MatPat

Patrick first created a YouTube account under the name "MatthewPatrick13" in 2009. He uploaded numerous videos of his performances and auditions for musical theatre, including one where he sang "It Takes Two" from the musical Hairspray.[9]

On April 18, 2011, he uploaded the first episode of Game Theory, discussing the relationship between reality and gaming in terms of science, math and culture. Inspired by the YouTube series Extra Credits episode "Tangential Learning", uploaded on March 23, 2011, he created Game Theory with the goal of creating "gaming's tangential learning experience" to show his abilities to companies that might watch his channel. He frequently uploads episodes covering Nintendo characters, as well as popular games such as Minecraft, Five Nights at Freddy's, Call of Duty and Pokémon, as well as numerous other games, some being creepypastas like Petscop. [10][11] Early on in the show's history, MatPat was interviewed by Ronnie "Oni" Edwards, host of the Internet show Random Internet Encounters. After this meeting, Ronnie accepted MatPat's offer to be Game Theory's main editor, as well as hosting the show Digressing & Sidequesting, which focused on game design. Before this, MatPat was the sole editor of the show. The first episode of Game Theory that Ronnie edited was "How Much is Minecraft Diamond Armor Worth?"[12] He occasionally uploaded videos commenting on the gaming market, as well as on other matters that he deemed noteworthy.[13] He gained subscribers and his videos were being posted on the front pages of sites such as ScrewAttack and GameTrailers.[14]

During its life, The Game Theorists has hosted numerous spin-offs and separate shows. The Game Theorists reached one million subscribers on December 17, 2013, and 10 million in July 2018. As of March 2022, The Game Theorists had 15.5 million subscribers and over 3.32 billion views. The channel's most popular upload is a video titled "Can Gamers SURVIVE the Real Mirror's Edge? - Game Lab". The video had over 95.5 million views as of March 2022 and was the first episode of the series MatPat's Game Lab. It features Patrick and several other popular gaming YouTubers attempting to complete parkour challenges in real life.

MatPat also holds the YouTube record for the most money donated in a single charity livestream. The amount of money donated when he first claimed this record was $1.38 million, which edged out PewDiePie's highest by just a little bit. On Dec. 1, 2020, MatPat broke his own record by donating $3.3 million by the end of another charity live stream that aired that day, lasting a little over 10 hours. Both streams had many other popular YouTubers in it as well, including Markiplier and TheOdd1sOut. Scott Cawthon, the creator of Five Nights at Freddy's, also had an appearance on the first stream. He created a new game called Freddy in Space 2 for the stream,[15] and in it was $500,000 of his own money that was up for charity. Although the gamers only found roughly $450,000, Cawthon donated the whole $500,000.[16] The stream was #1 on YouTube Trending for a full day (including while it was running) and even took over the YouTube Ad Banner on the home page of YouTube. The stream was just under ten hours long, a relatively short run time for this magnitude of a charity stream, with most running in excess of twelve hours and getting between $600,000 and $1 million. The money raised was all donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and at its peak, there were over 100,000 people watching. The stream received over 14 million views on the day it aired and raised a total of just a little over $3 million, which exceeded the initial goal of $1 million for this stream. This stream also received sponsorships from YouTube Originals and State Farm, who both contributed significant donations as well.[17] Additionally, many of the YouTubers on this stream, specifically Mark Rober, MrBeast, and ZHC, each promised to match donations up to $50,000, far exceeding expectations of MatPat and his wife. Again, as in 2019, the stream took the YouTube Ad Banner as its own for the duration of it. At its peak, the stream had roughly 320,000 people watching.[18] In 2021 Matpat announced that they would be doing their final charity livestream benefitting St Jude, titled "Game Theory's Million Dollar Challenge for St Jude". To expand on fundraising, Matpat rewarded members of the community fundraising prior to the event with incentives such as shirts, mousepads and backpacks themed around the initiative. Members were encouraged to fundraise by doing challenges inspired by food, movies, games and more.[19] After a 9 hour long livestream featuring over 50 guests, Game Theory raised 1.6 million dollars for St Jude, bringing the three year total to over 6 million dollars. Leading up to the 10 year anniversary of 'The Game Theorists', Matpat uploaded content to celebrate including a livestream, exposed video and a creation of his first theory. The recreation of the first theory, aptly titled "Game Theory: Dear MatPat, I Fixed Your Theory (First Episode Remastered)"[20] showcased the different editing styles present on the show throughout the years. Matpat also uploaded a video that worked to 'pull back the curtain' of working at Team Theorist.[21] It featured behind the scenes content, interviews with members and a walkthrough of each of the processes that go into making a standard 'Game Theory' video. They also launched '10 year anniversary' inspired merchandise at this time. Team theorist held a celebratory livestream on the 1st of May, 2021 [22] taking a look back on the last decade of content. The livestream featured YouTube creators making video appearances to pass on their congratulations. Matpat and Steph played a 'Game Theory' Jeopardy parody with key members of Team Theorist including Jason Parker, Dan Seibert, Amy Roberts and Chris Wildin. The livestream featured a uniquely 'Game Theory' inspired video game by a group of dedicated fans.[23] The game titled "GT10" featured many Easter eggs to previous 'Game Theory' content. The game was later available for free to the general public, with a link to 'St Jude's Children's Research Hospital' if fans wished to make a donation.[24]

