Tonight is a very special GeekNights. This is our 20th anniversary stream. GeekNights began on October 31 2005 and has continued for 20 years with no real breaks. We did a series of "beta" episodes even earlier to work out the show format and learn how to podcast. We've done 317 talks at conventions. We had a massive forum which we replaced with a smaller forum. And somehow we're still going!Related LinksForum ThreadGeekNights 20th Anniversary Special!Discord ChatGeekNights 20th Anniversary Special!Bluesky PostGeekNights 20th Anniversary Special!Things of the DayRym - Otakon 2006 - THE MUSIC VIDEOScott - WNUF Halloween Special

Tonight on GeekNights, we talk about when one messes up the rules in games. In the news, EA is being aquired by Trump-linked private equity, and VRChat has recaptured some of the magic of the Old Internet.Related LinksForum ThreadMessing Up the RulesDiscord ChatMessing Up the RulesBluesky PostMessing Up the RulesThings of the DayRym - Project Gemini: The Most Dangerous Space ProgramScott - MESSENGER

Tonight on GeekNights, we discuss tech bubbles like the Dot-com bubble. Unrelatedly here's a video by Hank Green titled The State of the AI Industry is Freaking Me Out, and a video by Adam Conover titled Sora Proves the AI Bubble Is Going to Burst So Hard. In the news, nearly 7 million Americans marched in defense of democracy, Amazon AWS went down Sunday night reminding us how fragile the Internet has become, and the end of Windows 10 shouldn't be ignored.Related LinksForum ThreadTech BubblesDiscord ChatTech BubblesBluesky PostTech BubblesThings of the DayRym - The Hammond A-100 OrganScott - Mac Source Ports

Tonight on the GeekNights Book Club, we discuss Stephen King's Richard Bachman's The Running Man (1982). In 2025, the world's economy is in shambles, and America has become a totalitarian dystopia. The better-known Arnold movie is loosely based on it, though thematically it was spot-on. The 2025 Edgar Wright film will be much closer to the original. In the news, No Kings Day is October 18th: find the march nearest you! The next GeekNights book club book will be I Who Have Never Known Men.Related LinksForum ThreadBook Club: The Running Man (1982)Discord ChatBook Club: The Running Man (1982)Bluesky PostBook Club: The Running Man (1982)Things of the DayRym - DC Juries Refuse to Indict ProtestorsScott - The Most Important Device in the Universe

Tonight on GeekNights, we discuss fitness tech like heart rate monitors and Strava and Dance Dance Revolution. In the news, Tik Tok has a dubious deal to keep operating in the US and the regime has plans for the algorithm. Also go see Perfect Blue remastered while you can. And read The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.Related LinksForum ThreadFitness TechDiscord ChatFitness TechBluesky PostFitness TechThings of the DayRym - KNIGHTS OF GUINEVERE: PILOTScott - 86box

Tonight on GeekNights, we review The Gang, a fantastic cooperative tabletop game about pulling bank heists by ranking poker hands. In the news, there's lots to say about the Nintendo Direct, Borderlands 4 has angered gamers with its poor performance and Gearbox isn't handling it super well. 'Pitchford told people to “code your own engine and show us how it’s done, please,” and declared Borderlands 4 “a premium game made for premium gamers” whatever that means.Related LinksForum ThreadThe GangDiscord ChatThe GangBluesky PostThe GangThings of the DayRym - Hammer of Justice - Deltarune Gerson Fight AnimationScott - Vintage Computer Festival East XX walk around w/ commentary

Tonight on GeekNights, we talk about specific mice. Mice we've used over the years, since the days of balls. In the news, Google dodges consequences in the US but not in the EU, Google is sued yet again for their advertising monopoly, and Google is looking to flood the phone lines of tiny businesses.Related LinksForum ThreadSpecific MiceDiscord ChatSpecific MiceBluesky PostSpecific MiceThings of the DayRym - Ti-85 Megademo (Calculator demonstration)Scott - The Old Robots Web Site

Tonight on GeekNights, we talk about the modern marvel that is video chat. In the news, Perplexity is using undeclared crawlers to scrape content, Samsung has a crazy Micro LED TV, real life ad block is possible, and Trump is forming the American SS. The next GeekNights Book Club book will be The Running Man, by Richard Backman, who you may know better as Stephen King.Related LinksForum ThreadVideo Chat and TeleconferencingDiscord ChatVideo Chat and TeleconferencingBluesky PostVideo Chat and TeleconferencingThings of the DayRym - Survival food - dandelion seedsScott - blahaj goes to waffle house at 3am

Tonight on GeekNights, we share our thoughts on Donkey Kong Bananza. In the news, Gamescom happened, PAX West badges aren't sold out, and you should see The Relationship Between Game Design and Art Direction with Naoki Yoshida and Hiroshi Minagawa.Related LinksForum ThreadDonkey Kong BananzaDiscord ChatDonkey Kong BananzaBluesky PostDonkey Kong BananzaThings of the DayRym - Babalu MusicScott - Lone Wolf

