History Series / Starcade

* SpiritualSuccessor:
** ''The Video Game'' (1984-85), another JM-produced game show centered on video games which replaced ''Starcade'' in syndication.
** ''WesternAnimation/VideoPower'', which for Season 2 (1991-92) changed gears from an an informational show about the latest games[[note]]With an animated cartoon segment called "The Power Team" (essentially, WesternAnimation/CaptainNTheGameMaster in reverse).[[/note]]to a game show about playing NES games.
** ''Series/NickArcade'' (1992-93), although the emphasis on playing actual video games (now including the Genesis and Neo-Geo) was shrunk down to being an optional diversion; also added to the mix was a bonus round evoking ''Series/{{Knightmare}}''. Still, there was one very notable example where it kept the ''Starcade'' tradition of introducing new games "for the first time anywhere" — an extremely early prototype of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2''.
** ''Arena'' (2002-2005), a G4 original series that had tournament rules (in many episodes) and a focus on multiplayer PC gaming. Notorious for being ScrewedByTheNetwork when it was canceled due to the pending merger of G4 and Tech TV.[[note]]Along with its notoriously TroubledProduction, which ultimately led Wil Wheaton to quit the show.[[/note]]

* GoldenSnitch: If a player decided to play a high-scoring game after playing a low-scoring one, the balance of power could switch ''very'' quickly.

Years later, the Creator/G4TV cable network (before its merger with the now-defunct Creator/TechTV) picked up the show for repeats; despite being much older than the rest of the lineup, ''Starcade'' fit in perfectly and served to plug the then-new [[http://www.starcade.tv/starcade/one.asp official Web site]] made by the show's staff, filled with information and many full episodes plus clips of the unaired pilots. Not only does it continue to be updated from time to time, but episodes and clips are also on Website/YouTube. Surprisingly, after having been absent from television for over 17 years, the show returned to G4's schedule upon the network's relaunch in November 2021. This would lead to talks about a ''second revival'' in 2022...only for those plans to be quashed by G4's second shutdown that year.

Years later, the Creator/G4TV cable network (before its merger with the now-defunct Creator/TechTV) picked up the show for repeats; despite being much older than the rest of the lineup, ''Starcade'' fit in perfectly and served to plug the then-new [[http://www.starcade.tv/starcade/one.asp official Web site]] made by the show's staff, filled with information and many full episodes plus clips of the unaired pilots. Not only does it continue to be updated from time to time, but episodes and clips are also on Website/YouTube. Surprisingly, after having been absent from television for over 17 years, the show returned to G4's schedule upon the network's relaunch in November 2021.

Years later, the Creator/G4TV cable network (before its merger with the also now-defunct Creator/TechTV) picked up the show for repeats; despite being much older than the rest of the lineup, ''Starcade'' fit in perfectly and served to plug the then-new [[http://www.starcade.tv/starcade/one.asp official Web site]] made by the show's staff, filled with information and many full episodes plus clips of the unaired pilots. Not only does it continue to be updated from time to time, but episodes and clips are also on Website/YouTube. Surprisingly, after having been absent from television for over 17 years, the show returned to G4's schedule upon the network's relaunch in November 2021.

Years later, the now-defunct Creator/G4TV cable network (before its merger with the also now-defunct Creator/TechTV) picked up the show for repeats; despite being much older than the rest of the lineup, ''Starcade'' fit in perfectly and served to plug the then-new [[http://www.starcade.tv/starcade/one.asp official Web site]] made by the show's staff, filled with information and many full episodes plus clips of the unaired pilots. Not only does it continue to be updated from time to time, but episodes and clips are also on Website/YouTube.

Two contestants (sometimes two teams of two) played three rounds. Each round began with a toss-up question about a video game, such as "The first event in ''Alpine Ski'' is A) Downhill Ski or B) The Slalom Race" [[labelnote:answer]](Downhill Ski)[[/labelnote]]. The person/team who got the question right picked which of the five arcade games they would face off on. The players then got anywhere from [[TimedMission 40-60 seconds]] to score as many points as possible. After three rounds, the player/team with the higher score advanced to the final round.

