Documentary

The Best Episodes of Icons

Every episode of Icons ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Icons!

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Icons was a documentary TV show on G4 that originally focused on significant people, companies, products, history, and milestones in world of video games. It was relaunched in 2006 and focused entirely on pop culture.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Icons Season 2 Episode 7 - Xbox
    7.6/10(7 votes)

    #1 - Xbox

    S2:E7

    How does a console go from an idea to your living room? Join us as we follow the path the Xbox team took. Learn how a failed game led a young designer to become the voice that would push Microsoft into the video game arena, then hear from the team that started the system and find out what they think about it now. This is the story of how a great idea can change the way we play.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Icons Season 1 Episode 4 - Lara Croft
    6.2/10(7 votes)

    #2 - Lara Croft

    S1:E4

    Dubbed "Indiana Jane" before her 1996 release in the United States, Lara Croft kicked the door open for open for an army of other video game heroines who are tough - and beautiful. The Tomb Raider series, which continues with the upcoming The Angel of Darkness, has legions of male and female fans. On this episode of "Icons" you'll learn the secrets behind the dazzling facade through interviews with Eidos insiders Adrian Smith ("We always thought that the consumers wouldn't believe for one moment we were going to kill Lara off."), Paul Baldwin ("The original game concept was in fact turned down."), and Rob Dyer ("We were more concerned it was going to turn off guys.").

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Icons Season 5 Episode 13 - Sacha Baron Cohen
    4.4/10(12 votes)

    #3 - Sacha Baron Cohen

    S5:E13

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Icons Season 1 Episode 1 - Oddworld Inhabitants
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #4 - Oddworld Inhabitants

    S1:E1

    It's an Oddworld after all. Lorne Lanning and Sherry McKenna, co-founders of Oddworld Inhabitants, have created a video game franchise unlike any other. Fans worldwide have embraced Abe and Munch, the spunky characters who battle the forces of evil with little more than their wits. Lorne, Sherry and other insiders reveal long-held secrets behind some of the games' biggest mysteries and recall the fierce backlash that hit when Abe moved from PlayStation to Xbox.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Icons Season 1 Episode 2 - Nolan Bushnell
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #5 - Nolan Bushnell

    S1:E2

    For decades Nolan Bushnell, the originator of Pong and ATARI, has pushed the boundaries with inventions that were sometimes a bit ahead of their time. After amassing a personal fortune by selling ATARI to Warner Communications, Bushnell focused his attention on his rapidly growing Chuck E. Cheese pizza parlor chain and backed a series of innovative inventions, including in-car navigation systems, online shopping and robots. The sometimes-controversial father of the video game industry finally returned to the business with his current company, uWink

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Icons Season 1 Episode 3 - Pac-Man
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #6 - Pac-Man

    S1:E3

    In 1979, a young Japanese game designer named Toru Iwatani had the desire to create a non-violent arcade game that would appeal to everyone. Originally called "Puck-Man" in Japan, the name was changed to "Pac-Man" by the time the game hit the United States in October 1980. The moment Pac-Man landed on U.S. shores Americans were hit with "Pac-Man Fever." As the fever grew, so did revenues for arcade owners and Pac-Man merchandise retailers. But by the mid 1980s, the arcade industry saw a sharp drop in profits as the home console era began. Atari's home version of Pac-Man for the Atari VCS was one of the best-selling games in Atari's history. Since then, Pac-Man has been released on almost every console imaginable.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Icons

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  7. Icons Season 1 Episode 5 - Activision
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #7 - Activision

    S1:E5

    Founded by four former Atari vets in 1980, Activision dominated the video game industry with smash-hit titles like Pitfall!, River Raid and Kaboom! Rocked by an industry downturn and business missteps, the company floundered until it was purchased by a group headed by Robert Kotick ("Everybody was asking me whether I was mad, you know. Why was I going off and doing this?"). But Kotick proved his doubters wrong and turned the failing game company into one of the world's most successful video game publishers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Icons Season 1 Episode 6 - Miyamoto
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #8 - Miyamoto

    S1:E6

    Mr. Miyamoto has created characters such as Donkey Kong, Zelda and, of course, Mario. But with each success, the pressure on Mr. Miyamoto has increased to continually be innovative. He has met the challenge each time and become an integral part of Nintendo's worldwide success. Despite his status as an icon in the gaming world, Mr. Miyamoto remains a team player and leads a surprisngly humble life

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Icons Season 1 Episode 7 - Everquest
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #9 - Everquest

    S1:E7

    Fans worldwide have embraced EverQuest since its debut in March of 1999. The enchanting land of Norrath--populated by humans, gnomes, elves and other incredible creatures--is also home to as many as 40,000 players at a given time. On this episode of "Icons," we'll learn the stories behind the conceptualization of EverQuest, how its creators convinced Sony Online Entertainment that Ultima Online was not the ultimate in massive multiplayer online gaming, and what the future holds for this fantasy world.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Icons Season 1 Episode 8 - Bioware
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #10 - Bioware

    S1:E8

    In just seven short years, the video game company Bioware, formed by Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk, has become one of the most respected and fastest-growing companies in the video game business. Best known for their submersive role-playing games, Bioware strives to push the envelope combining the best of technology and epic story-telling.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Icons Season 1 Episode 9 - Will Wright
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Will Wright

