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Necessary for true S&L geek cred
message 51:
by
Sean
(new)
Aug 20, 2013 11:01AM
Everyone knows that true geeks prefer Stand by Me to Goonies -- it has Stephen King, Wesley Crusher and that guy from Sliders.
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I've not seen either. But I did see My Girl a half dozen times.
Trike wrote: "The Goonies is a generational touchstone. If you're old like me, you weren't the target audience and you thought it was silly kid stuff. If you were a kid when it came out, it looms large in your memory the way Raiders of the Lost Ark does for people my age. If you were born post-1992(ish), you might not even know of it if you don't have older siblings."There are a few things like that. Labyrinth is another that crosses my mind. At college, a bunch of us insisted on watching it during a free day, and then a tutor who was only about 6 years older than us snorted 'Muppets!' derisively and turned it off.
Mod
I wouldn't really call it anything like Fluxx, but it's gameplay isn't really like Magic either.
Some people who play magic just really like building decks. At least some of my friends do.
Dominion is a deckbuilding game. It has expansions with new types of cards. There is an app that will randomly spit out 10 types of cards to use for you if you tell it which expansion you have.
It's a victory point game, so the goal of your deck building is to generate a deck that will get you the most victory appoints before the game ends (which happens one of several ways all involving running out of some of the cards).
Everyone gets the same starting hand of 6 copper and 4 victory point cards. You deal yourself a hand of 5 cards and take your turn.
I'm probably not explaining it very well. If you're really interested here's a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGnwIl...
Mod
If you were born post-1992(ish), you might not even know of it if you don't have older siblings."
That's likely true. There is probably a bunch of kids born in the 90s that may not know what it is.
But I know at least most of my friends have introduced it to their kids. No idea how much their kids have taken to it though.
Trike wrote: "Dara wrote: "Rob wrote: "The Goonies. Not genre persay, but it's all about being an outcast..plus it's AWESOME. Goonies Never say die!"I've never seen The Goonies and always get made fun of for i..."
I was born in 87 and I also grew up without cable or a lot of movies (we were poor - my mum, wasn't a weird religious "tv is evil" person) so I missed out on stuff other kids got.
Well, I'd say listening to podcasts is pretty geek. Even more so if they deal with sci fi, fantasy, comics, cereal box cartons, pogs, etc.
Reading and replying to message boards, pretty geek.
Moving away from mass media and watching video series on the Web. Like Sword and Laser on Felicia Day's network. Sounds geek to me. Squaresville, The Guild, Tiki Bar TV.
Reading and replying to message boards, pretty geek.
Moving away from mass media and watching video series on the Web. Like Sword and Laser on Felicia Day's network. Sounds geek to me. Squaresville, The Guild, Tiki Bar TV.
Rob wrote: "I wouldn't really call it anything like Fluxx, but it's gameplay isn't really like Magic either.Some people who play magic just really like building decks. At least some of my friends do.
Dominion is a deckbuilding game. It has expansions with new types of cards. There is an app that will randomly spit out 10 types of cards to use for you if you tell it which expansion you have.
It's a victory point game, so the goal of your deck building is to generate a deck that will get you the most victory appoints before the game ends (which happens one of several ways all involving running out of some of the cards).
Everyone gets the same starting hand of 6 copper and 4 victory point cards. You deal yourself a hand of 5 cards and take your turn.
I'm probably not explaining it very well. If you're really interested here's a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGnwIl... "
As the guy says in the video, what I mean is that it's not a CCG -- Collectible Card Game. Like Fluxx or Gloom, all the cards you need come in the box, and you don't have to go off chasing rare thingamjigs.
I found this video to be helpful, since they actually play a game and explain it as they go. The actual game itself only takes about 20 minutes or so, probably shorter if they hadn't stopped to explain it as they went.
http://youtu.be/C7WZMH-uzUI
I also like that a couple reviewers say that kids have as good a chance at winning as adults in a mixed game, something that's hard to come by in a lot of games.
