History Trivia / ZeroPunctuation

** In his ''VideoGame/KingdomsOfAmalurReckoning'', Yahtzee comments how based on several design elements, he could deduce that the game was originally planned to be an [[MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame MMORPG]] rather than a standalone RPG. He's half-correct -- he believed it was meant to be an MMO first but the developers chickened out and underwent a MidDevelopmentGenreShift, but the ''actual'' plan was that ''Reckoning'' was going to lead into a proper ''Kingdoms of Amalur'' MMO, planned to release well after Yahtzee's review ([[DevelopmentHell though it would never come to be due to catastrophic financial troubles]] and [[CreatorKiller 38 Studios filing for bankruptcy]]).

** Though he never played the original ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2002'', he surmised that the reboot had rewritten their personalities to some degree, as the story treats their relationship as preordained and central [[TheFriendsWhoNeverHang even though they barely even talk to each other]] and Ratchet's dull personality doesn't create much chemistry. Many fans in the comments noted that this was entirely true; Ratchet was originally a surly {{Jerkass}} and borderline DesignatedHero who [[JerkToNiceGuyPlot underwent a clear arc]], and the reboot cut or altered a lot of scenes where the two bickered or built their relationship. Further, they're immediately friendly and familiar with each other when they meet, with no "getting to know you" arc like in the original game.

* ScrewedByTheLawyers: Several early episodes got blocked on [=YouTube=] due the initial use of licensed music in the intro and outro before the show got its own original theme. For example, an upload of the ''VideoGame/{{Peggle}}'' review was blocked in several countries due to a copyright claim by Creator/WarnerMusicGroup, as it used "[[Music/LynyrdSkynyrd Free Bird]]" for the outro. The videos were still viewable on the original Escapist website, accessible through the Zero Punctuation Wiki linked below, until the expiration of Adobe Flash Player on January 1, 2021. However, the video for ''Psychonauts'', blocked for use of licensed music, was re-uploaded on [=YouTube=] with ZP's original intro and outro music themes on August 14, 2021, in time for ''VideoGame/Psychonauts2''. Another video for ''VideoGame/SimCity Societies'' was also blocked for use of licensed music, and it was not until late 2022 that the video was discovered and re-uploaded on [=YouTube=] with the same treatment on December 18, 2022, albeit with the ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' bonus clip removed due to a licensed music issue (the original video with the clip can still be viewed on [[https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3674rr DailyMotion]]).

* ScrewedByTheLawyers: Several early episodes got blocked on [=YouTube=] due the initial use of licensed music in the intro and outro before the show got its own original theme. For example, an upload of the ''VideoGame/{{Peggle}}'' review was blocked in several countries due to a copyright claim by Creator/WarnerMusicGroup, as it used "[[Music/LynyrdSkynyrd Free Bird]]" for the outro. Thankfully, they’re still viewable on the original Escapist website, accessible through the Zero Punctuation Wiki linked below. However, the video for ''Psychonauts'', blocked for use of licensed music, was re-uploaded on [=YouTube=] with ZP's original intro and outro music themes on August 14, 2021, in time for ''VideoGame/Psychonauts2''.

* CowboyBebopAtHisComputer: [[{{CowboyBebopAtHisComputer/ZeroPunctuation}} Has its own page]].

** At one point in ''VideoGame/DeadRising2OffTheRecord'', a washing machine can be found, and if Frank West goes near it, he mentions something about potato salad being inside of it. This is in reference to the ZP episode on ''VideoGame/DeadRising2'', where Yahtzee says that “Capcom make game stories the way a tumble dryer makes potato salad”.

