Geeknights With Rym + Scott

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 LinksForum ThreadThe Discoverability ProblemDiscord ChatThe Discoverability ProblemBluesky PostThe Discoverability ProblemThings of the DayRym - I Drove to Every McDonald's in AmericaScott - FamiTracker

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 LinksForum ThreadPower Grid: OutpostDiscord ChatPower Grid: OutpostBluesky PostPower Grid: OutpostThings of the DayRym - How To Cliff Jump - Tutorial for BeginnersScott - Solving the World's Oldest Board Game

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 LinksForum ThreadSakamoto DaysDiscord ChatSakamoto DaysBluesky PostSakamoto DaysThings of the DayRym - You must hideScott - Vietnamese Graphic Design

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 LinksForum ThreadMIDIDiscord ChatMIDIBluesky PostMIDIThings of the DayWater your yard FOR FREE !!!Rym - Sound Blaster AWE32 2MB (MIDI bank)Scott - Heated Driveway in Buffalo

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 LinksForum ThreadWindows 11Discord ChatWindows 11Bluesky PostWindows 11Things of the DayRym - SS United States — finally — departs South PhillyScott - Dragonsweeper

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 LinksForum ThreadRetirementDiscord ChatRetirementBluesky PostRetirementThings of the DayRym - 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 experiment. Rym is writing new rules in an attempt to refurbish this old game. Comments appreciated!In the news, the Four Nations Face-Off has been lit, the Nintendo Switch 2 is coming, Nintendo is dropping their coupon pricing, we're playing the newly released Civilization VII to prepare a grand review, Magic: The Gathering announces Final Fantasy commander decks, and NetEase fired the people who made the hit game Marvel Rivals..Related LinksForum ThreadShogun (1986)Discord ChatShogun (1986)Bluesky PostShogun (1986)Things of the DayRym - Someone Beat the Donkey Kong Kill ScreenScott - HACKED DOUBLE T

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 LinksDiscord ChatElectronic PaymentsForum ThreadElectronic PaymentsBluesky PostElectronic PaymentsThings of the DayRym - Sounds between the Crowns (2020)Scott - Destroying and Reprogramming the Sprite Engine of Ghosts 'n Goblins

Tonight on GeekNights, we review Ryan North's Fantastic Four (2022). It's kind of fantastic. In the news, Diamond Distributors is dead and AnimeNEXT appears to be dead.Related LinksForum ThreadFantastic Four (2022)Discord ChatFantastic Four (2022)Bluesky PostFantastic Four (2022)Things of the DayRym - The Union Pacific Big BoyScott - Landing the Nostromo

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider all the ways to sell software. From shareware to software-as-a-service to "just buying it" it's evolved quite a bit over the years. In the news, CES happened, Republicans killed net neutrality, and Pornhub is blocked in the entire US south. Also we will be live at MAGFest, which is imminently about to sell out.Related LinksForum ThreadWays to Sell SoftwareDiscord ChatWays to Sell SoftwareBluesky PostWays to Sell SoftwareThings of the DayRym - Rondò Veneziano - La SerenissimaScott - Blade Runner-Electric Unicorn fan release- deleted scenes

Tonight on GeekNights we review Moorland (2023). We played it twice at PAX Unplugged and it's a solid game with two novel mechanics. In the news, New York's congestion relief pricing is already fantastic, Valve makes insane money per employee, and two Gundam tabletop games are coming.Related LinksDiscord ChatMoorland (2023)Forum ThreadMoorland (2023)Bluesky PostMoorland (2023)Things of the DayRym - Temperate Lake Dashboard SimulatorScott - Obsolete Sony

Tonight on GeekNights, we talk about Terminals. From the VT100 to any modern Terminal Emulator, they are still a part of the computing world and are worth knowing about. In the news, Jimmy Carter has died at 100, Chinese state-sponsored hackers attacked the US Treasury, and a hero has defeated a fake Nintendo lawyer.Related LinksDiscord ChatTerminalsForum ThreadTerminalsBluesky PostTerminalsThings of the DayRym - LineScott - Natural Number Game

