The famous metal bikini. Photo: Kelly Knox.

Say what you will about the Star Wars prequels, but you can’t deny that Queen Amidala’s gowns are breathtaking. In fact, from Princess Leia’s white gown to a Jedi’s robes, the costumes of Star Wars are now ingrained in pop culture. They are instantly recognizable and unquestionably memorable. Star Wars and the Power of Costume, an exhibit presented by the Smithsonian, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, and Lucasfilm, celebrates the amazing costume achievements of the Star Wars trilogies with almost 60 original, handcrafted costumes from every film.

This exhibit is making its way to 12 cities across the U.S., starting at the extraordinary EMP Museum in Seattle on January 31. This incredible exhibit cements the EMP’s status as a geek mecca. Star Wars and the Power of Costume covers two floors of the museum, with a few costumes displayed elsewhere in the museum.

Photo: Kelly Knox.

The moment you enter the exhibit and hear the familiar music play, it’s not hard to imagine you’ve just stepped into Star Wars. (I’m pretty sure my mouth was hanging open the entire time.) Each costume has been meticulously cared for and in practically perfect condition. It’s always interesting to see just how your favorite characters actually size up, from the small waist of Natalie Portman or how much Chewbacca would tower over you, but the exhibit goes into much, much more interesting detail about each piece.

Every costume has a story. Many are inspired by multiple cultures throughout history, like the headdresses of Mongolian royalty for Queen Amidala’s red headpiece and the samurai helmet resting on Darth Vader’s shoulders. Lucas drew from fascist regimes for the look of the Empire, the swagger of a gunslinger for Han Solo, and the humble simplicity of monk robes for Jedi. Each part of the exhibit includes fascinating details about the inspiration and creation of the piece, each a work of art in their own right.

The evolution of an emperor. Photo: Kelly Knox.

Costumes inspired the actors and vice-versa; both Ewan McGregor and Samuel Jackson were giddy at the prospect of wearing Jedi robes, while Harrison Ford insisted his shirt look a certain way. Be sure to spend some time listening to the interviews with the actors, designers, and concept artists peppered throughout the exhibit for a truly inside look behind Star Wars.

Young kids may not get much out of Star Wars and the Power of Costume, although seeing Darth Vader, Jedi, Chewbacca, and the droids “in person” should hold their interests. This is a rare opportunity to see the incredible detail of Amidala’s lavish gowns, the worn robes of Obi-Wan Kenobi, or the famous metal bikini from Return of the Jedi. In short, if you’re a Star Wars fan, you need to see this exhibit, with or without the kids in tow.

I was certain the Emperor was going to move. Photo: Kelly Knox.

Star Wars and the Power of Costume is at the EMP Museum in Seattle from January 31 to October 4, 2015. Tickets are timed for entry, so plan ahead by choosing the best time for you and your family online. Tickets to Star Wars and the Power of Costume include access to all other EMP Museum galleries. (General admission gives access to all of the galleries except Star Wars, so double-check that you’re buying the correct one.) Don’t miss Icons of Science Fiction on the bottom floor!

GeekMom attended a promotional press preview.

The post Star Wars and the Power of Costume Kicks Off 12-City Tour in Seattle appeared first on GeekMom.

© Nintendo

On February 16, the New Nintendo 3DS XL hits store shelves for an updated take on the portable system. The New Nintendo 3DS XL (quite the mouthful) boasts improved processing power, better 3D than its predecessor, design improvements on the system itself, support for new technology like amiibo, and more.

With yet another take on the 3DS, you might be wondering to yourself if it’s worth it to pick up yet another portable gaming system from Nintendo. Whether you’re considering an upgrade to your existing DS or just curious about the features of the new one, here are 6 things you should know about the New Nintendo 3DS.

There are a lot of design improvements.

The buttons and more have been shifted around from the 3DS XL, but it’s a welcome change. With the volume up on the top screen, and the wireless slider moved entirely, you won’t find yourself fumbling and accidentally changing the volume on the system.

You also won’t accidentally remove the game cartridge when grabbing the DS, which I have done many times (when the game wasn’t saved, no less)—the game now slides in the front instead of on the hinge.

I’m also happy to see the start and select buttons back where I’d expect them to be, instead of in the middle, leaving the Home button much easier to find when your eyes are glued to the screen.

My only complaint? The stylus isn’t where I’m used to, either, so I find myself still fiddling with the right of the system to find it, only to remember it’s now moved to the front.

Overall, I’m a big fan of these changes. There are also new buttons with the system, the C stick (most likely used for camera control) and the ZL and ZR buttons.

And, in case you’re wondering, screen size and system size haven’t changed from the 3DS XL.

A power cord isn’t included in the box.

The New Nintendo 3DS does not come with a power charging cord (AC adapter). This was done as a cost-cutting strategy, as most gamers who buy the New 3DS already have a compatible 2DS/3DS adapter, but it leaves people who never owned a system in the lurch. Pick up the official AC adapter when you buy the system if you’re a newcomer to Nintendo.

