It's what would happened if Mythbusters aired on G4 instead of Discovery.
July 1, 2010 1:38 PM Subscribe
Pop-Fiction sets out to test some of the rarest video game urban legends.
Have we already killed it?
posted by Navelgazer at 1:53 PM on July 1, 2010
posted by Navelgazer at 1:53 PM on July 1, 2010
Yes. Yes, you have.
posted by aftermarketradio at 1:55 PM on July 1, 2010
posted by aftermarketradio at 1:55 PM on July 1, 2010
Navelgazer: "Have we already killed it?"
I just went and watched them. Maybe it came back to life.
posted by theichibun at 2:45 PM on July 1, 2010
I just went and watched them. Maybe it came back to life.
posted by theichibun at 2:45 PM on July 1, 2010
"Engraving the word "Elbereth" will cause most monsters to not attack you.
posted by poe at 2:50 PM on July 1, 2010
posted by poe at 2:50 PM on July 1, 2010
Sadly, I've never played any of these games. I was hoping to see them get Father Grigori's gun in Ravenholm, or visit the Hall of Thanes underneath Ironforge, or perhaps even confirm that Durandal from Marathon is in fact my own subconscious talking to me through the game.
posted by Halloween Jack at 2:52 PM on July 1, 2010
posted by Halloween Jack at 2:52 PM on July 1, 2010
Got it to work. Those are pretty awesome. Wish there were more than three of them, though.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:53 PM on July 1, 2010
posted by Navelgazer at 2:53 PM on July 1, 2010
Jumping over the flagpole, like many things I spent many hours trying to do in the late 80s, was not nearly as impressive as I'd hoped it would be in my later years.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 3:12 PM on July 1, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 3:12 PM on July 1, 2010 [2 favorites]
You CAN jump over the pole?!?!?!
My mind is totally blown.
posted by GavinR at 3:18 PM on July 1, 2010
My mind is totally blown.
posted by GavinR at 3:18 PM on July 1, 2010
You CAN jump over the pole?!?!?!
My mind is totally blown.
Me too. I just assumed the rest of that level was unreachable. Holy crap I have to try this.
posted by eyeballkid at 3:23 PM on July 1, 2010
My mind is totally blown.
Me too. I just assumed the rest of that level was unreachable. Holy crap I have to try this.
posted by eyeballkid at 3:23 PM on July 1, 2010
I guess World -1 in Super Mario Brothers is just to boring for them to tackle.
posted by absalom at 3:39 PM on July 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by absalom at 3:39 PM on July 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
I was hoping they would prove that you actually can reach the volcano in Battlezone.
posted by localroger at 4:08 PM on July 1, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by localroger at 4:08 PM on July 1, 2010 [2 favorites]
I have to wonder if they're just taking the piss. I would have liked to see some live video of a live person doing this. While holding a newspaper with today's date.
posted by BeerFilter at 4:10 PM on July 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by BeerFilter at 4:10 PM on July 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
stavrogin: You have to turn off adblock.
Does everybody have a browser that clears history & cookies on close but allows all scripts that they only use for stuff like this? Or am I weird?
posted by paisley henosis at 4:11 PM on July 1, 2010
Does everybody have a browser that clears history & cookies on close but allows all scripts that they only use for stuff like this? Or am I weird?
posted by paisley henosis at 4:11 PM on July 1, 2010
Watched all three videos and got two Avatar ads. That's an exciting trailer.
posted by paisley henosis at 4:16 PM on July 1, 2010
posted by paisley henosis at 4:16 PM on July 1, 2010
"It's what would happened if Mythbusters aired on G4..."
It kind of already does, It's Effin' Science
posted by maortiz at 4:24 PM on July 1, 2010
It kind of already does, It's Effin' Science
posted by maortiz at 4:24 PM on July 1, 2010
localroger: "I was hoping they would prove that you actually can reach the volcano in Battlezone."
I would like to see them prove that Battletoads can actually be beat without cheat codes. Goddamn you, Battletoads!!! *shakes fist*
posted by barnacles at 4:32 PM on July 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
I would like to see them prove that Battletoads can actually be beat without cheat codes. Goddamn you, Battletoads!!! *shakes fist*
posted by barnacles at 4:32 PM on July 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Man, Chris Houlihan got hosed. Before digital technology was so available, it was a lot more effort for a kid to get a screenshot and get it developed. And he got a prize along the lines of "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine"! They could have at least put his name in the mouth of one of those annoying NPCs that wander around an RPG in a square pattern and say something inexplicable and useless.
