What did the sadsacks staying in on a Saturday night to watch a show about games think of this then?

I think it was a thoughtfully compiled list (if you didn't catch it, it took the form of a chronological rundown of the 25 most important games in history, which I shaln't spoil for those catching up later), with very little I'd argue with myself, except (okay, one spoiler) the assertion that Twitter is a form of massively multiplayer online game - perhaps it is a kind of game if you're that invested in some kind of alternate online persona, but for most people you might as well argue that the telephone network is the most popular game of all time.

I'd be interested to hear what any non-gamers who saw it thought of it, as since it was a bit lacking in Brooker's usual acerbic wit I thought it may have been too dry to keep a mainstream audience away from I'm A Celebrity, and not as in-depth or self-referential for more 'hardcore' gamers. Still, making games-based programming is notoriously hard, and I think Brooker's making steps in the right direction. A full series of Gameswipe next please, Charlie!