    S1:E9

    Before they became a part of the biggest-selling PC video game franchise in the world, Will Wright's Sims games were met with skepticism by the very companies who would later launch them. Learn how Wright's endless curiosity led to one of the most curious series of games, how the term "God Game" was coined, and where the seemingly endless series of Sims games and expansion packs are leading. Industry insiders, fellow game creators and family members help Will Wright tell his compelling story.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Icons Season 1 Episode 10 - Women in Gaming
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #12 - Women in Gaming

    S1:E10

    Women are finding careers behind the scenes as producers, designers and even CEOs of gaming companies. But their rise to the top hasn't always been easy. These eight women--Sherry McKenna, Elaine Hodgson, Caroline Esmurdoc, Patricia Pizer, Amy Farris, Beth Llewelyn, Felice Standifer and Kathy Vrabeck--share their stories, from being asked to serve coffee to sharing a restroom. And more than ever, women are going online. The popularity of massively multiplayer online games like EverQuest are attracting more women gamers. As the gaming industry grows, so do opportunities for women.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Icons Season 1 Episode 11 - Insomniac Games
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Insomniac Games

    S1:E11

    Find out how two Princeton graduates, Ted Price and Alex Hastings, created a budding gaming dynasty with Insomniac Games. Get the history on how Insomniac got off the ground, despite a less than stellar start with their PlayStation first-person shooter, Disruptor. You'll also find out why Spyro is purple, and we've got a special sneak look at their latest hit in the making, Rachet & Clank.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Icons Season 1 Episode 12 - Sid Meier
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #14 - Sid Meier

    S1:E12

    Sid Meier launched his first game company, Microprose, in 1982 on a dare from friend Bill Stealy. Over the next decade, Meier and Stealy created flight simulator games and developed a solid reputation for making games that had simple but addictive gameplay. By 1996, Micrprose had grown into a multi-million dollar company, but Meier, always the creative force, grew disenchanted with the business. He left Microprose to start his own small development company, Firaxis Games, which has allowed Meier to create fun and intelligent computer games, enjoyed by millions.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Icons Season 1 Episode 13 - Scary Games
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #15 - Scary Games

    S1:E13

    When did video games start scaring you? Do you remember the first scary game you ever played? We take a look back at the scariest of the scary, from their humble start--and fumble--to their ultimate success in the gaming world. Included are looks at The 7th Guest, Alone in the Dark, Resident Evil, and much, much more

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Icons Season 1 Episode 14 - Richard Garriott
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Richard Garriott

    S1:E14

    The land of Britannia; a realm of magic, mystery, intrigue, and adventure. Who created this world? How did it begin? Find out the true story behind Richard Garriott, the man responsible for jumpstarting the PC role-playing game genre, and the creator of the Ultima series.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Icons Season 1 Episode 15 - Bruce Shelley
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Bruce Shelley

    S1:E15

    Very few people can say that they've honed their gamemaking skills alongside a gaming god. But that's exactly what Bruce Shelley did. After getting a start in the industry by helping Sid Meier create games such as Railroad Tycoon and Civilization, he went on to create the critically acclaimed Age of Empires series. We follow his career from his board game making start to Ensemble's latest game, Age of Mythology.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Icons Season 1 Episode 16 - John Madden NFL Football
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #18 - John Madden NFL Football

    S1:E16

    Presenting the history of the Madden football franchise, from its humble beginnings on the Apple II to the realistic powerhouse that it is today, you'll get all the details on how this series came to be. Featuring interviews with the developers and behind-the-scenes footage from the past.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Icons Season 1 Episode 17 - Splinter Cell
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - Splinter Cell

    S1:E17

    Introducing the first in a series of Icons specials that feature the latest and greatest games, developers, and companies of today. For our premiere episode we'll take an in-depth look at the creation of the critically-acclaimed stealth action game, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell. Catch a glimpse of how the development team went from the drawing board to the final gold.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Icons Season 1 Episode 18 - Lord of the Rings
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #20 - Lord of the Rings

    S1:E18

    When Universal Interactive decided to make a game based on "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, they realized that it would take a special effort to bring the game to life. This is the story behind the painstaking effort the led to the creation of "The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Icons Season 2 Episode 1 - Atari
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #21 - Atari

    S2:E1

    We kick off our new season with the real story behind the world's first truly great videogame company: Atari. Find out just how wild they got, what happened to bring it all down, and what the future holds for them.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Icons Season 2 Episode 2 - Music Music
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #22 - Music Music

    S2:E2

    We sit down with Tommy Tallarico, George Sanger (AKA "The Fat Man"), Clint Bajakian, Masaya Matsuura, Scott Gershin and other music makers to get their stories and learn about the history of music in gaming.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Icons Season 2 Episode 3 - Unreal
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Unreal

    S2:E3

    We get the lowdown from Cliffy B and show you the true story behind the creation and rise of the Unreal series. From the first Unreal to Unreal 2, see how one beautiful first-person shooter spawned a legendary franchise.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Icons Season 2 Episode 4 - Yu Suzuki
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Yu Suzuki

    S2:E4

    A founding father of gaming, Yu Suzuki's every step revolutionized the way we play games. Watch as we follow the ups and downs of the Michelangelo of game design, from the success of Virtua Fighter to the struggle to bring Shenmue to life.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Icons Season 2 Episode 5 - Intellivision
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Intellivision

    S2:E5

    We take an in-depth look at the Intellivision. Get the true story behind how they began, the world's first console war, and who won. With interviews from people who were there, we show you what happened to Intellivision and where it is today.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Xbox" is the best rated episode of "Icons". It scored 7.6/10 based on 7 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/10/2003. This episode scored 1.4 points higher than the second highest rated, "Lara Croft".