Good Game: Spawn Point
Good Game: Spawn Point, is a spin-off of the original Good Game. It carries only reviews of games ACB-rated as G or PG, and professes to be "For young gamers, by gamers". It debuted on ABC Me on 20 February 2010. Good Game Spawn Point is now the highest rated show broadcast on ABC ME. Spawn Point was hosted by Steven "Bajo" O'Donnell and Stephanie "Hex" Bendixsen from 2010 to 2016. Following the latter's departure in 2017, Gus "Goose" Ronald and Angharad "Rad" Yeo became main hosts alongside O'Donnell; O'Donnell departed the show in December 2017, replaced by Gemma "Gem" Driscoll in March 2018. Ronald departed in December 2018, replaced by William "Will" Yates in February 2019.
Production
Spawn Point began in 2010, hosted by Steven O'Donnell and Stephanie Bendixsen. The ABC has described Good Game: Spawn Point as "featur a family friendly mix of gamer reviews, stories about gaming culture and plenty of audience interaction". PlayStrat said, "The standard Good Game edition is a more adult oriented series—which includes reviews of games that fall into more mature classifications. It's good, therefore, that the show has the Spawn Point variant to allow the younger crowd to get their fill as well".The show originally ran for 15 minutes, but was extended to 30 minutes per episode from Series 2, Episode 21 on 2 July 2011. O'Donnell said, "The 30-minute show will allow us to review more games, produce more stories about game culture and delve deeper into gaming's rich history". Creator and executive producer Janet Carr said Spawn Point "is achieving a total TV share of 16.2% among children 5–12 years old and its average audience share is up 114% on series one. Series two has been extended due to the enormous response from the audience and it will give gamers more ways to interact with the show and make it their own". In 2011, the Spawn Point reached 166,000 viewers per episode.
As the show is "for younger gamers", it is not suitable to review games rated M, MA15+ or R18+. Bendixsen said "occasionally we might give you a glimpse of a mature title but only where it's necessary to make a point", and adds that the contentious content would always be excluded. On 1 July 2011, TV Tonight said "Together with ABC2's Good Game, Good Game: SP has reached over 1.3 million vodcasts, the most downloaded vodcasts of any ABC programme this year. ABC3's Good Game: SP website has recorded 254,000 visits and 1.6 million page views since January." O'Donnell named the "Ask Good Game" segment his "favourite part of the show, reading those letters and making the noises". He added "It's my dream that one day kids might look back on GGSP in the way I look back on shows from my youth, I hope we do it well enough that this might happen."
Bendixsen announced her departure from the show in January 2017; supporting host Gus Ronald and Angharad Yeo took her place. O'Donnell departed from the show in December 2017, and was replaced by Gemma Driscoll in 2018. Ronald departed the show in 2018, replaced by William Yates in 2019.
Presenters
Main hosts
| Name | Nickname | First Show | Last Show |
| Steven O'Donnell | Bajo | 20 February 2010 | 9 December 2017 |
| Stephanie Bendixsen | Hex | 20 February 2010 | 2 December 2016 |
| Gus Ronald | Goose | 18 February 2017 | 15 December 2018 |
| Angharad Yeo | Rad | 18 February 2017 | Incumbent |
| Gemma Driscoll | Gem | 10 March 2018 | Incumbent |
| William Yates | Will | 23 February 2019 | Incumbent |
;Notes
- The show has also presented by D.A.R.R.E.N. the Robot since its inception.
Guest hosts
- Jackson "Ajax" Gothe-Snape
- Kayne "Tremmers" Tremills hosted Series 1, Episode 19, replacing Bajo as he was at E3 2010.
- Pip Rasmussen hosted Series 8, Episode 19, replacing Rad and Goose as they were at E3 2017. Also guest hosted Series 8, Episode 35, to celebrate female developers for International Day of the Girl.
- Tim Mathews hosted Series 8, Episode 36.
Segments
All series
- Reviews: Review segments are presented by the host throughout the show. Each time a current game is discussed while footage is shown to the viewers. At the end, a rubber chicken rating is given to the game. Two games are usually reviewed during each show. Some reviews are also replayed from the main show.
- Ask SP: A main weekly segment where questions are answered from viewers via their website or video form.
