Going GEEK: October 14th - October 16th

If you live within or relativity close to the Greater Toronto Area this is a great weekend to be a
geek!  With multiple events taking place your biggest challenge might be finding the time and money to take in these outstanding events.

1.  Unplugged Expo:

Celebrating their fifth anniversary & featuring a lineup of guests from multiple genres, Unplugged Expo is a little bit cosplay, a little bit nostalgia and a lot geek!  The staff strive to maintain your level of excitement from the moment you arrive.

Featured events include but are not limited to the YTV Zone PJ reunion, the Harry Potter: Room Of Requirement, the Masters Of Cosplay competition, Unplugged singing idol,  and Just Dance 2016 dance off.

Unplugged Expo is being held at the Weston Harbor Castle hotel on October 15th and 16th with tickets ranging in price from $10.00 to $35.00 plus applicable taxes.  For a complete list of events and guests head over to the Unplugged Expo website.

2. LEGO Imagination Nation Tour:

Concluding a tour which began in June with stops in Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver, the LEGO Imagination Nation event roles into the Metro Toronto Convention Center from October 14th to October 16th.

From diving into a pit of LEGO bricks or going hands on with the latest and greatest in LEGO Video Games including LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens and LEGO Dimensions this event promises to have something for every LEGO enthusiast.

This event also boasts your opportunity to meet one of only seven people to be certified as a LEGO Master Builder in the world, this is your opportunity to learn from a true LEGO master.

With a general admission ticket valued at $28.50 plus applicable taxes this seems like a can't miss event for the entire family.  Head over to the LEGO Imagination Nation Tour website for all the details.

3.  Oshawa Comic-Con:

We love our small regional shows, they don't seem to get lost in their own hype and the vendors aren't fighting to make up the costs of overpriced tables by super inflating prices.  

One such show is the Oshawa Comic-Con held at the Harmony Creek Community and Events

center.  We've had the opportunity to attend this show a few times now and have found the staff and the vendors to be friendly and outgoing folks who are attending as much out of a sense of enjoyment as they are for financial gain.

This one day event which is presented by Pop Culture Canada runs from 10:00am until 4:00pm with a completely reasonable $5.00 admission per person.  For more details we recommend visiting the Oshawa Comic-Con Facebook events page.

As always thanks for reading and remember to visit the CanGeek website for links to our various social media feeds.

 

Glow Swords Unite Generations

"If Dad likes it than it can't be chill!"

As a father of two I sometimes find it a challenge to develop common ground with my boys.

I'm not old, not by any stretch,  but even if I was in my sixties what is age?  It's merely a number used by society to define the time you've put in and experience you've gained.

One such place that I've attempted to achieve a measure of common ground with my kids is in our shared love of Star Wars!  So when I was introduced to Glow Sword Battle Toronto last year (formerly the Toronto Lightsaber Battle) it truly felt like the will of the force!

Administrated by Newmindspace this is a free all-ages event were the only costs you are responsible for are your personal lightsabers. 

My eldest son who was twelve at the time was not an easy sell, he couldn't imagine a group of people with Lightsabers battling it out in the dark representing any measure of fun, so he stayed home.  My youngest son was nine at the time and he was all over this, so together we went into the darkness armed only with our glowing swords and when we emerged into the light we had become a little closer and had a fantastic evening of fun!

Over the past twelve months my older son has come to realize just what he missed out on last October so together this year we will all converge on Glow Sword Battle Toronto 2016 ready to defeat our foes!

That is after all the magic of fandom,  Finding shared interests with others in order to develop not only common ground but also friendships and memories that endure the test of time.

Should you be interested in learning more about this event check out the Event Page and as always remember to follow us on our CanGeek Community Page.

Thanks for reading!

The Short List - 2016 Toy Hall Of Fame Finalists

Tuesday morning the National Toy Hall Of Fame announced its short list of finalists to be considered for induction this year.  

In order to be considered by the hall who's past inductees include The Nintendo Gameboy, The Atari 2600, LEGO, The Skateboard, The Bicycle, and The Game Of Life, a toy must meet the following criteria\:

- The toy must be recognized & respected.

