The Game of Nerds Podcast

The Game of Nerds
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There is no shame in having an unhealthy obsession with a fandom. Your source for all the latest news, reviews, and recommendations for gaming, reading, watching, cosplaying, and more.

  1. 02/28/2022

    Amazing Animation with Tezeta Gant

    On this episode of The Game of Nerds Podcast, we sit down with Let's Talk Fandoms Podcast host Tezeta Gant for the second time. This episode was slated for last year, but her episode was part of the infamous microphone fiasco of 2021. It was only fitting that we sat down for "take two" and got an even better conversation than the first. We start the podcast chatting about our love of Netflix's documentaries and how Nick Miller is our soul animal. But this episode is all about animation, so let's jump in! Tezeta and I are of similar ages and grew up during the 90s when animation reigned king. So it's no secret that animation holds a special place in our hearts. It's been amazing to see animation projects thrive during the pandemic since creators can do these series at home much more effortlessly than on-set filming. Just look at the latest Disney+ day and how they announced many animated series for the coming year. Animation is one of those creative processes that I'm in awe of and aware of how many TALENTED people it takes to create some of these series/movies that we've loved. We talk about this extensively in the Anime episode and the Voice Acting episode of this podcast. But first, the age-old question, Disney or Nickelodeon? Which did you watch more? It was safe to say that Disney was more for their movies, and Nickelodeon was more known for their animated cartoons. We talk extensively about the early start to watch parties with cousins and neighbors to watch the newest animated movie. I reminisce about Saturday morning cartoons with my dad and brother, which is a tradition I still hold with my daughter to this day. It brings up the point that these animation series tie into our nostalgia factor and critical moments in our lives. The best example I had was watching Toy Story when it first came out on VHS with my little brother on my lap and how much he loved it. Marvel came home the day Toy Story 4 came out, and we watched it, and I bawled. It was the whole circle of nostalgia hitting me like a ton of bricks. Animation has also been known to push the boundaries. Tezeta and I had similar childhoods where certain animated shows were off-limits. Ren and Stimpy were one of those series. In retrospect, in comparison to South Park, it's nothing, but at the time, we have to remember it was the "South Park" of the time. There was nothing ruder or cruder on tv other than Bevis and Butthead. Cartoon Network was also a network that was a hit or miss with most families. Tezeta wasn't allowed to watch Courage the Cowardly Dog. Why we might never know?!? But this diverted our conversation into a meaningful discussion about how animation is viewed currently. A lot of people see animated movies or television as "childish." Tezeta brings up a great point about how animation really has gotten away with many things that would be impossible to explain or talk about. (We are looking at you, Big Mouth!) Most people are introduced to animation as children, so when they recall animation is usually from a frame of mind or a time/place in that person's life. We agree that animation has pushed the boundaries for good. It goes back to the original awe factor. It takes talented voice actors to make these characters come to life, plus the insane creativity of illustrators and creators on top of the fact of someone coming up with this entire universe for these characters to live in. If you think about it, animation has nothing on live-action films. The possibilities are frankly endless. Not only is animation pushing the boundaries, but it also gives us tools to explain things that may be hard to do otherwise. Movies like Inside Out and Lion King give children ways to explain their feelings or complex topics like death. Big Mouth is one of the most recent animation hits that has pushed boundaries on South Park and Rick and Morty levels. If you haven't heard about the series, it's about a group of middle schoolers going through puberty. Frankly, I wish it had been around when I was a kid. I know my mother wouldn't have let us watch it as its South Park level crude, but it would have made life make a smidge more sense during those confusing years. The reality is that each animation show has pushed the boundaries due to the show before it. Cartoons originated in the 40s with Popeye and then moved into the Hanna Barbera age of cartoons. It wasn't until we reached the late 80s and early 90's that we started to see animation rise again. Saturday morning cartoons were a staple, and Nickelodeon housed mostly animation series and Disney. Cartoon Network was starting to push the boundaries with their Adult swim programming. Nickelodeon brought on Ren and Stimpy, and MTV found Beevis and Butthead along with Daria. The Simpsons is one of the longest-running animation series of all time and continues to push boundaries today. It's also spawned other unique animated series like Family Guy, American Dad, Futurama, and South Park. Just when we thought no one could top South Park, we were graced with Rick and Morty and Big Mouth. Parents have always been wary of animation series and their content. Especially now when you have an animation that can go from cute to crude in a matter of thirty seconds. While we may have been the generation that sat in front of the tv all day, the reality was our parents knew what we were watching (for the most part). There were only so many channels, and the tv ratings were easy to see. It's harder for parents with the number of choices and lack of easy-to-view parental ratings. We even chatted for a bit about triggers and warnings on some of these series. In some cases, parents are googling shows or watching the shows before the kids because there are too many options and choices for kids. At the end of the day, tv should be used the same way it always has as an escape. Whether it's school, work, or life, everyone deserves to get lost in a show that makes them happy, even if it's animated. But it's ultimately up to the parent to engage and know what your child is watching. We wrap up the podcast talking about some of our favorite animated series and how we want Disney to stop rebooting everything to live-action films. Disney has always been known for its incredible animated movies, so why doesn't it continue to stick to that? We've yet to see a live-action reboot that we've liked, and we know more are slated for the future. Frankly, their recent animated releases like Luca and Encanto should be enough to show them that the money is where the animation is at. It's the same theory with these long-running animation shows like South Park and Simpsons, who are in their 20+ seasons. They are still on the air because they are loved and make the company money. While not every episode will be a gem like the early season, there should be a gem or two in there. But we do have quite a few animated series that you must check out if you haven't already: South ParkBig MouthSimpsonsInside Job Bob's BurgersSpongebobDave the BarbarianAny of Tim Burton's Claymation MoviesRick and Morty Learn More About Our Guest: Tezeta GantHost of Let's Talk Fandoms PodcastCo-Host of Eat Watch ReviewCo-Host of Into the Tavern PodcastInstagram: @GantgramFacebook & Twitter: @LetsTalkFandom

