IAmA YouTuber with 2.5 Million Subscribers. I'm Nerd³. Let's Talk!

As an old fuck who enjoys video games, I absolutely love your dad's channel.

Who's idea was it to get him into making videos?

I dragged him into my 100,000 sub special after he showed interest in what I was doing and it spiraled out of control from there. I do love the whole natural evolution thing he's doing with his channel these days. First it was games, then games and sketches, then games, sketches, stories and cooking. Who knows what's next?!

Dan, do you have any jokes that you genuinely regret making?

I don't. I think that's largely due to forgetting about 90% of the things I've said in videos over the past 5 years though. I don't even want to think about what's in those early videos.

That's for YouTube, twitter is a different matter.

If I make a joke in a video then it's totally in context, the people receiving the joke are the people I expect and everything is right in the world. When I tweet and the tweet gets popular (around 200+ retweets) then that joke is suddenly playing to an entirely new set of people. Great example was this one today. While most people got the jokes others who aren't used to my style got FURIOUS at it. So yeah, right now I don't regret making a joke but when that day finally comes you bet your ass it'll be one on Twitter.

Hey Dan! Long time fan of your videos here. Since the latest reboot your content is better than ever in my opinion! Here are my questions.

1. Everyone takes the piss out of Matt constantly, and it seems like he's in on the joke and doesn't mind, but does it ever really piss him off?

2. Why was the Fustercluck cancelled? (Sorry if you've answered this one elsewhere)

3. How did you financially survive the first year of being a youtuber where you're relatively unknown and don't get much money from videos?

Thanks for answering and generally being a pretty cool dude. Get well soonish!

Glad you like the current stuff! I'm having a blast making it so I'm glad people are enjoying it!

1. Matt's OK being abused on-screen because off-screen he holds the damn company together and we all know it and respect him for it. If you go to Matt with an idea or a request it'll be sorted that day. Seriously, if I ever expand the company he's the gold standard other people need to match.

2. I just didn't think it worked. Too many voices and styles. I enjoyed making it but it didn't make for great watching.

3. I had a real job for 6 months, saved every penny, lived with my parents and worked out that I could give myself 3 years once I quit to make a go of it. After just under a year I'd started earning minimum wage from it. That was a damn good feeling.

Hey Dan, my question is why don't you make any more Machinimas? I loved your old GTA IV ones and then when GTA V came out on PC with the editor I was so pumped for you to make more. Then you made one and stopped. I understand (and like) the new schedule of videos but I'd be so happy to see a classic NerdCubed Machinima every once in a while. Thanks!

I love making Machinimas but I really do think that I'm quite awful at it. I think I've got the eye for a nice shot but directing action is pretty tricky and trying to get voices organized means it just takes too long and I lose interest. I think every now and then I might bust out a cool little scene that I've shot as one of the weekly edited videos but I much prefer writing things to directing them.

Hey Dan, been watching for years! Got three whole questions if you don't mind...

1. Do you have a favourite video or series that you did? My personal favorite was your roller-coaster tycoon 3 series - I miss Jeff. I hope you do one on Planet Coaster when it's out properly!

2. How long do your videos take to capture and edit usually? Big fan of the more edited vids recently, but I bet they take a lot more time.

3. Who are your favorite other YouTubers to watch? In addition to Nerdcubed of course I watch your dad (that sounds so dodgy), robbaz, ashens, lazy game reviews, and brutalmoose. I think a lot of people would love to see you and robbaz do something together!

THREE?! OK, but just this once...

1. I loved Fallout 4. I slowly fell in love as I played the game and I think it's the best ending to a series I've ever made.

2. Depends on the series. I can do the completes stuff for a week in a day. The edited videos tend to take around a day each. That leaves a day for the other channels, a day for writing and a day for game making!

3. Ashens is my bae. I also am super into Vsauce, Yahtzee19, TB and recently I've watched A LOT of ThreadBanger.

And if me and Robbaz did something together a lot of people would die.

On rollercoasters.

Long time viewer here Dan, I was wondering how long were you and Rebecca been dating before you got engaged?

Technically 6 months. Actually it was years of a Jim and Pam type never-the-right-time kind of deal.