- The toy has enjoyed popularity over multiple generations.

- The toy fosters learning, creativity and discovery through play.

Although twelve toys have been selected as finalist, only two or three will be inducted, so this week we're counting down in order our list of toys we would love to see succeed:

1.  Dungeons & Dragons:

If ever a game required you to use your imagination then Dungeons & Dragons is that game! Developed during the 1970's, players are placed within worlds of monsters and magic and are asked to role play as a means of moving their adventures forward.  Over the years D&D's influence on modern society cannot be overstated, from early text based video games such as Zork  up to current blockbusters such as Star Wars: The Old Republic and The Elder Scrolls Online, Dungeons & Dragons started a movement of play that has endured for well over 30 years. 

2.  Pinball:

Pinball is most likely one of the oldest possible inductees on this years list, tracing its roots back to an 18th century French parlor game known as Bagatelle.  Modern day Pinball machines provide a fast-paced game requiring players to have decent eye/hand coordination in order to maneuver a table filled with ramps and other obstructions.

3.  Transformers:

The Transformers were first introduced by Hasbro Inc. in the 1980's as a series of toys that could change their shapes from robot to vehicle,  Over the years through the use of an extensive backstory The Transformers brand has spawned a series of comics, movies, and video games, as well as consumer merchandise.

4.  Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots:

Brought to market in 1965 by Louis Marx & Company, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots invites players to take control of two robots within a boxing ring.  Through the use of levers players control their individual fighter with the objective of knocking the opposing players block off to win the game.

5.  Clue:

Originally developed during World War II and marketed at Cluedo, Clue is one of the best selling games of all time.  The randomized game play presents players with the challenge of solving the murder of the unfortunate Mr. Body  

6.  Nerf:

Developed in the 1960's, NERF started out by marketing a foam ball that was safe to be used indoors, over the years NERF  has expanded their product lines to include a line of guns that fire foam projectiles, foam swords and now the NERF Super Soaker water guns.

7.  UNO:

Released in the 1970's, UNO which is both Italian and Spanish for "One" is a easy to learn card game with a fixed rule system.  In UNO players strive to dispose of all the cards in their hand before their opponents in order to secure victory.

8.  Care Bears:

Originally created as a line of greeting cards in the early 1980's, The Care Bears quickly developed into a brand featuring both plush bears and dolls.  The purpose was to teach children to display feels of kindness and compassion.  Over the years The Care Bears have stared in both television and movies, and have had a series of video games and books.

9.  Fisher-Price Little People:

As a child who didn't go on amazing adventures with The Little People? Developed in the late 1950's, Fisher Price offered its wooden little people in a safety school bus. Over the years this brand has expanded to include The Zoo, The Farm, and The Service Station.  The Little People toys are fashioned for small hands with big imaginations,

10. Bubble Wrap:

Created by accident in 1957 by two engineers who where trying to create a new type of wallpaper, it was soon discovered that the clear plastic could be used both for packaging of breakable materials AND as a source of eminence entertainment for children of all ages.

11.  The Coloring Book:

Invented by a New York printing company, The Coloring Book is a staple of most everyone`s childhood.  Educators use them to teach a variety of subjects including math and geography, and in recent years more complex books targeting adults have begun to appear.

12.  The Swing:

A staple of playgrounds throughout the years, The Swing can trace its base origins back to ancient times having been depicted in cave drawings, ceramic vases and carved figures.  

This years final inductees will be announced on November 10th and personally we`re really pulling for Dungeons & Dragons, Pinball, and The Transformers.  To see a list of previous winners Click Here and head over to the CanGeek Community Page and share your thoughts with us.

Thanks for reading.

Daniel Radcliffe Not Ready For The Cursed Child

Everyone has an opinion regarding Star Wars, even Harry Potter.

In a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter Daniel Radcliffe was asked if there where plans to return to the role of Harry Potter for a film adaptation of The Cursed Child. 

"There's a part of me that's like, some things are better left untouched. If we went back to Potter, there's a chance we'd make what Star Wars: The Force Awakens was to the original Star Wars, but there's also the chance that we'd make Phantom Menace. So I don't want to go back to anything like that and maybe sour what people have already loved"

Radcliffe then went on to say that although he has not completely ruled out a possible return he figures he has at least a decade before he has to make that decision. 

