E3 2015: Microsoft Press Conference Recap

Microsoft got a chance to announce their upcoming titles and software this morning in a presentation that started strong but struggled to maintain momentum. Opening with a demo of ‘Halo 5: Guardians’ really riled up the crowd; Halo has been one of the most successful franchises Microsoft has ever produced, so it was a good place to start.

The biggest draw for this next installment of Halo are the stages, which have been promised to be four times the size of any previous Halo maps. Microsoft is boasting “seamless drop-in, drop-out cooperative play” and the return of the familiar Master Chief. Although brief, this segment packed a punch. The game is set to release on October 27th of this year.

‘Halo 5: Guardians’ is the next installment in Microsoft’s wildly popular franchise.

Next came the announcement which was, in my opinion, the biggest news of the conference: Xbox One will be backwards compatible. Finally! When Microsoft and Sony first introduced their next-gen consoles at E3 2013, they faced a lot of criticism over the lack of backwards compatibility. With this announcement, Xbox 360 owners are overjoyed to learn that they can continue to play their favorite titles on their new consoles. Considering how much money I’ve spent on 360 games, there’s a strong chance I’ll be buying an Xbox One this holiday (unless Sony presents something mind-blowing).

Microsoft also announced their new ‘Elite Wireless Controller’ for Xbox One and Windows 10 which features button and paddle remapping and hair trigger locks.

The new ‘Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller’ features a sleek design and button remapping.

Bethesda’s Todd Howard then took the stage to give a recap of the ‘Fallout 4’ demo from last night’s Bethesda conference, and to announce that all ‘Fallout 4’ mods created on the PC will be available for transfer and use on the Xbox One, free of charge.

Following this came some announcements for upcoming titles like ‘Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2’, ‘Forza Motorsport 6’, and Tom Clancy’s ‘The Division’. The most exciting of these announcements was the teaser trailer for ‘Dark Souls III’ which is expected for early 2016.

Then came Microsoft’s tradition of putting the spotlight on a handful of indie games they’ll be offering in the next few months. These titles included ‘Tacoma’ by Fullbright, ‘Ashen’ by Aurora44 studios, ‘Beyond Eyes’ by Tiger and Squid, and the unique ‘Cuphead’ by MDHR studios. ‘Cuphead’ is designed to look like a 1930’s cartoon, with the feel of a 16-bit platformer, according to brother developers Chad and Jared Moldenhauer. This game in particular really caught my eye because of how distinctive it was from the rest of the titles.

The announcement of ‘Xbox Game Preview’ gave players a look into a program where they could purchase and play games while in active development. Microsoft has acknowledged that this is something already available on PC with ‘Steam Early Access’, and wants to bring the idea to consoles. All games will have a free trial to help players decide if they will purchase and provide feedback to developers.

One of the biggest Xbox exclusives of the year is the highly anticipated ‘Rise of the Tomb Raider’. Lara Croft is one of the most infamous gaming heroines of the last twenty years, and her franchise has been an overwhelming success for its developers. The sequel to 2013’s ‘Tomb Raider’, ‘Rise of the Tomb Raider’ follows Lara Croft on her trek through Siberia in search of the ancient city of Kitezh and the secret to immortality. The teaser demo was incredibly cinematic, and the snow graphics were stunning.

Because of its status as an Xbox One exclusive, many ‘Tomb Raider’ fans have been outraged that the next installment will not be available on multiple platforms. Is it enough for some of them to bite the bullet and purchase a console for one game? We’ll see.

The final big presentation of the show was for ‘Minecraft’ and HoloLens, Microsoft’s see-through holographic computer. This new version of the classic sandbox game ‘Minecraft’ has been developed specifically for HoloLens for a world-building experience like nothing players have ever experienced.

The demonstration required a HoloLens to be put over the camera while the player showed their ‘Minecraft’ game being projected on the wall in front of them, and then being rebuilt in the third dimension on an empty table. This world materializing right in front of the player, which can then be manipulated by as little as voice commands and directed gazes, is truly the future of gaming. This was without a doubt the most impressive part of the presentation for me.

All in all, I can’t really complain about Microsoft’s press conference. As far as Microsoft E3 presentations go, this one was pretty standard. Title names aside, Microsoft press conferences tend to be the same formula-wise. They start strong with a big-name franchise announcement to hook people in, but then they struggle to maintain that interest as the conference progresses. Most of the Xbox exclusive titles are nothing to get excited about, and their excessive use of words like ‘epic’ and ‘innovative’ where they don’t really apply makes it seem like they’re trying too hard.

