Gaming – Page 30 – ÜberSciFiGeek

Go Fish! British Columbia: Wildlife Edition

Kermode Kids, a family-run company based in Kamloops, BC, Canada, brings their slogan, “Exploring nature, Expanding horizons”, to life with their inaugural game, Go Fish! British Columbia: Wildlife Edition. This card game is a variant of the original Go Fish!, with 13 animals — Black Bear, Wolverine, American Badger, Mountain Caribou, Cougar, Grizzly Bear, Mountain Goat, Grey Wolf, Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Canada Lynx, Vancouver Island Marmot, and Elk — representative of the westernmost province of Canada taking the place of the usual fish. (One quibble this review’s playtesters had: where’s the national animal of Canada, the beaver?) The cards are illustrated by Chemainus, BC, artist Michael Hames and feature fun educational facts written by BC biologists about each of the game’s animals.

From the game:

“Wild British Columbia” — It is an image that visitors and residents alike embrace and hope to experience. Hiking through the fragrant, blossom-wrapped meadows of the high-country, kayaking alongside the mystical viewscapes of the Pacific Ocean, sitting in serenity among the majestic and primevel coastal forests: these are just a few of the wonderful and memorable vignettes that British Columbia has to offer.

From the wet and wild, west coast to the dry and dusty deserts, from the low-lying lakes and rivers to the high, rugged mountain peaks, this coastal province offers a wide range of homes to a wide range of animals. In fact, almost one third of all the black bears in Canada live in British Columbia! Often called the Serengeti of the North, northern British Columbia in particular is home to an amazing concentration of large mammals, like mountain sheep, bears, elk, wolves and caribou. In a country renowned for its wilderness, British Columbia is truly the jewel in Canada’s crown.

Go Fish! British Columbia: Wildlife Edition supports 2-6 players, ages 4 and up, and is a fast and easy game to learn and play, with thick, glossy cards that will stand up to constant use. A suggested gameplay alternative, to slow down the lightning pace of the game and take greater advantage of the scientific information it contains, is to have the players read aloud the fact write-ups on their cards when they complete animal sets; children too young to read can substitute by making animal sounds.

Upcoming from Kermode Kids:
Old Maid! British Columbia: Bird Edition (November 15, 2008)

Which bird uses swim goggles to see underwater? And who puts glue at their door to keep unwanted guests out? Find out by playing Old Maid! British Columbia, featuring 14 members of British Columbia’s bird community. With 14 vibrant illustrations by a BC artist and 27 memorable fun-facts written by BC biologists, this card game will be a hit with adults and children alike. Each deck includes a “How to Play” card.

Both of these environmentally-minded games would make perfect British Columbian souvenirs, or inexpensive stocking stuffers and gifts to mail this holiday season.

Order directly through the Kermode Kids website.

Go Fish! British Columbia: Wildlife Edition and Old Maid! British Columbia: Bird Edition are distributed by Kermode Kids, a division of KermodeKids Ventures Ltd.

LucasArts and BioWare Reveal Star Wars: The Old Republic

from StarWars.com:

LucasArts and BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced the development of Star Wars®: The Old Republic™, a story-driven massively multiplayer online PC game set in the timeframe of the Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™ franchise. Star Wars: The Old Republic, being developed and published by BioWare and LucasArts, represents an innovative approach to interactive entertainment, featuring immersive storytelling, dynamic combat and intelligent companion characters.

In Star Wars: The Old Republic, players will explore an age thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader when war between the Old Republic and the Sith Empire divides the galaxy. Players can choose to play as Jedi, Sith, or a variety of other classic Star Wars roles, defining their personal story and determining their path down the light or dark side of the Force. Along the way, players will befriend courageous companions who will fight at their side or possibly betray them, based on the players’ actions. Players can also choose to team up with friends to battle enemies and overcome incredible challenges using dynamic Star Wars combat.

“Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is the most critically acclaimed Star Wars game in LucasArts history and a preeminent example of our company’s interactive storytelling heritage,” said Darrell Rodriguez, President of LucasArts. “For a long time, we’ve long wanted to return to the franchise in a grand way, and we felt that the best setting for it was an online world that would allow millions of people to participate in the experience together. We knew that the developer capable of working with us to deliver an engrossing story with a fully-realized online world was BioWare.”