I don't know how old this kid is, but he loves it.
http://youtu.be/g6T3641ZTsQ
Definitely look like a cool game, especially since it's won just about every award out there and is on everyone's top 10 list.
Mod
Oh sure. That was actually my point. If you like doing deckbuilding, but don't want to sink the money in constantly buying/trading cards in a CCG, this game is worth taking a look.
There are a few expansions you can drop extra money, but I've found even with the basic box, just by mixing up the selection each time I never build the same deck twice.
Dara wrote: "I was born in 87 and I also grew up without cable or a lot of movies (we were poor - my mum, wasn't a weird religious "tv is evil" person) so I missed out on stuff other kids got. "I grew up poor, too. I can imagine it's far worse today because there's so much stuff to buy. Back in the 70s it was hard to tell the rich kids from the poor kids at first glance since we all wore the same clothes. The biggest difference was whether you had a hand-me-down GI Joe with painted-on hair or a talking GI Joe with Kung Fu Grip, but even then it wasn't like having a cell phone versus not having one.
Mod
I remember how we used to call my grandparents and let it ring twice then hang up. They'd know to call us back so they could pay for the call instead of us.
We made good use of the library for movies and books for entertainment. Now that I can afford to, I try to buy most of the books I read to support the authors I love, because I know not everyone can.
Sean wrote: "When you've listened to the commentary tracks on the entire season of Firefly more than once…you might be a sci-fi geek."Wow I have done that many many times... Good to know I'm not the only one!
I believe a healthy obsession with all things Joss Whedon counts. Like if you know the episode names of Buffy by heart and go about your day singing "With my freeze ray...". Maybe also J.J. Abrams? Personally, my love for Sci-Fi began when I saw Stargate as a child.
As far as comics, I read all the "Whedonverse" ones from Dark Horse.
If you like J.J. Abrams you are NOT a geek. I don't make the rules.
Oh I forgot Monty Python! I believe Holy Grail references abound throughout geekdom.
Trike wrote: "If you like J.J. Abrams you are NOT a geek. I don't make the rules."Well I like Fringe, which is Sci-Fi. I don't see how that's not a geek thing.
YES to the Monty Python's Holy Grail! Should be on the top of any list.
I think Caprica hasn't been named yet.
I also like watching Michio Kaku's shows on the Science Channel. Sci Fi Science is pretty cool.
Another fantasy movie, which imho, a s&l addict should know is " a chinese ghost story" ... And of course you should know the anime "captain future". Simply because that series, and star trek, got me started on science fiction.:)
Ayesha wrote: "My Star Trek mentor (I bow before his knowledge) has no interest in Joss Whedon but loved the Avengers. I tried for months to get him to watch Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog. His response once he finally saw it: "Meh."::wall slides into oblivion::"
I think this is a hazard of trying to introduce anyone to something you really love. It's easy for that enthusiasm to be offputting, resulting in the other person finally giving in grudgingly, and then taking an unconsciously negative attitude in with them that colours their experience.
If you think someone will like a particular thing, I tend to think it's better to just put it out there as a suggestion, and let them take it or leave it.
Michele wrote: "Oh I forgot Monty Python! I believe Holy Grail references abound throughout geekdom."Bah. A True Geek recognizes Monty Python as old hat and only quotes from At Last, the 1948 Show and Do Not Adjust Your Set.
Denisse wrote: "I also like watching Michio Kaku's shows on the Science Channel. Sci Fi Science is pretty cool."
A True Geek sneers at Kaku and the so-called "Science Channel" for dumbing everything down. If it doesn't involve differential equations, it's not real science.
See, now this is why you should never start a geek cred discussion on the Internet -- because no matter how much you know, there's somebody who knows more and will go into Comic Book Guy mode over it.
MarkB wrote: "Ayesha wrote: "My Star Trek mentor (I bow before his knowledge) has no interest in Joss Whedon but loved the Avengers. I tried for months to get him to watch Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog. His resp..."Oh, yeah, I've learned my lesson. My sister recently expressed an interest in Star Trek. Internally, I was !!!!!, but externally, I've been very careful how enthusiasticly I behave. I'm coddling her interests very delicately. But once she's hooked, I'll unleash the squee!