I always feel slightly underwhelmed by Microsoft E3 presentations, they spend too much time trying to compete with Sony instead of focusing on what works for them, which is what has made Nintendo so successful. The best parts of the conference for me were the announcement of backwards compatibility, the HoloLens demonstration, and the ‘Dark Souls III’ trailer. I’m hoping Sony steps up with something a little less formulaic tonight.

E3 2015: Bethesda Press Conference Recap

Bethesda kicked off the Electronic Entertainment Expo press conferences this evening with their first-ever E3 presentation. For their premiere in the ring, it’s safe to say that their conference was a knockout.

They started their presentation with the resurrection of ‘Doom’, the iconic first-person-shooter from 1993. Gameplay videos included a solid science-fiction-horror atmosphere, complete with aggressive demon enemies. Combat styles included everything from filling the demons with lead, punching their heads off, and even sawing them in half with a chainsaw. The gore was not spared for this revival, and rightfully so.

Thanks to Bethesda, players can now literally go to Hell, one of the many maps included in the game. Want to design your own? With the introduction of ‘SnapMap’, a custom level builder for all platforms, you can! The ease of customization is something Bethesda wanted to put an emphasis on because their goal is to support more player mods. Using ‘SnapMap’, players can design their own maps, play the maps of others, and vote on their favorites. ‘Doom’ can be expected in Spring of 2016 for the Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

The enemies in ‘Doom’ have gotten a makeover since the game’s first release in 1993.

Next on the list for Bethesda was a brief announcement for their team-based PVP game ‘Battlecry’, which has been open to beta testers in Australia, and will now be open for beta worldwide. Players can choose from a range of different character classes in this tactical combat game.

Players can choose from a variety of character classes in Bethesda’s new team-based PVP game, ‘Battlecry’.

The second big announcement made at the Bethesda conference, which was leaked on Twitch prior to the show, was ‘Dishonored 2’. Viewers got the first look at the game through a trailer which follows not Corvo Attano, but Emily Kaldwin who is now all grown up. Players will have the option of playing as either Emily or Corvo, each with their own styles and attributes.

There is no official release date for ‘Dishonored 2’, however Bethesda took this time to announce the ‘Dishonored Definitive Edition’ which is an enhanced and remastered version of the original game and includes all DLC. This remaster will be available in the fall for Xbox One and PS4.

Emily Kaldwin is all grown up, and the surprise assassin protagonist of the upcoming ‘Dishonored 2’.

A few minutes were dedicated to updates for the ‘Elder Scrolls Online’s’ new feature, ‘Tamriel Unlimited’, which allows console players using Xbox One and PS4 to explore the game with friends. Afterwards, a new ‘Elder Scrolls’ game was announced, sort of. With the growing popularity of strategy card games like Hearthstone, it was only a matter of time until the extensive lore of the ‘Elder Scrolls’ series got its own card game; ‘Elder Scrolls Legends’ will be free to play and available on PC and iPad in the next few months.

With the popularity of games like ‘Hearthstone’, it was only a matter of time until the extensive lore of the ‘Elder Scrolls’ series got its own strategy card game.

On to the real star of the Bethesda conference: ‘Fallout 4’. After releasing the highly anticipated trailer confirming the game’s release less than two weeks ago, Bethesda has kept their fans in suspense. All-new gameplay videos were shown, and we finally got a taste of this expanded world from Todd Howard, Game Director of Bethesda studios.

Taking place in Boston, the game begins before the bombs were dropped. We meet a young couple with a baby, they are each customizable and will eventually be your either male or female character. Character creation is as easy as clicking and dragging facial features in order to sculpt your avatar (similar to the ‘Sims 4’). You can change the look of both the husband and the wife, and their baby will be updated to look like its parents.

‘Fallout 4’ character creation allows players to customize their avatar and their spouse by selecting and sculpting facial features.

After the bomb is dropped, your character enters the vault, but does not resurface for over 200 years. Following emergence from the vault, player freedom becomes the name of the game. No dialogue locks means you have more dynamic dialogue options and the freedom to walk away from any conversation at any time. The game can be enjoyed in the first or third person, and the familiar V.A.T.S. combat system has been improved for even better control over targets and time.

In-world customization continues with the player’s ability to scrap items they find in order to rebuild the environments around them in real-time. Scrapped materials can also be used to build and upgrade weapons. According to Howard, there are 50 base weapons in the game, and over 700 mods for those weapons; modification of power armor is also possible. Players are able to build their own settlements, protect them from bandits, and even send brahmin caravans with supplies between settlements. It’s a whole new world that ‘Fallout’ fans could have only ever dreamed of.

