

Can't reply to your comment below because of threading maximum depth or something, but just wanted to stop by to say thanks for the thoughtful and kind words, and I hope you enjoy my work :)

Matthew Smith link
30/11/2018 10:37:39 am

Bizarrely, many of the rude, obnoxious morons who leave rude, obnoxious and/or moronic comments on YouTube videos (or indeed anything else on the web where comments are allowed) genuinely don't see themselves as trolls. They think their rude, obnoxious and/or moronic comments are "constructive criticism", and so get terribly offended when creators react with jokes and sarcasm. What they *want* to hear is, "Why yes, you're right, this show *should* be completely different and tailored specifically to your personal preferences, random anonymous internet nobody. Thanks so much for helping me to make better videos!" Even though their initial comment was simply some variation of, "This is crap and I hate it."

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RichardM
30/11/2018 10:39:45 am

Not my opinion, there is a general perception that the creator of a video is perceived as being higher profile than the semi-anonymous attackers, and that it’s a bit gauche to respond to them: that they should be beneath the creator’s notice. Don’t feed the trolls, etc, etc. (yawn).

On the other hand, I think it’s ‘more Digitiser’ to respond. You used to print negative letters with funny responses. The ‘Is this you?’ pictures have made me laugh a couple of times. You do you!

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Mr Biffo
30/11/2018 10:50:01 am

Yeah, to me... it feels like a classic Digi thing to do, but recently a few people I care about have been on the receiving end, and if keeping my gob shut can prevent that happening again... then that's what I'll do.

And I will. Admittedly, it doesn't sit right with me that someone - a content creator - can be dogpiled upon and is expected to just take it and not respond, even in a way they feel is light-hearted. Or when those people joining in with the dog piling do the victim thing when they get it in kind. That feels completely imbalanced, and it's classic drama triangle stuff.

But... it's not 1993 anymore. It's the internet. Times have changed, and the culture has changed. Suffice to say, the past few weeks have been a learning experience for me. So, I know now to just step out of the triangle.

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RichardM
30/11/2018 11:10:43 am

Indeed. I don’t think you should own the arseholes annoying people you care for, all the same: they probably would have anyway! But it’s a credit that you’re owning your place as the captain of the good ship Digitiser.

MENTALIST
30/11/2018 10:46:15 am

Given the context, I think it's entirely appropriate to respond to aggressive Youtube commenters in the style of the letters page of an early-to-mid 1990s video games magazine (or some sort of early digital content broadcast system).

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Fletch
30/11/2018 10:51:39 am

Yes! More sniffing of Sonic’s rings please. #ReleasetheVomitCut

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John Veness
30/11/2018 11:03:33 am

Regarding the bingo-card type stuff and that cut video on the Patreon (join Biffo's Patreon for exclusive extra content, everyone!) - it's a fine line but I'm in the camp that sees it as, indeed, mean-spirited and attacking, rather than defending.

I guess I'm saying that just because someone's being mean-spirited to you, two wrongs don't make a right. Same as I don't believe in the death penalty, even for murder - we should be *better* than them.

On the other hand, if you can't just ignore them (and I do appreciate that it must be very hard dealing with a lot of negativity), I do like the idea of trying to *confuse* them, e.g. replying with odd/funny gifs.

I heard an interview with Eddie Izzard recently where he talked about the abuse he got in the streets in the early days of him dressing up in women's clothes. When he could, he would respond with "Hello! How are you? Lovely day we're having!" which would just confuse the people shouting and shut them up!

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John Veness
30/11/2018 11:05:13 am

I should add that in that same Eddie Izzard interview, he did say that he did sometimes have to physically punch people who attacked him, so I appreciate there are different responses to different situations!

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Curious
30/11/2018 11:43:08 am

Out of curiosity John, and others (and this is just me thinking out loud not to be confused with dogpiling on anyone!)...

Why is it seen as more noble to ignore and not respond to attacks, and to just let people get away with being arseholes to you? Isn't people doing nothing how bully's get away with bullying?

Isn't that how dictators get into positions of power - when nobody dares speak against them or call them out? When there are never any consequences for their actions?

Making the boundaries clear for how you allow people to treat you, to me seems like an indication of self respect.

But I see your point that responding in an equally nasty way is probably counterproductive. However, I didn't really see Mr Biffo doing this. He seemed (to me) to simply be highlighting their behaviour or taking the 'confuse them with weirdness' route...

Maybe simply deleting their comments or blocking them is a better way to go though?

I just don't understand how some people are happy to publicly criticise and insult and then act like they've been unfairly attacked when people respond to them, as if what they said was meant to have no effect whatsoever.

(This wasn't aimed at anyone in particular by the way.

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RichardM
30/11/2018 11:56:44 am

I think it’s just presently perceived as the done thing to ignore them, so as not to encourage others: often because the person is trolling and a response gives them what they want. I suppose it’s impossible to separate the genuine ‘this is shit’ comments from the trolls. I would assume about... 90% trolling? Unless, of course, the harassment is so grevious / pervasive that it needs to be reported: but this is a different thing.

Col. Asdasd
30/11/2018 01:45:34 pm

Our standards for trolls are very low. They're the dregs of humanity and we can recognise them as such very quickly thanks to our pattern-sorting brains.

However the creators and other decent human beings who are victims of such attacks we afford much higher status than the dregs. Indeed, in bravely displaying their talent and value for the world to see and judge, we consider them higher than the rest of us mundane folk. They are, in fact, modern day paragons.

Paradoxically the credit we extent to them on this account brings with it a higher set of standards to which we then hold them. We find name-calling and shit-talking on their part distasteful, even if it's only in self-defence or responding in kind.

