YouTube Gaming Documentaries/Retrospectives

[TheEagleXIII]

Given the current lockdown situation we're all in at the moment, I thought it might be cool if we got a little collection together of high-quality/in-depth YouTube gaming documentaries and retrospectives to help us continue to power through it.

Whilst guys like AVGN do a really good job of representing gaming history, especially more recently (such as the MK review), I'd still class him more in the quick-hit comedy game-reviewer section rather than full-on documentary/historian.

Outside of these types of reviewer, there's some seriously good stuff to be found by some content creators. Some of it I'd even dare say is TV/Netflix documentary quality, without having the constraints that TV docs usually have imposed on them. Old VHS tape or TV recordings uploaded to YouTube are welcome too... I just don't know if any good ones even exist out there

Here's a few to start it off:


Gaming Historian

The Story of Tetris
1 hour
Detailed documentary about the creation of Tetris and the impact the affects the Cold War had on both the game and it's creator.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fQtxKmgJC8

The Creation of the ESRB
30mins
Documentary about how something that seems so normal today became a big issue in the early 90s when gaming was unregulated. Also features it's surprising impact on the SEGA/Nintendo console wars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv3HDVd22P8



Classic Gaming Quarterly

CGQ specialises in detailed looks at the launches of retro consoles, the history preceding it and the nature of the market at the time, opposed to looking back at it from a modern perspective. It usually includes the impact of the console and the first few waves of games released and their own individual histories and impact. Also a few videos focusing on a specific year in the life of some consoles, it's place in the market, major game releases and their own individual histories and impacts on the market. Covers wide variety of genres and gives equal focus to each – including sports titles. Particularly good for SEGA history, but all major consoles still covered.

SEGA Genesis:

The Launch of the SEGA Genesis (1989)
25mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5s6EmNTmc8

SEGA Genesis in 1989
23mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buQ51b5dQl8

SEGA Genesis in 1990
1hr 5mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA5xyiWamhc


Super Nintendo:

The Launch of the Super Nintendo (1991)
30mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSTsyGbUvts

The Super Nintendo in 1991
1 hour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oru8CDBbF1s


TurboGRafx-16:

The Launch of the TurboGrafx-16 (1989)
30mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKd4wX-05-c

TurboGrafx-16 in 1989
1 hour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0paOG_Qmus



Ahoy

The First Video Game
1 hour
Documentary seeking out the first ever video game created. Spoiler alert (if the hour-long runtime didn't give it away), it's not Pong.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHQ4WCU1WQc

Nuclear Fruit: How the Cold War Shaped Video Games
1 hour 10mins
If you didn't get enough 80s Cold War nostalgia in the Tetris video, here's more! Covers impact on games in modern times too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15dxuAbTC0A

A Brief History of Graphics
45mins
Admittedly I haven't watched this one yet, but it's on my list. As mundane as the title sounds these ones tend to end up being more interesting than they first seem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyjyWUrHsFc

[ThePixelatedGenocide]

Great idea for a topic. I hope you don't mind me continuing in the same format? It looks great, and it'll be easier to find everything.

Nostalgia Nerd

Not to be confused with angry nerds or nostalgic critics, he's an unpretentious guide to all things retro.

Atari Jaguar Story
42 mins
A cautionary tale of how Atari's management managed to pry defeat from the jaws of victory. You may be surprised by how powerful the system really is, and how the UK almost saved it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61Nz0vkxO-M

The Story of Virtuality
45 mins
Virtual reality from an era when the technology was barely powerful enough to display 3d graphics in two dimensions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X_E_Kg9roE

[ThePixelatedGenocide]

miiyouandmii2

How do bad games happen? Often with visionary ideas, genuine passion, and a lot of hard work. And employee abuse. Lots and lots of employee abuse. Consider this channel videogaming's own true crime documentaries.

