Outlander Retreat - Experience a Book Launch Party!

On Saturday the 7th of June I attended a book release party with my mom and sister, and it was a fantastically good time! The book in question is Written in My Own Heart's Blood, the 8th novel in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. For those of you unfamiliar, the Outlander books are an epic series of historical fiction mixed with a little time travel, a little romance, lots of medical education, and battle-heavy strife and turmoil. They're set in 18th century Scotland and expand greatly from there. I highly recommend them to any person I know. The books are actually being turned into a TV series, with the first season premiering on Starz this August 9th. The 16 episode run will cover the entirety of the first book, and subsequent seasons based on the other books will depend on the show's reception.

 

My sister and me in front of the giant promo poster that showcased the two main characters: Claire and Jamie.

I had never attended a book release party and wasn't entirely sure what to expect. Outlander first released on June 1st, 1991, and each book following has been a huge success. With the hysteria surrounding the release of Written in My Own Heart's Blood (here on out referred to as MOBY) reaching a fever pitch after a few unexpected setbacks, and the highly anticipated announcement of the Starz show release date, Random House and Starz decided to team up and do something special for the fans.




Attendees were promised an appearance by Diana Gabaldon herself, accompanied by a signing session and opportunity to have your photo taken with her, an early release copy of MOBY (the book released officially on June 10th), a goodie bag, cocktail mixer with light snacks, and a handful of unannounced surprises. Simply getting the book and a chance to meet one of my favorite authors was enough of a draw for me.

My mom, sister, and me in Seattle at the Outlander Retreat.

We arrived bright and early at 9 am for registration. We were given Random House emblazoned tote bags, time slots to have our books autographed, hard back copies of MOBY, name tags, 'Outlander Retreat' drinking tumblers, posters, short bread (naturally), and morning snacks. There was a craft table setup so that attendees could make themselves permanent flower arrangements, or flower crowns (which is the route that my sister and I took).

 

Pocket Jamie and me celebrating feeling pretty.

A local book shop had made a pop-up store that contained additional copies of MOBY available for purchase as well as the entire backlog of Outlander books. They even had the specially bound 20th anniversary edition of Outlander and the Outlandish Companion reference book. Since Herself (a fan favorite name for Diana Gabaldon) is an avid reader and loves to make suggestions to others, there was also a small selection of her current favorite books for sale. 




I picked up a 20th anniversary edition copy for myself and proceeded to carry two VERY hefty books for the rest of the day. Worth it!

 

My sister and her copy of 'Written in My Own Heart's Blood' at the Outlander Retreat.

 

Me and my freshly purchased copy of the 20th anniversary edition of 'Outlander.'

The day truly kicked off with Gabaldon's amazing key note speech wherein she regaled the audience with the tale of how she began to write Outlander. She is a highly entertaining speaker and it was an absolute delight to listen to her in person. She has such personality, such unique flavor to her words! Anyone who's read something of hers could tell you that, though. Fun fact: while casting around for a setting for her novel (which was originally intended to be for fun only) she happened to see an older Doctor Who episode with the young Scottish companion Jamie. This is where the 18th century Scotland setting comes from, as does the name of the male lead in Outlander. I guess we have Doctor Who to thank for so very many things!

Ambient decorations at the Outlander Retreat in Seattle.

After the morning's key note, Random House had organized a few other events. A local improv group performed a retelling of Claire and Jamie's story (the two main characters in Outlander), and there was a presentation of traditional Scottish dancing. My mom, sister, and I took this opportunity to snap a few fun photos in front of the giant promo picture and then go find some food.




While my sister and I were taking goofy photos we caught the attention of a representative from Starz who asked if she could take a photo of us for the Outlander Starz Facebook page. We gave a resounding, "Hell yes!!"

 

Middle left - my sister and me and our 15 minutes of fame! Thank you Outlander Retreat!

"Sorry Claire, we need to borrow Jamie for some research."

 

"No no, come with me instead."

