Official AVGN Thread

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Originally Posted by Soulis

That Toxic Avengers episode was painful to watch.

The guy went downhill since he started adding stuff to his videos that had nothing to do with showing gameplay clips while raging about them. That's how he got famous, that's why people liked him. Heck, even showing his face wasn't necessary if you ask me. Because nobody cared about AVGN himself... we cared about the games and how we could relate to all the stuff the guy was saying, as if that voice was coming out of our heads. And its not like he didn't have material to work for years... The NES alone has enough bad/popular games to make 300 episodes. And because each game is different and we all have so many gaming memories from that era (at least the ones who are the same age as James), it would never get old. Heck, i never played Castlevania 2 or any of the bible games myself but i could totally relate with all the things he said to the reviews (it felt like i was playing the games) and it was a joy to watch.

And then he started doing all that unnecessary stuff that nobody cares about. It was not about the games anymore but about James himself, not even his AVGN character. James seems like a very nice guy but he isn't that interesting as a personality, he isn't very funny and i don't think he is a good filmmaker either (counting what he made so far). Trying to push all that stuff through his AVGN videos was a smart move, maybe, since his dream is to become a filmmaker and it even got him to do a full movie, but in the end, its all mediocrity so far. I am curious about the movie but i doubt it will be any good.

And now he has celebrity guests. The thing is that, if you are not that interesting and you don't have anything interesting to do with your guest, even if you get jesus himself in your show, it will get boring fast. Once the initial shock of "hey is that guy with AVGN?" goes away, there is nothing else to see. All i saw in this episode was an old guy cussing uncontrollably and saying random crap, that most of the time had nothing to do with the games, and i was supposed to find it funny only because he is somewhat popular to a group of people and because he is in the AVGN video.

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http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4521/1343218214332.jpg


This is EXACTLY how i felt about the AVGN for the last few years. If his newborn child and upcoming movie is any indication, he'll hopefully put AVGN to rest and move on. I've had good laughs and fond memories of his show back in the early days of YouTube, but it's since gotten stale and he's clearly lost all passion to continue.

I'd at least like to see him continue making more stuff in the vein of GodzillaThon & Monster Madness. He clearly has more passion & drive for Film and those were way better than his AVGN shtick (especially his recent episodes.)

New avgn people!

Fuck...

All right, I'll give this one a shot. But I've been hating the AVGN vids since he came back from his movie.

It was okay, but the ending was really stupid, and kinda exemplifies how forced his "anger" has become over the years, and I think he's starting to cross the line with invoking disgusting imagery I'd much rather not envision (Old woman's bloody vag? Seriously Rolfe?...)

I still think the 2600 sports episode was his best since returning. Felt more genuine, and had better humor. Reminded me more of the older episodes, which I still enjoy.

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Originally Posted by Metalwario64

I still think the 2600 sports episode was his best since returning.

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I actually really enjoyed the James & Mike Play Atari 2600 episodes, if they don't focus 100% on the nerd all the time
Then it can stay a very entertaining youtube channel.

give the nerd persona some time to become fresh again, maybe reinvent the formula.

Edit : Makes me wonder though, why are we treating the AVGN as if its some billion dollar game of thrones episode? its just a guy in his basement entertaining us,
is it because of the whole "I'm James Rolfe, I make movies, I make AVGN movie! did you guys know that making movies is my true love?"

I guess that's it, if its just some guy who releases an episode every weekend when he's not working his week job then its acceptable,
but the whole interviews thing and him sitting in his office discussing the future just gives it more of a professional feel then we normally get with youtubers.
and because of that.. we treat each episode more harshly.

I prefer the ones with him and Mike sitting around playing games. They feel more genuine.

I find it just as entertaining as his old stuff. I never cared if his anger looks real or not.

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Originally Posted by DJ_Convoy

I prefer the ones with him and Mike sitting around playing games. They feel more genuine.

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Well maybe they feel more genuine because they actually ARE genuine? :P

AVGN has been a character he has been acting out for quite some time now after all, he is kinda' meant to be a very over the top aggressive reviewer with a foul mouth.
Some of the games he reviews might not be the most outstanding examples in the NES library, but by no means are they bad enough to justify the anger he displays.

I agree though that it's way more satisfying just seeing Mike and James play some games and reflect on them in all seriousnes.
It's jolly nice of him to keep making AVGN episodes for the audience too, they're starting to lose their charm a bit, but most of the new ones work too.

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Originally Posted by Soulis

That Toxic Avengers episode was painful to watch.

The guy went downhill since he started adding stuff to his videos that had nothing to do with showing gameplay clips while raging about them. That's how he got famous, that's why people liked him. Heck, even showing his face wasn't necessary if you ask me. Because nobody cared about AVGN himself... we cared about the games and how we could relate to all the stuff the guy was saying, as if that voice was coming out of our heads. And its not like he didn't have material to work for years... The NES alone has enough bad/popular games to make 300 episodes. And because each game is different and we all have so many gaming memories from that era (at least the ones who are the same age as James), it would never get old. Heck, i never played Castlevania 2 or any of the bible games myself but i could totally relate with all the things he said to the reviews (it felt like i was playing the games) and it was a joy to watch.

