Destructoid

Last updated

Destructoid
Destructoid logo.svg
Logo featuring the website's mascot, Mr. Destructoid [1]
Type of site
 Video game-focused blog
Owner Gamurs Group
URL destructoid.com
RegistrationOptional (free)
LaunchedMarch 16, 2006;18 years ago (2006-03-16)
Current statusActive

Destructoid is a website that was founded as a video game-focused blog in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzalez, a Cuban-American cartoonist and author. [2] Enthusiast Gaming acquired the website in 2017 and sold it to Gamurs Group in 2022.

Contents

History

Destructoid was owned by Yanier "Niero" Gonzalez so that he could attend the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in 2006. [3] After being rejected, Gonzalez began writing original editorials and drawing cartoons which were picked up by established gaming blogs like Joystiq [4] and Kotaku . [5] In 2007, the site relaunched with user blogs, forums, and a team of contributors. Yanier's blog was moved off the home page in favor of a staff-edited, multi-author format. Similar to IGN , Destructoid offers free registration and readers can submit off-homepage blogs.

After E3, Gonzalez appeared at the press conference dressed as Mr. Destructoid (Destructoid's robot mascot, shown on logos and promotional material) to hand out promotional flyers. Its original editorial work gained mainstream syndication including the web show Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin'? . The Mr. Destructoid costume was redesigned in 2012 by Volpin Props, featuring animated LED circuitry, and is still active as their mascot at press events. [6]

In 2017 the site was acquired by Enthusiast Gaming, a company based in Toronto. [7] Enthusiast sold the website to Gamurs Group in September 2022. [8]

Features

Destructoid is split into six main sections: the Homepage where editors post daily news and reviews, the Community Blogs, the Videos section which consist of original skits and trailers, the Chat Forums, the Buy/Sell area where community members trade games, and the Fight area where members can play games against each other.

From 2010 to 2013, Destructoid produced the twice-weekly, in-studio video game news show, the Destructoid Show on Revision 3, [9] daily live video streams like Kingdom of Foom and MASH TacticS [10] on Twitch, and semi-regular video skits like Hey Ash Whatcha Playin, The Jimquisition, Storm's Adventures, and others on YouTube.[ citation needed ]

Destructoid reviews editor James Stephanie Sterling ran a weekly podcast with associate editor Jonathan Holmes and Conrad Zimmerman. When Sterling left Destructoid, the podcast was taken over by a new host with much less frequent updates.[ citation needed ]

Charitable work

In 2008, James Stephanie Sterling, a Destructoid editor, took part in a sponsored gaming marathon raising money for young cancer patients. Raising $3,000 for the charity, Sterling and friend John Kershaw played a selection of games from the SingStar franchise, effectively singing almost non-stop for twelve hours. The event was broadcast live online for the duration of the event. [11]

In 2009, Niero, and other Destructoid editors continued the gaming marathon tradition on October 17–18 for cancer awareness raising $4,835.60 for Extra Life children's hospital in Texas. [12]

In 2010, the Destructoid office hosted a 24-hour gaming marathon for the charity Extra Life. Community members raised over $6,000 for Children's Miracle hospitals in Texas.[ citation needed ]Destructoid has also partnered with Revision 3 to build a clean water well in Africa through the Charity Water organization.[ citation needed ]

In 2011, Destructoid hosted another marathon for Extra Life, raising $6909.16 for Children's Miracle Hospitals. [13] He also made a Mario Kart 7 community called "Destructoid". This community has a Bob-omb icon displayed on it. The slogan of this community is "Dtoid FNF yo".

