So we are all surfing the interweb these days to either drool over things we want or to look for cool things to get friends. Remember before the internet (I’ve already lost half of you) when you had to go to stores and just look for some random crap to get someone and it always was weird. You’d end up at Sharper Image wondering if your friends and family would like an automated juicer/dildo with a built-in radio.
BUT NO MORE I SAY!!
Now, this is my list. 99% of you don’t know me so I don’t expect a gift from you… or do I? Instead, use this list if you have a male gamer from the age of 21 – 25. Something on this list will probably appeal to them.
1) XBOX LIVE POINTS
Guys love Xbox live points (girls probably do too, but fuck them lol, this list is for me). If you don’t know what these points are, let me fill you in. Xbox Live is the online service your child/friend/family member uses to play Call of Duty or Halo on (or other games). Remember how annoying it is for them to spend all their (or your) money to buy stuff for their games? Well, if you get them Xbox Live points they can use them to buy their new map packs, digital games, etc. And buy them at least 1200 Microsoft Points. Any less and you look like a cheap ass.
2) A gift card for Movie Trading Company (Vintage Stock in some areas)
Movie Trading Company sells good movies, games, cd’s, and accessories for the former, for damn cheap. A gift card for 30$ could go a long way, let your loved ones pick their own entertainment without you insulting their taste, and be more thoughtful than just a few dollars in an envelope.
3) Energy drinks
This might seem like an odd gift, but chances are high that your gamer friend has had many an awesome all-nighter with his friends that were fueled by energy drinks and video games. The trick to this gift is finding an inside source to tell you which energy drink they hate. For some reason, individuals love Red Bull and hate Monster, or love Monster and hate Red Bull. Some sidestep both completely and drink Bawl’s. If you can find out what they prefer, feel content knowing you have helped the recipient get together with friends and make new memories.
4) A gamer headset
This one is like a gift to yourself if you have a husband, child, or room-mate who plays games really loud. With a headset, all the music will play through the ear pads giving them a better sound system for gaming then they most likely have (they will be able to hear what direction people are sneaking up on them with) and giving you the gift of silence (other than them screaming obscenities into the mic lol). You would imagine these are really expensive, but not really. I have a great pair of TekNMotion that I got for thirty dollars and sound great and are comfortable. They aren’t wireless, but I only play a few feet from my Xbox so it isn’t an issue. People toss around certain names like Turtle Beach or Astro, but those are really the sports cars of headsets. If they don’t have a headset then they will be more than pleased with a sedan, so to say. If they want the Ferrari they can shell out on their own for one down the line. Be sure you buy a headset for the correct system (Xbox, PS3, PC).
5) An arcade stick
If your beloved gamer plays a lot of fighting games like Street Fighter, Tekken, Dead or Alive, Soul Calibur, etc they will greatly appreciate an arcade stick (if they don’t already have one). You could end up shelling out seventy to 100 dollars for a good one though (they will be called Tournament Edition), so only look into this purchase if you have the cash. The alternative is if they have a special panache for fixing electronics, modding (taking out the parts and replacing them with better ones), or customization. If so, then get them a MadCatz arcade stick as they are easily customizable and don’t require any soldering to change the parts. Be sure you buy an arcade stick for the correct system though (Ps3, 360, PC, Etc).
I hope this list helped you in some sort of way. If you have any questions or suggestions post a comment below and I will help you out ASAP.
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A few weeks ago I invited all of you lovely readers to join me on my journey through Marvel Now as a newcomer to monthly Marvel titles. Since then, I’ve added Thor: God of Thunder to my pull list while deciding to stick around with Deadpool and Iron Man. Unfortunately, I’m still not caught up enough with Marvel to read much recommended All New X-Men, but I’ll get there (If I ever get to reading Schism, that is). Anyway, the Thor review will be at the bottom, but before that you can enjoy my newest little nugget of knowledge that I’ve gained from delving farther into comics:
1)In which deadrabbit realizes that skipping a week at the comic shop is basically the end of the world:
And not because I’m desperate to follow the whacky shenanigans of the Merc With the Mouth every issue. Turns out that missing a week of the new Marvel titles plus my usual Batman fair now means that in just seven days, I’m hopelessly behind on my reading. My casual trips to the comic store that usually happened on Thursdays have just become a little more extreme. Last week because of stupid tryptophan-based holidays, I didn’t make it to Midtown Comics and missed out on three titles. Not really a big deal, but what if this had happened on a heavy Bat-week plus Marvel titles? Chaos, that’s what. My small pile of to-reads would rapidly grow in to a mountain of un-scalable height that would most likely end up crushing me in my sleep. Oh hyperbole, the horrible horrible hyperbole.
2)In which deadrabbit reviews Thor: God of Thunder #1
I believe I have discovered the best of Marvel Now, and I say this while only feeling interested enough to pick up 3 titles. This was my first Thor comic ever and what a fantastic introduction to the character it proved to be. Thor, being a God of relative omnipotence, finds himself called in prayer to a far away world, a world which mysteriously has no pantheon of gods or supreme being of its own in known memory. Looks like someone’s been murdering gods, and Thor is none too pleased about it. The art in this issue is amazing, particularly the splash of a dozen massacred giant deities Esad Ribic and Ive Svorcina have produced a beautiful book of color and painterly style that suits a Norse god of old better than any Thor depiction I’ve seen before. I’m thankful for the intro to the character, which didn’t require the reader to know much about Thor to enjoy the book. New Readers Welcome!
