This month’s Nerd episode is on YouTube. (Strange I know, just go with it.) It’s a big Christmas special that looks at some infamous NES titles such as “T & C Surf Design”, “Circus Caper” and “Fist of the North Star”.
Bear McCreary, who composed the music, has worked in television. He’s composed the music for The Walking Dead, Battlestar Galactica, Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles and a ton more. He recently posted a blog on his site about the music he wrote for the Nerd episode. For anyone interested in the creative process behind the AVGN videos, it’s mandatory you check out this blog. It includes a 5 minute “Making Of” video, and free downloads for the music. FOLLOW THE LINK HERE.
There is also a Nerd bonus on GameTrailers. A big Flashback special. The Nerd looks back at past years’ Christmas episodes. See it on GameTrailers “AVGN Holiday Memories”.
December 8, 2010 at 2:50 pm
God damn I love you James
December 8, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Damn!! This is the best ever! The music is awesome, and great drawings by mike!! And, James, great performans as always! One of my favorite NERD moments ever! You guys are awesome!!
December 8, 2010 at 2:51 pm
why just on YouTube? I´m kinda worried ^^
December 8, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Merry X-mas James.
Keep on Keepin’ on
The Reverend Bugsy Cline
December 8, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Sooo did something happen between you and screwattack james? Great episode by the way!
December 8, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Youtube? … uhm, what’s going on? It’s like there’s an elephant in the room? Everything okay?
… Merry Christmas James and Mike, (and fans). Hope you and your respective families get some rest, toys, and stuffed bird! God bless!
December 8, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Ugh why Youtube? It takes forever to load.
December 8, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Everybody thanks for your concern, but everything is okay.
December 8, 2010 at 2:59 pm
I’ll take your word for it James.
December 8, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Yay :d \o/
December 8, 2010 at 3:01 pm
As this is based on How the Grinch Stole Christmas, does this mean there will be copyright trouble from the owners when the DVD gets released, or will they accept this as a montage? The video is great, but that theory bothers me.
December 8, 2010 at 3:01 pm
This video was so awesome! 😀
Keep up the great work! I alreay can’t wait for next month.
December 8, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Uhh that wasnt one of your best at all probably one of your worst in my opinion it wasnt really funny and was just well boring
December 8, 2010 at 3:02 pm
That was a great episode. Made me feel Christmas’sy inside.
I already said in YouTube comments but “Fist of the North Star”, if you didn’t already know, follows some dude who makes guys explode with precise hits before they even realise it. His catchphrase being “You’re already dead.” Followed by the guy exploding with a confused face.
Anyway Merry Christmas when it comes 🙂
December 8, 2010 at 3:02 pm
I have to say when GameTrailers posted the recap yesterday I was slightly disappointed and hoped it wasn’t this month’s episode. I’m glad it wasn’t. The Christmas Special this year is amazing. Thanks James, Mike, and everyone else!
December 8, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Sick!
December 8, 2010 at 3:03 pm
That was a really, really impressive episode. It was probably the most “professional” AVGN episode yet (I saw that it even had music composed for it… by the same guy who scores “The Walking Dead” I think). The narration, illustrations, and clips were awesome.
I’m glad to hear that the new video debuting YouTube doesn’t mean that anything’s wrong.
December 8, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Amazing. This video was perfect. Thanks James.
December 8, 2010 at 3:05 pm
No trouble if there’s a problem with ScrewAttack anyway… you need them more than they need you James! Great episode!
December 8, 2010 at 3:05 pm
JAMES!! Do me a big favor and go back to 2 or more a month. I loved the more the merrier. Thanks for taking time to do these videos and I will be more then happy with any videos at all. Tell Mike that he is a great artist. The scenes that he incorporated from the original carton and made them you were wonderful!!
December 8, 2010 at 3:06 pm
OMG I love IT!!!!!
December 8, 2010 at 3:06 pm
This was so funny! I laughed several times and in a strange but good way it felt like Christmas. Thanks to all of you who was involved in this episode 🙂 It made my day!
December 8, 2010 at 3:06 pm
awesome. i actually prefer it on youtube. hopefully it’s something you worked out with screwattack.
keep the videos coming james, big fan from MN here.
December 8, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Love it!! 😛 Gonna make a playlist on Youtube with all your christmas specials and watch em all again! Merry Christmas!
December 8, 2010 at 3:11 pm
You still got it man, great episode. I look very much forward to new AVGN every month, so this is like a great early christmas present. KEEP IT UP BRONUGGET, can’t wait for The Nerd movie!!!!!
