Tuesday 12 August 2014

Youtube subscriptions overview

The genesis of this post is as follows: I would say that I have been a passive member of the Youtube retrogaming/hobbyist/geek community since the summer of 2010 when I accidentally stumbled upon a video by Steve Benway - a system review of the Acorn Archimedes  A3010. I would describe myself as "passive" back then because my use of Youtube was much like how I used Google. If I wanted to watch something or find something out, I would type it in the search box and see what came up. At this point, I didn't have a Youtube account and therefore, neither did I have a subscriptions list. Indeed for quite some time I would trawl through Steve Benway's videos in a rather non-intuitive way, I would navigate to the aforementioned Acorn video and then gain access to his channel by clicking through the various videos on the side bar.

To this day, I do not have an active Youtube channel. I do have plans to develop one but this will be for school based educational purposes only. Indeed, the only reason that I actually have a Youtube account now is because somebody told me that I could use its upload features to store (not publish) videos so that I could access them at school (I had experimented with creating a remote access Apache server with some success but decided against this in the long-run as my home Wifi is a bit flaky and not to be relied upon when I need access to crucial files at work). Therefore, the evolution of my subscription list started off being somewhat incidental as opposed to deliberate. That said, at the time of writing, I would now say that I use Youtube in much the same way as many other users. I do not upload videos for public consumption but I do actively seek out, view and subscribe to particular channels on a daily basis. Indeed, when Youtube was first available, I wasn't sure that I would find a use for it, especially in its first iteration when video length was restricted to (I believe) seven or so minutes and  user generated content was envisioned to be home movies and the like. However, fast forward seven years and it is clear that Youtube has evolved. So much so that I would say well over 90 per-cent of my media viewing comes from  Netflix and Youtube.

In any case, before going off at a complete tangent, as an active member of at least one retrogaming/hobbyist group on Facebook and a passive observer on another, it dawned on me of late that even though we (as participants/contributors to these groups) share some similar interests and watch some of the same videos as a consequence of people perhaps posting them to the aforementioned groups or, due to the fact that by pure coincidence, we are subscribed to the same channels, we don't all have the same channels in our subscription lists. Indeed, a friend of mine posted to a group recently that he had just discovered Colin Furze's channel, commenting upon how good it was. Incidentally, I agree, it is a fantastic channel. However, I have been subscribed to it for over six months. This therefore begs the question, how many other excellent channels out there are yet to be discovered by the general retrogaming/hobbyist/geek community at large and as a consequence, how much potentially excellent content is passing us by?
Naturally the answer to this question is unquantifiable. However, in an attempt to prevent channels from at least escaping my notice and hopefully the collective notice of those that read this blog, what follows is an overview of the relevant channels that are in my Youtube subscription list. As usual, please feel free to leave a comment but before doing so please read the information contained under each of the sub-headings below:

Aims/scope

An overview would probably be the best way of describing my intentions for this particular post. I aim to state in each segment the following things (if the information is available):
  • The name of the channel;
  • The name of the owner of the channel;
  • Some sort of breakdown by genre;
  • The approximate frequency at which content is uploaded;
  • Some basic comments about the style of the channel (formal/informal etc);
  • Some summative comments i.e. influence/contribution to the community etc.
It is not my intention to provide reviews of the channels in the list below. Naturally, to both avoid upset/insult and to maintain good feeling, what I write will be phrased in a positive way.
However, it goes without saying that if a channel is in my subscription list, I must like it otherwise I wouldn't be watching its output.
I am more than happy to edit this post after the fact if it becomes clear that I have got something wrong or missed the point. Also, I will be more than happy to view channels upon request and then include information about them in this post if I think they are relevant. However, this is not an invitation for free publicity or "shout-outs". Of course, the central aim of this post is to raise awareness of channels that I/the community as a whole may not have seen etc. However, as the author of this blog, I have the final say on what is written about a particular channel (if anything at all). Of course I hope to collaborate with people to avoid ill-feeling and if you are not happy with what I write I will of course remove the relevant entry from the post all together.

Comments

Please do feel free to leave comments on this or any other of the posts in this blog. However, please do consider the following points when doing so:
  • Comments are supposed to stimulate conversation/dialogue and debate, not childish slanging matches;
  • Having read the information above, you are aware of the aims of this post and therefore will raise issues you may have with this post (or any other) appropriately and without engaging in negative behaviour;
  • I reserve the right to remove posts that I perceive to be derogatory/divisive in nature.