* ScrewedByTheNetwork: The original version of "''VideoGame/VoidBastards & VideoGame/IonFury''" was demonetized by Website/YouTube for profanity ([[SelectiveEnforcement despite the series having been on the site since at least 2011]]) and, in typical modern [=YouTube=] fashion, has refused to elaborate on what they took exception to. The video was uploaded in a censored form with the harder profanities replaced by [[TakeThat Yahtzee whispering "YouTube"]], but even this edited version [[https://twitter.com/ZPunctuation/status/1268333578569613313 was demonetized for "adult content"]].
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Yahtzee and his reviewing style in ''Zero Punctuation'' are some of the last remnants of the mid-late 2000s internet critic trend of shorter reviews consisting of rapid-fire insults and [[ToiletHumor vulgar comedy]]. Many of the other reviewers who popularized the trend have since moved on or expanded their brand, while the new generation of games critics have gone for a more introspective long-form take. Yahtzee's videos themselves still remain quite popular, with new ones quickly racking in hundreds of thousands of views, even if his style of review itself has largely fallen out of favor. It could be a case of GrandfatherClause.

* QuoteSource: As of 2019, he provides the quote for over ''forty'' different trope pages, making him one of the current most popular quote sources.

** Though he never played the original ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2002'', he surmised that the reboot had rewritten their personalities to some degree, as the story treats their relationship as preordained and central [[TheFriendsWhoNeverHang even though they barely even talk to each other]] and Ratchet's dull personality doesn't create much chemistry. Many fans in the comments noted that this was entirely true; Ratchet was originally a surly JerkAss and borderline DesignatedHero who [[JerkToNiceGuyPlot underwent a clear arc]], and the reboot cut or altered a lot of scenes where the two bickered or built their relationship. Further, they're immediately friendly and familiar with each other when they meet, with no "getting to know you" arc like in the original game.

** Though he never played the original ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2002'', he surmised that the reboot had rewritten their personalities to some degree, as the story treats their relationship as preordained and central [[TheFriendsWhoNeverHang even though they barely even talk to each other]] and Ratchet's dull personality doesn't create much chemistry. Many fans in the comments noted that this was entirely true; Ratchet was originally a surly JerkAss and borderline DesignatedHero who [[JerkToNiceGuyPlot underwent a clear arc]], and the reboot cut or altered a lot of scenes where the two bickered or built their relationship.

* CowboyBebopAtHisComputer: Graham Stark describes ''X-Blades'' as ''Why You Don't Outsource Anime To America'' during his guest appearance, even though it's actually developed in Russia.

* LongRunners: One of the longest continuously-running web video series going, having begun in mid-2007 and still going in 2022, almost ''15 years later'', with breaks only for Christmas and the occasional personal reason. To put that it in perspective, ''Zero Punctuation'' started before and has significantly outlived Website/ChannelAwesome, while Yahtzee's direct influences Creator/CharlieBrooker and [[Series/TVOffal Victor Lewis-Smith]] have both given up the media criticism that influenced him.

* ScrewedByTheLawyers: Several early episodes got blocked on [=YouTube=] due the initial use of licensed music in the intro and outro before the show got its own original theme. For example, an upload of the ''VideoGame/{{Peggle}}'' review was blocked in several countries due to a copyright claim by Creator/WarnerMusicGroup, as it used "[[Music/LynyrdSkynyrd Free Bird]]" for the outro. Thankfully, they’re still viewable on the original Escapist website, accessible through the Zero Punctuation Wiki linked below. However, the video for ''Psychonauts'', blocked for use of licensed music, was re-uploaded on [=YouTube=] with ZP's original intro and outro music themes on August 14, 2021, in regards for the upcoming ''Psychonauts'' sequel.

* ScrewedByTheLawyers: Several early episodes got blocked on [=YouTube=] due the initial use of licensed music in the intro and outro before using the show got its own original theme. For example, an upload of the ''VideoGame/{{Peggle}}'' review was blocked in several countries due to a copyright claim by Creator/WarnerMusicGroup, as it used "[[Music/LynyrdSkynyrd Free Bird]]" for the outro. Thankfully, they’re still viewable on the original Escapist website, accessible through the Zero Punctuation Wiki linked below. However, the video for ''Psychonauts'', blocked for use of licensed music, was re-uploaded on [=YouTube=] with ZP's original intro and outro music themes on August 14, 2021, in regards for the upcoming ''Psychonauts'' sequel.