[**DISCLAIMER** Legitimately NO disrespect to the character Claire or, more importantly, to Caitriona Balfe, the actress playing her. This is Claire's story, and Caitriona Balfe is looking so far to do an incredible job of portraying her. We were just being silly and we are jealous that she gets Jamie all to herself ;)]



When we returned in the afternoon we waited excitedly for our turn to have our books signed by Herself. There were roughy 500 lucky attendees and the line had been moving steadily all day. Unfortunately, since there were so many people, each guest only had a brief moment to say hello, get a picture (and cross all your fingers and toes that you weren't blinking), then have their book quickly personalized before being shuffled, stumbling and dazed, away from the table.



When tickets initially went on sale I remember thinking to myself, "Only 500 tickets? That's nothing!" but since experiencing the event I am now of the opinion that this sort of event should have had even fewer people. Random House and Starz put on something spectacular and special for fans, but people and buildings have their limitations, and I think everyone and everything was stretched incredibly thin. Really, don't take this as an insult to anyone or any company involved: they were brilliant.



There were decorations, activities, places to sit, phone chargers everywhere, food, drink, entertainment, souvenirs, and the most gorgeous buffet line feast ever. I just wish, naturally, I could have had a few more seconds to give a bigger "Thank You," to the author. Alas, maybe some other day!

 

My mom, sister, and me with Diana Gabaldon herself at the Outlander Retreat in Seattle, Washington.

 

The feast table after all guests had gone back for seconds and thirds.

 

The head of the feast table was adorned with this beautiful excerpt from 'Outlander', part of a wedding sequence for those unfamiliar with the books ;)

Thank you to Starz, Random House, and especially Diana Gabaldon herself for putting on such a wonderful event for the fans. It was a great day for my mom, sister, and me! I am working on a second read-through of the series so I can't even start MOBY just yet, but I am excited! And don't even get me started on my anticipation for the show because it is off. the. charts. In conclusion, I would totally go to another Random House organized book event. It was awesome!



Any other Outlander fans out there who are pumped for MOBY and the Starz show?




-MJ

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A Review of West Seattle's Newest Game Store

Board games are a big part of my life. Guests to my home often find themselves sitting at my table staring at pieces of cardboard or little wooden game pieces, so as a seasoned board gamer I love it when a new shop opens as one can never have enough board games or places to play. Saturday, May 17^th was the grand opening of Meeples Games, a gaming store and cafe in West Seattle and I stopped in to check it out.

First impressions: Meeples is a bit out of the way on the second story of a business complex. The location actually reminded me of the board game cafes in Asian countries such as Japan and Korea, as they were often tucked away on an upper level of buildings, accessible only through side-streets and cramped elevators. Thankfully, Meeples is easy to access and the size of the space is larger than you'd expect. All of the staff I encountered were extremely cheerful and helpful, despite the hustle and bustle of the grand opening.

The important part of a game store is of course the selection of games they offer and Meeples did not disappoint. They had a wide variety of both classic and recent games for sale, and I appreciated their organization style of grouping similar games together by theme or category. This makes it easy if you know of one game you really like and want  to find others that you might enjoy as well. I should also mention that behind the register Meeples featured a myriad of games to check-out and get a feel for them before buying.

Meeples is not just a game store, they have a cafe as well which serves a wide range of snacks and beverages, including espresso and beer for the adult patrons. The cafe side of Meeples is off to the right when you enter and I must say it exceeded my expectations. I ordered the brie, apple, pesto and prosciutto sandwich and it came with a side of potato chips. It was simply delicious and I highly recommend it!

I ended up staying for a Magic: the Gathering draft and was able to check out their gaming space, which is on the other side of the store from the cafe. The gaming area had many tables and comfortable chairs, and unlike other game stores I've been to it didn't get unreasonably hot when full of people. That was definitely a plus.



I was very pleased with my experience at Meeples and if you’re a gamer and find yourself in West Seattle, this is definitely a place worth checking out.



Check them out at: http://meeplesgames.com/

3727 California Ave SW

Suite 2B

Seattle, WA 98116



Hours: (per the website, last checked on 5/20/2014)

Sunday - Thursday 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Friday - Saturday 10:00 AM - midnight

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Having A Nerdgasm with Erick and Jon from Mythos Art Club

Note: This article contains themes and images of an adult nature.