On May 12, 2015, Patrick created a second channel called The Film Theorists where he debuted his second show, Film Theory. The first video was uploaded on June 2, 2015, focusing on the prophecy of the chosen ones in the Harry Potter film series.[25] Film Theory follows the same formula as Game Theory, but focuses on films and series as well as the film industry as a whole instead of gaming. Film Theory has also been known to cover web series that are exclusive to YouTube, including Salad Fingers, Don't Hug Me I'm Scared, Hazbin Hotel and The Walten Files. In the first few years of Film Theory, they also included a show entitled 'Film Legends' which looked at reasons a movie may be the best. It was hosted by Jacob from Wisecrack, with the first episode looking at Captain America: Civil War.[26] Within a month of the first episode, The Film Theorists reached one million subscribers. As of March 2022, The Film Theorists had 10.6 million subscribers and over 2 billion views.[27] With the channels' most viewed episode being 'How to KILL DEADPOOL!' with over 23 million views.[28]

On June 8, 2016, Patrick posted via his YouTube channel his new show, MatPat's Game Lab, on Google's paid subscription service, YouTube Premium. The show mainly focuses on placing video game players in real life scenarios mimicking scenarios that occur in video games, such as bomb defusing, parkour, survival and military training.[29][30][31] Despite Matpat's interest in a making a sequel YouTube has yet to announce any further development into the project.[32]

Patrick with his wife Stephanie in 2018

Patrick started a Let's Play series called GTLive on August 26, 2015,[33] where he streams mostly gameplay and video reactions with his wife Stephanie on the GTLive channel he created on September 14, 2015. Streams are usually conducted at 4 pm PST. Regular guest appearances on the streams include Jason, the producer of GTLive, the co-producer Chris, who became part of the streams after standing in for Jason during his wedding, the Patricks' cat Skip, also known as "CatPat," Peepachu, a cushion in the form of a yellow, rabbit-shaped Peep and a llama plushie, referred to as "Drama Llama". Repeated themes of this live stream include "Mario Maker Wednesday" (abbr. "MMW"), "Motion-Control Thursday" and "Scary Games Friday" (abbr. "TGISGF" for "Thank Goodness It's Scary Games Friday"), also occasionally known as "Spoopy Games Friday". A common feature is the 'clap-and-a-half' which Patrick reclaimed from his seventh grade Social Studies teacher.[34] On one live stream, they used Verizon's in-game Minecraft smartphone for ordering pizza as well as taking "the worlds largest [in-game] selfie".[35]

Starting on October 3, 2016, the Monday streams became part of YouTube Gaming Primetime and are therefore scheduled for 3 pm to 5 pm PST. It also includes a voting mechanism, which can be used by Patrick to conduct quick polls.[36]

As of 2019, GTLive streams three days per week on average, garnering roughly 100,000 to 140,000 total viewers for each stream. The largest Live Stream gained roughly 170,000 viewers when it was live in mid 2019, and it was gameplay of one of the channel's most popular games, Kindergarten 2. In 2020, GTLive does not live stream and has instead uploaded unedited videos of roughly 40–70 minutes in duration 3-4 times a week. GTLive has since began streaming again every Friday, with Wednesday and Monday still the usually scheduled pre recorded video. However, due to the very long break from live streaming taken, their streams only average around 10,000-40,000 viewers at peak. As of March 2022, GTLive had 2.77 million subscribers and over 576 million views.

On April 3, 2017, Patrick announced that the show would go on a brief hiatus until April 25, 2017, due to VidCon Europe and scouting different filming locations.[37] Due to VidCon Australia, the show was again paused on September 4, 2017[38] and returned on September 26, 2017.[39]

As of 2022, the GTLive channel continues to upload mostly unedited, pre-recorded content. Including gameplay of Five Nights at Freddy's.[40] These videos include member of 'Team Theorist' 'Mirror Matt', working in the same role Jason and Chris used to as their GTLive technician.

Patrick was involved in the web series TOME: Terrain of Magical Expertise. He gained the series more attention and exposure by uploading a re-mastered version of the first episode on the channel on October 1, 2013, and then providing a platform for the series.[41][42] Patrick, as well as many of the Game Theorists members, also provided their likeness as opponents in the RPG video game adaption. Patrick's character, Mattheorist, displays Green Lantern-like qualities with the ability to manifest green energy projectiles and creatures.[43] With the exception of Ronnie Edwards' character due to his death who was subsequently replaced by Austin Hourigan, Mattheorist among the other members are confirmed to be opponents that appear during the second chapter of the game.[44] The game was released on Steam on September 9, 2021.

The third Theory channel, and fourth overall; The Food Theorists began releasing videos in July 2020. It came at the tail end of multiple cryptic teases on Patrick's Twitter account.[45] As the name suggests, The Food Theorists, using the same style as its predecessors, blends food science with psychology, physiology, and conspiracy. The channel had been in the works for two years prior to its launch.[46] Videos that illustrate the direction of the channel include 'How to SURVIVE Spicy Food!'[47] and 'Chuck E Cheese Pizza, Should You Be Scared?';[48] the former conducting tests on how to mitigate capsaicin (inspired by the show Hot Ones) and the latter debunking the myth shared virally via social media that the pizza chain Chuck E. Cheese serves its uneaten pizza slices from previous customers to other ones. As of March 2022, The Food Theorists had 3.42 million subscribers and over 342 million views. It had reached 1 million subscribers exactly a week after launch, and had then gained another million over the succeeding 4 months.[49] The Food Theorists records some of their content in Matt and Steph's kitchen as they attempt to debunk the food science on camera.