GeekNights

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider why there, broadly, aren't major consumer technology developments lately. In the news, Debian reduces support for i386 and Chrome OS is combining with Android . Also we'll be live at PAX West ! Related Links Forum Thread Why there's no big tech news Discord Chat Why there's no big tech news Bluesky Post Why there's no big tech news Things of the Da...

Tonight on the GeekNights Book Club , we discuss Everything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052-2072 Despite several compelling aspects, its ultimately was a frustrating read which we discuss at length. That said, it's important to have post-apocalyptic works that imagine a better world rather than a worse one, however naive some of the interrogation of the subject ends up...

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider auction and bidding mechanics in games. In the news, DriveThruRPG chose cowardice , and Microsoft lays of 9,000 people . GeekNights will be live at PAX West with an all new lecture on the same topic as this show! Our talk The Everlasting Game from PAX East is on youtube! Related Links Forum Thread Auction and Bidding Mechanics Discord Chat Auction and Bidding Mec...

Tonight on GeekNights, we review Chris Sanders' The Wild Robot (2024) , out of Dreamworks . It's fantastic animation and overall a good film. In the news, Rym has ascended to the open comb razor , Diamond's bankruptcy saga continues to be more and more insane by the day, and Rick and Morty has matured into a very good show. Related Links Forum Thread The Wild Robot (2024) Discord Chat The Wild Rob...

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the blinky lights and LEDs the kids are putting on everything including their computers. In the news, Windows 10 has extended security support , Broadcom is desperate to monetize VMware , and the EU forced Apple to comply , at least in the EU. Related Links Forum Thread Blinky Lights Discord Chat Blinky Lights Bluesky Post Blinky Lights Things of the Day Rym&nbsp...

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider toilets, washlets, and bidets. (Oh my). In the news, some context on the current Iran conflict , and Apple WWDC25 was mostly uneventful other than keeping old devices going for a while yet. Related Links Forum Thread Toilets and Bidets and Washlets Discord Chat Toilets and Bidets and Washlets Bluesky Post Toilets and Bidets and Washlets Things of the Day Rym&nbsp...

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider day one of having a Nintendo Switch 2 . In the news, Fortnite on the Switch 2 will support objectively superior FPS controls , REMATCH might do what Scott has always wanted, the Blades '68 playtest is done and you will soon be able to play Blades '68 ! The Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is actually worth buying, and Mario Kart World is fun but the tracks are too...

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the keeping of houseplants . In the news, the fascists are going after Harvard , but Harvard is fighting back in multiple ways . I recommend the free course "U.S. Public Policy: Social, Economic, and Foreign Policies." More interesting is the (not free) Public Leadership Credential . Long Island City finally has good bagels , and next week brings us a bunch of ex...

Tonight on GeekNights, we review two Spiel des Jahres 2025 nominees — Flip 7 and Krakel Orakel — plus Context , a game that's harder the smarter you are. In the news, Rym has been diving deep into VRchat's true value , Shadow Labyrinth's mazes are revealed, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 dropped roll cancels from Capcom vs SNK 2 , and Apple bought the creators of Sneaky Sasquatch . Related Links For...

Tonight on GeekNights, we discuss capacity management. It's changed a lot over the years. In the news, evil people are trying to accelerate climate change , and a silly camera is coming . Related Links Forum Thread Capacity Management Discord Chat Capacity Management Bluesky Post Capacity Management Things of the Day Rym -  Lemmings: How DMA Design Redefined Puzzle Games Scott -&nbs...

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the painting of minis, from Ral Partha to Ralidium. In the news, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) will likely (and justifiably) strike , here's a starting point if you are interested in the dynamics of a broader anti-fascist General Strike , and the Twitter AI is obsessed with defending South African white supremacists . Related Links F...

Tonight on GeekNights, we review Quacks , previously released as The Quacks of Quedlinburg in 2018. It's a push your luck game that is fun, but just short of greatness. (That's rare praise from GeekNights). In the news, Greater Than Games is forced to reduce staff in light America's ridiculous tariff war, and tabletop companies are suing our president over America's ridiculous tariff war. Related...

Tonight on GeekNights, we talk about surgery. Warning: we talk about surgery. In the news, capitalism has destroyed Polygon and a federal judge has permanently blocked the Trump administration from deporting people to concentration camps using the archaic Alien Enemies Act of 1798 , setting up an existential supreme court showdown. Related Links Forum Thread Surgery Discord Chat Surgery Bluesky Po...

