Maybe the word "ripoff" is a little harsh. "Zero Originality" acknowledges its roots through its name alone, but it really does try to be its own thing--and, surprisingly, it succeeds.
The Internet has assured me of human beings' ability to parrot whatever's popular. Can we scream about the tragedy of bad retro games without adopting James Rolfe's endearing facial expressions? Check. Can we attempt to put down the fruits of developers' loins with adorable pictures and a smooth British accent that pleases the Queen like a new corgi puppy? Check-a-rooney, though the key word here is "attempt."
Zero Originality embraces Yahtzee's fast-talking manner and his special breed of stick-people, but at the heart of the videos is not a game critic but rather a game retail critic who's done his share of monkeywork behind the counter of GameStop. This disgruntled gentleman serves our game-loving species by not only warning us away from the brick-and-mortar behemoth that feeds him (or fed him), but by giving us good reasons why we should stay the eff away.
As is the habit of all monsters, EB Games reproduced across Canada with alarming speed and now you can't go into a plaza or a shopping centre without a random encounter. Happily, the Canadian species of EB Games is a little more docile than its American cousin; clerks don't hassle me about fabulous savings on used games and rarely go beyond trying to rip me off with a warranty I don't need. In fact, the used games "industry" around this country is slow and sluggish, like beavers mired in so much warm maple syrup. But I have been made to understand that used game retail has started small wars in America.
Episode One of Zero Originality takes an extensive look at how GameStop rips off the world with its used games exchange. The obvious response here is "No duh," but I found it a pretty interesting (and maddening) procession of facts. If the video fails on any aspect, it's related to presentation rather than concept. One, the dude in charge doesn't have Yahtzee's clear, bell-like voice (I think the luckdragons from The Neverending Story must sound like Yahtzee). In fact, he sounds like he's talking too fast with a mouthful of marbles. Two, there's a lot of quick-flashing of funny things...a little too much, in fact. It's distracting. Third, the videos are pretty lengthy. I guess it's sad that GameStop's atrocities can fill so much dead space.
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