Substance TV



Substance TV is a monthly video game review show created by Brian Castleberry and Erik Neal.

Background
The inspiration for Substance TV came from a mix of unemployment, boredom, and frustration at the lack of quality video game review shows. Instead of focusing on the bad games, each episode reviewed three of the best video games. With an ample amount of free time, Brian produced the first episode of Substance TV within a week. It premiered on YouTube June 23rd, 2006. In the following few weeks, episodes two, three, and four premiered on YouTube.

Episode five would be the first retooling of the show. It also saw the addition of Brian's good college friend and fellow graphic designer, Erik Neal to the show. Episode five premiered on YouTube March 30th, 2008. It was the first big break for the duo as it was featured on both Gametrailers and ScrewAttack.

After the release of episode nine, the show was once again redesigned with a new look and logo. With the birth of Brian's second child, the show went on hiatus.

Almost two years years later, Substance TV would come back in a new volume format covering Zone of the Enders: The Second Runner. The volume premiered on YouTube October 16, 2010.

Format
Originally Substance TV reviewed three games per episode. After episode eleven, the show switched formats to reviewing one game per volume. Each volume was a review of not only the game, but everything surrounding the game. From the history of the franchise, background of the publisher/developer, composers, artists, designers, and anything related to that game. Sprinkled within each volume are factoids that pop up on the screen giving the viewer supplemental information.

Blistered Thumbs
On January 21th, 2011, Brian and Erik selected to be a members of the Blistered Thumbs team as their show, Substance TV premiered!