Popzara Podcast

Article: Warhammer 40000: Rogue Trader

We should probably all get ready for the far future. There's a few options we can use to do that as far as media go, and I think we should probably go with The Jetsons.

Article: Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince

There's no reason to be a hardware snob. Well, okay, that's a lie - better gaming hardware tends to yield better performance and thus a better experience.

Article: Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

License-based games get a bad rap, and they by and large get it for good reason. For a while there, the only really great movie-based games were.

Professor Bernard Schweizer Talks Heresy Press, Diversity of Expression, and Nothing Sacred

Our guest on this literary episode of the Popzara Podcast is Dr. Bernard Schweizer, Professor Emeritus of English at Long Island University, who joins our own book nerd Nathan Evans to talk about the formation of Heresy Press, his new publishing outlet designed to "give oxygen to unfettered creativity and to provide a home for authors and books that are not currently favored through the conventional publishing channels."

They also discuss Heresy’s debut release, Nothing Sacred: Outspoken Voices in Contemporary Fiction, an anthology of 12 original stories from an eclectic collection of authors whose only commonality is fearlessness.

Dr. Bernard and Nathan also chat about the importance of freedom of speech in a world increasingly given into tribalism, Pen America's worrying analysis on the publishing industry's "booklash", avoiding left/right labels, censorship by exclusion, navigating and avoiding destructive negativity on social media, the growing dissatisfaction with identity politics (exemplified in recent works like R.F. Kuang's Yellowface and the Jeffrey Wright-starring American Fiction), and much more.

Article: Tram Simulator - Urban Transit

Astragon Entertainment seems to be the leader of most of the successful simulation games out there. They’ve now turned their attention to the world of Trams in their latest release, Tram Simulator - Urban Transit.

Article: Police Simulator: Patrol Officers

When Police Simulator: Patrol Officers hit the streets last year, it had its fair share of problems, but most who played were treated with a nice simulation of what it’s like to be a police officer on the streets. From writing tickets to interviewing witnesses to solve various crimes, it felt like you were making a difference in your neighborhood.

Article: Merry Little Batman (2023)

I have to admit, when I first came across Merry Little Batman on Amazon Prime and saw it’s wacky artstyle and animation, I wasn’t too impressed and was quick to look the other way. After sitting down and giving it a chance however, it turned out to be one of the most fun and funny films I’ve seen this year, as well as being a Batman story the whole family is sure to enjoy.

Article: The Boy and the Heron (2023)

Is there anything in the world more full of hope and wonder than a Studio Ghibli film directed by Hayao Miyazaki? Perhaps that’s why fans were so sad when Hayao Miyazaki announced his (most recent) retirement back in 2013, and even more overjoyed when he reversed his decision (yet again) three years later and began working on The Boy and the Heron (Kimitachi wa Do Ikiru ka/How Do You Live for those who prefer the Japanese title). Supposedly Miyazaki’s swan song - a fitting term, seeing as how birds are so central to the story - the film tries to recapture the magic Studio Ghibli - and the great director himself - is known for.

Article: Gunnar Loki: Asgard Edition Glasses

I’m a big fan of actor Tom Hiddleston as he captured everyone’s attention when he took on the role of Loki in the MCU and became a dominating force in it over a decade ago. Now that he’s conquering the small screen in the Loki TV series, Gunnar is bringing his sly style to this realm with the Gunnar Loki: Asgard Edition Glasses.

Article: Gunnar Assassin’s Creed: Mirage Edition Glasses

While I didn’t become a true fan of the Assassin’s Creed games until Origins came about, I’m all on board with the series and couldn’t wait to play the latest entry, Assassin's Creed Mirage that takes the franchise back to its roots with a bigger focus on stealth and finding multiple ways to take out a target. Famed glasses maker Gunnar Optiks are on board with the newest game too with one of their latest products, the Gunnar Assassin's Creed: Mirage Edition Glasses.

Article: Dakar Desert Rally

I remember reading about the Dakar Desert Rally game series some time ago and always wanted to give it a try. Saber Interactive’s latest debuted October last year to a good but very rough start, and now they’re back with extensive updates, bug fixes, and some new vehicles in tow to give rally racers a new, desert racing experience.

Article: Saltburn (2023)

It’s often said that obsession can be a double-edged sword, capable of both driving greatness and fueling destruction. Saltburn, writer/director Emerald Fennell's followup to her 2020 breakthrough Promising Young Woman, explores the dark side of obsession, delving into a world where class, privilege, and unchecked desires intertwine with devastating consequences.

Article: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

The Internet, particularly in the gaming sphere, has always had a sort of unwritten code of opinions you're required to have to participate in "polite society." There was a brief period where you weren't allowed to like JRPGs, for instance, and one later on where you weren't allowed to criticize Kickstarter; we're talking about that kind of thing.

Article: The Mysteries (2023)

It’s been almost 30 years since cartoonist Bill Watterson stepped away from producing Calvin and Hobbes, and the world still doesn’t seem to be over it. With the exception of the occasional interview or cartooning themed fundraising effort, he’s become the most famous artistic recluse since J.

Article: Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Happy 70th anniversary to Godzilla! It’s been quite a ride - smooth, bumpy, and otherwise - but the King of Monsters remains a cultural juggernaut to this day that shows no signs of slowing down. Naturally, this milestone is being celebrated with a brand new film that looks back to the franchise’s humble beginnings.