Tag: books

Fanatical Fans, The Battles!!

Oct. 07 Comic Books, Movies, Television no comments

fansEverything has fans. From wildlife, to trains, to pictures someone somewhere will love it and spend a healthy (or unhealthy depending on how you look at it) amount of time devoted to their chosen subject. Fans come in all shapes and sizes and tend to range from, ‘meh’ to ‘I would gladly step on my mother’s face to get the latest Harry Potter DVD.’ My point is everyone cares about something, whether it be sports or the dreaded Justin Bieber, they all have fans that have devoted their lives to the subject and will defend them at length.

Nerdy subjects take up a large portion of fanboy/girlness and have some of the most dedicated fans on the planet and that got us at WOTN thinking who has the most fans and the types of things us loveable geeks will go through for our passions. With this in mind I’m going to pit a number of the biggest Nerdy subjects against one another in a couple of popularity contests to see who comes out on top. Of course I will have an opinion on each of these subjects but I will attempt to remain subjective until the end. So, without further ado let’s get it on……………

Twilight vs. Harry Potter

versus_twilight_vs_harry_potter_xlarge

Teen literature is at an all-time high at the moment, but without doubt these two are the biggest. Don’t get me wrong, the Hunger Games trilogy is coming up fast and the fact that younger fans are quite fickle I imagine that in a couple of years we will be talking about two different franchises with no mention of them, but for now here we are. So let’s look at some stats

harry-potter-vs-twilight_240Harry Potter – 7 Books, 8 Movies, 2 theme parks, around 15 video games, more merchandise than you can shake a wand at and as a brand is worth an estimates £15 billion.

Twilight – 4 Books, 5 Movies, rumoured video game in production, Movies have grossed over £2 Billion worldwide with one still to come, Over 150 million books sold worldwide.

 

 

Alright, I admit it is a little unfair to compare the two. With just a few stats it is clear that the Potter franchise out does Twilight by almost three times. That’s mainly due to the fact there is so much more stuff available surrounding Potter. However that doesn’t mean the fans of Twilight are any less committed, case and point:-

 

 

But, having said that:-

However I think there is more to it than that. With Harry Potter, J.K Rowling has created an entirely new universe, behind our own, for her stories to take place in making the story possibilities endless, as if bringing the Star Wars universe to earth. As opposed to Twilight which is simply a softer look at a genre that is meant to terrify people.  The one thing Twilight has over Potter is the cast. Due to the fact that it was aimed more at a teen audience the cast was older and became sex symbols, whereas the stars of the Potter franchise were seen more as lovable child actors. But this has also been a bonus for Harry Potter as their world of witches and wizards is suitable for everyone, from the very young to the very old, boosting sales a ridiculous amount.

Winner: Harry Potter

My Thoughts

Twilight lost me when we saw the vampires sparkle in the sun whereas the Potter films/books just got better and better. I think this sums my feelings up on the subject nicely.

Harry-Potter-vs-Twilight-by-Stephen-King-e1311143812906

Don’t think Stephen King did say this, but hey.

 

Star Wars v. Star Trek

star-wars-vs-star-trek

Now, on to more important matters. This is an argument that has gone on since long before I was alive and I’m sure that goes for most of you reading this as well. Fans of these two franchises are some of the best and most dedicated in the business of fanaticism. The two subjects have a lot in common, both set in space, both full of English speaking aliens and both have their own internal arguments. In Star Trek, is it the original or the next generation? With Star Wars do you accept the prequels or not? Whatever fence you come down on, if you are into any of these two brands, the chances are you are very passionate about them.

wars-vs-trekStar Wars – First released in 1977, 6 Movies with a few spin offs, 1 TV series on to its 6th season with a live action series coming in a couple of years, Hundreds of books, more merchandise than you can hope to imagine, a ride at Disney world, an epic amount of video games.

Star Trek – First released in 1966, 2 main series with multiple seasons and 4 spin off (including animated) series each with many seasons, 11 movies with another out next year and they continue to be made, toys, conventions and books all connected to each series, at least 2 museums dedicated to props.

 

I think the two main differences between these two massively successful franchises are best summed up by this quote from the New York Times:-

Trek fandom revolves around technology because the Star Trek universe was founded on ham-fisted dialogue and Gong Show-caliber acting. But the fictional science has always been brilliant. The science in Star Wars is nonsense, and everyone knows it. But no one cares because Star Wars isn’t about science. It’s epic drama. It’s about those incredibly well-developed characters and the moral decisions they face. People don’t get into debates about how the second Death Star works. They get into debates about the ethics of blowing it up.

That to me sounds about right. As with Harry Potter, Star Wars does seem more accessible to a younger audience, explained best by the above quote. But this doesn’t make Star Trek any less popular or the fans any less nuts. Both sets of fans are more passionate and dedicated then any I have ever seen. Whether it be watching them in their various forms, dressing up or going as far as learning Klingon/Huttese they are always an interesting group that I am proud to be a part of, sometimes(more on that later).But due to the fans reaction to the prequel movies, the special editions and the spin offs/ extended universe………………

Winner – Star Trek

star-wars-vs-star-trek1My Thoughts

I’m a fan of both of these franchises but for me Star Wars wins, by a mile. You can cram your Phasers and Batelths up your arse, Lightsabers rule. This is where my crazy fandom kicks in as I love everything about Star wars, from the prequels, to the Clone Wars, to the extended universe, it’s all good. I have over 130 books from the extended universe, a display of six lightsabers on my wall and a bunch of other crap all over the show. Star Trek is good but can’t compete.

 

 

kapowComics

This is a massive field consisting of thousands of contributors each of which with their own dedicated and passionate fan following. People will travel miles and wait hours at conventions to meet their favourite creators, who I have to say are some of the nicest people you could hope to meet. Fans spend hours working on costumes of characters and creations from different universes as well as creating amazing works of fan fiction and art in homage to every book released. There is more than a lot to choose from, but for the purpose of this piece I am going to go with the obvious and biggest:-

Marvel v. DC

dc-comics_vs_marvel

I think it’s safe to say that everyone here at WOTN is a lover of comics. Between the members of staff here I think we pretty much cover every facet and genre of the comic book world but we all dip in to the DC and Marvel bags from time to time. Unlike the other subjects covered so far it seems completely socially acceptable to be a fan of both publishers, as well as any others, without being vilified by friends and family, but everyone does tend to have a favourite. So, on to a few stats:-

DC Entertainment – Founded in 1934 and is part of Warner Brothers, 33 live action movies(so far) based on DC characters, around 61 animated movies, 15 live action TV series with 6 in development, 36 animated series and loads of toys and clothing etc.

