View source for Zero Punctuation

{{short description|Video-game comedy-review series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{primary sources|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Zero Punctuation logo.png
| caption              = Logo featuring Yahtzee's cartoon [[Avatar (computing)|avatar]]
| alt_name             =
| genre                = [[Video game]] reviews, [[black comedy]], [[insult comedy]], [[satire]]
| creator              = [[Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw]]
| developer            = 
| writer               = 
| director             = 
| creative_director    = 
| presenter            = 
| starring             = 
| judges               = 
| voices               = 
| narrated             = 
| theme_music_composer = Ian Dorsch
| opentheme            = 
| endtheme             = 
| composer             = 
| country              = Australia<br />United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 
| num_episodes         = 836
| list_episodes        = 
| executive_producer   = 
| producer             = 
| editor               = 
| location             = 
| cinematography       = 
| camera               = 
| runtime              = 
| company              = 
| first_aired          = {{Start date|2007|07|24}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|2023|11|21}}
| related              = 
| channel              = [[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]
}}
'''''Zero Punctuation''''' is<!--NOTE: Per [[MOS:TENSE]], works that have been discontinued should still be referred to in the present tense. --> a [[Web series|series]] of video game reviews created by English comedy writer and [[Video game journalism|video game journalist]] [[Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw]]. From its inception in 2007, episodes were published weekly by internet magazine ''[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]''. Episodes typically range from five to six minutes in length. Videos provide [[caustic humour]], rapid-fire delivery, [[visual gag]]s and critical insight into recently released video games, with occasional reviews of older games and retrospectives of the [[Video game industry|industry]] itself. In 2023, ''Zero Punctuation'' was discontinued following Croshaw's resignation from ''The Escapist'' and the formation of ''[[Second Wind (entertainment group)|Second Wind]]'', with new reviews being published by him in the same format under the rebranded series '''''Fully Ramblomatic'''''.

== History ==
Prior to ''Zero Punctuation'', Croshaw primarily authored content for his blog, ''Fullyramblomatic'', and would occasionally review video games, often with an emphasis on humor and criticism.<ref name="fullyramblomatic-reviews">{{Cite web | url=http://www.fullyramblomatic.com/reviews/ |title=Reviews on FullyRamblomatic |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |year=2008 |access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> In July 2007, Croshaw uploaded two game reviews in video format to [[YouTube]] in the same style that would eventually be used for ''Zero Punctuation'': one of the [[Game demo|demo]] of ''[[The Darkness (video game)|The Darkness]]'' for the [[PlayStation 3]], and the other of ''[[Fable (2004 video game)|Fable: The Lost Chapters]]'' for the [[Personal computer|PC]]. Both were well-received and ''[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]'' was one of several publishers to offer Croshaw a contract.<ref name="gamespotinterview">{{Cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6235040/pressspotting-ramblin-with-ben-yahtzee-croshaw |title=PressSpotting: Ramblin' with Ben 'Yahtzee' Croshaw |first=Kyle |last=Orland |date=March 22, 2008 |work=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=September 3, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The name "Zero Punctuation" refers to the speed of Croshaw's narration. Since its creation, the series has become popular in the gaming community.<ref name="gamespotinterview" /> Video game developers and publishers have occasionally acknowledged Croshaw's reviews of their games, and at least one [[internet meme]] has resulted from ''Zero Punctuation''.<ref name="kotaku-infamous">{{Cite web |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/07/infamous-defeats-prototype-in-cross-dressing-playoff/ |title=inFamous Defeats Prototype in Cross-Dressing Playoff |first=Owen |last=Good |date=July 5, 2009 |work=[[Kotaku]] |access-date=January 8, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531204751if_/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/07/infamous-defeats-prototype-in-cross-dressing-playoff/ |archive-date=May 31, 2016}}</ref><ref name="pcgamerinterview">{{Cite web |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/08/05/community-heroes-yahtzee-of-zero-punctuation/ |title=Community heroes: Yahtzee, for ''Zero Punctuation'' |first=Tom |last=Francis |date=August 5, 2010 |work=[[PC Gamer]] |access-date=January 8, 2014}}</ref> At the end of each year, starting in 2008, Croshaw created special episodes of ''Zero Punctuation'' discussing what he believes were the best and worst games of the year. He occasionally dedicated episodes to new technologies or milestones in video gaming, such as [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]] and the coming of the [[History of video game consoles (eighth generation)|eighth generation of consoles]].<ref name="zpkinect">{{Cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/4863-Kinect |title=''Zero Punctuation'' – Kinect |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=October 26, 2011 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=January 8, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/7417-Next-Gen-Buyers-Guide |title=''Zero Punctuation'' – Next Gen Buyer's Guide |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=June 5, 2013 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=January 8, 2014}}</ref> Croshaw also dedicated certain episodes to covering events or periods in [[History of video games|gaming history]] that he considered to have disparaged the industry or its reputation. These include the [[North American video game crash of 1983|video game industry crash of 1983]], and the controversial ''[[Hot Coffee mod|Hot Coffee]]'' mod for ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=E.T. – "The Worst Game Ever"|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/9625-E-T-The-Worst-Game-Ever|website=The Escapist|access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Hot Coffee|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/117180-Zero-Punctuation-hot-coffee|website=The Escapist|access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref>