    1h 17m

  2. 12/03/2021

    What Is A Superhero with Eric Locsh

    It's been a while since a podcast episode was released, and that's because life's been insane at TGON! With conventions starting to re-open and more releases happening, things have been ramping up, and unfortunately, the podcast has been the thing that's been on the back burner. Thanks to our editor, Nick Jack Wright, we've got many episodes completed and ready for release. So without further ado, let's send off 2021 with a discussion about Superheros.I sat down to chat with the author of Tower of Blue, Eric Locsh, about what a superhero is. I honestly thought this episode would be quite a straightforward chat about our favorite and most hated superheroes, but it got super deep. We may have more questions than actual answers at the end of this. Before we dive in, we talk about what's been taking our money and attention. Eric has been watching the HBO series Barry which now has a couple of seasons. This episode was recorded before Halloween, so at the Parola House, we were deep in a Hotel Transylvania phase. This brought me to my first question to segway into our chat about Superheroes, are monsters considered superheroes?Eric immediately takes it further and asks the golden question we will keep going back to the entire episode, WHAT IS A SUPERHERO? It could be someone with powers or someone who does good. Maybe, it's someone who has overcome something difficult. The definition lies in the eye of the beholder. We quickly discussed how the term superhero came to be. Robin Hood, Zorro, and Popeye (1929) are considered the first real superheroes we know of. We wouldn't get Batman and Superman until 1939, shortly after Captain America in 1940. The reality is that the definition has changed over time, and it's not as black and white as it used to be.Eric opens up the discussion to villains with, "Well aren't villains just heroes of their own story." A great example is the latest Joker movie with Joaquin Phoenix and how he's done some horrible things at the movie's end. He has this massive following of people who think he is a hero. Of course, my mind immediately goes to the current state of social media and how we as a society flock to influencers in the same way when their content goes viral.We then jump into a discussion of how we got into superheroes and what they mean to us. We also chat about how nerd culture has changed. Eric talks about how he's enjoyed this new view on superheroes who know they should be doing good but choose to do evil. Series like The Boys, Invincible, and Jupiter's Legacy have done a great job exploring these themes. This then gets us talking about WTF superheroes like Polka Dot Man from Suicide Squad, the Legion of Pets, and the entire army of Gorilla Grodds. I go on a tangent about my love-hate relationship with the CW DC televisions series.This is when Eric turns the tables and asks me what I'm most excited about when it comes to superheroes. In all honesty, I'm excited about all the possibilities. We've seen what has happened when other cultures and skin tones are shown on the screen with heroes like Black Panther and Shang-Chi. I remember how excited I was to find out that Wonder Woman was finally getting her own movie and when Star Wars revealed that Ray was a Jedi. I was that girl whom her brothers constantly told that girls couldn't be Jedis. I do, though, want someone to explain why Squirrel girl gets some much hate?I return the favor by asking Eric what he is most excited about, which jumps us into a discussion about DC Comics. He's cautiously optimistic about the new Robert Pattinson's Batman. Since DC has refused to keep the same characters and has jumped around so many times, Eric thinks they need to find some way to tie them all together. This leads him to think something like a Multi-Earth verse could soon be in the works. All of the calculated MCU connections over the past decade have made DC look like it's flying by the seat of its pants. Both companies have the money to make things work, and well, it all comes down to planning and execution. Synder's Cut of Justice League is a perfect example, and I love how we compare it to a trip to Vegas.So, where Superheroes will go from here? What is their future in culture? We all know nothing lasts forever, and the "Superhero Fatigue" is about to set in soon. Will it soon be uncool to like superheroes? Highly doubt it. Marvel has been wise to make the MCU big enough you don't have to watch everything to understand. You honestly can pick and choose what you want to watch. If they are smart, they will branch out to new characters to bring new faces to the big and small screen. Learn More About Our Guest: Eric Locsh - www.ericlocsh.comYoung Adult Sci-Fi Author of Tower of Blue and Possum StewInstagram: @eloauthorLike him on FacebookTwitter: @EricloschauthorPart 1 of his new superhero series The Night Howler is out now!