Catwoman’s skintight costume. Princess Leia’s metal bikini. Lara Croft’s ample bust. Like it or not, sexuality is pervasive in geek culture. A group of local Seattle artists known as the Mythos Art Club has utilized this theme as inspiration to create the annual art show known as Nerdgasm. The second Nerdgasm art show is currently on display through March 30th at The Raygun Lounge in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. I got in touch with the two Mythos members who organized the show, Jon Young and Erick Lingbloom and asked them about Nerdgasm.

 

"Lovers" by Zeuf

What is the Mythos Art Club?

Erick: Mythos Art Club is an informal group of artists, each member pursuing art in varying capacities. All of us share similar interests, and endeavor to cultivate a community that engages others who share them as well. Key components that define Mythos Art Club are:The work is mythology/story-based; we are concerned with characters and stories, not art for art's sake. The work is graphic and commercial art based, with contributing artists who are cartoonists, tattoo artists, designers -- working artists -- though we maintain an open-mind to other mediums. My role within Mythos is as a co-founder and event organizer.

Jon: It started out as a group called Dead End Press. They would put on 5 hour sketch jams that I attended. That's actually how I know Erick and the core members of Mythos, it stemmed from that initial group, and when it dissolved Jordan Girratano started Mythos. Everyone that takes part is at different skill levels and work in different parts of the art industry: freelance, game design, comics, college students, all types.



Can anyone join? How do they get involved? What’s next for Mythos?

Jon: It’s totally open to join, we are a group that just wants to help promote our fellow artists and give them a fun environment in which to show their art.

Erick: There is a running joke among us that we never do the same thing twice. That being said, I have no idea what's next! We've got a Facebook thingy where people can check in with us. A big part of Mythos is just supporting other artists by going to their shows, taking their classes, and participating in their events. We will be working more with Raygun in the future for other art shows and a regular artist meet up/drink and draw night.

 

"Neil Degrasse Tyson" by Maxine Iglich

How would you describe the goal of Nerdgasm? How do you feel the show relates with the sex-positive movement?

Erick: The idea for Nerdgasm evolved from a very tongue-in-cheek brainstorming session between other members of Mythos -- much of our enthusiasm came from the name -- which led to the concept of what kind of work we wanted to collect -- erotic nerd art. We thought this would be fun (and it is), to see how artists interpret the prompt for sexy nerdy art. I'm sure we have much to learn, but I think we represent sex-positivity by creating a space for artists of all orientations to have their voices heard.

Jon: A lot of the art that gets created for Nerdgasm references regular discussion points in the nerd/geek community and some of it reflects the personal fantasy situation of the artist. I think hanging that on the wall gets a lot of people discussing those images ideas and generally just making people more comfortable to open that discussion.



How did you get the word out to artists who wanted to participate?

Erick: For this show it was an open call to artists we have worked with in the past. This is our second Nerdgasm, and we are very happy with how artists have responded to the concept-- in turn we have built a "word-of-mouth" type of network. Artists who "missed out" on last year's show approached us, artists invited other artists to submit work -- we even had submissions from artists who simply saw our posters! All pieces submitted were accepted (45 pieces from 30 different artists). One goal of Mythos is to provide a platform for unknown and inexperienced artists to show their work; and to create an environment for them to learn what it is like to show in a gallery. We have the experience and hustle to put shows together and create opportunities for artists who may not realize they have the power to do it themselves. It is satisfying to see other artists flourish and be inspired when they recognize the value of participating in an art community.

 

"Good Book" by Teague Tysseling

Do you have any of your own works on display?

Erick: Yes, I have on display the piece titled "Sci-Fi Pulp." The piece was an attempt to capture the cheesy sci-fi aesthetic of men's pulp adventure magazines. Like much of that type of adventure magazine art, I think the goal is to convey an image that is alluring and sexy; and inherently lacks much substance. I wanted to do a piece that focused on the purely aesthetic aspects of lurid pulp magazine illustration.

Jon: I do. Avengers Part 1 and 2, M.O.D.O.C , and Mumm-Ra the Ever-Babely. For my Avengers pieces, it was taking a fun way to connect the classic tattoos I love and comics I've read forever. Mumm-Ra the Ever-Babely was a fun gender-bent piece with a beautiful curvy girl that's also a bit of a throwback to one of my favorite shows as a kid. I created the Modok piece because there's just something wrong about making him seen in a sexy/cute light.