Tonight on GeekNights, we discuss audio interfaces. Rym uses a PreSonus Studio 1810c to record GeekNights, and as his general purpose "sound card" in the studio. In the news, the CEO of GitHub steps down, you can consider Forgejo if that worries you, Reddit will block the Internet Archive, and Trump illegally forces the National Guard to deploy to the streets of Washington DC.Related LinksForum ThreadComputer Audio InterfacesDiscord ChatComputer Audio InterfacesBluesky PostComputer Audio InterfacesThings of the DayRym - Map of Queens NY, ExplainedScott - The Pianolizer

Tonight on the GeekNights Book Club, we discuss Alex Michaelide' The Silent Patient. It's a fine mystery novel, and we both enjoyed our time with it. In the news, Texas Democrats have fled the state in a bit to fight fascism, and Disney's ESPN acquires the NFL Network in the continued consolidation of all sports media into one big casino. If you enjoy GeekNights panels and lectures, here's a list of all 315 we've done to date!Related LinksForum ThreadGeekNights Book Club: The Silent PatientDiscord ChatGeekNights Book Club: The Silent PatientBluesky PostGeekNights Book Club: The Silent PatientThings of the DayRym - Nail gun trick in sync - Penn & Teller are professionalsScott - Yorkshire’s Largest Old Penny Arcade

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the popularity of anime over time. In the news, CITY The Animation continues to crush it, it's GUNDAM season, The Boy and The Beast is pin theaters August 18th[(https://www.cartoonbrew.com/anime/mamoru-hosoda-the-boy-and-the-beast-theaterical-release-crunchyroll-248944.html?cbtr=LATPOS), and expect this The Bad Guys 2 anti-AI statement to appear in more movie credits.Related LinksForum ThreadThe Popularity of Anime Over TimeDiscord ChatThe Popularity of Anime Over TimeBluesky PostThe Popularity of Anime Over TimeThings of the DayRym - Raw Otakon 2002 FootageScott - Archived Geocities Tiles

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider fancy restaurants. In the news, noted racist Terry Bollea has died at 71, Donald Trump is getting even more dangerously unhinged than usual, and the Canada World Junior assault case has ended. Here is a list of every significant lecture or panel that Rym and Scott have ever done, going back to the year 2002.Related LinksForum ThreadFancy RestaurantsDiscord ChatFancy RestaurantsBluesky PostFancy RestaurantsThings of the DayRym - Secret Train Station ApartmentsScott - IAMMP Piano Roll Archive

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider Tower Defense games like the famous Desktop Tower Defense (2007). In the news, Ozzy Osbourne made it to 76, the PS5 Store is full of AI slop, Steam is caught up in the war on "pornography", and Deltarune is fantastic. Rym's solo version of Every Game is the Same Game from Zenkaikon is live!Related LinksForum ThreadTower Defense GamesDiscord ChatTower Defense GamesBluesky PostTower Defense GamesThings of the DayRym - 1984 TSR D&D Role Playing Games CommercialScott - Card Game Rules

Tonight on GeekNights, we review Keiichi Arawi's City the Animation. It's delightful; we reviewed the manga in 2018. In the news, Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a surprisingly popular game, though we had a meh opinion of the anime it's based on.Related LinksForum ThreadCity the Animation (2025)Discord ChatCity the Animation (2025)Bluesky PostCity the Animation (2025)Things of the DayRym - Most Iconic Plugin of all TimeScott - Pigeon Won't Let Man Take A Shower

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 LinksForum ThreadWhy there's no big tech newsDiscord ChatWhy there's no big tech newsBluesky PostWhy there's no big tech newsThings of the DayRym - The ‘Goal’ That Changed The NHL ForeverScott - Hot Spring Shark Attack

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 being.Related LinksForum ThreadEverything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York CommuneDiscord ChatEverything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York CommuneBluesky PostEverything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York CommuneThings of the DayRym - dogs with a loving family when the frontdoor is slightly openScott - ET Book is a Bembo-like font

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 LinksForum ThreadAuction and Bidding MechanicsDiscord ChatAuction and Bidding MechanicsBluesky PostAuction and Bidding MechanicsThings of the DayRym - I turned down a [REDACTED] showScott - PAC-MAN Superfast!

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 LinksForum ThreadThe Wild Robot (2024)Discord ChatThe Wild Robot (2024)Bluesky PostThe Wild Robot (2024)Things of the DayRym - ReBoot - CGI making of (1994)Scott - Caveat Emptor

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 LinksForum ThreadBlinky LightsDiscord ChatBlinky LightsBluesky PostBlinky LightsThings of the DayRym - NHL: Refs Mic'd Up Part 2Scott - Balatro for the Nintendo E-Reader