The player is almost immediately given a German shepherd companion, much to the delight of many fans. There is now a layered armor system for your character, and the infamous Pip-Boy has returned better than ever. Instead of being a static screen, we see the Pip-Boy come to life on the arm of our character as we adjust it. Holo-tapes are now viewable on the screen, and even a handful of playable mini-games!

Man’s best friend, even in the nuclear apocalypse.

This is also the first time we’ll really hear our main character talk. According to Todd Howard during the post-show, the voice actors playing the male and female protagonists have recorded over 13,000 lines of dialogue over the course of two years.

In order to reward their fans for their patience and dedication, Bethesda knew they had to make a collector’s edition of the game that would make jaws drop. With the ‘Pip-Boy Collector’s Edition’, player’s can own a wearable Pip-Boy that becomes functional with their smartphone! That’s right, Bethesda developed an app specifically for iOS and Android phones so that users could make their phones the screens of their Pip-Boys for the most immersive second-screen experience yet.

This bundle is a dream-come-true for long-time ‘Fallout’ fans and cosplayers alike, who have always fantasized about having their very own Pip-Boy. As if this weren’t enough, an official release date of November 10th, 2015 means that one of the most highly-anticipated games of recent years is now only five months away.

The ‘Pip-Boy Collector’s Edition’ bundle for ‘Fallout 4’ includes a wearable Pip-Boy that uses your smartphone as the screen with the help of an app developed by Bethesda for the second-screen experience.

But the Fallout announcements didn’t stop there! As part of their goal to appeal to mobile gaming audiences, Bethesda announced a new iOS game: ‘Fallout Shelter’. Similar in style to ‘Sim City’, ‘Fallout Shelter’ gives players the ability to be the Overseer of their very own vault. Vault dwellers must be taken care of and assigned to specific jobs as your vault expands. The game is free to play with no internet connection required and no paywall timers. By the way? It was released tonight! It became available for download on the app store directly after the conference and I’ve been playing it for a little while now. It’s cute and fun, and very easy to get the hang of.

In ‘Fallout Shelter’, players become the Overseers of their very own vaults and are responsible for keeping their vault dwellers happy and productive.

So, after releasing the news of the resurrection of one of the most influential first-person-shooters ever, the sequel to the Game of the Year 2012, expansions into the mobile game and strategy card game genres, a release date and innovative gameplay of one of the most anticipated games of the last five years, and launching a game directly after their press conference, Bethesda was seriously a tough act to follow.

I couldn’t think of a better way to start E3; Bethesda started very strong, and was able to gain momentum as their presentation progressed. The real MVP of the evening was, without a doubt, developer and Game Director Todd Howard. His presentation on ‘Fallout 4’ was captivating, and he was the Bethesda speaker who seemed the most in-his-element in front of the crowd. A veteran in the industry with 20 years at Bethesda under his belt, Howard was certainly the right man for the job.

Considering the bar that was raised this evening by Bethesda, I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of the presentations have to offer. I have a feeling that Bethesda’s conference will be, at the very least, in my top three favorite presentations from this week. Tomorrow starting at 9:30 AM PDT Microsoft presents, followed by Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and Sony. Here’s to conferences just as exciting as Bethesda’s.

How To Get the Best Steam Summer Sale Deals

It’s that magical time of year once again where PC gamers can snag half of the games clogging their wishlists for under $20. Spanning from June 11th through the 20th, the Steam Summer Sale promises flash deals and big-name games at rock-bottom prices.

This year, Steam is doing things a little differently, starting with the name: Monster Summer Sale. With the increased popularity of “clicker” games, Valve has opted to create their own as a way for players to unlock even more deals during the sale. The Monster Summer Game groups 1,000 players at a time to take down enemies as a team to make upgrading abilities and leveling-up less of a challenge.

Players have the option to unlock even more deals through the Steam Summer Sale’s Monster Summer Game.

Like any other clicker game the main objective is, well, rapid-fire clicking. Manual clicking for the first few levels allows you to upgrade your automatic weapons, until you can eventually leave the game running in the background as you level up. The more bosses you defeat, and the more milestones you reach, the more deals you can unlock each day.