Channel nameAshens
Owner’s nameStuart Ashen
Rough content guide (genre)Reviews of computer and video game hardware and software interspersed with other geek culture items such as Loot Crate un-boxings; Poundland Special in which various items from any number of pound stores (similar to dollar marts in the US) are reviewed in a light hearted manner. There are also “special” food reviews in which viewers send obscure and often deliberately disgusting food for Stuart (the narrator) to taste and comment upon. Foods that have been reviewed recently include a Trekking Burger in which a whole burger including bread bun, meat filling etc is sold in a can only for Stuart to pop it open and eat it.
Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)Quite regularly, usually at least one video per week.
Number of subscribers600 thousand approx.
General overviewStuart “Ashens” Ashen has a rather large following on Youtube and seems to be going from strength to strength with his both seemingly off-the-cuff and off-the-wall presentational style. This is primarily a review channel with the self-styled tag line “Comedy, Technology, Idiocy” which is a fantastic summary of the content on display here. Rarely seeing Ashen’s face in shot, the viewer tends to face a rather dated yet comfortable looking sofa from the ‘80s which he uses as his display area. He then presumably crouches in-front of it facing the back rest using the seat part of the sofa as a bit of a dissection table, narrating as he goes in an often stream of consciousness style which is often very amusing indeed. Incidentally, Stuart has a job in the film industry. (I am not sure exactly what it is that he does) He co-directed the film Ashens and the quest for the Gamechild a comedy romp which sees Ashens pursuing the fictitious Gamechild a supposed cheap imitation of the Nintendo Gameboy which he hopes to add to his collection of useless electronic junk. The first feature film to be exclusively released on Youtube for people to watch for free, it is definitely worth a view if you haven’t already.
Channel nameAussie50
Owner’s nameEd Jones
Rough content guide (genre)Technical videos and teardowns of a smorgasbord of equipment ranging from consumer to industrial equipment. Highlights have included re-commissioning a 1930s vintage power station generator and re-purposing an XP embedded ATM so that it runs Doom and other games.
Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)Quite regularly, usually at least one video per week.
Number of subscribers30 thousand approx
General overviewA down-to-earth Australian channel ran by a down to earth Australian guy. As stated above, Ed carries out a variety of restorations, teardowns and overviews of a wide variety of equipment and cars. A vast majority of filming takes place in his home workshop/garage which is absolutely chock-full with all manner of servers, engines, ATMs, generators etc.
If you are after a light-hearted look at how things work (or don’t) that are not often seen by the average man on the street, Ed’s channel is often a good port-of-call.
Channel nameCarl’s TechShed
Owner’s nameCarl
Rough content guide (genre)In the main, this channel deals with the teardown of computer and other consumer electronic equipment. Unfortunately, the TechShed that is referenced in the channel title is no-more and as a consequence, a variety of the equipment that was on display/in operation in the background /the subject of many of his videos is now in storage. That said, despite the fairly infrequent output of late, the videos that are produced are very informative from a component level.
Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)Infrequent – perhaps one or two videos per month.
Number of subscribers1600 subscribers approx.
General overviewA technical channel operated by a technical guy. Despite the TechShed now being the tech/dining table, Carl produces some excellent teardown videos in which he uses his extensive component/electronic knowledge to inform the viewer to the best of his ability how particular products function.
Channel nameCinemassacre
Owner’s nameJames Rolfe is both an amateur film creator and graduate in a film related discipline. Thus despite debuting as The Angry Nintendo Nerd and then The Angry Video Game Nerd as independent entities, these have now been taken under the umbrella production company (also owned by Rolfe) entitled Cinemassacre.
Rough content guide (genre)The Angry Video Game Nerd is the titular character (played by Rolfe) of an on-going web series which concerns the exploits of an angry/exasperated video game player who has decided to review “shitty games” for his viewers. The character deliberately focuses on the negative elements of any given game and uses hyperbole and profanity/toilet based references to get across how awful particular games are. When the series started in 2007 the games reviewed were for the original Nintendo Entertainment System but as the series has evolved reviews now encompass other platforms and games.
Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)Infrequently – once a month. However, other content is produced on a weekly basis on the Cinemassacre channel including James and Mike Mondays in which James Rolfe and his friend Mike Matei review games out of character.
Number of subscribers1.5 million approx.
General overviewA fusion of crude scatological humour and gaming reviews is the best way I can describe this channel. If you were a child growing up in the ‘80s (which I was), this provides a fantastic yet somewhat depraved trip down memory lane. As the channel has matured, production values have gone up and this shows in the later videos.
Channel nameColinFurze
Owner’s nameColin Furze
