Topic: Unskippable (Read 17163 times)

smack that isaiah · « **on:** 28 Sep 2009, 11:01 »

I noticed the Zero Punctuation thread, and was surprised there's no Unskippable thread on here

Unskippable is a weekly updated thingy from Escapist that has two guys riffing on the opening cutscenes of videogames, done in the style of MST3K (the theme song of which is parodied in one video)

They update on Mondays, and they can be really really hilarious (at their worst I find them "quite funny")

some of my faves:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/unskippable/610-Onimusha-3

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/unskippable/736-Lost-Odyssey

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/unskippable/713-Ace-Combat-6

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/unskippable/567-The-Bouncer

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/unskippable/485-Eternal-Sonata

Melodic · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 11:23 »

The thing about the Escapist is, most of it sucks.

RallyMonkey · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 11:31 »

I was somehow able to make it through all of the one for Ace Combat 6. It could very possibly be the least funny thing I've ever seen. The opening cinematic would have probably been pretty hilarious if those two idiots would stop talking.

ackblom12 · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 12:02 »

I'm currently watching Onimusha 3 and this is goddamn fucking terrible. There's not really anything good I can even say about this damn thing.

smack that isaiah · « **Reply #4 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 12:08 »

But, they're so funny. The commentary is so reminiscent to MST3K. Did you people like that show?
The jokes and commentaries are just hilarious while the cutscenes are going on. The point is that the game's cutscenes are ridiculous, and are being ridiculed.

ackblom12 · « **Reply #5 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 12:10 »

The difference is that MST3K was fantastic and funny.

RallyMonkey · « **Reply #6 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 12:28 »

I loved MST3000 because the humor was fresh. It really seemed like the jokes were being improvised on the spot while watching the film (Whether they were or not, I don't know nor care). With these guys, you can tell that they had to rack their brain trying to come up with their best attempt at humor for every line, and even with the preparation, every single joke falls flat.

smack that isaiah · « **Reply #7 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 12:29 »

They do the exact type of jokes as MST3K.
Something random happens, they joke about not expecting it. Something ridiculous happens, they joke about how ridiculous it was. Something awkward happens, they point out the awkwardness of it. They do random noises as commentaries in humorous manners... It's the same, really.

Felrender · « **Reply #8 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 12:38 »

So guys, what's it like to not enjoy anything ever?

JediBendu · « **Reply #9 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 12:44 »

Quote from: smack that isaiah on 28 Sep 2009, 12:29

Something random happens, they joke about not expecting it. Something ridiculous happens, they joke about how ridiculous it was. Something awkward happens, they point out the awkwardness of it. They do random noises as commentaries in humorous manners...

So what you're saying is these links are just humor highlighters and have no contentl? Thanks for saving me the trouble.

RallyMonkey · « **Reply #10 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 12:45 »

Quote from: smack that isaiah on 28 Sep 2009, 12:29

They do the exact type of jokes as MST3K.

No one is denying that they're doing the same style of humor as MST3000, where we are disagreeing is whether they do it well.

ackblom12 · « **Reply #11 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 12:46 »

No really, MST3K was actually funny. This isn't funny, it's a lot of really bad jokes with terrible delivery in really irritating voices by people who aren't funny.

If you can honestly watch some good MST3K and tell me this is just as funny, then I cannot fathom what is going through your mind.

Alex C · « **Reply #12 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 13:03 »

Plus, just about any reasonable person would admit that not everything the MST3K cast said was actually funny. The show was uneven due to the format. Luckily, its high points were pretty glorious.

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #13 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 13:15 »

i have no idea what MST3K is or was but i watched about two minutes of the Lost Odyssey one and turned it off because it was fucking terrible.

To reiderate: I, someone who managed sit through the entirety of Twilight, couldn't finish that shit.

smack that isaiah · « **Reply #14 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 13:25 »

whatever. I like it because the humour is in fact apt to the randomness of a bad cutscene.

I am cold unfeeling and odd
and you should thank god
that we are on separate sides of the state. Hope you're okay
at least I gave you something to hate
--Odd by Julia Nunes

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #15 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 14:01 »

Ok, this is slightly off topic but it is a pet peeve of mine. The cut-scenes are not random, in fact randomness has nothing to do with these things, random is something that happens that is unexpected within our knowledge. This game was programmed to be like that and the outcomes of the cutscenes are wholly expected and are just bad or maybe weird.

