CYaN Podcast Episode 10: Jynx
Now at double digits, the CYaN podcast has reached episode 10! In this week’s episode Danny and Ricky talk about a lot of new movie trailers, Project Glass stunts, Source Filmmaker, and some Comic Con rumors which also include a prediction by Danny that left Ricky almost speechless. Is Danny right with his prediction at the end of the show?
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Google Glass Skydive
If you have seen Iron Man 2 then you may remember that Stark leaps out of a plane in his armor to fly through fireworks just to give a speech at his Stark Expo. The showmanship and amazement just for giving a speech could only be seen on the silver screen and thanks to acting chops of RDJ. Well, at least until now…
This past week Google held their I/O conference in San Francisco. They unveiled new hardware in the a line of Nexus products, they moved from Ice Cream Sandwich to Jelly Bean, and then Sergey Brin (co-founder of Google) jumped out of a fucking plane to land on top of the Moscone Center in the middle of downtown San Francisco and live-streamed it from his Google Glasses. It is stunts like these that make me truly appreciate the ideas and balls that these people have. Anyway, watch the video below to see what happened.
Happy 40th Birthday Atari
Today happens to be the 40th birthday of Atari. I’m too young to really appreciate the 2600, but the games still have my attention to this day. Back when there were arcades, I would pop quarters in Gauntlet and Millipede. Hell, I was really into San Francisco Rush when I was in high school. It is a little sad where Atari is now, but there’s not much we can do.
To commemorate the date, Atari has put out this video:
Cheap Date: June 27th
This week was definitely a little easier when I was paring down the choices, let’s just say that this week it will decidedly one category will dominate your entertainment schedule. This is Cheap Date, where I will recommend nerdy entertainment for your week all under thirty dollars. Have fun.
Games – $25
You may remember my review of the first episode of Walking Dead from Telltale Games back in April. Well, the second episode is dropping this week; yesterday on XBL then Friday for PSN and Steam. The first episode was a work of art that may have been better than the show and close to the greatness of the comic book series. The great thing about this game is that it is only $5 to play each episode. If you did not like the first episode then you do not have to pay for the rest of the game. But if you are like me and pre-ordered the entire season, then you already spent the money and this game is coming to you for free this week. Your decisions, big and small, follow you to help shape the story. Not to mention that there are zombies!
The next two recommendations for games are DLC and require you to have the game, but playing these games is a must so you should already have these games.
First off, the Dawnguard DLC for Skyrim has dropped (again early on XBL then on other systems). This expansion to one of the best games of the year or even this console generation brings some new yet familiar features. As some may know after the completion ofSkyrim, the coders began work on personal projects involving the game. Each of these projects where things that were not in the game at release, but many are being added with this expansion. First off the Dawnguard part of the DLC allows you to become a Vampire Lord or join the Dawnguard to fight the vampires. You also gain crossbows, new skills and perks, and you can even ride an undead horse! There is a lot more to this download that you can find you by playing.
The other DLC is the extended cut for Mass Effect 3. This DLC is completely free for everyone. There is not much added, but it changes the ended that many fans were not originally happy with. You can replay the game to find an ending that may be better suited to your tastes, or it may wreak your experience completely. Either way it is more Mass Effect to play. I have personally enjoyed all the Mass Effect 3 DLC because it has all been free to this date, mostly due to its multiplayer nature.
That will be it for this week in our little Cheap Date. I may have only focused on video games this week, but it will definitely keep you busy. This week you will explore more of Skyrim with your Dunmer or one of the lesser races, help Lee Everett protect Clementine from zombies, and find out what “really” happens to Commander Shepard.
CYaN Podcast Episode 9: Jesus Healed
It’s a light week, but we keep bringing you the most interesting news of the week. Danny and Ricky talk about the Microsoft Surface announcement and what we want with tablets, several different movie trailers, our thoughts about Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, and the finale of the Legend of Korra.
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Robot & Frank Trailer
Sometimes there comes a trailer that you appreciate and want to see, then they throw something at you that immediately enamors you with the film. Not to mention the infusion of scifi into indie movies definitely has me won over.
Enjoy the trailer for Robot & Frank…
And even at 28, I feel like he does with the newer generation. Especially knowing that the majority of today’s kids do not know how to write in cursive.
CYaN Podcast Episode 8: Egg On Your Face
Sorry for the late episode this week. Without further ado…
In a very uncomfortable episode, Ricky explores a gadget unknown to either of us. We talk about the past few weeks of movie releases (warning: spoilers), Walking Dead news for various medias, game trailers, and other random topics. Hope you do not get any egg on your face.