But how do you know those deals will be worth while? You technically don’t. Steam doesn’t show the names of the games, but they give tag clues for genres. Interested in turn-based, rogue-like, RPG’s? Or maybe scary and atmospheric alien games? Then unlocking them might be worth it. Any deals you unlock become available at 10 AM PDT and are available for varying lengths of time (typically between 24 to 48 hours).

Players get genre clues of the deals they could unlock each day.

For all other aspects of the summer sale, however, the rules remain the same. There are three different tiers of sales: regular deals, daily deals, and flash sales. Understanding how they work is your ticket to scoring the lowest price on a game you want in your library.

Normal deals are pretty average price markdowns and stay that way for the duration of the sale. You might be tempted to buy a game you’re interested in when it’s on normal sale, but the trick is to wait for the absolute lowest price. If it’s the last day of the sale and you know the price can’t be lower, that’s the time to buy.

Daily Deals last 48 hours after they’re announced and are more marked down than normal deals. New lists of Daily Deals are added every 24 hours, which means you’ll want to pay attention to today’s and yesterday’s Daily Deals. If you see a game you want on a Daily Deal you could buy it then or you could take your chances and wait for a Flash Sale.

Flash Sales are the most fleeting and feature some of the best deals of the sale. They are announced every 12 hours and don’t last long so checking back on them frequently is a good idea. If the game you want is on the Flash Sale list, BUY IT! Unless you’re the extremely lucky type, the chances of getting a better deal on that game are very low.

Flash Sales feature the most dramatic price drops of the sale. If you see a game you want on this list, BUY IT!

It’s also important to use outside resources to check prices. The sub-Reddit /r/GameDeals is a great place to check Steam Summer Sale prices and is updated frequently with Flash Sale info. IsThereAnyDeal is a game price comparison resource that includes price history statistics (so you can tell if a price has been marked up prior to a sale).

For games you really want, make sure they’re on your wishlist and check periodically to see if they’re on sale. You can also subscribe to Wishlist notifications so Steam will email you when items from your Wishlist are on sale.

This sale is your best shot at ridiculously low-priced games until the Winter Sale, take advantage of it while you can!

E3 2015 Schedule

Gamers, rejoice! The annual Electronic Entertainment Expo is upon us! That magical week of the year when the big names in video game and console development announce their plans and releases for the upcoming months. To have it coinciding with the Steam Summer Sale this year is like nerdy Christmas.

The official expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center doesn’t start until the 16th, but official press conferences begin as early as tonight with Bethesda’s E3 Press Conference scheduled for 6:30 PDT (9:30 EST).

I’ll be doing a recap and review of each major press conference; here’s the official E3 schedule so you don’t miss any big announcements:

Sunday June 14th:

• Bethesda – 6:30 PM PDT

Monday June 15th:

• Microsoft – 9:30 AM PDT
• Electronic Arts – 1 PM PDT
• Ubisoft – 3 PM PDT
• Sony – 6 PM PDT

Tuesday June 16th:

• Square Enix – 10 AM PDT
• Nintendo – 9 AM PDT
• PC Gaming Show – 5 PM PDT

Live streams of the press conferences can be viewed on Youtube, the IGN website, as well as Twitch, and the Microsoft press conference will be view-able on their consoles through the Live Event Player app.

Fallout 4 Confirmed, Trailer Released!

Yesterday morning at 7AM PT Bethesda updated their official Fallout website with a 24-hour countdown timer. Excited Fallout fans immediately began to speculate about a fifth installment to the beloved RPG franchise. Since the release of Fallout: New Vegas in October of 2010 there have been countless rumors and hoaxes regarding the Fallout 4 title.

A countdown commenced on the official Fallout website this morning at 6AM PT leading up to the release of the Fallout 4 trailer.

Although the website went live ahead of the countdown to reveal a domain of Fallout4.com and this picture below, Bethesda was quick to remove it before the big surprise was spoiled for too many people.

Fallout 4’s website updated prematurely to the countdown and revealed that fan’s suspicions about a game announcement and trailer were true.

At 7AM PT this morning the official game trailer was released on the Bethesda Softworks YouTube channels and eager fans got a brief three minute glimpse into the world of the next Fallout installment. The trailer features a hop between pre-war and post-war conditions as a German shepherd explores an abandoned home. The viewer is met with stunning colors and pleasing graphics while a familiar narrator (actor Ron Perlman) utters the infamous tagline “War. War never changes.” over the even more familiar Fallout musical score.

The end of the trailer shows the dog sniffing around a workshop with Power Armor in full view, where the game’s main protagonist greets his canine companion. While the previous Fallout games have never used a voiced protagonist it seems that tradition will soon be changed.