When I was a kid, the odd and haunted places in video games were fully as scary and strange as real ones. I tried many a time in vain for Minus One World, as we called it, although I understand now that it's a big letdown. I remember being frightened of the strangest quirks in games, like the password in Kid Icarus that read DANGER !!!!!! TERROR HORROR.
posted by Countess Elena at 4:36 PM on July 1, 2010 [2 favorites]
When I was a kid, the odd and haunted places in video games were fully as scary and strange as real ones. I tried many a time in vain for Minus One World, as we called it, although I understand now that it's a big letdown. I remember being frightened of the strangest quirks in games, like the password in Kid Icarus that read DANGER !!!!!! TERROR HORROR.
posted by Countess Elena at 4:36 PM on July 1, 2010 [2 favorites]
He jumped over the flagpole!
MY HEAD ASPLODE.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:37 PM on July 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
MY HEAD ASPLODE.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:37 PM on July 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
What about the secret code my cousin told me about when Street Fighter 2 came out where you can handcuff someone as Guile and then pull a gun and shoot them? I thought it was total BS but then I heard someone else repeat the same rumor a few years ago.
posted by Eideteker at 4:37 PM on July 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Eideteker at 4:37 PM on July 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
When I was a kid, the odd and haunted places in video games were fully as scary and strange as real ones.
ME TOO. Stuff like Minus World nearly scared me to death! I was also seriously creeped out by the blue screen of death, and not because of the name. Even today, if it's late and I'm alone and a program I'm writing dumps core unexpectedly, a chill runs down my spine.
It's sort of counterintuitive: You'd think that growing up totally surrounded by computers would inure me to the idea that they're chaotic little things that can malfunction in all sorts of unexpected ways. And most of the time, of course, buggy software is just annoying and not creepy. But growing up surrounded by computers also sort of integrated them into the fabric of my reality -- and the line becomes particularly blurry when completely absorbed in a video game or a programming task.
So I become susceptible to feeling like that fabric has been torn, and unexpected behavior from the machine turns into a deeply unheimlich subversion of the world's proper order. At least for a moment -- long enough to elicit a shudder, at any rate.
yes, i sometimes leave the house. jeeeez
posted by magnificent frigatebird at 6:20 PM on July 1, 2010 [4 favorites]
ME TOO. Stuff like Minus World nearly scared me to death! I was also seriously creeped out by the blue screen of death, and not because of the name. Even today, if it's late and I'm alone and a program I'm writing dumps core unexpectedly, a chill runs down my spine.
It's sort of counterintuitive: You'd think that growing up totally surrounded by computers would inure me to the idea that they're chaotic little things that can malfunction in all sorts of unexpected ways. And most of the time, of course, buggy software is just annoying and not creepy. But growing up surrounded by computers also sort of integrated them into the fabric of my reality -- and the line becomes particularly blurry when completely absorbed in a video game or a programming task.
So I become susceptible to feeling like that fabric has been torn, and unexpected behavior from the machine turns into a deeply unheimlich subversion of the world's proper order. At least for a moment -- long enough to elicit a shudder, at any rate.
yes, i sometimes leave the house. jeeeez
posted by magnificent frigatebird at 6:20 PM on July 1, 2010 [4 favorites]
I jumped over that flag pole one time and fucking panicked once I realized there wasn't anything other than a continuation the the lower castle wall and I couldn't get back to the pole. My random jumping didn't reveal any hidden blocks as I ran and ran and ran until time ran out. Utter childhood video game terror (matched only by playing Tron Deadly Discs on the Intellivision for what must have been hours until I reached what I think was the end guy only to be killed instantly) and the worst part was no one else was around to see it.
