Netflix Movie of the Week | Atari: Game Over

Hey whats going on everybody? This weekend the Mrs and I joined some of our close friends for a weekend getaway in Branson Missouri. We had rented a cabin in the woods... (insert dark ominous music) The weekend has been great and I definitely don't mind having a couple of work days off! Anyways I figured I would watch some movies on Netflix and too my surprise they have added some documentaries that had been removed for a while.

The first movie I picked to watch again was Atari: Game Over. 

If you haven't seen this yet I would highly recommend it to you. This movie showcases the rise and fall of Atari. However the main reason for the movie is to discover the burial site for ET the game produced by Atari. 

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The landfill and search for the site and spot of the burial of these games to me was secondary. My main interest was listening to Howard Warshaw, Chief game Engineer for Atari, talk about the glory days and life as a game developer in the height of the gaming industry. Warshaw created many million copy sellers including Yars Revenge and Raiders of the Lost Ark. 

In the end it wasn't just ET that led to the downfall of Atari in fact there were a lot of terrible games out for the system. However ET with so much hype and media surrounding the release of the movie and the timing of all the events there had to be a scapegoat. ET was just that. SPOILER: the landfill was excavated, games were found and some of them were ET. It wasn't a burial ground for that game it was a dump site for a warehouse with many Atari games that closed due to the fall of Atari.

So what say you? Have you already seen this documentary?

What did you think?

Any other Netflix suggestions?

-Joe

The cover art in these old games make them worth picking up as a collector!

The cover art in these old games make them worth picking up as a collector!

Micro Talk #4 | Crashlands

We didn’t have to look far to find the topic of GOTG Micro 4: St. Louis’ own, Crashlands from developer Butterscotch Shenanigans. Ryan Dampf from Living the Nerd Life is back again to speak to this interesting take on the open world crafting genre. Be sure to listen to our last Micro episode on Don’t Starve too, as there is a lot of comparing and contrasting on display for these games. 

Show Notes:

Butterscotch Shenanigans has their own podcast if you’re interested in hearing more from the devs themselves. 

NERD OFFICE ESSENTIALS | Dustin

Hey there nerds and nerdettes! Personal space is important, no matter your marriage status or how old you are. Man caves give you the freedom to express your true selves. They give you the space to enjoy football with the guys, a relaxing pool game or pure quietness to get extra work done. The benefits are endless. But what if your interests don't lye with sports or you don't have the money for a pool table? Well, fellow nerd, have I got the article for you! Here are some of the things YOU need to show your nerd colors.

The computer is the heart and soul of your nerd room. Doesn't matter what kind you have. Just so long as you have one! Get that blog done. Play those computer games. Watch those cat videos. Whatever it is you do on that computer! Just be sure that computer background really expresses your inner nerd.

You have some special comics? Display them! Show that you're proud of those limited edition comics. Let everyone know that what you have is better than what they have! 

Action figures. Action figures. Wait for it....ACTION FIGURES!!! Those badass toys need to be out on display in their full glory. And if you still have that 1990's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle in his original box...I hate you and everything you stand for.

You have a mini library? Prove it. Get some sweet looking bookends, build an awesome bookshelf or, if you're poor like me, keep them on your desk with the Hulk holding them up. As long as they're out.....you're good!

 

This should help you on your way to putting together that fortress of solitude every nerd is dreaming of. Do you have yours set up already? What are some cool things you have displayed in your "nerditorium"?