 

"Bound 2 - Nightwing and Batgirl" by Nolan Harris

How did you decide on the Raygun Lounge to display in?

Erick: We felt the Raygun Lounge was a part of the community we wanted to engage with. We wanted to work with a space that would reach an audience outside of the group of friends/artists that we typically rely on to populate our events. As a "start up" we are still getting our name out there.



Where do you feel the art in Nerdgasm falls on the spectrum of sexy to sexist?

Erick: A fantastic question. We keep this in our peripheral throughout the development of the show. We don't want to alienate anybody with this show, but we also recognize that the content is inherently controversial. We leave the subject of the art entirely up to the artist, with the exception of a few stipulations against violence and anti-gender content (as well as some ground rules with respect towards the wishes of the space we are working with). Beyond that, the show is driven off of the prompt of "erotic art, however you define it, based on themes found in nerd culture." We want to illicit a reaction, but we also want to have fun. Some of my favorite pieces are those that are most uncomfortable, or those that use the theme to tell a dirty joke. We let the artists express their interpretation of Erotic Nerd Art, and have confidence that the artists we work with will produce work that is varied and well thought out. We are conscientious of the potential for this show to come across as a tits and ass fanboy fest that only appeals to dudes-- for that reason, we try to seek out artists from various backgrounds and sexual orientations.

Jon: We left it up to the artists to interpret with very few guidelines. Generally the guidelines are given to us by the space we are displaying in. For the Raygun Lounge, the guidelines were pretty much to keep the art at an R rating: no spread vaginas, no erect penises. It was fun since it made sure no one could go straight to the gross out factor or just shock value completely.

 

"Torchwood 3 Way" by Amy Chisman

Have you encountered any criticism for this show?

Erick: We have not -- though I imagine this largely due to being such a new/small operation. The only criticisms come internally in the form of, "Oh my god I can't believe what I'm looking at -- that is so brilliant."

Jon: Surprisingly not, the only complaint we had last year is when we went in to take down the show. We've had a lot of nervous giggles though, which is a great compliment. Everyone seems to love the art and at our opening events it's always a very relaxed environment. No one seems to be too uptight or stuffy about the situation.  



Final thoughts?

Jon: We are so appreciative for everyone that has contributed to the show and everyone that's come through to check us out and enjoy Nerdgasm!

Erick: The response to this show has been great and overwhelmingly positive. I encourage people with questions or criticisms to contact me and start a dialog. One of the great things about this show is its ability to elicit a strong reaction from the viewer. Not a lot of art does that. We want people to engage in art and be a part of the art community -- actively, not passively. We want to break down the wall that separates artists from viewers and shatter the idea that art must come packaged with a sense of elitism.



Many thanks to Jon and Erick for providing insight on the Mythos Art Club and Nerdgasm! Readers, if you have the chance to check out the show, I highly recommend it! Feel free to come back to A Bit Of Geek and post your thoughts and impressions.

 

"Wonder Boudoir" by Aliva

You can find more from Jon Young at Artful Dodger Tattoo, where he is finishing up his tattoo apprenticeship. Also, check out Erick Lingbloom’s works on his website: Erick Lingbloom Art

-Eve



**Photography Note: I took the above photographs, but I am not the artist.

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Ten Reasons You Should Have Been At PAX 13

If you didn't get to go to PAX Prime this year, I am truly sorry. You missed out on such a good time; luckily, it comes around every year, so you'll get another chance soon enough! If you need more convincing, here are ten reasons that will seal the deal!

10. Free Swag

Free stuff is always good! Especially when it's merchandise that revolves around your favorite games, characters, and companies. Free swag was in abundance this year. I'm officially set for life as far as lanyards go, I have lots of new comics to read, and I even have some amazing new tshirts to wear!

Really, the free swag is genius incentive to try out new games and products. Sonic Lost World? I'm sorry to say I wasn't all that interested before I laid eyes on the free lanyards they were handing out to anyone who tried the demo. I actually had a lot of fun playing it, and I might want to buy it when it comes out in October! And, not that I needed incentive, but I got another adorable lanyard for trying out Super Mario 3D World (coming out on Wii U November 22nd).

