[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/decline_of_video_games_1_flashplayer_screenshot.png]]

->''"There was a time, long long ago, when gaming was good..."''
-->-- Intro to ''Decline of Video Gaming''

A Flash animation made by Double Helix and Super Flash Bros. Originally it was just a simple movie filled with silly jokes about the "Future of Video Gaming", and soon spanned four episodes (If you include the ChristmasSpecial). Practically teeming with video game jokes set in the years they were created (2004-2005), the ''Decline of Video Gaming'' was a well-received Flash cartoon on Newgrounds. Most of them end with a rant about "Some Video Games Are So Bad", and really likes to harp on the nonsensicals in video games.

''[[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/158631 Decline of Video Gaming]]'', the first episode, was set in the distant future of 2059 AD, where most video game series have been simplified and/or have started to feel more realistic. The characters introduced in this one were Dim, a long-haired guy who complained about video games; Dan, a jacket-wearing brunet guy who complained about video games, and JT, a scruffy-haired guy in a black shirt who complained about video games. Needless to say, they complained about video games. It was the most simple of the series, because it was less plot-related, and more just made to harp on video games.

''[[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/191110 Decline of Video Gaming 2]]'' had more plot than the first. The three characters, Dim, Dan and JT, are invited to e3 (Electronically Exaggerated Entertainment Show), so that the three evil game developers, Creator/{{Konami}}, Creator/{{Capcom}} and Creator/SquareEnix, can kill them. This one really fleshes out the characters, giving them actual personalities and mannerisms. It had more video game jokes, more references and a new character: Tom, the other member of Double Helix/Super Flash Bros.

''[[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/209256 A Decline Christmas]]'' was a Christmas special, with nicer animation and more holiday jokes. It had no real plot, much like ''Decline of Video Gaming''.

''[[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/253824 Decline of Video Gaming 3]]'' was the final "episode" in the series, and featured the cast going to Japan to visit an arcade. Eventually they were kidnapped and brought to an odd Japanese game show, to compete against a few minor characters from the second episode. It had more video game jokes and references, and the expected rant at the end of the game. You might recognize a lot of the characters, such as Hideo Kojima and Ken Kutagari. This ended the series, much to the dismay of the many fans of the groups.

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!!''Decline of Video Gaming'' provides examples of:
* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: The first installment. The Flash video was meant to be a parody of what was then the current state of video games, so it's pretty tongue-in-cheek.
* ArtEvolution: There was a major improvement in the animation quality between the first and second installments.
* BagOfSpilling: Decline 3 parodies ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'s'' tendency to do this. Specifically, Samus ''trips and drops her power-ups down a drain''.
* BigBadDuumvirate: The developers of Creator/SquareEnix, {{Creator/Capcom}} and {{Creator/Konami}}.
* CharacterNameAndTheNounPhrase: A joke at the ''[[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]'' series's expense uses one of these: "''The Legend of Zelda and the Lampshade of No Real Significance''".
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: The head of Creator/SquareEnix, {{Creator/Capcom}} and {{Creator/Konami}}.
* CurseCutShort: After dissing the DS, they try to criticize the PSP in the opening to ''Decline 3''. After failing to find any faults, Dim angrily throws the console, triggering its safety parachute.
-->"Oh for fu--" ''(title theme plays)''
* DramaticThunder: Crosses with SorryILeftTheBGMOn in ''Decline 2'' -- The head of Square Enix triggers it involuntarily whenever he indulges in EvilLaughter, and the Head of Capcom points out it's part of their Surround Sound system Evil Edition.
* DisproportionateRetribution: So what was the head of Creator/SquareEnix, the head of Creator/{{Capcom}} and the head of [[Creator/{{Konami}} Konami's]] reason for throwing Hideo Kojima in jail? For making VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty.
** The fact that they are going after three men for simply criticizing their video games could count.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The first entry took place TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture, with the main characters entering a game store that sold not-yet-existent sequels. Every subsequent episode simply took place in the modern day, with commentary on recently released games instead.
* EveryEpisodeEnding: Each installment (Barring the ChristmasEpisode) ends with Dim saying that he'd have more fun [[AGoodOldFashionedPaintWatching doing something boring]] than play any terrible games.
* {{Facepalm}}: "[[KillItWithFire That'll]] teach you... for SITTING IN A CHIMNEY! Sheesh..."
* FridgeLogic: In Universe on Spiderman's natural fear of newspapers.
--> '''Jameson''': Okay Parker, I want this on my desk by Mond-
--> '''Peter''': Aaah! Don't hit me!
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: One scene in Decline 2 features a ninja trying to flirt with a girl.
* FunWithAcronyms: In Decline 2, Dim, Dan, and JT are given free tickets to E3 from the Gaming Ordinators National Association of Developing Systems.
-->'''Dim:''' Wow.. Hey, wait a minute! That spells [[CurseCutShort go-]]\\
'''JT:''' Will you guys shut up!? I'm trying to watch TV!
* AGoodOldFashionedPaintWatching: "Dry like you mean it!"
* GroinAttack: World's Funniest Tornadoes
* HilariousOuttakes: Well, one in Decline 1.
* IWillShowYouX: "I'll give you [PC World Employee] stamping down on prices!"
* IAmVeryBritish: The stinger for Episode 2 has the cast of Double Helix and Super Flash Bros acting very British in self-parody (complete with a disclaimer on the top saying that they're English and making fun of themselves), talking about winning the World Wars and eating tea and scones. Tom then remarks that they were all very drunk before Dim remarked that they've actually been drinking Ribena.
* ManOnFire: Tom is lit on fire once an episode (since Episode 2). The first time was by a misfired Fire Spell from Square Enix, next when Tom fell down a chimney into a fireplace, and in the final one, he goes through the episode barely escaping the flames, until the end, when it is heavily implied that he is burned at the stake.
** Lampshaded during the final episode, where Tom lists off how many times he's almost been lit on fire. It's 31 times, to be exact. Twenty-eight of them were [[NoodleIncident Noodle Incidents]].
** "We'd have more fun watching Tom burn."
* PokeThePoodle: The Capcom head's idea of "psychological warfare" is to give the protagonists threatening phone calls in hopes of scaring them away. It barely works.
* RidiculousFutureSequelisation: The Final Fantasy title shown has so many Roman numerals in the title ''the box spans damn near the entire store.''
* RunningGag:
** "[[ManOnFire Ohmygodimonfire!]]"
** "We'd have more fun watching [X Y]!"
* TakeThat: To paraphrase the third episode, "The fact that the guys love video games doesn't mean they can't be cruel".
* TimeForPlanB: Tranq darts in Decline 3.
-->'''Head of Konami:''' Why is plan B always the better one?
* ShoutOut:
** Among others, [[Franchise/BillAndTed Evil Robot Usses]]
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' in Canada, ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' style.
* WhoWritesThisCrap: From the first one: ''Devil May Cry 4: Who wrote this crap?!''
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