The first trailer for E4's GamesMaster reboot has just gone live, and it gives a good taste of what to expect from the series.
Hosted by Rob Florence and starring the legendary Sir Trevor McDonald as the titular GamesMaster, the series has been filmed at the iconic Crossness Pumping Station in London, and seems to follow the format of the original seasons pretty closely.
McDonald takes over the role from the late Sir Patrick Moore, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 89, while Florence steps into the shoes vacated by Dominik Diamond, who has recently joined forces with Read-Only Memory to produce a book that covers the history of the original show, which ran between the years of 1992 to 1998. Dexter Fletcher, who recently directed the Hollywood movie Rocketman, was the host for one series. Florence will be joined by Frankie Ward and Ty Logan as co-hosts.
Speaking to us exclusively a short while ago, Florence summed up the new show thusly:
The focus of GamesMaster, I think, should always be on the challenges. I think there's already this perception out there that this new show is going to be all about focusing on celebrities. That is not what this show is going to be, I’m not sure why that has come about; this is going to be about people who love games and love playing games. The celebrity element is not something that anybody should worry about, this is not going to be a thing where celebs come on and promote themselves. There's going to be people who are into games and love games, just normal punters off the street coming on, playing a game of FIFA in front of me with me shouting some abuse at them and the GamesMaster’s big head hovering over the top of everything.
GamesMaster hits E4's YouTube channel on November 21st, and will be given a television run at a later date.
This article was originally published by nintendolife.com on Fri 5th November, 2021.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 44
This looks fun and might actually capture the spirit of the original show. I'm looking forward to Dominik Diamonds book as well
Looked okay and more similar to the original that I imagined it would. But the 'Legendary' Trevor Macdonald, well maybe when it comes to news reading, but not from what I saw in the video.
It’s really quite similar to the original actually. Pretty impressive.
Mainstream medias and videogames ...
... always a NO NO for me.
@Savino it may seem cringe, but it's pretty faithful to the original show in the 90s - should be fun for those that hold the nostalgia at least.
Ha ha, this is going to fit in the so bad its good category. Loved the originals, we just need sky to bring back games world and big boy Barry 😆
Looking good if you ask me! I'll definitely be tuning in to watch, even if it's just for that hit of nostalgia 😁
I’m glad they’ve kept the OOT weirdness of the original. I agree with the poster above saying mainstream takes on games tend to be a no. Games master wasn’t perfect but it was an entertaining time non the less.
Cringe.
And having glasses on the Games Master when he can clearly get a bionic eye is just dumb. Also, that's a huge forehead and tiny little face they've given him.
The original was mostly only decent because of Diamond and his cheeky/edgy humour, which is I bet the one thing they've removed--because 2021.
Not feeling this.
Edit: Wait . . . are those supposed to be AR glasses he's wearing? Double cringe, not because the idea is bad but just because of how bad that effect looks. I honestly thought it was meant to be some tech on his eye behind the patently normal and indeed very slim-frame glasses initially--not a good way to portray AR glasses as most people current visualise how they would look just now--but I guess that's his little HUD as displayed on the glasses.
The funny part is after reading Florence's "interview" here rambling about the lack of diversity, I actually went back and watched the show (at least, ALL of the Diamond episodes) and suspect he hasn't.
From the first episode, people of a huge range of ethnicity, race, males, females, were there in virtually every single episode. I'm not exaggerating it either. He was spectacularly wrong about that.
Removed - inappropriate; user is banned
Would rather have the mag return.
@WallyWest With a free demo disk. Good times!
That is the single funniest thumbnail for a news article I’ve ever seen
People who use the word ‘cringe’ are the epitome of cringe.
The show looks a great throwback to the original series
Well, I’m happily looking forward to this without any negative feelings at all.
I have great memories of the past and will look to create some more with my kids enjoying it with me this time.
I have one of those joysticks next to me right now, only it's not golden. Quickshot Python 2 I think...
@impurekind I think even in the original the Games Master was designed to look bad.
It was quite a lighthearted show with lots of jokes and quips thrown in. I don’t think it ever took itself seriously. The only thing I think the new GMs design needs is a metal skull part covering his forehead.
A definite watch. At least the first show.
