Mega64 is an American satiricalcomedy troupe and independentproduction company created by Rocco Botte, Derrick Acosta, and Shawn Chatfield. Founded inSan Diego in 2003, Mega64 is responsible for producing an eponymousweb series, varioussketches, and apodcast.[2] The core group consists of Rocco Botte, Derrick Acosta, and Shawn Chatfield with additional members Garrett Hunter, Meg Turner, Johnny Weiss, and Kevin Bushong.Rooster Teeth member Eric Baudour was also a member of the group. They organize an annual informalfan convention atDisneyland titled Gamedays.[3]
Variety magazine named Mega64 as one of its "10 Comics to Watch for 2015".[4]
In the not too distant future, a sinister scientist named Dr. Poque (Botte) creates the most powerful video game console ever assembled. Known as the 'Mega64', this device has the power to download classic and contemporary video games into the user's brain, causing them to take on a whole new reality.[5]
While Rocko [sic] and Derek [sic] are hooked to the Mega64, the viewer sees them acting as characters in the corresponding game, interacting with ordinary people in San Diego. Another character, named Sean, is initially hired by Dr. Poque as Rocko and Derek's "e-mail delivery man" but also starts taking part in the Mega64 experiments.
Two additional characters are later introduced: a puppet named Marcus (voiced by Chatfield), who is presumably working for Poque; and Horatio (Acosta), Poque's eccentric Mexican roommate.[citation needed]
Mega64 was originally produced to air onpublic-access television as a weekly TV show; However, the original five episodes were not deemed to be suitable for broadcast. Later, creator Rocco Botte pitched the show toG4 but was rejected. Through the suggestion ofTommy Tallarico, Botte decided to publish the material online.[6]
Eventually, the show was released on DVD, published through Awful Video, the publishing arm ofSomething Awful.[7]
Mega64: Version 200, the show's second season, was released on DVD on July 20, 2006.Mega64: Version 3 was originally meant to be released in 2008, but at their PAX 2008 panel, the team statedVersion 3 would most likely not be finished until early 2009.Mega64: Version 3 went on sale May 28, 2010.[10]
According to Mega64.com,British Sky Broadcasting was to airMega64 Version 1 and Version 2 on one of their channels during their gamingblock.[11] However, in Mega64's Podcast: Episode 77, it was revealed Sky would not be airingMega64, due to a misunderstanding between the two companies. In said podcast it was explained that British Sky Broadcasting had come under new management, and thatMega64's episodes being aired had been "lost in the shuffle". After contacting the company for the reasoning behind this, Sky representatives replied to Mega64 saying they "had asked too much money", however theMega64 crew claims they did not ask for any amount of money.[12]
Skits featuringTom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter are available for download not only on the game's official website, but also viaXbox Live to Microsoft's Xbox 360, in full high-definition and Dolby 5.1 Surround, both firsts forMega64. Both videos are now available, listed as "GRAW: Cross-Com 1" and "GRAW: Cross-Com 2".[18][19]
TheMega64 group have created several promotional skits for theGame Developers Conference, including advertisements for the conference and itsIndependent Games Festival, as well as comedic skits played during the conference'sGame Developers Choice Awards. In 2008, the team released a series of advertisements for IGF, entitled "Intro", "I am Independent", and "Independent Inspirations".[20] In 2010, they released another series of advertisements.[21]
For the conference's Game Developers Choice Awards, the group regularly create comedic skits focusing on award recipients, which are premiered during the award ceremony. These include satirical accounts of Lifetime Achievement Award winners' careers, such as those ofKen Kutaragi in "Kutaragi's Way" andHironobu Sakaguchi in "Sakaguchi's Final Fantasy".[22][23]
In 2011, theMega64 crew supplied a skit toKonami'sE3 show, debuting the "transfarring" system in their upcomingMetal Gear Solid HD Collection. The system, which enables saved game data transfer between thePlayStation 3 and thePlayStation Vita, was presented as a solution to the problem of continuing game progress 'on the go', with Botte shown traversing public areas with a large, moving television and home console setup. The skit also revealed that theMetal Gear Solid HD Collection and theZone of the Enders HD Collection would be released on the Xbox 360, in addition to the PlayStation 3.[24]
On May 31 of 2012,Mega64 supplied a skit to Konami's Pre-E3 show as promotional material for their upcoming titleMetal Gear Rising: Revengeance. The skit had the game's protagonist Raiden seeking jobs at an unemployment office after being fired due to an implied terrible economy, before eventually settling for Cybernetic Private Military Contractor, withZone of the Enders's Jehuty also trying to find a job in the last minutes of the skit.[25]
For Konami's Pre-E3 show in 2013, the group supplied a skit advertising the gameCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2. The skit featured Botte performing a satirical take on the game's protagonist,Dracula.[26]
Currently available through Twitch and YouTube, a podcast consisting of the Mega64 crew and various guests is released every Tuesday. The podcast premiered September 25, 2006.[39] At first, it was only available in audio format, but since December 24, 2007, it has also been in video format. Since its launch, the video podcast has been featured as Mega64's main podcast, while the audio podcasts are audio extractions of the video counterparts. This is often referred to in the video podcast, with hosts or guests sometimes describing things that are happening for those who are listening to the audio-only version. As of January 11, 2009, the video podcast has beenlive streamed, first onUstream[40] and then on Twitch, every Sunday at 6pm PST.[41]
The podcast is usually recorded at theMega64 studio, but theMega64 crew has also been known to record podcasts in different locations. For example, the February 12, 2008 podcast was filmed at Disneyland, with much of the discussion taking place on Disneyland attractions.[42] Subsequent podcasts have been filmed in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Toronto, and the home of Tommy Tallarico.
On September 26, 2011, animator Hotdiggedydemon (Max Gilardi) andMega64 teamed up to make animated cartoons of the podcast for 6 weeks calledMega64nimation.[43]
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