Looks at camera and makes a cute face

Will you ever bring back 3 free game Fridays?

Maybe, but never as a series. Just a few one-offs.

It had 2 issues. One is copyrighted music which is always a worry when your channel is literally your job. The other is that I just felt that by the end of it I was just looking for any games that were free, not games that were worth showing off. When I get games worth showing off then I've got other series for that.

Dan, have you ever faced serious consequences for your views and comments on controversial topics in the name of humour?

No. I mean you get the odd threat or shouty email here and there but I feel like I've been around long enough that people have stopped trying to make me say "correct" things. If anything that's just helped me push political comedy to 11 on the channel in recent months!

Dan, do you think VR will be widely adopted in 5-10 years or will it fizzle out like the Kinect? I know the experience is far superior, but do you think the general public is willing to spend $800 or more on VR?

Kinect has one real function and that was cleaning virtual windows while George Formby plays in the background. It's a game thing. A toy. You could argue it can be a fitness thing but that's really it.

VR can replace what we have. Sure, games are going to be great with it but it's going to take over a much, much, much bigger market. Sports. You could watch the game on your big screen OR you could watch it like you were in the stands with VR. Imagine that, sitting in the comfort of your own home while actually being at the World Cup finals. Right on the pitch or further back? VIP box? Just press a button to switch cameras. Hell, they could add two 360 degree cameras to cranes above the stadium and you could watch it like you were a giant.

You make think this sounds far off but WWE are experimenting with 360 degree footage already. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjT6t7cB37g) If they broadcast a 360 degree feed on the network you could watch it live from any seat in the house like you were there.

Films change too. Cinemas will be in peoples homes. Everyone can have 3D. You could attend screenings virtually.

VR just has so much more potential than games. When the next few generations knock the price waaaay down I honestly would be surprised if it doesn't explode in popularity.

And I cannot wait.

Is there any chance of you doing a gaming collab with ManyATrueNerd? I know you do Podcats together, but is a gaming collab a possibility in the future?

THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE!

What would you consider as your biggest mistake/error that you have done on youtube? For example something like uploading the wrong 3 hour video.

I once was moments away from hitting "Delete" on all my videos by accident while trying to delete just one that didn't upload right. A real puckering moment that.

why did you change your picture on twitter today?

Some homophobes were freaking out and god damn it I just can't help myself. Low hanging fruit is the juiciest.

Is that a comment on your testicles?

Everything is a comment on my testicles.

A lot of people are "scared" to put themselves out there. Scared to share lyrics they written, stuff they sang, videos they made. How did you cope with for the very first time releasing something? Any advice you would give to new players?

I think it's because I didn't care about YouTube. It didn't matter to me when I started. It was just a bit of a laugh.

I've always considered myself a writer. Like, that's the thing I think I'm best at. The problem is that I've built that up in my head too much so now as much as I write a tonne, I simply release none of it. It's not quite good enough yet. It can be better. It will be better. Probably. One day.

So yes, to answer your question... I have no advice! I'm stuck here myself! HELP!

Are you done working with Martyn? I liked those Little and Cubed videos. However I LOVE the current content. Just curious. Hope you feel better soon.

THERE WILL BE MORE!

Top three careers you would go into if you had to do something else but YouTube? My guess is Wrestler, Game Designer and Porn Star.

Exactly those 3. Spot on.

You have 3 people to take to a desert island who do you pick ? And in advance Portal 1/2 is not a person.

Clarkson, Hammond and May. We will all die, but it'll make interesting TV.

Hi Dan, Why do you talk about politics when other youtubers tend to shy away from the topic?

Great question! Several reasons!

1. It's a fucking comedy goldmine. I'd be a fool to myself to ignore it.

2. I am super into politics and not talking about it would just not sit right with me.

3. At the EU referendum only 36% of 18 - 24 year olds voted. That's literally my highest demographic. These are the people politics will affect for the longest and they don't seem to care because politics is almost impenetrable. With the odd joke or piece of political info here and there I can be the gateway drug that gets people into politics.

I go into politics via comedy and satire. I'm more than happy to be that for someone else if I can.

