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Xplay

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Xplay
Written byMike Demski (2008–2013)
Directed by
  • Annaliza Savage (1998–2003)
  • Karsten Bondy (2003–2005)
  • Paul Bonanno (2005–2007)
  • Alan Wu (2008–2013)
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes1,516
Production
Executive producerWade Beckett (2006–2012)
Producers
  • Annaliza Savage (1998–2003)
  • Matt Keil (2004–2013)
Editors
  • Justin Dornbush (lead)
  • John R. French (lead)
  • Sam Goldfien
  • Matt Korb
  • Will Simpson
  • Brian C. Sullivan
Camera setupMultiple-camera setup
Running time
  • 22–25 minutes (1998–2013)
  • 44 minutes (special episodes)
  • 120 minutes (2021–22)
Production companyG4 Media, LLC
Original release
Network
ReleaseJuly 4, 1998 (1998-07-04) –
January 23, 2013 (2013-01-23)
ReleaseNovember 19, 2021 (2021-11-19) –
October 20, 2022 (2022-10-20)

Xplay (previously GameSpot TV, Extended Play, and X-Play) is a television program about video games. The program, known for its reviews and comedy skits, aired on G4 in the United States and has aired on G4 Canada in Canada (and briefly on YTV during its time as GameSpot TV), FUEL TV in Australia, Ego in Israel, GXT in Italy, MTV Russia & Rambler TV in Russia, NET 25 (GameSpot TV to Extended Play only) & Solar Sports in the Philippines.

The show in its previous incarnation is hosted by Morgan Webb and Blair Herter, with Kristin Adams (née Holt) and Jessica Chobot serving as special correspondents/co-hosts (Tiffany Smith, Alex Sim-Wise and Joel Gourdin also serve as correspondents during the show's run). Adam Sessler is the original host of the program; earlier episodes feature co-hosts Lauren Fielder and Kate Botello.

Xplay began on ZDTV in 1998 as GameSpot TV, where Sessler co-hosted with Fielder for the show's first year, then co-hosted with Botello up through 2002 (the producers of ZDTV originally had plans to air a video-game program when the channel launched called Extended Play that would be hosted by Simon Rex;[1] however, when an agreement was reached with the makers of the newly created GameSpot website, plans for the original show's format were scrapped in favor of a GameSpot-branded program, and Rex was dropped as host).

The show assumed the previously rejected Extended Play moniker in 2001 after ZDTV changed to TechTV and the partnership with Ziff Davis' GameSpot ended. Botello left in early 2002, and Sessler hosted the show by himself up until April 2003, when Webb joined the cast and the show was renamed X-Play.

A new incarnation of the show was featured on the revived G4 network which operated from November 2021 to October 2022.

History

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Original series

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Preceding the launch of ZDTV on May 11, 1998, a program by video gaming website GameSpot was projected for a mid-summer release.[2] GameSpot TV premiered on July 4, 1998, airing 30-minute weekly episodes that previewed and reviewed video games, featuring GameSpot editors such as Jeff Gerstmann and Greg Kasavin. The show's quirky set, with a chained link fence and flaming TV screens, gave a gritty vibe, though early viewership was low, with co-host Adam Sessler estimating around 10,000 per episode. The show secured notable interviews, including one with Gabe Newell about Half-Life. The Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999 lead to death threats against Sessler and a restriction on depicting gun violence on the show, which limited coverage of certain titles such as Grand Theft Auto III.[3]

On February 17, 2001, GameSpot TV was retitled Extended Play and became part of TechTV's live broadcasting endeavor, which resulted in a high turnover rate.[3][4][5] With the April 28, 2003, premiere of TechTV's late-night programming block, Extended Play was revamped, retitled X-Play and moved to this block, upon which it became a ratings success.[3][6] Because X-Play aired at a later time slot than its predecessors, it featured more risque language and subject matter, and the previous gun violence restriction was lifted.[3]

G4's acquisition of TechTV led to staff layoffs and a poorly handled transition that strained relations with the new owners.[3] In September 2004, X-Play relocated to Los Angeles; the new set was conceived as a modern apartment that meshed the personalities of Sessler and co-host Morgan Webb.[7] The crew's resistance to G4's culture inspired a creative peak, though a costly musical episode flopped. The limitations of television were highlighted by the rise of streaming platforms like YouTube and issues like the E3 2006 broadcast, which was interrupted by ads and FCC-mandated breaks, notably cutting off the Halo 3 reveal. From this point forward, X-Play struggled with declining ratings, exclusive content battles, and the inability to compete with instant online content.[3]

