Waypoint Presents
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Waypoint Presents
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Waypoint Presents is a documentary-style series about games and gaming culture. Crude references and bad language are muted, but occasionally images of violent games are shown. Drinking is occasionally visible at social events. A wide array of video games and companies are featured, but it's offered within context. Younger gamers may find it a bit dry, but it's an interesting glimpse into the gaming community.
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What's the Story?
WAYPOINT PRESENTS is a reality show about the digital video gaming universe. Hosted by Waypoint's editor-in-chief, Austin Walker, it's a TV version of a popular gaming blog that looks behind the scenes of game development, as well as at the thinking behind the games' narratives and aesthetics. It also explores the thoughts and behaviors of people when they are playing certain games or participating in specific gaming experiences. Interviews with individual creators, players, and others connected with the community offer additional details. From describing how a game serves as a metaphor for its creator's personal struggles to detailing how people's reactions to a game can be directly impacted by the inability of technology to catch up to its concept, the series takes a close look at these technological and culturally driven phenomena.
Is It Any Good?
This series takes an insightful look at the various facets of the video gaming culture, which has evolved from a group of programmers and hobbyists to a thriving community. It highlights how technology has contributed to the social norms of the gaming culture over the years, and how the community embraces technology as part of their commonality. Folks also share their honest thoughts about being part of this community, and the goals they hope to reach (aka "waypoints") by actively participating in it in some way.
Some of the Waypoint Presents episodes feature older, short documentaries originally produced for Vice, but others contain original content. Regardless, teen fans of the Waypoint franchise, as well as gaming enthusiasts, will be drawn to the details the show offers about the different games, creators, and players. But older non-gamers may potentially find the conversations about the gaming culture and community very interesting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way gaming culture has evolved over the past 50 years. What technological changes allowed for this evolution? What other things contributed to what the gaming world is today?
What are some of the stereotypes that exist about gamers? Does Waypoint Presents support those generalizations, or does it offer an alternative to them?
TV Details
- Premiere date: August 16, 2017
- Cast: Austin Walker
- Network: Disney XD
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: June 28, 2020
Our Editors Recommend
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Docu covers games' evolution; some strong images.
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Polaris Primetime
Mild, lively variety show most fun for serious gamers.
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Digital Nation: Life on the Virtual Frontier
Powerful look at the impact of technology on our children.
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Growing Up Online
Engrossing documentary looks at teens' online behavior.
For kids who love gaming
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