“Traditionally, massively multiplayer online games have been about three basic gameplay pillars — combat, exploration and character progression,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, Co-Founder and General Manager/CEO of BioWare and General Manager/Vice President of Electronic Arts Inc., “In Star Wars: The Old Republic, we’re fusing BioWare’s heritage of critically-acclaimed storytelling with the amazing pedigree of Lucasfilm and LucasArts, and adding a brand-new fourth pillar to the equation — story. At the same time, we will still deliver all the fun features and activities that fans have come to expect in a AAA massively multiplayer online game. To top it all off, Star Wars: The Old Republic is set in a very exciting, dynamic period in the Star Wars universe.”

Added Dr. Greg Zeschuk, Co-Founder and Vice President Development Operations, BioWare and Vice President, Electronic Arts Inc., “Star Wars: The Old Republic is set roughly 300 years after the events of Knights of the Old Republic, a timeframe that is completely unexplored in the lore. BioWare has been able to add to the Star Wars history in developing the game’s story and has created an overarching narrative that players can enjoy, regardless of their play style. Our goal is to offer players an emotionally rewarding experience that combines the traditional elements of MMO gameplay with innovations in story and character development.”

Additional details on Star Wars: The Old Republic features, gameplay and release date will be announced at a later time. For more information about Star Wars: The Old Republic and to sign up for future product updates, please visit StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations with Dead People” Board

Dark Horse Deluxe has given the traditional Ouija, or spirit, board a Buffy the Vampire Slayer-style makeover, the end result being the stunning Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations with Dead People” Board.

What is more conducive to speaking to the spirits than a game board based on the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer? In the tradition of the Sunnydale Hellmouth, through which countless entities gained entry, let voices from the other side move the planchette along the board, choosing letters and numbers to answer your queries. Follow in the footsteps of Willow and hone your witchy skills, learning to communicate with the beyond!*

*Game board for entertainment purposes only.

Aside from its obvious gaming use, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations with Dead People” Board makes the perfect accessory for Buffy cosplayers; add a few candles and crystals, and the scene is set to play Willow Rosenberg, resident witch of the Buffyverse’s Scooby Gang. Propped up on a shelf, the board would also make a gorgeous backdrop for a display of Buffy collectibles.

The effort Dark Horse put into making the Buffy Board an exceptional product is especially evident in the planchette, whose gold-and-black pressed board construction is far more solid and attractive than the flimsy plastic planchettes often packaged with spirit boards. Its smooth rubber feet glide well over the board’s surface, and have greater durability than the felt pads on cheaper models. Recognizable Buffy icons, such as Buffy’s Claddagh ring and Slayer’s Scythe, subtly adorn the board and its elegant box, and the instruction sheet included is — naturally, for Dark Horse Comics — designed as a page from a comic book, with all-new art and very amusing expository dialogue from characters Willow, Dawn, and Xander.

Recommended for ages 14 and up.

Order now at Amazon.com:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations with Dead People” Board

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Conversations with Dead People” Board is distributed by Dark Horse Deluxe, a division of Dark Horse Comics. For more Buffy the Vampire Slayer information, visit Dark Horse Comics’ Buffy Zone.

Asmodée Loses an Accent and Gets a Refreshing Change with a New Logo

from Asmodee Editions:

When does a logo change? When it no longers reflects the reality of its company. This was the case of the old Asmodée logo — with its old dragon scales inherited from the old RPG roots of Asmodée and its distinctively French accents, this logo no longer quite reflected this company has recently become:

Asmodee is now open to all sorts of games (from the light-hearted party gane to the strategy game, that’s without talking about licences, collectible card games and miniature games) and to players of all ages (the fabled 9 to 99), and is closer than ever to people with a presence at conventions throughout the year.

And mostly, Asmodee, through its branches across the world (Belgium, Germany, Spain, U.S.A.) is now planning and acting like a world leader when it comes to gaming. This is why we needed to no longer talk one language, but many of them — removing our “frenchy” accents to have a more universal “Asmodee” which can be read (and pronounced).

