User:FirecrackerDemon/Game Guru

This is a work in progress (sandbox) whilst I collect notable References

Game Guru was launched in December 2001 on the Game Network. The show was a live daily phone-in video gaming show originally presented by one "guru" presenter via webcam. After October 2003 (Series 2) the format changed to two presenters, one working on Phone Calls while presenting on camera, while the other worked on Texts (He/she often could be heard in many episodes).

Members of the public would ring or text in and ask for cheats or walkthroughs to various video games such as Bubble Bobble on the Commodore 64, after which the Gurus would explain how and/or post up the solution on television via a chatroom like text program. Viewers could also ask for game release dates, opinions on what game/console to buy next or for news about the gaming industry.

Making History
Game Guru was the longest consecutively running games TV show with the most episodes made of any video game show in TV history, with an estimation of over 1,300 programs broadcast during the show's four year run. (Although another British gaming TV series, GamesMaster Ran for 7 years, it took a six - eight month break between seasons).

The final episode of Game Guru aired on 27 February 2006, presented by Guru Larry and Guru Ed. Many fans were upset by the show's demise as it was their only source of cheats. There have been rumours and the possibility of a similar show appearing on another channel, but there are currently no plans for the Game Gurus return.

Original Version
9 December 2002 – 15 October 2003 

The original Game Guru television program was conceived, developed and produced by AlienPants and debuted on the Game Network channel on 9 December 2002. It was a live daily video gaming show presented by a live "guru", originally working from home via webcam. Members of the public sent in requests for game hints, tips or cheats via Short Message Service (SMS), and the "guru" responded verbally, whilst also displaying the original cheat request or text chat on screen. Alongside Game Guru was a text-reply only cheat service called GTIP, which allowed Game Guru viewers to request and receive cheats via Short message service while the program was off air. The GTIP service later appeared as the GuruGold cheat service for Gamezville, another British television computer games show.

The original version of Game Guru ran until October 15th, 2003, when the Game Network decided to take over production of the program, although AlienPants retained the trademark in the name Game Guru and the program concept.

Original Presenters
(In alphabetical order)

Outside Gurus (Image fed to studio via webcam, usually from the presenter's home)

Off-Camera Gurus (2002 – 2003)
 * Guru Boogaloo (AKA Tom Salter)
 * Guru Chris C (AKA Chris Cartwright)
 * Guru Cro (AKA Tom Gordon, the first Guru and the show's original creator)
 * Guru Kali (AKA Sophie Blakemore)
 * Guru Starman (AKA Peter Batten)
 * Guru StOo (AKA Stuart Macdonald)
 * Guru Sydrik (AKA Gregg Syder)
 * Guru Billinge Boy (AKA Barry Foy)


 * Guru Appl (AKA Joel Bowers, who acted as an off-camera Guru from his home in Toronto, Canada)
 * Guru Qoreq (AKA Greg Bristol, who acted as an off-camera Guru from his home in Washington, USA)

Cellcast Version
16 October 2003 - 27 February 2006 (Though Cellcast started taking over production mid September) Around the middle of September 2004, the Game Network changed the format of Game Guru, replacing the original single "guru" format, with two "guru" presenters, One hosted while the other worked on texts (and occasionally could be heard) Members of the public rang or texted in and asked for cheats or walkthroughs to various video games, in which the Guru's explain how and/or post up the solution on television, although in later years the show also returned to supporting requests for release dates for forthcoming games as well as the latest news in the industry.

Chris Cartwright took over presenting and producing the show when Game Network took over. Hired Guru Chris and Guru Vagus, When Guru Vagus took over the show, he in turn hired Guru Ben, Guru Billinge Boy, Guru Larry, Guru Boidster, Guru Paul and Guru Phil. Bizarelly He did offer Guru Ed a job at the time, but he was unable to join he had just started university, he was hired a year later by Daniel Scammell/Guru NES.