Marvel – Started as Marvel Mystery Comics in the early 1930s, now owned by Disney, 33 live action movies with 8 in production, 9 full length animated movies, 7 live action TV series with 4 in production, 32 animated series with 2 in production also loads of toys and clothes etc.

DC vs MarvelThese two massive entertainment brands are very much about keeping up with the Jones’ in everything they produce. Last year DCs New 52 were launched taking them above Marvel in profit and sales for the first time in six years. That spurred Marvel to announce Marvel Now and a complete rework of their universe. This year also saw the release of The Avengers movie that shot up to number tree in the list of biggest movies ever which in turn prompted DC to announce a Justice League movie and so on and so forth until we’re all dead.

As far as results go to date, in the way of movies Marvel win due to the way The Avengers was built up in amongst all of the other great movies, but in comics DC have it. AvX was good but the New 52, or some of them, have been a great hit. So…….

Winner: – Draw.

My Thoughts

I read a lot of book from both of these creators as I am very much mainstream in my comic taste, but my favourite is Marvel. For a lot of reasons I enjoy reading about the characters more and have loved pretty much all of the movie adaptation. That said I’m very much enjoying some of the New 52 books, mainly Batman and Justice league, and The Dark Knight trilogy are some of the best movies ever made. My main issue with DC is Superman. He is a great character and I love reading the books but when you have him why do you really need anyone else? He can be anywhere in a matter of seconds and is pretty much indestructible, there is no need for any other heroes. If he used his head he would make a lead suit, collect all of the Kryptonite on Earth and throw it in to the sun. Job done. Then all he needs to worry about is magic.

Summing Up

san_diego_comic_con_1I know there are many other things in the world of geekery that I could of used that are just as popular and have just as crazy fans. Dr Who, Buffy, Stargate, Firefly, the list is almost endless. But fans, are fans, are fans, they all have a lot in common. They love what they love and will argue until they pass out to protect their opinion on the subject. They will go out of their way to get the latest toy/book/DVD/game before anyone else. They will spend hundreds of money and hours to be part of a convention and to meet the biggest stars or creators and spend time with like-minded people. You will never find a better place on earth than a convention with thousands of people who love what you love.  In some ways it’s a lot like religion, but its cooler and you don’t have to kill or oppress people that don’t like the same thing as you.

Fandom is something that includes everyone no matter what race, sexuality, gender, fat, thin, young or old. It is a beautiful thing that unites people and for the most part is good. There is an ugly side however. Some people go too far. The biggest movie stars can’t walk down the street without being harassed and god forbid you make something that fans don’t approve of!!

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Fans chase Jonas Brothers

This year Star Wars creator George Lucas announced that he was retiring from making big budget blockbuster movies. He was asked whether fan reaction to the prequels and the special editions had anything to do with his decision and he had this to say:-

Why would I make any more……… when everybody yells at you all the time and says what a terrible person you are?

This makes me sad on so many levels. For a start and before even to getting to any of the Star Wars stuff or whether you love or hate the guy this is a man doing what he loves and is passionate about at the very top level and has had to take a step back because people think they know better than him about his work. Sometimes people can go too far, especially on this subject. Fans have said that in doing the special editions of the original trilogy that he has ruined or messed with their childhood. For a start there would be no Star Wars in the first place without Lucas and secondly the movies are his and if he thinks that they need additions to make then closer to his original vision then it is up to him, no one else. I don’t know anyone that would leave anything they care about that much unfinished. As for the prequels, they are what they were meant and needed to be made to complete the Saga, so if you don’t like it then don’t watch them.

I guess my point is that it is possible to love or hate something and keep it to yourself. This is just one example, which I’m clearly very passionate about, of where fandom has worked in a negative way, making someone feel bad and costing us some possibly great movies/comics/TV that would have been produced in the future. While obsessive fandom is normally a positive thing and can do a lot of good do we really have the right to make people feel bad about their passions just because we don’t like or agree with them?

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Nerd to Know #02: Edgar Rice Burroughs

Sep. 13 Podcasts Comments Off
  Who is Edgar Rice Burroughs and why should you care? Rebecca and Bryan the Nerd talk about the life and legacy of the famous Tarzan author, in celebration of his birthday on September 1st, and Tarzan’s 100th Anniversary. Music by 101 (Chromix) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
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Wallpaper of the Day

Aug. 03 Features, Wallpaper no comments

 

 

Today’s wallpaper is courtesy of Wallpaper Abyss

 

 

 

 

Download this wallpaper here

 

 

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‘Hunger Games’ Finale ‘Mockingjay’ to be Split into Two Films

Jul. 18 Movies, News no comments

The release date for Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2 have been announced.

 

Catching Fire, the second in The Hunger Games series, will be released in 2013.

The popularity of Young Adult fiction has exploded within the last decade and Harry Potter was responsible for leading the charge. Twilight followed suit and will wrap up with their last installment, Breaking Dawn Part 2, debuting in November. This leaves The Hunger Games to carry the mantle for young adult fiction based movies, however, The Mortal Instruments may be set to give The Hunger Games series a run for its money. Because Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was so long, the film adaptation was split into two films. This was a very good decision, as there was so much content to cover, just one movie would have left things feeling rushed and would not have provided nearly as epic of a conclusion.

Summit Entertainment, now a subsidiary of Lions Gate, made the call to split Breaking Dawn into two films for nearly the same reason. Rumors have circulated for quite some time that Mockingjay, the conclusion of The Hunger Games series, would be split as well, and according to Screen Rant, Lionsgate has officially confirmed this. The remaining three films in The Hunger Games series will debut within a year of each other, Catching Fire on Nov. 22, 2013, Mockingjay Part 1 on November 21st, 2014, and the conclusion, Mockingjay Part 2 on November 20, 2015. The Hunger Games movies seem to be moving into the slot around Thanksgiving which Harry Potter and Twilight have both filled in the past.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay will be split into two parts.