This is our new and improved logo, more fun and now with 100% more smiles, more open to the world, which is closer to what is Asmodee and what it wants you to discover.

The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow

If you’re having a party with a spooky theme, and are looking for a game that a large group of people can play, The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow from Asmodee Editions makes for a howling good time. The premise of this murder mystery-style game is simple: townsfolk versus werewolves. As the box states, “The small town of Miller’s Hollow has become infested with werewolves. The townsfolk must take immediate action and eradicate this menace before they are all devoured… Who are you? Werewolf or townsperson? You will secretly receive a character card. Once you know your identity, you are all under the control of the game moderator. You’re a werewolf — Your goal: By night, devour villagers. By day, try your best to “pass” as an honest citizen. You’re a townsperson — Your goal: To discover the werewolves and to persuade the other players to eliminate them (while avoiding being suspected yourself). Your task is a difficult one! Fortunately, certain villagers have special abilities: the Fortune Teller, the Hunter, the Witch… They will help you to fight the werewolves.”

There’s an expansion pack, New Moon, available to make The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow more complex. 36 event cards add exciting, random twists to the game, and there are 5 new characters: the Defender, the Elder, the Scapegoat, the Piper, and the Village Idiot. Game variants introduced in the New Moon rulebook include Moonlight (play outdoors in a magical ambiance), Community of Hamlets (up to 200 players at the same time), Harvest Festival (with strange alterations to the abilities), Double “You” (the villagers have double personalities), The Writing’s on the Wall, The Black Death, and Lycanthropic Fascination.

The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow supports 8-18 players, ages 10 and up. Game length: 20-30 minutes.

As a less-scary alternative for younger party guests, Asmodee Editions offers Wooly Bully, a colourful tile game for the entire family, ages 7 and up, that pits sheep against wolves. 2-4 players take on the role of shepherd and try to safely fence in as many sheep as possible, hindering opponents by preventing their flocks from becoming fully enclosed and placing wolf tiles near their fields. Tiles with hunters on them are used to foil the hungry wolves. Each of the four shepherd groups are clearly marked by colour — black, blue, red, and yellow sheep, each with slightly different shades of grass — and the sheep also have patterns on their fleece to help those players who don’t see colours well. These visual clues add a great deal to the beauty of the game’s art, as well as making tile identification easy for young players. There are a number of rules, but they are fairly straightforward; after a round or two with adult help, smaller children will be able to happily play on their own. Average playing time: 30 minutes.

Order now at Amazon.com:
The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow
The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow: New Moon, Expansion #1
Wooly Bully

Or order directly through the Asmodee Editions website.

The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow, New Moon, and Wooly Bully are distributed by Asmodee Editions (US), a subsidiary of Asmodee Editions (France). For more information on Wooly Bully, visit the official game website at Wooly Bully.

The Guild at Blizzcon

from The Guild:

The whole cast of The Guild will be attending Blizzcon Friday and Saturday! There will be a Guild panel from 1:30-2:30 PM on Saturday where we will preview Season 2 as well as answer questions about Season 1 and anything else the audience would like to hear!

Also, thanks to the kindness of Blizzard, we will have a booth set up where we will be selling DVDs and an Official Cast Photo, debuting at the con! All 6 main cast members will be hanging out, but will be specifically signing DVDs and Photos at the following times in the booth:
Friday 11 AM-1 PM
Saturday 3-5 PM

Please stop by and say hi, or catch us around Blizzcon!

Being Bladezz: Vincent Caso Talks About His Role on The Guild

Vincent Caso has had a stellar beginning to his acting career. After attending a school for the Arts, he decided at age 13 to become an actor. He quickly landed a role in the Jeremy Coon (Napoleon Dynamite) film American Fork, and soon after was chosen for the role of Bladezz in Felicia Day‘s The Guild. The Guild went on to become an Internet phenomenon, garnering praise and fan support from around the world, especially with MMORPG players. I had a brief opportunity to meet Vince at the California Browncoats booth at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con, where he spent a whirlwind of a weekend signing autographs and meeting fans. We only spoke for a few moments but he was a very friendly, polite, and kind young man… and TALL! Due to schedule changes I was unable to catch the entire cast together, but Vince was wonderful enough to answer some questions for us recently.

