FGTeeV on What It Means to Be a Gamer Family and Their Kids’ Choice Award Nomination
With more than 23.4 million subscribers on YouTube, FGTeeV, aka the Family Gaming team, is one of the most popular creator families on the platform, and they're only getting bigger.
They've won over fans around the world with their authentic and hilarious gaming videos—so much so that this year, they're nominated for a Kids' Choice Award in the category of Favorite Creator Family. They're also the stars of their own New York Times Bestselling graphic novel series, with a new entry arriving before the end of the year, making 2024 a very busy time for the family. We got the chance to connect with FGTeeV for the special occasion, so click HERE to find out more about this year's Kids' Choice Awards categories and cast your votes, and keep reading for our full interview with the fam.
Sweety High: Can you tell us a little bit about how you all got your start in the gaming space?
Duddy: Well, we had been creating since 2006, just doing skits mostly. Then, in 2012, my son wanted to make a gameplay about Skylanders (a hot game at the time). He had been watching other people on YouTube and was inspired. I thought it was a cute thing for him. Never planned on it being anything. So we made one video, put it out and forgot about it, checked back over a month later and saw a ton of views. We then tried another vid to learn if it was a fluke or not and instantly after the release of the next vid, the views started climbing. It was then we realized we had something. It just grew into a behemoth!
(Photo credit FGTeeV)
SH: Can you each introduce yourselves and your "roles" in FGTeeV?
Duddy: I'm Duddy, aka Duddz aka FeeGee 😀 I'm the goofball dad who gets his excess energy and creativity out through gameplays and vlogs haha. I make it all run smooth, but the real magic is the family dynamic.
Moomy: I'm Moomy. I'm just here trying to fit in and pretend to know how to play games.
Lex: I'm Lex and I bring the magical personality to the family. I'm mostly here for the six-player gameplays.
Mike: I'm Mike. My dad may tell you he's the brain of the family, but secretly, I provide the sauce. I'm his go-to when he needs something to be funny because he's not the best at it. 😛
Chase: I'm Chase. I possess the gaming know-how. When anyone is stuck, I've got the answers. My dad always leans on me for my parkour skills haha.
Shawn: I'm Shawn. I'm the youngest, but probably the funniest and am better at gaming than half of the family. 😅
SH: What does being part of the Family Gaming team mean to you?
Duddy: The whole family will probably never take in how much we've accomplished as a fam. It's still all surreal and we have to remind ourselves of what we've done and who we are to our fans because day-to-day we are just a regular family. But it's amazing to see how many we've touched.
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SH: What sets you apart from other creator families?
Duddy: Well, now we only record when something comes naturally to us. We aren't out here trying to force or compete against anyone. I think it helps because we are the O.G.'s. Hearing from our fans, it very much so feels like we were one of the first families on YouTube to reach millions of families and "create childhoods," as we've been told countless times, haha.
SH: What does it mean to you all to be nominated for a Kids Choice Award for Favorite Creator Family?
Duddy: It's insane to have watched this for years. Seeing all of the stars on the show, not thinking it was something we'd ever be a part of. It honestly didn't feel real. We don't view ourselves as celebrities or anything, so it's just cool to be a part of.
(via the Kids Choice Awards 2024)
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SH: What's something that the FGTeeV fam is super proud of but doesn't get to brag about enough?
Duddy: We'd say our New York Times Best-Selling book series, but we do talk about it a lot. Outside of business, I'd say the ability to manage online success while having a healthy life balance and making sure our children and family stay down-to-earth and true to themselves as individuals.
SH: Is there anything else we should know?
Duddy: Oh, not really, except for maybe on Oct. 8, you should go to wherever books are sold and grab the new FGTeeV graphic novel, FGTeeV BLASTS OFF. Sorry, is self-promotion allowed? If so, we have another series called Campfire Tales coming out in February, too. Okay, we'll stop. 😀
(FGTeeV Blasts Off via HarperCollins)
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