This game trailer release could not come at a better time for Bethesda who strategically premiered it with E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) right around the corner this month. The official Bethesda E3 press conference takes place on Sunday, June 14th at 7PM PT, 10PM EST. I’m personally looking forward to their presentation this year and hoping they include even more supplementary information about the gameplay, story, and game environment.

Fallout 4 will be released on next-gen consoles only, now available for pre-order on Xbox One, PS4, and PC. 

Now, after almost 5 long years of waiting, the official Fallout 4 trailer:

Thor #8: Thor’s Secret Identity Revealed! (Spoilers)

Fans have debated since October of 2014 on the secret identity of the new Goddess Of Thunder, and after this week’s release of Thor #8, we finally have a name…

***MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD***
You’ve been warned.

Following its release on October 1st, 2014, the all new Thor storyline featuring a mysterious blonde woman as Mjölnir’s new wielder gained tons of buzz and popularity. Some fans were annoyed when Marvel announced that Thor Odinson was no longer, well, Thor, while most were excited to read about this woman deemed worthy enough to wield the legendary weapon.

Despite some people insisting that she is not really Thor, Marvel put their foot down and explained that she’s not just Lady Thor, but the embodiment of the hero completely. Will Moss, a Marvel editor involved with the new comics explained “… this new Thor isn’t a temporary female substitute – she’s now the one and only Thor, and she is worthy!” This is important to remember for people who are impatiently waiting for things to go back to the way they were before.

So… how did she become Thor, anyway? In the first issue of the series, Thor #1, we open to the Moon in the shadow of Asgardia, where a crowd has gathered around Thor Odinson sitting slumped before his legendary hammer. He is no longer able to wield Mjölnir after Nick Fury whispered something (still unknown) during a battle on the moon that caused Thor to drop the hammer. When Thor leaves the hammer where it lies to save Midgard from a frost giant attack, we see a mysterious figure at the end of the issue say “There must always be a Thor.” before effortlessly picking up the hammer. In the next shot we are introduced to the new Thor.

The first shot of Marvel’s Goddess of Thunder from Thor #1. Written by Jason Aaron, art by Russell Dauterman and Matthew Wilson.

In the following issues we saw this Goddess of Thunder live up to Thor’s potential effortlessly in battles with familiar faces like Malekith, king of the Dark Elves. Many speculated that the identity of the new Thor was his own mother, Freyja, who was described by the writers in the introduction as having “no intention of letting things go back to the way they were before Odin left.” And although there were a series of red herring shots of Freyja looking at Mjölnir (which I fell for), this week’s Thor #8 issue reveals that she is not Freyja, but…

Jane Foster, looking worse for wear, is revealed as the secret identity of the Goddess of Thunder in Marvel’s Thor #8. Written by Jason Aaron, art by Russell Dauterman and Matthew Wilson.

… Jane Foster?!

That’s right! Dr. Jane Foster of Midgard is Thor.

But let’s back up to the beginning of the issue. It opens on an intense battle with the Destroyer where Odinson (as he is being called after giving his name to the Goddess of Thunder) is accompanied by an epic lineup of Marvel’s ladies including Thor, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Captain Marvel, and Spider-Woman, to name a few. This roster of badass females teaming up to fight embodies the intention of Marvel’s introduction of the Goddess of Thunder and their pride in their female superheroes.

Thor begins the narration by telling the story of how her mother died when she was nine years old, it is hinted that she passed from cancer. Thor goes on to say “At her funeral, I swore to myself I would never again be helpless to save someone I loved. That was the moment I knew… exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up.” The battle with the Destroyer comes to a climax when Freyja the allmother stabs it in the ‘face’, and after the battle Odinson confronts Thor about her identity.

Odinson says that he has made a list of possible identities and only one name remains, Rosalind Solomon, who then shows up and interrupts their conversation, proving that she is not Thor. The Goddess of Thunder takes this as her cue to leave, and her internal monologue begins again before the big reveal.

“The world needs a Thor. That’s all that really matters. We need a God who understands what it means to be humbled. To be mortal. A God who knows how precious life is. How delicate. A God who struggles every day to live a worthy life. Who suffers so that no one else will have to. A God who loves the Earth enough to die for it.”

