Happy Video Game Nerd

A reviewer reviewing a reviewer??????

I have been an Angry Video Game Nerd fan for about a year now, however I guess I am the only person alive who hasn't heard of of the Happy Video Game Nerd until recently.



The premise of the show is that the Happy Video Game Nerd (HVGN) originated as a direct spoof of the Angry Video Game Nerd (AVGN), right down to the spoof of the infamous AVGN Theme Song and lampooning the trademark AVGN fits of rage with exaggerated heights of glee. The focus was that instead of being just another screaming and cursing YouTube reviewer going off on horrible games or movies, HVGN decided to reverse the trend and give reviews of genuinely good, yet sadly overlooked, video games.

However, for his direct comparisons to James Rolfe's character, the AVGN, Derek Alexander (HVGN) has been a sore subject in the video critic community, often being barraged by accusations of 'being a nerd ripoff'. However that is really unfair and there is really no point in comparing Derek to James Rolfe since one is spoofing of the other, but I think it's worth mentioning that they are each appealing for entirely different reasons.

We watch the AVGN for the same reasons we watch Mystery Science Theater 3000. It's clearly not for the subject matter in and of itself. The games (and movies) are terrible, and they're chosen for that exact reason. We laugh at how bad the games and movies are, and the commentary provided makes it even funnier. The purpose is entirely for entertainment.

The HVGN, on the other hand, serves a practical purpose. We do care about the games being featured. When I first saw the Metal Storm review, I agreed with Derek's comments that there are underrated games that everyone knows about, and underrated games that truly are oblivious to even the hardcore or retro gamers.

The humor in his reviews is nearly nil by AVGN standards, however his insights and review style are professional, informative, and relatively entertaining to watch. Even more impressive is that is seems that he truely cares about the games he's reviewing, and he does a good job of getting you to think "Hey, this game looks pretty kick ass."

It seems to me that the HVGN has toned down the spoof aspects of the HVGN since its inception. He doesn't need them anymore as he is establishing his own unique identity, and honestly the further he can get from James Rolfe and the Angry Video Game Nerd, the better in my opinion.

Like Kenny Farino mentioned in his blog, the net is filled to the brim with AVGN and TGWTG knockoffs, and even some direct plagiarists. The best thing that Derek Alexander can do with his reviewer persona is to change the name of his character from anything remotely like the Angry Video Game Nerd. But then again, his accusations of 'ripping off the AVGN' is what scored him his moderate popularity so maybe the following quote holds true:

"There is no such thing as bad publicity."

Anyways, check out the Happy Video Game Nerd's review of the unsung SNES RPG, EarthBound:

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I never heard of eather of them. Maybe someday this weekend I will watch one or two of their work.

yeah the only time I heard of them was through Laughing man.

oh good lord, if I had to base the rest of his reviews off of the Earth Bound one I would not watch another. long and boring. he points out some good points about Earth Bound but, it actually turned me off from the game. Thanks for some insight of where Ness and Lucias came from but now, can they go away?

Meh, each their own. He's not nearly as entertaining as the Angry Video Game Nerd, but he actually made me curious about EarthBound. I thought he was analytical, but he is not a 'fun' watch.

I'm so glad you mentioned the HVGN because he was one of my biggest inspirations to start an informative review-based show. Along with him and James Rolfe's Monster Madness reviews, I was inspired to start up the Horror Corner, so I have this awesome dude to thank for that!

That's cool then. Any other inspirations? Just please don't say you were inspired by The Irate Gamer or I'd be double-checking your work for blatant plagiarism. LOL

Urgh, I was surfing Encyclopedia Dramatica when I came across this dude:
Alexander 4488

I don't know what to think about his reviews, besides them being bland, but the guy has an ego.

Hey Kenny, it looks like you have some experience with Alexander. What are your takes on his videos?

As Zero Punctuation put it... *GARGLING NOISE*

Dear Christ this kid is thick. Never in my life have I seen somebody with as much gall as him to not only thief someone else's ideas, but also justify that what he is doing is actually a) an original concept, and b) something that is totally not reviled by every known person on the net aside from his small legion of ne'erdowells. Alexander strikes me as somebody very similar to the Irate Gamer, but he actually succeeds in stealing MORE concepts than Bores from the AVGN, like wearing 'classy nerd' clothing... whatever that means..., and having a shitload more posters (in addition to the rampant swearing and retro game reviews).

If the fucker has an EncyclopediaDramatica page, then that pretty much sums it up.

That was pretty much my impression: Blatant ripoff with an ego.