• Old-Wizard Interviews the Angry Video Game Nerd!

  

  Written by Zeromage 28 Comments
  Last Updated:: January 12, 2009

  In this segment, Old-Wizard interviews the The Angry Video Game Nerd, who’s notorious on the internet for his thoughtful and sometimes crass videos on retro games. Today, we sat down with him to discuss what we have in common and what some of his favorite and least favorite games of all time are. We acted like school girls over Zelda Link to the Past, and talked about random thoughts such as who who would win in a fight between Spiderman and Darth Vader. All in all, we found that we had many things in common with the AVGN. We both agree that both the SNES towers over the the Sega Genesis (this conclusion shouldn’t be a surprise to Old-Wizard readers).

  Old-Wizard: Care to tell our readers who haven’t been following you what you’ve been up to lately?

  Angry Video Game Nerd: Just keeping up with the AVGN show. New episodes have been coming out every 2 weeks steady. Other than that, just check out Cinemassacre.com. That’s the best way to stay up to date with everything I do.

  OW: Any plans to make a video about paper boy?

  AVGN: Not any time soon. There’s actually a Paper Boy video I saw that’s really funny, by Awesome Video Games. (FFSTV.com) I love their stuff.

  OW: We’ve heard a lot about the retro games that you hate, but which ones are you fond of? Old-Wizard has gone on record many times saying that Legend of Zelda a Link to the Past is the best video game of all time. Any arguments there? What are your favorite video games all time?

  AVGN: Link to the Past is certainly one of my favorite games of all time.

  OW: We catch a lot of flack from some of our readers for making fun of some games that they consider to be classics, including Paperboy, Ghosts n’ Goblins, and Joust. What do you think of these games?

  AVGN: Paperboy was fun and classic, but there’s still enough to make fun of in it. Ghosts N’ Goblins is one of the hardest games I ever payed. I never beat it and it was one of the first NES games I owned, besides the Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt cart included with the console. Joust was just one of those old arcade games from the golden age. Not much I can think to say about that one.

  OW: We’re often criticized for continuing to talk about the long dead console war between the SNES and the Sega Genesis. We see ourselves as heroes, like that crazy guy who still protests the Vietnam War in DC, or Gene Amondson, the recent Presidential candidate who ran on a prohibition platform. As a guy who bitches about long decades old games yourself, we were wondering where you stand on the SNES-Genesis debate. Do you even care?

  AVGN: I preferred the library of games on the SNES. But it’s a matter of opinion who likes what best. A lot of people remember the debate, so it’s no wonder why retro enthusiasts such as ourselves still talk about it to this day.

  OW: Were you ever criticized when you first started out? How did you handle it?

  AVGN: I guess it’s impossible not to be criticized. Some people don’t understand that the whole point of the AVGN show is to focus on the negative. But mostly, people love it.

  OW: People often ask us why we waste our time making pointless lists about video games that no one even plays anymore. Have you ever received any similar criticisms about bashing retro games?

  AVGN: That was originally the whole joke of the show. When I did the first episode (Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest), in May 2004, Youtube didn’t exist. There weren’t a million retro gamers doing reviews like there are now. Not as many people were playing old games like that. So yes, when the first few videos made their youtube debut, some people didn’t understand the joke. But now retro games seem to be just as popular as the newer ones. It’s all games, it’s all the same.

  OW: There are plenty of shitty Sega games out there. Why did you decide to focus on Nintendo?

  AVGN: I grew up with NES. I only knew one kid in the neighborhood who owned a Sega Master System, and when the Genesis came out, half my friends had that. The NES games are most familiar to me and fit the show best.

  OW: Do you play any modern games? What do you think of the 2D vs 3D debate in video games?

  AVGN: After N64, it was all over for me. But I still enjoy modern games, even though I prefer the 2D classics.

  OW: A frequent topic of debate here at OW has been who would win in a fight between Darth Vader and Spiderman. Any thoughts on this debate?

  AVGN: Never though of that one. I think Darth Vader.

  OW: Being a site that focuses mainly on pointless lists, we thought our readers might appreciate hearing your top 5 worst video games of all time.

  AVGN: Without thinking too hard:

  5. Sunday Funday (NES)
  4. Wand of Gamelon (CDI)
  3. Wizard of Oz (SNES)
  2. Superman (N64)
  1. Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde (NES)

  OW: Thanks for taking the time out to talk to us, James. I’m sure that our readers are going to love to check this out.

28 Comments

1. #1 Nifty Nerd says:
   November 7th, 2009 at 10:32 pm

   Superman on N64 was definitely one of the crappiest games of all time.
2. #2 Nant14 says:
   November 7th, 2009 at 6:47 am

   I like both AVGN and Old-Wizard.It’s a great pity for me that you didn’t mention the Nostalgia Critic in this interview)))
3. #3 George says:
   November 7th, 2009 at 6:59 am

   Awesome!