From 2009 to 2017, Croshaw authored a column on The Escapist known as ''Extra Punctuation''. These articles were originally published every Tuesday and often supplemented the previous week's review by discussing a certain topic or trend exhibited by that game. Croshaw resumed the series in 2021 in video format.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/category/extra-punctuation/|title=Extra Punctuation|publisher=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]}}</ref>

On November 6, 2023, Croshaw announced he had resigned from ''The Escapist'' with other colleagues out of solidarity following the firing of editor-in-chief Nick Calandra that same day. He also confirmed that he did not own the rights to ''Zero Punctuation'', leaving the future of the series in doubt.<ref name="news.au resignation">{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/gaming/flagship-gaming-website-loses-its-video-team-as-star-of-zero-punctuation-resigns/news-story/7627ed808d5ff0675226ede89c7f74d3|title=Flagship gaming website loses its video team as star of 'Zero Punctuation' resigns|author=Nicholas Finch|publisher=[[news.com.au]]|date=November 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 7, 2023 |title=Zero Punctuation star Yahtzee Croshaw quits after 16 years |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-67348861 |access-date=November 7, 2023}}</ref> Two days later, on November 8, Calandra and Croshaw announced that Croshaw would continue making weekly short-form reviews under the title of ''Fully Ramblomatic''. This show is hosted on ''[[Second Wind (entertainment group)|Second Wind]]'', a new outlet formed by the staff who left ''The Escapist''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Crider |first1=Michael |title='Zero Punctuation' game review series ends after 16 years |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2129244/zero-punctuation-game-review-series-ends-after-16-years.html |website=PC World |access-date=November 9, 2023 |date=November 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Middler |first1=Jordan |title=Video series Zero Punctuation is seemingly ending following The Escapist staff exodus |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/video-series-zero-punctuation-is-seemingly-ending-following-the-escapist-staff-exodus/ |website=Video Games Chronicle |access-date=25 November 2023 |date=November 7, 2023}}</ref> ''The Escapist''{{'}}s parent company [[Gamurs]] published the final two episodes of ''Zero Punctuation''—reviews of ''[[Sonic Superstars]]'' and ''[[Marvel's Spider-Man 2]]''—on November 21.<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1727092778096824741 |user=SecondWindGroup |author=Second Wind |date=November 21, 2023 |title=Gamurs has decided to publish the unreleased videos that our team worked on before our departure from The Escapist / Gamurs. }}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4ifjlMc7tU |title=Sonic Superstars (Zero Punctuation) |last=Croshaw |first=Yahtzee |authorlink=Yahtzee Croshaw |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |publisher=[[Gamurs]] |date=November 21, 2023 |via=[[YouTube]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtvE-CTqkg0 |title=Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (Zero Punctuation) |last=Croshaw |first=Yahtzee |authorlink=Yahtzee Croshaw |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |publisher=[[Gamurs]] |date=November 21, 2023 |via=[[YouTube]] }}</ref>