On March 4, 2007, it was announced that the G4 studios in Santa Monica would close on April 15. Production of G4 programs was relocated to the studios of the E! Television Network situated elsewhere in the Los Angeles area. As a consequence, new sets had to be designed for X-Play, and many G4 employees involved in production were laid off.[8] Tensions rose between G4 and E!, who clashed over cultural differences.[3] On January 14, 2008, G4 commenced with a complete overhaul to the show's entire format, branding the move as X-Play "jumping to the next level".[9] In December 2008, the show aired X-Large one-hour episodes every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.[10] According to G4 television president Neil Tiles, this was an experimental change with the possibility of having all episodes run 60 minutes long sometime in the future where new segments were incorporated to see if X-Play could "go deeper than the current half hour show allows." Tiles also stated that the writers will be looking to add "more comedy" back into the program "as requested."[11] Economic factors forced G4 to contract X-Play's schedule back down to only three original episodes per week, starting on March 2, 2009; in addition, the show's timeslot was moved out of prime-time to 6:30 p.m. EST and a number of X-Play staff members were laid off.[12]

On October 26, 2012, it was reported that the show (along with Attack of the Show!) would cease production after 2012.[13]

Revival

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On July 24, 2020, G4 announced a revival of the network set for a 2021 launch.[14] Later on November 24, 2020, G4 released A Very Special G4 Reunion Special,[15] which featured former X-Play hosts Adam Sessler, Morgan Webb, and Blair Herter (who is one of the key people behind the re-launch[16]), as well as correspondent Kristin Adams. On January 28, 2021, G4 announced that X-Play (alongside Attack of the Show!) would return with it.[17] On February 12, 2021, G4 announced that Adam Sessler would return to host.[18] The revival premiered on November 19, 2021,[19] broadcast live on G4's Twitch and YouTube channels. Unlike the previous iteration, the episodes were two hours long (they were later cut down to 30-minute episodes on G4's cable channel). The revival was canceled in October 2022 when it was announced that month that G4 would shut down for the second time, with its final episode airing on October 20.[20]

Hosts and staff

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Adam Sessler was the host of the program for the bulk of its original incarnation. Previously, he had worked two-and-a-half years in a bank's credit department while moonlighting as an actor on a public-access San Francisco program, Chip Weigh Magnet Down. Through a friend's connection, he learned about a hosting opportunity for GameSpot's program. Though out of touch with gaming, Sessler prepared for the audition by memorizing the titles Resident Evil 2 and Final Fantasy VII but botched the latter during the audition. Auspiciously, the audition director, who also ran the public-access station, recognized Sessler from his comedic sketches, particularly his Michael Flatley impression. She asked him to perform it, and this serendipitous moment landed him the hosting role, a break Sessler attributed to pure luck. Throughout GameSpot TV's production, Sessler honed his skills and gaming knowledge, covering titles like Banjo-Kazooie and Spyro the Dragon.[3] Sessler's first co-host was Lauren Fielder, the editor-in-chief of GameSpot's sister site VideoGames.com and executive producer of PlayStation Underground's weekly radio show, which was hosted by VideoGames. Fielder moved to a correspondent role in September 1999.[21][22][23] Kate Botello, previously co-host of The Screen Savers, became Sessler's co-host on April 29, 2000,[24] and departed on March 29, 2002.[25] Morgan Webb became Sessler's co-host in May 2003 after previously serving as an associate producer on The Screen Savers.[26] In April 2012, it was announced that Sessler would no longer be part of G4.[27] Sessler and Morgan Webb reunited for Bethesda Softworks' press conference at E3 2016.[28] The program was originally produced and directed by documentarian Annaliza Savage, who served in this position until 2003.[29][30]

The revival was co-hosted by Sessler, Froskurinn, The Completionist, and The Black Hokage. Froskurinn, during a "Gaming Grievances" segment in a January 2022 episode, flew into a tirade against the network's viewers accusing them of a perceived sexist backlash against her, particularly for not being as "bangable" as former G4 hosts Morgan Webb and Olivia Munn, who she claimed were objectified and harassed as "fake gamer girls". She made further allegations of dehumanizing comments and unconscious biases targeting her for being a woman in gaming, despite reading the same scripts as Sessler. Her remarks were shared on G4's Twitter and supported by Sessler.[31] Following significant layoffs at G4 in September 2022, Froskurinn was let go from the network after Comcast bought out the remainder of her contract. Some speculated that her exit was linked to a September 15 tweet where she posted an "I survived" meme, seen by some as insensitive after the layoffs.[32]