   The worst game I’ve ever played is Shadow the Hedgehog. James Rolfe, or Angry Video Game Nerd, I know you get several thousands of requests, but this is different. This is something that needs to be done, like a review of Castlevania 64, it needs to be stated that you can’t rely on your brand name for money.

   Sonic has consistently failed to make the 3D transition, and someone needs to take a stand against that. Who else would do it? That embodiment of twat-flatulence the Irate Gamer? I don’t think so.

   I know this was long, but I need someone like you to stand up against these abominable 3D games that are obviously inferior to the 2D games.

   Pardon the long comment, I’m the local asshole of this site who leaves long comments. Your show is awesome, and keep it up Cinnemassacre and Old-Wizard.
4. #4 George says:
   November 7th, 2009 at 7:02 am

   I love games, and since I’m younger than most of the people on this site, 3D games were my world. Which is why I hate shoddy attempts at them being ported from 2D to 3D
5. #5 vintage junkie says:
   November 7th, 2009 at 2:00 pm

   Great review.
6. #6 Alex says:
   November 7th, 2009 at 2:02 pm

   You guys asked the questions that your readers probably care about (except maybe the Spiderman vs Darth Vader question). Nice work.
7. #7 Rob says:
   November 7th, 2009 at 2:14 pm

   When’s this new banner you guys promised going to be put up?
8. #8 salo says:
   November 7th, 2009 at 2:15 pm

   Loved this interview. You guys should interview Bush next.
9. #9 David Macphail says:
   November 7th, 2009 at 2:45 pm

   Spider – Man would well kick Darth Vader’s ass in a fight………….
10. #10 salo says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 3:23 pm

    Vader would just choke Spidey out. Sorry. You lose.
11. #11 The Mountain says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    What about Shaq vs Spider Man?
12. #12 wild bill says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 5:55 pm

    spiderman has spidey sense, and he could probably move much MUCH faster than vader. but vader can just choke him out.
13. #13 Bug says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 7:07 pm

    Totally agree with AVGN on growing up on NES, and only a select few friends having any sort of Sega consoles. The new banner is in the works as you read this…and I think that Shaq might be able to dunk Spider Man’s head into a basketball hoop so hard it would just pop off, thus ending Spider Man.
14. #14 The Mountain says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 7:28 pm

    Old-Wiz needs to employ Shaq to make a new banner
15. #15 Osama says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 12:20 am

    GREAT INTERVIEW!! Good job guys!
16. #16 George says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 4:29 am

    If Shaq enters the hall of fame after all the shit he’s pulled, I’ll be fucking livid. Kazam, Shaq Fu, his album, come on.
17. #17 roberto says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 3:28 pm

    yo, old-twat.com, where’s the banner u promised me?
18. #18 roberto says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 4:26 pm

    dear old-seagull.com

    your complete lack of banner hotness has caused a major imbalance in the force. the jedi council has convened and it was decided that get with the program u will.

    [waves hand in mid-air]

    master yoda
19. #19 The Mountain says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 8:04 pm

    I was told that a new banner would be up by early next week thus making the site hot again.
20. #20 Osama says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 8:17 pm

    If you guys want, I can make you a nice new banner! I used to be a graphic designer before I became a game designer!
21. #21 Colombia says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 11:29 pm

    I can relate to this ! , I’ve heard some goody things about this blog ! I bookmarked it on my favorites and will visit it again for more interesting posts like this one, Thanks
22. #22 Andreas says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 11:22 pm

    I find it halarious how when OW does interveiws the AVGN, everyone love the site agian.
23. #23 Sol (Frederick) Badguy says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 8:10 pm

    WOW, at least Superman on the N64 is on his top 5 crap list, not top five cool list because I do place it around his range, probably on top of my ‘ECH’ list

    I have to say how we really are nerds; Spider-Man vs “Darth Vader”? Are you serious? Lord Vader will smack his web-shooters off with his hands

    2D games still have there beauty, I’m more of a Genesis guy than an SNES guy (Genesis has far more great games) but I have to admit that the SNES has far better sounds and graphics, as well as better resist to falls
24. #24 avi says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 12:32 am

    AVGN said in his Ghostbusters review that it was worse than DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, I actually kind of liked dr. jekyll and mr. hyde. I wonder if he has ever played E.T. or Big Rigs. my 5 worst games:5.Bible Adventures 4.E.T. 3.Ghostbusters 2.Superman 64 1.Big Rigs.
25. #25 LEGONESFISH says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 7:49 pm

    hurray! my favourite website interviewing one of my favourite web comedians, there’s not much more i could ask for