ÜberSciFiGeek (ÜSFG) Are you like your character, Bladezz, in any way?

Vincent Caso (VC) Not much. I’m sure there are one or two personality traits that we share. But I’m afraid that most of our similarities are purely physical.

(ÜSFG) Which character from The Guild do you identify with the most?

(VC) I’d have to say that I’m actually a wacky combination of Vork, Zaboo, and my own character. Though not exactly in that order. I’ve got some of the wackiness that Zaboo’s got, but sans the creepiness. And I’ve got some of the more formal aspects of Vork, but not quite as hardcore as him. And I’ve got a little bit of the personality of Bladezz, but sans the jerkiness (I’d like to think so, at least).

(ÜSFG) What is it like being the youngest cast member?

(VC) Haha, good question. The rest of the cast likes to poke fun sometimes, but it’s been all pretty cool. We joke about it occasionally (you’ll see a few playful jibes during the cast interviews in our Season 1 DVD), but they definitely don’t talk down to me or consider me just the “kid they’re working with”. They totally make me feel like one of the family.

(ÜSFG) Your first film was American Fork. What was it like working on that film?

(VC) It was a blast. Being my first official acting experience, it was all very new to me. But I learned a lot, got to know some wicked people, got to spend a month in the rather pleasant Salt Lake City, Utah, and generally had a good time.

(ÜSFG) What were the differences in production and feel on the set for American Fork and The Guild?

(VC) The Guild is all very casual, without being unprofessional. It’s a very relaxed atmosphere and really makes you feel at home. Nothing feels strict or uptight, it’s all very cool. And American Fork was much the same way. Of course there was a little more hustle-and-bustle due to the fact that it was a movie, we had more deadlines, some location constraints, some re-shoots, etc, but it was also a pretty chill experience. I’ve just been very fortunate to be a part of projects that have really cool people working on them, there’s never anyone who I have a beef with. And that makes a big difference in how fun and easy it is to work on a given set.

(ÜSFG) Do you have any other projects you are working on right now?

(VC) Not at the moment, but keep an eye out!

(ÜSFG) You also do card tricks and slight of hand. Is it a hobby or have you considered magic as a career?

(VC) At one time I had considered it to be my main focus, but it eventually just turned into a hobby. Of which I have several. It has sort of joined hands with hobbies like writing, martial arts, swing dancing, and rollerskating. (Didn’t see that one coming, did ya?)

(ÜSFG) What do you think of the response you’ve gotten from the success of The Guild?

(VC) I’m loving it! I was really blown away by what this all turned into. I mean, I knew it was a funny and cool show, but I just never thought that it might have become this when I signed on.

(ÜSFG) Are you getting recognized in public yet? Are there any “rabid fans” or funny stories yet?

(VC) It’s happened a few times, grocery stores, gyms, an In-N-Out, on the street, etc. No funny stories yet, though.

(ÜSFG) What did you think of San Diego Comic-Con? Was there anything or anyone there you were looking forward to seeing?

(VC) It was very fun, I loved the whole trip. Unfortunately I wasn’t aware of all the cool Q-and-A’s, screenings, and whatnot until like the last day, so I largely missed out.

(ÜSFG) I saw online that someone asked about Bladezz’ photos and you said they were taken for the show. Do you have any pictures from your actual portfolio you can share with your fans?

(VC) Well I don’t have a modeling portfolio or anything, but I’ve got a number of headshots. I don’t think any of my new ones are posted online yet, but I’ll look into getting some on my IMDb.

(ÜSFG) Have you started playing WoW again or are you still bored with it?

(VC) I quit cold turkey and never looked back, heh.

(ÜSFG) Is there an interview question you’ve never been asked about The Guild, but wish was asked?

(VC) I’ve never put much thought into that, I’ll have to get back to you when I think of something. 🙂

(ÜSFG) Anything else you want to share with the fans?

(VC) You dudes rock! And as corny as it may sound, we wouldn’t have much of a show without you. Keep on tuning in, we’ve got plenty of hilarious twists to await you in… Season 2. 😉 That’s all for now, guys!