The question to ask is, does Mockingjay really need to be split into two parts? There were several things that Gary Ross left out of The Hunger Games that I personally felt were an important part of the story. Splitting The Hunger Games or even Catching Fire into two parts would not be advisable since there are no good breaking points in either of those books. I can definitely see the argument in favor of two Mockingjay films. Amy Wilkinson of MTV makes a very good point regarding how much ground gets covered in Mockingjay. Without revealing too many spoilers, I will just say that the action in Mockingjay takes place in several districts in addition to The Capitol. While it is not my favorite book in the series, I feel that the action in Mockingjay is definitely present and if the director (whether it will be Francis Lawrence is up in the air) can create an appropriate place to break off Part 1 and leave viewers wanting more, then it will be all the better.

What do you think about splitting films into two parts? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Screen Rant
Image Sources: Screen Rant, Wikipedia 

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Jena Malone Reaped for Catching Fire and Mockingjay

Jul. 08 Movies, News 2 comments

Jena Malone has been cast as Johanna Mason in Catching Fire and Mockingjay.Not long ago, we brought word that Jena Malone was being considered for a role as District 7 tribute Johanna Mason, a character that features prominently in both Catching Fire and Mockingjay. While several actresses were being considered for the role, among them Mia Wasikowska and model/actress Zoe Aggeliki, Entertainment Weekly reports that Lionsgate has officially offered the Sucker Punch actress Malone the part of Mason. Her career is extremely diverse, as she as appeared in Donnie Darko, Saved!, and most recently The Hatfields and McCoys mini-series on History.

Mason is the last surviving female tributes from District 7. The year she won, which is not told in the books, she pretended to be weak and feigned hunger and fatigue in an attempt to overcome her opponents, which she did rather ruthlessly. Katniss Everdeen, protagonist of The Hunger Games and District 12 tribute, described Johanna as having a wicked ability to murder. She is cunning and sarcastic, but eventually proves to be a formidable ally to Katniss and Peeta as the series continues.

With filming set to begin in September, the time is drawing near to finish assembling the cast that will carry the rest of the series. While the novel Catching Fire provides very little in the way of character development, perhaps director Francis Lawrence has an opportunity to cast figures dynamic enough to hold their own, but not overshadow the primary cast. Weeds actor Hunter Parrish is being considered for Finnick Odair of District 4.

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Newest Trailer for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Released – Features Villain and Speeches

May. 28 Movies no comments

 

On this Memorial Day, we Americans remember the heroes who have made the biggest of sacrifices to keep our nation free. In Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, that includes preserving the Union from Vampires who wish to overthrow the country and create their own nation. We are very excited about Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter here at Word of the Nerd, especially because the book on which the film is based is the first selection for the new Word of the Nerd Book Club. In just under one month, the film, penned by the book’s author Seth Grahame-Smith and directed by Timbur Bekmambetov, will be hitting theaters. A third theatrical trailer was released today, and this one is a doozy. Featuring more history, speeches, and a good look at the film’s villain, a vampire named Adam, played by Rufus Sewell, this clip is sure to get everyone excited for the movie.

 


Benjamin Walker plays Abraham Lincoln, who as a child suffered the loss of his mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln, and in this alternate history created by author Smith, her death was due to vampirism. The young Abe goes on a quest to learn the truth about his mother’s death and to combat a growing army of vampires, led by Adam, who wish to create a nation for themselves. The book on which the film is based was wildly successful, and there has been hype for this movie for months. 2012 is apparently the year of Lincoln-centered cinema, as Steven Spielberg’s aptly titled Lincoln will be released later this year.

To coincide with the release of the trailer, today the filmmakers have announced that a special screening will be held for the sailors aboard the Naval aircraft carrier U.S.S Abraham Lincoln.

As history’s most beloved U.S. president and, according to the movie, its greatest hunter of the undead, Walker will be joined aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln by co-stars Anthony Mackie and Erin Wasson, as well as by the film’s director Timur Bekmambetov, screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith and producer Jim Lemley. Walker will introduce a special screening of ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER for the thousands of sailors serving on the carrier, and the cast and filmmakers will distribute Lincolnesque top hats, as well as fangs – tools that will help the sailors decide, in the words of one of the film’s promotional taglines, if they’re patriots or vampires.

Also starring Dominic Cooper, Alan Tudyk, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Anthony Mackie, Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter will stake its claim at the box office on June 22.

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Five Questions With “The Returners” Scribe, Mikey Neumann

Apr. 29 Literature, Reviews no comments
The Returners

Wait, this isn't a sequel to "The Borrowers"...

The Returners by Mikey Neumann tells the story of historical figures returning for a second life on Earth, with all of their memories intact. Being released serially at Boz Publishing, the novel is currently at chapter 15, and is an action-packed page turner, filled with a memorable cast of characters, some great humor, and more historical references than you can shake a World History 101 syllabus at. Mr. Neumann, creative director at Gearbox Software, was kind enough to answer a few questions about the book and his process.

 

MD: How did you come about the concept?
MN: I was walking down Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood during the recording of Aliens: Colonial Marines and I had a free weekend. I knew that I wanted to write something while I was out there and I began a short story where we found out that the characters were historical figures that had returned. About halfway through writing the short, I knew this was going to be my next novel. It grew up from there.
MD: Why publish it online, and in installments as you have?
MN: I’m a huge Oliver Twist fan (as evidenced by the name of the website.) I love that there was a time where authors could publish serialized novels and people would keep coming back for more. I wanted to try my hand at the concept in a modern way — which turned into the site. Online just made sense. I wanted to talk directly to an audience in what is practically real time.
MD: I get the impression that this will be a multi-part series, is that correct, and if so, how many parts are you looking at it being?

 

MN: Yeah, this is only the first part of a three part novel, and that’s probably only the first novel. I broke it up into parts so that people could download eBook version to enjoy offline in their free time.

 

I want to wait and see how popular the concept gets before announcing a length of the entire thing. I know where the main story ends but there’s so many fun and interesting places to take the characters that I could imagine doing a lot of books with it.
MD: Is your writing process for a project like this different than something like Borderlands?
MN: Ha! Absolutely! A video game is a massive team effort where everyone helps spin a ton of plates in the air. I’m quite on my own with The Returners and it’s a refreshing change of pace from making a AAA video game (though, I obviously still love doing that as well.)

