History Trivia / ZeroPunctuation

* ExecutiveMeddling: During the final year of ''Zero Punctuation'', there began an increasing crackdown on Yahtzee's ability to curse [[ScrewedByTheNetwork out of fear of getting demonetized by YouTube]], as well as more sponsorships placed during the middle of reviews ([[BitingTheHandHumor something that Yahtzee would become increasingly prone to further snark about]]). Following Yahtzee's departure from the series to begin ''WebVideo/FullyRamblomatic'' on Second Wind (which handled these issues much less intrusively), several comments from the Second Wind channel indicate that how they were handled for ''Zero Punctuation'' were because of executive orders from The Escapist, and thus out of their control.

* ExecutiveMeddling: During the final year of ''Zero Punctuation'', there began an increasing crackdown on Yahtzee's ability to curse [[ScrewedByTheNetwork out of fear of getting demonetized by YouTube]], as well as more sponsorships placed during the middle of reviews ([[BitingTheHandHumor something that Yahtzee would become increasingly prone to further snark about]]). Following Yahtzee's departure from the series to begin ''Fully Ramblomatic'' on Second Wind (which handle these issues much less intrusively), several comments from the Second Wind channel indicate that how they were handled for ''Zero Punctuation'' were because of executive orders from The Escapist, and thus out of their control.

* IKnewIt: In his video review of "''El Paso, Elsewhere'' and ?", Yahtzee says that the embargo date was changed while he was trying to get ready for the second game, whose identity remained a mystery. Many fans commented that the mystery game was probably ''VideoGame/HellboyWebOfWyrd'', because of the clues the game had. A week after the review, the embargo was lifted, and Yahtzee confirmed in a livestream that the game was, indeed, ''Hellboy Web of Wyrd'', which he later named Third Worst Game of 2023 in ''WebAnimation/FullyRamblomatic''.

* IKnewIt: In his video review of "''El Paso, Elsewhere'' and ?", Yahtzee says that the embargo date was changed while he was trying to get ready for the second game, whose identity remained a mystery. Many fans commented that the mystery game was probably ''VideoGame/HellboyWebOfWyrd'', because of the clues the game had. A week after the review, the embargo was lifted, and Yahtzee confirmed in a livestream that the game was, indeed, ''Hellboy Web of Wyrd''.

* ExecutiveMeddling: During the final year of ''Zero Punctuation'', there began an increasing crackdown on Yahtzee's ability to curse [[ScrewedByTheNetwork out of fear of getting demonetized by YouTube]], as well as more sponsorships placed during the middle of reviews ([[BitingTheHandHumor something that Yahtzee would become increasingly prone to further snark about]]). Following Yahtzee's departure from the series to begin ''Fully Ramblomatic'' on Second Wind (which handle these issues much less intrusively), several general comments from the Second Wind channel indicate that how these were handled for ''Zero Punctuation'' were by executive orders from The Escapist and out of their control.

* DistancedFromCurrentEvents: The Website/YouTube version for ''VideoGame/HighOnLife'' specifically notes that the video was created before its lead developer Creator/JustinRoiland recieved charges of felony domestic violence.

** The original version of "''VideoGame/VoidBastards & VideoGame/IonFury''" was demonetized supposedly for profanity, with [=YouTube=] refusing 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"]][[note]]it was probably because of the word "Bastards" in the title, [[InsaneTrollLogic ridiculous and asinine as that seems]][[/note]].

** The original version of "''VideoGame/VoidBastards & VideoGame/IonFury''" was demonetized supposedly for profanity, with [=YouTube=] refusing 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"]].

* AdoredByTheNetwork: Website/TheEscapist treated ''WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation'' with an almost exclusive level of prestige and security after picking up Yahtzee in 2007, [[LongRunners reliably keeping him and the show afloat for 16 years]] even following massive scandals with other creators on the site, ranging from [[ScrewedByTheNetwork skimping out on pay]] like with the ''WebAnimation/ExtraCredits'' team and abruptly laying off ''all'' their content creators except for Yahtzee in 2017. This ultimately ended with Yahtzee resigning voluntarily in 2023, which was both as an act of solidarity in support of former editor-in-chief Nick Calandra (with the two co-launching Second Wind shortly afterwards), as well as the culmination of his disillusionment with The Escapist, which included frustrations of having to carry the site following its earlier mass exodus.

* MissingEpisode: While the review of ''VideoGame/LordsOfTheFallen'' is the last official episode of the show, as it was the last one to be publicly released before Yahtzee quit The Escapist in favor of making ''WebAnimation/FullyRamblomatic'' for Second Wind, the last ''actual'' episode would be the review of ''VideoGame/SonicSuperstars'' which was released in a Early Access version on the Escapist's Patreon page for paying subscribers. As of this writing the episode is highly unlikely to ever see a public release, but the unlisted [=YouTube=] upload can currently be watched [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4ifjlMc7tU&list=LL&index=1&t=10s&ab_channel=TheEscapist here.]]