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Cheap Date: June 20th
Welcome back to another Cheap Date! If this is your first time to this weekly article, I recommend some nerdy media for you to spend your money on. Great thing about my recommendations is that everything added together will be under $30. A lot for your week worth’s of entertainment.
Games – $15
Quantum Conundrum is a new PC game coming this week from Airtight Games, most notable Kim Swift who previously worked on the original Portal. You definitely get the aloofness of Portal in this game, but instead of portals you now have to deal with different dimensions. Each dimensions have different physics and you have to puzzle out how to unlock the room. Again, this all sounds very familiar if you have played a certain Valve game. Honestly, it looks like they are hammering that fact but I would easily drop $15 for another game just as good as Portal.
Comics – $12
If you are not reading the Saga series by the fantastic team of Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples, then you are missing out one of the most interesting series to come out and it is early enough to catch up on everything. In Saga #4, we visit the planet Sextillion. This is where I would hypothetically drop the mic and walk off stage, at least for this part.
Another one from Image Comics is Walking Dead #99. The wildly popular zombie series is coming to a milestone with issue #100 already titles Lucille, but before that we need to find out what else happens after a gruesome death from the last issue. My honest assessment is that they might finally “clear out” this cast and start anew with #100, but we still need to wait and see.
Coming from Marvel Comics, Greg Rucka is continuing to reinvigorate Frank Castle in Punisher #12. This issue comes after the fallout of, the Daredevil/Spider-Man/Punisher crossover, The Omega Effect. Now Frank is hunting a former ally. How far will he really go?
While John Constantine may be trouncing around in the regular DC Universe, the more mature version continues his Vertigo series in Hellblazer #292. This one-shot advertises some great tropes as Constantine and his wife watch a werewolf movie only to have memories of sexual urges stirred. Not many books can combine horror and the paranormal like the Hellblazer books can.
TV – FREE!
A brand new season of Futurama begins with an hour-long premiere tonight. One of the most clever and fun shows on air, continues entertaining fans with their second chance at life. Seriously, watch Futurama and support good television.
Cheap Date: June 13th
After a two break since I was on vacation and then a day late since I was having some jet lag issues, we finally get back to Cheap Date. And what a week to come back! We have a full boat today, I really had to pick and choose to cut it down to $30 but hopefully you will enjoy everything I recommend.
Movies – $10
Indie Game: The Movie was just released to the wild for everyone who may have missed the tour of screenings. Once a Kickstarter project, Indie Game: The Movie covers all those jewels of games being developed by people who may not have the backing of a major publisher, especially the phenomenal games Super Meat Boy and Fez. This is a great film for anyone who enjoys video games, but it is also a fantastic documentary on its own. You can get the movie on their website or if you are so inclined you can grab it on iTunes or even Steam.
Books – $9
Darth Vader and Son has actually been out since April, but it has been sold out in most places until this week. Darth Vader and Son is the hilarious look at how Vader would handle actually being the father of Luke. I’m not always a fan of single page punchline comics, but this one is done well and has the benefit of having Darth Vader in it. Let it be known, that I am actually cheating a bit here as the book retails for $15 but you can grab it from Amazon for $9.
Comics – $10
This week was tough when it came to comics. There were quite a few books that I wanted to pick up this week but had to opt into choosing only three because of everything else out this week.
Vertigo puts out this week a book with one of the best writers and one of my favorite artists in American Vampire Lord of Nightmares #1. This miniseries continues Scott Snyder’s wonderful work with his American Vampire books but now accompanied with the art of Dustin Nguyen. We have not seen Nguyen’s dark side since he was working on Detective Comics.
The next two books come from DC Comics and are also two Batman books. In Batman #10, we get a revelation as Batman fights the Court of Owls in the issue right before the conclusion of the story line. Then in Batman and Robin #10, Tomasi and Gleason continue their wonderful run on this new dynamic duo. In this issue we get a reunion of sorts as a mysterious person has called a meeting of all the Robins, past and present.
That will be all for this week, folks. I hope to see you next week on our nerdy Cheap Date.
CYaN Podcast Double Feature
In this episode, Danny and Ricky discuss the upcoming Summer releases of movies. We’re excited about these movies and hope you go out to watch them like we will.
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In our next episode Danny is back from the Philippines, thankfully. Now we cover some of the major trailers and announcements from E3, as well as a few other bits of news.
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Call Yourself A Nerd 