==Format==
[[File:Zero Punctuation fuel screenshot.png|thumb|left|Typical ''Zero Punctuation'' imagery, illustrating Croshaw's confusion with obtaining spaceship fuel in ''[[Starbound]]'']]

In ''Zero Punctuation'', Croshaw usually reviews a game in a highly critical manner using rapid-fire speech delivery accompanied by minimalistic cartoon imagery and animation on a distinctive yellow background, which illustrates what is being said or provides an [[irony|ironic]] counterpoint to it. Subtle references or jokes may be inserted to the visuals for comic effect or to add additional context to the narration. His reviews are intended to be humorous with constant usage of puns, analogies, metaphors, and [[Black comedy|dark humour]] accompanied by frequent use of [[profanity]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/interview-zero-punctuations-ben-yahtzee-croshaw-reveals-all/|title=Interview: ''Zero Punctuation''{{'}}s Ben 'Yahtzee' Croshaw reveals all|first=Nate|last=Lanxon|date=November 4, 2009|website=[[CNET]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2008/03/05/zero-punctuation-yahtzee-crys-about-dmc4/|title=Zero Punctuation: Yahtzee cries about DMC4|first=Terrence|last=Stasse|date=March 5, 2008|website=[[Engadget]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u-oDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA7|title=''Zero Punctuation'' Review Terrorizes EA Game Development|magazine=[[GameAxis Unwired]]|date=April 2008|issue=55|issn=0219-872X|publisher=[[SPH Magazines]]}}</ref> Croshaw usually substitutes the main character or himself with his own [[Avatar (computing)|avatar]], a cartoon man distinguished by a [[trilby]], with other cartoon people in the same style representing the main characters in a video game, celebrities, video game programmers, or friends of Croshaw. Another character used often is an [[imp]]-like creature (originally meant to resemble a "darkling" from ''[[The Darkness (video game)|The Darkness]]'') which represents antagonists, animals, children, or less important characters from a game. Video games, developers, countries, and other entities are often [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphized]] as box arts, logos, or flags, respectively, with arms and legs. Croshaw often allegorizes jokes, game details, or [[video game industry]] activities with references to, or commentaries on [[popular culture]], politics, and history.

''Zero Punctuation'' opens and closes with a [[Theme music|theme song]], a rock track composed and performed by Ian Dorsch.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/content/music |title=The Escapist : Sound and Music |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]|date=February 16, 2013 }}</ref> The ending credits usually feature humorous notes or other information relating to the review, as well as imagery of characters from the review engaging in [[slapstick]]. Prior to mid-2008, ''Zero Punctuation'' featured commercial songs at the beginning and end of each episode, which were usually related to the context of, or at odds with the game in question, such as [[Ramones|the Ramones]]' "[[I Wanna Be Sedated]]" and [[Eric Johnson (guitarist, born 1954)|Eric Johnson]]'s "[[Cliffs of Dover (composition)|Cliffs of Dover]]" at the beginning and end, respectively, of his review of ''[[Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock]]''.

The series' format has proved inspirational for several other web series, such as the critical and educational series [[Extra Credits]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Floyd|first=Daniel|title=Video Games and Storytelling|date=February 17, 2008 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jdG2LHair0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/1jdG2LHair0| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=YouTube|access-date=October 11, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and [[CGP Grey]].<ref name="H.I. #13: Nobody Owns the Facts">{{cite podcast|last2=Grey|first2=CGP|last1=Haran|first1=Brady|title=Nobody Owns the Facts|url=http://www.hellointernet.fm/podcast/13|work=Hello Internet|number=13|publisher=Hellointernet.fm|access-date=June 17, 2014|date=May 28, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite podcast |url=https://www.relay.fm/cortex/10 |title=Cortex #10: Zero Artistic Skills |website=Cortex |publisher=Relay FM |author1=Grey, C. G. P. |author2=Hurley, Myke |date=August 14, 2015 |access-date=August 16, 2015}}</ref>