In 2012, Destructoid hosted a 56-hour livestream on its Dtoid.tv channel, which raised over $7,000 for Habitat for Humanity. The Gonzalez flew to Costa Rica and assisted the build of a 32-house government project for families living in extreme poverty in Liberia. [14]

Awards

Destructoid has been nominated for several awards in video game coverage. The site was nominated for the inaugural Games Media Awards in 2007 under the "Non-Commercial Website or Blog" category. [15] Destructoid was also selected as an Official Webby Honoree in the Games-Related category of the 11th Annual Webby Awards in 2007. [16] They were nominated by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences in 2009 in the same category. [17] [18]

Presence in video games

The site's mascot, Mr. Destructoid, has appeared in various console, mobile, and PC video games, and as an emote on Twitch. [1]

In 2007, it was announced that Hudson Entertainment, the American branch of Hudson Soft had teamed up with Destructoid to develop and introduce a playable character based on Mr. Destructoid, into its Xbox Live Arcade game Bomberman Live . [19] [20] [21] [22] Mr. Destructoid later appeared in Bomberman Ultra , the PlayStation 3 port of Bomberman Live. Mr. Destructoid's head is available as an unlockable helmet in PixelJAM's game Dino Run , by entering the password "totinos" in the cheats menu. This was included as an in-joke, because that particular brand of pizza was a favorite of one of the editors, and he in turn was a friend of the game's developers. The code was revealed in one chapter of the Podtoid podcast.

In 2008, Destructoid's mascot was also included in the platform game Eternity's Child , but was later removed after a scathing review of the game on the web site. [23] [24] Mr. Destructoid also appeared in Agent MOO: Maximum Overdeath on Xbox Live Indie Games along with Ron Workman, Destructoid's former community manager.

In 2010, it was announced that Mr. Destructoid would be appearing in the upcoming XBLA release of Raskulls . [25] Later that year it was discovered that Chapter 2–18 in Super Meat Boy is called "Destructoid". The game was acclaimed by many of the editors, taking Destructoid's Game Of The Show at the Penny Arcade Expo earlier in July. Mr. Destructoid also appears in the flash game Pirates vs. Ninjas, [26] by Bardo Entertainment.

In 2011, Mr. Destructoid appeared as a non-playable character in BiteJacker, a game created by the Bytejacker show on the iPhone as a VIP Character. Your score increases the longer that he remains on screen. In July Destructoid's reviews editor, James Stephanie Sterling, became a playable character in The Blocks Cometh. [27] Later that month Mr. Destructoid appeared in Twisted Pixel's Ms. Splosion Man [28] as a destroyable villain during challenge mode, and again as a ball-swallowing fixture in Zen Studio's Pinball FX as part of the Ms. Splosion Man pinball table. [29] On August 1 Mr. Destructoid became a playable character in Arcade Jumper on iOS. [30] The remake of the classic arcade game Burgertime also features Mr. Destructoid as a playable character. [31]

In 2012, Mr. Destructoid was revealed as a playable character in Spicy Horse's Big Head Bash, where his rooster gun shoots similar but smaller "cocks". [32] He is also a non-playable monster enemy in MonsterMind (Facebook Game) and a machinegun accessory in PerfectWorld's Blacklight Retribution. In the game Retro City Rampage , several of Destructoid's staff appeared in the game as unlockable player skins that are available by going to MJ's Face-R-Us and entering the coupon code DTOID.[ citation needed ]

In 2014, Microsoft added an official Mr. Destructoid outfit to the Xbox Live Avatar Marketplace. [33]

In 2016, a Mr. Destructoid flag was added as a cosmetic item in Rocket League . [34]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Escapist</i> (magazine) American video game magazine

The Escapist is an American video game website and online magazine. First published as a weekly online magazine by Themis Media on July 12, 2005, The Escapist eventually pivoted to a traditional web journalism format. In 2018, Escapist Magazine launched Volume Two, a rehauled website in conjunction with its purchase by Enthusiast Gaming. The site name reverted to The Escapist in April 2020. Gamurs Group acquired the site in September 2022. The company's entire video production team resigned to form Second Wind in November 2023 after editor-in-chief Nick Calandra was fired.