December 8, 2010 at 3:12 pm
This is a great video, James. I love how you changed all your style without making the show badder. Grettings from Quebec!
December 8, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Hehe! Very nice, James, and super creative.
And Mike, from one doodler to another, a big thumbs up for you! Great drawings! They really made the video. Especially James with that creepy assed grin on his face. lol
Cheers, and hey, Merry Christmas guys.
Lori
December 8, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Very clever James. The rhymes were superb!
I was so glad to see a cameo of Skate or Die. That game haunts me.
December 8, 2010 at 3:21 pm
A most awesome Christmas treat to come home to after work. Thanks James.
December 8, 2010 at 3:22 pm
This one was a little Different than the christmas carol episodes. I liked it!
Greetings from Finland!
December 8, 2010 at 3:22 pm
I’ll just safely assume the youtube choice was because he gave the vid to screw attack waaay too late. Cause you have no control over screw attacks releases right? there’s probably a deadline that got missed because the production quality was insanely high.
What a fucking rad episode…wow..I’m really stunned, you went all out (ESPECIALLY MIKE! way to step up the designs!!) I gotta buy myself a DVD or a shirt now.
MERRRRRRY CHRISTMAAAAS everyone in Cinemassacre!!
December 8, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Absolutely beautiful. Excellent work by everyone involved!
December 8, 2010 at 3:24 pm
James. My nigga.
December 8, 2010 at 3:25 pm
I liked that.
Was just moaning in the pub today about the UK xmas day TV this year and how no-one puts any effort into xmas specials so good to see.
have a good xmas james. many thanks.
December 8, 2010 at 3:26 pm
this is ironic. I bought Ultraman when I was at Digital Press (I’m a big Godzilla/Ultraman fan, so I just wanted to have it) but I didn’t have James sign it because it had never been in one of his reviews. silly me!
December 8, 2010 at 3:27 pm
I’m glad Fist of the North Star was better this time around.
December 8, 2010 at 3:28 pm
awesome episode man, definitely a lot of work put into this one and some very funny shit. Its a new classic for me for sure…And we’re inching closer to episode 100…meaning we’re almost to E.T. on Atari (my official prediction) haha
December 8, 2010 at 3:28 pm
very nice 🙂
December 8, 2010 at 3:31 pm
High production values do not equal better. Go back to the old formula and dump the rhymes. The last couple Christmas videos were less produced and overall much better. Ahh well looking forward to the January episode.
December 8, 2010 at 3:34 pm
I don’t get it…
December 8, 2010 at 3:35 pm
incredible
December 8, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Is it really that hard to get the meaning of the story >_>?
December 8, 2010 at 3:36 pm
I loved this episode James How The Grinch Stole Christmas is one of my all time favorites, and Mike did an amazing job with the illustrations. 2010 has been a great year for THE NERD
December 8, 2010 at 3:37 pm
altered beast was and is awesome
December 8, 2010 at 3:37 pm
lol if you dont like it dont watch it dont even coment on it if ya think you could do better go make your own videos and see how well you do.
great video james look forward to the next one, as always keep it rockin.
motherfuckin mike, ya had some most excellent work going on in this one as well.
December 8, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Merry Christmas, James and Mike! You did a wonderful job. Now you can rest and enjoy the holiday season.
December 8, 2010 at 3:38 pm
@evanaltieri
Is this the “It’s okay, I’m black” excuse?
December 8, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Nerd misenterpreted what he heard. all the kids threw the games at their parents and all the parents beat their children so much that they couldn’t make another complaint.
December 8, 2010 at 3:41 pm
I wonder if things went like: James sends this to GameTrailers on Thurs, but they wouldn’t post it because of copyright issues -> James scrambles to put together the retrospective video before posting this one on his (not-for-profit = fair use) YouTube page.
December 8, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Awesome episode, one of the best.
Happy shutthefuckup to you, now you can rest.
December 8, 2010 at 3:42 pm
This is officially a contender for James’ best work of 2010. Here’s how I rank his best stuff:
1. Mr. Bucket episode of Board James
2. Cinemassacre 300
3. AVGN: Swordquest
4. How The Nerd Stole Christmas
ALL epic stuff!!!!!
December 8, 2010 at 3:42 pm
James, this was nicely done. Good to see lots of quality work going into these videos. Keep it up bud.