* ScrewedByTheLawyers: Several early episodes got blocked on [=YouTube=] due the initial use of licensed music in the intro and outro before using the show got its own original theme. For example, an upload of the ''VideoGame/{{Peggle}}'' review was blocked in several countries due to a copyright claim by Creator/WarnerMusicGroup, as it used "[[Music/LynyrdSkynyrd Free Bird]]" for the outro. Thankfully, they’re still viewable on the original Escapist website, accessible through the Zero Punctuation Wiki linked below. However, the video for ''Psychonauts'', blocked for use of licensed music, was re-uploaded on [=YouTube=] on August 14, 2021, in regards for the upcoming ''Psychonauts'' sequel.

* ScrewedByTheLawyers: Several early episodes got blocked on [=YouTube=] due the initial use of licensed music in the intro and outro before using the show got its own original theme. For example, an upload of the ''VideoGame/{{Peggle}}'' review was blocked in several countries due to a copyright claim by Creator/WarnerMusicGroup, as it used "[[Music/LynyrdSkynyrd Free Bird]]" for the outro. Thankfully, they’re still viewable on the original Escapist website, accessible through the Zero Punctuation Wiki linked below.

* MarthDebutedInSmashBros: [[invoked]] He never even heard of Marth before playing ''Brawl'', and based on his other reviews, shouting "''Franchise/FireEmblem''" (or "''VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragon''", which is where Marth ''actually'' debuted) loud enough near him [[BrownNote will cause his brain to explode.]]

* ScrewedByTheLawyers: Several early episodes got blocked on [=YouTube=] due the initial use of licensed music in the intro and outro before using the show got its own original theme. For example, an upload of the ''VideoGame/{{Peggle}}'' review was blocked in several countries due to a copyright claim by Creator/WarnerMusicGroup, as it used "[[Music/LynyrdSkynyrd Free Bird]]" for the outro. Thankfully, they’re still viewable on the original Escapist website, accessible through the Zero Punctuation Wiki linked before.

* ScrewedByTheLawyers: The [=YouTube=] upload of ''VideoGame/{{Peggle}}'' was blocked in several countries due to a copyright claim by Creator/WarnerMusicGroup, as the review used "[[Music/LynyrdSkynyrd Free Bird]]" for the outro.

** During the ''Drowning Out'' of ''VideoGame/DukeNukemForever'', he revealed he'd been asked to write a script for the game, but his ideas were turned down because Yahtzee wanted to make the game aware of Duke being a dated artifact of the 90's, but the producers stated that Duke had to be played straight and perfect.[note]He turned out to be right on the money on that, as one of the main criticism of the game was precisely that the character of Duke Nukem was a product of a bygone era that was impossible to take seriously today.[/note]

** During the ''Drowning Out'' of ''VideoGame/DukeNukemForever'', he revealed he'd been asked to write a script for the game, but his ideas were turned down because Yahtzee wanted to make the game aware of Duke being a dated artifact of the 90's, but the producers stated that Duke had to be played straight and perfect.

** In his review of ''VideoGame/{{Control}}'', Yahtzee semi-jokingly guessed that beyond thematic overlap, there's a direct crossover between the game and Remedy Entertainment's earlier game ''VideoGame/AlanWake'' namely by how their respective [[EldritchAbomination villainous eldritch forces]] behave in almost the exact same way. Not only do [[AllThereInTheManual a few scraps of in-game]] FlavorText reveal that [[SharedUniverse Alan Wake exists in the same universe]], the properties would explicitly {{crossover}} in the ''AWE'' DLC, confirming that The Hiss of ''Control'' and The Dark Presence of ''Alan Wake'' are of a similar kind, but [[EvilVersusEvil antagonistic towards the other.]]

** In his review of ''VideoGame/{{Control}}'' he semi-jokingly suspected that beyond thematic overlap, there's a direct crossover between the game and Remedy Entertainment's earlier game ''VideoGame/AlanWake'' namely by how their respective [[EldritchAbomination villainous eldritch forces]] behave in almost the exact same way. Not only do [[AllThereInTheManual a few scraps of in-game]] FlavorText reveal that [[SharedUniverse Alan Wake exists in the same universe]], the properties would outright cross over in the ''AWE'' DLC, confirming that The Hiss of ''Control'' and The Dark Presence of ''Alan Wake'' are of a similar kind, but [[EvilVersusEvil antagonistic towards the other.]]