A-Z Geek (A): Game Over, Man!

Welcome to the A-Z Challenge where I’ll be posting six days a week during April (gasp!), advancing a letter of the alphabet per day. My theme for the challenge will be my version of all things geek. Long before it became cool, I was a geek. I tried to hide it, but the geek in me burst out. When my friends loved parties, sunbaking and shopping, I loved games, movies and books.

So, during this challenge I will share with you all the movies, books and games I watched, read and played--all the influences that turned me into the writer I am today.

MOVIES

Alien (1979): I watched this between my fingers, though this is not the first movie I watched this way. 

Aliens (1986): This movie had everything: the spectacular special effects, the tension, the cool characters, and the memorable one-liners, eg. ‘Game over, man!’ 

Anime: I first discovered anime at a comic book convention. The cartoon violence came as a complete shock at the time, but I soon realised anime had a whole lot more to offer. Movies include, Ghost In The Shell, Howl's Moving Castle, Cowboy Bebop, and a bunch I couldn’t name. 


BOOKS

Amtrak Wars by Patrick Tilley (1985), a series of six books. I read mainly fantasy in my teens, but this was the first science fiction I completely devoured and loved. 

Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn (2003). This is feudal Japan written in a light, enjoyable style.


GAMES
Asteroids, the arcade game released in 1979. I dropped many a coin into this one. No one minded the terrible graphics. Cutting edge! It’s a game that’s still well loved and can be played for free online now. 

Air hockey, invented 1969-1972. This game was pure genius. I regularly came home from the arcade with bruises over my hands from the pucks. 

Angry Birds, released in 2009. I never grew out of my geek. Game playing isn't even considered that geeky anymore. This game is horribly addictive and amusing.

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Did you ever hide your inner geek? Did you indulge in any of these? What are some other ‘A’ movies, books, games or activities you loved?

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A big THANK YOU to Arlee Bird who began the A-Z Challenge four years ago. I bet you didn't imagine this challenge would grow so big when you first began it.


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