Level One Emission 104 Golden Eye 2000 N64

The show's first host and creator, Marcus, was tasked with showing us the first level of a video game. Averaging 20 minutes in length, the show became the channel's trademark, featuring ever-present humor and a groundbreaking production for the time, using luminance keying (many people remember Marcus's face superimposed on the game image). Level One will forever be remembered as the first popular video game show. Initially launched in 1998, Level One averaged 13 minutes, later extending to 18 minutes. Subsequently, "evening" Level One episodes aired around 11:00 PM. In these, Marcus would test games that might be considered unsuitable for younger viewers and recommended for adults. A strong bond existed between Marcus and his director, Pierre Boulay. Indeed, at the beginning of each show, a humorous graphic designed to tease Marcus would appear. "Guest" Level One episodes, in which Marcus and his successors interviewed various television celebrities (Jean-Pierre Foucault, Laurence Boccolini, etc.) and sports personalities, were also broadcast, sometimes in an extended format. The games reviewed were then, more often than not, directly related to the guest. Special Level One episodes were also broadcast, sometimes live, with viewers in the studio or calling in, such as for the release of the Xbox and Halo, for example. Marcus sometimes presented the show in a costume, often grotesque and made with whatever was at hand: envelopes, string, and so on.