Back on topic, these are horribly bad. The so-called humour is an attempt (and failure) at dry, witty one-liners that just doesn't pay off at all and the self-satisfied chuckling after each one just makes it even worse.

scarred · « **Reply #16 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 14:42 »

They are hit and miss, but the Eternal Sonata, Lost Odyssey, and Star Ocean commentaries are ace.

LTK · « **Reply #17 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 15:12 »

Quote from: Melodic on 28 Sep 2009, 11:23

The thing about the Escapist is, most of it sucks.

I disagree. Unskippable sucks, the rest not so much.

KvP · « **Reply #18 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 16:16 »

Way back before they were Computer Game Nerd Comedy Hour they had some pretty good essay writers. I'm not sure if they're still in that game. The one they wrote about Troika is thorough and engaging.

Ikrik · « **Reply #19 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 18:42 »

Unskippable is done by a group of comedians from Victoria (BC). They're called Loading Ready Run and my old roommate was absolutely obsessed with them. They're....not funny at all and Unskippable is pretty horrible as well. LRR has it's own website that updates all the time if you really want to watch it. The only thing I've really enjoyed have been the Man Cooking episodes. They have a huge problem because while they could be really funny it's just that their improv is horrible. Unskippable would be great if they worked on it for longer.

maxusy3k · « **Reply #20 on:** 28 Sep 2009, 22:50 »

Quote from: KvP on 28 Sep 2009, 16:16

Way back before they were Computer Game Nerd Comedy Hour they had some pretty good essay writers. I'm not sure if they're still in that game. The one they wrote about Troika is thorough and engaging.

I use The Escapist as my news source for most game-related stuff and it works pretty well. They have a new 'issue' every Tuesday with four or five new articles which are generally of a pretty decent quality, some of which have been incredible, some not so much... it largely depends on the topic being addressed.

I don't think it's any secret that they're famous for Zero Punctuation and I don't think the site gets that many hits on any day besides Wednesday, but there's definitely more to it than that.

More on topic, I enjoy Unskippable... it's a bit hit and miss at times, for a while a lot of the videos were just boring but there's been some hilarious ones in there. I think my favorite video series on there is There Will Be Brawl, though, despite the relatively poor acting.

snalin · « **Reply #21 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 02:53 »

I've been watching unskippable for a while, and it's quite good. They fail at it sometimes, but mostly they get me to laugh at points - it's not hilarious, it's witty. I think there's a recognition to it as well - they have some recurring jokes ("that was the third time I died"), so I guess you'd have to watch it for a while to get some of it. But I can absolutely see people not liking it, the style is very slow and dry, and if it doesn't hit, it falls way off.

two minutes is a bit little to say "this sucks", though.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #22 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 06:21 »

Quote from: smack that isaiah on 28 Sep 2009, 13:25

I am cold unfeeling and odd
and you should thank god
that we are on separate sides of the state. Hope you're okay
at least I gave you something to hate
--Odd by Julia Nunes

Jesus what the fuck is this shit

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #23 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 06:41 »

Quote from: snalin on 29 Sep 2009, 02:53

It's not hilarious, it's witty.

But I can absolutely see people not liking it, the style is very slow and dry, and if it doesn't hit, it falls way off.

Quote from: the_pied_piper on 28 Sep 2009, 14:01

The so-called humour is an attempt (and failure) at dry, witty one-liners that just doesn't pay off at all.

*Ahem*

JD · « **Reply #24 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 07:02 »

Quote from: David_Dovey on 29 Sep 2009, 06:21

Quote from: smack that isaiah on 28 Sep 2009, 13:25
I am cold unfeeling and odd
and you should thank god
that we are on separate sides of the state. Hope you're okay
at least I gave you something to hate
--Odd by Julia Nunes

Jesus what the fuck is this shit

Poetry?

snalin · « **Reply #25 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 09:20 »

Quote from: the_pied_piper on 29 Sep 2009, 06:41

Quote from: snalin on 29 Sep 2009, 02:53
It's not hilarious, it's witty.

But I can absolutely see people not liking it, the style is very slow and dry, and if it doesn't hit, it falls way off.

Quote from: the_pied_piper on 28 Sep 2009, 14:01
The so-called humour is an attempt (and failure) at dry, witty one-liners that just doesn't pay off at all.

