@chiablo:
Yatzee didn't even get a third of the way through The Witcher before throwing together his video.And for someone who thinks that the story should be the most important part of the game, this is unacceptable. The game really shines in Acts 3-5.

There is a reason he called his video a first impression and not a final review. He never finished the game or got to far because he felt it was a horrible game.
Do you honestly think anyone would continue to play a game they completely dislike? Why would he care enough to get to Act 3-5 if the beginning of the game was dull boring for him?
You even admit that it getting lackluster reviews from other publications, yet you decide not to take zero punctuation to heart anymore because of his first impressions of the game.

nightmystic

in last year's shitting on reviewers & credibility, he was the shining in the darkness, if you will.

TheIrishNinja (PSN), IrishNinja2099 (XBL)

Couldn't think of anything witty.
Yahtzee> my skills (which allows me to sit back and watch something funny for 3 minutes so i don't have to spend a week making it)

kriggy

An utter legend.

Youlikeyams

I highly disagreed with his review of The Witcher, and will now always be wary of the validity of his reviews from now on. An honest reviewer will play a game to it's conclusion before giving an opinion.

Yatzee didn't even get a third of the way through The Witcher before throwing together his video. And for someone who thinks that the story should be the most important part of the game, this is unacceptable. The game really shines in Acts 3-5.

Although the game is getting lackluster reviews, for the true gamers out there who can get past the slow beginning are treated with one of the most well-executed stories in PC gaming history.

Oh, and I'm not even going to comment on the failed attempt at humor that is the Zero Punctuation Machinima Experiment.

I'll still continue to watch Zero Punctuation, and enjoy the reviews, but just like Gamespot reviews, I won't be taking them at face value any more.

chiablo

He's not GAY! He just really, really, likes Guitar Hero.

WoodyNvincible

he is 5 of the same dice...

sorry for the bad pun....I will go stand in the corner now

Seiven

lol wow he uses Windows movie maker thats funny I thought he used adobe. More proof that Movie Maker rocks

taftsearlobe23

HEY! I'm wearing at hat like that right now! Am I destined to become a game journalist negative dood?

ZeeX

Even this statement he released sounds like one of his reviews. Read it as if it's one of his reviews and you'll see what I mean. Awesome.

Orionsaint

Imagine if he had a team a la south park... he would have the ultimate review show that would make Cartman proud!

omicom

@goodstuffmaynard: That show rules.

mindinrewind

@Darth Navster: Yeah, best to take anything Homer says with a grain of salt.

Sabre_Justice

Zero Punctuation has to be the best game reviews around right now. Hilarious, honest and to the point. He probably gave Halo 3 the only honest review ever.

This guy is just good at what he does.

Sabre_Justice

@hamandcheeseUK:

Homer referred to her as 'Krandle' when her name was actually 'Krabappel'. Just a tiny correction. :)

Darth Navster

He's actually a game developer already... he's got several adventure games up on his website, most of which revolve around a character named "Trilby". I've not played too far in them, but so far they are very good, funny, and entertaining. I'd love to see what he could do with a budget and a team of developers and artists.

catapult37

@VYDAS
He said "I usually take a few days to play through the game and I'll usually finish it, or get as far as I can before I feel I can formulate an opinion."
I think that's plenty. I'd wonder how many "professional" reviewers would spend that much time on a game.

hawkerm

Nice. He definitely doesn't half ass his reviews, and it's nice to see that he spends quite a lot of time on them. Yahtzee is king.

dead_red_eyes

This man is totally the most popular on the internet right now.

DUFFKING

One of a handful of things I look forward to every Wednesday!

brello

I am going to read the interview thinking inside my head that is one of his funny shorts, then I will laugh, on the inside.

canchegundam

@LordMaim, PlanHex: Crenshaw Blvd? Hardcore.

Erwin211

As much as I'd love to say something bad to break the chain of posts practically fellating Yahtzee... he is damn funny. I can't say anything REALLY bad about Yahtzee, like that I have photographic proof that he eats babies and kittens for breakfast in front of their mothers, because I have too much respect for him.

2K Ghede

I fully expect him to review this review next week.
And nice hat. Seriously.

Erwin211

But...but...well, now you've spoiled it for me. It isn't a wizard at all, just a man behind a curtain. :)

doubtful

Who's Yahtzee Crenshaw?

LordMaim

his reviews are classic

kw4k

That's freaking sweet, heil Yahtzee!

Kang

You know, his meteoric rise to fame is nothing short of amazing.

