Sick Youtube Weekend, Vidya Game Edition
Protip: adults can get kid-diseases. My last few days have been spent fighting the bacteria that turned my right eye into a goo factory. But I was pleased to discover that adults can enjoy the shit out of pink-eye as easily as kids can; I’ve successfully shirked all normal responsibilities while squinting at video games and internet videos. Without anything more substantial to write about post-pink-eye stupor, I’ve compiled a list of the delightful vidya game flavored Youtube series that kept my sick ass entertained.
None of these links are particularly safe for work. (Some much less than others!)
Game Grumps
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxbm052_TXE]
The best thing I’ve ever done on Youtube is subscribe to the Game Grumps. JonTron (Jon Jafari) and Egoraptor (Arin Hanson) sit and play video games while providing genuinely entertaining banter. These guys are expert-level Youtube personalities and their friendship shines through. The genius of Game Grumps is their schedule: they will play a single game for a few hours but split it into a series of 10 to 15 minute chunks. That allows them to release 1-3 videos every day, seven days a week, doling out content at a satisfying and regular pace. It’s easy to make their infectious laughter a part of your routine.
Zero Punctuation
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=016dZuob2Dc]
Every once in a while I find someone who hasn’t wintessed Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw’s relentless tide of criticism in Zero Punctuation. With a breathless pace and a Bowie knife wit, Yahtzee’s game reviews are always funny and usually insightful. While it’s clear that the pressure of being a cartoonishly sardonic Aussie occasionally gets in the way of Croshaw communicating what he actually feels about a title, Zero Punctuation is always worth a watch. (I know I’m cheating a bit, but these videos are on Youtube!)
Bro Team
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl6-nXIzdVE]
I honestly don’t know what to say about Bro Team Pill. Their screaming, scatological, surreal video game “reviews” don’t always get me to laugh, but when they do I just about die. You should click on the video yourself; if you’re not immediately annoyed and offended, you’ll probably find yourself shooting off into space on a comedy rocket.
Minecraft Hardcore!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si_3MCt0bAU&list=SP96A812F2AAC7758F&index=1&feature=plpp_video]
A veritable who’s who of Youtube talent, Minecraft Hardcore! is a now-complete series that’s worth your time. Featuring PeanutButterGamer, JonTron, The Completionist, and more, this series made me take Minecraft seriously for the first time ever. Seven players enter a brand new “hardcore” game, every player has only one life to live. They set off to defeat the last boss of Minecraft, and you’ll see over 18 episodes if they’re successful. It’s a funny, nail-biting adventure that proves that Minecraft provides a unique and compelling experience. If you don’t want to sit through 18 episodes, you can see the two “Best Of” episodes (here and here) that were released after the finale.