** To a certain extent, "Name the Game", played after the second and third games. The player in the lead stood before a board which had four television screens on it; each one had footage of an arcade game, and the player/team had to identify the games one at a time (e.g., "Is this from ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' or ''VideoGame/CongoBongo''?" "''Donkey Kong''." "You're right!"). A prize was awarded for getting three right, and another for all four right.

** This trope is actually hard to avoid when you're dealing with a game show based around ''video games''[[note]]during the production of the Trebek pilots, NBC's standards department tried to have them cover up the game and manufacturer names, only to realize the show couldn't survive without the trope[[/note]]. Of note are special "showcase" shows featuring a brand-new game, which unsurprisingly was in all five positions - ''Franchise/StarWars'' (which didn't have a video game until 1983), ''VideoGame/DragonsLair'', and ''CliffHanger'' all had one each.

[[http://deadline.com/2017/01/starcade-game-show-reboot-shout-factory-1201882385/ It has been announced that]] Creator/ShoutFactory has acquired the rights to the show, and with JM Productions is planning a reboot of the show for the near-future.

** To a certain extent, "Name the Game", played after the second and third games. The player in the lead stood before a board which had four television screens on it; each one had footage of an arcade game, and the player/team had to identify the games one at a time (e.g., "Is this from ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' or ''Congo Bongo''?" "''Donkey Kong''." "You're right!"). A prize was awarded for getting three right, and another for all four right.

** This trope is actually hard to avoid when you're dealing with a game show based around ''video games''[[note]]during the production of the Trebek pilots, NBC's standards department tried to have them cover up the game and manufacturer names, only to realize the show couldn't survive without the trope[[/note]]. Of note are special "showcase" shows featuring a brand-new game, which unsurprisingly was in all five positions - ''StarWars'' (which didn't have a video game until 1983), ''DragonsLair'', and ''CliffHanger'' all had one each.

** ''WesternAnimation/VideoPower'', which for Season 2 (1991-92) changed gears from a subpar cartoon to a slightly-less-subpar game show about playing NES games.

* ThoseTwoGuys: Geoff and Kevin. Much like his comedic banter with Emile Autori on ''Series/TreasureHuntUS'' and Judge Von Erik on ''Series/PlayThePercentages'', he frequently poked fun at Kevin -- only unlike Autori and Von Erik, Kevin could fling it back at him (being the announcer and all).

[[caption-width-right:350:Meet the stars ... of ''Starcade''!]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Meet the stars ... of Starcade!]]

[[caption-width-right:350:...[[RuleOfCool damn]].]]

Two contestants (sometimes two teams of two) played three rounds. Each round began with a toss-up question about a video game, such as "The first event in ''Alpine Ski'' is A) Downhill Ski or B) The Slalom Race" [[note]](Downhill Ski)[[/note]]. The person/team who got the question right picked which of the five arcade games they would face off on. The players then got anywhere from [[TimedMission 40-60 seconds]] to score as many points as possible. After three rounds, the player/team with the higher score advanced to the final round.

* ThoseTwoGuys: Geoff and Kevin. Much like his comedic banter with Emile Autori on ''Series/TreasureHuntUS'' and Erik von Judge on ''Series/PlayThePercentages'', he frequently poked fun at Kevin -- only unlike Autori and Erik, Kevin could fling it back at him (being the announcer and all).

In the early 1980s, VideoGames were huge...and so were {{Game Show}}s. In 1981, JM Productions got the great idea to merge the two. The result was ''Starcade'', which originally ran from 1982-83 on [[Creator/{{TBS}} Superstation WTBS]] and 1983-84 in UsefulNotes/{{syndication}} (via Turner Program Services). Unlike most game shows, this show was recorded in San Francisco, CA, the centerpiece for technology and video games in America.

