Mega64 is an American satirical comedy troupe and independent production company created by Rocco Botte, Derrick Acosta, and Shawn Chatfield. Founded in San Diego in 2003, Mega64 is responsible for producing an eponymous web series, various sketches, and a podcast.[2] The core group consists of Rocco Botte, Derrick Acosta, and Shawn Chatfield with additional members Garrett Hunter, Meg Turner, Johnny Weiss, Kevin Bushong, Frank Howley and Bryan Abou Chacra. Roosterteeth member Eric Baudour was also a member of the group. They organize an annual informal fan conventionatDisneyland titled Gamedays.[3]
Variety magazine named Mega64 as one of its "10 Comics to Watch for 2015".[4]
Originally conceived to be a public-access television show, the original five episodes of the eponymous web series were later released on DVD in 2004 as Mega64: Version 1. Since then, three more seasons have been released.
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 on public-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 to G4 but was rejected. Through the suggestion of Tommy Tallarico, Botte decided to publish the material online.[6]
Eventually, the show was released on DVD, published through Awful Video, the publishing arm of Something 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 stated Version 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 air Mega64 Version 1 and Version 2 on one of their channels during their gaming block.[11] However, in Mega64's Podcast: Episode 77, it was revealed Sky would not be airing Mega64, due to a misunderstanding between the two companies. In said podcast it was explained that British Sky Broadcasting had come under new management, and that Mega64'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 the Mega64 crew claims they did not ask for any amount of money.[12]
The Mega64 cast and crew members are included in the game Super Scribblenauts as playable characters.[13][14]
Rocco Botte was involved with the 2012 DVD release of the original Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers series. He was given a Special Thanks credit.[15]
Skits featuring Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter are available for download not only on the game's official website, but also via Xbox Live to Microsoft's Xbox 360, in full high-definition and Dolby 5.1 Surround, both firsts for Mega64. Both videos are now available, listed as "GRAW: Cross-Com 1" and "GRAW: Cross-Com 2".[18][19]
The Mega64 group have created several promotional skits for the Game Developers Conference, including advertisements for the conference and its Independent Games Festival, as well as comedic skits played during the conference's Game 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 of Ken Kutaragi in "Kutaragi's Way" and Hironobu Sakaguchi in "Sakaguchi's Final Fantasy".[22][23]
In 2011, the Mega64 crew supplied a skit to Konami's E3 show, debuting the "transfarring" system in their upcoming Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. The system, which enables saved game data transfer between the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation 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 the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection and the Zone 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 title Metal 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, with Zone 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 game Castlevania: 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 been live streamed, first on Ustream[40] and then on Twitch, every Sunday at 6pm PST.[41]
The podcast is usually recorded at the Mega64 studio, but the Mega64 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) and Mega64 teamed up to make animated cartoons of the podcast for 6 weeks called Mega64nimation.[43]