<i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> (2006 video game) Platform game by Sega

Sonic the Hedgehog is a 2006 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. It was produced in commemoration of the Sonic the Hedgehog series' 15th anniversary and as a reboot for seventh-generation video game consoles. Players control Sonic, Shadow, and the new character Silver, who battle Solaris, an ancient evil pursued by Doctor Eggman. Each playable character has his own campaign and abilities, and must complete levels, explore hub worlds and fight bosses to advance the story. In multiplayer modes, players can work cooperatively to collect Chaos Emeralds or race to the end of a level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xbox Live Arcade</span> Digital video game download service

Xbox Live Arcade was a video game digital distribution service that was available for the Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles. It focused on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers. Titles on the service ranged from previously released arcade and console games to brand new games designed for the service, and were priced from a range of 5 to 20 US dollars. While originally requiring a disc to gain access to the service on the original Xbox, the Arcade was integrated into the Xbox 360 along with the rest of the Xbox Live Marketplace with the launch of the new console.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Games for Windows – Live</span> Former online gaming service

Games for Windows – Live or GFWL is a deprecated online gaming service used by Games for Windows–branded PC titles that enables Windows PCs to connect to Microsoft's Live service. Users, each with a unique Gamertag, are able to play online, keep track of their friends' status, send and receive messages, gain and keep track of Achievements and associated Gamerscore, voice chat across platforms, and more. Some games allow for cross-platform play, such as Shadowrun, putting Windows players against Xbox 360 players.

<i>Bomberman Live</i> 2007 video game

Bomberman Live is a downloadable video game for the Xbox Live Arcade, developed by Backbone Entertainment as part of the Bomberman franchise. The game was announced on May 16, 2007 and released later that year. It would later see a retail release as part of the 2009 Xbox Live Arcade Game Pack.

<i>Bomberman Blast</i> 2008 video game

Bomberman Blast is an action game developed and published by Hudson Soft for the Wii and WiiWare as part of the Bomberman franchise. The game was released as two versions: a fully featured retail release and a WiiWare version known as Wi-Fi 8-Nin Battle Bomberman. The retail version was released in Japan on September 25, 2008, while the WiiWare version was released on September 30, 2008. The WiiWare version was released in Europe on September 12, 2008, and in North America on September 29, 2008.

<i>Splosion Man</i> 2009 video game

'Splosion Man is a 2.5D action platform video game developed by Twisted Pixel Games for the Xbox 360, available through the Xbox Live Arcade digital download service. It was released on July 22, 2009, as part of the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade. Players control 'Splosion Man, an escaped science experiment with the ability to explode himself repeatedly, as he works his way through obstacles and traps trying to exit the fictional laboratory known as Big Science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twisted Pixel Games</span> American video game developer

Twisted Pixel Games, LLC is an American video game developer based in Austin, Texas. Originally a contractor, Twisted Pixel releases games based on its own intellectual properties such as The Maw and 'Splosion Man. The company uses its own proprietary engine, known as Beard, to power its games. On October 12, 2011, it was announced that Twisted Pixel had become part of Microsoft Studios. However, Twisted Pixel separated from Microsoft, and became an independent company again on September 30, 2015. In November 2021, the company became a subsidiary of Oculus Studios.

<i>Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing</i> 2010 video game

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is a 2010 kart racing video game developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega. It was released for Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, and Windows, featuring characters from multiple Sega franchises. The game is the third title in the Sega All-Stars series, preceded by Sega Superstars Tennis. A mobile version was developed by Gameloft, and released for iOS in June 2011, as a paid download. A version for OS X was released by Feral Interactive in April 2013.

<i>Raskulls</i> 2010 video game

Raskulls is an action platformer video game developed by Halfbrick Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade. It was released on December 29, 2010. In Raskulls, players must navigate through platform-based levels filled with blocks of varying shape and size. The characters must use their brick-breaking wands to create the fastest route to the end of the level.

<i>Bomberman Live: Battlefest</i> 2010 video game

Bomberman Live: Battlefest is a 2010 video game for the Xbox 360 console. It was developed by Pi Studios, published by Hudson Soft, and released on December 8, 2010 through Xbox Live Arcade.