"At the moment it's not even a concern because I'm to young to play the character, but even in 10 years time I would still feel strange about going back to it"

When asked about the Cursed Child, which is currently on stage at London's Palace Theater,  Radcliffe admits he has yet to see it but suggests that the stage shows current star,  Jamie Parker, would be a great replacement. 

"I'm never going to close the door,  that would be a stupid thing to do,  but I think I'll be happy enough and secure enough to let someone else play it"

Should Warner Brothers opt to make a film adaptation of the London hit we have to wonder if it would have the same feeling with another actor portraying the much loved wizard?

Head over to our Facebook page and share your thoughts with us, thanks for reading.

Star Trek Boldly Goes On!

I was always more of a Star Wars fan.....

That isn't to say that I didn't enjoy Star Trek, I did but lightsabers and blasters and highly maneuverable space craft usually won out over the cheesiness of exploration and boldly going where no man has gone before.  But then again I was like six when I had my first encounter with both the Dark Lord of the Sith and the Klingon empire.

Over the years however I was slowly assimilated, resistance is after all futile!

I think the turning point for me came when I first saw Star Trek: The Wrath Of Khan - this was what I wanted from a movie, lots of explosions combined with a really compelling story, and that death scene at the end, Spock couldn't be dead could he???  We collectively received our answer to that question two years later with the release of Star Trek: The Search for Spock, he was alive after all and I was hooked!

With the release of Return Of The Jedi in 1983 and then nothing until The Phantom Menace in 1999 there was a nineteen year gap that needed to be filled so I devoured Trek.

From the release of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987 to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in 1993 this franchise was going places and I was happy to be along for the ride.   That ride ultimately took me to the delta quadrant in 1995 as the crew of Voyager struggled to make their way home without abandoning the principles of Star Fleet in the process. 

But that was where my voyage came to an end, I just couldn't get into Enterprise for some reason.   That however did not stop me from watching the many movies that would continue to follow 

Star Trek was boldly moving forward by going backwards as was obvious by the J.J Abrams reboot in 2009, and with that reboot came both returning and new fans, Star Trek seems to be destined to live long and prosper. 

And why shouldn't it?   Over the past fifty years Star Trek has been a catalyst inspiring new technologies to further serve and improve mankind, this is the point where I point our that Picards data pad looks like an IPad:

And that the original communicators look like first generation cell phones:



The fine folks over at N.A.S.A also realized how influential Star Trek had become to our society so they gave us the Starship Enterprise, sorta:



Star Trek has truly left a massive footprint in mankind's history and will forever hold a special place within my heart.

As much as I was a Star Wars fan my father was a trekkie, he just related to the narrative more.  One of my fondest Star Trek memories is of a family trip to a local theater to see The Search For Spock for the very first time, it was the best of times.


Sadly earlier this year we lost my Dad to cancer, unfortunately our medical capabilities have not reached those of the twenty-forth century..... YET!

. 

Should there be any one lesson that I've learned from Star Trek its this:  There is always hope for the future.  So on September 8th as we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Gene Roddenbery's creation and eagerly wait for the premier of Star Trek: Discovery in 2017, I say both thank you to the multiple cast and crew who have brought us these wonderful tales over the years and also look forward to the next fifty years of Trek boldly going on.....  I'm a Star Wars fan, but I'm a Trekkie too.

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The Geek I Am.... My Homage To My Dad

As I write this weeks blog it is May 21st, 2016 and here in Canada we're celebrating the Victoria Day long weekend, well most of us are anyways.

I am sitting here on my parents back deck falling asleep, its been a long week.

CanGeek is a dream slowly becoming reality,  but at this point it doesn't pay the bills,  so I also work 40 hours a week as a Store Manager for a 'As Seen On TV" retailer, the things we do to chase our dreams......

My father is sitting next to me and he's falling asleep too, his fatigue is of a much different nature, brought about by unimaginable pain and discomfort.

My father is dying, he has terminal cancer and this weeks blog is my homage to him.