    1 hr

  3. 09/20/2021

    What Happened in the '90s

    The saga of the broken microphone never ends over here, folks. While this isn't my favorite episode audio-wise for me, the episode is too good not to put out. Special shoutout to our new editor, Nick Jack Wright for being amazing at his job because we got to talking for over two hours. Nick managed to squeeze in all the good stuff to under an hour and 15 minutes. In this episode, we are back to talk about the '90s. I was on Steve and Matt's podcast, Happened In The '90s, back in July and had such a wonderful time that I asked them to come to be a guest on our podcast. I love these two guys to death, and they are definitely "our people."  We start the conversation off by chatting about my Funko collection and collections in general. Primarily we focus on our regrets of the things that we've parted ways with over the years. We are desperate to find these short nostalgic trips and willing to pay big dollars to return to those priceless moments. Ultimately this brings up "Gamer Rage" and how fights would break out overplaying certain games like Mario Kart. I bring up Seaman AGAIN and how it opened a rabbit hole of discussion among my family and friends. We've concluded that the game had to be the idea from someone's late-night smoke session or a bet gone wrong.  We move on to talking about what the 90's meant to each of us. To Steve, the '90s was a time of fantastic music and creations. For Matt, it was about the small group of friends and hanging out, as cliche as it sounds for Steve. For me, the '90s were a time of television and pop culture. My love for Captain Planet and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles came from this era. In my area of the Bay Area, we were lucky enough to have a Disney and WB store at our local mall. This place allowed us to watch Looney Toon cartoons while my parents shopped around the store. You can imagine our sadness when they shut them down. This leads us into a quick discussion about the new Space Jam movie. We also chat about our favorite 90's Disney movies like the GOAT Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is one that never gets enough credit, but Prop Culture does a great job of showcasing how truly groundbreaking the film was. Many non-Disney movies were popular during this time, like Free Willy, Fern Gully, Harriet The Spy, and Good Burger.  In the guy's podcasts, we talked at length about how most 90's kids are either Team Disney Channel or Team Nickelodeon. I've already pledged my allegiance to the Slime of Team Nick. I remember how Nick used to be SNICK on Saturdays and how Nickelodeon turned into Nick at Night at a specific time each day. A time slot that showed old series like I Love Lucy, I Dream of Jeanie, and other beloved television classics. We immediately launch into a discussion of do you remember:  When Channels Just Stopped Airing Stuff? Yeah, it would just go off the air.Children Today Will Never Be Scared Of The Dial-Up Tone! The fax machine can try all it wants, but you aren't even close! AOL Chat rooms before ASL and playing games with strangers. What were our parents thinking?Catfishing before Catfish and MTV didn't even have TRL yet!Computer Classes where you learned to create websites "for fun" and essentially it was an entire hour where we goofed off on the internet. This conversation leaves us nostalgic and wishing for particular 90's items to come back like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cereal and another wrestling revolution. We are an extraordinary generation that witnessed the birth of the internet being put in almost every home. Frankly, we are so spoiled now. We get things incredibly fast and rarely ever have to "wait" as we did back in the '90s. Before we watched movies repeatedly because that's all we could do, now we watch an episode of Loki, and we are ready for the next one. We can't quote or remember the series the same way we do other movies of the past.  I guess our point is that we need to slow down. We live in a life where hustle culture is KING. Back in the '90s, it was cool to have a hobby, collect things, and be a little different. We could watch TV all day and not feel horrible about it at all. Matt misses the days of having a core group of friends who would just "ball bust" each other in ways that people may find offensive now. It's safe to say that the '90s is a decade we miss greatly. Remember, you can catch Steve and Matt on Happened on the 90's podcast every week with a new episode so you can get your fix of 90's nostalgia.  Learn More About Our Guests: Website: https://happenedinthe90s.wordpress.comInstagram: @Happenedinthe90sTwitter: @HIThe90sFacebook: @Happenedinthe90sNew Episodes Every Thursday on Youtube & your favorite podcasting platform