Thank you, Vince, for taking the time to answer some of our questions!

Season 2 of The Guild is in preproduction, and is due to begin filming in the next few weeks. In the meantime, you can re-watch Season 1 of The Guild online at watchtheguild.com, or purchase the Season 1 DVD and other merchandise in The Guild‘s online store.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Are you such a devoted fan of The Legend of Zelda that you’ve played every game to completion (perhaps more than once), and read every related book in print? This October, VIZ Media comes to your rescue with an English adaptation of the Zelda manga to keep you immersed in the world of Hyrule.

The Legend of Zelda manga series, officially approved by Nintendo, began publication in Japan in February 2000 and covers nine of the most popular Zelda games. VIZ Media’s adaptation will mark the first time the fan-praised series has been officially released in English.

The first title set to be published in North America is Ocarina of Time, the dustjacket description of which reads, “In the mystical land of Hyrule, three spiritual stones hold the key to the Triforce, and whoever holds them will control the world. A boy named Link sets out on a quest to deliver the Emerald, the spiritual stone of the forest, to Zelda, Princess of the land of Hyrule. The journey will be long and perilous, and Link will need all his skill and courage to defeat evil. The battle for Hyrule and the Sacred Realm has begun!”

In Ocarina of Time , the adventures of the game’s hero, Link, are divided into two volumes — known as the “Child Saga” and the “Adult Saga” — that relate the story of how the young Link left his forest home and grew up in the process to become the destined Hero of Time. The story and art by Akira Himekawa, including the bonus preliminary sketches he did in preparation for the project, are consistently top-notch, and the books remain mostly true to the video game plot, occasionally adding extra material to expand upon or explain things from the game series. Ocarina of Time reads from right to left, as in the original Japanese book format, and is rated “A” for All Ages.

Now VIZ Media just needs to produce plush toys to accompany the Zelda manga. Cuddling an adorable little Link or Zelda doll while following their stories on the page would add a whole extra layer to the reading experience, and allow the reader to act out the cute crush between the two characters as portrayed in Ocarina of Time.

Pre-order at Amazon.com:
The Legend of Zelda , Vol. 1: Ocarina of Time, Part 1
The Legend of Zelda , Vol. 2: Ocarina of Time, Part 2

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time‘s English translation is distributed by VIZ Media. For more information on the full range of The Legend of Zelda titles, see Manga from The Legend of Zelda Series.

The Legend of Neil, a NSFW-rated Web series that spoofs The Legend of Zelda, is also recommended for adult Zelda fans. Its creator is Sandeep Parikh, who plays Zaboo in the award-winning Web series The Guild.

Igor

Igor — In Theaters September 19th (US) and October 17th (UK)

In a land of mad scientists and diabolical inventions, what do you do when you’re born with a hunch on your back?

You become an Igor.

A hilarious twist on the classic monster movie, Igor tells the story of one Igor who’s sick of being a lowly lab assistant with a Yes Master’s degree and dreams of becoming a scientist. When his cruel master kicks the bucket a week before the annual Evil Science Fair, Igor finally gets his chance.

With the help of two of his experimental creations — Brain, a brain in a jar who’s a little light on brains, and Scamper, a cynical bunny brought back from being road kill, Igor embarks on building the most evil invention of all time, a huge, ferocious monster. Unfortunately, instead of turning out evil, the monster turns out as Eva, a giant aspiring actress who wouldn’t hurt a fly.

Just when the load on his back can’t get any heavier, Igor and his band of monstrous misfits uncover an evil plot that threatens their world. Now, they must fight to save it and prove that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

Featuring the voice talents of John Cusack, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Jennifer Coolidge, Arsenio Hall, Sean Hayes, Eddie Izzard, Jay Leno, James Lipton, Molly Shannon and Christian Slater, Igor is the must-see family comedy of the fall.