@ Denise and Sean: Nova ScienceNOW ftw!
Sean wrote: "A True Geek recognizes Monty Python as old hat" Plus Goon Show, I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again, etc. All those great BBC radio shows that the kids today know nothing about.
My geek family is well-balanced. My husband is the big gamer, citing Portal, WoW, and Half-Life as some of his faves. My daughter games too, but prefers anime and manga, loving everything from Ranma to One Piece to Fairy Tail and back. My son loves YouTubers like Tobuscus, and playing the lighter games like Angry Birds, Gmod, Plants vs. Zombies, and Minecraft, things that aren't as completion-driven.We all love movies, tv, board games, and books. I could list these until I'm blue in the face, but among my personal faves are ANY Joss Whedon, Supernatural, Big Bang Theory, definitely Goonies, Labyrinth and Princess Bride, anything involving superheroes (tho X-Men have always been my faves), Munchkin, Star Fluxx, Monty Python, adventure Time, Robert Jordan, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, Piers Anthony, George R.R. Martin, John Scalzi, terry Pratchett, Jacqueline Carey, s.M. Stirling, Orson Scott Card.... OhmyGodmy faceisblue!!!
@ Ayesha thanks for the tip!Also on movies: The Fifth Element, Sunshine, Moon, Animatrix.
All this is pop culture. Where are the RSS/ATOM, Dublin Core, Linux, Semantic Web, METS, 2600, open-access, and API crowd? No hackers?
Well Joss Whedon is in fact now the master and Lord of all geekdom...I don't make the rules...facts is facts
David wrote: "All this is pop culture. Where are the RSS/ATOM, Dublin Core, Linux, Semantic Web, METS, 2600, open-access, and API crowd? No hackers?"My l33t haxxor skills go as far as knowing how to install a printer.
But, along similar lines, any history nerds?
Mod
FWIW, I use linux daily at work. But I use windows at home, mostly because I only use my computer for gaming at this point.
But that stuff is more my job and less my hobby at this point. When I was younger it was the opposite.
Paul wrote: "Well Joss Whedon is in fact now the master and Lord of all geekdom...I don't make the rules...facts is facts"Perhaps...or maybe more old school sword and laserers would disagree?
I for one found this group via the Buffy/Angel/Firefly - Joss is awesome - Dr Horrible - The Guild/Felicia Day - Geek and Sundry route, but perhaps those who found it earlier snort in my general direction because they found this place first and are thus WAY geekier than me?
Ayesha wrote: "But, along similar lines, any history nerds?"How about Japanese history? I geek out over the Heike wars...though that's half history, half legend. But Yoshitsune is an interesting character. And Benkei is a DUDE! But I get that mostly from the Kabuki (Japanese theatre) I've seen. So, myths, legends and folk tales and theatre geeks anyone?
Ruth wrote: "How about Japanese history? I geek out over the Heike wars...though that's half history, half legend. But Yoshitsune is an interesting ..."I completely get what you're saying. Right now I'm reading about General Alex Dumas. The guy is like something out a superhero comic: massive muscles, twinkling eyes and a rigid sense of integrity. If he weren't real, I'd think someone'd made him up.
@ Denisse: Your welcome! PBS is one of my favorite channels and (now that I think of it) something that every nerd should watch. NovaSN is responsible for my massive crush on Neil deGrasse Tyson's brain.
Ruth wrote: "Perhaps...or maybe more old school sword and laserers would disagree?"No...no Whedon is in fact God Emperor Of all the lands of geekdom.
Although Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day do get lands to themselves inside his rule...
Praise Whedon...we are but leaves upon his wind.
I used to read a lot of historical fic and then I would go get non fic books about the subject/time period and learn more but I never got completely obsessed. Japan during the Shogun period, England during the Tudors (Henry the 8th), King Arthur, Robin Hood, Joan of Arc, ancient Egypt - all have interested me over the years.Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth - the interviews with Bill Moyers that were on PBS - is the most fascinating 10 hrs of two old dudes talking I've ever seen.