 

The Returners can be read in its entirety at http://bozpublishing.com . Go check it out, you won’t be disappointed.
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Francis Lawrence Chosen to Helm Catching Fire

Apr. 20 Movies, News no comments

Director Lawrence has been chosen by Lionsgate to director Catching Fire.In late breaking news, director Francis Lawrence has become Lionsgate’s choice to head up Catching Fire, the highly anticipated sequel to The Hunger Games. This comes less than two weeks after Gary Ross, THG‘s director, made his decision not to be involved with the rest of the franchise. His decision was due to the filming schedule for Catching Fire and the high demand for the film’s star Jennifer Lawrence, who will be splitting her time between filming the movie adaptation of the next installment of the Hunger Games series and the sequel to 2011′s X-Men: First Class, in which she played a young Mystique. The wildly successful Hunger Games adaptation has grossed $336,666,363 as of April 15,  $152,535,747 of which is the total for the opening weekend.

Francis Lawrence is no stranger to book-to-movie adaptations. 2007′s I Am Legend, starring Will Smith, is based on a novel of the same name by author Richard Matheson. It is an apocolyptic thriller, which is not too far removed from the dystopian setting of The Hunger Games and the rest of the series. He was the director for Constantine, based on the comic book Hellblazer; the 2005 film which starred Keanu Reeves as the title character. Lawrence also directed 2011′s Water for Elephants, based on the book by Sarah Gruen. Most recently, he directed the pilot for the new Kiefer Sutherland show Touch and is filming Gotham, a pilot for ABC. He is also adept at music video direction and It is quite evident that his directorial background is diverse, but can he bring the writing prowess of Gary Ross?

It is reported that Lionsgate has set a date of November 22, 2013 to release Catching Fire, so whomever they chose would be facing a time crunch. With Jennifer Lawrence shooting the X-Men sequel, they would need to be able to accommodate the shooting schedules of both films. Catching Fire would need to finish in January so that she can begin filming for the X-Men movie, as she is contractually bound to Fox in an agreement that overrides her contract with Lionsgate.

What do you think about the news that Gary Ross is no longer directing Catching Fire? Do you think that this change of direction will be good for the franchise?

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Epic Win – The Wheel Of Time Contest

Apr. 16 Contests no comments

Wheel Of Time: The Great Hunt Book Two

 

Word of the Nerd, in conjunction with Macmillian Publishers, presents The Wheel Of Time Contest.  That’s right Robert Jordan fans!  You can enter to win an audio version of Jordan’s second book, The Great Hunt, for your collection.

 

Three ways to be entered to win

  1. You can leave a comment in this post.  Be sure to tells us why you love The Wheel of Time series.
  2. “Like” Word Of The Nerd on Facebook, leave a comment on this Facebook post, and don’t forget to tell us why you love The Wheel Of Time series.
  3. Follow @TheNerdOnline on Twitter then tweet the following: RT Epic Win @TheNerdOnline The Wheel Of Time Contest is happening. I entered to win, so should you! http://wp.me/p26jre-36I

 

Just enter by any one or all of the ways listed above to be included in the drawing.  Anyone can enter.  The contest will run from April 16, 2012 through April 29, 2012 at 11:59PM EST.  All entries must be received by April 29, 2012 at 11:59PMEST.  One winner will be chosen at random and notified by either email, Facebook, or Twitter and the winner will be announced on www.WordOfTheNerdOnline.com.  The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize, otherwise another winner will be chosen.  By entering the contest you agree to all Terms, Conditions, and Official Rules as well as all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Good Luck!

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Game Of Thrones House Of The Day – Greyjoy

Apr. 07 Editorials, Literature, Television 1 comment

We are back with yet another installment of Word of the Nerd’s House of the Day. Today we’re launching the longships and taking to the high seas with the Greyjoys.

As has been stated numerous times, this article will contain spoilers.

House Greyjoy

Words: We Do Not Sow

Sigil: A golden kraken on a field of black

 

History

Descending from the Grey King in the Age of Heroes, the Greyjoys became the rulers paramount of the Iron Islands after the conquest of the seven kingdoms by Aegon the Conqueror. They played no role in Robert’s Rebellion, sitting neutral in the conflict. After it ended, Balon Greyjoy launched a rebellion against the Iron Throne in an attempt to win the independence of the Iron Islands. The rebellion however, was crushed.  Balon’s fleet burned and his last surviving son sent to live at Winterfell as a “ward.”

 

Balon Greyjoy

The current leader of the house, Balon is the leader of not just one but two rebellions to name himself king.  The most recent has left him without a fleet and without any sons, the two eldest having been slain in battle and the youngest being sent to live as a ward in another man’s court. Balon will be played by Patrick Malahide in season two of the television series.

Theon Greyjoy

The youngest of Balon’s three sons, Theon was sent to live at Winterfell as a ward of Ned Stark after his father’s latest rebellion attempt. He grew up as another brother to the Stark children, becoming a close friend of Robb, whom he was of an age. A skilled bowman, he constantly competed for attention from the Starks with Jon Snow, the other outsider of the family. Events, however, conspired to turn Theon against his childhood friends and brothers as his pride is wounded and his loyalty is put to the test against that of his birth family. He is played by Alfie Allen in the series.

While there are other family members and other houses sworn to House Greyjoy, none of them play a major role in the story so far.

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NY Times Review Misses Point Of Game Of Thrones Season 2

Apr. 05 Editorials, Literature, Reviews, Television no comments

Spoiler alert: This article will contain major spoilers about seasons one and two of Game of Thrones as well as the associated books Game of Thrones and Clash of Kings

About a week ago, the New York Times published a review of season two of the highly anticipated second season of HBO’s Game of Thrones. I read the article several days ago, and the reviewer was not kind. I took some time to digest it before diving into a dissection of the piece because I felt  the reviewer had reasons for writing what he did. But, without anymore preamble, here is my take on Neil Genzlinger’s review (which can be seen in full here). It is a little snarky, but there’s some key takeaways that I hope you, gentle reader, are able to see and enjoy.

First things first Mr. Genzlinger. I know that it has been several months since the episode aired, and over a decade since the first book was released, but if you are going to put a major spoiler in the second paragraph of your review – please mark the damn thing. It is as simple as this: Please take note that this article will contain major spoilers for season one of Game of Thrones. I know of at least one person who had not read the books nor seen the first season, but who was passably familiar with the world and characters and got upset because you spoiled the major plot point of Eddard getting his head lopped off at King Joffrey’s behest in episode nine. In fact, this was also the person who pointed me in the direction of your review.

We may want a maternity test for Joffrey as well come to think of it.

