Anti-Bronies and Sexism - by Jarys Maragopoulos

An example of an Anti-Brony hate image.

     I was, at first, resistant to watching My Little Pony. I had been raised as a male and had plenty of reminding that girls things were not for me. I didn't even think about it, I just assumed I wouldn't like it, like the conditioned adult that I am. It took three different people to suggest I watch the show for me to sit down and watch it. I was well pleased that I did. I found that My Little Pony's newest iteration had humor that worked at adult levels, meaningful messages about interpersonal relationships, and a positive outlook. I like it a lot, so I guess that makes me a Brony. I'm happy with the label and I like to watch/discuss the show with other adults. Fun times.

Why We Cosplay, Why We Take Pictures, and Why You're Wrong to Hate Us - by Megan Marie Fox and Oscar Chang

Editor's Note: There's a particularly vile article going around the interwebs this week, with some guy trying to put himself into a position of judging people for what and how they cosplay. It's stupid, and we aren't going to link to it. However, it did inspire Megan to write an article about why she cosplays, and what misconceptions she has to face every time she does it. It also inspired Oscar Chang, one of the photographers featured in that article, to send us a response - in that particular article, he was portrayed as a creepy, up-skirt shooting convention troll, and he wanted to clear the air. Both responses are below.

MEGAN MARIE FOX

I wake up at five o’clock on a Summer Saturday morning. I’ve laid out my clothing for the day the night before. I apply a dozen different kinds of makeup, spray some long lasting setting spray, and then I apply my wig. The transformation half complete, I step into my costume and become someone new. Someone from a different world, with different problems. I’m in someone else’s skin, and it feels awesome.

Nerf Rebelle: Good for girls? by Carolyn Nave

Recently, Nerf came out with guns that are marketed toward girls. They’re pink and purple, and some of them are smaller or in the shape of bows (one called the Heartbreaker) reminiscent of Katniss, Merida or any number of other popular bow-wielding heroines. The packaging itself includes pictures of girls looking quite proud and wielding these new contraptions. The name of this new campaign? Nerf Rebelle.

First trailer for GOTHAM on FOX!

We've all been waiting to see some of FOX's new take on Young Commissioner Gordon and Even Younger Bruce Wayne. The show promises to be for Batman what Smallville was for Superman, but with a darker, grimier tone and police procedural stylings. Now, as part of Jack Bauers umpteenth outing tonight, they released the first full trailer for the show. Hit the jump to check it out.

FREE Pixel Horror Picks! by Stephanie Cala

(Art by pai-thagoras)

When I started this article, I intended to make a broad list of horror games.  Since Amnesia: The Dark Descent, there has been a giant uprising (particularly in the indie gaming world) of horrifying games that players can become absolutely absorbed in.  If you want a gory story with stunning graphics, there are games for that.  If you want an unbelievably terrifying story that makes you question your own morality, there are games for that.  If you literally want a game to sense how scared you are, and then have that affect the in-game content, there is now a game for that.  (Seriously, check out Nevermind.  It comes with a heart rate monitor and the game becomes scarier the more scared you become.)  

That aside, I also had to ask myself: What kind of horror games do I like?  What horror games are good for those of you, like me, who may be a bit faint of heart, but would still appreciate great story-telling (with or without an occasional jump-scare)?  The answer to that is actually pretty simple: Pixel Horror RPGs.

Episode 99: It's Not Even a Proper Mode of Conveyance

Mike and Mae Linh are back from London, with tales to regale Jarys of their trip and the things they saw - including the Queen musical We Will Rock You, and all the amazing artifacts Jarys DIDN'T get to see at the British Museum. Plus: They dug up the Atari graveyard this week! Oh my god! Jarys is loving Divinci's Demons, and all three of us have finally seen, and can talk about, 47 Ronin.

Episode 99!

The Princess and the Pilot, a Review by Mike Fatum

It's not that I'm not big on anime - that's never been my problem. My problem has always been that there is so damn much anime out there. I never know what to watch. For every Ghost in the Shell or Durarara or Sword Art Online that I manage to find, there's a hundred other series out there without the depth or beauty that sucks me in to a really great anime movie or series. In that way, anime's just like every other form of entertainment, but because it's all imported and in another language, it's harder to sift through it to get to the good stuff. That's why the majority of your typical entertainment consumer will only have seen a Miyazaki movie or two, and why almost nobody's ever heard of something like The Princess and the Pilot.