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Xplay#GameSpot TV

{{Short description|Television program}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Xplay 2021 logo.png

| caption =

| writer = Mike Demski {{small|(2008–2013)}}

| director = {{plainlist|

  • Annaliza Savage {{small|(1998–2003)}}
  • Karsten Bondy {{small|(2003–2005)}}
  • Paul Bonanno {{small|(2005–2007)}}
  • Alan Wu {{small|(2008–2013)}}

}}

| starring = {{plainlist|

}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_episodes = 1,516

| executive_producer = Wade Beckett {{small|(2006–2012)}}

| producer = {{plainlist|

  • Annaliza Savage {{small|(1998–2003)}}
  • Matt Keil {{small|(2004–2013)}}

}}

| editor = {{plainlist|

  • Justin Dornbush {{small|(lead)}}
  • John R. French {{small|(lead)}}
  • Sam Goldfien
  • Matt Korb
  • Will Simpson
  • Brian C. Sullivan

}}

| camera = Multiple-camera setup

| runtime = {{plainlist|

  • 22–25 minutes (1998–2013)
  • 44 minutes (special episodes)
  • 120 minutes (2021–22)

}}

| company = G4 Media, LLC

| network = {{plainlist|

  • ZDTV {{small|(1998–2000)}}
  • TechTV {{small|(2000–04)}}
  • G4techTV {{small|(2004–2005)}}
  • G4 {{small|(2005–13, 2021–22)}}

}}

| first_aired = {{Start date|1998|7|4}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2013|1|23}}

| first_aired2 = {{Start date|2021|11|19}}

| last_aired2 = {{End date|2022|10|20}}

}}Xplay (previously GameSpot TV, Extended Play, and X-Play) was 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 was 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 have also served as correspondents during the show's run). Adam Sessler was the original host of the program; he previously co-hosted with 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;{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osIGzi1-UK8#t=5m10s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/osIGzi1-UK8 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=ZDTV Promo|last=Barovelli|date=13 April 2008|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} 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

=Original series=

Preceding the launch of ZDTV on May 11, 1998, a program by video gaming website GameSpot was projected for a mid-summer release.{{Cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/zdtv-launches-monday/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711004004/https://www.zdnet.com/article/zdtv-launches-monday/ |title=ZDTV launches Monday |first=Martha |last=Stone |website=ZDNet |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=May 8, 1998 |archive-date=July 11, 2015 |access-date=March 12, 2025 |url-status=live}} Adam Sessler, who would become the program's host, 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.{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5991439/internet-killed-the-video-star-the-extraordinary-journey-of-adam-sessler |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320175525/https://kotaku.com/5991439/internet-killed-the-video-star-the-extraordinary-journey-of-adam-sessler |title=Internet Killed The Video Star: The Extraordinary Journey Of Adam Sessler |last=Schreier |first=Jason |website=Kotaku |publisher=Gawker Media |date=March 20, 2013 |archive-date=March 20, 2013 |access-date=September 23, 2014 |url-status=live}}

GameSpot TV, hosted by Sessler and Lauren Fielder, 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 Sessler estimating around 10,000 per episode. Sessler honed his skills and gaming knowledge, covering titles like Banjo-Kazooie and Spyro the Dragon, and 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. Kate Botello became Sessler's co-host on April 29, 2000.{{cite web |url=http://www.zdnet.com/zdtv/gamespottv/interact/story/0,3776,2555237,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000622085004/http://www.zdnet.com/zdtv/gamespottv/interact/story/0,3776,2555237,00.html |title=Kate Botello's a Gamer |publisher=ZDTV |archive-date=June 22, 2000 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/story/0,23008,3311437,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010816003148/http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/story/0%2C23008%2C3311437%2C00.html |title=TechTV | Extended Play Is Born |last=Weigel |first=Ray |publisher=TechTV |date=February 13, 2001 |archive-date=August 16, 2001 |access-date=April 22, 2013 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/story/0,23008,3312380,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010610160402/http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/story/0,23008,3312380,00.html |title=TechTV - The Add On Pack - 02/17/01 - Game Engines A Go Go |last=Weigel |first=Ray |publisher=TechTV |date=February 18, 2001 |archive-date=June 10, 2001 |url-status=dead}} Botello departed the show on March 29, 2002.{{cite web |url=http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/interact/story/0,24330,3378298,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020401223724/http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/interact/story/0,24330,3378298,00.html |title=TechTV | A Fond Farewell from Kate Botello |last=Botello |first=Kate |author-link=Kate Botello |publisher=TechTV |date=March 29, 2002 |archive-date=April 1, 2002 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/techtv-spices-late-night-142996 |title=TechTV Spices Up Late-Night |last=Moss |first=Linda |website=Multichannel News |publisher=Future plc |date=March 3, 2003 |access-date=March 18, 2025}} 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. G4's acquisition of TechTV led to staff layoffs and a poorly handled transition that strained relations with the new owners. X-Play relocated to Los Angeles, where the crew's resistance to G4's culture inspired a creative peak, though a costly 2004 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.