I would also hesitate to call Ned the show’s “main” character. This is instead a series where fans get to choose who they think their main character is going to be and that is where a lot of the pleasure is derived from. There is no guy or gal that we should be rooting for arbitrarily because that is who the creators of the show want us to root for. We are challenged to examine the characters and their motives and decide who we feel we want to win. That may or may not work out for us and we may wind up disappointed because, in the end, it is a story in the hands of one person and it is going to end how his vision demands that it ends, but that is a part of the ride.

I also understand that you are writing your review after seeing the first four episodes of this season. Now, I only have speculation to go on, that is about the halfway point of the season if it was designed anything like the last. If you are going to complain about how the series is meandering, you might want to stop and take a look at why it feels that way. And let me tell you something else: it’s supposed to feel that way.

Think about it.

The Stark family is reeling with their sudden betrayal from the Lannisters. They are dealing with the loss of their husband and father. The eldest son is going to war. The two daughters that traveled south with Ned are separated, one MIA and the other held hostage by the new King. The rest of the realm just lost their King in a sudden and tragic accident that some whisper was not an accident at all. Daenerys must deal with the loss of her brother who she is rapidly realizing was not cut out for the job he wanted to have, but also the loss of her husband whom she genuinely loved and the loss of her unborn son.  Jon Snow is trying to come to grips with the news of his family as he is asked to go on a dangerous scouting mission and while on this mission is asked to betray all of the vows he has sworn in attempt to save the realm.

This sums it up pretty well.

The point of this season is that these characters are supposed to feel lost. They are trying to make sense of a world that just got a lot more dangerous and a lot darker. If you can not understand that, then maybe it is just not for you. But it is not a reason to write off this entire franchise.

You also speak of “vileness for voyeurisms sake.” That is not what you need to take away from the season. Instead, it is how these characters are going to face this growing darkness, whether its internal or external. Are they going to face it and combat it? Are they going to embrace it? Or are they going to run away from it? That is what we are tuning in to watch week after week. That is what keeps us turning page after page and waiting like slavering direwolves for the next book to be released.

I am also going to make a bold assumption here when you talk about the show catering to people who play Dungeons and Dragons and I am going to guess that you have not read the books and that you are not “addicted” to them. And you know what? That’s just fine. I certainly do not have 100% total buy in and commitment to everything I review for this site. It is just not possible in this day and age where we are bombarded from every different direction twice over about the next big thing. But it is simply not fair to make a call on the show’s demographics like that. I personally know many, many people that do not come from a background like that but still enjoy the show immensely. In fact, some of them have found their way to the books after watching the first season.

Probably not HBOs target audience

Even so, writing off an entire series because the first part of the season deals with a lot of exposition, set up for later events, and similar things is the wrong attitude to take. One must always remember the source material they are working with. This is the second of a proposed seven book series. There is much that the writers and directors have to take care to keep, and pacing is paramount. Yes, there is something on the horizon. There are many things coming on the horizon. And the Stark words will ring true – Winter is indeed coming. But we will not need a harsh winter to be able to relate to it. We will just have to be human.

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Epic Win – The Wheel Of Time Contest

Apr. 02 Contests no comments

Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World Book One

 

Word of Nerd, in conjunction with Macmillian Publishers, presents The Wheel Of Time Contest.  That’s right Robert Jordan fans!  You can enter to win an audio version of Jordan’s first book, The Eye Of The World, for your collection.

 

Three ways to be entered to win

  1. You can leave a comment in this post.  Be sure to tells us why you love The Wheel of Time series.
  2. “Like” Word Of The Nerd on Facebook, leave a comment on this Facebook post, and don’t forget to tell us why you love The Wheel Of Time series.
  3. Follow @TheNerdOnline on Twitter then tweet the following: RT Epic Win @TheNerdOnline The Wheel Of Time Contest is happening. I entered to win, so should you! http://wp.me/p26jre-36A

 

Just enter by any one or all of the ways listed above to be included in the drawing.  Anyone can enter.  The contest will run from April 2, 2012 through April 15, 2012 at 11:59PM EST.  All entries must be received by April 15, 2012 at 11:59PMEST.  One winner will be chosen at random and notified by either email, Facebook, or Twitter and the winner will be announced on www.WordOfTheNerdOnline.com.  The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize, otherwise another winner will be chosen.  By entering the contest you agree to all Terms, Conditions, and Official Rules as well as all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Good Luck!

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You Win Or You Die – A Game Of Thrones Blu-ray Review

Mar. 31 Reviews, Television 1 comment

Like many of you, I purchased my copy of Game of Thrones Season One on Blu-ray when they were released. However, trying to be a good husband and avoid spoilers for my wife who hasn’t finished the first book yet proved to make it difficult for me to sit down and watch them. Tonight, I finished.

TV Title sequence

A little background on my experience with George R.R. Martin and A Song of Ice and Fire before I jump into this review. I discovered him in my Junior year of high school (2002-2003) and have read and re-read the series numerous times (in fact, I am due for a re-read again soon). So I was ecstatic when the show was announced. But lacking easy access to HBO, I was forced to the sidelines for a lot of it, and this viewing of the Blu-ray discs was my first time watching episodes 5-10.

Let me say this – being familiar with what happens in the series in no way prepares you for what’s about to happen on the screen. In fact, I think it makes it worse. I was in tears at the end of episode 9 and the beginning of episode 10. (I’m going to try to avoid spoilers in this review. You’ll thank me later.) It was absolutely heart-wrenching to watch. Two hours after viewing that scene, I still feel like I was punched in the gut.

But this isn’t going to be a review of the first season. There are plenty of other places you can get that, and I’m sure you don’t want to read another nerds gushing review of it. Instead, this will be a review of the special features included on the Blu-rays themselves, minus the disc exclusive to those who purchased it at Wal-Mart because I haven’t gotten through that one myself.

First off, these things are frakking gorgeous. From the outside of the box to the individual discs, to how they look on my TV, Blu-ray is definitely how this show was meant to be viewed. The title screens were easy to navigate once I got used to the small delay between hitting the button and getting a response on screen.

I’ve never been one to enjoy commentary while watching a show or a movie, beyond the Zombie commentary on River City Rumble (though that is a completely different story), so I have yet to touch these. But if they are anywhere near as well put together as the rest of the show, they might in fact be worth it.

Being the good guy can get you killed

Coming from a background in the books, I found the in-episode guide more of a distraction than anything else, but I can absolutely see where those coming into the series for the first time would be able to benefit from it highly. There are lots of names and places, both familiar and exotic, as well as events happening at such a rapid pace that one could easily find themselves a little bit overwhelmed at times. The feature is well designed, and hides itself when not being used.