If you could pick one person to do a collab with that you haven't done one with yet, who would you choose?

Scott Manley. I'm just afraid I'd make him cry.

What is your favourite video that you have ever created for the channel?

I GOD DAMN LOVE the entire Heists series. All of them. Equally. They are my babies.

Hey Dan! Love your stuff! But my question is this: How do you think your comedy and video making style has changed over the years?

I've gotten so much faster. I used to take 3 or 4 days to do a single edited video. A short while ago before I took a week off I managed to do 7 completes videos and 2 edited ones on the same day. Sure it burnt me out a little but it's nice to know that the gear that used to nearly kill me is now simply overkill. Hell, I'm just so used to my own voice I can see specific things I've said in the fucking waveforms now. I can edit large chunks without ever listening to it. That's an odd feeling.

As for comedy style, I've calmed down a bit. I used to be quite manic but that bar has been upped so far that I cannot even comprehend why people watch some YouTubers. Instead of competing I settle back into a darker, calmer version of myself and it's much more fun to record.

Do you ever get recognized in public and is it annoying when you do?

I do a fair bit and it's not annoying at all. Everyone I've met has been lovely. It's always a tad awkward but it gives people a cool memory so I'm happy for people to say hi if they see me!

Hey Dan, What is your all time favorite video on youtube and why?

It's this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkkoHAzjnUs

I cannot tell you the joy this video brings me. The memories. The MAGIC of it. Good times. <3

Hey Dan,

When Youtube Red was starting, you seemed fairly sceptical about it but wouldn't be able to give any concrete opinion about it until you began to get any analytics about it.

Now that it has been going for some time now, are you able to give any more details about it and if it has been a positive addition or has it had a negative effect on your business?

Thanks for yours and the others hard work, you make some pretty amazing content!

So far, it makes me hardly any money. I have no idea if it's a good or bad thing yet. I assume I'll get a better idea when it eventually launches in the UK.

Hey Dan, long time viewer here. If YouTube announced tomorrow that it will be shutting down in a couple years (For whatever reason), what would your plans be? Would you continue to make videos until then, or would you focus more into game development?

I think at the rate I'm going a couple years would be plenty time to keep going at my regular pace but be a bit established in the games industry to maintain that afterwards.

Dan,

Other than Sonic 06' what is the series you most regret making?

That Advent Calendar series with Ashens. Traveling 8 hours by train there and back every day was a nightmare.

On a slightly more serious note... I don't think I have one. Hell, I even enjoyed Sonic 06 because I'm no longer afraid of death! Everything has a plus!

Is there any game that you regret getting hyped for, or any game that you regret not giving a chance?

I never regret getting hyped. If a game got me hyped but then failed I don't see that as a loss, it's just a bad end to a good story. At least the game gave me something.

(Although if the Last Guardian disappoints me...)

I do regret not giving Fallout 3 a chance when that first came out. I just saw it as a bleaker looking Oblivion and wasn't really interested. Now Fallout 4 has dragged me into the series I know I'm going to like it less due to some of the quality of life stuff being missing. Playing games in order can be super important.

Dan, in case of a snap election, would you vote for Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Olé-Biscuitbarrel as Prime Minister?

No. I don't live in Luton.

You are presented with two choices:

1)Make it so that Brexit never happened.

2)Clarkson,Hammond and May never leave Top Gear and the show keeps on getting better.

Which one will you choose?

But Clarkson Hammond and May are doing a better thing! IT'S ALL OK THAT SIDE!

How did you build your YT audience?

I worked myself to near death putting out as much content as I possibly could. For the first year I was working 7 days a week, 20 hours a day. I got sick a lot, I broke my body down, hell, I probably took years off my life under that pressure. My thinking was that if nobody could match the quality and quantity that I was putting out I could beat everyone out.

I also spent a lot of time monitoring YouTubes algorithm and changes. Saw what was working, saw what wasn't. Used the right keywords and games at the right times. I was a big game. Now that stuff is held much close to their chest but for a while I was front page of YouTube every damn day. The mystery videos came about thanks to that. I noticed videos keeping people on YouTube via annotations and links were pushed higher so I added that to the end of my videos and it pushed me up.

