Gamer Gamer

Gamer Gamer
 

Gamer Gamer is a new show bought to you by Joe, Darrell Martin’s longtime underling at Just The Tonic. It fuses two elements Joe is passionate about – comedy and computer games – into a new one-hour entertainment format. If you were a fan of Channel 4’s Gamesmaster (1992-1998) or Sky One’s Games World (1993-1998) then this show is for you. The level of game-playing is unlikely to be as good as those classics, but there’ll be more laughs.

The show was hosted by Leicester-based Jim Smallman, who clearly has a big love for gaming – to the point that he has multiple gaming references tattooed on his body (as well as Ron Burgundy). What you get is two comedians playing computer games against each other and then having some banter in-between. They watch it on a telly in front of them, but you can see all their in-game action on a big projector on the wall.

Up tonight was Sheffield’s Tom Wrigglesworth and another comedian who didn’t turn up (bear in mind this was the first ever show and really just a format test for later – so these things happen). So they selected a chirpy female member of the audience to compete instead. 

Gamer Gamer - with lady from the crowd and Tom Wrigglesworth
 

Around seventy people piled into the downstairs room at the National Videogame Arcade to watch it. They started out playing Nidhogg, a game I’ve not come across before - which involves pixelated ninjas stabbing each other with swords. Anyway, Wrigglesworth won so 1-0 to him.

Then up came the speed test on Sonic The Hedgehog Green Hill Zone (Level 1), which we’re told will be a regular feature – think a digital version of Top Gear’s celebrity laps, but with spiny mammals instead of reasonably priced cars. Both contestants clocked in at 42 seconds. Woosh! The tension built as we entered the final round.

What better way to round off any contest than a battle on Streetfighter 2 Turbo Blanka (Wrigglesworth) went up against Zangief (lady from crowd). The Brazilian mutation was too much for the Red Cyclone, however, and Wrigglesworth had the last laugh. Aside from the games there was plenty of witty interludes about such subjects as Wrigglesworth’s favourite ever computer game (bizarrely he picked Emlyn Hughes' International Soccer).

This show was the first ever Gamer Gamer, but it’s a format that definitely works and hence why it will be travelling up to Edinburgh Festival later this summer. If it comes to Notts again then it’s well worth checking out.

Gamer Gamer took place at the National Videogame Arcade on Friday 26 June 2015.

National Videogame Arcade website