<i>Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I</i> 2010 video game

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I is a 2010 platform game developed by Dimps, with assistance from Sonic Team, and published by Sega. It is a sequel to Sonic & Knuckles (1994), following Sonic as he sets out to stop a returning Doctor Eggman. Like the Sonic the Hedgehog games released for the Sega Genesis, Episode I features side-scrolling gameplay, with movement restricted to a 2D plane. The player races through levels collecting rings while rolling into a ball to attack enemies. The game also features special stages in which the player collects Chaos Emeralds and online leaderboards comparing level completion times and high scores.

<i>Sonic Colors</i> 2010 video game

Sonic Colors is a 2010 platform game published by Sega. It follows Sonic's quest to stop his nemesis Doctor Eggman from enslaving an alien race and taking over the world. The gameplay is similar to prior Sonic games, with players collecting rings and defeating enemies; the camera perspective often switches from third-person to side-scrolling perspectives. The game also introduces Wisps, power-ups the player can use to increase attack power and reach new areas.

<i>Castlevania: Harmony of Despair</i> 2010 video game

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair is a multiplayer-focused platform-adventure game in the Castlevania series, featuring an ensemble cast of characters from the 2-D Metroidvania era of games, developed and published by Konami for Xbox 360 in August 2010, and for PlayStation 3 in 2011.

<i>Ms. Splosion Man</i> 2011 video game

Ms. Splosion Man is a platform video game developed by Twisted Pixel Games, and was released on Xbox 360 on July 13, 2011 as well as Windows Phone. It is the sequel to 2009's 'Splosion Man. The game takes place directly after 'Splosion Man. In the celebration of 'Splosion Man's capture, the scientists behind his creation accidentally create Ms. Splosion Man. The gameplay draws most of its core elements from its predecessor, but adds new gameplay mechanics such as jump pads and riding on rails.

<i>Skullgirls</i> 2D fighting video game

Skullgirls is a 2012 fighting video game developed by Reverge Labs and published by Autumn Games, originally released digitally for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and ported to various other home and portable systems afterwards. A 2D fighter, Skullgirls consist of team-based fights and revolves around the "Skull Heart", an artifact which grants wishes for women. If a wisher with an impure soul uses the Skull Heart, she is transformed into a monster known as the "Skullgirl".

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team</i> 2011 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team is a top-down shooter game with twin-stick control, set in the Warhammer 40,000 future fantasy universe. Players play as Space Marines attempting to halt an Ork invasion spaceship, facing orks and, later, Tyranids. Four Space Marine classes are playable Sternguard Veteran, Techmarine, Vanguard Veteran and Librarian. The first two focusing on Shooting the later two on melee. The game supports single player and same screen multiplayer modes.

<i>Sonic Generations</i> 2011 video game

Sonic Generations is a 2011 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, and Nintendo 3DS. Produced in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog series, the game follows Sonic and his sidekick Tails as they form an alliance with their past selves and travel through levels from previous Sonic games. It features two gameplay styles: "Classic", which plays from a side-scrolling perspective like that of the original Sega Genesis Sonic games, and "Modern", 3D levels similar to those in Sonic Unleashed (2008) and Sonic Colors (2010).

<i>Super Bomberman R</i> 2017 video game

Super Bomberman R is an action-maze game developed by Konami and HexaDrive and published by Konami for the Nintendo Switch. The game was first released worldwide as a launch title for the console in March 2017, before releasing for PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One in June 2018. Part of the Bomberman franchise, it is the sixth installment of the Super Bomberman series and the first game in the series to be released in twenty years. It is also the first Bomberman entry in the franchise to be developed for consoles following the dissolution of original series developer Hudson Soft in 2012.