3)In which deadrabbit reviews Iron Man #2, Deadpool #2, and Thor :God of Thunder #2.
No she doesn’t because she hasn’t gotten the chance to read them yet. Chaos, I told you.
Kaitlyn D
@deadrabbit92
Staff-writer
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I am over-the-top-loopy-excited for “The Hobbit.”
I have loved Tolkien since I was a kid, I love Peter Jackson’s achievement of bringing Middle Earth to life, I love all the casting (I’m not a Martin Freeman-hater, he’s adorable and perfect for the title role), I love the craftsmanship that trickles down to every scuff on a goblin’s weapon…
….and I love Bag End (building my own tops my bucket list).
Ergo, it’s only natural I love these beautiful sepia-style prints that will be given out (in limited edition, naturally) to selected IMAX audiences at the midnight showing of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” Dec. 14.
Alas, I live in an “IMAX-less” town, but that won’t stop me from encouraging you all to get out there.
Lisa Kay Tate
Staff Writer and resident “geek mom”
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It is common knowledge that I am frightened of Slender Man. I have been brought to near tears by creepy cosplayers at NYCC, random sightings people are saying they have (thank YOU, Tulpa Effect), and my many attempts at completing the Slender game in order to calm my raging OCD. I thought that looking at pictures and whatnot would assist in unscaring me, but alas, I clutch my pillow tighter as my fear has grown. Damn you, Slendy. Damn you.
What are you most scared of?
[slideshow]
Leia Calderon
Editor
@ladyvader99
CONversations: Camilla d’Errico
Hispanic Heritage Month: Highlighting Comic Creators pt 3
Singled Out: Q & A With Artist CJ Draden
Oh, The Moon by Charlyne Yi Review
Artist Spotlight: Matt Huynh and ‘The Boat’
Sub-Cultured #GoodBooks: Nobrow’s ‘The Spectators’ and ‘Fantasy Sports’
So Cabin in the Woods held a contest for independent film makers with a cash prize. I thought about entering. I’m glad I didn’t as I would have been annihilated by the winner.
Paraphrasing the writer/producer… They world-premiered at Fantastic Fest this year, where they won Best Horror Short Runner-Up, then took Best Super Short at Shriekfest and the Palm d’Gore at Knoxville Horror Film Fest. They made their online debut on the front page of Vimeo the other day as the winner of “Cabin in the Woods”/Lionsgate’s short film competition, and the fan response so far has been pretty incredible. It’s a little edgy, a little spooky and a little sweet. Stars Josh Feldman (INSIDIOUS), Gus Kamp and Carolyn Jania.
Personally, it feels like a love letter to much of the horror we love. Eventually with all these serial killers around, who just keep coming back, there has to be some sort of protocol set up.
Anyways, enjoy!
Please enter the url to a Vimeo video.
THE SLEEPOVER from Chris Cullari on Vimeo.
John Townsend
Staff Writer
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Hopefully families are planning to take advantage of the tryptophan-laden down time after Thanksgiving to take in the best animated movie out right now: Disney’s “Wreck-It Ralph.”
Not only is this one one of the funniest films I’ve seen in a while, it is filled with both retro and modern day video game references that made me nostalgic for those Friday evenings at Peter Piper Pizza losing the feeling in my fingertips playing “Centipede.” It’s also just one of the forces behind the surge in popularity of 8-bit computer art. The classic Atari-era 8-bit look of “Pac-Man” and, more recently, “Minecraft” has popped up in everything from cross-stitch samplers to digital photography to beadwork and cutting boards (all of which, I have to say, yield pretty cool results).
For those who don’t want to be left out of the 8-bit loop, here’s an easy way for you and your family to create your own 8-bit wall art using only using those small-size notes that no one ever needs for legitimate memos anyway.
I’ve based this on the wonderful large-scale 8-bit note paper art that became a window-decorating craze among bored office workers in Paris, some of which was pretty elaborate making me both A) appreciate the artistic merit of the French and B) doubt their work ethos.
For the simpler method, you need:
Measure.
• Colorful office notes (1″x 1″ or 2″x 2″) recommended
•Posterboard (any color, but black looks best) or comparable sized artists’ canvas
Step One: Using the note squares as a guide, take a ruler and very lightly draw a grid across the entire board. You don’t have to do this is you have a good eye for centering the art, but younger artists
might appreciate a guide to go by.
Step Two: Find some simple 8-bit art examples from games, magazines or online (Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Mario, Dig Dug, etc.). The simpler the better for the first time.
Stick.
Step Three: Arrange the note squares on the poster board or canvas to match the image you’ve chosen. Count how many squares high or across to make sure it’s centered. The great thing is if you’re off a bit, you can easily remove the notes and re-set them in the right place.
Step Four: Once your image is how you want it, take a little glue and tack down each square so it is secure in place. If you’ve drawn a grid, you can erase it lightly or paint over it.
That should do it. Lookin’ retro or as Ralph says “which I think means ‘Old but cool.'”
Ta-da!
Lisa Kay Tate
Staff Writer and resident Geek Mom
geekmom@ihogeek.com
CONversations: Camilla d’Errico
Hispanic Heritage Month: Highlighting Comic Creators pt 3
Singled Out: Q & A With Artist CJ Draden
Oh, The Moon by Charlyne Yi Review
Artist Spotlight: Matt Huynh and ‘The Boat’
