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 On 05/16/2021 at 08:57 AM by Cary Woodham See More From This User » |
Hey folks, I just wanted to let you all know that I helped make some YouTube videos! Now, I didn’t help out THAT much, but I think I did enough that it’s worth sharing here. The videos that I helped with were a two part series on the history of Pac-Man…because of course I would! I hate to brag too much and make brazen statements and things like that, but I think it’s safe to say that if someone is going to make a video on the history of Pac-Man, they really should consult with me first. Again, sorry to make such bold statements, but I think I’m probably one of the biggest Pac-Man fans out there. If you think you’re a bigger Pac-Man fan than I am, please let me know! I’d love to hear about other big Pac-fans! Anyway, so in this blog I wanted to share the videos I helped make, as well as how I got involved and exactly what I did.
Anyway so here’s how it all got started. A few years ago while surfing YouTube, I came across a YouTuber that I really liked. His channel is called “Slopes Game Room” and he does a lot of videos on the history of video games and characters, and other interesting gaming facts. I really like his videos because he employs a lot of good journalistic practices like checking facts and using lots of quotes, and I usually learn a few things from his videos, too, which is a hard feat to do! I also like his videos because he speaks clearly and gets to the point without wasting too much time, and he doesn’t curse very much either.
So one of the videos that he did a long time ago was about some video game based theme parks and rides. Really interesting stuff. One of the things he talked about in that video was how back in the day, before Six Flags Over Texas had Looney Tunes Land as their children’s area, their kid’s section was called Pac-Man Land for a couple of years! Yeah, it’s true! Did you know that? But he didn’t have a lot of information about it and since he lives in the UK, he never got to experience it! Well, I DID go to Pac-Man Land at Six Flags Over Texas when I was a little kid. In fact, Six Flags Over Texas is only about 45 minutes away from my house! So I decided to reach out to the guy who does “Slopes Game Room” and share with him my experiences and memories of Pac-Man Land. He replied and said that some day he plans to make a video on the complete history of Pac-Man. I told him that if he does that, he’d better ask for my help! He said he would, and luckily a few years later, he stayed true to his word!
So here’s how I helped out in the videos. A couple of months before he posted these videos, he sent me a rough draft of his script, and asked if I could correct anything and add stuff he might’ve missed. It took me a LONG time to go through it all, as his script was 45 PAGES LONG! He also sent me a rough draft of his video, too. Now, I’m sure I didn’t do THAT much to help him, and he probably had other helpers that did more than me. But I’m sure some of my suggestions made it into his videos. He did credit me in the first video under the name “GamerDad” and I had to correct him and make sure he knew that I wasn’t THE GamerDad, I just write for the site. It’s a shame he wasn’t able to correct this and credit me in the second video, but he does have LOT of Patreon contributors to thank, and money talks and all that. So oh well, it is what it is. I’m still glad I got to be involved in it, in a small way.
Anyway, here are the completed videos. They’re so long he had to split them into two parts! Even then you might have to come back when you have more time to watch them all. But I really encourage that you do so when you can. They’re really good, and I don’t know if I could make these videos much better myself!
Pac-Man: The Complete History: Part 1
Pac-Man: The Complete History: Part 2
So by now you may be asking, “Cary, why aren’t YOU making YouTube videos?” Well I have my reasons, most of them are just me making excuses, but I think they’re legitimate excuses. A lot of it has to do with timing, really. When I was in college, I was already writing for The Dallas Morning News, so I majored in Journalism because it seemed like a good idea at the time. So most of my skills are in writing, not making videos. When I graduated college, lots of companies were already asking me to write for them, but then the dot com bubble burst and I had to find new lines of work. Luckily I was able to start writing for GamerDad.com then, so I’ve been able to keep my foot in the video games industry that way. But game reviewing no longer paid the bills, so I had to find new lines of work.
While I was trying to rise the ranks (and ultimately failing) at my next to last job, I really didn’t have much time to watch YouTube. So I didn’t really realize how popular it was becoming between 2006 and 2015. But when I was forced to quit that job, I had more time to watch YouTube, and that’s when I discovered how popular it was. This is also about the time I discovered YouTubers I liked, such as Slopes Game Room, as well as ones I didn’t like, such as Angry Video Game Nerd.
I have absolutely NO clue about making videos on YouTube, so it’s a little intimidating to try and start. And I hear you have to worry about stuff like monetizing and ads and other stuff I’m sure I don’t know about. So I think to get started, I would really need some help. I’ve asked some of my friends and family several times if they would help me, but they hem and haw about it and nothing comes of it. I know they’re all busy too, I just wish we all had more time to do stuff like this with one another.
So basically, I lack the knowhow, skills, and maybe even money to start doing YouTube videos. Time plays a factor, too, because I still have a full-time job and write game reviews at GamerDad.com. But I’m still going to try whenever I can. I might have to start small and help out with other videos, or maybe do a podcast instead, or just stream games. I don’t know. I’m just trying to do the best I can with what I have! Anyway, I hope you do get to watch these videos I helped with a little bit, and I’ll catch you all later! --Cary
This is great, Cary! That must have been fun! (Though that script is pretty long.)