References

  1. 1 2 Moyse, Chris (March 16, 2021). "Happy 15th Birthday, Destructoid!". Destructoid. Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  2. ↑ Gonzalez, Yanier "Niero" (March 15, 2007). "Destructoid turns one". Destructoid. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  3. ↑ Kietzmann, Ludwig (May 12, 2006). "Waiting for Wii: And I'll form the head!". Joystiq. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  4. ↑ Quilty-Harper, Conrad (April 4, 2006). "Quad SLI gaming for Cheapskates". Joystiq. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Destructoid's First Comic". Kotaku. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Mr. Destructoid Helmet V2 – Volpin Props" . Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Enthusiast Gaming acquires Destructoid". News wire. June 21, 2017. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  8. ↑ Sinclair, Brendan (September 30, 2022). "Gamurs Group buying Enthusiast Gaming sites". Gamesindustry.biz . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  9. ↑ "The Destructoid Show". Archived from the original on December 25, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  10. ↑ "The Destructoid Show". Archived from the original on January 21, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  11. ↑ Webster, Andrew (October 3, 2008). "Destructoid editor to sing for charity". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on May 28, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  12. ↑ "Texas Children's Hospital – Ways to Give". Waystogive.texaschildrens.org. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  13. ↑ Cortez, Jesse (October 26, 2011). "Destructoid's Extra Life 2011 round-up". Destructoid. Archived from the original on October 28, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  14. ↑ Zoeker, Bill (May 6, 2012). "Destructoid's Habitat for Humanity Charity Event". Destructoid. Archived from the original on June 8, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Games Media Awards finalists revealed". MCV. August 31, 2007. Archived from the original on September 13, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  16. ↑ "11th Annual Webby Awards Official Honoree Selections". Webby Awards. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  17. ↑ "13th Annual Webby Awards Nominees & Winners". Webby Awards. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  18. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (April 22, 2009). "Giant Bomb Officially Endorses Destructoid For Webby Award". Giant Bomb. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  19. ↑ "Hudson Partners With Destructoid In Bomb-Up pack 2 For Bomberman Live" (Press release). Hudson Soft. September 19, 2007. Archived from the original on November 24, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  20. ↑ Arendt, Susan (September 19, 2007). "Destructoid Mascot Added to Bomberman Live". Wired News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  21. ↑ Fahey, Mike (September 19, 2007). "Destructoid Makes Bomberman Live Appearance". Kotaku. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  22. ↑ "Hudson Partners With Destructoid In Bomb-Up Pack 2 For Bomberman Live". Eurogamer. September 19, 2007. Archived from the original on March 9, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  23. ↑ Gillen, Kieron (August 4, 2008). "Eternity's Child Versus Destructoid". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on July 14, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  24. ↑ Nunneley, Stephanie (July 8, 2008). "Luc Bernard Steamed Over Destructoid's Review of Eternity's Child". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  25. ↑ Sterling, Jim (February 2, 2010). "Mr.-Destructoid-Returns-to-Videogames-in-Raskulls!". Destructoid. Archived from the original on February 5, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  26. ↑ Ctz Aziz, Hamza (October 31, 2010). "Play as Mr. Destructoid in Pirates vs Ninjas". Destructoid. Bardo Entertainment. Archived from the original on September 20, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  27. ↑ Sterling, Jim (July 12, 2011). "Jim Sterling is a playable character in The Blocks Cometh". Destructoid. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  28. ↑ Aziz, Hamza (July 21, 2011). "Fight Mr. Destructoid in Ms Splosion Man". Destructoid. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  29. ↑ Gonzalez, Niero (July 26, 2011). "Destructoid wants your balls in Ms. Splosion Man pinball". Destructoid. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  30. ↑ "Mr. Destructoid stars in Arcade Jumper". Black Hive Media. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  31. ↑ Ctz Aziz, Hamza (August 31, 2011). "Mr. Destructoid joins the cast of Burgertime World tour". MonkeyPaw. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  32. ↑ Zimmerman, Conrad (March 29, 2012). "New Big Head Bash details revealed". SpicyHorse. Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  33. ↑ "You can buy a Mr Destructoid helmet for your Xbox Avatar". Microsoft. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Play Rocket League for free on Xbox right now". Psyonix. Archived from the original on June 11, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.