And wow, Bear McCreary? That’s impressive. The nerd’s got some connections. You’ll go places James. Thanks for a great year of vids.
December 8, 2010 at 3:43 pm
I don’t know how you snagged Bear Mccreary for this, but that is one rockin song. Very nice work once again, laughed my ass off and cried in the corner a bit when I remembered some of those incredibly shitty christmas gifts.
December 8, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Wait a sec…Bear McCreary? As in the guy who scored Battlestar Galactica? Damn.
Anyway, great video. Very creative. I know some people are bitching that it’s different, but dammit James, you deserve a little breathing room to do something fresh.
But I will admit that I’m eager to see another old-fashioned nerd video. Keep it coming James: You don’t disappoint. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
December 8, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Great episode! Loved the format 🙂
Bear McCreary also did the music for Battlestar Galactica.
Very nice!
December 8, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Probably my favorite holiday special episode. I’m impressed with the way it was put together. Keep rockin on, James.
Mike, the title cards are really good.
December 8, 2010 at 3:47 pm
That was great! I loved all the artwork and I’m pumped mad max got a shouout. That game sucks.
December 8, 2010 at 3:47 pm
*shoutout
December 8, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Amazing Christmas special, James! I found myself with a big smile on my face the entire time, and the drawings were perfect and funny.
Keep up the great work in the new year! Merry Christmas!
December 8, 2010 at 3:48 pm
James, I been a fan you you since 2006. Each video has been funny and great. You hit a big section of the NES library, I think you should do more SNES games. The Lion King is one people have trouble with and I think you could make a good Nerd video off of it. I enjoyed the Special, thanks man.
December 8, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Fist of the North Star is a japanese Comic and was made into a Animation… in the 1980s…
But the anime is pretty oweson, too bad all the games relates to the series sucks!
December 8, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Just fantastic.
Thanks for the great year, James and Mike, and merry Christmas!
December 8, 2010 at 3:51 pm
What happened? You lose your contract with Screwattack? It was alright. I expected it to be much longer and zanier, but I can’t say this was bad either so I give you a 3 out of 5. Good job, but could have been better.
December 8, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Holy shit.
That was beautiful, man. Really the most heart-warming thing I’ve seen in these last days.
Definitively worth the wait. The illustrations were impeccable, funny and played an amazing role.
I really must congratulate you, Mike and Liam. This was simply excellent.
December 8, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Outstanding, even more than usual. Glad to hear that everything is ok, tho I must admit I watched the entire “Holiday Memories” video before this one was 1/2 loaded.
Totally worth the wait of course! <3
December 8, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Wow that was something really different and unique, and well done.
December 8, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Dude this was a bad ass episode! made my day dude keep up the good work!
December 8, 2010 at 3:55 pm
What a kick ass way to end this Nerd season! An early merry Christmas to you, Nerd.
December 8, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Alterbeast sucks?What!?
I really enjoyed this year’s christmas episode.I like to wish James and Mike a Happy Shut the fuck up and another shitty New year!
December 8, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Great video! It does a good job of displaying your other Non-AVGN film making abilities !
December 8, 2010 at 3:58 pm
:clap::clap::clap:
Brilliant video guys. Mike, your artwork always impresses me!
December 8, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Man, those were a lot of illustrated panels,
Yikes, zowy, Yeesh!
If I knew that Mike was so overloaded,
I would’ve bought ALL the illustrated postcards at Digital Preessh!
Sorry for the bad rhyming. It’s just in my head now 😛
December 8, 2010 at 4:04 pm
77th comment
December 8, 2010 at 4:10 pm
I’ve watched it 3 fuckin’ times now and I keep seeing things I missed before! This is truly sensational Mr.Rolfe, totally different. The sound is spectacular, the writing is amazing! Bravo nerd! A very Merry Christmas to you!
December 8, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Ha ha. Merry Christmas, James.
Was the Beauty and the Beast thing at the end a hint to what your next video will be? xD
This video was awesome.
December 8, 2010 at 4:15 pm
This is exactly what I look forward to in a Christmas special. Excellent work! Loved it!
I do think you should make a blog entry explaining why this didn’t appear on Gametrailers. I, and many others, are very curious as for the official reason.
December 8, 2010 at 4:19 pm
Another really enjoyable episode! Good work!
My only surprise was seeing ‘North and South’ mentioned in the bad games list. I had it on the NES as a child and really liked it. It was one of the few games I owned where two players could actually do something simultaneously, so it was a favourite of my brother and I. I’m tempted to dig it out this Christmas, but am worried now that my opinion will be shattered!
