GeekNights

Tonight on GeekNights, we talk about the games we played at PAX East 2026, including Spokes, Magical Athlete, The Third Man, Take Time, Tezuma Trick, Big Wave, QE, Catch the Moon, Robokraft, False Kingdom, Juggernaut, Peanuts Talent Show, and John Company 2.0. In the news, there's a Halloween game (not that one, and there's another Mario movie.Related LinksForum ThreadGames we played at PAX East 2026Discord ChatGames we played at PAX East 2026Bluesky PostGames we played at PAX East 2026Things of the DayRym - YUNBYUL BALLET COMPANY Ballet GATScott - How to fold the UNICORN

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider how you must tax the rich if you wish to have a society. In the news, Mayor Mamdani ends those ridiculous criminal summonses for cyclists, BTS returns, and America's war against Iran endangers the world.Related LinksForum ThreadTax the RichDiscord ChatTax the RichBluesky PostTax the RichThings of the DayRym - What's my What's My ΔEOK JND?Scott - JE8086 Emulation

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the assessment of risk. Apropos of nothing Rym talks about his broken arm. In the news, Washington state moves forward on taxing rich people, and New York City moves forward on banning foie gras.Related LinksForum ThreadAssessing RiskDiscord ChatAssessing RiskBluesky PostAssessing RiskThings of the DayRym - Max don't have sex with your ex (NSFW)Scott - Glass Armonica (spinning glass bowls... that break)

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider puzzles in games. In the news, New York is suing Valve over illegal gambling, Valve's new hardware release timeline is heavily impacted by the RAM crisis but might still come in 2026, Blades 68 is launching (Rym was in the playtest), and Nintendo is suing the United States over our president's illegal tariffs.Related LinksForum ThreadPuzzles in GamesDiscord ChatPuzzles in GamesBluesky PostPuzzles in GamesThings of the DayRym - Introducing Reg!Scott - Modern Illustration

Tonight on GeekNights, we talk about the dangers of trying to mandate age verification on the Internet. In the news, Discord embarks on a disastrous age verification scheme, Anthropic is mad that other "AI" companies are using their product, and Goldman Sachs launches an AI-free index.Related LinksForum ThreadAge Verification on the InternetDiscord ChatAge Verification on the InternetBluesky PostAge Verification on the InternetThings of the DayRym - Unicode ExplorerScott - The Sharp PC-2000 Computer Boombox from 1979

Tonight on GeekNights, we talk about The Muppets. They were formative in the youth of our generation, and they are timeless. In the news, Ryan Dancey found out how little gamers like generative AI, the US president is about to attack Iran to distract from the Epstein files, and the Democrats have rightly denied the DHS funding until it reigns in ICE. Write your senators every day with a simple message: "abolish ICE."Related LinksForum ThreadThe MuppetsDiscord ChatThe MuppetsBluesky PostThe MuppetsThings of the DayRym - Every Time the Halo Saved a Driver's LifeScott - Flashpoint Archive

Tonight on GeekNights, we review Paris Connection, also known as SNCF: France & Germany. It's no 1817, but it's a distilled real train game that's worth playing. In the news, Overwatch 1 is back and Diablo 2 is back.Related LinksForum ThreadParis ConnectionDiscord ChatParis ConnectionBluesky PostParis ConnectionThings of the DayRym - Canada Curling ControverseyScott - Battlegroup Clash: Baltics

Tonight on GeekNights, we discuss our respective morning routines. How do you spend your mornings? In the news, skyrocketing RAM prices delay the Valve Steam Machine (along with the controller, and Steam Frame), NVIDIA isn't releasing new videocards for the same reason, bitcoin is (finally) collapsing, and someone left Horatio at the Goodwill.Related LinksForum ThreadOur Morning RoutinesDiscord ChatOur Morning RoutinesBluesky PostOur Morning RoutinesThings of the DayRym - The Bird Someone Has To Take When Your Aunt DiesScott - ReKindle

Tonight on GeekNights, we review the early access version of 9 Kings. It's got some good things going on. In the news, the Switch is now the highest selling Nintendo console and the Switch 2 is the fastest selling Nintendo console. Swords Without Master is launching more broadly, and Scott is considering running a game. Also Congress has a chance to dismantle ICE: Call your senators.Related LinksForum Thread9 Kings (early access)Discord Chat9 Kings (early access)Bluesky Post9 Kings (early access)Things of the DayRym - How to operate a Carbon ArcScott - Emudevc

Tonight on GeekNights, we discuss webcams. In the news, ICE murdered another person in broad daylight with video and witnesses, and Senate Democrats are willing to shut the government down over continued funding of ICE. Call your senators today. No funds for ICE: abolish, dismantle, and prosecute.In other news, Europe may ban Elon Musk's nonconsensual porn machine and France is planning to build a video conferencing tool to reduce dependence on American technology.Related LinksForum ThreadWebcamsDiscord ChatWebcamsBluesky PostWebcamsThings of the DayRym - RESOURCE: Just how advanced WERE the Maya?Scott - Ignoring Lithium Battery Safety Warnings.. For Science!