Stargate Atlantis Ends as Stargate Universe Begins

In the wee hours of the morning Wednesday night, the news hit GateWorld: Stargate Atlantis will end this season. The collective outcry of fans began to pour out all over the Internet. “Nooooooo! Not again!” Time and time again, it seems that the best shows on television are dying young and in their prime. Fans already have a love-hate relationship with Sci Fi Channel and its parent company NBC because non-sci-fi content such as wrestling and poorly made “creature features” keep filling up time slots once occupied by very high-quality, well-written and well-acted science fiction shows. Somewhere along the way, the network seems to have forgotten that their name is “Sci Fi”. Just tossing a scaly mutated creature into a cheesy low budget horror flick does not make a sci-fi show. Big special effects do not replace good writing and acting. So here the fans are, once again feeling betrayed and suspiciously eyeing every other show they tune in to, wondering how long before the axe falls for them as well.

Fortunately, Stargate has already proved its staying power with the fans. With the success of direct-to-DVD films Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate: Continuum, a Stargate Atlantis film has already been discussed and now green-lighted. Brad Wright and Joseph Mallozzi were quick to comfort the fans with statements, and more information just keeps coming. A third Stargate series has been in the works for a few years now and, by making the move from television to DVD, the departure of Atlantis clears the way for Stargate Universe to be made. By 2009, we should be seeing Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis films direct-to-DVD, the Stargate Worlds MMORPG online, and Stargate Universe in production for Sci Fi Channel.

There’s no question that people love Stargate and that the fans are fiercely loyal. The question is how many fans are going to watch Universe after having SG-1 and Atlantis taken away in moves that seemed to be about money, not fans or ratings? A quick look at fan comments shows a huge negative response, with many claiming to wash their hands of the “Franchise” altogether. For many fans, it’s hard to reconcile the mixed feelings of hope and betrayal. It’s surprising, though, how negative and vehement the responses have been so far, with very few “silver lining” comments.

While producers seem to be trying to mend fences between fans and network, the decision to change the format of Atlantis is being called “mutual”. If events play out the way they did when Stargate SG-1 was “not renewed”, then Sci Fi Channel can look to lose even more viewers as fans boycott the network altogether by downloading their favorite shows directly from iTunes or Amazon Unbox to financially support the shows, rather then tuning in to the network which takes a bigger cut of the profits. The last boycott saw a huge number of fans writing letters to Sci Fi Channel’s sponsors explaining that their product was also being boycotted because of their association with the network.

Once again, this just goes to show that the fans, especially science fiction fans, are ready for a new format, a new delivery system. When Sanctuary launched on the Internet last summer, it may not have gone the way the creators had hoped — there were too many bugs in the system at that point; even they acknowledge they were naive about what they planned to do and how they planned to do it — but they definitely had the right idea, and many kudos are deserved for their valiant efforts to achieve their goal: Deliver content directly to the customer.

Joss Whedon proved it can be done with the HUGE success of Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog this summer. The viral success of shows like Felicia Day’s The Guild, Kim Evey’s Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show, and Sandeep Parikh’s The Legend of Neil just go to prove the point. These have all been fan-driven shows. There are no marketing campaigns, no big network or sponsor backing. They are promoted by positive word of mouth from the viewers. The creators care about what they are doing and the fans do, too, even financially supporting the production of The Guild. Felicia Day financed the first four episodes of The Guild herself, but soon after putting up a PayPal donation button on the website, she had the funding needed to finish season one. Now, the Season One DVD sales are helping to fund the upcoming second season.

Can Stargate Universe overcome the negative association with a network that constantly alienates its core audience? Is there a better way to deliver what they want to produce with minimal involvement and control from the likes of Sci Fi Channel? What can Stargate producers learn from Joss Whedon and Felicia Day that will help keep the fans happy and involved and Stargate alive? Maybe it’s not the perfect solution yet, as there aren’t any huge $4,000,000 special effects scenes in Dr. Horrible or The Guild, but the concept is still valid and will be a virtual gold mine for funds and fans once someone figures out how to use existing or newly emerging technology to produce a show that’s well-written, well-acted and well-delivered to the fans.

Felicia Day’s “Horrible” Experience

Felicia Day as Penny in "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog"

Multi-talented actress Felicia Day was already recognizable for her work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer before she created the smash hit Internet series, The Guild. Now, she’s teamed up with Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly) to present another Internet event, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. She’s costarring along with Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Desperate Housewives) and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother, Harold & Kumar, Starship Troopers) in this Whedon family project that will be premiering exclusively on the Internet beginning Tuesday, July 15th. Felicia took some time out of her very busy schedule to answer a few questions about Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.