And then he started doing all that unnecessary stuff that nobody cares about. It was not about the games anymore but about James himself, not even his AVGN character. James seems like a very nice guy but he isn't that interesting as a personality, he isn't very funny and i don't think he is a good filmmaker either (counting what he made so far). Trying to push all that stuff through his AVGN videos was a smart move, maybe, since his dream is to become a filmmaker and it even got him to do a full movie, but in the end, its all mediocrity so far. I am curious about the movie but i doubt it will be any good.

And now he has celebrity guests. The thing is that, if you are not that interesting and you don't have anything interesting to do with your guest, even if you get jesus himself in your show, it will get boring fast. Once the initial shock of "hey is that guy with AVGN?" goes away, there is nothing else to see. All i saw in this episode was an old guy cussing uncontrollably and saying random crap, that most of the time had nothing to do with the games, and i was supposed to find it funny only because he is somewhat popular to a group of people and because he is in the AVGN video.

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My goodness I missed this post originally but rep for you. Absolutely well said.



As for the newest Nerd episode, I'd say it's just average. Of course that's a hell of an improvement from the last. Glad to see another LJN get reviewed. Only part I really didn't like was the last thing he said in the review and it's what Metalwario64 already mentioned. The Nerd says a lot of gross stuff in his reviews but even that seemed out of place.

As for the James and Mike play episodes, I think the recent ones on Atari, and hacks/homebrew are much more enjoyable. I don't pay attention to that stuff much so it's mostly new to me.

I tried watching the newest one, I was more focused on school work. Yay me?

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Originally Posted by Robotwo

Well maybe they feel more genuine because they actually ARE genuine? :P

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Well, less forced, then.

I dunno. I find it hard to rip on the dude for providing me with hours of entertainment for free... :) Even a meh ep of AVGN is better than nothing.

James may have peaked with his last (?) episode of Board James, which was great.

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Originally Posted by Soulis

he isn't very funny and i don't think he is a good filmmaker either (counting what he made so far).
Trying to push all that stuff through his AVGN videos was a smart move, maybe, since his dream is to become a filmmaker
and it even got him to do a full movie, but in the end, its all mediocrity so far.

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Yep pretty much how I feel about it all, instead of being a youtube "celebrity" he's trying to turn it into more then there's
actually there, and I agree that its a smart move trying to channel his AVGN fame into a filmmaker career,
but the fact is that his AVGN episodes are mediocre at most.

And to be a filmmaker you gotta be able to do more then badly tape a bunch of your friends reenacting a slasher movie.

I think that's my personal problem with James Rolfe as a person, I want to wish him godspeed with his dream to be into films,
but a large part of me just feels that he lacks the skill, I've seen much more professional stuff on youtube then in any
Cinemassacre episode.

Then again it's a different time, maybe with the coming of the "Internet Celeb" also comes the era of cheap downloadable quicky movies.

In a way cinema has come full turn, from the early attempts in the silent film to the early attempts in Internet N00b film.

Mind you though, if he casts Miss Hannah Minx in his next movie I'd buy it on Bluray.

Not sure if this talk has been prohibited because of angry Sega fans

But I really don't think AVGN was a good contestant for his SNES Vs. Genesis videos. His life evolves around Nintendo. It should've been debated by someone who has a more neutral position. Someone who knows about Virtua Racing, doesn't give incorrect specs etc.

Don't forget that muzzle for Miss Hannah Minx

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Originally Posted by NeoVamp

Edit : Makes me wonder though, why are we treating the AVGN as if its some billion dollar game of thrones episode? its just a guy in his basement entertaining us,
is it because of the whole "I'm James Rolfe, I make movies, I make AVGN movie! did you guys know that making movies is my true love?"

I guess that's it, if its just some guy who releases an episode every weekend when he's not working his week job then its acceptable,
but the whole interviews thing and him sitting in his office discussing the future just gives it more of a professional feel then we normally get with youtubers.
and because of that.. we treat each episode more harshly.

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I think it's more he is one, if not thee, most popular video game entertainers/reviewers for so long so we are more pron to break down an episode or discuss it on a forum than another guy in his basement with 17 views. I'm not totally disagreeing with you though.

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Originally Posted by azonicrider

Not sure if this talk has been prohibited because of angry Sega fans

But I really don't think AVGN was a good contestant for his SNES Vs. Genesis videos. His life evolves around Nintendo. It should've been debated by someone who has a more neutral position. Someone who knows about Virtua Racing, doesn't give incorrect specs etc.

Don't forget that muzzle for Miss Hannah Minx

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Watch all the "Videos In Response Of AVGN Genesis vs SNES" videos you'll agree and like them as do I. I had a post discussing what you expressed in this thread or another somewhere. I might have posted one of the response videos.

Edit. Neo just saw this, I hear ya.

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Originally Posted by NeoVamp

Yep pretty much how I feel about it all, instead of being a youtube "celebrity" he's trying to turn it into more then there's
actually there,

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