I have been asking myself for weeks whither this blog was appropriate given the nature of its content and I've decided it is, I wouldn't be who I am today if not for the influence my father has had on my life.

Without dating myself, I went through adolescence at a time when society was slightly less accepting of what we now refer to as fandom and pop culture.  That`s not to say that we didn't celebrate our shared enjoyment of genre films and television shows, and we absolutely bought our comics and games on a weekly basis, but it felt like to avoid unfair judgement and peer pressure we weren't so open about our likes and dislikes.

We didn't wear our geek on our sleeves, not like we do today, and wearing Marvel or DC attire to anything other then elementary school was a good way to get an ass kicking.

It was the dark times indeed.

Through all this however I always seemed to have the love and support of my father.  Born in 1931 he grew up in a much different time, and his experiences could have just as easily drove a wedge into our relationship, but he was always supportive of my choices and decisions.

So well other kids were off joining sports teams and going to Friday night parties, I was playing video games with a close group of friends, being introduced to RPG`s such as D&D and Shadowrun, and playing tabletop games like Battletech and Magic: The Gathering (We Did a lot of that!)

And my Dad was always there to take interest in what we were doing, asking questions and in a lot of cases adding to my gaming collection wherever possible.

Eventually I fell in love with a truly beautiful woman, she is both kind and considerate to everyone around her, and I was considering popping the question. 

The advice I received from my friends was "Do more with your life and then maybe get married"
The advice I received from my father was  "Do what feels right in your heart"

We married, bought a house, and since then have begun to raise two wonderful children and spent many amazing years together.

Last June I was laid off after giving 6 1/2 years of my life to EB Games Canada, this happened three months after the news of my fathers cancer, and I was forced to come to terms with so much at once.

It took me months to decide my next move, CanGeek, a business I'd been considering for years and years. One afternoon I explained my plans to my father, this was in an attempt to focus him on something other then his pain, and once again he surprised me by offering money to invest in the business.

With so much going on for both him and my mother he was still thinking of his children first, that is the type of man he is and the type of father he has been to his three children.

Fathers day is just under a month away now, and CanGeek will be introducing a limited edition product celebrating all the Gamer Dads out there, it will be available for purchase through our new Facebook store.  Our hope is that it will be a gift both you and your fathers will treasure for years to come.

As both a father and a son my hope is that I will have the opportunity to celebrate one more fathers day weekend with my dad because if not for him I would not be the geek I am today.....

Thanks for reading.

Conquering The Stars And Riding The Rails

Fifteen hours per week.....

Like most people working a full time job I spend a lot of time on public transit moving back and forth to and from my current place of employment, So out of curiosity I recently sat down and calculated roughly how many hours I spend commuting and came up with fifteen hours per week.

This represents a ninety minute commute each way to and from work five days per week, and a fair chunk of that time is spent riding the trains.

Needless to say things can get more then a little boring.

I usually spend this time reading, sleeping, or playing with my phone because in truth who wants to stare at strangers (its kind of creepy)

Now I'm the type of person who gets really involved in whatever game their playing, so much so that I have been know to, on occasion, miss my stop because I'm so engrossed in what I'm doing (Dragons Crown for the PS Vita had me doing a lot of backtracking).

Conquering The Stars:

About a month ago a close friend introduced me Star Realms, a new deck building game designed by Magic: The Gathering pro tour champions Rob Dougherty and Darwin Kastle.  Star Realms is a two player space combat game that takes less then 25 minutes to play yet provides hours of enjoyment at an unquestionably reasonable price (it's $14.99 in physical format and once you've played it you'll keep coming back for more!)

Each player begins the game with fifty life points, three points of currency and two points of attack, then the objective is simple, destroy your opponent to secure victory!  This is achieved by shopping the marketplace and making strategic decisions in an effort to build the strongest fleet possible.

It's fast moving and every mistake truly matters!   

Now what does this have to do with my long commute to work?  Star Realms was also recently release in digital format for the PC, Android and IOS as a free download (without the expansions!) 

So if like me you have time to spare as part of your daily trip to and from your place of employment then give Star Realms a chance, I don't think you'll be sorry.

As always, thanks for reading!