Rough content guide (genre)Colin Furze is a self-styled garden shed tinkerer who (to use his own phrase) has turned this somewhat pedestrian pastime “up to eleven”. Projects of note include building “the world’s fastest mobility scooter” using a motocross engine; various projects involving homemade pulse jets and creating gadgets such as magnetic shoes and retractable blades that can be attached to the hands to mimic X-Men super powers.
(Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)Fairly frequently - perhaps 3 - 4 videos per month depending upon the tpye of project being worked upon.
Number of subscribers570 thousand approx.
General overviewColin Furze and his channel are a combination of ingenuity and anarchy fuelled dangerous mischief set to the music of independent British punk band March to the Grave. The builds he both demonstrates and operates are a lethal combination of dangerous materials and irresponsible behaviour but I think this is what makes everyone keep watching…you should too.
Channel nameComputerphile
Owner’s nameBrady Haran
Rough content guide (genre)Academic discussion of computer and technology related developments both past and present.
Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)Fairly frequently – one or two videos per month approx.
Number of subscribers286 thousand approx
General overviewAlthough owned by Brady Haran who is himself a journalist with a fairly robust professional reputation, this channel provides interview/discussion/demonstration based videos which feature a variety of academic institutions/academics who discuss a variety of topics computing and technology related. Given its rather academic content, one could be forgiven for thinking it is a bit “dry”. That said the knowledge and information provided is first class.
Channel nameDynamiteHeaddy
Owner’s nameUnknown
Rough content guide (genre)Not containing any original, user/owner generated content, this channel does provide archived copies of popular TV based videogame, wrestling and fantasy style game-shows including Bad Influence!; Gamesmaster; Knightmare and The Crystal Maze. These programs were produced and aired in the United Kingdom and therefore whilst well worth a view, I imagine that most of these will be unknown to those not based in/from the UK.
Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)Sporadically (I assume as and when content becomes available)
Number of subscribers4 thousand approx.
General overviewIf you want a dose of nostalgia in the form of viewing geeky TV shows from your youth, look no further than this channel which offers a wide variety of TV based content that has infrequently (if ever) been shown subsequently to its original release.
Channel nameKookytech.net
Owner’s nameDan Wood
Rough content guide (genre)This channel has evolved somewhat since I originally subscribed. Whilst clearly a Commodore Amiga fan at heart (a large proportion of his videos are about the Amiga line of machines), there are also other “talkie” and review type videos on a variety of gaming systems, peripherals and consumer electronics.
Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)Infrequent – perhaps one or two videos per month.
Number of subscribers5 thousand approx.
General overviewA good channel for the Amiga or Commodore enthusiast in general. Dan’s knowledgeable yet warm and chatty style make for a pleasant viewing experience.
Channel nameLazy Game Reviews (LGR)
Owner’s nameUnknown
Rough content guide (genre)A channel dedicated to all things retro (and not so retro) consumer computing related, with specific video series including LGR Oddware – the review of computer peripherals that in one way or another could be considered “odd”; LGR Hardware Reviews – the review of more standard hardware; LGR Plays – the review of a range of computer and console games including a wide selection of DOS games and, my personal favourite LGR Thrifts – videos in which the channel owner visits Goodwill [charity shops for those outside the US) and pawn shops in search of cheap computer/videogame hardware and software along with other random consumer electronics,
Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)Frequently, perhaps one or two videos per week.
Number of subscribers200 thousand approx.
General overviewA friendly American channel with a friendly American owner. LGR is the home of excellent computing/gameplay and technology reviews from the early DOS era to the present day. This channel is definitely worth a look if you like Steve Benway and RetrogamerVX’s channels who are the closest British counterparts that spring to mind.
Channel nameMark Fixes Stuff – Retro Console and Computer Repairs, Reviews and MORE!
Owner’s nameMark Payne
Rough content guide (genre)As it says in the channel title, a channel home to the fixing (and breaking), unboxing and discussion of electronic (but mainly computer and videogame related) stuff.
Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)Fairly frequently, one or two videos per month.
Number of subscribers650 approx
General overviewThe opening sequence of each of Mark’s videos, can, at first viewing appear (or sound) quite scary. Set to the backing of a varied popular rock track the viewer is presented with a sequence of light bulbs exploding before coming back together again in time-lapse. Unfortunately, this clever visual pun often gives way to some not so clever yet often very funny puns and fart jokes of the verbal variety. All of these accompany some excellent videos on the unboxing, repair and discussion of computer and videogame equipment. To steal one of Mark’s phrases, if you haven’t “got your fix”, I suggest you go and subscribe now…you won’t be disappointed.
Channel namePaul Jenkinson [The Spectrum Show]
Owner’s namePaul Jenkinson