You can see similar things with celebrities: we're so quick to put them on trial for every perceived foible, a tendency ruthlessly exploited for profit by our tabloid (and even, if we're honest, our respectable) media. But it's not because we're evil dicks who enviously revel in the downfall of our betters (well not entirely anyway).

It's also because we exist in an uncaring world. I don't mean we don't care about each other, often we do and capacity for empathy is one of humanity's redeeming aspects. I mean uncaring in the sense that there is no natural justice, life itself selects by survival of the fittest, and be we prince or pauper we're all doomed to die and be forgotten anyway while our every achievement stretches ultimately into cosmic insignificance.

We've killed off God and denuded religion of its moral authority, but we're still desperate as ever to believe in the possibility of goodness and value in our lives, and so we look to other people into who we might invest our precious store of hope. They become our idols (in the every sense) and are held mercilessly to exacting standards because every time they ""et us down" (by being human just like us) they remind us of the cold grave awaiting us all, and ultimately the infinitely bleak, unwinking void that awaits the universe after heat death, and the colossal absurdist joke that is existence which is has been played upon us all.

Er, maybe. It's not fair but I reckon that might have something to do with it.

Nick
30/11/2018 11:34:14 am

Blimey, homework.

I’m sodded if I know. If I’m checking some place out on Trip Advisor I’m always slightly annoyed by managers that respond to the poor reviews but never the good ones. But you’re not serving me dinner so I don’t care, and, you respond to the nice comments too. I realise I’ve added nothing.

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RichardM
30/11/2018 11:38:09 am

The sausages were just out of a packet and served TEPID. Found a single hair after removing U-bend from sink. Towels too large to fit in my bag on leaving. Holiday ruined. 0/10. Would rather stay in Satan’s rectum.

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Dunc
30/11/2018 12:57:09 pm

I think as a content creator anything you say or do (or don't say or do) is bound to upset someone. This gets more pronounced the larger the audience, so just keep doing what you think is right so long as the intent isn't to piss people off. You can't please them all after all!

Also while I don't use Twitter, near as I can tell it's just a platform for people to manufacture outrage so people will notice them.

Loving the show and I hope the positives you are getting out of it are outweighing the grief your getting in the comments. Also I don't see why comparisons to shooting stars is a criticism! There's definitely a Vic and Bob vibe at times but knowing this is just your sense of humour and not an attempt to copy them I mean that as a compliment!

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Dan Farrimond link
30/11/2018 01:36:42 pm

Maybe you should get Fat Sow to respond to those trolls, Mean Yob style.

Or maybe not, because IIRC that Mean Machines letters page was just a wall of crummy insults.

Life goes on.

Also, I wanted to email you a review for episodes 2 and 3 of Digi TV but oh look, it's Friday again and I am too late. :-(

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MENTALIST
30/11/2018 02:29:53 pm

I think part of what I was getting at above, is that I'd say it's probably OK to engage with people having a go, if you're identifiably "in character".

Given the fuss this week over acting in character on public forums, using accounts that aren't always used for in-character activity, it might be better to respond as Fat Sow or Insincere Dave.

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Mr Biffo
30/11/2018 05:30:10 pm

I dunno. Doing it "in character" feels a bit cowardly to me. We used to hide behind Fat Sow for precisely that reason, and it's why I never really used her on Digi2000. If I'm going to say something, then I'd rather do it as myself, even if there are consequences.

Grembot
30/11/2018 03:41:04 pm

It’s interesting how many different theories everyone has on the troll subject. Here’s my hot take: People who don’t like it probably don’t get the sense of humour, therefore they don’t get that Biffo’s responses are jokes too. They’re almost certainly part of an online group of likeminded people whose collective internet voice is vastly disproportionate to its size.

Biffo can you hear me? You come across as a considerate and rational person with a correctly calibrated moral compass. I trust your judgment and you should too, you’re not going to to try to offend or upset anybody deliberately and if they do get upset that’s up to them, you can always apologise (which will also upset them).

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Mr Biffo
30/11/2018 03:56:48 pm

I hear you. Thank you, Grembot.

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Pete Davison link
30/11/2018 04:20:54 pm

Can I just add that this whole comment thread has been an actual delight to read? I think it's testament to what a lovely community you've built up around you and your work, Biffo. And of course the contributions the others who have been part of the show shouldn't be underestimated, either.

The show has brought together a number of different discrete audiences with the people you've involved, and it seems for the most part, they/we all play nice. Probably because there's significant crossover between a lot of those audiences, but they're distinct nonetheless. Good job, everyone.

Level-headed, mature and articulate discussion coupled with an appreciation for the more surreal and/or flatulent side of life: that's the Digitiser audience, not some rando YouTube commenter or Twitter troll.

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Hamptonoid
30/11/2018 09:16:13 pm

Seconded. I also disagree that the letters page is slightly redundant - come for the articles, stay for the community

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Chris Dyson
30/11/2018 06:46:16 pm

A few years ago I fancied listening to Prokofiev's Troika so after dialling it up on YouTube I started browsing the comments. The fIrst was from a lady saying how much she loved the music and posted a little smiley face to illustrate the. The next comment was someone calling her a c*nt because you're not supposed to use emoticons in YouTube comments, apparently. I haven't bothered with YouTube comments since. Though I do like it when someone funnier than them pulls them apart. Adam Buxton does this very well with BUG.

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James Walker link
30/11/2018 07:52:07 pm

Fuck the haterzzzzz!!111!!!!

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Mr Biffo
1/12/2018 03:28:49 pm

Shit! I was trying to - ahem - "trim" mine and Dean's epic conversation, and I think I Weebly may have accidentally culled a bunch of other messages. Sorry, everyone! Let's blame Thanos/The Curse.

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Geebs
1/12/2018 08:36:18 pm

Don’t worry, I’m bound to get resurrected in the next movie anyway!

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