In the early 1980s, VideoGames were huge...and so were {{Game Show}}s. In 1981, JM Productions got the great idea to merge the two. The result was ''Starcade'', which originally ran from 1982-83 on [[Creator/{{TBS}} Superstation WTBS]] and 1983-84 in UsefulNotes/{{syndication}} (via Turner Program Services). Unlike most game shows, this show was recorded in San Francisco, California, the centerpiece for technology and video games in America.

All in all, ''Starcade'' was the first of its kind: a pioneering game show centered on video games (as announcer Kevin [=McMahon=] put it, "a game show for today") that managed to survive UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983 and inspire such shows as ''WesternAnimation/VideoPower'' and ''Series/NickArcade''. Creator/USANetwork was in talks about a {{revival}} in 2006, but never picked it up...thankfully, since "TheyChangedItNowItSucks" would '''definitely''' have been heard among the ''Starcade'' community.

Thanks to the Web site and the reruns on G4, ''Starcade'' has become popular as not only a good game show, but also a sizable chunk of 1980s gaming nostalgia for those who remember the era (and a fun history lesson for those who don't). And of course, there's always UsefulNotes/{{MAME}}. Indeed, [[http://www.dailydot.com/esports/starcade-esports/ this article]] puts it as the predescessor to the current e-sports craze.

In the early 1980s, VideoGames were huge...and so were {{Game Show}}s. In 1981, JM Productions got the great idea to merge the two. The result was ''Starcade'', which originally ran from 1982-83 on [[Creator/{{TBS}} Superstation WTBS]] and 1983-84 in UsefulNotes/{{syndication}}. Unlike most game shows, this show was recorded in San Francisco, California, the centerpiece for technology and video games in America.

** To a certain extent, "Name the Game", played after the second and third games. The player in the lead stood before a board which had four television screens on it; each one had footage of an arcade game, and the player/team had to identify the games one at a time (e.g., "Is this from ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong'' or ''CongoBongo''?" "''Donkey Kong''." "You're right!"). A prize was awarded for getting three right, and another for all four right.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: For the first few episodes with Mark Richards, the Mindseed-composed theme wasn't in place yet, the narration was different (instead of making reference to the video games, Kevin McMahon called it "A game show for today!"), some sound-effects were different; the elements (including the opening pan over the Starcade Arcade and set) didn't stabilize until Geoff Edwards took over.

In the early 1980s, VideoGames were huge...and so were {{Game Show}}s. In 1981, JM Productions got the great idea to merge the two. The result was ''Starcade'', which originally ran from 1982-83 on [[Creator/{{TBS}} WTBS]] and 1983-84 in UsefulNotes/{{syndication}}. Unlike most game shows, this show was recorded in San Francisco, California, the centerpiece for technology and video games in America.

[[http://deadline.com/2017/01/starcade-game-show-reboot-shout-factory-1201882385/ It has been announced that]] Creator/ShoutFactory has acquired the rights to the show, and with JM is planning a reboot of the show for the near-future.

* SceneryPorn:

* DeadpanSnarker: Geoff, as per usual for him; much like his comedic banter with Emile Autori on ''Series/TreasureHuntUS'' and Erik von Judge on ''Series/PlayThePercentages'', he frequently poked fun at Kevin -- only unlike Autori and Erik, Kevin could fling it back at him (being the announcer and all).

* OpeningNarration: "This is ''Starcade'', TV's first video arcade game show! Starring your favorite video games! And some brand-new ones being introduced to the public for the first time anywhere! And now, here's your host for Starcade, Mark Richards/Geoff Edwards!"

* ThoseTwoGuys: Geoff and Kevin.

We're gonna flash back to [[UsefulNotes/TheEighties A-T-3]]\\

-->-Opening segment shown before each episode on Network/G4TV from 2002-04