| Mega64 | |
|---|---|
Mega64 with a fan at San Diego Comic-Con 2009 |
|
| Genre | Comedy Sketch comedy |
| Created by | Rocco Botte Derrick Acosta |
| Starring | Rocco Botte Derrick Acosta Shawn Chatfield Garrett Hunter |
| Opening theme | The Aquabats – Sequence Erase (instrumental version) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 17 + many ads and videos |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Rocco Botte Richard Kyanka |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | TD Philostrate Productions |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Public Access, DVD |
| Original run | November 18, 2004 – present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Mega64 is a low-budget series of comedy skits centered on video games.
Contents |
In the not too distant future, a sinister scientist named Dr. Poque creates the most powerful video game console ever assembled. Known as the ‘Mega64,' this device has the power to download classic and contemporary video games into the user's brain, causing them to take on a whole new reality.[1]
While Rocco and Derek are hooked to the device (called the Mega64), the viewer sees them acting as characters in the corresponding game, interacting with ordinary people in San Diego. Another character, named Shawn, is initially hired by Dr. Poque as Rocko and Derek's "e-mail delivery man" but also starts taking part in the Mega64 experiments. Two additional characters are later introduced: a puppet named Marcus, who is presumably working for Poque; and Horatio, Poque's eccentric Mexican roommate.
The series was originally produced to air on public-access television; however, the original five episodes did not get broadcast. Later, creator Rocco Botte pitched the show to G4 but was rejected. Eventually, the show staff released all episodes produced so far on DVD, published through Awful Video, the publishing arm of Something Awful. The Mega64 official site provides links to order the DVD, along with several free sample video clips.
The show's website includes several exclusive videos such as "Agent Smith Goes to Washington", which primarily spoofs The Matrix films and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, with a subtle homage to the game Paperboy, and others.
The show has also been referenced in video gaming magazines Electronic Gaming Monthly and Nintendo Power. The Luigi's Mansion skit was also featured on a DVD included with issue 147 of Nintendo Official Magazine.
Mega64: Version 2, the show's second season, was released on DVD on July 20, 2006. Mega64 Time! was released on DVD on July 26, 2007. This is a two-disc set of every video game commercial made by Mega64 until that point and another disc of random skits.
Mega64: Version 3 was originally meant to be released in 2008, but at their PAX 2008 panel, Mega64 stated Version 3 would most likely not be finished until early 2009. More recently in a podcast after show when asked of the release date of Version 3, Rocco stated he had no idea when Version 3 will be released and said, "You know, it took us this long, we might as well spend as much time as we can on it." By March 2010, all six episodes of Version 3 had been officially completed. Mega64: Version 3 went on sale May 28, 2010, and began shipping on June 8.[2] The cover artwork is reminiscent of the PeopleMover and Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction posters from Disneyland, and features the tagline, "Adventures Thru Digital Space," while the back cover parodies Walt Disney's Disneyland opening day speech.
On November 20, 2010, Mega64: Night Time! was announced, a follow-up to their Mega64 Time! DVD, which, similar to the earlier release, contains all ads and numerous random skits produced since the first DVD was released.[3]
According to Mega64.com, British Sky Broadcasting would be airing the first season of Mega64 on one of their channels during their gaming programming blocks. However, in Mega64's Podcast: Episode 77, it was revealed Sky would not be airing Mega64, due to a misunderstanding between the two companies. In said podcast it was explained that British Sky Broadcasting had come under new management, and that Mega64's episodes being aired had been "lost in the shuffle". After contacting the company for the reasoning behind this, Sky representatives replied to Mega64 saying they "had asked too much money", however the Mega64 crew claims they did not ask for any amount of money.[4]
Mega64 has confirmed through its website and YouTube page that its cast and crew members would be included in the game Super Scribblenauts as playable characters.[5][6]
For Ubisoft, Mega64 has produced skits featuring Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Cold Fear, 187 Ride or Die, Myst V: End of Ages, Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent, and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 all of which have been available for download on their respective websites.
Skits featuring Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter are available for download not only on the game's official website, but also via Xbox Live to Microsoft's Xbox 360, in full high-definition and Dolby 5.1 Surround, both firsts for Mega64. Both videos are now available, listed as "GRAW: Cross-Com 1" and "GRAW: Cross-Com 2".
Mega64 has done promotional videos for the 2006 and 2007 Spike Video Game Awards that have aired on Spike TV.
They have also done a series of skits for GDC 2008, entitled "Intro", "I am Independent", and "Independent Inspirations".
Mega64 produced the music video for the Freezepop song "Brainpower".[7]
Mega64 skits were also used during MTV's Videogame week.
In 2009, Mega64 produced four commercials for GameTap, which aired on Adult Swim.[8]
–Mega64: Metal Gear Solid 4 (HD) –HOW SHENMUE WAS MEANT TO END
–Mega64: GDC 2008 IGF Awards Intro –IF YOU'RE NOT INDIE, F**K YOU
–Mega64: Metal Gear Solid 4 (HD)
–Mega64: New Super Mario Bros.
–Mega64: The Beatles Rock Band
–HOW SHENMUE WAS MEANT TO END John Gary was also the contender to the ethos and pathos, which is Mike Hawk and mega 64 made that.
Currently available via the website, iTunes and Zune Marketplace, a podcast consisting of the Mega64 crew and various guests is available every Tuesday. The podcast premiered September 25 2006. The podcast at first was only available in audio format, but since December 24 2007, it has also been in video format. Since its launch, the video podcast has been featured as Mega64's main podcast, while the audio podcasts are audio extractions of the video counterparts. This is often referred to in the video podcast, with hosts or guests sometimes describing things that are happening for those who are listening to the audio-only version.
A typical Mega64 podcast begins with an introduction by the crew followed by a theme song. The theme song was first The Aquabats' "The Lonely Horseman!". More recently, the theme song is generally a random song sometimes referring to some episode-specific joke or event, for comical effect. The podcasts usually consist of news concerning Mega64, and discussions between the crew offering opinions on various media such as movies, music, video games and television. In the second half of the podcast, the crew read e-mails sent in by various fans of Mega64. The e-mails are sometimes responded to by the cast insultingly, and are done so by mimicking the writer and forming puns with the questioner's name.
The podcast is usually recorded at the Mega64 studio, but the Mega64 crew has also been known to record podcasts in different locations. For example, the February 12, 2008 podcast was filmed at Disneyland, with much of the discussion taking place on Disneyland attractions. Subsequent podcasts have been filmed in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Toronto and the home of Tommy Tallarico. As of January 11, the podcast has started streaming on Ustream Live, where the crew continues their regular podcast, but also reads from the built-in Ustream chatroom. Following these live recordings there are often "after shows". They answer calls on Skype, read e-mails they missed on the podcast and tell stories. On January 18 2009 to January 19 2009 the Live podcast went from 7PM to about 7AM PST. On July 17th 2011, Mega64 started their podcast at noon PST instead of the usual time, and ended with a total of 63 hours with numerous co-hosts including, Hotdiggitydemon, Frank-Kun, Eric Bromandiour, and Kevin, the silent soldier.
On September 26, 2011, HotDiggedyDemon ( Max Gilardi ) and Mega64 teamed up to make animated cartoons from the Mega64 podcast for 6 weeks called Mega64nimation.
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