It’s been a weird week here at Giant Bomb. With Jeff out sick on Wednesday, and myself taking care of business at home yesterday, our momentum just hasn’t been quite right. It’s fitting, then, that today should be completely derailed by someone reminding me that Starcade is totally awesome.
Make no mistake about it, there’s a lot of unintentional comedy here–every episode teems with socially inept contestants, the bouncy theme music is on some proto-Doogie-Howser trip, and the playful banter between host Geoff Edwards and announcer Kevin McMahon is in constant peril of turning genuinely nasty. It’s also great to watch game-show stalwart Edwards–a man in his early 50s at the time–use his stock game-show shuck-and-jive on a topic quite obviously outside of his area of expertise. Seriously, it’s charming as hell.
As much fun as it is to laugh at awkward teens, corny 80s fashion, and hilariously dated parting gifts, there’s something genuinely compelling about Starcade. There’s no denying that the thick patina of nostalgia that coats Starcade informs much of my appreciation, but it’s also a pretty solid game show on its own terms–interesting contestants, a host that keeps the game moving, and stakes that you care about. I was seriously crushed when a contestant flubbed his chance to win a Tron arcade machine in the final round of one episode.
Most importantly, it’s not condescending, treating video game competition seriously, but without trying to elevate it with comparisons to pro sports, or drowning it in marketing nonsense. I simply cannot imagine Starcade existing today without energy-drink endorsements and radically challenging on-air personalities.
So yeah, I highly recommend you spend your weekend working your way through all of the episodes of Starcade that are available on the official Starcade website–believe me, it’s not hard. If you need me, I’ll be honing my Cosmic Chasm skills.
57 Comments
I was about 3 years too young for it at the time, but it reminds me of when arcades were awesome. Please, Geoff, do tell me more about the Pooyan game.
GET WELL SOON JEFF! HANG IN THERE RYAN!
YEAH!
I too enjoy laughing at awkward teens.
Watching Starcade #98 now, Best video game show EVER!
LOL! SPECIAL PIZE IS 150$ WORTH OF DOUBLE TRUFFLE CHOCOLATE AND A SKATEBOARD! YES!
No chevys or a million dollar prize, Those were the days…
Where was this originally shown?
Nice ! But now I can’t help but wish there were some sort of vintage arcade where
I could play these coin eating classics.
Oh lawdy ! I loved this show as a kid , god I miss the 80’s……
Watching now. Thanks for no link, Ryan. Get well soon Jeff.
This is a little before my time.
Sounds cool, Me check out!
Hope everything goes back to normal soon
Entertain show, for its time.
This is basically the original Nick Arcade. Phil Moore FTW!!
Awesome! I’ve never heard of this before, but I’ll definitely watch the majority of them over the weekend. Thanks Ryan!
Oddly enough a certain “nerd rapper” under the alias MC Chris happened to blog about this exact same show earlier on yesterday….
So basically its a retro version of Button Mashing? I’m in!
I think this post should be on the Arrow Pointing Down blog, not here.
Great article thanks. And I will watch as much Arcadia as I can this weekend, but you owe me a weekend then Ryan.
I missed out on a lot of stuff in the 80’s because back then all we had was a rooftop antenna. There were no cable lines here then. The only stations it picked up was CBS, NBC (sometimes), and PBS.
See were a bit behind the times here in Maine.
Hell, cable internet wasn’t even an option here until 3 and 1/2 years ago when they finally ran fiber optic lines. (56k can make you crazy)
Starcade looks like a good time, thanks for the link.
Hope you fell better Jeff. Thanks, Ryan, for that walk down amnesia lane. Keep up the good work.
That program is so badly flawed, why take the score from each game? It makes no sense, some of the games award thousands of points, others only a couple of hundred. That makes is so unbalanced and unfair! How could the producers have allowed this, totally crazy!
Oh man, I remember when they used to play episodes of Starcade reaaaly early in the morning on G4 (back before it was pure evil and just a middling upstart channel). Good times.
I used to watch Starcade on G4. Good stuff.
Watch episode 127 at 13:20. So fucking funny.
CaptainMax: That’s pretty cute.
Luffer:
I totally see your point, but really it just adds another layer of strategy to the action–really experienced players should have a sense of the way the different games score, giving them an edge. If you’re really good at a high-scoring game, that’s an obvious choice, but if you’re ahead, there’s value in picking a game you know to be low-scoring, giving your opponent less of a chance to catch up.