  4. A Super Chat with Supergirl's Attic

    08/21/2021

    A Super Chat with Supergirl's Attic

    Lady and Gents, I apologize for the podcast getting a little off schedule this summer. The world's been crazy, life's been crazy, and Mz. Marvel is still breaking microphones. I first want to give a massive shout-out to Jared White for editing this episode of the podcast for us!  Now The Game of Nerds might not have regular Supergirl coverage like it did when the series first ran, but we recently made friends with a Supergirl podcast that's been helping us fill that void. Supergirl's Attic Podcast was introduced to us by our very own Fandom Science nerd, Tara Jabbari. Vv and Cycles are the podcast hosts of Supergirl's Attic and were both introduced into fandoms differently. Vv decided to look at fandom under a microscope as a college study, and Cycles entered the cutthroat world of Youtube editing at 10. It shows that if we let kids play with these tools, it may just lead them to do the things they love doing in life. Before this episode blasts off, we chat about what we've been binging like Black Widow, Broadcast 41, and Monsters at Work.  I preface this episode by saying how much I love the Arrowverse. The Game of Nerds rose in popularity because we covered the CW series shows so closely those first few years we were starting. Unfortunately, as more shows arrived and the crossover started, it got too overwhelming for me to keep up. Even with multiple writers covering it, I got confused with storylines. Frankly, I gave up mid-second crossover and haven't seen any of these series episodes since. That's where the beauty of Supergirl lies. None of the other CW series impact the show in a way where it matters. The girls describe the crossovers as "wierd family reunions where you see each other once a year." So essentially, you can watch Supergirl and not have to be caught up with the rest of the CW superhero shows. This may be because the series never even started on CW. It originally aired on CBS in 2015, which was known for its drama series. Supergirl became the highest-paid licensing fee television series for the first season at nearly 3 million an episode.  Vv and Cycles say this is a big part of why they have their podcast. They are looking into the behind-the-scenes of why the storyline may be the way it is. This was the case with Supergirl's season 2 when the series moved from CBS to CW, moving production from Los Angeles to Vancouver. At the time, certain actors had clauses where filming had to be in LA to do their project. While we usually do not see these effects in other shows, it's much more apparent for Supergirl's story. We have to remember that Supergirl was the first female DC superhero since the Wonder Woman television series aired 35 years earlier. We also wouldn't see the Wonder Woman movie for another two years after the series premiered. If you are enjoying Batwoman, you can thank Supergirl because she paved the way.  Unlike the rest of the CW Superhero series, Supergirl's season rankings are among the highest. There were only two seasons that are ranked below an A. The season that is ranked the lowest comes as no surprise to Supergirl's Attic hosts. Season 3 was filled with fan drama and false spoilers. We get into another discussion on the podcast about being a troll and an opposing force in the fandom world. Cycles reminds the fans that the core of Supergirl is "We're going to be okay because we have each other." I think that's why I fell in love with Supergirl. In the other series, the main characters were always quickly solving the problem with each episode. Meanwhile, Supergirl may solve one problem in each episode, but the core issue was dealt with all season.  Supergirls Attic Breaks down the core characters to the series and some essential side characters. We chat about how Supergirl just feels more polished and professional than the other series, and once again, that may be because it originated from CBS. A network that has been known for its writing and series like CSI, Elementry, and Criminal Minds. The girls confess this is where Supergirls Attic Podcast originated. They loved analyzing storylines and characters. As Russ said in our Marvel Podcast episode, "You can analyze and rip something apart and still enjoy it." Supergirls Attic Podcast tries to be the voice of reason in a lot of these scenarios. For example, the series was recently under fire for the CGI effects. Fans have to remember there is a pandemic going on, shortage of equipment and workers available to do these effects. Everyone is doing the best they can. We discuss how some fans just get too aggressive and almost to the point of the "aborption" phase of parasocial relationships. As we all know, this is when the trolls come out, and it can get nasty on the internet.  The girls blow my mind with the fact that Supergirl's most significant demographic is college kids and '40-'50s-year-olds. This age bracket is often the ones online who play the role of the "Fandom Elder," and it's not always in a positive light. We continue our journey through Supergirl's current season and talking about their wishes for this final season of Supergirl. We also chat about how Superman and Lois are connected to Supergirl. My final question of the podcast, though, is what episode would you show someone who has never seen Supergirl? The answers were "Triggers" from Season 3 and "Human For a Day" in Season 1!  Learn More About Our Guest Here:  Vv & Cycles from Supergirl's Attic Podcast Supergirl's Attic Website Supergirl's Attic Twitter Supergirl's Attic Tumblr Supergirl's Attic Podcast can be found on Google, Apple, Spotify, and all your other favorite podcasting platforms.