** There was a ''VideoGame/MarvelsSpiderMan2'' episode planned, but it may not see the light of day thanks to Yahtzee leaving November 13, 2023 as it was still being made when he left.

** There was a ''VideoGame/SpiderMan2'' episode planned, but it may not see the light of day thanks to Yahtzee leaving November 13, 2023 as it was still being made when he left.

* LongRunners: One of the longest continuously-running web video series, having begun in mid-2007 and lasting up until November 2023, 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 and most of its original series, while Yahtzee's direct influences Creator/CharlieBrooker and [[Series/TVOffal Victor Lewis-Smith]] have both given up the media criticism that influenced him.

-->'''Yahtzee:''' Fuck you, toffee-nosed PC Master Race shitheads! I wish I'd named you something else now, like the "PC Gaming Dick-Slurp All-Stars"!

* MissingEpisode: While the review of ''VideoGame/LordsOfTheFallen'' is the last official episode of the show, as it was the last one to be publicly released before Yahtzee quit The Escapist in favor of making ''WebAnimation/FullyRamblomatic'' for Second Wind, the last ''actual'' episode would be the review of ''VideoGame/SonicSuperstars'' which was released in a Early Access version on the Escapist's Patreon page for paying subscribers. As of this writing the episode is highly unlikely to ever see a public release but it can be watched [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4ifjlMc7tU&list=LL&index=1&t=10s&ab_channel=TheEscapist here.]]

* MissingEpisode: While the review of ''VideoGame/LordsOfTheFallen'' is the last official episode of the show, as it was the last one to be publicly released before Yahtzee quit The Escapist in favor of making ''WebAnimation/FullyRamblomatic'' for Second Wind, the last ''actual'' episode would be the review of ''VideoGame/SonicSuperstars'' which was released in a Early Access version on the Escapist's Patreon page for paying subscribers. As of this writing the episode is highly unlikely to ever see a public release.

* 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, 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, that 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 (on the start of Chanukah and on the week before Christmas, no less!), 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]]).

* ClumsyCopyrightCensorship:
** 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"]].
** The video for ''VisualNovel/TheMurderOfSonicTheHedgehog'' was demonetized by [=YouTube=] for the word "murder" in the title, so continuing with the previous TakeThat, the video was re-uploaded as "The [=YouTube=] of Sonic the Hedgehog".

* 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, 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, that 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 (on the start of Chanukah and on the week before Christmas, no less!), 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]]).

* LongRunners: One of the longest continuously-running web video series going, having begun in mid-2007 and still going to the present day, over ''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 and most of its original series, while Yahtzee's direct influences Creator/CharlieBrooker and [[Series/TVOffal Victor Lewis-Smith]] have both given up the media criticism that influenced him.

* IKnewIt: In his video review of "''VideoGame/ElPasoElsewhere'' and ?", Yahtzee says that the embargo date was changed while he was trying to get ready for the second game, whose identity remained a mystery. Many fans commented that the mystery game was probably ''VideoGame/HellboyWebOfWyrd'', because of the clues the game had. A week after the review, the embargo was lifted, and Yahtzee confirmed in a livestream that the game was, indeed, ''Hellboy Web of Wyrd''.

* 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]].

* MutuallyFictional: A semi-running gag is that ''our reality'' would be fictional in a StandardFantasySetting. He has orcs play a D&D campaign revolving around accounting in one episode. In another, an orc insists that everyone call him "Alan" after a night spent browsing an otherkin forum convinced him that he's "actually an accountant from Swindon." I guess that when fantastic adventuring is your day-job, "fantasy" means "[[HumbleGoal doing something painfully mundane]]."

* 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, that 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 (on the start of Chanukah and on the week before Christmas, no less!), 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]]).

* TheWikiRule: [[https://zeropunctuation.fandom.com/wiki/Main_Page Yes, seriously]]. It's mostly just audio transcripts of each episode.

* 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 and most of its original series, while Yahtzee's direct influences Creator/CharlieBrooker and [[Series/TVOffal Victor Lewis-Smith]] have both given up the media criticism that influenced him.

* ClumsyCopyrightCensorship: 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"]].
** The video for ''VisualNovel/TheMurderOfSonicTheHedgehog'' was demonetized by [=YouTube=] for the word "murder" in the title, so the word had to be replaced with the word "[=YouTube=]" as a TakeThat.

** 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 a "prologue" game developed 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]]).