- Meet the Spawn: This segment meets gamers who discuss their gaming interests.
Individual series
Season 1 (2010)
- One Face Review: In this segment, people send in pictures of themselves rating a certain game, series or character using their thumbs and the results are all tallied up with the final verdict being awful, average, or awesome.
- Spawn Selects: An online poll on the official website allows viewers to vote for a game or character out of three choices that share the some topic, for example, space, RPG or music, with the highest voted game given the chance to be talked about by the hosts.
- GG:SP Dissects: Shows what makes up a game, such as the spawn point or cutscenes.
- 5-Up: This segment counts down the top five gaming related subjects. Only one of these aired, which was taken from the main show.
- Let's Cheat With D.A.R.R.E.N: D.A.R.R.E.N gives out a cheat for a game.
Season 2 (2011)
- I'm No Noob: D.A.R.R.E.N sets a challenge for viewers, such as to reach the highest score they can get in a game, and send in a screenshot of it. The best entries are often given prizes.
- D.A.R.R.E.N's Dictionary: D.A.R.R.E.N explains the definition of a game related term.
- Gamer News: This segment presents gaming news from worldwide.
- So You Want to Work in Gaming: The segment takes a look at some people who have turned their passion for gaming into a real life career.
- How it Works: Goose visits some experts to find out how game features work.
- Feature Stories: Goose takes to the streets for some sleuthing, investigating and interviewing.
- Level Up with D.A.R.R.E.N: D.A.R.R.E.N provides helpful tips for a game.
Season 3 (2012)
- D.A.R.R.E.N's Data Dump: D.A.R.R.E.N 'dumps' valuable gaming information straight into the minds of Spawnlings. It is similar to D.A.R.R.E.N's dictionary but the information is on a more technical gaming or computer concept rather than a simple in-game term, and isn't restricted to games; such : Amigaas "Hacking" which relates to the hardware side of a computer.
- I'm No Noob: D.A.R.R.E.N sets a challenge for viewers, such as to reach the highest score they can get in a game, and send in a screenshot of it. The best entries are often given prizes.
- D.A.R.R.E.N.'s Time Warp: D.A.R.R.E.N time travels through time and talks about gaming history.
- Video Game Postcards: D.A.R.R.E.N and Goose go to video game locations.
Season 4 (2013)
- Gaming Around the World with D.A.R.R.E.N: D.A.R.R.E.N gives the viewers a look at gaming in different countries and explains the country's impact in gaming.
- D.A.R.R.E.N Does Devs: D.A.R.R.E.N has a personal interview with a game developer.
- This Is Your EXTRA Life: Goose has a deeper look at the history and story behind one of the characters featured in one of the games reviewed.
Season 5 (2014)
- D.A.R.R.E.N's Challenge: Similar to the "Name That Game" segment on the original show, D.A.R.R.EN gives the viewer a trivia question about a game. The answers is revealed at the end of the show.
- The D.A.R.R.E.N Report: A more detailed version of the "Data Dump" segment, except the topic is to do with one of the games reviewed.
Season 6 (2015)
- D.A.R.R.E.N's Challenge: Similar to the "Name That Game" segment on the original show, D.A.R.R.EN gives the viewer a trivia question about a game. The answers is revealed at the end of the show.
- D.A.R.R.E.N's Data Dump: D.A.R.R.E.N 'dumps' valuable gaming information straight into the minds of Spawnlings. It is similar to D.A.R.R.E.N's dictionary but the information is on a more technical gaming or computer concept rather than a simple in-game term, and isn't restricted to games; such : Amigaas "Hacking" which relates to the hardware side of a computer.
- Coding Corner: Goose and Julian, a young programming prodigy seen in a "Meet the Spawn" segment, as teach viewers coding tips and tricks in the video game coding application Scratch.
- Spawn Point League: Bajo and Hex compete in gaming challenges to find out who will earn the title of the 2015 Spawn Point League Champion and reign supreme.
Season 7 (2016)
- Goose's Gaming Picks: Goose presents headlines in gaming news worldwide and his gaming picks from viewers.
- Strategy Sirs: "General" Goose and "Field Marshall" Darren uncover top notch gaming strategies to help players improve from a mere noob to a most efficient pro.