Where the bonus features really shined for this particular nerd was “The Complete Guide to Westeros,” an interactive history of the setting and major players and noble families. Each selection provides you an animation of the events in question as well as a full narration from the show’s cast. I love, love, love this feature, and it is perfect for anyone looking to brush up on their knowledge of the setting or as an entry point for someone wanting to learn a little bit more before jumping in to the books.

I have to say though, that the best part of the Blu-rays for me wasn’t anything that was included as bonus content. Instead, it was the price tag that they carried. I picked mine up for $35 at Wal Mart while waiting for our car to get an oil change one day. I have paid more for complete seasons of shows on DVD that didn’t have half of the care put into them as this particular series did.

That factor alone makes them worth picking up for anyone, from the most hardcore fan to the most casual of watchers. Even if you can’t find them at the store, you can still pick them up at Amazon for major savings. Pick them up and give them a watch. You will not be disappointed. But do it quickly.

Because after all, Winter is Coming.

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The Hunger Games Vs Twilight – Teen Fiction Thrown Down

Mar. 26 Movies, Reviews no comments

The Hunger Games Book Cover$155 million has a nice ring to it, wouldn’t you agree? Say it with me, one hundred and fifty-five million dollars. That number would be the best opening weekend for a franchise ever and it belongs to Lions Gate Films for The Hunger Games. I am sure Twilight fans are displeased seeing as the first movie only brought home $69.6 million. Still we all can’t help but compare the two movies. Both stem from Young Adult fiction books written by women authors. Both feature a women lead character and a love triangle. However, the similarities begin to stretch a bit after that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twilight Book Cover

Twilight is set in the present day and tells the tale of Bella Swan, a Human high school girl, who falls in love with a Vampire named Edward Cullen. She’s pulled into the supernatural world not just by Edward but also her friend Jacob Black, a Werewolf, who happens to have feelings for her as well. The majority of the books and movies revolve around Bella being caught between these two supernatural beings as they battle not only for her love but also out of an ancient rivalry between their species.

 

The Hunger Games is set in the future of the United States now called Panem and features Katniss Everdeen, a girl of 16 years from District 12 who is the sole bread winner for her mother and sister. Katniss volunteers to take her sister’s place as Tribute in the annual Hunger Games which pits her against 23 other Tributes from the 12 Districts in a gladiatorial fight to the death, where only one victor can win it all. The movie alludes to her hunting partner Gale Hawthorne having feelings for her, but mostly focuses on Peeta Mellark sharing his feelings, though it is unclear if these are true or just a ploy to win favor in the games.

 

 

Bella SwanIn the books and movies Bella comes across as a bit, well whiny to be honest. Any time a challenge is presented to her, she runs and curls into Edward’s safe arms and leaves him to deal with the situation after comforting her. She comes across as needy, clingy, childish and in constant need of saving. I started to wonder how Bella survived so long without Edward the further I progressed in the series. It was nice to see her being taken care of by him, but at times Edward seemed very over protective and blinded by his love when making decisions affecting her life.

 

 

Katniss EverdeenKatniss on the other hand is hard, independent, and steadfast. She lives in a world where survival is first and foremost and always in constant shadow to the lavish and tyrannical power of the Capitol. Her focus begins with helping her family and later shifts to her own need to live. Her singular focus on survival has blinded her to the world, making her naïve. Piece by painful piece her innocence is stripped bare as she is forced to face harsh truths and the realization that she cannot go back to the way things were. Peeta acts a counter balance, showing her that she does not have to lose her identity or hide behind a stoic exterior.

 

The love triangle is very clear in Twilight, showing Edward and Jacob as possible suitors. While Bella tends to show more favor and kisses with Edward, she does also care deeply for Jacob. The result of this brings a great deal of fighting between Edward and Jacob to show Bella who is the stronger male. A very animalistic and almost National Geographic version of how Alpha males fight for the female.

 

With The Hunger Games the love between Peeta and Katniss is very apparent but still the viewer is not sure if it is real or not. Small scenes showing Gale’s reaction to their in Game love are shared, making you wonder if Katniss knows of his feelings. There is no battle here nor is Peeta the clear victor, there is just the inkling that something is brewing beneath the surface.

 

When it comes to merchandise these two franchises appear to have it all. Everything imaginable from fan books, notebooks, bags, shirts, jewelry, make-up, socks, collectibles, cardboard cut outs, posters, and the list goes on and on. The Hunger Games nail polish collection does appear to have the lead on Twilight’s make-up collection, but Twilight has the lead with collectible dolls.

 

You can’t make a successful franchise without a huge fan base to get behind it and while Twilight has more women followers, The Hunger Games tends to appeal to both men and women. Twilight fans are deeply passionate and always excited to share their viewpoints for their fandom with you. At times they can be a bit overly devotional and quick to anger if you disagree even on the small points. Hunger Games’ are just as passionate about their fandom, but are also more open to engaging in debate on your feelings. The mood tends to be a lot calmer with The Hunger Games while Twilight feels more frenetic.

 

Pink Borzoi In The Hunger Games

Image from http://imgur.com/GuCu6

For me I found The Hunger Games to be more enjoyable. The story covered a wider range of topics than just focusing on the romance. I personified with both Katniss’s and Bella’s struggles, but I felt Katniss was much more independent and able to pull herself out of any situation while Bella seemed to wallow in them. The Hunger Games told the story with visuals as well as dialogue; it coupled amazing make-up and costumes with subtle special effects and allowed the actors to truly shine. It is also possible my opinion was swayed due to a short scene in the Capitol featuring two pink Borzois.

 

 

In all fairness it boils down to one simple thing, what do you, the consumer, prefer? Does the balance and battle of Vampire vs. Werewolf over the romance it ignites call to you? Or the dichotomy of famine vs. gluttony in a battle to the death where star crossed lovers are the victor? You decide.

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Captain Nemo Sinks To The Bottom Of The Sea

Mar. 26 Literature, Reviews no comments

I recently received a copy of Kevin J. Anderson’s Captain Nemo: The Fantastic Adventures Of  A Dark Genius to read and review. After doing some initial research on the book, I was excited to dig in.

Book cover

First released in 2002, the premise of the book is that the character of Captain Nemo from the Jules Verne book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and The Mysterious Island was a real person, and was a childhood friend of the author’s. It also works with the idea that Verne was a mediocre author at best and his classic books were the result of the journals that Nemo kept on his travels around the world that he sent back to his childhood friend.