    1h 12m

  5. 07/23/2021

    Tales from The Convention Floor

    On this episode of The Game of Nerds podcast, I'm sitting down with our resident zombie expert and my "work-husband," Jon Hicks, to talk about our adventures on the convention floor. Before Andy was on the floor doing conventions with me, the rule was Jon had to be going to the convention for me to go. So over the past six years, we've racked up a lot of convention time between the two of us. As SDCC@Home 2021 begins this weekend, it only seemed fitting for Jon and me to talk about our convention experiences as well as tips and tricks. Before we jump into conventions, though, Jon gives us the low down on the Pokemon card situation at Target and how he's deep into old episodes of Unsolved Mysteries. I'm convinced our parents just showed us the show to behave and not do something crazy with friends. As we begin chatting about conventions, we accidentally started with the best/worst example. Heroes and Villians, Fan Fest, or Walker Stalker Con, whatever you want to call it, is a prime example of how a convention with a great idea can turn bad quickly. It's considered the Fyre Festival of conventions. Here at The Game of Nerds, we've reported multiple times on Fan Fest Events, the legal trouble of its own James Frazier, and the outcome of the now-defunct convention. But there are plenty of great conventions to talk about, San Diego Comic-Con is the most popular out of all of it. It's over 50 years old, and Jon happens to be the only one on staff who has actually attended the convention. The Game of Nerds has applied for press passes for 8 years now only to be denied by new rules and requirements every year. We talk about Jon's venture to SDCC and how it's basically impossible to do everything. Just like all the movies and shows depict, people are lining up days in advance to camp out for a single panel at Hall H. If you are too busy camping you can't really do anything else the con has to offer. Many convention attendees will get worried if they are missing days, but Jon assures listeners that there is usually so much going on and around the convention that you don't really have to worry if you are missing tickets. Jon and I detail how some of these larger conventions work via lotteries for tickets, panels, and booths. This is when having a team or a system is extremely helpful. While Jon says getting the tickets for SDCC was the best moment of his life, it was the most stressful. He only got his tickets by sheer luck and friend's helping. Would he do it again? For him, once was enough. SDCC is for the die-hard fans and for those there to make money. Larges Conventions like SDCC are known for vendors having special convention exclusives or limited amounts. Some people strictly follow these conventions to pick up the merchandise to turn around a "flip" it for profit. If you've ever heard us say "F**k Flippers," this is where the word comes from. It's when someone buys something to sell it for more profit. This is where I discuss my problem with SDCC and how I feel it's nothing but a money grab. While it's supposed to be a fan and media event, both these groups of people aren't being represented well. Tickets are limited for fans, and the media teams who are getting "free tickets" don't even care about the event. The pandemic was a doozy for everyone, and the conventions scene is no different. Many conventions weren't sure they were going to see the light of day again. So we are aware that conventions are trying to make their money back and that conventions are indeed a luxury. That doesn't mean that they can't be accessible to everyone. Reed Pop and Wizard World were two companies that quickly pivoted when the pandemic shut down conventions. They both started offering online panels and memberships for exclusive access to events. This system seems to be working for them as people decide whether they are ready to return to unperson events. We go on to talk about ECCC or Emerald City Comic-Con. 2019 was the first year Andy, and I went. It was the first time Funko ever saw Poppin Hopper. For as miserable as I was, it was the best convention ever. We had just found out we were pregnant with Marvel, for those who don't remember, and I was extremely sick with HG. One of our favorite memories was from the Fugitive Toy Event, and this went down: https://www.instagram.com/p/BvSehaUAFB4/?utm_medium=copy_link Conventions are really a great way for fans and friends to get together and support our local comic book shops. It also gives cosplayers and artists a way to share their creations with the world. New York Comic Con is another huge convention that neither of us has attended. Silicon or Silicon Valley Comic Con is still Jon and I's favorite home convention to attend. We will be back on that convention floor in August. It's been the convention that has allowed our cosplay creations to really soar. Some other great notables are C2E2, Fan Expo, DragonCon, and Designer Con. We've talked about Creation conventions multiple times on this podcast with Meg, especially in the Supernatural Podcast episode. Over the years on The Game of Nerds, we've put out many convention articles with tips and tricks, but here are some of our major ones: Check out Groupon or deals as the convention comes closer for tickets. If you can't afford tickets, some conventions offer volunteer opportunities. Have a plan but know that plan will go to hell at some point. Pretend your Gumby. If you are nice and wait for everyone, you will never get anywhere on the convention floor. If you can fit a foldable chair in your backpack, do it. Rule #1 of Conventions: There will always be a line, and the wait will be a long one. Be realistic. You can't do 4 photos ops or signatures in one day. Remember, no refunds. Most conventions will not refund tickets, photo ops, or autograph sessions except for celebrity cancellations. A convention, though, will not refund your tickets if 1 guest cancels. If you are planning to stand in line, have a backup person. Photographs and autographs are NEVER in the same place. Just because you have VIP passes doesn't mean you won't wait. You will still have to wait, just in a different line. At the end of the podcast, I ask Jon how he would get someone who has never been to a convention to attend? I've always equated it to being dropped on another planet for a day. But Jon has a great way of really describing it. Frankly, you would have to really have a different elevator pitch for everyone. "There is a good chance you will find something you love and didn't even know it existed because you were never exposed to it until you went to a convention. There is literally something for everyone." Learn More About Our Guest Jon Hicks - Resident Zombie Expert & CosplayerThe Game of Nerds Writing Instagram: @Riddler3TwitchTwitch: www.twitch.tv/riddler3Twitter: @JPGarfunkle