==Critical style==
Croshaw provides highly critical reviews of games, usually pointing out the faults that he implies other professional reviewers ignore in high-profile releases.<ref name="pcgamerinterview" /><ref name="mailbag">{{Cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/37-Mailbag-Showdown |title=''Zero Punctuation'' – Mailbag Showdown |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=May 7, 2008 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=January 8, 2014 |archive-date=January 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103090515/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/37-Mailbag-Showdown |url-status=dead }}</ref> He tends to disdain certain tropes and conventions in video games he feels have been overused, such as [[quick time event]]s, highly common uses of [[Motion controller|motion controls]], [[cover system|cover-based shooting]], [[Survival game#Crafting|crafting]] systems,<ref>{{cite web |title=Zero Punctuation – Observer |url=https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/117215-Observer |website=The Escapist |access-date=May 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Zero Punctuation – Alien Isolation |url=https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/9817-Alien-Isolation-Review |website=The Escapist |date=October 3, 2014 |access-date=May 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Zero Punctuation – Metal Gear Survive |url=https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/117178-Zero-Punctuation-Metal-Gear-Survive |website=The Escapist |access-date=May 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Zero Punctuation – Metro Exodus |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/2019/02/20/zero-punctuation-metro-exodus/ |website=The Escapist |access-date=May 18, 2019 |archive-date=May 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518192026/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/2019/02/20/zero-punctuation-metro-exodus/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Zero Punctuation – A Plague Tale: Innocence |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/2019/06/12/zero-punctuation-a-plague-tale-innocence/ |website=The Escapist |date=June 12, 2019 |access-date=June 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Oddworld: Soulstorm – Zero Punctuation |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/oddworld-soulstorm-zero-punctuation/ |website=The Escapist |date=April 21, 2021 |access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref> and an unbalanced emphasis on [[Video game graphics|graphics]] over story or [[gameplay]].<ref name="zpkinect" /><ref name="zpuncharted">{{Cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/27-Uncharted-Drakes-Fortune |title=ZeroPunctuation – Uncharted: Drake's Fortune |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=February 27, 2008 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=January 9, 2014 |archive-date=April 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404152012/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/27-Uncharted-Drakes-Fortune |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="zptlou">{{Cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/7638-The-Last-of-Us |title=''Zero Punctuation'' – The Last of Us |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=July 3, 2013 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> Similarly, he has expressed cynicism of the prevalence of specific game designs, including military-themed [[first-person shooter]]s for being very similar in gameplay, poor in ethics, and contrived in story;<ref name="zp2012">{{Cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/6677-Top-5-of-2012 |title=''Zero Punctuation'' – Top 5 of 2012 |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=January 2, 2013 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/2486-Call-of-Duty-Black-Ops |title=''Zero Punctuation'' – Call of Duty: Black Ops |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=September 5, 2007 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=April 3, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Croshaw|first1=Ben|date=November 7, 2012|title=''Zero Punctuation'' – Medal of Honor Warfighter & Doom 3 BFG Edition|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/6492-Medal-of-Honor-Warfighter-Doom-3-BFG-Edition|work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=July 1, 2014}}</ref> open-world games including crafting, [[Item (game terminology)|collectibles]], and [[Stealth game|stealth]] mechanics that he feels bloats a game's content;<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/ghost-of-tsushima-zero-punctuation/|title=''Ghost of Tsushima'' – Zero Punctuation |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=August 5, 2020 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=May 27, 2021}}</ref> cinematic games that consist of linear, uneventful sections separated by action sequences and brief exploration;<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/marvels-guardians-of-the-galaxy-ghost-train-ride-extra-punctuation |title=Congratulations, Guardians of the Galaxy: You're a Ghost Train Ride – Extra Punctuation |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=November 18, 2021 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=December 5, 2022}}</ref> and [[Games as a service|live service games]] with repetitive gameplay that incorporates [[Grinding (video games)|grinding]] to unlock new content.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/marvels-avengers-zero-punctuation |title=''Marvel's Avengers'' – Zero Punctuation |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=September 16, 2020 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=December 10, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/gotham-knights-zero-punctuation |title=''Gotham Knights'' – Zero Punctuation |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=November 2, 2022 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=December 5, 2022}}</ref> He also disapproves of game franchises that release sequels in rapid succession, such as ''[[Final Fantasy]]'', ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', and ''[[Call of Duty]]''.<ref name="zptop5">{{Cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/8642-Top-5-Games-of-2013 |title=''Zero Punctuation'' – Top 5 Games of 2013 |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=January 1, 2014 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> Croshaw generally does not review certain genres of games, such as [[Sports game|sports]] and [[Racing video game|racing games]], and has openly admitted to not liking most [[Japanese role-playing game|JRPG]]s, [[real-time strategy]] games, [[fighting game]]s, or [[Simulation video game|simulation games]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}