From the back of the book:

When Andre Nemo’s father dies suddenly, the young adventurer takes to the sea and is accompanied by his lifetime friend, Jules Verne. Verne is thwarted in his yearning for action, while Nemo continues across the continents. Years pass, and he is feared dead.

Far from lost, however, Nemo criss-crosses the globe. He discovers the lost city of Timbuktu, the hidden land at the center of the earth, and is marooned on the uncharted mysterious island. He faces bloodthirsty pirates, prehistoric monsters, Arab slavers, and serves in the British cavalry against the Russians in the charge of the Light Brigade. Against all odds he survives, adn becomes the captain of the futuristic vessel known as the Nautilus. 

It’s a bold premise, and one that could have been amazing.

Unfortunately – it wasn’t.

I’ve been a fan of Kevin J. Anderson’s work for a while (yes, even his polarizing additions to the Star Wars Expanded Universe) and so I dove in with a gusto, but the book was completely unable to hold my interest. The characters were flat and uninteresting, the narrative felt stilted and disjointed, and the focus was on the wrong thing most of the time.

To me, the focus of the book should have been on Nemo’s adventures through the fantastic. Instead, the focus was spent on the pseudo-historical story, Verne’s struggles to come out from under his father’s oppressive shadow, and an insipid romantic triangle between Verne, Nemo, and a character by the name of Caroline Annorax. Nemo’s adventures were relegated largely to the “B-side” of this book, getting through them in as few pages as possible. The entire section where he journeys through the center of the Earth takes around 14 pages to finish. There’s just not enough there.

The characters never felt like they achieved any sort of growth. They acted the same at 20 as they did at 16 as they did as children. I never felt for the characters. I never cared for them, whether they succeeded or failed, lived or died. It was all one and the same to me. Verne struggling to join the “literati” while working to please his father by working through law school was an issue I could have cared less about. I didn’t like the character. He was a petulant child, through and through.

The character of Andre Nemo was the only one that I felt any kind of emotion for, but it wasn’t enough to make him a redeemable character. Early in the book, he witnesses an accident that claims the life of his father. When he ships out about the Coralie, the English Captain Grant becomes a second father figure to him before Nemo loses him to a pirate attack. But before long, the character becomes as flat and one-dimensional as the rest of them.

I will give credit where credit is due though. The book has a bold premise that it tries to live up to. Unfortunately, it’s just not there. By the time I was a hundred pages in, I felt I was slogging through it. By the time I hit the halfway mark, I knew deep down that I just couldn’t put myself through it anymore and I will honestly tell you that I eventually just put the book down and didn’t pick it back up. I pride myself on being able to finish a book or game to give it an honest review. But with Captain Nemo, I was very nearly bored to tears.

If you like books that play with a “pseudo-history” of famous people, this might be the book for you. However, if you’re looking for something that’s going to be as entertaining as the various yarns that Verne strung for his classics, you’ll want to look someplace else.

If you want to pick up a copy of the book, you can find it on Amazon, currently retailing at $10.98 for a physical copy or $9.39 for the eBook version.

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Update – News On Timothy Zahn’s Next Star Wars Novel

Mar. 23 Literature, News no comments

We have two, technically three bits of news coming on the Star Wars novel front. The news was broken several weeks ago that long established author Timothy Zahn was penning a new Star Wars novel set in the Classic Era starring everyone’s favorite smuggler, Han Solo.

Today we have a release date. December 26th, 2012.

We also have a title - Star Wars: Scoundrels.

Third, we also know that the books will contain the characters of Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian.

Finally, Del Rey released a description of the book along with a shot of the supposed cover:

Supposed cover image of the new Timothy Zahn book

And here’s the official description of the book from Del Rey as brought to us by EW.com:

The Death Star has been destroyed. The Rebellion has had its first big victory. And Han Solo, newly conscripted to the Rebel cause, is on the run from the Empire and the bounty hunters eager to turn him in for the huge reward being offered by Jabba the Hutt. Now a mysterious stranger offers Han the resources to execute a daring robbery from a major crime lord.  The mission is impossible, but the prize will make Han a free man. With no choice but to accept, Han Solo and his Wookiee partner, Chewbacca, set out to assemble a cast of rogues, knaves, and cons with the right combination of wits, skills, and derring-do to pull off an operation of this complexity and scale — the best scoundrels the galaxy has to offer. And then the game is on: a rip-roaring, intergalactic, Ocean’s Eleven-style heist adventure starring Han Solo, Chewie, and Lando Calrissian, written by #1 New York Times bestselling Star Wars author Timothy Zahn!

To close this out, a comment from the author’s official Facebook page:

An additional note:

I’ve noticed that speculation has already begun as to the identities of the rest of the scoundrels. Just to make it clear: while there may be a name or two you recognize, most of the rest of the group will be new characters. (Many of Han’s old established cohorts are smugglers, and we’re going to need *slightly* different skill sets on this one.)

I don’t know about everyone else, but the more I hear about this book, the more I want it in my hands now.

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The Hunger Games: Book VS. Movie [Review]

Mar. 23 Literature, Movies, Reviews 2 comments
It’s just before 3am here on the east coast and I’m back home from The Hunger Games movie’s midnight showing. I am overjoyed to let you know that I thought it was amazing.

My Preconceptions of the Film 
 
I went to this movie excited, but guarded. I worried about how a PG-13 rating might diminish the ominous threat posed by the Capitol and their games. I wondered if the absence of characters like Madge (the mayor’s daughter who gives Katniss Everdeen her mockingjay pin in the book) would pull apart themes in the story before it even truly began. I was sure that this book, written in first person, would get lost in translation as it was adapted for the screen. As I sat in the theater filled with squealing teenagers ogling over Peeta Mellark and his every romantic gesture, I realized that all of my worries were unnecessary.

I may not have told you this before, but I do not work in the film industry. While I tend to have creative outbursts from time to time, I was reminded tonight that I lack the scope and the vision to have fully imagined how true professionals in the field could bring this book to life on the screen maintaining its tone, its themes and its unique setting of the world of Panem.

First Person Perspective Versus Third Person Omniscient 

The most powerful tool used in the film adaptation of this book to movie was the cutting of the strings of our first person perspective. In Suzanne Collins’ novel we are taken through the story of the Hunger Games through the eyes of our protagonist, Katniss Everdeen. This makes for an emotionally charged and intimate story. The reader feels connected to Katniss, they understand her motivations and they root for her through and through. The one weakness in it, however, (which is present in all first person tales) is that we are limited in our understanding of Katniss’s world since we know it only as she does. While we are privy to her internal monologues and feelings on all things happening to her, we still may not know why such things are occurring.