As you can see, I’ve thought a lot about Starcade.
Episode #127 - YAAAYY.. ALRIIGHT!!!
CaptainMax - I’m guessing the dad felt pretty creepy. ALRIIIGHT!
If you want to laugh about weird people, then you should check YouTube’s video about a Japanese guy dancing to Styx’s Mr. Roboto.
ALRIIIIIGHT!
Starcade used to air every Saturday morning on G4. I loved it, but unfortunately the network decided it lacked the ratings pizazz of the Spock Market.
Episode #60 @ 00:56 — sadly, this show didn’t have the budget for a laugh track.
So awesome, episode 60 is a classic… the host ends up calling the announcer “a rat” I almost fell off my chair laughing!
Congo Bongo! It’s a bloody good adventure, MATE!
Haha wow Starcade is awesome. I had only ever seen the Dragon’s Lair episode that was included as a bonus feature on one of the releases of that game. Thank you good sir for pointing me in the direction of this fine online archive.
boy, are those kids awkward. Surprisingly watchable. Anyone notice how the host never smiles? Too bad this show is pretty much impossible to replicate since games don’t typically have scores anymore. Plus game shows are never this low-rent or unedited anymore which is a shame.
I can’t get the starcade page to load damnit! I’m gonna check my history and see if my brothers been going to spyware heavy websites ( you know what I mean) that bastard.
haha. I sure would like a mister disc. It’s no bigger than a man shoe! amazing!
Hot damn! That M.A.C.H 3 Game they show on episode 100 looks amazing!
Feeling anxious about jeff posting about his Metal Gear Online experience
OH COME ON!!! It’s been a day and a half and you haven’t posted anything new!!!
Dude, IGN already reviewed GTA IV and they rated it a perfect 10! Check it out!
HAHA! my old companies player!
Wow, did I forget about that show. But boy did I remember it when it started playing. That show really takes my back. Great post.
I wonder if we will see a review for GTAIV before it’s release? Come on Giant Bomb don’t dissapoint
They will review GTA after they are able to play it at the office “for realsies.” People who are reviewing it early are likely basing their coverage on playing the game at a Rockstar event (listen to 1up yours from 4/18, and this week’s Bombcast).
The music rules! LOL As a child of the 80s, i never heard of this show. They sure love to run a lot on the show, LOL.
Thanks Ryan there goes my Sunday. Really thanks I’m marathoning this .I love the prizes. Many Computers I never heard of with upgradable components. I really loved the Robot and portable record player “MisterDisc”. Also the LAserDisc arcade games are fun and really luck of the draw. I mean you get a low scoring scene you screwed. I love it they play 30 seconds and the host said I will be watching you I have my initials on this one.
My God, I keep watching…its been 5 hrs so far.
BTW, I like the old dude hosting more than the younger dude. Gotta love his ‘protips’ before each game!
Hi! I just wanted to quickly post something and clarify that Ryan and I don’t work weekends, so if you spent your entire weekend posting “WHAT THE HELL POST SOMETHING ALREADY” on this story, you’re only setting yourself up for disappointment and a ban from the comments section. Thanks!
ObStarcade: Geoff Edwards is a maaaaaaaaack. I wish I could be that dude… except I’d never spell Jeff with a G, that’s just too crazy.
Wow… this is fantastic. Thanks too the giantBomb staff for putting this up. I can’t believe i missed this as a child. Enjoying all the episodes. Please put up more if you can find them..
BTW: Thanks for the realistic reviews… gamespot sugarcoats too many reviews for my liking. I hope you guys set up a monthly payment of 3 dollars or so. I’d be happy to pay just too watch your excellent bombcast videos…
Episode 127, that’s totally defender.
http://www.giantbomb.com/2008/04/25/a-man-who-knows-more-about-video-death/#comment-8643
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what will it do with your back
I used to watch this show every Saturday at noon, it was my favorite game show. That and GamePro (hosted by JD Roth).
Show #100, the grand prize was a “portable” jukebox. Portable, but almost as big as a refrigerator.
I am definitely going to watch these this weekend.
Geoff, the host, is actually really into videogames.
Geoff Edwards this game is the first one I saw him on and didn’t know that he also was the host of another underrated but great game show, “Treasure Hunt!” Emailed the “Starcade” producers several times and they are supernice IMHO! Geoff is underrated but an awesome host with wit and charm. I wasn’t much into game shows but only into him. You are right Lou, he is very much into video games!