Action 52 - History of the Worst Game ever made! - From Concept to Console
22mins
At least 52 times worse than the making of ET, in a similar time frame. It's amazing it doesn't set your console on fire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLpEn0wmMrk

[Retro STrife]

Great topic idea, and some great options I need to watch now. Here's one that I highly HIGHLY recommend, as the best gaming series I've seen so far:

Retroware's "The Video Game Years"

Great combination of entertaining and informative. It spans the entire 1980s with a 10 part series. Each episode covers 1 year in video game history, from 1980-1989, telling the story of that year in gaming. It is produced in the funny, fast-paced style of VH1's "I Love the 80s" series, so it really keeps you hooked. Not to mention it has many popular Youtube personalities appearing to talk about the history, from the Angry Video Game Nerd, Pat the NES Punk, and a bunch of others, along with a bunch of well-known legends from the 80s gaming era. It's available on Youtube, and it's also free on Amazon Prime so you can binge from your couch.

It's so good that my wife insisted on watching the 10-part series with me, even though she couldn't give a crap about 80s gaming and won't watch any other gaming documentaries with me.

Anyway, don't take my word for it- check out this 2 minute trailer on Youtube and see what you think:

https://youtu.be/EwaiRvDFLNI

[Luigi & Peach]

Great topic idea, and some great options I need to watch now. Here's one that I highly HIGHLY recommend, as the best gaming series I've seen so far:

Retroware's "The Video Game Years"

Great combination of entertaining and informative. It spans the entire 1980s with a 10 part series. Each episode covers 1 year in video game history, from 1980-1989, telling the story of that year in gaming. It is produced in the funny, fast-paced style of VH1's "I Love the 80s" series, so it really keeps you hooked. Not to mention it has many popular Youtube personalities appearing to talk about the history, from the Angry Video Game Nerd, Pat the NES Punk, and a bunch of others, along with a bunch of well-known legends from the 80s gaming era. It's available on Youtube, and it's also free on Amazon Prime so you can binge from your couch.

It's so good that my wife insisted on watching the 10-part series with me, even though she couldn't give a crap about 80s gaming and won't watch any other gaming documentaries with me.

Anyway, don't take my word for it- check out this 2 minute trailer on Youtube and see what you think:

https://youtu.be/EwaiRvDFLNI

I second this recommendation wholeheartedly! I would kill for a 90's continuation of this series.

[Retro STrife]

I second this recommendation wholeheartedly! I would kill for a 90's continuation of this series.

I was thinking the same thing! I really wish there was a 90's version of the show; I'd probably enjoy it even more. I know they've floated the idea, but I'm not sure how realistic it would be. I can only imagine the time and expense that went into creating the 80's version, plus coordinating so many well-known panelists to appear on the show. To do it all over again for another 10-part series would be a huge task.

But yeah, I think anyone with even the most remote interest in 80s gaming would love the "Video Game Years" series.

[ThePixelatedGenocide]

The Retro Pals

Don't be fooled by their very silly sense of humor and worrying surplus of positive energy - Danny and Alex are secretly two of the most serious games historians around. Just don't expect much in the way of technical breakdowns or behind the scenes biographies; this happy couple is far more focused on what it's like to actually play the games together.

For better and for worse.

Anyways, those nostalgic for the 90's may appreciate their underrated Youtube and Twitch channels.

PlayStation Year One
63mins
The PS1's Japanese Launch Lineup - PlayStation Year Zero
52mins
This series is offered first, for those who just want their history lessons served a little more dry. It's exactly what the title says, no more, no less.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8x3_yY ... dex=2&t=0s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrkhywUNj4k

And for more open-minded folk:
Sega System 32: Arcade Catalog Exploration
2hrs20mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-JyEYn4b-0

Midway Arcade Games With DIGITIZED GRAPHICS
2hrs17mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_ZigbNytyc

PC Engine Arcade Card Catalog Exploration
1hr57mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-7O5QcMuK0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_7D3qfii60

3DO Games About Pyramids
1hr56mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zS6yaIxJ5E

[TheEagleXIII]

I haven’t actually had chance to check out any of these suggestions yet but they all sound great! I definitely need to make some time for them soon as I can.