Gunhaver

For some reason I always imagined Yahtzee as Jemaine (right) from Flight of the Conchords.

goodstuffmaynard

He is clever, however he really shouldn't get angry and defend his videos as legitimate reviews, when he often doesn't play through more than a few hours of the games.

Just be content with being funny.

Vydas

@PlanHex: I noticed that too, i thought it was me remembering the name wrong

I had a flash back of the Simpsons episode where Homer realises Bart's teacher isn't called Crabapple

hamandcheeseUK

shit, he looks better and better every time i see him.

surprisingly sarcasm-free interview. kinda cool to see him playing it straight. gotta reserve that vitriol for the reviews!

geekgrrl

Gee, and here I was pretty sure his name was Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw ;)

PlanHex

I'd love him to completely rip apart Smash Bros. when it comes out.

el_gordo

So a little more than week to conjure up a review full of imagery and laughter, not bad. Not bad at all, Yahtzee!

Trowble (XBL/PSN)

Windows Movie Maker...he surely a master of his craft. This guy just brightens up my every Wednesday.

thedollhouse

I love his hate!

FoxHoundADAM

Yahtzee > Frankenreview

Gadgetron

I need to make sarcasm and caustic invective my means of financial support. I'd be rich. RICH.

The_Foo

Windows Movie Maker? My god, I always assumed he used Final Cut Pro, I've never seen anything quality made with WMM.

Foggynotion

Ha, he looks exactly how I pictured him. :-)

Dopeski

He is the master of epic win.

Jomo7

Like a small child reading a book sometimes I actually enjoy the pictures more than his view on the game.

chewbenator

He's a legend

sheeeillaaa

I <3 his reviews. so funny.

thach562

he is the master of awesome.

Flawless101

He'd be a good auctioneer.

kyosuke9999

@chiablo: you have no soul.

Plus i found his witcher and his little skit at the end hilarious.

HILARIOUS.

oh.

did i mention it was hilarious?

oh i did.

:)

Onizuka-GTO

@geekgrrl: Why the hell are you called geekgrrl?

Sabre_Justice

I actually like his reviews more then the reviews from the big sites. His review on Psychonauts made me go buy the game.

phalanges

I read his quote as fast as I could with an accent but it wasn't funny. : (

AsWater

i just realized they didn't ask the biggest secret of all: why the hell is he called Yahtzee??

geekgrrl

@chiablo: Wow... i smell bitter. Reviews are opinion, and his opinion (which i share) is that the game is too tediously tiresome to hold intrest.

Just because you have a higher tolerance for trudging around and putting up with lack-lustre pacing doesn't make you any more of a 'true gamer'.

NecronomiconUK

@Kirbytheslayer: Supports a political party. Just not sure which one: Sorry, but I believe gordon_shumway 's account.

Erwin211

@catapult37: The picture that accompanies this article might give you a pretty good idea of what'd happen if he did get his own budget and team.

Frank

@nightmystic: I suspect the *real* reason it's called a first impression is because of the earlier Escapist review of The Witcher where the reviewer hated the game, admitted he only played 10% of it and they still called it a review.
I also suspect The Escapist editors made Yahtzee review it just to get back at the people who complained about said review. They called The Escapist editors a bunch of hacks and the site itself a golden gem that had developed into dogshit and not even worth a mention was it not for ZP.
Just my simple conspiracy theory, based on the fact that Yahtzee has already stated in his Mass Effect review that he doesn't like RPG's and making him review one is really just asking him to throw shit in its general direction. And when a site has gathered some flak and has had their attempt at professional journalism likened to something a 1st grader could've produced, then there's bound to be some form of retaliation.

In lighter news: Ben Crenshaw is actually a professional golfer too! [en.wikipedia.org]

PlanHex

I wish I could so something like Zero Punctuation. Opinionated along side somewhat decent cartoons.

ph15h

Ha!

I've decided, despite probably being the most rabid Yahtzee fanboy here, he's not flawless.

I have dedicatedly read everything in his archives, and almost finished his Chzo series (It's about Trilby! yaya!)

And...his sprite comic wasn't very funny.

Other than that, he's a genius.

@geekgrrl: To find out, check out his site Fullyramblomatic.com

Or I could just tell you.
It's explained in his comic. He had amnesia, and decided to call himself the first name that he heard. He heard "Ben" 17 times, but then heard "Yahtzee" immediately after, and settled on that.

Kirbytheslayer: Supports a political party. Just not sure which one

@el_gordo: Also he's stated on a few occasions that he doesn't value multiplayer so there really wouldn't be much point for him to play Smash Brothers.