Rough content guide (genre)A channel which provides monthly episodic videos dedicated to the ZX Spectrum (mainly) and other computers in the Sinclair stable.
Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)One episode per month, regularly.
Number of subscribers870 approx
General overviewPaul Jenkinson provides an as close to a TV magazine show experience as is possible on Youtube with his The Spectrum Show. Each episode, published monthly provides regular features that deal exclusively with the Sinclair line of computers. Each episode is highly polished and clearly demonstrate the passion that Jenkinson has for both the Spectrum and producing such high quality videos with a homebrew feel.
Channel nameRetroGamerVX
Owner’s nameStephen Twigg
Rough content guide (genre)A quirky channel with a quirky owner/host covering an eclectic range of retro videogame and computer hardware and software along with some more obscure items such as the Quantel Paintbox, server equipment etc. Some videos are created using green screen special effects including “the vortex”, a personified…vortex
Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)Frequently, one every 1-2 weeks.
Number of subscribers4700 approx.
General overviewAll videos are recorded in the Geek Lab, of which there have been several iterations over the years. The lab’s current home is the attic of a house somewhere in the Northeast of England and it is absolutely chock full with electronic gizmos and gadgets from yesteryear; many of which have been repaired by Steve and this is documented in his videos. However, despite the technical nature of some of this channel’s content, Steve’s friendly disposition ensures that there is never a dull moment.
Channel nameRetroGame Tech
Owner’s nameMartin
Rough content guide (genre)A Scottish channel with a Scottish presenter. Martin uploads content on a fairly regular basis (although more infrequently of late) which includes (in the main) repair videos from his Lets repair – Ebay junk series in which the viewer is taken through the process of purchasing broken or faulty items on eBay, diagnosis and then generally successful repair attempts. Other videos include product reviews and “pickups”.
Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)At the time of writing, fairly infrequently, perhaps one a month.
Number of subscribers34 thousand approx.
General overviewAn excellent channel, which although predominantly technical and factual in output, the way in which the viewer is almost taken on the “purchasing journey” and gets to see the evolution of the various repairs that Martin undertakes ensures captivating viewing.
Channel nameRetro Gaming Collector
Owner’s nameSteve Benway [Benway is a pseudonym]
Rough content guide (genre)Retro gameplay videos with commentary. Content is uploaded at an extremely frequent and regular rate. Gameplay spans a variety of systems and unless there are genuine technical restraints, all gameplay is carried out on Steve’s original hardware, of which he has an extensive collection.
Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)Very frequently – 1 a day [although at the time of writing, Steve is taking a break from producing and uploading content).
Number of subscribers10500 approx.
General overviewThis is where it all began – not life, the universe and all that, but my understanding that I wasn’t the only person who liked retro gaming and computer hardware. Since subscribing to Steve’s channel little under four years ago I have discovered a part of the Youtube community dedicated to my favourite hobby. In many ways, he is indirectly responsible for this blog. Whether you think this is a good or a bad thing, go and subscribe…now.
Channel nameTerry Stewart
Owner’s nameTerry Stewart
Rough content guide (genre)Terry Stewart is a New Zealander who through his videos takes his viewers on a very analytical yet enjoyable look at his classic computer collection. Each of his videos concentrates on a particular machine from either the 8/16 bit or IBM/IBM clone line-up and makes fascinating viewing.
Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)Fairly frequently – 1 or 2 a month.
Number of subscribers2 thousand approx.
General overviewEach video provides a detailed overview of one of the many machines in Terry’s personal collection. Each upload is quite structured in format and includes a socio-historical context of each machine, a camera fly-past of their externals and internals (with commentary); some gameplay footage and a look at the printed literature provided with the machine. I find this channel particularly interesting as Terry talks about each machine from an adult perspective…many of these machines he was familiar with at some point in his working life. Also, given that he is from New Zealand, he provides insight into an area of the computer market that I assume most English/Americans no little about.
Channel nameThe EPROM9
Owner’s nameSimon Lyne
Rough content guide (genre)A recent graduate in Computer & Network Engineering, Simon’s channel provides a technical yet entertaining look at computing and other items of consumer and commercial grade electronics.
Frequency at which content is uploaded (approx.)Sporadically – once or twice a month.
Number of subscribers700 approx.
General overviewAn interesting channel for the technically minded crazy geeks amongst us. Somewhat like a young, crazy professor, Simon takes the viewer through repairs and rambles regarding electronics, both of which are very entertaining. Look out for the special guest star, Todd the Dalmatian who despite most of the time is quite happy as a semi-sleeping critic, will sporadically make himself known on camera.

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