December 8, 2010 at 4:21 pm
BRAVO!!!!
December 8, 2010 at 4:22 pm
James and Mike, no need to respond to this or even acknowledge this post. This is just pure speculation.
I’m guessing that the Nerd sent in this video to GameTrailers and they rejected it due to possible copyright issues or for referencing Dr. Seuss, who wrote mainly for children, when the Nerd is definitely not for children. They probably said he needed a video to replace that one and he shat out AVGN Holiday Memories and posted the new nerd on Youtube so that it was still distributed.
December 8, 2010 at 4:23 pm
I missed it who did the art work?
December 8, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Man that was awesome! You took my favorite Christmas cartoon, and made an awesome parody out of it! A great way to end this years AVGN’s! Merry Christmas everyone!
December 8, 2010 at 4:28 pm
hey now i liked north and south it was one of my favorites
December 8, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I think Mike’s drawings were great. Very Chuck Jonesesque. Good job Matei. Merry Xmas guys.
December 8, 2010 at 4:38 pm
AMAZING… I love the Grinch christmas special since I was a kid. Props to Mike for the tittle cards, they were incredible and very detailed. The music, the rhymes, the shitty games, everything was great. Really enjoyed it! Merry Christmas James Mike and Kyle!
December 8, 2010 at 4:42 pm
I’m sorry, James, but this was the first of your videos I didn’t like and just found really boring. I know you were going for something different, but parodying a story nobody outside of the US knows wasn’t a good choice. You should’ve concentrated on the games you wanted to review – the way you did it, those games get lost among the parts I mostly skipped and what you say about them feels more like an off-hand comment rather than a well thought out opinion. I waited a whole month for a new Nerd episode and was thoroughly disappointed. I know I’ll never watch it again.
December 8, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Great stuff!!!
December 8, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Awesome. Really creative. It would have been awesome if James had been able to get Tay Zonday from youtube to sing. I still loved Liams narration though. That was awesome… 🙂
December 8, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Great episode! I was hoping Shit Pickle would take the place of Max though aha. Great artwork! You should make a AVGN Christmas shirt with one of the pictures.
December 8, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Yeah GTA-4 is awesome
December 8, 2010 at 4:53 pm
That was awesome! Bravo.
Although… it worries me a bit. Just a few episodes ago, he showed us all the games he still hasn’t done, and now here he is popping through them all with a few rhymes. Is he trying to end the series??
December 8, 2010 at 4:54 pm
@M3n747: Nobody gives a fuck if those outside of the US doesn’t know it. WE all know the Grinch. Bugger off, as you cunts say.
December 8, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Great! But a little too quick.
December 8, 2010 at 4:58 pm
@M3n747: I’m not from the US and I know How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
December 8, 2010 at 4:59 pm
All i can say is AWESOME! i love the grinch and i loved watching this!
December 8, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Great stuff as always James, Too bad we have to wait a long ass time for the next one.
December 8, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Amazing and so well thought out.
Funny, Funny, Fun.
December 8, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Great job, James. Hopefully this will shut up the “James just doesn’t care about the AVGN anymore” crowd that appeared after the Lester the Unlikely review.
December 8, 2010 at 5:03 pm
i appreciate all the hard work you put into this but, i gotta say its not your best. i saw where u were going with it but personally i just didnt like it. Anyways I hope u have a great Christmas James!
December 8, 2010 at 5:05 pm
The production value was amazing James, a little different but certainly worth the extra wait!
December 8, 2010 at 5:10 pm
(Sorry my bad english) but I LOVED this episode. Ok, It’s not and standard AVGN Episode, but it’s artistically awesome. The narration, the music, the drawings and making all the episode as a poem is very creative and difficult. It remembers me “Vincent” from Tim Burton. In one word: Bravo.
December 8, 2010 at 5:13 pm
There was a lot of work put into this one for sure.
All the games he had in the vid and all the riming was crazy.
December 8, 2010 at 5:14 pm
You’re truly a filmmaker, James.
December 8, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Ah James I loved everything about this video! Don’t mind the haters man, this video was extremely creative, your rhymes were genius, it is interesting in a new way for AVGN (which rocks) and you added in the Metropolis Zone theme so you really can’t go wrong!
You’re the best around James, and nothing ever gonna bring you down! (ha ha)
December 8, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Well I’m disappointed this is a movie not an “angry video game nerd” review.
