6 Things For Geeks To Do This Weekend In Arizona [WE 09/18]
This weekend, Arizona talks like a pirate, gets techno-paranoid, calls forth The Browncoats, and more.
Last weekend was pretty epic – how will this weekend fare?
Thursday, September 15th
Video Game Trivia [Phoenix]
- Video games, trivia, swag, gamer cred.
- At the Cade Gallery starting at 7pm.
- I’m going to try to make it to this one!
- By the way, the winner of last week’s Galaga contest took home a freaking power glove.
- (I love the power glove… It’s so bad.)
Friday, September 16th
World On A Wire [Phoenix]
- A distopian-science-fiction-paranoid-retro-futuristic-cyberpunk-foreign-film-noir?
- Sounds right up my alley; I may have to go see this.
- At the Film Bar starting 6pm, with shows on Saturday as well.
- Learn more and watch the trailer here.
- (PS – Ever seen the German film Cargo? Pretty cool flick.)
Saturday, September 17th
AZ Collector’s Marketplace [Phoenix]
- Apparently these things happen every weekend, but I’ve yet to mention them.
- Browse, buy, envy, sell, peruse, ogle, brag, and do everything else collectors do when they get together.
- Seems to boast a ton of sweet 80′s pop culture stuff. Could be fun.
- From 10am to 4pm at their location.
- Learn more.
Anime-nia 2 [Mesa]
- Gotham City Comics is pulling out all the stops for the otakus.
- Trivia contest? Art contest? Cosplay contest?
- Yes, yes, and yes.
- And anime shows.
- From 10am until your bed time.
- Here’s the FB event page.
Talk Like A Pirate Day [Glendale]
- Okay, TLAPD isn’t technically until Monday, but Saturday is a weekend, so that wins.
- The Arizona Corsairs are doing their thang and everyone’s invited!
- Belly dancing, fire breathing, swordfights, & pub crawls.
- At the Westgate City Center from 7pm – 11pm.
- Learn more here.
- (Wow, I didn’t use any clever “pirate” terms!)
Sunday, September 18th
Can’t Stop The Serenity! [Mesa]
- Help Equality Now (Joss’ charity) and Kids Need To Read (Nathan’s charity)!
- Screenings of Serenity and Dr Horrible, and other Whedonish activities, I’m sure.
- At The Royale starting around Noon and going until 6pm.
- Learn all you need to from The Arizona Browncoats.
Hope to see some of you this weekend!
Oh and I wanted to mention that Bookmans happens to be sponsoring more than one of the events up there. If you see them around, say thanks!
3 Things For Geeks To Do This Weekend In Arizona [WE 08/07]
This weekend Arizona tears things apart, beats things up, and waxes its handlebar.
Time for some weekend tomfoolery, geek style.
Thursday, August 4th
- If you haven’t been to HeatSync Labs’ new space, here’s the perfect chance.
- Bring something to take apart, or show up and join in the techno-carnage already prepared.
- No skills necessary, just a curiosity for what’s inside.
- Show up anytime, with the action starting at 7pm.
- Get more details on HeatSync’s blog.
Friday, August 5th
- It’s another gaming tournament from Devastation.
- As usual, bring your own controllers if you can.
- Register at 9pm and fight until midnight.
- It’s at the Microsoft Store, and prizes promise to be “big.”
- Official details on Devastation’s blog.
Saturday, August 6th
Steampunk Mustache Bash [Mesa]
- Belly dancing, costume contest, and games games games.
- Oh, and mustaches – and cupcakes!
- Steamcrow & The Gamers’ Inn are combining their powers for mustachioed afternoon.
- BYOMustache and drop in between 1pm and 4pm for the fun.
- Get your details here.
- The wife and I should be swinging by, so keep an eye out.
Want more? Check out Nerdvana for info on DnD Game Day this weekend, and The Pause Button for some more gaming going on.
Enjoy the weekend, and as always please share what I may have missed, or share what you might get out to this weekend!
3 Reasons Last Night’s Retro Game Night Was Awesome [8Bits!]
Last night’s Retro Game Bash at HeatSync Labs in Mesa was classic.
Why?
Well, I’ll give you three reasons:
1. The Games
Outside on the ground, Mario and Donkey Kong Jr were projected, and on the big screen and exception to the 8bit rule was made as a SFII tournament ensued. (It’s all about Dhalsim!)
After failing at Frogger, almost losing on a mercy rule in Pong, and repeatedly submitting to gravity on Jupiter Lander, I finally found my sweetspot – SmashTV on the NES! I had completely forgotten how much fun that hectic game is.
Just about any 8bits (or less) sytem you can think of made an appearance, and just as abundant were the 8bit t-shirts. Even some text based games made an appearance. Zork, anyone?
And, oh yes, there was some floppy disk 8bit strip poker going on (don’t worry, SFW).
2. The Memories
When I walked in, the first system I saw happened to play games from the first system I ever owned – the TI-99/4A. It was an old “computer” machine with a keyboard, two joysticks (with one button each) and a side slot for cartridges.
Did I play Hunt The Wumpus on it? You bet I did – they totally had it! I hadn’t played that since, I dunno, 1986? And I still remembered the music from the game.
Conversation varied slightly from station to station, but the silver thread throughout was always memories – summers spent indoors conquering games and Christmas mornings with new systems.
Which games we loved and why, which games changed the landscape, and guilty game pleasures.
(Enjoy this cheesy smile. Someone photoshop a sparkle on those teeth.)
(*Oh wow, Anabel actually did.)
3. The People
Of course, this is true with just about any local geek culture event. It’s the reason I do this blog in the first place.
The passion for technology, new and old, is infectious at HeatSync Labs – and playing games on paddles they made and systems they’ve restored added to the fun of the evening.
Across the street I got to meet some video game based artists, and run into some artist friends like Anabel Martinez, and chat with the folks at Evermore Nevermore.
Can’t wait for the next one, HeatSync!
(And I’d be down with a 16bit game night too. Let’s bust out some Altered Beast and Golden Ax!)
For a much more detailed report on the night, swing by this post.
So what were your favorite 8bit games/systems/memories?
I’m still impressed with how ahead of its time the original Metroid was.
And Mario 3 will always have a place in my heart, as well as Crystalis.