Trevor is a natural and really is a perfect choice to succeed Patrick Moore
@antdickens Like when youtube did that one off episode of CITVs 'Knightmare'!
Be difficult for younger people now to imagine how exciting it was to see actual video footage of an upcoming anticipated game on TV back in the early 90s. I videotaped the Sonic 2 preview and watched it back loads.
Looks good, definitely feel they nailed it.
Surely can't be as bad as the Dexter Fletcher series... Can it... I will give it a watch. Still have the last ever episode of Gamesmaster on DVD that came with the mag one month.
@Ristar24 yeah I remember taping Gamesmaster too just to watch it over and over again and if there were some good cheats. Haha.
@Beermonkey Wow yes, that Dexter Fletcher series, oh dear.
@antdickens ha yes, I taped some bad Influence too, but Gamesmaster seemed more appealing at the time. Was really characterised by that 90s irreverent style, that you also found in a lot of the print mags at the time.
Oink oink, slurp up your nostalgia slop, piggies.
@jimmer that vhs is gaming treasure !! I loved it, Bbb, Mr mathers, madam pixel... solid gold. It was great on a Friday when they dropped in to someone's house. I wouldn't mind but I was in my 20's as well
E4... Will this be streaming somewhere? It looks interesting.
The Dave Perry/Mario 64 debacle is still TV gold.
looks far better than I ever imagined it would. Bring back the original theme tune.
@Darknilious it literally says on their YOutube channel
Looks neat. I kinda miss this type of programming (well back when I used to watch tv). Used to watch X-play as a teenager. I’m sure I won’t get most of the British jokes or references but I may watch a few eps.
So are all those people Youtubers? Yep, looks as godawful as the original show.
@YANDMAN fun fact: most people say literally wrong. But you are on point. Thank you.
Oh dang!
This is probably going to be the best they'll get seeing that originally it was going to be hour long one-off show with celebrities, treating it more like a games shows rather than a show about video games. This looks promising, though not being in the nineties is going to be a little weird, lol!
Funny how divisive this is proving. I was the perfect age for GM when it was on originally, and watching this kicked me right in the nostalgia sack.
I thought they'd have made it all glossy and modern but it basically looks like 1998. Good work.
@ian_beale Kinda...
I don't see any 90s games there though! lol! Still, I'll be watching this when it comes out on the 21st.
It's crazy to think that there have been 25 years since this show ended in 1998!
I actually like what i saw, i would even follow it if it became a thing on dutch tv.
Is anyone else annoyed by the fact that the word cringe is being overused? Like: I mean. Imagine..
Or is it just me? They're getting to the point that i see them as being internet slang which is often irritating.
And before anyone asks if my jimmies are rustled, maybe they are.
There has been some minor debate elsewhere around the diversity, including by the presenter, but as a poster above said, the original 90s series was pretty diverse actually, I've rewatched all of them fairly recently. I was happy with it then, I'm happy with it now.
However, there is a YouTube comment where someone asked "Where the hell are all the white people?"... 🤔 Eh? I just watched back and spotted 16 "white" looking people, and 13 people of colour. Some black, some asian, etc, so if you were to separate them by individual race, "white" would be the vast majority, but even if just counting "white" and "non white" (which seems needlessly divisive) "white" people are still the majority. The only noticable descrepancy I could see was 7 females vs 22 males, assuming their gender is what they appear to present as in these tiny clips. However, I don't really feel there is any point in breaking down labels and trying to divide people into groups...
In reality what we are looking at is 29 gamers. Can't we just be happy gamers are getting represented on TV again?
PS, I tried responding that to the actual comment on YouTube, and it was instantly deleted. I wonder whether it was flagged as potentially offensive - if so there's something seriously wrong with the algorithm that the original comment was fine but my debunking it was problematic somehow! 😂
@Darknilious Yes its going on their YouTube channel even before its shown on TV
Cannot wait for this. Mainly because I was in the audience
Much closer to the original than I was expecting, going by this trailer, which is a good thing for me (i.e. someone who was alive in the 90s and watched the originals).
They should bring back Bad Influence too.
Trevor McDonald was a genius pick to do the role
@Dethmunk It's a re-creation of the original, that's why it looks like the original.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...