![]() In fact, the DJs already had a commitment from Magnavox under their wing when they approached Kempner. The two DJs envisioned a show where celebrities could compete in a studio against members of the audience on a Magnavox Odyssey. That man was Florida game show producer and syndicator, Marvin Kempner, son of an arcade owner/coin op king and undoubtedly an unsung pioneer of eSport, who was pitched the idea of a 30-minute game show by a couple of radio disc jockeys (DJs) in the Spring of 1977. A light bulb went off in his head and, regardless of the obstacles that stood in his way, one guy made it all happen. Just about everyone in America had a television, and just about every kid and teen in America loved video games. ![]() Home gaming consoles were just starting to gain momentum and everyone, including a guy who’d spent his childhood in and out of amusement arcades, had an idea just how it was all going to fit together. In hindsight, it was probably only a matter of time before some executive with his finger on the pulse of the latest crazes figured out that the newest sensation, video games would make good, televised entertainment. I’m not sure which video game system they were playing -some say it was a Magnavox Odyssey– but sometime during the early summer of 1977, back when game shows were as numerous as reality TV shows are today, two executives sat around brainstorming how to create something fresh, something new, something that had never been done before. So how did this all happen? Well, to be honest the details are a bit murky but, believe it or not, the idea for the TV show came about after two television executives spent a weekend doing something I would’ve never expected them to be doing… playing video games. Arcades aren't nearly as big as they were 35 years ago, which suggests that you're more likely to see console or PC titles than anything that comes in a cabinet.Let me introduce you to TV POIn fact, as far as I can tell TV POWW! is the earliest – if not the first time– video game competitions were televised live in North America. We're just wondering about the kinds of games they'll play. Competitive gaming is gaining in popularity, with movies and TV shows in the works on top of ever-larger tournaments and the rise of livestreaming - there's a much larger audience for watching games than there was in 1982. While Starcade only lasted for two proper seasons, syndication and reruns on G4TV helped spread its influence. The show's second host, Geoff Edwards, also showed a sincere interest in gaming even though he wasn't a devoted gamer himself. There wasn't any attempt to stereotype games as for kids (older adults were welcome), and it really was all about skill rather than making for good TV. The show earned its reputation not just by showcasing a relatively new medium, but by taking it seriously. ![]() The new team is working with the original production company and creators, too, so it's not just a token nod to a familiar name. It's too early to say how they'll modernize the format, but the early '80s original had a mix of game-specific trivia questions and competitive play - we'd expect something in that vein. ![]() Well, it's about to come roaring back: Shout Factory has bought the rights to create a reboot of the series. Veteran gamers will have more than a few fond memories of Starcade, the first video game-oriented TV show. ![]()
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