    1h 16m

  6. 07/02/2021

    Parasocial Relationships in Fandom

    On this episode of The Game of Nerds podcast, I'm sitting down with fellow fangirl and writer at TGON, Tara Jabbari. We first met through the podcast website matchmaker.FM and immediately hit it off. Since our first call, I always book at least two hours minimum to chat with Tara because we talk about everything and anything. She has her very own biographical podcast series about women in history called, Who Was She? Tara also has a Masters's Degree in Communication Culture, and Technology. While finishing her degree, she looked into how we form relationships with media, more specifically television. She blew my mind with what I like to call "Fandom Science" when she explained an actual scientific term for what we like to call Fangirling, it's called Parasocial Relationships. It's no secret. I like Sebastian Stan. It's right up there with Bluey. As a kid, when I would get super into something or someone, my parents would just say, "Oh Shannon, you're just obsessed." It turns out I was experiencing parasocial relationships and didn't even know it. A parasocial relationship is when someone has an intimate one-sided relationship that's non-sexual with a media person or figure. This term was coined originally in 1956 after two scientists realized that people were getting attached to their local news anchors. Some people were going so far as to send soup when they hear their favorite weatherman was sick. This was a fairly new concept since television has just arrived at the beginning of the 1950s. Fast forward to the 2000s and the arrival of Facebook, Twitter, and various other social media, the term is still there but only bigger. This is where Tara says we may need to update the definition or come up with a new term altogether. This obsession with celebrities or fictional characters isn't new, but the digital age has caused it to grow. We have access to our favorite shows 24/7 and we can follow celebrities' every move. Convention experiences have made it easier for us to get to meet and interact with our favorite celebrities. While we may believe that Aquaman looked at me a certain way. You can probably guess that he gave that same look to the thousands of other women who were in line that day. While it's not diminishing the experience in any way, it just goes to show how one interaction can be interrupted in two different ways. With social media and the internet came almost instant access to things we love and obsess over. Tara's example with Vanessa Hudgens being cornered by a mom to take a picture with her child in an airport brings up a great point. Children really don't understand this concept and to a certain extent, it's cute. We've heard countless stories of cosplayers or actors playing along to make a small child's day. At some point though, we all learn the truth about whose behind Mickey Mouse and our favorite characters. But to the parents who have had to sit through countless hours watching and buying thousands of dollars in merchandise, it may seem like these actors or characters owe it to them to take a picture. Once again forgetting that they are even a real person with a plane to catch or a schedule not set by you. Unfortunately, the pandemic has only made this situation worse. With everything shut down and everyone at home, we resorted to binge-watching series and revisiting our old favorites during the last year. The line between reality and fiction can get a bit blurry. There are really four levels to parasocial relationships. You feel empathy for the character. A great example is the famous romantic movie cliche of when the guy gets the girl at the movie's end. The character and the viewer are both happy, and you feel like you "got the girl" too. You start sharing cognitive aspects. You start understanding the character's reasoning and thought process. Someone may not understand why a 12-year-old has a kill list, but those who have watched the Game of Thrones series understand why Arya Stark was on a mission. You identify with this character. This part is prevalent with nerds. I often ask guests on the podcast what nerdy characters do they most identify with! In Tara and I's case, we mix and pinch of lots of different characters we love. We also discussed how naming children after fandoms and characters would fit under this category too. You are absorbed in the character/fandom. This is where it can get dicey, and you should probably take steps to see a licensed doctor. Ingrid Goes West is a great film example of this with Audrey Plaza and Elisabeth Olsen. This can involve stalking, illegal activity, or grand delusions. The Game of Nerds has always had the motto, "There is no shame in having an unhealthy obsession with a fandom." For eight years, it's been our tongue-in-cheek way of saying that it's okay to really love the nerdy stuff without engaging in illegal activity or hurting others. This fourth level is where we see the craziness and fandom toxicity starts. Tara wrote a great article on the Demi Lovato YouTube series where she talks about how her friends were getting harassed online yet didn't even know what was truly going on. An even more recent event is Henry Cavill posting a statement about leaving his girlfriend alone. Parasocial relationship has come a long way since the 1950s, but it shows no signs of slowing down. If anything, it's just gotten more ramped up due to social media. I mean, are the influencers you follow really your friends? If they follow you, does that automatically make them your friend now? It can get confusing. Tara compares it to the progression of cars and that we need to use social media as a tool. When cars were first introduced, it was a game-changer. They were a tool that we needed. Yet we still had car accidents and deaths, so we studied it some more and came up with seatbelts. We are now in the era of figuring out the seatbelt to Parasocial relationships. Only time will tell where that line will be drawn on what's acceptable and what is not. This brings Tara back to the original statement at the beginning of the podcast. Do we need a whole new term for these new relationships, or do we need to redefine the old meaning of parasocial relationships? For right now, we will call it the Jabbari Effect until someone figures it out! :) Learn More About Our Guest: Tara JabbariHer Articles At The Game of NerdsWho Was She? Podcast is available on your favorite podcast platform! Twitter, Tumblr, & Instagram: Tara_JabbariHer Professional Website

