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GAME GURU

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 '''GTIPTM''', 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. AlienPants retains the trademark in the name Game Guru and the program concept.


LATER INCARNATIONS

After October 2004, the Game Network changed the format, replacing the original single "guru" with two "guru" presenters based in the Game Network studio. 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. Though in later years the show also extended to requests for release dates for forthcoming games as well as the latest news in the industry.

Game Guru became the longest consecutively running show with the most episodes made of any video game show in TV history. (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 27th 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, but there are currently no plans for the shows return.


PRESENTERS

There have been numerous Gurus that have presented the show over the four years including:

Outside Gurus (Image fed to studio via webcam, usually from the presenter's home)
  • Guru cro (AKA Tom Gordon, the first Guru and the show's creator)

  • Guru StOo (AKA Stuart Macdonald)

  • Guru Sydrik

  • Guru Boogaloo (AKA Tom Salter)

  • Guru Starman (AKA Peter Batten)

  • Guru Ben (AKA Ben Parfitt)

  • Guru Paul (AKA Paul Sunter)

  • Guru Boidster (AKA Duncan Simpson)

  • Guru Phil (AKA Phil Collins)

  • Guru Ed (AKA Edwin Jones)

  • Guru Janice (AKA Janice Careddu)

  • Guru Wes (AKA Wesley Lock)


Studio-based presenters
  • Guru Vagus (AKA Gareth Williams)

  • Guru Chris (AKA Chris Jeffery)

  • Guru Olly

  • Guru Larry (AKA Larry Bundy Jr.)

  • Guru Stu (AKA Stuart Headlam)

  • Guru NES / DJ NES (AKA Daniel Scammel)

  • "The Chad"/Guru Maggot (AKA Mike Rushton)

  • "Man in Bush" (AKA Dominic Lawler)

  • "Henchman A"/Guru "A" (AKA Mark Nesmith)


Guru Larry, Guru Wes, Guru Janice and Guru Ed presented the final set of shows.

The show's last Game Network producers were Peter Browning and Daniel Scammel, who later went on to create Evolution, an entertainment based show concentrating on the industrial side of computer gaming.

They were also responsible for the re-appearance of Re-Loaded, a live and interactive gaming show which played host to regular weekly tournaments and competetions aswell as live gaming with the presenters.


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 incoporated it with a Live TV Text Chat room.


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