I like documentaries like Blue Planet, The Prophets of Science Fiction, and science shows like the one hosted by Morgan Freeman. I like the ones on History Channel too, but sometimes they seem too "dumbed-down."
I once took my computer apart and built it back up with random parts and some upgrades with only a little help from my brother - does that make me l33t?And yes, Whedon has assumed the throne of the Geekverse, gathering all unto Him, like the Borg - YOU WILL BE ASSIMILATED!
I thought of another movie I love - Galaxy Quest. Oh and pretty much anything with Simon Pegg.
David wrote: "All this is pop culture. Where are the RSS/ATOM, Dublin Core, Linux, Semantic Web, METS, 2600, open-access, and API crowd? No hackers?"I built the computer I'm using to communicate with you, if that makes you happy. Picked out the components myself and put 'em together. 7 years later it can still hold its own.
Ayesha wrote: "But, along similar lines, any history nerds? "Sure.
Ayesha wrote: "Right now I'm reading about General Alex Dumas. The guy is like something out a superhero comic: massive muscles, twinkling eyes and a rigid sense of integrity. If he weren't real, I'd think someone'd made him up."I don't know a great deal about that period/place in history, but he does sound like a pretty cool guy. Must learn ALL the history. :)
There are some unbelievable folk cropping up in Mongolian history too, such as a woman (I forget the name) who adopted, I think it was a prince or something, then married him when he was old enough and pretty much ruled behind him. If memory serves, she was something of a warrior, and fought to push back the Oirats and even rode into war pregnant.
Paul wrote: "Paul Harmon (TheSaint08D) | 260 comments Ruth wrote: "Perhaps...or maybe more old school sword and laserers would disagree?"No...no Whedon is in fact God Emperor Of all the lands of geekdom.
Although Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day do get lands to themselves inside his rule...
Praise Whedon...we are but leaves upon his wind. "
I love everything you just said.
Michele wrote: "I thought of another movie I love - Galaxy Quest."OH MY GOD, Galaxy Quest! By Grabthar's Hammer, you will be avenged!!!
How is it that no one has mentioned "The Gamers" or (even better) "The Gamers 2: Dorkness Rising"? These may be the best gamer/sci-fi lovin'/geek-based movies out there (Also, "JourneyQuest"). The Gamers: The Hands of Fate" is out now too and you can stream it for free for another week or so at www.watchthegamers.com. How has no one mentioned these yet!?
P.s. - I have no connection, other than being a fan, to Zombie Orpheus Entertainment or Dead Gentlemen Productions.
James wrote: "How is it that no one has mentioned "The Gamers" or (even better) "The Gamers 2: Dorkness Rising"? These may be the best gamer/sci-fi lovin'/geek-based movies out there (Also, "JourneyQuest"). The ..."Yes! I've seen Dorkness Rising at least a dozen times, and now we finally have Hands of Fate. It wasn't quite as good as Dorkness Rising, but it was still a great movie.
Someone I think Rob maybe if I'm wrong please credit yourself as I'm too lazy to search mentioned Squaresville the web video series and I had never watched it so I did now and wanted to say thanks...it amuses me :)
Ruth wrote: "Paul wrote: "Paul wrote: "Paul Harmon (TheSaint08D) | 260 comments Ruth wrote: "Perhaps...or maybe more old school sword and laserers would disagree?"No...no Whedon is in fact God Emperor Of all the lands of geekdom.
Although Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day do get lands to themselves inside his rule...
Praise Whedon...we are but leaves upon his wind. "
I love everything you just said.