    37 min

  7. 06/14/2021

    Cosplaying with Masked Mateo

    In this episode, I get to sit down with one of my favorite content creators, Masked Mateo, to talk all about cosplay. He is known on social media as Masked Mateo, aka The Nightwing. Warner Bros and DC Comics have both featured him multiple times. He recently finished his cosplay trilogy for DC Comic's Dick Grayson that you have to check out. We met three years ago when he emailed to say The Game of Nerds was really lacking cosplay content but wanted to help. Known as "Deadpool Mateo" then, he joined us, and our cosplay section hasn't been the same since. He is why we have such a killer cosplay team lineup, but he is not only an amazing cosplayer. He is also an amazing friend as well. I'm lucky to know the man on both sides of the mask. We first jump into a discussion of Snyder Cut of Justice League. It's a discussion the two of us have been dying to have since it was released months ago but have had zero time to connect about it. Thankfully we both were on the same brain wave and absolutely loved it. It was desperately the movie the DC franchise needed to get fans back on board. It will be up to WB, though, if the Snyder Universe rules. From there, we jump into our discussion about cosplay and how Masked Mateo has grown over the past few years. As mentioned before, his cosplay career really started with Deadpool. According to him, he woke up one morning and just decided he wanted to cosplay. He hadn't attended a convention nor cosplayed before but was ready to try. So he started Googling suit makers, and that's how his cosplay adventure began. After doing Deadpool, he decided to choose a cosplay character that not many people had done and that he could really get behind the character. This is how the journey to Dick Grayson began. Masked Mateo is known for creating a storyline with the characters that he cosplays as. He knew that he wanted to stay masked the entire time since that's what intrigued him as a kid. When he would go to Six Flags, you never knew who was behind the mask or who was really playing the character. The mystery of it makes it all the more fun. Nightwing's #1 goal, though, is to give his viewers a show and to make memories with them. I've seen the videos of him dancing at conventions to get the party started and the amazing photos with children doing wacky poses. It's this mentality that makes cosplay so special to me and why I love cosplayers like him. It's that moment when a little girl sees Elsa at a convention, and that cosplayer stops everything from having that interaction. That child will never know it wasn't the REAL Elsa, but they will remember the magic. It's truly like having Disneyland or a theme park in your hometown. We discuss how Masked Mateo wants a Funko Box from Poppin Hopper and the talent that goes into these cosplays. Masked Mateo drops some major wisdom on how and where to buy or order cosplay attire. He also offers advice to cosplay creators on how they can better their services and understand cosplayers. Remember that cosplay creators are human and running a small business by themselves. They are not Amazon, and these cosplays often take time as in MONTHS to create. When I asked Masked Mateo what his favorite parts of cosplaying, he came up with two answers. The first being the instant gratification of people liking your cosplay. The second is just digging into the storyline of the character to the point it's almost acting. He makes a solid point in noting that he couldn't do it without his team. Cosplaying isn't a one-person show. It takes a costume maker, photographer, editor, and a lot of hard work to make his content. He likes to make a point to tell cosplayers to give credit where credit is due. Tag the people who helped you when you post or do shoutouts in interviews! The Nightwing says the only downside he's found to cosplay is people's inability to keep their hands to themselves. Yes, he's known for his butt, but it doesn't permit you to touch it. Even my husband, Poppin Hopper, has been subjected to people thinking it's okay to touch or bang on his box. The reality is that cosplay is not consent! You are most likely breaking that person's cosplay. "Would you walk up to someone at the mall and say, "Omg, I love your handbag." Then just start touching it. NO! If you can't do it in real life, you can't do it at a convention". - Masked Mateo The Nightwing bursts everyone's bubbles with the fact that cosplay isn't his only job. Many cosplayers believe that they can make this their job and it's easy, but it's really not. Yes, you can make it into a profession, but it will not happen overnight. It takes a lot of hard work. This can sometimes lead cosplayers to get discouraged and the trolls to take over. Masked Mateo tells cosplayers to take a step back and remember that cosplay is supposed to be fun. He doesn't let the trolls get to him and frankly would rather they come to him. He would rather they attack him than another cosplayer. He makes a point to check out other cosplayers on social media, comment, and give them props. There are so many cosplayers who go unrecognized that are extremely talented. At the end of the day, cosplay does not see gender, color, or size. Anyone and everyone can participate. Masked Mateo and I encourage you to follow your cosplay dreams and have fun. Hopefully, we will be seeing him out at conventions soon now that things are opening back up! Make sure to listen to the end of the episode to hear all about Masked Mateo's new project! Learn More About Our Guest The Masked MateoInstagram, Twitter, TikTok, Vero, Youtube: @Masked_Mateo

