Mega64

Mega64 is a low-budget series of comedy skits centered around video games. Co-creator Derrick Acosta describes it as, "Jackass with video games".

Premise

In the not-too-distant future, the sinister scientist Dr. Poque creates a gaming console with the ability to tap into the human mind, somehow making the games appear real to its users. He "recruits" two specimens named Rocko and Derek to enslave in a hidden beta-testing camp for his device.

While Rocko and Derek are hooked to the device (called the Mega 64), the viewer sees them acting as characters in the corresponding game, interacting with normal people in San Diego who are often unaware that they are on hidden camera, yet they are notified after the filming is completed. Occasionally, however, the cameraman will be out in the open, in situations where covert filming is unnecessary or impossible.

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 Mega 64 experiments. Shortly after, two additional characters are introduced: a puppet named Marcus, who is presumably working for Poque, and Poque's eccentric Mexican roommate Horatio.

History

The series was originally produced to air on public-access television; however, the original six episodes did not get broadcast. Later, creator Rocco Botte pitched the show to G4, but to no avail. Eventually, the show staff released what episodes had been produced so far on DVD, published through Awful Video, the publishing arm of Something Awful. The Mega64 official site provides links to order the DVD, as well as several free sample video clips.

The show's website includes several exclusive videos such as "Agent Smith Goes to Washington", which primarily spoofs The Matrix films and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, with a subtle homage to the game Paperboy, and others.

The show has also been referenced in the popular video gaming magazines Electronic Gaming Monthly and Nintendo Power. The Luigi's Mansion skit was also featured on a DVD included with issue 147 of Nintendo Official Magazine.

Mega64: Version 2, the show's second season, is scheduled to be released on DVD on July 20th, 2006.

Story

Episode 1: Life Inside A Console

The show begins in the apartment of Dr. Poque, an ex-video game programmer turned mad scientist who claims to have created the "greatest thing to happen to video gaming since Bubble Bobble". He calls it the Mega64, a revolutionary system that uses virtual reality helmets to download any video game into the user's brain and memories. It also plays movies, sends faxes, does advanced probability calculations, and has a spacious storage compartment.

To Poque’s great frustration however, he is unable to sell his system to any video game companies, getting the same response from each of them: that tapping into the minds of children is too risky. Desperate for the success of his invention, Poque sought out video game nerds all across the Internet, offering the chance to Beta Test an innovative new system. Unbeknownst to them, it's all a trap. Poque captures all who show and they are imprisoned in a vast dungeon deep under his apartment complex. Though given food and living quarters, they are forced to undergo his digital experiments day in and day out. Through these experiments, Poque seeks to find the one video game no player wishes to leave, and then unleash it onto the public to gain total world domination.

Though a vast number of subjects endure these experiments, the show follows the day-to-day life of Rocko and Derek, who Poque seems to show a particular interest in.

Rocko and Derek begin their digital misadventures with Super Mario Bros. and Kid Icarus, before Derek can't take it anymore. Poque, seeing himself as a merciful man, allows Rocko and Derek a break from experiments and they are introduced to one of their fellow subjects, Sean.

Sean is in charge of delivering Rocko and Derek e-mail from other test subjects like them. The concept of Sean’s job is really only used as a method of introducing the character, and after the first episode, Rocko and Derek seldom answer any other e-mails.

Sean presents himself as a sort of awkwardly psychotic individual, an example of this being his first conversation with Rocko and Derek...

Sean: Well, now that we know each other, can I ask you guys a question?
Rocko: Sure, go for it.
Sean: Last time I was down here… was my hair a little curlier than it is right now?
Derek: ...This is the first time we’ve ever seen you.
Sean: Oh yeah? The first time...or the last time?
(10 seconds of uncomfortable silence)
Derek: The first time.

Immediately after his introduction Sean becomes one of the show's less explained enigmas, at least for now. Rocko and Derek go on to test an additional game, this one created specifically for the Mega64 by an independent company called Suxxor Games. The game XXX, Y takes an extreme and/or totally radical approach to graphing, and then by suggestion of Rocko, the two delve into the world of Banjo Kazooie. Rocko realizes that some positive can come out of their fate to test the Mega64, and that someday they will defeat Poque, because good always overcomes evil. The episode ends with a confusing epilogue by a Sombrero Narrator, and when Rocko asks, "Um, who are you?" the man just takes his hat off and gloomily walks away.

Episode Length: (23:21)

Promotional Skits

Mega64's unique style of skits and humor has been gaining commercial attention. For Ubisoft alone, they've produced skits featuring Chaos Theory, Cold Fear, 187 Ride or Die, End of Ages, and The Two Thrones, all of which have been available for download on their respective websites.

Most recently, it has been announced that 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 Mircosoft's Xbox 360, in full high-definition and Dolby 5.1 Surround, both firsts for Mega64. The first video is now available, listed as "GRAW: Cross-Com 1 Trailer."

Cast

Rocco Botte - Dr. Poque/Rocko/Additional Characters
Derrick Acosta - Derek/Horatio/Additional Characters
Shawn Chatfield - Sean/Marcus/Additional Characters

Additional Cast

Jon Allen - Kain (voice)
Chaz Baltezore - Trigger Serious
Kevin Castaneda - Rick
Craig Chatfield - Sombrero Narrator
Krista Chatfield - True Virus
Nicole Crakes - Gorilla
Kyle Hebert - Wanser (voice)
Duncan Roberts - Spectre (voice)
Jonatahn Rohrbacher - Virus/Tony
Corey Springett - Vase Holder
Thomas F. Wilson - Himself

Crew

Rocco Botte - Co-creator, Writer
Derrick Acosta - Co-creator, Writer
Shawn Chatfield - Cameraman, Writer
Ian Luckey - Composer (Version 1)
Josh Jones - Composer (Version 2)
Garrett A Hunter - Makeup (Version 2)

External links

Something Awful | Television sketch shows 2000s TV shows in the United States

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