Difference between revisions of "The Zone"

From Sega Retro
Line 231: Line 231:
 
* Playguide: ''[[The Incredible Hulk]]'' (time - 13:03)
 
* Playguide: ''[[The Incredible Hulk]]'' (time - 13:03)
 
* Celeb fave game: ''[[Dune 2]]'' (time - 16:12)
 
* Celeb fave game: ''[[Dune 2]]'' (time - 16:12)
−
* Celebrity Shootout: ''[[Wrestlemania]]'' (time - 19:37)
+
* Celebrity Shootout: ''[[WWF Super Wrestlemania]]'' (time - 19:37)
 
|  
 
|  
 
* ''[[Boogerman]]'' (time - 08:12) (score - {{#expr: (82 + 78)/2}})
 
* ''[[Boogerman]]'' (time - 08:12) (score - {{#expr: (82 + 78)/2}})

Revision as of 17:03, 23 December 2018

320x240px
The Zone
Studio: Beyond Television Productions
Number of seasons: 1
Number of episodes: 57
Original airdate: 1994-04-30 — 1995-07-01
Original channel(s): Nine Network

The Zone was a video games focused television programme that aired on the Nine Network on Saturday mornings at 8:30AM AEST from 30 April 1994 to 1 July 1995. The show was produced by Beyond Television Productions and was hosted for the majority of its run by Adam Riley. Sega Ozisoft was a major sponsor of the show.

Format

The Zone took on a format similar to most magazine style programmes on television. The show generally opened with an introduction from Adam of what would be on the show that week, followed by the latest gaming news, previews, reviews and some random stuff like gamer jargon. Reviews and previews were typically presented by two people, many of whom were Sydney-based freelancers or worked on magazines such as HYPER>> and Gamestar.

The most popular member of the show's on air crew was Justin "Mutlee" Mansour, who also acted as the voice of the Sega Hotline at the time.[1] Mansour also worked behind the scenes on the show's technical production.

Production

The Zone was notorious for its low budget. According to one member of the crew, the show was filmed in a disused storage room. A cameraman for the show remembers only being paid $20 per episode each week.

Cancellation

The precise reasons for the cancellation of The Zone are not known. The final episode made fun of the fact that the show had got the axe.

Legacy

Due to the aged nature of the content, the potential rights issues concerning footage and the distinct lack of a market, it is unlikely that The Zone will ever see any sort of release on DVD or anything similar. Some dedicated fans and former crew have posted episodes of the show on YouTube, usually captured from VHS tapes that were used to record the show on their first airing. (This is why the SD footage quality is so poor. The recording would depend on the broadcast reception as well as the VCR and tape used.)

Notes

Two episodes remain unaired. Produced on Monday, aired on Saturday mornings. According to Justin Mansour, Richard Parnell has the whole series on tape. Adam Riley was originally brought in to do the music, but wound up being the host when a suitable candidate could not be found, and his screen test was well received. Stuart Clarke was also editor for HYPER>> at the time.

List of episodes

No. Video Original Air Date News and Features Game Reviews
1 120px 1994-04-30
2 120px 1994-05-07
3 120px 1994-05-14
  • The Buzz (News): Project Mars - Sega 32X (14:03)
  • Feature: Sega Cleaning Kit (19:34)
4 120px 1994-05-21
  • The Buzz (News): Sega Ozisoft "Sega Classics" Rental Plan (10:15)
5 120px 1994-05-28
  • Feature: Inside Hyper>> Magazine - brief glimpse of

Streets of Rage 3 (time - 13:01)

6 120px 1994-06-04
7 120px 1994-06-11
8 120px 1994-06-18 Mortal Kombat 2
9 120px 1994-06-25
10 120px 1994-07-02
11 120px 1994-07-09

Skitchin', Rock 'n Roll Racing, Clayfighter, Madden NFL '94

12 120px 1994-07-16
13 120px 1994-07-23
14 120px 1994-07-30
  • In the arcade review of Cyber Sled, the guys mention how the release of

Daytona USA caused Ridge Racer to drop to half price (time - 4:59)

15 120px 1994-08-06
  • Brought to you by Sega (time - 0:00)
  • NBA Jam Celebrity Shoot Out - Mutlee has a Sonic Basketball (time - 8:37)
  • Blockbuster World Game Master Competition Finals -

Sonic makes an appearance (time - 14:01)

16 120px 1994-08-13

Sonic makes an appearance (time - 19:48) (incomplete video)

  • Taz 2 (time - 11:15) (score - 87)
17 120px 1994-08-20
18 The Zone found episode (AU).png 1994-08-27 Games Featured:
19 The Zone found episode (AU).png 1994-09-03 Games Featured:
20 The Zone found episode (AU).png 1994-09-10 Games Featured:
21 The Zone found episode (AU).png 1994-09-17 Games Featured:
22 The Zone found episode (AU).png 1994-09-24 Games Featured:
23 The Zone found episode (AU).png 1994-10-01 Games Featured:
24 120px 1994-10-08 Games Featured:
25 120px 1994-10-15 Games Featured:
26 120px 1994-10-22 Games Featured:
27 120px 1994-10-29 Games Featured:
28 120px 1994-11-05 Games Featured:
29 120px 1994-11-12 Games Featured:
30 120px 1994-11-19 Games Featured:
31 120px 1994-12-03 Games Featured:
32 120px 1994-12-17 Games Featured:
33 120px 1994-12-24 Games Featured:
34 120px 1994-12-31 Games Featured:
35 120px 1995-01-07 Games Featured:
36 120px 1995-01-14 Games Featured:
37 120px 1995-01-21 Games Featured:
38 120px 1995-01-28 Games Featured:
39 120px 1995-02-04 Games Featured:
40 120px 1995-02-11 Games Featured:
41 120px 1995-02-18 Games Featured:
42 120px 1995-02-25 Games Featured:
43 120px 1995-03-04 Games Featured:
44 120px Unconfirmed Games Featured:
45 120px Unconfirmed Games Featured:
46 120px Unconfirmed Games Featured:
47 120px Unconfirmed Games Featured:
48 120px Unconfirmed Games Featured:
49 120px Unconfirmed Games Featured:
50 120px Unconfirmed Games Featured:
51 120px Unconfirmed Games Featured:
52 120px Unconfirmed Games Featured:
53 120px Unconfirmed Games Featured:
54 120px Unconfirmed Games Featured:
55 120px Unconfirmed Games Featured:
56 120px Unconfirmed Games Featured:
57 The Zone found episode (AU).png 1995-07-01 Final Episode

Games Featured:

Retrieved from "https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=The_Zone&oldid=470607"