Nowadays I don't bother trying to work out the algorithm because as far as I can tell the best way to do that is to have your face frozen in a cringe inducing faux-exclamation taking up 90% of your thumbnail.

Where did you get the name "Nerdcubed" for your channel?

I had a webcomic before the videos about a Nerd who got trapped in Minecraft. Hence Nerd³.

Dan, Do you struggle using cling film? I do and it makes me sad.

It's IMPOSSIBLE.

Dan, are there any games you wish you could play for a video but can't for any reason?

I'd love to do videos on games that explore sex but YouTube being an American company stops that. Feels so odd that I can show a guy getting chainsawed in half but not a nipple.

Hey Dan! Been Watching for about 3 years now, I have a couple of questions. 1) If Nintendo didn't have their shit things with YouTube, and it was easy to record a DS would have done a video or completes on any of their games? I know you liked Smash Bros 3DS and Animal Crossing. 2) Do you ever have any goals for game development or youtube in general? I know smaller youtubers usually set some, but I'm not sure if bigger ones do. 3) Have you watched I Hate Everything or GradeAUnderA Before? 4) I know this is random, but what's your top 3 Gorillaz songs, and why?

That's not a couple of questions! That's a couple of a couple of questions!

1. The World Ends With You would have had a completes series by now. Possibly a lot of Warioware DIY too.

2. YouTube's goal is to make the best stuff I can for as long a I can. Games... oooooh boy do I have plans. :D

3. I love GradeAUnderA. He should be mandatory on YouTube.

4. DoYaThing, Stylo, Don't get lost in Heaven.

How do you choose what indie games to play? Is it news articles, recommendations from friends, or just randomly from the many emails you get? Edit: By the way, loving the new stuff. Idiots.win nearly killed me laughing. Stable. Heh heh.

I find them in every way I can. I've also got Matt digging and filtering for me.

That joke was too good for the channel.

Hey Dan, Long Time Viewer, loveing the WWE completes. my questions are, will you ever play Nuclear Throne? and are you going to do another 2.5 million sub special? When are you fighting Brock Lesner?

The Beast and The Gladiator will meet. A lot.

And I may do! I never know!

Dan, with the increasing dominance of multiplayer arenas, how would you recommend we ensure SP campaigns (essentially gameplay with narrative) don't die out?

Buy games with prominent single players. Play those games. Don't buy microtransactions.

I think we'll be OK. If GTA VI doesn't have a single player it won't sell anywhere near as much. Bethesda are pushing SP as strong as ever. We'll be ok.

We'll be ok.

We'll be ok.

We'll be ok.

What direction do you see games development taking over the next 5/10 years?

VR will get big but I see AAA starting to fizzle. Budgets will get too big, risks wont be taken and people will lose interest. Indie will keep going strong.

Have you ever been in a fight? If so what happened?

I saw my friend getting beaten up so I went over and was beaten up too.

Fuck, marry, kill.

Matt, Procrastinator Brad and/or a duck?

Can I just kill all in-jokes? I've tries my hardest. THERE CAN'T BE THAT MANY MORE LEFT!

What was the best and worst thing you saw watching the E3 press conferences?

Best? STAR TREK FREAKING VR.

Worst? God of War. It looks like a standard modern hack and slash when it used to be a bit of a hold over from the PS2 era of hack and slashery. It might be good, just feels like every other game now.

What would you be doing if you weren't a youtuber?

I'd be moping around somewhere...

Will you play Farming Simulator 17 when it comes out in late October?

OH GOD NOT MORE OF THAT

I produce high quality videos on YouTube, with 4 years of practice under my belt.

How do I get them noticed?

Keep going. Grind at it. If you make something you think could stand out then start posting it in relevant places. I can't give a huge amount of advice as YouTube now is so different to when I started.

Hey Dan! Your Planet Coaster videos are hilarious, and the game looks incredible. Do you plan to release anymore throughout the coming months of alpha and beta stages of the game, or will you wait until the full game is available?

I'm going to cover every major update and do a big old completes series when the game launches proper.

Hey Dan, sorry if this has already been asked but what do you think will happen now that the UK left the EU? Are you worried at all in the slightest?