The Hunger Games movie did an amazing job of taking us “behind the scenes.” For the first time we are able to see plots and plans made by the Gamemakers, by President Snow and even witness reactions to the Games in one of the Districts. Although these are all things that Katniss eventually learns about in The Hunger Games series, to see them happening in real time helps bring the dystopian world of Panem to life.

How PG-13 and the Violence Were Maintained
 
As far as my worry over the PG-13 rating of this film, I, again, must give credit to the creative thinkers behind the film for showing me how one can portray violence without great gory offense. When the rating for the film was initially announced, I declared that the story was doomed – How could a story with teens violently killing teens get a PG-13 rating?! I imagined they would be glossing over the violence and, in turn, be glossing over the very nature of the Hunger Games. So here’s the trick I observed – when a violent scene approached and was needed, the cinematography itself seemed to shift.

It felt as if the camera was unsteady, shaky, perhaps one could even describe it as dizzying. Horrible things were happening on the screen, but as the camera jerked this way and that, we only saw bits and pieces of the act. This sounds like it may be annoying to watch, but what I found was that it was unsettling and I can’t imagine a better feeling to have in the presence of horrific violence. So, with a little creative twist, the appropriate mood was struck, the audience was more than aware of the violent act and the rating for the target audience was maintained. Brilliant.

Character and Setting Design
 
My final commentary is reserved for the overall look of the people and places in the film. As I watched the trailers getting ready for the film’s release, I was taken aback by the stark looking Capitol that kept flashing before my eyes, I thought the children of district 12 looked too uniform and I wasn’t sure about the brief glimpses of the Capitol citizens I saw. Silly, silly me to make such rash judgements on snippets!

Within the full context of the movie, there was nothing “uniform” about District 12 citizens except that their clothing all looks drab – in the book this is alluded to due to the nature of their industry, coal mining. As for the my impression of a “stark” Capitol, this is simply a reflection of the very modern, sleek design of all that is there; most of the details which add a unique flair and personality to the place were left out of the trailers. The most magnificent Capitol detail of all, however, was its citizens. Collins writes of a population obsessed with personal appearance and enhancements through make-up, surgery, tattoos, fantastic hair designs and loud, garish style, but I was unsure this description could be appropriately presented on the screen. The people of the Capitol were just the right kind of eye-catching – I wanted to see their every detail, but when I would look closely, their unnaturalness would turn from fantastic to disturbing.

Final Comments
 
As I assess this movie from the perspective of a reader of The Hunger Games books, I am happy to report that this movie adaptation is one I think readers will be happy to come home from. Madge is not the only character missing and, yes, there are a couple of changes here and there made either due to time limitations or story flow that may initially sting. However, by movie’s end I will be surprised if my fellow readers don’t leave this film feeling satisfied.

Hunger Games fans, this time the odds were ever in our favor – go get your friends, get your tickets and enjoy!

Have you seen it yet? 
What are your impressions of the movie?
Have you read the books yet?
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Update! Timothy Zahn Leaks Details About New Star Wars Book

Mar. 03 Literature, News, Press Release no comments
One of Zahn's most beloved characters

He made being blue, cool.

It’s official. Timothy Zahn is still not done playing in George Lucas’s sandbox. The man that made the Expanded Universe cool with the characters of Grand Admiral Thrawn and Mara Jade has leaked several details about a new officially approved book in the Star Wars line.

From his official Facebook page:

Star Wars news update!

While most of the details (including the title) will have to wait until an official announcement is made (which I’m told will be sometime next month), I *have* been authorized to release a few tidbits concerning my now-officially-approved upcoming Star Wars novel.

First, it will be be set in the classic movie era.
Second, it will be an Ocean’s Eleven-type heist caper.
And third, it will star everyone’s favorite smuggler, Han Solo.

Further details to come.

Apparently the George Clooney of the Star Wars universe.

Let me be the first to say: YA-HOO!

I’ve long been a fan of Zahn’s Star Wars novels, believing them to be required reading for any fan of the movies. Needless to say, this news makes this nerd very happy indeed. I can’t wait to find out more about this book. Anything featuring Han Solo is a sure bet to make me drop my hard earned money.

This release comes hot off the heels of his latest two books Allegiance and Choices of One as well as the 20th Anniversary re-release of Heir to the Empire, one of the seminal works of Star Wars fiction.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled, fellow nerds. You can bet we here at Word Of The Nerd will be bringing you the news as soon as we hear about it.

Until next time, keep your blaster loose and by the Force, remember to fly casual.

 

UPDATE: We now have a tentative release date for the book. On March 1st, he said on his official Facebook page that the book was looking at a late 2012 release. Mark your calendars and keep your eyes here for more updates!

 

Have you checked out the Kickstarter page for “A CON-voluted Story”? Our very own Word of the Nerd team is involved with this awesome project!  Show them some love!

 

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Big Lip Radio Presents: The Dork Side 109

Mar. 02 Podcasts, The Dork Side no comments

Love prizes? Zach and Jerad do! That’s why there are so many chances to win some in this weeks’ episode! Not only are their chances to win great prizes, they also go over A LOT of gaming news. Jerad and Zach talk about a slew of topics. They cover the mass effect 3 demo along with a brief review of SSX. They then discuss a few old games from the past that hold a special place in gamer’s hearts. Sit back and enjoy the sounds of The Dork Side.

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Big Lip Radio Presents: The Dork Side 108

Feb. 23 Podcasts, The Dork Side no comments

  On this weeks EXCITING episode Jerad and Zach are lone rangers, secretly they are joined by the washer and Bird along with a surprise noise from Kim, They go over a whole slew of news. First they talk about Zach’s new laptop then they move on the classic games of the past where Jerad covered Star Wars for the NES and Zach talked about Vigilante 8 for the PS1. They then go over the new SSX for the Xbox 360. After wards they announce the winners of Nostalgia as well as Guss the game. They come back after commercial break to listen to play Big Lip Radio Essy Bits of the Past, they spun Nostalgia and Guess that Game. they wrap up the show with discussions on Batman Arkam City as well as Zach’s modded controller. So sit back and relax while you listen to the sound of the noise dryer and chirping birds of Jerad and Zach.

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