Rhys

@el_gordo: Why's that? Smash Bros. has, so far, consistently been a solid, well-balanced series with an incredible attention to detail.

doomstalk

@geekgrrl:

It's well known that, during his days as a professional golfer, Ben would yell "Yahtzeeeeeee!" at the top of his lungs when he made a long putt. Also when he climaxed during sex.

gordon_shumway

@Kirbytheslayer: Supports a political party. Just not sure w...:
That's proof. What I want to know is if gordon_shumway has pics.
Great if he does but I don't want to see them.
Ever.

Erwin211

This guy is to video games as... metacritic is to movies, oy. I loved Charlie Wilson's War, but they all said it was so-so.

tye-the-czar

@Erwin211: Pics or it didn't happen, right?

Well...[yahtzee.comicgenesis.com]

Kirbytheslayer: Supports a political party. Just not sure which one

I'm kind of in love with Mr. Yahtzee. Maybe its his accent, maybe its his rapier sharp wit, maybe its all in my mind. I'm hoping he's cute, but if not, let me keep the dream alive.

SammyDKat

Let me just say, whoever decided to offer him a job at the escapist is probably patting themselves on the back constantly. Best. Move. Ever.

SnakeCL

Yahtzee 4 prez!
Okay well maybe not but the guy still is funny and his illustratiins are made of epic and winz.

Usually the criticism is also well placed so devs would do with at least this bit of hindsight after they complete a project.

Iceman B.

The world blessed this man with a hate of all that lives, for the dark energies that have given a twisted un-life to this titanium aussie corpse motivate him to bring a part of the anguish of his non-being to all that is bright and happy.

God, I love that man.

runiko

is it wednesday already? no just Friday? oh well guess that'll do

Bleentastic

@Foggynotion: Apparently you have if you've seen the Zero Punctuation clips.

spartan1308

This man has mastered the art of literary comparison.
I swear I've never laughed so hard when I agreed that controlling and utilizing the helicopter in Crysis was like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube with your elbows...

half-beast

Yahtzee is awesome. Love his reviews. But Windows Movie Maker? Ewwww.

Somebody get this guy Sony Vegas pronto. Or a Mac and Final Cut.

J-Fro

Ya its Croshaw not Crenshaw, aren't people supposed to do this sort of research?

captainmurphy

@SammyDKat: While we are all in love with Mr. Croshaw, did you see the link in the story? I'm not one to judge (because I'm heterosexual), but maybe he's right for you:
[gadgets.boingboing.net]

Erwin211

Woops my link failed. Try this: [www.australiangamer.com]

elevenoverzero

@geekgrrl:

That's been answered before in this interview.

Other than from the game of the same name, where did the pseudonym "Yahtzee" come from?

When I was first making adventure games at school in Visual Basic and handing them out to all my little schoolfriends to play I made some - in retrospect - terrible games featuring a character named Arthur Yahtzee, because it sounded funny to me. When I grew up and finally gained access to the internet I used the name as a pseudonym, later dropping the first word. It all kind of grew from there.

elevenoverzero

Hearing that he's gone from rags to riches with some readily available software and a sly wit fills me with hope...and ANGER!

boopadoo

@Rhys: What about the Subspace Emissary?

headcase88

And that's an understatement.

Elixir

Yahtzee is pretty much the greatest reviewer I've ever seen.

Elixir

I Find Yahtzee very amusing.

However, it must said that Charlie Brooker is his spiritual (if not actual) Sensei.

Brooker started out as an angry, curmudgeonly game reviewer, made the undeniably fabulous TVGoHome website and is now a multimedia personality.

73mike

@Eltigro: and yes, I copied Kotaku. I am a hack.

Eltigro

Is Ben Crenshaw the best game review EVAR?

Vote:

0 Yes

Or skip ahead to the results! -->

Eltigro

I absolutely love the Zero Punctuation reviews and made everyone at work watch them. Although we do look forward to a new one every week we'd rather he play through a bit more of the games, even if that meant we only got two clips a month.

Mommas Marine

It's Croshaw, not Crenshaw you nobs

Spolodaface

His games are amazing, I'm glad he's now got much wider recognition for Zero Punctuation though.
Also go to his site and read the flowcharts, had me in fits of laughter.

Zaphod

hmmm so its not a straight out flash movie. Wow and I thought it was a little more difficult to make. oh well none the less I still love this guy

That Girl Hates You

He's one of the FEW people that readily admit to using Windows Movie Maker :)

futaihikage