I always though podcasting might suit you better. Easier set up, less editing (if you keep it simple), and all you have to do is talk about games.
Streaming might be fun too, but there are some real jerks out there.
Even though I'm a little sad I didn't get more credit in the videos, I still had fun and I'm glad I was a small part of their creation.
My brother Jeff is a school teacher and I'm trying to get him to help me start a podcast on his summer break. We'll see how that goes.
I work in the plumbing section of a major hardware chain, so I'm used to handling real jerks. I like to think I'm tougher than I look anyway. With that said, if I had streamed my first playthrough of R-Type Final 2 yesterday, I'm sure the jerks would've been out in full force! Holy cow did I do terrible! I couldn't even get past stage 3 on the easiest setting! I know I'm bad at shooters but wow! I'm reviewing R-Type Final 2 so that's why I'm playing it.
I've been really trying to get into podcasts but it really hasn't taken yet. I know there is some good stuff out there, but when I listen to something, I usually choose music.
I don't really have much time to listen to podcasts. And when I've tried in the past, most of the ones I've listened to just kind of ramble on and on. But then, I might be guilty of that, too. :)
I'm watching these in short bursts. Seems well done so far.
That Slopes guy does a lot of stuff: two youtube channels and a Twitch live stream. He's really into it.
Well he has a family and kids, so I would think he would have to be into it that hard to pay the bills!
I got 45 minutes left of episode 2. I didn't know the ghosts in Pac-Man all have specific algorithms/behaviors. I'll watch for that next time I play it.
Thanks for taking the time to watch the videos. I think one of the most interesting facts is in the first video, where he talks about how the president of Namco fought the Yakuza! As if I didn't need another reason to like Namco!
Yeah when I was a kid, the "Character/Nickname" startup screen of Pac-Man always confused me. "Why do the ghosts have two names?" But it turns out the "Character" is actaully the CHARACTERISTIC of the ghost. Blinky follows you around as if he's your "Shadow." Pinky is "Speedy" enough to catch you off at the pass, which she tends to do frequently. Inky is "Bashful" and tries to stay away from Pac-Man as much as possible. And if you get caught by "Pokey" Clyde, you probably need more practice. Other games use these ghosts characteristics, too, like Pac-Mania.
One of my favorite instances of these ghost charactertics is in an unlockable mode in Ridge Racer V. In this mode, you race as Pac-Man against the four ghosts on motor scooters, and must deal with their characteristics from the first game. Blinky darts out ahead and when you pass him, he'll follow you relentlessly. Pinky will try to speed ahead of you and cut you off. Inky just kind of does his own thing. And immediately after you start, Clyde's scooter breaks down and he slows to a crawl. But he still remains an obstacle as you'll lap him several times and must avoid bumping into him!
Anyway, one interesting fact about the ghosts that he barely touches on in the videos is that orignally, they were all red. Namco thought that would eliminate confusion as to who the enemies were, but Toru Iwatani fought to have the colors change so people could tell who was who. I wish I could meet Toru Iwatani someday.
I want to play that Ridge Racer V mode.
In order to play that Pac-Man mode in Ridge Racer V, you have to unlock everything else in the game. But I managed to do it so it can't be that hard. RRV is a pretty good PS2 launch title. It's not as good as Ridge Racer Type 4, though. RRV replaced the main Ridge Racer lady with a new one, Ai Fukayami. I called her the Evil Ridge Racer Lady. The other Ridge Racer Lady is named Reiko Nagase and she has a sister named Kei Nagase who is a character in the Ace Combat games! I didn't really get into Ridge Racer games until R4, though. My dad loved playing Ridge Racer in the arcades. I kind of wish Namco would make a new Ridge Racer game on the modern consoles. Sometimes it's nice to play a simple arcade racer.
I love arcade racers much better than simulation racers.
Oh definitely yeah. I'll play an arcade racer, but I probably won't ever touch a simulation one.
I finally finished the videos. He didn't mention the title to Pac-Man 256, so I had to look it up. I think I want to try that one next.
Does Pac-Man have the most sequels, spin-offs and remakes of any game franchise or what? That's a huge number of games Slopes went through.
Pac-Man 256 is very good. I have it on mobile, but you can also get it on console.
Pac-Man has a lot of games, but I think Mario and Mega Man have him beat. I mean, several Mega Man game spinoffs have spinoffs of their own!
I'm going to look for Pac-Man 256 on Xbox this weekend. I'm sure I saw it there one time.
I think it's on a collection, too.
I'd start out with a podcast to see how you like it, then branch into videos if you enjoy it. Just be prepared to grow a skin as thick as a rhinoceros.
My brother Jeff is a school teacher and I'm trying to get him to help me with a podcast on his summer break. We'll see how that goes.
As far as having a tough skin, just keep in mind that I work in the plumbing section of a major hardware chain. There are NO happy customers in the plumbling section, so I'm pretty used to stuff like that. Recently a particularly rude customer stormed off in a huff after saying some awful things, and all the other customers around him just stood there shocked with dropped jaws. They said to me, "I can't believe he said that stuff to you." and I was like, "Eh, that happens." So I'm a lot tougher than I look and sound, I think.
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