Netflix Video Game Documentary - Scores High

Netflix has just announced a documentary that Gamify is already obsessing over! 

Netflix’s High Score documentary takes a look at the video game industry and what went into creating historic moments in pop culture history. This documentary series (docuseries) covers the most classic games of all time and the creators that made them possible - narrated by *Drum roll* Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario! the docuseries will cover the following list below. Please comment below if I missed any from the trailer! 
🍄Pacman
🍄Sonic the Hedgehog
🍄Mario Brothers
🍄Street Fighter II
🍄Mortal Kombat
🍄ET: Extra-Terrestrial (lol)
🍄Final Fantasy

The trailer not only teases content covering games titles like Sonic and Mario Brothers but also console histories as well, such as Atari and Nintendo. The High Score Teaser provides well put together 16-bit graphics reflecting the feel of the original gaming era, and the nostalgia alone makes my hands hurt upon reflection of my time spent playing with the original Nintendo game cartridges and controllers for too long.

This six-part docuseries, offers a broad-but-captivating look at the 1970s origins of video games along with the various booms and technological milestones of the '80s and '90s. High Score's presentation and genuine love for the product and its history makes for a blissful and beaming look at an emerging medium and its growth into an interactive art form.

Netflix is becoming increasingly known for this particular interview style of documentaries, helping viewers to justify watching yet another program in the name of education. I have no doubt there will be a lot of layered stories behind some of our favourite games and their consoles.

Just to whet your appetite before the docuseries releases on the 18th August (Australian release date), I would recommend checking out the podcast; Business Wars Nintendo Vs Sony. This is one of the most interesting and engaging podcasts out there that will open up your eyes to the reality of the gaming industry. It will have you questioning your love for video game companies but could also be a good teaser for what I believe High Score will continue to expand upon.

The official trailer (Spanish subtitles).

Is Netflix the only one that understands?

Netflix seems to be the only streaming service currently promoting their understanding of how truly important and influential video games are across generations and pop culture. Netflix's gamified movie experience, Black Mirror's Bandersnatch made for record initial viewing and rewatches through their perfect execution of gamification. 

Within the movie experience, Netflix provided a whole new form of active viewing in the form of a "choose your own adventure" story like something out of a Goosebumps novel. To read more checkout Gamify's very own blog on it here: Bandersnatch: Gamification in Movies - Gamified Television.

Maybe I'm biased but I guess I just like Netflix, as they highlight the gaming community in almost everything that they do from their gamified user interface to the content they provide. If there’s one thing I love more than video games it’s the sense of connection they can create.

The trailer itself, though short, manages to show early fans at the brink of gaming culture, obsessing over games that are now considered relics, makes me feel like both a nerd and an insider all at the same time. I think video games have a particular way of bringing about nostalgia more than most forms of entertainment across generations.

How is it that the gaming industry is now 4x larger than the movie industry? Creating more billionaires than nearly any other industry and more millionaires under 30? It seems that people want to be more involved when it comes to entertainment. While there will always be a place for movies and TV shows, more and more people are wanting to go on their own adventures than passively watch somebody else undergo their own.

I think both people and companies like Netflix who manage to tap into our emotions attached with nostalgia will capture our attention and do extremely well as organisations.

High Score's opening credits.

So, what are you most excited about for this upcoming series? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Are you going to order snacks and have your old friends from high school over?

Maybe dust off the old Nintendo console in preparation - or are you part of the new generation that thinks old technology should stay in the museums as we look to the future, like PUBG last month finally overtaking total unit downloads surpassing Mario Brothers. Yes, Mario's 48 Million purchases/downloads just got trumped by PUBG's 70 Million downloads! 

Comment below with any video games I missed from the trailer. 

Sources:
Nintendo - Nintendo New Documentary Series 
Netflix - High Score