ÜberSciFiGeek (ÜSFG) How did you get involved in the Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog project?

Felicia Day (FD) I had seen Joss on the strike lines a few times and he had mentioned the idea of a supervillain musical to me, perhaps made for the Internet. I thought that was the coolest idea I’d ever heard, A few months later he emailed me and it said, “Can you sing?” You can imagine I was a little taken aback, it’s not a question you hear every day!

(ÜSFG) With a name like Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, one of the first questions that come to mind is, “Does Felicia sing?”

(FD) Yes! I did musical theatre all my life, mostly as a dancer but I had singing parts as well. I moved around a lot so theatre kind of kept my childhood together. Throughout college I took lessons from a professor at UT Austin, Jess Walters.

(ÜSFG) Did you enjoy singing in Dr. Horrible? Have you been in any sort of musical production before, and would you like to be in more of them?

(FD) OMG, singing in Horrible was fun and intimidating! Neil’s voice is amazing, so singing opposite him was nerve-wracking, but as soon as we were done, I wanted to do more! I did a LOT of musicals as a teen and again during college, like Into the Woods and Fantasticks, Oklahoma, you name it. Since moving to LA I’ve had a few jobs singing, a part in Warm Springs, a few plays. It’s not my career but I do enjoy it and would love to do more of it in the future!

(ÜSFG) Was Dr. Horrible always conceived of as a musical, or did that come about only when Joss Whedon learned that you, Neil Patrick Harris, and Nathan Fillion have singing voices?

(FD) I can’t speak for him, but I know when he floated the idea on the strike line to me, it was always connected to the word “musical”. Joss has an amazing passion for music and musicals. His knowledge in the area blows me away. I love the idea of Joss, Jed, Zach and Maurissa getting together and writing this amazing script together and creating songs together, what a cool process!

(ÜSFG) Having worked with Joss Whedon on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, what was it like working with him again? How was it different and how was it similar?

(FD) The Dr. Horrible set was a lot more informal than being on a professional TV set. There was a sense from everyone this was driven by passion and enthusiasm rather than being a “job”. It felt way more like indie productions I’ve done. Of course the quality of production and the expertise of the cast and crew was equal to being on Buffy, because Joss attracts the best at what they do. There were stunt people on both sets : )

(ÜSFG) Captain Hammer has an online comic — will Penny also have an online exclusive? With your background as a gamer, perhaps a mini online game?

(FD) I don’t know anything about that end of it, but that would be cool! Float that idea out there! To be honest I don’t know if Penny is a gamer. I would think she’s more of a knitter or a baker.

(ÜSFG) You’ve produced a lot of Internet content now. How is it different as an actor and/or producer for the Internet than it is for television or film?

(FD) It’s night and day. When you have a huge professional set and 50 people working on it, everyone does only their job, and they do it at the height of their expertise. Internet content is much more blurry as far as those lines go. One day you’ll be producer, the next an actor, the next craft service. It’s necessary because there’s no money to pay people with most the time. But the great thing is you don’t have layers of people to interfere with your vision as a creator, and I think more and more, professionals will discover that to be an attractive area to play in.

(ÜSFG) If Dr. Horrible does well, is another film or related project planned?

(FD) You would have to ask Joss. I would love to play Penny again, in whatever capacity!

(ÜSFG) Your character, Penny, isn’t a superhero or supervillain like Captain Hammer and Dr. Horrible, but if you had to choose a superpower to have in your real life, what would it be and why?

(FD) Gosh, that’s hard. I think invisibility. I like to eavesdrop. I used to only play rogues in games so I could sneak in and steal things from the NPCs : ) I don’t do that in real life, btw.

(ÜSFG) Penny falls for Captain Hammer, at least initially. Who would you, as yourself, get a crush on — Dr. Horrible or Captain Hammer?