*Ahem*

Check the bold bit. you've probably hit an episode where they didn't come up with anything. There's a few of those. I find some of those one-liners hilarious, and that's what keeps me going through it. There's nothing I find cringeworthy*, so it's like many other series I watch; it's not made of gold, but there's twinkles that makes it worth it. Kind of like QC; not every strip makes me laugh, but there's genius here and there.

* Probably because I can't really get enough of dry jokes, so that's probably just me.

tl;dr: I'm defending that I have a different taste than other people in humour.

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #26 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 10:18 »

No, see, this is dry, witty humour.

Then this: Unskippable - The Bouncer

See the difference yet?

maxusy3k · « **Reply #27 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 10:40 »

The Bouncer was a pretty poor episode, if I remember correctly.

I remember enjoying Valkyria Chronicles, though.

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #28 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 10:50 »

Nope.

ackblom12 · « **Reply #29 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 10:51 »

I have now watched multiple videos.

Ace Combat 6
Lost Odyssey
Onimusha 3
The Bouncer
Eternal Sonata

Lost Odyssey was easily the best of them and it was still really bad. I think I can honestly say I think Unskippable is pretty terrible.

On the other hand Steven Wright is pretty awesome.

a pack of wolves · « **Reply #30 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 10:58 »

That Valkyria Chronicles one is... pretty terrible actually. Bad enough I can actually be arsed to write about it. Nearly all the jokes are them saying "this is silly. Did you see that bit? It was silly, wasn't it?" Redundant, everyone knows video games are usually silly. Pointing out the obvious isn't a good joke. It's the same mistake Badly Dubbed Porn made, assuming that constantly informing people old porn is silly would be at all amusing.

Since they're compelled to make jokes over the whole thing they end up saying things are silly that actually aren't. "Why is south Bruhl perpendicular to North Bruhl?" They're signposts, roads aren't always straight, the joke fails. "These people are walking slowly." Oh. "The invading army appears to be just this guy." No it doesn't. That could be a joke if they ran with it, but it feels like they haven't even watched the clip before so they don't know how to sustain anything because they have no idea if something will work. This is why Shock Video worked, they'd sustain a single premise for an entire clip. The only time they try is a gag where some fish talk, but they just call someone a perv a couple of times. When that's the highlight you need to stop.

RallyMonkey · « **Reply #31 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 12:11 »

I think a prime example of the lack of quality inherent in these videos is from the Lost Odyssey video near the end, some solemn music starts, and the only thing either of them say for a good 15 seconds is "Saaaad music". Really? That's the best thing you could come up with? Commenting that the music is sad? That's the type of thing you find funny?

Felrender · « **Reply #32 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 14:37 »

These videos on the internet are not as funn as a career comedian, therefore, they are shit.

*flurp*
*durp*
*poop*

ackblom12 · « **Reply #33 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 15:01 »

Quote from: Felrender on 29 Sep 2009, 14:37

These videos on the internet are not funn, therefore, they are shit.

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #34 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 15:07 »

Quote from: Felrender on 29 Sep 2009, 14:37

These videos on the internet are not as funn as a career comedian, therefore, they are shit.

No, see, you have missed the point entirely (although i do agree that they are indeed shit).

The point was that somebody labelled them as dry, witty humour (which i had already said they were not), and i was using the example of Stephen Wright, a career comedian who has made his trade by being dry, witty and indeed humorous, to show that (while i really do not agree that they are funny in the slightest) they are not dry, witty "jokes" that they are "using".

loco_banana · « **Reply #35 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 16:04 »

Quote from: the_pied_piper on 29 Sep 2009, 10:50

Nope.

i lol'd

Nodaisho · « **Reply #36 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 17:54 »

Quote from: the_pied_piper on 29 Sep 2009, 15:07

i was using the example of Stephen Wright, a career comedian who has made his trade by being dry, witty and indeed humorous

Maybe my vocabulary is flawed, but I thought that humorous meant funny?

snalin · « **Reply #37 on:** 29 Sep 2009, 23:23 »

Quote from: the_pied_piper on 29 Sep 2009, 10:18

See the difference yet?

That we find different things funny?

Melodic · « **Reply #38 on:** 30 Sep 2009, 00:01 »

You can play the "different tastes" card to death, but some things are just undeniably beyond merit. Like Dane Cook, for example.

JD · « **Reply #39 on:** 30 Sep 2009, 00:03 »

Quote from: Melodic on 30 Sep 2009, 00:01

You can play the "different tastes" card to death, but some things are just undeniably beyond merit. Like Denis Leary, for example.