Tonight on GeekNights we review The Running Man (1987 film) starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Richard Dawson. In the news, the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO along with regional bodies throughout the state have called for statewide labor action in Minnesota over the brutality of ICE. The crazy house we rented once in Wildwood NJ is for sale, and the New York Sirens are on the verge of selling out MSG despite drawing tiny crowds in New Jersey (proving once again that few want to go to New Jersey on purpose).Related LinksForum ThreadThe Running Man (1987 Arnold Version)Discord ChatThe Running Man (1987 Arnold Version)Bluesky PostThe Running Man (1987 Arnold Version)Things of the DayRym - Puppet tests from Fantastic Mr FoxScott - “Food JPEGs” in Super Smash Bros & Kirby Air Riders

Tonight on GeekNights, we review Big Shot (2001). If you want some vicious auctions this is the game for you. In the news, the United States is in extreme crisis threatening to invade Greenland, invade Minnesota, terrorize the city of Minneapolis, and end the global world order as we know it. Also Mothership has good videogame journalism. Call your reps to tell them to defund ICE.Related LinksForum ThreadBig Shot (2001)Discord ChatBig Shot (2001)Bluesky PostBig Shot (2001)Things of the DayRym - Here's Why New Year's Eve is Bad NowScott - Multi-Year Diary Gate

Tonight on GeekNights, we review a card game called Magic: The Gathering. It's 32 years old, so you may not have heard of it. In the news, gamers don't like generative AI and The Game Awards happened. Rym posted his [video editing process](https://community.frontrowcrew.com/t/the-geeknights-lecture-video-process/3683 for producing GeekNights panel and lecture videos. We will be live at Super MAGFest 2026!Related LinksForum ThreadMagic: The Gathering (1993)Discord ChatMagic: The Gathering (1993)Bluesky PostMagic: The Gathering (1993)Things of the DayRym - The Shoebody BopScott - The Big Laugh 1 Hour Better Loop

Tonight on the GeekNights Book Club, we discuss Jacqueline Harpman's phenomenal I Who Have Never Known Men.I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman is a dystopian sci-fi novel. It was originally written in French and published in 1995. It was not very well known until recently it surged in popularity.This renewed interest in the book is not unfounded. Although it is only thirty years old, I was convinced it was at least twenty years older. It reads much like the foundational dystopian sci-fi novels like 1984, Fahrenheit 451, or Brave New World.It tells the story of a woman who has lived her entire life in a prison. She has no memory of anything else. In the prison cell are only women. The other women do remember life before the prison, but nothing else. They don’t know why they are there, and assume they will never be let out. From that point, various events begin to unfold.Related LinksForum ThreadBook Club: I Who Have Never Known MenDiscord ChatBook Club: I Who Have Never Known MenBluesky PostBook Club: I Who Have Never Known Men

Tonight on GeekNights, we share our early thoughts on Dispatch and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. In the news, Frankfurt's Christmas market is lit, and the Netflix x Warner Brothers Discovery situation is even more dangerous than the baseline danger of capitalist consolidation of media.Related LinksForum ThreadInitial Thoughts on Dispatch and Metroid Prime 4Discord ChatInitial Thoughts on Dispatch and Metroid Prime 4Bluesky PostInitial Thoughts on Dispatch and Metroid Prime 4Things of the DayRym - Wabie - Crazy Beans!Scott - Flipbook of the Rings

Tonight on GeekNights we review the historical and topical 23 Knives (2025). It's worth playing, and Rym is probably going to buy it. In the news, PAX Unplugged 2025 was smooth as butter, Doodle Puzzle is a good idea that's hard to make work, Gingham is more vicious than it appears, and Scott surprisingly is enjoying Octopath Traveler.Related LinksForum Thread23 KnivesDiscord Chat23 KnivesBluesky Post23 KnivesThings of the DayRym - VillainessScott - So After 8 Years, I Released Super Dram World 3

Tonight on GeekNights we review Ugo Bienvenu's Arco (2025). Set in the future and the far future, it's a very French Science Fiction animated feature that's definitely worth seeing. In the news, we'll be at PAX Unplugged this weekend, as will the Night Market, and the Internet relies too much on one service.Related LinksForum ThreadArco (2025)Discord ChatArco (2025)Bluesky PostArco (2025)Things of the DayRym - Why Can’t We Fix NYC’s Penn Station?Scott - Coding Trance Music