(FD) I’d have to say Dr. Horrible. He’s definitely the wounded type, and I would love to try to heal that in him. Hammer is hot, but I don’t go for guys who like to look at themselves in the mirror a lot ; )

The best way you can help us say thank-you to Felicia is to help spread the word! You can learn more about Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog at drhorrible.com. Act one of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog will be premiering online on Tuesday, July 15th. Act two will go up on Thursday, July 17th. Act three will go up on Saturday, July 19th. All three acts will be online until midnight on Sunday, July 20th. Also, if you are planning on attending San Diego Comic-Con, stop by the Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog panel on Friday. Felicia and the rest of the cast of The Guild will also be at the California Browncoats booth signing copies of The Guild DVDs throughout the event. Stop by and say hello!

Stepping Into the Past

When you think of geeks, you often think of people dressing up as their favorite movie, book or game characters. Conventions and fan gatherings around the world are filled with Jedis, Storm Troopers, Vulcans, Klingons, Elves, Knights, Warriors, Wizards, Fairies and countless other imaginative creatures. Getting dressed up to pretend to be someone else is no longer just for kids at Halloween and grown-up geeks at conventions. For decades, small groups have been getting together to act out their fantasy lives in what is referred to as Live Action Role Play.

At the mention of Live Action Role Play, or LARP, the first thing that comes to mind for many people is probably Dungeons & Dragons or perhaps the book, or film based on the book, Mazes and Monsters. There are LARPs of many types, ranging from Vampires (Masquerade) to The Lord of the Rings (Foam Battles), but D&D is probably the most recognizable and notorious because of Mazes and Monsters. More people have seen the movie than have read the book simply because Tom Hanks starred in it. For many people, it was a first look at the world of LARPing, and because of it Role Players frequently are viewed as strange, deranged or even dangerous. In Mazes and Monsters, based on a true story, a group of teens decide to take their D&D game beyond the board and into live reenactment. Unfortunately, one of the members is mentally unstable and the line between reality and fantasy blurs together for him, leading everyone on a desperate mission to save his life.

Not all LARPers have horror stories but I have had several acquaintances recount their own experiences with someone flipping out. The worst I have heard is of a LARPer who became disoriented while playing in caves. In her college days, my friend would have monthly games with friends, and at one game another player brought a friend. The new player became panicked and enraged and started running through the cave swinging his axe around at everyone and everything and, in the end, according to my friend, ended up getting himself killed when he fell down a steep embankment in the dark. While incidents like this happen, they are very rare and most LARPers only play with people they already know well to prevent such incidents.

Another aspect of role playing closely associated with LARP is Historical Reenactments. Everyone has heard of Renaissance Faires and Dinner Theatres where you can wander through the Middle Ages complete with mandolin strumming bards and knights battling for a maiden’s honor. There are many Robin Hood themed fairs or King Arthur themed fairs where weekend warriors gather from around the country to test their mettle or just get away from the complications of real life with like-minded and -hearted companions. While my location prevented me from joining the largest group, the Society for Creative Anachronism, or SCA, it didn’t stop me from learning how to knit chain mail from a dear friend who has been a blacksmith at Ren Faires for many years. His day job is installing industrial refrigeration equipment, but on weekends he sells handmade armor and weapons. Another Ren friend is a seamstress, specializing in corsets but also knowing how to tan leather the “old-fashioned way” without chemicals. This summer, she is supposed to teach me how to do it.

Other Historical Reenactments center around important American events and landmarks. At Colonial Williamsburg, people live year-round in character, a living history museum dedicated to the beginnings of our nation. At Scottish Games festivals around the country, local clans gather in full regalia and show their colors, marching to traditional bagpipe music and waving their clan tartans while competing in traditional Scottish games and battles. Feast of the Hunters’ Moon is a re-creation of the annual fall gathering of the French and Native Americans which took place at Fort Ouiqtenon in the mid-1700s. All around our country, and probably in your own neighborhood, someone is dressing up and stepping into another world, fantasy or fact-based. Be it your love of history and dedication to preserving it or the childhood fantasy that you never outgrew, there are countless adventures waiting to be had. Maybe you’ll never be one to cook over an open campfire and sleep in a muslin tent or hammer your own tools over your very own forge, but even taking a visit to one of these countless communities and festivals is an awe-inspiring experience that I encourage everyone to have.