I'm not too worried. I've left the UK before, I can do it again. :p

Someone on the subreddit requested i ask: "Do you watch any of the Arrowverse DC shows?" "What's your favourite movie from the 80's/90's. Mine is Big." "How to pick up girls? Physically and metaphorically." My question is: Who excatly manages your company "per se"? You or Matt?

1. I do not!
2. Back to the Future!
3. Lift with the knees (for both).
4. I do! (Tracey does stuff too)

What do you think of overwatch? Who's the most bullshit character?

I don't know. My mum bought me Battleborn.

Any new info on The Quest for the Game Child sequel?

Yes. My characters name is...

...

...

Hang on, what was it again?

i noticed that you make quite a few jokes about core 4 exam writers, any specific reason for that or was it just an easy target with the exams this year?

I heard about the horrors in that exam this year. Just peppered a few jokes in to give hope to the hopeless.

If you could make any franchise, whether it be Game, Film, TV Show or Book, Into a Lego Series. which would you choose? (My guess is Robot Wars)

I'd make a Star Trek spin-off set in the far future of the original canon. I haven't already planned it out... Not at all...

Do you ever get tired and/or feel like you're getting tired of doing what you do? For example i would think the editing would be REALLY boring. Thanks, big fan of yours :)

Some edits are tedious, others are a joy. Most of the videos I get rid of are due to the edit not working.

First of all lemme say I've been watching you since the BF3 vids. Some great content right there. I was a child so congrats on influencing my sense of humour. Got a few questions:

1) What made you start doing the webcomic?

2) What made you stop doing the webcomic?

3) Has the appeal of YT dropped much since you started?

4) Which do you prefer: Matt or Jon?

1. Boredom with a real job
2. Boredom with webcomic
3. I think it's a different appeal now.
4. Matt is a better kisser, Jon is... well... he's called Long Jon for a reason.

Thoughts on the Brock Lesnar match at UFC 200?

I won't watch it. I really don't like combat sports. I'm super into Wrestling because it's more dancing than fighting. Nobody is trying to hurt each other, they trying to create art together on the spot. If I thought it was real I wouldn't watch it.

(Although I do hope Lesnar destroys whoever he's fighting so he stays the WWE's beast)

What's your opinion on memes and which one is your favorite?

No. None of them. Get out.

How do you feel about puns?

Pun about how I don't like puns for ironic effect

Hey Dan, long time fan. Which series was your favourite to make (from any time on YouTube)?

The Heists. God dammit this AMA has made me want to finish them off...

Do you have any tips for actually making games?

I don't want to give any out until I've actually made a good game. They might be rubbish tips!

Hi Dan! Long time fan here, joined way back when you were working on Harold the flying turtle.

A few years ago you made a video about going to a convention for the first time, but I haven't heard anything about you attending another one. Do you ever plan to, and if so, which one(s)?

That was my first and last convention. It was fun but not really my scene.

I'm sure you're the most knowledgeable person to ask about this...

Why the hell did everyone pick today to do an AMA? AMD, Gordon Ramsay, you... Who's next? Was this coordinated?

I was just too ill to stream. Ramsey just followed me. He thinks I'm cool. Totally.

He just really liked your impression of him in that Job Simulator video, clearly.

It WAS spot on...

How would your previous regeneration have reacted to you telling it you got 2.5 million subscribers?

7 hour FW on an old Sierra adventure game.

When is the movie coming out?

Soon™.

Is there anything you miss from your life before youtube?

I don't even remember my life before YouTube. Seriously, I was such a different person it feels like I was just observing all that shit. Kinda odd.

Are you going to make another 2,5 mil sub special?

No. We've done that. Gotta start work on the next special!

How many unopened Lego sets do you have right now?

God like... 30?

Have you ever thought about meet ups at events or maybe booths at events like eurogamer or E3?

I have but only at nights while screaming.

Will you do a Completes series on Ride to Hell: Retribution?

I feel like that would be the perfect series for the channel

I tried it but the camera wobble makes me physically sick so I wouldn't be able to do more than a few eps per day.

Dan, which of these two do you prefer?