{{Quote box |width=30% |source=Croshaw on a [[Reddit]] "[[r/IAmA|Ask me Anything]]" thread in 2011<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/glt5k/iam_yahtzee_croshaw_off_of_the_escapists_zero/c1ohzgu?context=5 |title=IAM Yahtzee Croshaw off of the Escapist's ''Zero Punctuation'', AMAA |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=April 8, 2011 |work=[[Reddit]] |access-date=April 3, 2014}}</ref> |quote=Certainly I focus on the bad, because I reckon plenty of sources focus on the good already. Happily, the bad is also easier to make funny. |quoted=1 }}

Although ''Zero Punctuation'' episodes are usually intended to highlight Croshaw's criticisms of video games, his opinions are not universally negative, and any positive feelings towards the aspects of a game will usually be explicitly stated.<ref name="destructoid">{{Cite web |url=http://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-interview-ben-yahtzee-croshaw-69631.phtml |title=Destructoid interview: Ben 'Yahtzee' Croshaw |date=February 11, 2008 |work=[[Destructoid]] |access-date=April 3, 2014}}</ref> During his review of ''[[Portal (video game)|Portal]]'', he admitted to being unable to find any faults with the game.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zero Puncation – The Orange Box|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/10-The-Orange-Box|website=The Escapist|access-date=August 10, 2017}}</ref> He opened his review of ''[[BioShock]]'' by saying "nobody likes it when I'm being nice to a game," referring to the negative reception of his favorable review of ''[[Psychonauts]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/4-BioShock |title=''Zero Punctuation'' – BioShock |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=November 24, 2010 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref>

Croshaw cites the work of British television critic and PC Zone journalist [[Charlie Brooker]] as the "main inspiration" for his own reviewing style, as well as the writings of [[Douglas Adams]], Sean "[[Seanbaby]]" Riley, [[Victor Lewis-Smith]], and [[Old Man Murray]]'s [[Chet Faliszek]] and [[Erik Wolpaw]].<ref name="destructoid" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.geek.com/games/interview-zero-punctuations-yahtzee-572875/ |title=Interview: ''Zero Punctuation''{{'}}s Yahtzee |first=James |last=Schneider |date=February 14, 2008 |work=[[Geek.com]] |access-date=April 3, 2014 |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407103907/http://www.geek.com/games/interview-zero-punctuations-yahtzee-572875/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/videos/zeropunctuation/2655-Yahtzee-Visits-Valve-a-Travelogue.2 |title=Yahtzee Visits Valve, a Travelogue |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=November 21, 2007 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=April 3, 2014}}</ref> He expressed respect towards the late [[Roger Ebert]], noting that he "might one day aspire to being his videogaming equivalent".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/extra-punctuation/7473-Videogames-as-Art |title=Extra Punctuation – Videogames as Art |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=April 27, 2010 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |access-date=April 3, 2014}}</ref>

==Games of the Year==
From 2008, Croshaw created annual, year-end episodes of ''Zero Punctuation'' which enumerate his favorite and least favorite games from that year. For 2008 and 2009, mock "awards" were given for games based on arbitrarily defined categories. Starting in 2010, the "awards" format was replaced with ordered lists of his five favorite and least favorite games of the year. For 2015, he added a new category for his choices of the blandest and least innovative games of the year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCFGU79rX34  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/sCFGU79rX34| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Top 5 Games of 2015 (Zero Punctuation) |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |date=January 13, 2016 |work=[[YouTube]] |access-date=January 13, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> To commemorate the end of the 2010s, Croshaw ranked in order of preference the best and worst games he had awarded during the decade.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 2010s' Most Significant Games – Zero Punctuation |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/the-2010s-most-significant-games-zero-punctuation/ |website=The Escapist |date=January 8, 2020 |access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>