This monologue is something that really stuck with me, and something that I believe proves just how worthy Jane Foster really is. In the final panel of this issue she reveals that she will not ignore Mjölnir’s call even though it is accelerating and worsening her breast cancer. The irony of one of the strongest superheroes in the Marvel universe being revealed as a weakened and humbled mortal is intentional. It shows that you do not have to be the Odinson or God of Thunder in order to be worthy.

Jane understands the fragility of life, she understands what it means to be mortal, and she “struggles every day to live a worthy life”. She is the wielder that Mjölnir needs: someone who knows Midgard life intimately, and who has the passion to do right by its inhabitants, and put her own well-being in jeopardy to ensure that there is a Thor. Before the big reveal, she explains that she hides herself and her identity because she would be stopped if others found out its affect on her, especially Odinson. In any other circumstance where she was able to wield the hammer while remaining healthy, I believe Odinson would be proud to know Mjölnir is being carried by someone as worthy as Jane Foster.

It’s unclear so far how rapidly her condition is worsening, but her story continues in Thors #1 due out on the 10th of next month.

All of the Thors of the Marvel universe converge in Thors #1 due out on June 10th, 2015.

You’re Tearing Me Apart, RiffTrax!

Think of the worst movie that you have ever seen. A few titles may come to mind, but it’s a guarantee that no other B movie will ever match the infamy or epic cult following of Tommy Wiseau’s ‘The Room’. Affectionately dubbed “The Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made”, this film (written by, produced by, directed by, and starring Tommy Wiseau) about a banker living in San Francisco and his rocky relationship with fiancée, Lisa, seems harmless and simple enough, when in reality it is so much more.

Describing ‘The Room’ to someone who has never actually seen ‘The Room’ is one of the biggest challenges there is. How do you explain the awkward dialogue and hilarious one-liners? The confusing character motives and nonexistent plot? The inexplicable panoramic shots of San Francisco and the Golden Gate bridge which, when added together, make up about a third of the movie? The awkward charm of early 2000’s fashion? Tommy Wiseau’s presence on screen and every aspect of his line delivery and awkward laughs? You simply can’t.

‘The Room’ is an experience just as much as it is a film, and thankfully, the guys who brought us ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ and ‘RiffTrax’ understood that. On May 6th and May 12th, 2015, Tommy Wiseau fans across the country gathered for a special two-night screening event of the cult classic with special comedic commentary from Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett.

Everyone who has seen ‘The Room’ knows that it is best enjoyed with friends in order to make the most of jokes and commentary. Attending the ‘RiffTrax Live: The Room’ event was like sitting in a theater full of friends while your three funniest friends lead the banter and sarcastic commentary. I laughed until there were tears, fans shouted iconic dialogue in unison, plastic spoons were being thrown at the screen; it was the full cult-film experience which can only be compared to screenings of the ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’.

As the first part in a RiffTrax Live series called ‘The Crappening’, Mike, Kevin, and Bill filmed their commentary in front of a live audience at the Historic Belcourt Theater in Nashville, Tennessee on May 6th and the event was broadcasted live across the country. A special encore broadcast was then screened on May 12th. Upcomng RiffTrax Live shows include titles like ‘Sharknado 2’, ‘Miami Connection’, and ‘Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny’.

Bill Corbett, Mike Nelson, and Kevin Murphy, the comedians behind Mystery Science Theater 3000 and RiffTrax, cracked jokes with ‘The Room’ fans nationwide.

Now, don’t get me wrong because I used words like “worst” or “bad” in the opening paragraph. Tommy Wiseau’s ‘The Room’ is sincerely one of my favorite movies, ever. I truly believe it is the hidden gem of cinema, and the perfect storm of “terrible movie” aspects that make it so bad that it drops off the chart and loops right back around to being amazing. I could talk until I’m blue in the face about how its sincerity of being a serious and dramatic film and its lack of self-awareness is precisely what makes it work as a cinematic masterpiece, but that’s deserving of a post of its own.

For now, I will say this: ‘The Room’ is a mandatory-see, as in, everyone should sit down and watch this movie at least once in their life. It will legitimately change you.

“You’re tearing me apart, Lisa!”

Welcome to Nerd Culture Shock!

As someone who is involved in most aspects of nerd culture from video games, to comic books, to the convention circuit, I wanted to create a space where I could write about my experiences. You can expect news from a wide variety of communities like gaming and comics, to media reviews and coverage of conventions. This blog is dedicated to making nerd culture accessible to new and old fans alike. The style and layout of this site are still under construction, but I’ll be posting content immediately (I just can’t wait!). I hope to learn and grow with you guys, and inspire lively conversations about all aspects of our community!