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the acquisition of new gaming consoles . In the news, Overwatch competitive mode adds hero bans , the fourth of the old scrolls are remastered , and Scott has Hemorrhoids. The GeekNights content you crave. Related Links Forum Thread Getting a New Game Console Discord Chat Getting a New Game Console Bluesky Post Getting a New Game Console Things of the Day Rym&nbs...

Tonight on GeekNights, we review The Apothecary Diaries anime. It's worth a look, and is on both Crunchyroll and Netflix. In the news, Science Saru is bringing us a very good looking Ghost in the Shell , the Star Wars manga is getting a fancy artbook , and the Rose of Versailles movie is coming to Netflix April 30th. Also get on your Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders . Related Links Forum Thread The Ap...

Tonight on GeekNights, we review Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫). This 1997 film is a masterpiece. In the news, Donald Trump destroyed global trade , Murderbot is coming , the Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin manga gets a deluxe edition , and Spider-Verse 3 is coming on June 4 2027. Also Rym continues to love Common Side Effects . Related Links Forum Thread Princess Mononoke Discord...

Tonight on GeekNights, we review Heat: Pedal to the Metal (2022) . It's a car racing game with well-tuned push-your-luck mechanics that is definitely worth a play. It's even better over multiple races. In the news, Cory Booker heroically and historically holds the Senate floor for over 24 hours in a powerful rebuke of Donald Trump's fascism (beating Strom Thurmond's vile "record" ). Also torpedo b...

Tonight on GeekNights, we muse a bit on the problem of discoverability. Nearly all experience is mediated , and this includes deciding what web site to look at. In the news, Rym is back from Zenkaikon , Moon Zooz is continuing to rock it, the cosmological constant might not be , niri is a scrollable-tiling Wayland compositor , and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is a dangerous idiot . Related Li...

Tonight on GeekNights, we review Friedemann Friese's sequel to Power Grid titled Power Grid: Outpost . We highly recommend reading the second page of the rulebook closely. In the news, Pokémon Go (and all your location data) were sold to Scopely , there's something to this nemesis system , and this is the most important thing you can pay attention to in America's ongoing crisis. Related Links Foru...

Tonight on GeekNights, we review the Sakamoto Days anime. It starts with a strong premise, but in the end it's just a shounen fighting show. In the news, Flow wins Latvia's first Oscar , The Day The Earth Blew Up actually looks pretty good, you can see Princess Mononoke restored in theaters, and Common Side Effects is real good. Related Links Forum Thread Sakamoto Days Discord Chat Sakamoto Days B...

Tonight on GeekNights, we talk about MIDI . The Musical Instrument Digital Interface, which is still in use today. In the news, Donkey Kong ‘94 is re-released on Switch, Youtube adds translated dubbing , and Ontario (rightly) taxes Americans using their energy. Related Links Forum Thread MIDI Discord Chat MIDI Bluesky Post MIDI Things of the Day Water your yard FOR FREE !!! Rym -  Sound...

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider Windows 11 and the fools who refuse to upgrade. In the news, the iPhone 16e arrives , Gmail is (correctly) dropping SMS two-factor , Twitch is capping uploads for 0.5% of streamers , and Germany represents a profound realignment of global politics . Related Links Forum Thread Windows 11 Discord Chat Windows 11 Bluesky Post Windows 11 Things of the Day Rym -&...

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the concept of retirement . I know what my plan is. In the news, James Bond is captured by an evil megacorporation , and supplements will destroy your liver . Related Links Forum Thread Retirement Discord Chat Retirement Bluesky Post Retirement Things of the Day Rym -  Tom's Diner (Cover) Scott -  The 88x31 GIF Collection

Tonight on GeekNights we review Shogun , released as part of the Milton Bradley Gamemaster series that we reviewed back in 2006 . Renamed to Samurai Swords and then to Ikusa, we revisited it with pro tabletop players this past weekend. We're a lot wiser about game mechanics and game design here in 2025, and this game holds up surprisingly well except for a few notable flaws. We're also trying an e...

Tonight on GeekNights, we discuss electronic payments. We grew up in a world where credit cards were imprinted on carbon paper and cheques were on physical paper. In the news, the Baltics have disconnected from the Russian power grid , Football Manager 25 will be skipped , and there's one weird trick to stop Google's terrible AI summaries. Related Links Discord Chat Electronic Payments Forum Threa...