"
It's a gift :)
T.R. wrote: "James wrote: "How is it that no one has mentioned "The Gamers" or (even better) "The Gamers 2: Dorkness Rising"? These may be the best gamer/sci-fi lovin'/geek-based movies out there (Also, "Journe..."I've watched "Hands of Fate" twice now. It improves on multiple viewings. I'm not usually a 'card flopper' so I missed some stuff the first time round that I picked up on a 2nd viewing (like why Gary suddenly wanted to beat up the Teletubby stand-in, which was very subtly introduced while the gaming group was eating "Waffles of Shame" and Cass announces they're going to GenCon). It's very obvious to me that I need to acquire a life.
James wrote: "T.R. wrote: "James wrote: "How is it that no one has mentioned "The Gamers" or (even better) "The Gamers 2: Dorkness Rising"? These may be the best gamer/sci-fi lovin'/geek-based movies out there (..."I'll need to watch it again. And in September, they're going to serialize the extended edition, which is supposed to include Lodge/Joanna's storyline.
T.R. wrote: "James wrote: "T.R. wrote: "James wrote: "How is it that no one has mentioned "The Gamers" or (even better) "The Gamers 2: Dorkness Rising"? These may be the best gamer/sci-fi lovin'/geek-based movi..."Awesome. Didn't know that and can't wait. Also, even though they missed most of the "Vs. the Shadow" storyline, they set-up for a pretty good Gamers IV.
James wrote: "T.R. wrote: "James wrote: "T.R. wrote: "James wrote: "How is it that no one has mentioned "The Gamers" or (even better) "The Gamers 2: Dorkness Rising"? These may be the best gamer/sci-fi lovin'/ge..."The Shadow! The Shadow? The Shadow.
If you are here, you are already a qualified S&L Geek. Be proud. Are you keen on deepening your dip into the pool of geek? Here are some of my favorite out-of-the-way stops along that highway:Dark Star--A must watch laser classic by John Carpenter and Dan O'Bannon (he wrote the original Alien) This movie is hilarious and delightfully edgy, super low-budget.
Project A-Ko--Brilliantly funny anime, spoofing every trope of anime and then some. If you can catch all the references in this film, you are well on your way.
Dungeons and Dragons--the game, not the movie. Someone mentioned this already and I will second it here. I have friends I can sit around and talk D&D adventures with like we were old men swapping war stories we lived through. Somehow those experiences become real. If you are lucky enough to know a group of people who can get together and play, you should take advantage of it (I am lumping any decent Role Playing game you care to name under this banner, the important part is that it let the player think and act in the role of an imaginary person in an imaginary world without computer game limitations on their choices)
Forbidden Planet--perhaps one of the finest classic science fiction films. It predates Star Trek by over a decade and has effects that are brilliant, even now. The plot is simple, but outstanding. "Monsters from the id!"
I am sure more things will come to me. Most of this has been Laser oriented, but that has a much deeper pool of media to draw from. To me, the best fantasy experiences happen between the pages of a book or around the gaming table.
T.R. wrote: "James wrote: "T.R. wrote: "James wrote: "T.R. wrote: "James wrote: "How is it that no one has mentioned "The Gamers" or (even better) "The Gamers 2: Dorkness Rising"? These may be the best gamer/sc..."The Shadow?! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
It really depends. I will say this though. Good games that would probably apply for S&L geek cred would include the list below.The Elder Scrolls games
Might & Magic
Final Fantasy (technically any of the core games, but preferrably IV, V, VI, VII, and IX)
The Divinity Anthology (Divine Divinity, Beyond Divinity, Divinity 2, and now Divinity: Dragon Commander)
Halo
Gears of War
Infamous
Assassin's Creed
Dugeons & Dragons (any campaign world)
Warhammer Fantasy (Roleplaying game could work if you don't want to build an army)
Warhammer 40,000 (any of the pen-and-paper RPGs can work if you don't want to build an army)
Dragon Age (video or pen-and-paper game)
World of Darkness (or any of single game rule sets like Vampire, Werewolf, Mage and Wraith to name a few)
Firefly RPG
Star Trek RPG
Star Wars RPG
Castles & Crusades (one of Gary Gygax's games from his last years of life)
Legend of the Five Rings RPG or collectible card
I'll have to think about the movies and shows though. I might also need to add to the list of games too.
