It's a old stereotype that most game players are kids, yet when it comes to reviewing, that belief is still held by the producers of X-Play and Electric Playground. This is particularly discouraging since there are so few programs about games to choose from.

X-Play is hosted by Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb. Their reviews are done as voice-overs, which are good. But these segments are bridged by the two hosts not only introducing the next review, but "entertaining" us with their comedic talents. It's unfortunate, since Adam's idea of humour is to throw fake temper tantrums; he clenches his fists and whines. (This is especially embarrassing since his ability to improvise dialogue is slower than the speed at which he stamps his feet.) In other words, Adam is acting like a seven-year-old, exactly the age too many people assume gamers to be.

Maybe the producers of X-Play are simply doing whatever they can to maximize their audience. Morgan and her tight t-shirts pull in the older male viewers, while Adam and his hissy fits are meant to pull in the younger crowds. But if they're really looking for a larger audience, why aren't they doing anything to pull in older female gamers? Are they assuming another stereotype, that all gamers are male?

What's really disturbing is that Adam isn't the worst host on TV. Electric Playground/Judgment Day/Reviews on the Run are hosted by Victor Lucas and Tommy Tallarico. Victor is a friendly, easy-going, thoughtful reviewer. Tommy is a complete jackass.

Viewers sometimes complain about Tommy being too harsh in his scoring of games. But this isn't a major problem. The old "good cop, bad cop" routine can be quite effective (especially when the bad cop is brandishing a telephone book). There are other things that make Tommy so ineffectual:

1) Tommy makes it clear that he doesn't like certain genres. There's nothing wrong with having a personal bias. But this kind of blatant dismissal isn't acceptable in a professional venue. If certain genres are unpalatable for a reviewer, then another critic should be hired to act as a specialist (something that's done in magazines — one reviewer handles the war games while another takes care of RPGs).

2) Victor will sometimes question a game in terms of political correctness. These points are dismissed out of hand by Tommy. I guess it's something Tommy would rather not discuss, since it involves thinking. It's so much easier to just wave things off with a "Who cares, it's just a game". That way, we're guaranteed that game critiques will never become as sophisticated as those in other media.

3) Tommy doesn't just take every possible opportunity to champion scatological material; he makes it a point of pride. He practically brags that he finds urinating in a game so entertaining. This isn't just an issue of taste; like Adam, Tommy keeps alive the notion that children are the main target for game developers by rewarding points for juvenile humour.

It's too bad TV programs don't follow the example set by some magazines. Both PC Games and Computer Gaming World demonstrate that you don't have to treat your audience like kids. After all, most of us aren't.