    1h 1m

  8. 06/01/2021

    Cruella & Disney Villains

    I'm sitting down with fellow mom and Disney Villians scholar Kaytie Ohashi on this episode of The Game of Nerds Podcast. Before we dive into the evil side of things, we chat briefly about what we've been obsessing over, including Falcon and Winter Solider. Kaytie recently got a ManiMe which makes custom-designed nails based on your nail size. We then jump into how Kaytie became known as the Disney scholar. This is, after all, our first podcast episode touching on Disney. Kaytie was completing her Master's program, and her instructor told her to do something different. So she did an entire mock podcast episode where she did a detailed character analysis on Regina Mills from Once Upon a Time. This hour and a half episode impressed her instructor so much that she decided to turn it into a podcast when she went on maternity leave. I ask here, though, why did she choose Villians? Since her background was in social work, she used Disney characters and Villains to describe various social identities in children and adults. As we all know, we aren't just one identity but made up of multiple identities. After seeing Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier, the idea for the podcast only grew for her. What if we did not hear the Villians side of the story? We then jump into a rousing discussion of our favorite villains. For 90's kids, it's safe to say, Ursala, Jafar, Scar, Maleficent, The Evil Queen from Snow White, and Cruella top off the list. Gaston is usually also added to the list, but we talk about how he isn't really evil per se. There are really different levels of Villians. Some are true evil like Maleficent and Ursula, while others are just misguided or arrogant like Gaston. Captain Hook is one of those Villians that is somewhere in the middle. I ask the question all of us parents are dying to know, what's the deal with Pete? Is he a friend, or is he a foe? To childcare professionals like me, he sends such mixed signals. In one episode, Pete is our enemy and ruining everything, and in the next episode, we are helping him get coconuts. What's the deal? Kaytie believes that he's the Frenemy. He's the one you really don't want to be friends with but not enemies either. I bring up Marie's point from episode 13 that "Everyone is Mickey's Bitch" and Kaytie states that there is a scholarly review that looks at how Mickey Mouse uses everyone. Queue my mind being blown. We jump back into talking about villains that get little recognition. Kaytie states how much she loves Cruella for being the outspoken feminist she is but can't get behind the puppy killing. I personally think that's why the latest release of Cruella with Emma Stone will be amazing. She also loves Jafar. I personally have always found an attachment to Hades from Hercules. Growing up, I was a huge fan of Rattigan from The Great Mouse Detective and Madam Mims from Sword in The Stone. Kaytie talks about passive-aggressive evil, which sums up Melificinet and Mother Gothel to the T. Both took on and had to wait for their evil to pay off in the end. Robin Hood is another great example of villains that necessarily aren't bad. They are just not the greatest or misguided. The real evil villain is The Sheriff of Nottingham in that movie. Prince John is just a different version of Kuzco from Emporers New Groove. Did you know Emporers New Groove is the only movie with a pregnant woman throughout the movie? Any other Disney movie has either a pregnant mom for a few moments or no mom at all. Kaytie had a screenwriter on her podcast where she talked about Tamatoa, the crab from Moana. According to this guest, a villain must be in most of the movie and change the plot. Tamatoa was only in one scene and didn't really change the plot. He only furthers it along. Does this mean Madam Mims and some of our other favorite Villians aren't really Villians? Thanks to the success of Maleficent, we got Cruella along with a lot of other live actions. The question begs to be asked, did Melificinet succeed because of its storyline or its acting. Angelina Jolie really did bring this character to life, but ultimately the storyline was something completely new. It gave us a backstory and answers to questions we had been asking since we had watched Sleeping Beauty decades before. While there are no other Villian movies slated to come out soon, there are a bunch more live-action Disney movies on the way. We finish up our discussion with Once Upon A Time. The series ran seven seasons on ABC, Disney's parent network. It gave fans a weekly dose of Disney in an adult tv form. Frankly, the show was great for all ages. The series creators took their time to painstakingly weave all these well-known stories we've grown up to love into a series that continued to grow with the seasons. It also gave a lot of actors their stars like Sebastian Stan and Jaime Chung. It was always a treat to see how they would add or incorporate new stories. We have to remember at the end of the day, all these movies were original stories. Stories that have been told for thousands of years in so many different languages. Finally, my nanny heart talks about Descendants. While I managed to escape the High School Musical and every other Disney musical in between, Descendants I couldn't escape from. But frankly, it's a gem of a movie trilogy. The music is great. There are amazingly talented actors who play the parents. It's a story about how kids are sometimes defined by their parents and how they have to strike out to create their own identity. Learn More About Our Guest: Kaytie OhashiThe Wonderful World of Disney Villains Podcast The Wonderful World of Disney Villains Blog - www.wonderfulworldofdisneyvillains.comwww.thedisneyvillainscholar.comInstagram & TikTok as @DisVillainsScholar

    39 min
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3.7
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

There is no shame in having an unhealthy obsession with a fandom. Your source for all the latest news, reviews, and recommendations for gaming, reading, watching, cosplaying, and more.

Information

  • Creator
    The Game of Nerds
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2022
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2013 - 2020 The Game of Nerds Podcast by The Game of Nerds
  • Show Website
    The Game of Nerds Podcast