9. Awesome Cosplayers

I thought the cosplayers at Emerald City Comicon were impressive! There were so many amazing costumes at PAX, I don't even know where to begin. My personal favorite was the appearance of The Joker, played by Anthony Misiano. This guy was born for this role.

Ha. Ha ha! Ha ha haha hee hee hoo HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I digress.

Other incredible costumes included the Supreme Dalek (from Doctor Who), Zorg and LeeLoo (from The Fifth Element), Batman, and Mega Man, just to name a few. Truthfully, I really admire the talent and dedication these folks have to represent a genre they are so obviously in love with.

8. Celebrity Appearances

Tom is an expert photobomber.

Yes, that's me, Rachel, with ADAM SESSLER. Can you tell I'm excited about it? Honestly, he is such a nice guy. He was nice enough to sign our PAX badges, as well!

Zach and Tom also got to meet Keiji Inafune, the creator of Mega Man. You guys will hear more about that from Zach soon! Tom also ran into Arin Hanson (aka Egoraptor) which we were all very jealous of.

7. Pre-Gaming (with the Wii U, not liquor)

Step into the Expo Hall and there are yet-to-be-released games, as far as the eye can see, all for your viewing and playing pleasure. It was like being the VIP of the gaming world. Bethesda, Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Behemoth, Capcom...the list goes on and on. All with arms wide open, saying, "Come, come in to our fortress of crisp, fresh games, and play on to your heart's content!" (not literally though, there is a time limit).

I really didn't mean to make that sound so creepy.

6. Informative panels

Miranda and I attended a very helpful panel on Saturday, and while they're only an hour long, it was definitely chock-full of useful information. Among the other panels offered were The Evolution of a Game Developer, Penny Arcade Q&A, How to Forge the Career You Want in the Videogame Industry, Why Role-Playing Games Matter, and a million more. You can pick, choose, and schedule which ever panels you want to attend, as there are many to choose from, just remember to enjoy the rest of the convention as well!

Who can spot Destructoid in this picture? (It's like Highlights Magazine!)

Psst! Download this awesome app to your phone and it will help you with all of your scheduling needs!

5. Buttons!

Earlier this month Miranda gave you guys a look into our ABOG PAX Prime '13 edition buttons. We had no trouble handing those babies out! In return, we got tons of awesome custom made buttons back! Miranda lined her lanyards with as much as she could, but there were too many to fit! I think each of us will need to buy some bulletin boards to display all of them.

4. Extra activities

An arcade, a paint-and-take workshop, tabletop, tabletop, TABLETOP!! There's no way you'll run out of things to do at PAX. There will always be somewhere to go, something to do, whether it's a bit of shopping, some old-school gaming, or learning a new board game, the convention center is your oyster.

I'd just like to say, in regards to sitting down and playing a game you've never played before with a table full of strangers, the community at PAX is incredibly kind and welcoming. I never once felt talked-down-to, or like I didn't belong. I was happy to be there, even amongst people I didn't know. We were all able to laugh together and have a good time. That, more than anything else (yes, even more than free stuff), is why I'll continue to go to PAX each year.

3. So much merch!

Okay, I could have shopped for days. Oh, I did! My favorite booths were Sanshee, FanGamer, and Pink Gorilla. Sanshee's unique designs and quality materials made for fun and smart purchases. FanGamer had tons of adorable stuff, I couldn't even make a decision. Pink Gorilla, as always, had every vintage game/item you could think of, not to mention plushies galore! I think I made a pretty good dent in my wishlist.

Itty Bitty Dovahkiin from Symbiote Studios.

2. Indie Games

If it weren't for PAX I wouldn't have learned about some great indie games that are out there. Getting the chance to sit down and listen to the creators talk about this project that they worked so hard on and are so passionate about makes me love the game even more. Some great ones include Contraption Maker (from the creators of The Incredible Machine), Mayan Down, and McDroid. I encourage all to give them a try!

1. The ABOG team was there!

You missed all of our lovely faces in the flesh! Too bad. I guess you'll just have to continue to come here to get your fix!

What a good lookin' group of geeks.

Were any of you guys at PAX this year? How about a previous year? Has my article convinced you to attend next year? Let us know in the comment section below!