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.g4rewind.com/2007/03/confirmed_g4_studios_to_close.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322170155/http://www.g4rewind.com/2007/03/confirmed_g4_studios_to_close.html|url-status=dead|title=G4 Rewind: Confirmed: G4 studios to close; Operations moving to E!; Layoffs ensue|archive-date=22 March 2007|access-date=23 June 2022}} Tensions rose between G4 and E!, who clashed over cultural differences. 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".{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/gaming/gaming-television/x+play-expands-332986.php |title=Encrypt text on your web pages |first=Gina |last=Trapani |website=Kotaku.com}} In December 2008, the show aired X-Large one-hour episodes every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/x-play-extends-to-one-hour-in-december/|title=Gaming articles on Engadget|website=Joystiq.com}} 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."{{Cite web |url=https://g4tv.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325222245/http://www.g4tv.com/opensource.aspx |url-status=dead |title=G4tv.com - Video Games, Comedy, Creators & Culture |archive-date=25 March 2008 |website=G4tv.com |access-date=23 June 2022}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5155419/rumor-cuts-hit-x+play-show-drops-to-thrice-weekly-%5Bupdate%5D |title=Cuts Hit X-Play, Show Drops to Thrice Weekly [Update] |first=Brian |last=Crecente |website=kotaku.com |date=17 February 2009}}

In April 2012, it was announced that Sessler would no longer be part of G4.{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5905119/adam-sessler-out-at-g4 |title=Adam Sessler Out At G4 [UPDATE] |date=25 April 2012 |publisher=Kotaku.com |access-date=2013-04-22}} On October 26, 2012, it was reported that the show (along with Attack of the Show!) would cease production after 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/729197/g4-marks-the-end-of-aots-and-x-play-with-two-month-farewells/ |title=G4 Marks the End of AOTS and X-Play with Two-Month Farewells |website=G4tv.com |date=2012-10-26 |access-date=2013-04-22}}

Webb and Sessler reunited for Bethesda Softworks' press conference at E3 in 2016.{{cite web|last1=North|first1=Dale|title=Former X-Play hosts Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb will reunite at Bethesda's E3 press conference|url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/06/01/former-x-play-hosts-adam-sessler-and-morgan-webb-will-reunite-at-bethesdas-e3-press-conference/|website=VentureBeat|date=June 2015|access-date=17 August 2016}}

= Revival =

On July 24, 2020, G4 announced a revival of the network set for a 2021 launch.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aegzuPD1DUc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/aegzuPD1DUc |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title = G4 Returns - Official Teaser Trailer (2021)|website = YouTube|date=24 July 2020 }}{{cbignore}} Later on November 24, 2020, G4 released A Very Special G4 Reunion Special,{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyBq6apzUHg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/eyBq6apzUHg |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title = A Very Special G4 Reunion Special | Full Video|website = YouTube|date=24 November 2020 }}{{cbignore}} which featured former X-Play hosts Adam Sessler, Morgan Webb, and Blair Herter (who is one of the key people behind the re-launch{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/g4-tv-teases-2021-relaunch-1234716006/|title = Long-Dormant Gaming Network G4 TV Teases 2021 Relaunch by Comcast Spectacor|date = 24 July 2020}}), as well as correspondent Kristin Adams. On January 28, 2021, G4 announced that X-Play (alongside Attack of the Show!) would return with it.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__JIC5KWDSI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/__JIC5KWDSI |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title = Welcome the Return of Attack of the Show and X-Play in Summer 2021|website = YouTube|date=28 January 2021 }}{{cbignore}} On February 12, 2021, G4 announced that Adam Sessler would return to host.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIVCLOR62n4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/cIVCLOR62n4 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title = Huge G4 Talent Announcements! Hosts Confirmed!|website = YouTube|date=12 February 2021 }}{{cbignore}} The revival premiered on November 19, 2021,{{cite web |last1=Baysinger |first1=Tim |title=G4 Sets Relaunch Date for Linear TV and Streaming|url=https://www.thewrap.com/g4-relaunch-date-philo/ |website=Thewrap.com |date=October 12, 2021}} 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). Sessler, Froskurinn, The Completionist and The Black Hokage co-hosted the revival; Sessler mainly co-hosted the show remotely from his San Francisco home while the others were based at G4’s studio in Los Angeles.

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.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/g4-host-slams-xplay-audience-s-sexist-expectations-1848345612 |title=G4 Host Slams Xplay Audience's Sexist Expectations |last=Gach |first=Ethan |website=Kotaku |date=January 12, 2022 |access-date=May 20, 2025}} 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.{{cite news |url=https://kotaku.com/g4-tv-frosk-adam-sessler-xplay-layoffs-twitch-youtube-1849559238 |title=Xplay Host Frosk Out At G4 A Week After Layoffs [Update: Pereira Departs] |last1=Gach |first1=Ethan |access-date=October 17, 2022 |work=Kotaku |date=September 20, 2022 |language=en}}

Xplay 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.{{cite news |last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |title=Comcast Pulls Plug On G4 TV, Ending Comeback Try For Gamer-Focused Network |url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/comcast-pulls-plug-on-g4-tv-ending-comeback-try-video-game-network-1235145219/ |access-date=October 17, 2022 |work=Deadline |date=October 16, 2022}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{official website|http://g4tv.com/games/xplay/}}
  • [http://www.g4tv.com/xplaymicro/ X-Play microsite to celebrate show re-launch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704192247/http://www.g4tv.com/xplaymicro/ |date=2008-07-04 }}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20060904233856/http://www.iheartmorganwebb.com/?file=gameratings X-Play Reviewed Games Database]
  • {{IMDb title|0361258|X-Play}}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/19990508221922/http://www2.zdnet.com/zdtv/gamespottv/ ZDTV - Gamespot TV (ARCHIVED)]

{{G4 Original Broadcast Line-up}}

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Category:American English-language television shows

Category:G4 (American TV network) original programming

Category:Impact of the Columbine High School massacre

Category:Infotainment

Category:TechTV original programming

Category:Television shows about video games

Category:Television shows filmed in Los Angeles

Category:Video game culture

Category:Video game journalism

Category:X-Play