References

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  1. ^ Barovelli (April 13, 2008). "ZDTV Promo". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ Stone, Martha (May 8, 1998). "ZDTV launches Monday". ZDNet. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 11, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Schreier, Jason (March 20, 2013). "Internet Killed The Video Star: The Extraordinary Journey Of Adam Sessler". Kotaku. Gawker Media. Archived from the original on March 20, 2013. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  4. ^ Weigel, Ray (February 13, 2001). "TechTV | Extended Play Is Born". TechTV. Archived from the original on August 16, 2001. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  5. ^ Weigel, Ray (February 18, 2001). "TechTV - The Add On Pack - 02/17/01 - Game Engines A Go Go". TechTV. Archived from the original on June 10, 2001.
  6. ^ Moss, Linda (March 3, 2003). "TechTV Spices Up Late-Night". Multichannel News. Future plc. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  7. ^ "G4techTV'S HIT SERIES X-PLAY, THE SCREEN SAVERS, AND UNSCREWED WITH MARTIN SARGENT GO HOLLYWOOD". G4techTV. September 7, 2004. Archived from the original on April 4, 2005. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  8. ^ "G4 Rewind: Confirmed: G4 studios to close; Operations moving to E!; Layoffs ensue". Archived from the original on March 22, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  9. ^ Trapani, Gina. "Encrypt text on your web pages". Kotaku.
  10. ^ "Gaming articles on Engadget". Joystiq.
  11. ^ "G4tv.com - Video Games, Comedy, Creators & Culture". G4tv.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  12. ^ Crecente, Brian (February 17, 2009). "Cuts Hit X-Play, Show Drops to Thrice Weekly [Update]". Kotaku.
  13. ^ "G4 Marks the End of AOTS and X-Play with Two-Month Farewells". G4tv.com. October 26, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  14. ^ "G4 Returns - Official Teaser Trailer (2021)". YouTube. July 24, 2020. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  15. ^ "A Very Special G4 Reunion Special | Full Video". YouTube. November 24, 2020. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  16. ^ "Long-Dormant Gaming Network G4 TV Teases 2021 Relaunch by Comcast Spectacor". July 24, 2020.
  17. ^ "Welcome the Return of Attack of the Show and X-Play in Summer 2021". YouTube. January 28, 2021. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  18. ^ "Huge G4 Talent Announcements! Hosts Confirmed!". YouTube. February 12, 2021. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  19. ^ Baysinger, Tim (October 12, 2021). "G4 Sets Relaunch Date for Linear TV and Streaming". Thewrap.com.
  20. ^ Hayes, Dade (October 16, 2022). "Comcast Pulls Plug On G4 TV, Ending Comeback Try For Gamer-Focused Network". Deadline. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  21. ^ "Gaming On the Air". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 112. Ziff Davis. November 1998. p. 40.
  22. ^ "GameSpot TV". ZDTV. September 29, 1999. Archived from the original on September 30, 1999. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  23. ^ "Lauren Fielder". ZDTV. Archived from the original on October 9, 1999. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  24. ^ "Kate Botello's a Gamer". ZDTV. Archived from the original on June 22, 2000. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  25. ^ Botello, Kate (March 29, 2002). "TechTV | A Fond Farewell from Kate Botello". TechTV. Archived from the original on April 1, 2002. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  26. ^ Marx, Tracey (April 24, 2003). "Who's That Girl?". TechTV. Archived from the original on December 5, 2003. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  27. ^ "Adam Sessler Out At G4 [UPDATE]". Kotaku. April 25, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  28. ^ North, Dale (June 2015). "Former X-Play hosts Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb will reunite at Bethesda's E3 press conference". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  29. ^ "Annaliza Savage". TechTV. April 18, 2001. Archived from the original on April 17, 2001. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  30. ^ "Extended Play > About Us". TechTV. Archived from the original on February 10, 2003. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  31. ^ Gach, Ethan (January 12, 2022). "G4 Host Slams Xplay Audience's Sexist Expectations". Kotaku. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  32. ^ Gach, Ethan (September 20, 2022). "Xplay Host Frosk Out At G4 A Week After Layoffs [Update: Pereira Departs]". Kotaku. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
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