Starcade Rises from the Grave!
Horror, gaming, and music go hand-in-hand, especially given the visceral experiences gaming has doled out over the years. We’ve come a long way since Pong.
That being said, in the 80s during the arcade heyday, gamers even had their own TV show in “Starcade,” and word has come that Shout! Factory is ready to resurrect this sliver of nostalgia for modern audiences!
From the Press Release:
Shout! Factory, a multi-platform media company, has acquired worldwide television format and ancillary rights to the classic TV game show “STARCADE” from JM Production Company and show creators James Caruso and Mavis E. Arthur. The agreement provides Shout! Factory the rights to develop and produce a reboot of the show for television, as well as production of additional projects for a global audience. Shout! Factory will executive produce these projects with JM Production Company, creators of the original game show. This announcement was made today by Shout! Factory’s founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer, and Garson Foos and show creators James Caruso and Mavis E. Arthur.
“’STARCADE’ is a classic game show from the ‘80s and is pure nostalgic fun. We couldn’t be more excited to work with the original show creators to ‘retro-boot’ ‘STARCADE’ for a new generation of fans,” stated Shout! Factory’s founders. “As we continue to actively expand our reach into production and development for new series, movies, unscripted shows, and specials, this deal exemplifies the type of content we plan to pursue which taps into the interests and passions of our company’s loyal fanbase.”
Created by James Caruso and Mavis E. Arthur, “STARCADE” first aired in 1982 during the dawn of the video game era and is widely recognized as the first-ever video arcade game show, featuring great gamers competing against rivals playing the most popular games of the day in front of a live studio audience in order to win huge prizes. Alex Trebek hosted one of the first pilots for the show which was later picked up by Ted Turner to air on his then-fledgling cable station, WTBS; “STARCADE” went on to air more than 130 episodes over three seasons on Turner.
“I consider myself lucky to have been part of the first generation to grow up playing video games and watching ‘STARCADE’ in the 1980s,” said Shout! Factory’s Development Director, Jeremy Whitham. “Back then, no one could have predicted video games would one day become the world’s most popular form of entertainment. I can’t wait to see today’s crop of celebrities, pro gamers, and e-sports stars compete head-to-head and find out who is the top player on the planet.”
“We’re thrilled to be part of this ‘STARCADE’ revival,” said Jim Caruso and Mavis E. Arthur, producers of the original series. “We look forward to bringing the show back for all those avid Starcaders who have been waiting for years, as well as a new class of gaming heroes. Game on!”
The deal was negotiated by Shout’s Jeremy Whitham and James Caruso, the creator and executive producer of the original “STARCADE.”
Categorized:Horror Gaming News