FYP

David_Dovey · « **Reply #40 on:** 30 Sep 2009, 00:40 »

Both are correct!

Hat · « **Reply #41 on:** 30 Sep 2009, 01:33 »

Quote from: Melodic on 30 Sep 2009, 00:01

You can play the "different tastes" card to death, but some things are just undeniably beyond merit. Like Dane Cook, for example.

yeah you're a dick for saying this, I just wanted to let you know.

Also on a whole other level you're an idiot because you assume that human beings have some kind of set threshold for denial. DOUBLE THE SCORN.

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #42 on:** 30 Sep 2009, 06:25 »

Quote from: Nodaisho on 29 Sep 2009, 17:54

Quote from: the_pied_piper on 29 Sep 2009, 15:07
i was using the example of Stephen Wright, a career comedian who has made his trade by being dry, witty and indeed humorous
Maybe my vocabulary is flawed, but I thought that humorous meant funny?

You did not just diss Stephen Wright while supporting the dreck that is Unskippable.

Caleb · « **Reply #43 on:** 30 Sep 2009, 09:32 »

I like Doomsday Arcade.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/doomsday-arcade/934-Episode-18

But maybe that's like 50% because of the Australian accents...

...and because I really like digital effects mixed in with old fashion low budget comedy.

snalin · « **Reply #44 on:** 30 Sep 2009, 11:16 »

Quote from: the_pied_piper on 30 Sep 2009, 06:25

Quote from: Nodaisho on 29 Sep 2009, 17:54
Quote from: the_pied_piper on 29 Sep 2009, 15:07
i was using the example of Stephen Wright, a career comedian who has made his trade by being dry, witty and indeed humorous
Maybe my vocabulary is flawed, but I thought that humorous meant funny?

my taste is better than everyone else's.

*sigh*

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #45 on:** 30 Sep 2009, 11:58 »

I'm sorry but is that actually what i said? It's true that i have made my opinions clear but the point of the Stephen Wright post was to show people what dry, witty humour is. Maybe you don't like Stephen Wright but Unskippable is not in any way, shape or form dry, witty humour. It is an attempt at humour but it is not dry or witty.

Dry humour requires that you do not laugh at your own jokes constantly as the guys making Unskippable do. It is not quite deadpan but it is not very emotional either. We can argue all day over wittiness but it is obvious i am not alone in the opinion of Unskippable being bad and, as such, this proves that i am not actually claiming my opinion is singularly better than anyone else's.

Melodic · « **Reply #46 on:** 30 Sep 2009, 12:43 »

Quote from: Hat on 30 Sep 2009, 01:33

Quote from: Melodic on 30 Sep 2009, 00:01
You can play the "different tastes" card to death, but some things are just undeniably beyond merit. Like Dane Cook, for example.

yeah you're a dick for saying this, I just wanted to let you know.

Also on a whole other level you're an idiot because you assume that human beings have some kind of set threshold for denial. DOUBLE THE SCORN.

hey hat let's fight

Nodaisho · « **Reply #47 on:** 30 Sep 2009, 16:29 »

Quote from: the_pied_piper on 30 Sep 2009, 06:25

Quote from: Nodaisho on 29 Sep 2009, 17:54
Quote from: the_pied_piper on 29 Sep 2009, 15:07
i was using the example of Stephen Wright, a career comedian who has made his trade by being dry, witty and indeed humorous
Maybe my vocabulary is flawed, but I thought that humorous meant funny?

You did not just diss Stephen Wright while supporting the dreck that is Unskippable.

No, I just dissed Stephen Wright. Or at least that performance, he looked like someone that had gone a week without sleep, and spoke like it too. That would explain the joke quality as well.

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #48 on:** 30 Sep 2009, 16:49 »

Quote from: Nodaisho on 30 Sep 2009, 16:29

No, I just dissed Stephen Wright.

FIGHT YOU

No, but seriously, i know you weren't dissing Stephen Wright in general but thats how he delivers most of his jokes and Letterman is pretty great in that clip too.

Arkvoodle · « **Reply #49 on:** 07 Oct 2009, 12:30 »

They're OK; kinda hit-and-miss. I like the Prototype & Wolverine ones.

Watch the "Star Ocean" vid, they do a crossover with Yahtzee.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Unskippable (Read 17163 times)

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