-Rachel

Header image credit http://twodashstash.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/PAX-Prime-Logo.png

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A Night at the Zelda Symphony

I am extremely fortunate to have attended the Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses Second Quest in Seattle last Thursday night. The evening was filled with excitement, cosplay, beautiful music, and tears (for me, at least).

 
Waiting for the symphony to start!

Upon approaching Benaroya Hall, we could hear Zelda music streaming from the building. Gleeful attendees milled about outside the doors and en masse in the lobby. There was a pretty even spread of people dressed up, people in street clothes, and people in full out cosplay. I'm going to take a guess and say that a lot of the people there don't usually go to symphonies or operas (people were dropping things and making noise during the performance, and no I don't mean clapping). It was a lot of fun to see people in costume though! It was almost like a mini PAX. A lot of the ladies were wearing Zelda themed jewelry (me included!), and it made me super happy.

Try as I might, the lobby area was just too full for me to find the five winners of the Wind Waker HD art contest. I would have loved to see the pieces in person! I got to see them on the big screen though (before the symphony started and during intermission). There was a slideshow happening on the projection screen that contained the top fifty fan art submissions, including mine! It was a really awesome moment to see my paper sculpt float across the screen.

 
Sorry the pictures aren't better! Low light + iPhone + front facing camera = yeah, this xD

Once the conductor hit the stage (a lovely woman in a wonderfully sparkly top), we were taken straight into the most stunning overture. As images from Ocarina of Time, Skyward Sword, A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda, The Legend of Zelda II, and more danced upon the projection screen, and the music soared and changed, and the lights went up and down and shifted in hue to match the emotion of the orchestra, I couldn't help but cry. I smiled to myself over this game series that means so much to me. I smiled to myself over being in a sold out concert hall full of thousands of other people feeling the same things. I smiled wondering if the seasoned violinists thought that an orchestra for video game music was silly. I smiled over the Zelda games I've finished, the ones I'm still working on, and the ones I have yet to play. I smiled over the ones that made me angry, the ones I hold most dear, and the years of joy that I harvested from playing Ocarina of Time. I sat entranced and fulfilled, while tears pumped out of my eyes. It's a fascinating thing, to cry when we're happy. I wiped away a few tears, and Morgan squeezed my hand.

Next we were treated to two pieces dedicated to handheld iterations. The first was a fantastically done Link's Awakening movement, and the next was for Spirit Tracks. As someone who knows the story of Link's Awakening, but has yet to complete it (SO DIFFICULT), I was particularly enthralled while watching the game's story play out in (a very) compressed form. I couldn't help but tear up again as the Wind Fish awoke and Koholint slowly faded from the screen, and I thought to myself, "I must finish this game."

The King of Red Lions boat was there! You may remember it from PAX.

When the show runners came on stage to announce the start of the traditional four part symphony itself, I had a startling realization: I was in for some Skyward Sword spoilers! I mean, it's my own fault that I haven't finished the game yet. But that's what I do! I get a game, play it hard for a few days, and then stop playing for an indeterminate amount of time. Oh well! The first part was dedicated to Ocarina of Time, my favorite (ties with A Link to the Past) Zelda game. Once this was finished, the conductor took an untraditional break to switch out her conductor's stick for an actual Wind Waker! The crowd went wild. Every game segment that they featured showed the game from beginning to end (severely truncated of course). I haven't played Wind Waker in ages! They also used all HD footage from the Wii U remake, and now I am feeling even more anxious to get a Wii U and play Wind Waker all over again.

During the intermission we headed straight for the lobby (being seated next to the doors and in aisle seats was a real score) and he bought me a Symphony of the Goddesses t-shirt, and a gorgeous tour poster! I was giddy and giggly and full of delight. I had hoped there'd be merchandise to help commemorate the evening! Everything went by so quickly. The show started at 7:30, and before I knew it we were in the lobby for the intermission. We had just enough time to look around and hit the bathrooms before hustling back to our seats.

Wind Waker HD and A Link Between Worlds were playable in the lobby! The shirt is a pretty slick green. Very comfy, too.