December 8, 2010 at 5:24 pm
I HIGHLY doubt James is considering ending the nerd series. Why are a lot of people complaining…oh this episode was boring…why would you do something like this…why put so many games in one. I like it. Just consider his previous Christmas episodes…We’ve had 2 Bible games episodes, Winter Games…which wasn’t too “Christmassy”, and of The Nerd’s Christmas Carol. This episode was very much a take on How The Grinch Stole Christmas as to Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. I think it’s brilliant.
December 8, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Fun and surprising episode for sure! I laughed out loud at the snow dog (nice illustrations, by the way) and at other parts too… thanks for the video, and merry Christmas in advance!
Please review Total Recall for the NES at some point. Thanks! 😉
December 8, 2010 at 5:26 pm
I remember playing T&C i loved the skating part but the surfing truly sucked good video I really enjoyed it and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
December 8, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Nice work James! Awesome artwork, I especially like the snow figures of video game characters, like the dog from Duck Hunt! The writing was great, too, but you must tell me how did you get Bear McCreary to do the score? That man is amazing, he did the scores for BSG and Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles! Is he a fan? Great get!
December 8, 2010 at 5:28 pm
That was worth 4 nerd episodes. That’s what I say without a frown, this is some of the best work from our guys hands down!
December 8, 2010 at 5:29 pm
I realy love this video. It is what i acpect from christmas special it is have songs , the atmosphere and a lot of games rewievs. Very good vork both you and Justin. Thums up nerds! And mery christmas from all lithuanian fans. 🙂
December 8, 2010 at 5:33 pm
That was actually quite touching, I must say. I was surprised at how different it was and I could tell you put a lot of work into it. Well done, Jamie! And merry christmas!
December 8, 2010 at 5:34 pm
i diden’t like this video, sorry james, i thought that there was’nt enough to talked about the games and i relly liked your other christmas special the cridtmas carol one, sorry again and i hope you have christmas james! 😀
December 8, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Mr Matei has outdone himself. How many different drawings were there in this video?? Nicely done, guys!!
December 8, 2010 at 5:40 pm
I like the idea, not the funniest one of all time but you must’ve put a lot of time in it ( the pics and video scenes and the whole dam rhymes) Great job james, was worth the extra wait.
Hope you have a merry christmas and can’t wait to see more shitty games and A.V.G.N in 2011.
Thank you
Loyal fan Alex
December 8, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Awsome damn episode…. one of the best.
December 8, 2010 at 5:44 pm
great work. i don’t see what all the fuss is about. it’s great that you’re doing your own thing and using the nerd in a creative manner rather than a repetitive gimmick. stay true and don’t force the anger for these ungrateful bitches, otherwise you’ll look like an ass complaining about the sega port of altered beast.
thanks for invoking the spirit of the season. happy holidays
December 8, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Who wouldn’t take offense to Taboo The Sixth Sense?
December 8, 2010 at 5:54 pm
you really wanna know whats bullshit? christmas specials!!!
December 8, 2010 at 5:56 pm
This was still worth a bit of a wait… but i must say that i miss the classic nerd. Hell you mind as well take two months to come back with a nerd video that trumps any so far!
December 8, 2010 at 5:59 pm
something new and wonderful, but still an old nerd, a masterpiece .. I can say … good Christmas from Finland…
December 8, 2010 at 6:00 pm
This was fantastic, entertaining and absurd. Anyone who thinks differently, can suck a fat turd.
December 8, 2010 at 6:00 pm
I enjoyed this episode so much, I felt compelled to registered and comment.
5 Quick Points:
1. Way to make a creative, unique, and awesome Christmas episode this year.
2. Incredible job on the production value here: writing, editing, illustrations, voice over, music, etc. Too many people take this for granted and it’s a lot of work.
3. Nice job on adapting it to Seuss with the rhyming and original tale. Very cool and not easy to do.
4. Way to go giving us MULTIPLE reviews here.
5. Thanks for keeping a FREE model where we pay NOTHING for your videos. I’ve been enjoying them for years. Keep it up. And please, by all means, ignore ungrateful and critical comments that get annoyed when you don’t deliver the SAME experience each ep. I’m very happy to see you get creative and give us variety!
December 8, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Awesome episode James and Mike and all that contributed!
I gotta say that all the hard work you guys put into it was worth it!
Rhymes, music, pictures and all were fantastic!
Beauty and the Beast…why that one?
Keep it up!
Zombie Fan.