industry
Revolutionary industry developments in the geek sphere.
Mafia in American Cinema
In 1973, a showdown occurred between what is considered two of the best films in cinematic history at the Oscars. Ultimately though, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather walked away with the Best Picture prize, beating out Cabaret and Liza Minnelli’s signature acting role. If you know anything about how the Oscars works, the Hollywood elite, and the stories they like, the win for The Godfather is not that surprising. That is to say, the story that appeals the most to the American consciousness will always walk home with the most awards or in the very least, Best Picture (here’s looking at you Argo).
By Tara Edwards10 years ago in Geeks
Scariest Video Game Monsters
What goes bump in the night? Probably the scariest video game monsters. Warning! These horrifying monsters may cause you to sleep with your nightlight on for the next week or so. Creators have imagined the creepiest, crawliest monsters to scare players since video game inception. Everybody has their own idea of what is scary. Mutated humans? You got it. Aggressive ghosts? Got that too. Some of the most vicious and terrifyingly grotesque monsters in all of gaming will haunt your nightmares for days. From various horror games throughout the years, proceed with caution while reading about the scariest video game monsters!
By Emily McCay10 years ago in Geeks
History of DC Comics
In a world that has been overtaken by the comic book film, it’s pretty important to understand and learn about where the main comic companies come from and how they came to be. One of the most famous companies is DC Comics. DC Comics is commonly seen as the main rival to Marvel Comics and proved to be a venture into darker territory for the comic book industry. DC Comics is known for its eclectic mix of heroes and villains, ranging from the iconic Superman and Batman to the dastardly like Joker and Zod. DC Comics can lay claim to much of what made comics what they are today, but the question is, how did they come to such prominence? How were they affected by the comic book censors? And what launched characters like Superman and Batman to such meteoric measures of fame? This is the history of DC Comics.
By Stephen Hamilton10 years ago in Geeks
History of Nintendo
The Jackie Robinson of baseball. The Shakespeare of literature. The Beethoven of music. Nintendo’s impact on the gaming industry has been nothing short of revolutionary. The first to perfect the 3D gaming experience, the first to have successful wireless controllers for their consoles, and the first to allow users to save their files within a game, Nintendo's innovative creations continue to entertain even the realest of gamers.
By Matt Schkolnick10 years ago in Geeks
How the Ghostbusters Franchise Fought for Survival
When the Ghostbusters trailer was released in May 2016, critics and fans alike did not seem to greet the idea of a reboot with much excitement. Many whined about the lack of solid jokes during the nearly three-minute segment, the all-female cast (although I don’t see any validity in that complaint), and the lack of returning stars. The original cast consisted of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Rick Moranis, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson. These actors collaborated on one of the greatest movies of all time, and they followed up with what most can agree to be a respectable sequel. So why did the Ghostbusters franchise have to fight for survival after the 80s? And why the big switch up in 2016?
By Geeks Staff10 years ago in Geeks
Rise of Adult Comics
Those Batman fans lucky enough to have arrived early on the third day of New York City’s 2015 Comic Con were treated to a preview of the thirtieth anniversary celebration of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. Despite the long lines and confusion, fans eagerly awaited the arrival of Miller onstage to discuss his work. As he stepped under the lights, the air became charged with the excitement of those who witnessed the monumental 80s comic hit stands during their childhood. The crowd was full of men in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, meaning that the comic had stuck with them over the years. Miller’s story is certainly special in its staying power, but it also speaks to the nature of adult comics as an industry.
By Geeks Staff10 years ago in Geeks
How Max Wasa Impacted Sci-Fi, Horror, and Wellness
Not many women can say they've been featured in countless Playboy magazines while also having portrayed a bloodsucking vampire on the big screen. Max Wasa's incredible range has been a force to be reckoned with throughout her successful career. By diversifying her interests (magazine, print, the big screen, indie films, music, publishing, and radio), Wasa's overflowing well of talent has never been capped.
By Natasha Sydor10 years ago in Geeks
Why Women Game Developers Matter
If you take a look at the top five games of 2015 according to MetaCritic, you’ll be pressed to find a female name among the credits. You may find names that sound like they should belong to women (here’s looking at you Leslie Benzies), but unfortunately the presence of women is nonexistent with the exception of Undertale’s Temmie Chang and Journey’s Robine Hunicke.
By Patricia Sarkar10 years ago in Geeks
History of 'Goosebumps'
In the world of children’s horror fiction, American author R. L. Stine created a series of stories that follow young children who always seem to find their way into scary situations. Beginning in 1992, Scholastic began releasing these soon-to-be trendy tales of young characters. By 1997, the publishing house put out 62 Goosebumps books and sold over 350 million copies in 32 languages.
By Geeks Staff10 years ago in Geeks
Street Fighter's Chun-Li
Fighting games have a long legacy in the world of video games. They paved the way for character based stories and, in many ways, can be credited for the rise of the video game industry via the arcades. Few will ever underestimate the influence of fighting games on the video game industry, but did you know that Street Fighter has a wholly unique claim to fame? Street Fighter pioneered feminism in the video game industry through the character of Chun-Li.
By Patricia Sarkar10 years ago in Geeks
History of New York Comic Con
Once upon a time, comic conventions were seen as strange niche gatherings that only the diehard would go to. Although the diehard will still go to these events religiously, they have become far more popular in the past 10 years due to the increasing celebrity presence, amazing cosplay, and friendly atmosphere. San Diego Comic Con is the undisputed king of the comic con world. However, it’s east coast sister from New York is gaining in speed and has grown from somewhat humble beginnings to a behemoth of an event.
By Geeks Staff10 years ago in Geeks
Biggest Gaming Companies
We’re far past the point of pretending that video games aren’t one of the most lucrative businesses in the entertainment industry. Indeed, games like Grand Theft Auto V have eclipsed the sales of many movies and books combined, becoming the highest grossing entertainment product of all time. As time goes on, video games become a larger part of our day to day life, with many who’d never consider themselves gamers playing games on their phone as often as they can. These are the most profitable gaming companies of all time.
By Patricia Sarkar10 years ago in Geeks