The third part of the symphony started, and in no time we were whisked away to A Link to the Past, and I felt both shivers and trepidation: this is yet another Zelda game that I'm working on finishing. I have been attempting to beat it for years, but every few dungeons I get horribly stuck and I rage quit! I watched with curiosity and delight as the end of the game played out before me. In a way it was nice to finally see how the game ends, and if anything it encouraged me to finish it sooner! There were no feelings of, "Well, I've seen the ending so what's the point?" The fourth and final part of the symphony was Ocarina of Time again. No complaints from me! I could sit on a whole symphony for just that game. This one was dedicated to Gerudo Valley. I had forgotten how involving the fortress was! I also got very smiley and reminiscent thinking about how great I used to be at horseback archery. I suppose I should add "replay Ocarina of Time" to my list!

The symphony ended with three planned encores. The first was for Majora's Mask, the second was Dragon Roost Island from Wind Waker, and the third was for Skyward Sword. I'm disappointed that I dislike Majora's Mask so much. It is just too damn difficult, and I absolutely hate having to do the same thing over and over again in a game (that really sealed the deal). But... watching Termina and Skull Kid on the screen I thought that maybe, perhaps, it was time to give it another try. I haven't played it since 2001, afterall. I was extremely pleased to see the dedication to Dragon Roost Island, because that is hands down my favorite song from Wind Waker! And, even though it's my fault, I was a little sad (but certainly not surprised) that they did a segment for Skyward Sword. I braced myself for spoilers, reminding myself that I have had plenty of time to finish it. And then, I watched in awe as the story unfolded in front of me. Then I got SO. EXCITED. to actually play all the way through it!

 
Symphony of the Goddesses poster! Can't wait to frame it!

The entire evening was wonderful. Added entertainment bonus points go to the incredibly drunk girl who was sitting next to Morgan. It was unreal. I received a compliment on my blooper tattoo while waiting in line for the restroom, and I got another peek at the King of Red Lions boat! If I could change anything about the symphony, I would request that they do a segment dedicated to the songs that are learned in Ocarina of Time. Especially the warp ones! Oh, they're so lovely and magical! At some point in the performance there was a piece dedicated to Twilight Princess, but I can't remember where it fell timeline wise. There were a few scenes shown from the end of the game that I do not remember, even though I definitely finished that one. Guess I need to replay it, too! But damn the snow sledding part. That nearly caused me to quit!

Did anyone else attend the Seattle show? Did anyone go last year? Will any readers be heading to other symphony stops over the next few months? I want to hear more first-hand experiences! :D

-MJ

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PAX Prime 2013 Recap

PAX Prime 2013 was an amazing affair, indeed. Every year I struggle with how to spend my time at the convention, and generally I never end up doing all of what I planned. This time around I wanted to sit in on a handful of industry panels, then only attended two. They were about geek business and web video and were a valuable use of my time! Sadly, I didn't make it to either the Penny Arcade Make-A-Strip panel or the Sunday Q&A. The expo hall truly held too many wonders for me to sacrifice all of that time standing in line.

The A Bit of Geek team all together!

Around the expo hall.

The Elder Scrolls Online booth was jam packed.

The streets of Seattle lined with PAX banners.

On Saturday Rachel, Zach, and I arrived a few minutes after eleven and the expo was in full swing. We walked into the convention center and I was immediately hailed by a twitter friend, Brad. We met via streetpass at PAX last year, and correspond from time to time. I was very startled when a stranger dressed as Luigi called my name, haha! Right after that we immediately found Tom on the escalators, and right after that I saw Rex and Dabe, two nice fellows that I met at the Enforcer after party last year. I am still amazed at how serendipitously I ended up seeing people that I knew! The three of us chatted with the spooky and talented Kris Straub, and then immediately fell in line to get our photo taken with the King of Red Lions boat! This picture later led to the three of us acquiring snazzy Wind Waker Pajama Link t-shirts!

The giant Pikmin display at the Nintendo booth was really fun!

The only games I hoped to play were A Link Between Worlds and Super Mario 3D World. Fortunately I got to play both, and they were fantastic. A Link Between Worlds looks wonderful, which is to be expected, and the 2D/wall melding thing was far more seamless than the videos made it seem. My only complaint is the fact that the camera is directly above Link's head. It feels like I'm a bird peering down from a tree. I wish the camera was more at an angle. Super Mario 3D World was mayhem evolved, and the cat power up is incredibly fun. I was delighted to see that the game incorporates a "holding" area for items, so if one player grabs multiple cat power ups, for example, the extra ones will go into the holding area for future use. They should have added that sooner! Hopefully epic fights and divorces will now be avoided over someone accidentally (or vindictively) taking all of the items!

