The ABC’s Decision To Cancel ‘Good Game’ Is Being Slammed As “Shortsighted” And “Absurd”
Good Game staff have criticised the decision.
After 10 years on air, Australia’s favourite TV show about video games has been cancelled by the ABC.
The surprise decision was announced in a statement Good Game’s Facebook page.
“Sad news. After the program’s summer break, two of the key presenters of Good Game announced they were leaving to pursue other opportunities,” the statement read. “In light of this major setback, and changes in the way audiences are choosing to get their information about gaming, the ABC has decided to end the long and successful run of the show.”
The announcement has stunned fans of the show, as Good Game‘s return in 2017 was talked up by the hosts last year.
Can't believe that @GoodGameTV has been cancelled. I thought I'd still be watching Bajo and Hex when they got to David and Margaret's age :(
— Waluigi 2017 (@Toastfarmer) January 31, 2017
I began watching @GoodGameTV back in 2009 and never stopped watching any way I could. It was such a big part of my life and I'll miss it so.
— James Bosco (@Gaminggoodness_) January 31, 2017
Good Game: Spawn Point, aimed at a younger audience, will continue “in a new format”. One of the show’s hosts, Stephen “Bajo” O’Donnell, has tweeted that he’s staying at the ABC and will continue to host Spawn Point.
Hey gang, to clarify I'm still with the ABC and Spawn Point will continue with @angharadyeo myself and @DARRENgg #ggtv
— Steven O'Donnell (@bajopants) January 31, 2017
At the end of last year, the show’s creator and executive producer, Janet Carr, moved on from her role. Several sources told Junkee that the show’s future had been up in the air due to this as well as a combination of declining ratings and a drift away from traditional media platforms, like TV, towards more direct online content.
A show liked Good Game was no longer just competing with video game magazines and websites, it had to contend with streamers publishing on-the-fly reviews. Still, the show managed to produce a decade’s worth of unique and interesting content, and built up a loyal audience.
The show’s other co-host, Stephanie “Hex” Bendixsen, took to Instagram to pay tribute to the Good Game team. “The future holds some pretty big changes for me, however I’m eternally grateful for every blissful experience both online and IRL that I’ve had in my seven years on the show,” she wrote.
One of Good Game’s other hosts, Nich “NichBoy” Richardson, said that the decision to cancel the show was “short-sighted”. Richardson said the move was “an alienation of an audience that the ABC are desperate to appeal to”.
My statement is on the Pocketeers FB Group. Seems like a weird time to promote, but join! They're still good people! https://t.co/t3vxRmkqoZ pic.twitter.com/aDAvxFT7Ed
— Nich Richardson (@NichBoy) January 31, 2017
Junkee understands Richardson and Bendixsen are the two “key presenters” moving on to other opportunities.
A senior producer on Good Game, Peter Burns, has slammed the decision to cancel the show as “absurd”.
@ComradeMik money = manpower. Pocket was the exact show the ABC should have been making. It's absurd that they abandoned it.
— Peter Burns (@Pierreth) January 31, 2017
As sad as it is to see Good Game end, 10 years is a damn good run in TV.
If you’re interested in seeing just how far Good Game has come in that time, it’s definitely worth checking out the very first episode:
Goodbye, Good Game.