Cellcast Presenters
(In alphabetical order)

Guru Larry, Guru Wez, Guru Janice and Guru Ed presented the final set of shows. With Guru Larry and Guru Ed presenting the actual final ever episode. The show's final Game Network producers were Peter Browning and Daniel Scammell.
 * Guru Ben (AKA Ben Parfitt)
 * Guru Billinge Boy (AKA Barry Foy)
 * Guru Boidster (AKA Duncan Simpson)
 * "The Chad"/Guru Maggot (AKA Mike Rushton)
 * Guru Chris (AKA Chris Jeffery)
 * Guru Ed (AKA Edwin Jones)
 * Guru Fil (AKA Phil Collins)
 * "Henchman A"/Guru "A" (AKA Mark Nesmith)
 * Guru Janice (AKA Janice Careddu)
 * Guru Larry (AKA Larry Bundy Jr (The Longest Serving Guru))
 * "Man in Bush" (AKA Dominic Lawler)
 * "Uncle Drew" (AKA Drew Stearne)
 * Guru NES / DJ NES / Corporal NES (AKA Daniel Scammell)
 * Guru Olly
 * Guru Paul (AKA Paul Sunter)
 * Guru Stu (AKA Stuart Headlam)
 * Guru Vagus (AKA Gareth Williams)
 * Guru Wez (AKA Wesley Lock)

Game Guru Italy
Game Guru was also adapted for the Italian version of Game Network (which even aired occasionally on the UK version albeit in Italian), although the series failed to become as popular as the UK version because they also incorporated it with a Live TV Text Chat room.

Game Guru vs. The Gamez Guru
The Gamez Guru from the Sky One series Gamezville was renamed "The Guru" in the second series, due to a complaint from Game Network owners Cellcast, as it infringed on the copyright of their own long running gaming cheat TV show Game Guru.

When the first series re-aired on Sky One in the early mornings, all "Guru" graphic sequences were replaced with the second series, to keep in line with the new character, even though they clearly call him the "Gamez Guru" in the live-action sequences.

Ironically, the Guru Gold SMS cheat service, that was made available to viewers towards the end of the program's run was provided by the same company that developed the early Game Guru episodes.

Last show
On the final ever show, Guru Billinge Boy spent the whole show showing the audience how to complete Double Dragon, Wrestlefest and Skool Daze. This was done on 1 credit with no cheats. The last show recorded is an internet meme due to this unique behaviour.

Making History
Game Guru was the longest consecutively running games TV show with the most episodes made of any video game show in TV history, with an estimation of over 1,300 programs broadcast during the show's four year run. (Although another British gaming TV series, GamesMaster Ran for 7 years, it took a six - eight month break between seasons).

The final episode of Game Guru aired on February 27, 2006, presented by Guru Larry and Guru Ed. Many fans were upset by the show's demise as it was their only source of cheats. There have been rumours and the possibility of a similar show appearing on another channel, but there are currently no plans for the Game Gurus return.

Original Version
December 9, 2002 – Mid October 2003

The original Game Guru television program was conceived, developed and produced by AlienPants and debuted on the Game Network channel on December 9, 2002. It was a live daily video gaming show presented by a live "guru", originally working from home via webcam. Members of the public sent in requests for game hints, tips or cheats via Short Message Service (SMS), and the "guru" responded verbally, whilst also displaying the original cheat request or text chat on screen. Alongside Game Guru was a text-reply only cheat service called GTIP, which allowed Game Guru viewers to request and receive cheats via Short message service while the program was off air. The GTIP service later appeared as the GuruGold cheat service for Gamezville, another British television computer games show.

The original version of Game Guru ran until mid-October 2003, when the Game Network decided to take over production of the program. Though AlienPants retained the trademark in the name Game Guru and the program concept.

Original Presenters
(In aplhabetical order)

Outside Gurus (Image fed to studio via webcam, usually from the presenter's home)

Off-Camera Gurus (2002 – 2003)
 * Guru Boogaloo (AKA Tom Salter)
 * Guru Chris C (AKA Chris Cartwright)
 * Guru Cro (AKA Tom Gordon, the first Guru and the show's original creator)
 * Guru Kali (AKA Sophie Blakemore)
 * Guru Starman (AKA Peter Batten)
 * Guru StOo (AKA Stuart Macdonald)
 * Guru Sydrik (AKA Gregg Syder)


 * Guru Appl (AKA Joel Bowers, who acted as an off-camera Guru from his home in Toronto, Canada)
 * Guru Qoreq (AKA Greg Bristol, who acted as an off-camera Guru from his home in Washington, USA)

Where are the Original Gurus now?
(In alphabetical order)

Peter Batten (Guru Starman) now works for EDF Energy Networks.

Tom Gordon (Guru Cro) still runs AlienPants.

Tom Salter (Guru Boogaloo) is now a professional game developer.

Gregg Syder (Guru Sydrik) now works for Alliance Boots.