In his 2013 lists, he awarded the "Lifetime Achievement Award for Total Abhorrence" to ''[[Ride to Hell: Retribution]]'', expressing that it was so poor in quality that he hardly considered it a game but rather saw it as "congealed failure."<ref name="zptop5" />

{| class="wikitable"
|+Best Game of the Year
!Year
!Game
!Notes
|-
|2008
|''[[Saints Row 2]]''
|Given award as "The 'Copulating Jelly Baby' Award for Fucking Sweet Game"
|-
|2009
|''[[Batman: Arkham Asylum]]''
|Given award as "The Golden Dog Biscuit Award for Genuinely Best Game"
|-
|2010
|''[[Just Cause 2]]''
|9th Best of the 2010s
|-
|2011
|''[[Portal 2]]''
|2nd Best of the 2010s
|-
|2012
|''[[Spec Ops: The Line]]''
|7th Best of the 2010s
|-
|2013
|''[[BioShock Infinite]]''
|8th Best of the 2010s<br>Retroactively replaced by ''[[Papers, Please]]''
|-
|2014
|''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]]''
|10th Best of the 2010s<br>Retroactively replaced by ''[[Wolfenstein: The New Order]]''
|-
|2015
|''[[Undertale]]''
|Best Game of the 2010s
|-
|2016
|''[[Doom (2016 video game)|Doom]]''
|4th Best of the 2010s
|-
|2017
|''[[Resident Evil 7: Biohazard]]''
|5th Best of the 2010s
|-
|2018
|''[[Return of the Obra Dinn]]''
|3rd Best of the 2010s
|-
|2019
|''[[Disco Elysium]]''
|6th Best of the 2010s
|-
|2020
|''[[Spiritfarer]]''
|
|-
|2021
|''[[Psychonauts 2]]''
|
|-
|2022
|''[[Neon White]]''
|
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Worst Game of the Year
!Year
!Game(s)
!Notes
|-
|2008
|''[[Sonic Unleashed]]''
|Given award as "The "Turd in a Turd" Award for Unsurprising Poor Quality"
|-
|2009
|''[[Wet (video game)|Wet]]''
|Given award as "The Cement Block On A Racecourse Award for Biggest Non Starter"
|-
|2010
|''[[Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days]]''
|6th Worst of the 2010s
|-
|2011
|''[[Battlefield 3]]'' and ''[[Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3]]'' (tie)
|10th Worst of the 2010s
|-
|2012
|''[[Amy (video game)|Amy]]''
|2nd Worst of the 2010s
|-
|2013
|''[[Call of Duty: Ghosts]]''
|8th Worst of the 2010s
|-
|2014
|''[[Thief (2014 video game)|Thief]]''
|9th Worst of the 2010s
|-
|2015
|''[[The Order: 1886]]''
|5th Worst of the 2010s
|-
|2016
|''[[Homefront: The Revolution]]''
|4th Worst of the 2010s
|-
|2017
|''[[Sniper Ghost Warrior 3]]''
|7th Worst of the 2010s
|-
|2018
|''[[Hunt Down the Freeman]]''
|Worst Game of the 2010s
|-
|2019
|''[[Contra: Rogue Corps]]''
|3rd Worst of the 2010s
|-
|2020
|''[[The Last of Us Part II]]''
|
|-
|2021
|''[[Balan Wonderworld]]''
|
|-
|2022
|''[[Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach]]''
|
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Blandest Game of the Year
!Year
!Game(s)
!Notes
|-
|2015
|''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
|
|-
|2016
|''[[No Man's Sky]]''
|
|-
|2017
|''[[Star Wars Battlefront II (2017 video game)|Star Wars Battlefront II]]''
|
|-
|2018
|''[[Conan Exiles]]''
|
|-
|2019
|''[[Anthem (video game)|Anthem]]''
|
|-
|2020
|''[[Marvel's Avengers (video game)|Marvel's Avengers]]''
|
|-
|2021
|''[[Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond]]''
|
|-
|2022
|''[[Saints Row (2022 video game)|Saints Row]]''
|
|-
|}