I never did it again, no one ever believed me, and that video was the first time I've seen it since. I wonder how many tries it took them.
posted by The Hamms Bear at 7:08 PM on July 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
I never did it again, no one ever believed me, and that video was the first time I've seen it since. I wonder how many tries it took them.
posted by The Hamms Bear at 7:08 PM on July 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
I would like to see them prove that Battletoads can actually be beat without cheat codes. Goddamn you, Battletoads!!! *shakes fist*
Battletoads can actually be beat without cheat codes.
posted by fuq at 7:39 PM on July 1, 2010
Battletoads can actually be beat without cheat codes.
posted by fuq at 7:39 PM on July 1, 2010
The internet seems to think Tron didn't have an ending just went on forever. I swear I remember a different RECOGNIZER showing up and dying immediately after I failed to kill it. Internet, I really could have used you in 1983.
posted by The Hamms Bear at 7:54 PM on July 1, 2010
posted by The Hamms Bear at 7:54 PM on July 1, 2010
Ugh okay so you're making an internet TV show and you want to rip off mythbuster's format. Fair enough. The least you could do is change the freaking logo, you're making it from scratch anyway, so develop your own style at the very bloody least.
It's good to watch though! So points for that.
posted by Submiqent at 9:43 PM on July 1, 2010
It's good to watch though! So points for that.
posted by Submiqent at 9:43 PM on July 1, 2010
You guys, I totally jumped the flagpole and I was a seven year old girl.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:04 PM on July 1, 2010
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:04 PM on July 1, 2010
It's a long read, but if videogame-secrets-that-blow-your-mind floats your boat, you'll love this NeoGAF thread.
posted by lyam at 5:41 AM on July 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by lyam at 5:41 AM on July 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
Man, as a kid a couple things completely freaked me out. Once I was on some platformy level in SMB jumping on those platforms that are balanced on strings, and suddenly the entire sky was filled with white numbers in the default text font. It was some serious mindfuck, as soon as it happened I slammed the reset button and jumped back. Open air is not filled with numbers!
The other time was going through the final palace in Zelda 2 and suddenly BAM this giant blue blob drops down from above onto me! WTF! No warning, and I had no concept that such a large creature could exist in the game, let alone one that was all 'surprise, buttsecks!'. I shouted, barely managed to pause, and jumped up and ran out of the room.
I was 10 and 11 when this stuff happened and I still clearly remember it, he he.
posted by BurnMage at 11:19 AM on July 2, 2010
The other time was going through the final palace in Zelda 2 and suddenly BAM this giant blue blob drops down from above onto me! WTF! No warning, and I had no concept that such a large creature could exist in the game, let alone one that was all 'surprise, buttsecks!'. I shouted, barely managed to pause, and jumped up and ran out of the room.
I was 10 and 11 when this stuff happened and I still clearly remember it, he he.
posted by BurnMage at 11:19 AM on July 2, 2010
It's a long read, but if videogame-secrets-that-blow-your-mind floats your boat, you'll love this NeoGAF thread.
Damnit, I spent hours reading through that thread.
Some fun stuff, though.
posted by Fleebnork at 2:03 PM on July 3, 2010
Damnit, I spent hours reading through that thread.
Some fun stuff, though.
posted by Fleebnork at 2:03 PM on July 3, 2010
The other time was going through the final palace in Zelda 2 and suddenly BAM this giant blue blob drops down from above onto me! WTF! No warning, and I had no concept that such a large creature could exist in the game, let alone one that was all 'surprise, buttsecks!'. I shouted, barely managed to pause, and jumped up and ran out of the room.
I was playing that game with a friend and we screamed in unison, Bill-&-Ted-style when that happened. One of my most memorable gaming moments, absolutely.
posted by Amanojaku at 5:42 PM on July 4, 2010
I was playing that game with a friend and we screamed in unison, Bill-&-Ted-style when that happened. One of my most memorable gaming moments, absolutely.
posted by Amanojaku at 5:42 PM on July 4, 2010
You CAN jump over the pole?!?!?!
My mind is totally blown.
Me too. I just assumed the rest of that level was unreachable. Holy crap I have to try this.
I just tried it, and it's doable on level 3-3 exactly as they show. The result is underwhelming, but my 10-year-old self is jumping up-and-down and can't wait to show everyone he knows. I currently can't think of a better reason for inventing a time machine.
posted by Simon Barclay at 7:39 PM on July 13, 2010
My mind is totally blown.
Me too. I just assumed the rest of that level was unreachable. Holy crap I have to try this.
I just tried it, and it's doable on level 3-3 exactly as they show. The result is underwhelming, but my 10-year-old self is jumping up-and-down and can't wait to show everyone he knows. I currently can't think of a better reason for inventing a time machine.
posted by Simon Barclay at 7:39 PM on July 13, 2010
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posted by logicpunk at 1:42 PM on July 1, 2010 [3 favorites]