Games World

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Bob Mills and Dave Perry present "The Eliminator" in Series 3 of Games World.

Games World was a British computer games-based television programme, made by Hewland International and broadcast on Sky One each weekday from 1993-1995. The overall concept of Games World was quite similar to Hewland International's GamesMaster (1992-98), which was shown every week on Channel 4 and had a new set for each series.

The main body of the show took place on Mondays and Wednesdays, and was an elimination contest between several youngsters over several different video games, where winners would go on to Friday's edition. Every Friday, a single winner from the previous day staked points on various matches at differing games, and would go up against various WWE-style characters known as 'videators'. Winners received a Games World bomber jacket, and series winners would receive an arcade machine if they were to claim the top prize.

Bob Mills was the presenter from 1993-95, along with 'GamesAnimal' Dave Perry, Jeremy Daldry and Tim Boone;

The Videators were the most memorable characters of the show. Season one saw the emergence of Big Boy Barry (played by Alex Verrey) who became to Gamesworld what Mario is to Nintendo. Others characters over the first year included Master Moriarty A stuck up school kid who EVERYONE wanted to beat, but very rarely could!). Forgettable characters such as Letty Edwards (Who could only play one game- Columns!!) the Ninja and The Exectutioner asll failed to live up to their billing and were dropped for Series 2. Barry won the majority of his games (Sonic Rings)as did Moriarty, leaving all the other Videators in their wake.

Season 2 saw the return of Barry, along with Master Moriarty. The only worthy Videator that stood out from the new guys was Mr Mathers played by Martin Mathers who after a shaky start, found his feet and went on a winning streak. Videators such as Combat Kal, Persian Prince of Perfection and the Violet Blade were average at best (Losing more times than winning) and all but one was dropped for season 3.

Season 3 saw the ever popular Barry, Moriarty and the now the established Mathers back to do battle. Suprisingly the Violet Blade made it back to shore (Not so suprisingly seeing as he was a producer of the show, otherwise he would have been stacking shelves). New recruits were Trixie Belle, Colin the Console Cowboy, Ragga D, and Electric Eddie. Out of all of these guys only Eddie stood out as a genuine Videator, winning all of his matches bar one near the end of the season, standing only second to Mathers, who was never beaten all season. Every other Videator had an average season playing wise.

Season 4 Never materialised like it was supposed to in 1995/1996. There was early talk that Barry, Mathers and Eddie would have returned as the domineering players/characters of the show (Mathers and Eddie moreso as players, Barry as the figurehead). New Videators would have been brought in but Hewland decided to cease any plans to do Gamesworld Season 4 for the time being, leaving fans and no doubt performers decidedly upset.

Fans had to wait until 1998 to see another Incarnation of Gamesworld. By this time the hype and craze that Hewland had worked so hard to build in those first three years had been lost . Bob Mills was gone and replaced by glorified warm up guy Andy Collins who had no idea. The set was an Aztec-themed environment. Even though Dave Perry remained as the last of the original team, he left half way through the series, reportedly disillusioned with the new format and setting. It was not the return of the show fans were expecting after a four year absence. The setting was bizarre, the format and contestants were decidedly weaker and the Videators were bland, forgettable, and had nowhere near the gaming prowess of those before them.

After over 12 years since the Original 3 series ended, fans still talk about the show and it had established a cult following. Gamesworld appeared to be a show "Before it's time" as it was before the super machines such as the Playstation and X-box took over. It did remarkably well considering it was on Sky TV which in 1993/1994 was nowhere near as popular as it is today. One can only imagine the possibilities if this show would have been around in the year 2000 and beyond. Most of the performers would have been household names, and the show would have attracted much larger viewing figures.

As it is, it remains a series many fans pine for and hold very close to their hearts.

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