==Reception==
In his 2008 review of ''[[The Witcher (video game)|The Witcher]]'', Croshaw sarcastically referred to the PC gaming community as "the glorious [[PC Master Race|PC gaming master race]]", intending to criticize the perceived elitist attitudes in that community. The phrase has since become an [[internet meme]], and has been appropriated and championed by that community.<ref name="newstatesman">{{cite web|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/killing-time/2015/01/it-s-ok-pc-gamers-be-little-arrogant-they-know-theyve-backed-right-platform|title=It's OK for PC gamers to be a little arrogant – they know they've backed the right platform|last=Hartup|first=Phil|date=January 21, 2015|access-date=February 18, 2016}}</ref> In a 2018 review of ''[[Kingdom Come: Deliverance]]'', Croshaw explained that he regretted calling the community "PC master race" instead of "dick-slurp all-stars," citing a continuation of the behavior that originally prompted the term.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Zero Punctuation'' reviews Kingdom Come Deliverance|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/117175-zero-punctuation-Reviews-Kingdom-Come-Deliverance|website=The Escapist|access-date=April 29, 2018}}</ref>

Croshaw's negative review of ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' in 2008 was poorly received by fans of the game.<ref>{{cite web|title=SmashRadar: 10 things to do before Brawl dies|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/smashradar-10-things-to-do-before-brawl-dies/|date=April 25, 2008|access-date=April 29, 2018}}</ref> He claimed to have received a disproportionate amount of [[hate mail]] following the review, and dedicated an episode to highlight and respond to various e-mails that he had allegedly received in response to it.

In 2009, Croshaw reviewed ''[[Prototype (video game)|Prototype]]'' by comparing it to ''[[Infamous (video game)|InFamous]]'', attempting to decide which game was better. Unable to determine a victor, he jokingly suggested that the developers of each game send him artwork of the opposing game's main character wearing lingerie in order to claim the award. [[Radical Entertainment]] and [[Sucker Punch Productions|Sucker Punch]] – the respective developers – unexpectedly complied with the challenge, prompting Croshaw to declare ''InFamous'' the winner after judging the quality of the images.<ref name="kotaku-infamous" />

In 2013, Croshaw came under fire after an episode of ''Zero Punctuation'' on ''[[Papers, Please]]'' contained a metaphor that was viewed as [[Transphobia|transphobic]]. Croshaw agreed with the criticism and apologized, expressing regret towards making the statement.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bureaucracy-Em-Up – Extra Punctuation|url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/bureaucracy-em-up/|website=The Escapist|date=August 27, 2013 |access-date=March 11, 2022}}</ref> The offending remark was retroactively omitted from the video.

Croshaw was one of the founders of the [[Mana Bar]], a video gaming lounge in [[Brisbane]] that operated from 2010 until 2015. Croshaw's popularity through ''Zero Punctuation'' has been credited with the initial success of the establishment.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Brisbane Brew: The Mana Bar Story|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/04/a-brisbane-brew-the-mana-bar-story/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403065517/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/04/a-brisbane-brew-the-mana-bar-story/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 3, 2012|website=Kotaku|access-date=April 29, 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{Official website|https://www.escapistmagazine.com/category/zero-punctuation/|''Zero Punctuation''}} at ''[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]''
**{{YouTube|p=PLAbMhAYRuCUhawCEV2oXZGrienoKTN16X|Complete Series}}
**{{URL|https://www.escapistmagazine.com/category/extra-punctuation/|''Extra Punctuation''}} at ''[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]''
***{{YouTube|p=PLAbMhAYRuCUjTFTU63WTuXDwT3bP3v2kN|Extra Punctuation}}
*{{Official website|http://www.fullyramblomatic.com|Fully Ramblomatic, Yahtzee Croshaw's personal website}}
**{{YouTube|h=yahtzee19|Croshaw personal}}

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