Tonight on GeekNights, we talk about fear. Rym was on a panel about fear at PAX South back in 2016, plus a video essay. In the news, it turns out Santa Claus is a myroblyte, ChatGPT went down, Russia shot down another commercial airliner, and Finland seized a Russian sabotage tanker.Related LinksDiscord ChatFearForum ThreadFearBluesky PostFearThings of the DayRym - Caga Tió de NadalScott - What Happened to the World's Largest Tube TV?

Tonight on GeekNights, we talk about drones. In the news, the common clay of the New West think they're seeing nefarious drones everywhere and we have WordPress vs WP Engine.Related LinksForum ThreadDronesDiscord ChatDronesBluesky PostDronesThings of the DayRym - 1-900-490-FREAKScott - Elevator Music

Tonight on GeekNights, we talk about knives. Learn to use the right knife for the right task with the right technique in the kitchen, and your life will be better. Also learn how to care for them. In the news, the assassination of a health insurance CEO brought a deep simmering anger to the surface of American society, surprising many, and the Interstella 5555 "remaster" isn't.Related LinksForum ThreadKnivesDiscord ChatKnivesBluesky PostKnivesThings of the DayRym - Restored - Star Trek The Animated Series Public Service AdScott - Lord of the Maps

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider PAX Unplugged 2024. It was a top tier PAX. In the news, the Rangers aren't doing well, Marvel Overwatch is exactly what it looks like, and Fortnite has to pay back the kids it ripped off.Related LinksForum ThreadPAX Unplugged 2024Discord ChatPAX Unplugged 2024Bluesky PostPAX Unplugged 2024Things of the DayRym - when the solo is so good the band forgets to finishScott - IMG_0001

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider blogging. In the news, Roblox is making a closed ecosystem Discord competitor, the US gave Intel a pile of money, and Intel's CEO hit the bricks. Rym has also consolidated all of his social media into rym.social and talks about how he set up cross-posting across microblog, Mastodon, and Bluesky.Related LinksForum ThreadBlogsDiscord ChatBlogsBluesky PostBlogsThings of the DayRym - Staring at Rupees for 17 hoursScott - The Network of Time

Tonight on GeekNights, we review Obelus. A re-implementation of Dark Spires designed by Chris A. Williams, it's a quick abstract two-player game that's worth having in your bag. In the news, The Magic Commander Format, recently embroiled in capitalist drama, is getting a digital version, and the itch.io Creator Day sale is this Friday!Related LinksForum ThreadObelus (2024)Discord ChatObelus (2024)Bluesky PostObelus (2024)Things of the DayRym - DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO 10, 11, 12, & 13Scott - Tony Hawk wanted to track down a mysterious skateboarder from 1979

Tonight on GeekNights, we review the remake of Ranma 1/2. It's a solid remake of the classic anime based on the classic manga by Rumiko Takahashi. In the news, stay strong as the fascists take control of the US government, and Sony is trying to buy Kadokawa.Related LinksForum ThreadRanma 1/2 (2024)Discord ChatRanma 1/2 (2024)Things of the DayRym - The Ghosts of Misery MireScott - curl -v https://google.com

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the humble tradition of carving pumpkins. You may recall in 2006 when we reviewed Pumpkin Scissors or our review of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, but we have never dedicated an entire episode to the carving of pumpkins.In the news, tonight is the 19th anniversary of GeekNights. (The brave can listen to the remastered pre-launch beta episodes (with commentary)). Also jaywalking is no longer illegal in New York.Related LinksForum ThreadPumpkin CarvingDiscord ChatPumpkin CarvingThings of the DayRym - Megilat Ḥam-Ed — the Scroll of the Steamed Portions of ChamScott - What is the first American graphic novel?