Author Archives: Pat W

What are good additions to an IP? The Lord of the Rings

It feels like so many people get upset when books get adapted to movies or TV. Page to screen often incites a lot of hostility from overly passionate fanbases, but the trend of revisiting old film IPs such as Star Wars or Indiana Jones as created more controversies among fans. When I was younger IContinue reading “What are good additions to an IP? The Lord of the Rings”

Real Mouthful – Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure

Some of my most cherished memories of childhood involved our Thanksgiving and Christmas trips to see my grandparents in Maine. Seeing grandparents is the best because they’ve lived long enough to spoil their grandkids dammit. We were spoiled through film. At home we did not watch much TV, but our grandparents had a nice sizedContinue reading “Real Mouthful – Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure”

A Dystopian Choose Your Own Adventure – Floor 13

Archive.org’s in-browser DOSBox emulator is one of the greatest tools available for retro gamers. Many years ago I came across Floor 13 on one of the abandonware sites that were popular in the early 2000s. Back then it made a huge impression on me and I loved the game. Recently I was thinking of itContinue reading “A Dystopian Choose Your Own Adventure – Floor 13”

Gaming with Toddlers 2 – His Games

Board gaming for young children is big business. Haba is the most famous company catering to young gamers and more companies are popping up every year. Millennial parents like myself are driving the market looking for family-friendly activities to play together. A highlight of gaming with toddlers is that they are perfectly happy playing theContinue reading “Gaming with Toddlers 2 – His Games”

Planet Money Summer School

Planet Money is of my all-time favorite podcasts. I have listened to every episode in their back catalog and for years I have donated to NPR just because of them. For me it his the perfect balance of fun (just look at that pig Latin on the diploma I earned) and informative, history and currentContinue reading “Planet Money Summer School”

Music for the Masses – CJSW

Time is a flat circle. We once had DJs spinning records on the radio, curating the playlists, and deciding what we hear. Mixtapes popped up giving us the power to record our own playlists; the internet, Napster, and mp3 technology sent these playlists into overdrive. Now we are creeping back to curated collections, every pop-cultureContinue reading “Music for the Masses – CJSW”

Alternative Fighting Forces – Freelancer

Video game writing is not great literature. No matter how deep is the lore or how many codex entries can be found, a good book will always be a better read than a good game. That is not to say game writing is drek, The Elder Scrolls franchise is full of pretty good short stories.Continue reading “Alternative Fighting Forces – Freelancer”

Cardboard Wizards – Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle

Let me get it out early. If you really like Harry Potter and are a fan of board games, you should enjoy Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle. Notice I said “really like Harry Potter.” If you’re the person who has read the books multiple times and can quote the movies, this is for you. Unfortunately, theContinue reading “Cardboard Wizards – Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle”

My Big Fat 70s Weddings – The Godfather and The Deer Hunter

If I had a nickle for each 1970s Best Picture winner that began with an long wedding scene I’d have two nickles, which isn’t a lot but is strange it has happened twice. It might happen more, I haven’t seen all the winners yet. The Godfather and The Deer Hunter are both full of machismoContinue reading “My Big Fat 70s Weddings – The Godfather and The Deer Hunter”