Editing Consolevania (section)

==Format and style==
The show primarily consists of a mixture of video game-related comedy [[sketch comedy|sketches]], [[review]]s of both newly released and older video games, and occasional [[wikt:preview|preview]] features highlighting forthcoming titles, especially those that appear unusual or eccentric.  The lighthearted [[comedy|comedic]] approach of the show is met with clear passion for video games and knowledge of the medium's history.  The program has sometimes experimented with unusual [[visual effect]]s, such as flash edits and periods of [[slow-motion]].  Much of the humour is referential, expressing knowledge of a variety of video games of both mainstream popularity and relative obscurity.  This ability to mock the video game industry whilst remaining affectionate toward it is typical of Consolevania's style.

Where previous video game TV shows such as ''Bits'' and ''[[Thumb Bandits]]'' claimed irreverence with their use of swear words but still were forced to operate within the established systems of television production,  Florence and Macleod are able to dictate the content of their own show without the need for [[censorship]] to avoid offence.  Examples of content likely to be restricted on United Kingdom television are the inclusion of characters such as [[Adolf Hitler]] and [[John Wayne Gacy]], although these characters are for the most part mocked in the show as opposed to praised in any way.

The fact that the show is self-produced by Florence and Macleod's own production company has presented some issues of budget. In the first series, the equipment was mostly rented, and as such the release of the shows were very irregular. An upshoot of this lack of budget was the [[microphone]] used by the team, an [[Microphone#Omnidirectional|omnidirectional]] device attached to a bent wire [[clothes hanger|coathanger]] covered in red [[duct tape]]. It was frequently thrown at whichever character or presenter was on camera at the start of each sketch or review. However, there was no sign of the microphone at the start of the second series and the show's creators claim it was buried after a night of drunken revelry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://consolevaniaforum.thefraudcast.com/viewtopic.php?t%3D353%26postdays%3D0%26postorder%3Dasc%26highlight%3Dburied%26start%3D0 |title=Consolevania :: |accessdate=2006-03-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070326155113/http://consolevaniaforum.thefraudcast.com/viewtopic.php?t=353&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=buried&start=0 |archivedate=2007-03-26 }}</ref> Eventually, during the show's 'Independents Day' episode, it was unearthed and so may find itself in service once again.

Some of the show's other recurring themes and sketches include:
*The team engaging in various physical activities whilst shouting "tap tap tap" (in reference to 'button bashing' athletics games such as ''[[Track and Field (video game)|Track and Field]]'').
*The misadventures of Adolf Hitler and his bizarre cohort El Zomba (see below), the former apparently interested in taking over the show for his own nefarious purposes, the latter being his sometime assistant and possibly lover.
*John Gacy's "Kiddies' Corner", where the notorious serial killer reviews video games aimed at children.
*Impromptu interviews with members of the public about games, conducted by one of the show's most popular characters, an American known only as Legend (see below).
*Video game [[cosplay]], with an emphasis on the ridiculous.
*''[[Overblood]]'', a video game the team display a passionate distaste for.

Perhaps also an issue of budget, there was some inconsistency in the lengths of early episodes, varying runtimes between 45 minutes to an hour. However, the show's creators claim they have now found a format they are happy with and consequently later episodes have been just over 30 minutes in length. At the start of the second series, a basic awards system has been introduced, where the team awarded gold, blue, or brown ribbons to video games that they consider exceptional (gold), very good (blue), or particularly poor (brown). However, as the next episode abandoned this system for one based on [[Jeff Minter]] using a torch, it is likely that the new ratings system was never intended to be taken seriously.