The ABoG team (plus a friend) playing Super Mario 3D World for Wii U.

Morgan playing Beyond: Two Souls.

I spent time wandering the halls and taking cosplay photos on Sunday, all the while Morgan was in line to play Beyond: Two Souls. I checked in on his progress every twenty to thirty minutes, and ended up watching him play the demo. First things first: it's not my kind of game, but it looks truly amazing! It was a suspenseful, knuckle clenching twenty minutes as he battled cops, exploded helicopters, fended off dogs, jumped, rolled, and generally kicked ass in the newest masterpiece from Quantic Dream. I look forward to watching him play through the whole game, for sure.

For the first time since 2004, I took cosplay photos! Rachel was a good friend and basically harassed and pressured me the whole weekend to take pictures. In her defense, I asked her to! I always chicken out and get nervous and afraid that I'm bothering people, so she encouraged me to be more bold and polite and get the pictures that I wanted. It got easier after I asked the first few people, and finally I was asking people for photos even when I was alone. Achievement Unlocked: Not Being a Wuss!

Borderlands.

Batman!

Rachel and Codex from The Guild!

Reese and Cyrus from Animal Crossing: New Leaf.

Luigi! Also, my twitter friend.

The ZoraPrincess Ruto, from Ocarina of Time.

A Supreme Dalek, from Doctor Who.

The talented glitzygeekgirl dressed as Ramona Flowers.

PAX tends to be an absolute dream for geek merch. This year positively destroyed my wallet. I mean, my brain is happy, but woof. The most amazing things are on display at PAX, the kind of merchandise that I only ever see and drool over online. The chance to buy it in person, after thorough inspection, and not having to deal with shipping fees? Yes, please! With Sanshee, FanGamer, the Penny Arcade table, andso many board game displays, I don't know how anyone is expected to control themselves. It's safe to say that I'm set on nerd gear for another year.

Zac Gorman's Magical Game Time, and blooper and pirhana plant plushies!

PAX exclusive CAH expansions.

Burlap bell bag from Sanshee.

Kokiri's Emerald necklace from Sanshee.

I am extremely pleased to say that buttoneering ended up being a huge success! Tom, Rachel, and Zach had no problems dishing out buttons to buttoneers and general interested parties alike! I required extra poking and coercion from Rachel to approach people (again, thank goodness for her!), but ultimately I got all but about seven of my buttons distributed. Rachel, Zach, and Morgan (honorary ABoG member) all ran out of buttons during the meetup on Sunday morning. We ended up with a huge array of buttons each, and not all of us got the same ones. Zach and Rachel found someone with A-MAZING Legend of Zelda buttons that I am very, very jealous of (for instance).There were many people who loved our buttons, and some even picked up on the fact that we were a set! Thus began the clamouring to make sure they got them all : ) It was a truly successful experience, and I can't wait to design new buttons for next year.

After the buttoneer meet up.

The buttons ready to go before PAX.

There are so many reasons to attend PAX: free swag, cool merch, playing not-yet-released-games... But ultimately I love the feeling of it all. I love being surrounded by like-minded individuals, and knowing that I can talk to anyone. I strike up conversations with more strangers during PAX than I do in my regular life all year long. Every attendee is a friend waiting to be spoken to. Every booth attendee knows something about you from the moment you approach. I mean, every booth is tailored to my exact interests. I can walk from a board game room, to an arcade room, to a console gaming room, and something will delight me in each place. I can ask silly questions, I can engage in intense discussions, I can (and have) ask to play a new and challenging game, and receive enthusiasm and support in response. It is a literal haven, and I hope that what I've shared, and what Rachel has shared, and what Tom and Zach will share next week, will bring you closer to our experience. And if you've never attended before, I hope it will encourage you to try and go next year!

If you've attended, what was your favorite part? If you've never attended, what would you most like to do when/if you get to go?

-MJ

*all images, including those in the header, belong to abitofgeek

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