Cellcast Version
Mid October 2003 - February 27, 2006 Around the middle of September 2004, the Game Network changed the format of Game Guru, replacing the original single "guru" format, with two "guru" presenters, One hosted while the other workked on texts (and occasionally could be heard) Members of the public rang or texted in and asked for cheats or walkthroughs to various video games, in which the Guru's explain how and/or post up the solution on television, although in later years the show also returned to supporting requests for release dates for forthcoming games as well as the latest news in the industry.

Chris Cartwright took over presenting and producing the show when Game Network took over. Hired Guru Chris and Guru Vagus, When Guru Vagus took over the show, he inturn hired Guru Ben, Guru Larry, Guru Boidster, Guru Paul and Guru Phil. Bizarelly He did offer Guru Ed a job at the time, but he was unable to join he had just started university, he was hired a year later by Daniel Scammell/Guru NES.

Cellcast Presenters
(In alphabetical order)

Guru Larry, Guru Wes, Guru Janice and Guru Ed presented the final set of shows. With Guru Larry and Guru Ed presenting the actual final ever episode. The show's final Game Network producers were Peter Browning and Daniel Scammell.
 * Guru Ben (AKA Ben Parfitt)
 * Guru Boidster (AKA Duncan Simpson)
 * "The Chad"/Guru Maggot (AKA Mike Rushton)
 * Guru Chris (AKA Chris Jeffery)
 * Guru Ed (AKA Edwin Jones)
 * Guru Fil (AKA Phil Collins)
 * "Henchman A"/Guru "A" (AKA Mark Nesmith)
 * Guru Janice (AKA Janice Careddu)
 * Guru Larry (AKA Larry Bundy Jr. (The Longest Serving Guru))
 * "Man in Bush" (AKA Dominic Lawler)
 * Guru NES / DJ NES / Corporal NES (AKA Daniel Scammell)
 * Guru Olly
 * Guru Paul (AKA Paul Sunter)
 * Guru Stu (AKA Stuart Headlam)
 * Guru Vagus (AKA Gareth Williams)
 * Guru Wez (AKA Wesley Lock)

Where are the Gurus now?
(In alphabetical order)

Ben Parfitt (Guru Ben) is now Online Content Manager for publisher Intent Media.

Chris Jeffery (Guru Chris) resides in Scotland.

Gareth Williams (Guru Vagus) is now News Editor for 360 Gamer Magazine.

Larry Bundy Jr. (Guru Larry) now produces and presents the shows Guru Larry's Retro Corner and Wez and Larry's Top Tens on the new video game channel, XLeague.tv (Sky Channel 279) and is also working on a forthcoming comedy video game show with Gamer.tv. He runs the European division of the popular gaming site, ScrewAttack and also was the Retro Games Advisor for Rapture TV's video game show, G@mers in 2006, He's still referred to as "Guru Larry" in most of his shows by fans.

Mike Rushton ("The Chad"/Guru Maggot) now works for ITV Play.

Guru Olly went on to do nothing.

Peter Browning still works for Cellcast on their numerous interactive based shows.

Phil Collins (Guru Fil),

Paul Sunter (Guru Paul) and

Duncan Simpson (Guru Boidster) have since written for various websites. They now reside on their own technology blog called The Good, The Bald and The Stupid.

Wesley Lock (Guru Wes) as well as being in university training as a psychologist Wesley is also the co-creator and co-writer of the forthcoming World-Wide gaming comedy Sketch show Hack-Job, as well as one of the producers behind the European version of ScrewAttack where he co-stars in the highly popular series Games Yanks Can't Wank. Wesley is also currently jointly producing and presenting on the retro section on the new XLeague.tv channel on Sky channel 279.

and... Dominic 'ginger' Lawler, well, we'll never know what happened to him - or the bush...

Game Guru Italy
Game Guru was also adapted for the Italian version of Game Network (which even aired occasionally on the UK version albeit in Italian), although the series failed to become as popular as the UK version because they also incorporated it with a Live TV Text Chat room.

Game Guru vs. The Gamez Guru
The Gamez Guru from the Sky One series Gamezville was renamed "The Guru" in the second series, due to a complaint from Game Network owners Cellcast, as it infringed on the copyright of their own long running gaming cheat TV show Game Guru.

When the first series re-aired on Sky One in the early mornings, all "Guru" graphic sequences were replaced with the second series, to keep in line with the new character, even though they clearly call him the "Gamez Guru" in the live-action sequences.

Ironically, the Guru Gold SMS cheat service, that was made available to veiwers towards the end of the program's run was provided by the same company that developed the early Game Guru episodes.