Sheamus or Bray Wyatt?

Bray, because his character isn't just the place he came from.

How much do you spend on games per month? How many games do you get review codes for per month?

I get too many review codes per month now. I cannot play them all. Matt does a good job of sifting through them for me. As for buying games all I ever really buy now are ones I want to personally support.

DAN!!! Chocolate cake or fruit cake?

Fruit Cake. It's the shit with ice cream.

Is there any particular video where you put a large amount of effort into but it was not received as well as you expected or vice versa?

Heists. Always the heists.

Thoughts on the whole Orion Prelude fiasco?

No idea what that is. I've not noticed much game news recently since the UK started to burst into flames on a daily basis.

Hi Dan, if there is a Labour leadership election and someone on the right of the party stands against Corbyn, would you support the person whose got the best chance at unifying the party or the person whose ideas you most agree with?

Normally I'd argue that the person in charge needs to be someone from the left to stop Labour becoming Tory-lite.

However the country is ripping itself apart and the Labour party are acting like children. This is the one time they needed to unify but they won't. They're lost and they need someone to take control of the ship. As much as I love him, that's not Corbyn. They won't allow it and are willing to drown themselves to make that point.

However however, I seriously doubt I'll be voting for them after this. They've seriously damaged themselves in my eyes.

What's the series you most enjoyed making?

I really enjoy an edited video with a twist like the coaster comparisons or the Dark Souls 3 stuff.

Along with ad revenues becoming lower and lower, is video production becoming less of a profitable means of income for your firm?

Yes. It's dropping and shows no signs of leveling off. Sucks but I'm planning for it.

Would you ever consider making an editing series? Since I'm on of the people who really enjoyed the Cities Skylines completes series, that could be fun

Where I teach people how to edit or show a full edit? One of them sounds fun. :p

Hey Dan! Do you have any input into how Going in Raw is run/ any segments in it or do you just go on after PPV's to talk about them with Steve and Larson?

I handed that baby over to Steve and Larson and they've run with it. I just turn up for the big fights now and that system works! They're both more knowledgeable and charming than me so they should keep doing it the way they want!

As part of a probably small group of viewers to have seen all your videos (except ones removed) my one question has nothing to do with your channel or company:

Do you think Malcolm Tucker could fix the political situation we're in lately, or are we so far gone even he couldn't help?

Hope you feel better soon!

Malcolm Tucker at this point would flat out kill Corbyn and then Boris.

Lego or Portal?

BOTH. I have a Chell mini-fig.

What are your thoughts on the WWE draft?

I hope Seth and KO stay together. If they split I'll be lost.

Dan, what is your favourite video you've made? Which one do you look back and think "Wow, that's really good"?

Recently? I love the Dark Souls 3 videos and they way they linked up. Took a lot of work but came out soooo good.

Dan if you needed to move to another country in the EU witch would you choose? (assuming Scotland isn't one of them jet)

I quite like Italy.

What do you do in your spare time? (Long time fan)

The hell is spare time? :p

Quick! Cookie or cake?

BOTH

Dan will you ever play The Ship Remasted or at least the original Ship again?

Maybe! I dunno, I don't plan that far ahead. :p

Love your stuff Dan. How long do you see yourself doing this whole Youtube thing as a job and/or a hobby?

I think it's safe to say I'm in the 2nd half of my YouTube career.

We're pretty decently into the year- what game currently holds your top Totally Not Poop Game of the Year award? Do any early access/alpha games (Factorio, Parkitect, Planet Coaster) could beat it?

Planet Coaster will sit on top of this pile. Other then that there's a whole bunch of VR games that will be in it!

What coding software are you using to code your games?

I prototype in Construct 2 and build in Unity.

Do you think that by talking about things such as politics and other controversial issues on twitter it will effect your revenue/ follower base/ views? Or do you feel it helps as it brings you closer to the fans, discussing issues with them?

As a primary source of income, surely you want to be as inclusive as possible but, i'm not the one with 2.5 (-bots) million subscribers.

Oh I've lost a lot of money due to them. Probably a huge amount. However it does bring in a more focused audience and I'd prefer that to a vast but general one.