It’s not a simple process to transfer games and data.

If you’re not new to the DS and you upgrade to the New 3DS, you’ll find that it’s not a simple process to transfer games you’ve purchased in the Nintendo eShop. It’s not like the iPhone App Store, for example; you can’t just re-download the games from the eShop. Follow the instructions on the Support site and on screen to make sure you don’t miss an important step when moving over your games and save data.

New 3DS and 3DS XL side by side during transfer. Photo: Kelly Knox

The 3D really does look better.

I was never a big fan of the 3D technology on the 3DS XL, but I have to admit that I’m impressed with the improvements on the New 3DS. “Face-tracking,” one of the touted new features, actually does a remarkable job of keeping the top screen in stable 3D. Majora’s Mask 3D looks gorgeous, and even older games like Animal Crossing: New Leaf look good. If 3D gaming is your thing, the New 3DS delivers.

Other notable new features include amiibo compatibility.

Along with the new controls and 3D face-tracking, the New Nintendo 3DS also includes new amiibo functionality for compatible games like Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. Improved processing and a better camera round out the list of notable new features for Nintendo’s latest handheld system.

It’s coming out this month.

The New Nintendo 3DS XL is available for $199.99. Launching in the U.S. on February 13 alongside The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D, there are enough improvements to make the upgrade a consideration for casual and serious gamers alike.

Stay tuned to GeekMom for a closer look at Majora’s Mask 3D!

GeekMom received a promotional item for review purposes.

The post 6 Things You Should Know About the New Nintendo 3DS appeared first on GeekMom.

© PBS Kids

“Mom, this is interesting! Come and watch with me!”

The second my kindergartener started watching SciGirls, she was hooked. As she’s a big fan of FETCH! With Ruff Ruffman, I knew she enjoyed watching real kids take on challenges and learn real-life science, but SciGirls captured her attention in a different way. SciGirls features diverse groups of girls tackling problems and learning about the world around them.

The PBS Kids show, now available on Netflix and on a four-disc DVD set, gives kids real role models to inspire them and shows how fun STEM challenges can be.

© PBS Kids

SciGirls is a PBS Kids show that might have flown under your radar. It’s not aimed at the usual preschool crowd that tunes in every morning to see Daniel Tiger and Elmo; the target audience is tween girls. Thanks to the intriguing mix of real girls, fascinating STEM topics, and a little bit of reality show drama (will they finish the challenge in time?), the show can appeal to a wider age range. My six-year-old might not grasp all of the science and engineering concepts on the show, but she gets a basic understanding in every episode.

In fact, she’s most interested in the girls themselves, often asking me to repeat their names to make sure she gets them right. PBS Kids always does an admirable job of diversity in their shows (don’t get me started on how much I love what they’ve done on Odd Squad), and seeing girls just like her in SciGirls has had a noticeable impact.

One morning after finishing her breakfast, my daughter held up her empty yogurt cup. “Mom! We need to recycle this cup and turn it into a flower pot!” SciGirls had given her the idea, she proudly told me. The team in “Going Green,” who were concerned about how much trash wasn’t being recycled at school, worked hard to turn yogurt cups into seed starters—and inspired my daughter to do the same.

Our recycling project inspired by the SciGirls. Inset © PBS Kids

If you’re looking for a way to get your daughter (or son) excited about STEM, SciGirls is a perfect way to share the enthusiasm of curious kids who aren’t afraid to take on a challenge. The series is ramping up for its third season this spring.

The post SciGirls: Real-Life STEM Role Models in Action appeared first on GeekMom.

© Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask has always been a unique game in the Zelda series. It’s a direct sequel to its predecessor, Ocarina of Time, and the game mechanic of getting tasks done in just three days is simultaneously compelling and maddening. The original release is the only Zelda game I gave up on midway through. So when The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3DS was announced for the New Nintendo 3DS with a remastered look and improved gameplay, I decided it was time to redeem myself.

Majora’s Mask 3D looks fantastic on the handheld system, and while the gameplay changes don’t make for an easy experience—it is a Zelda game, after all—the improvements all make this game more than worthy of a second chance.

Vivid greens and purples seem to leap off the screen thanks to the improved 3D of the New 3DS. This isn’t Hyrule; this is the darker world of Termina, where disaster from the sky must be averted within three days to complete your quest. The three day gameplay mechanic adds a sense of urgency to every task you undertake, and in the Nintendo 64 iteration, the repetitive cycle and limited ability to save is what ultimately caused me to give up.

In Majora’s Mask 3D, you can now save the game in the middle of the cycle, and gain the ability to travel between save points much earlier. (You can also jump to a specific time rather than standing around waiting.) This eliminates most of the frustration I felt the first time around, and updates the game for today’s players.

© Nintendo

Majora’s Mask 3D also includes an upgraded Bomber’s Notebook to help you keep track of tasks you need to complete and townspeople to assist during your three days. It will even alert you to important events during the cycle so you don’t miss a necessary task. Add to that a new map and inventory system thanks to the touch screen, and you’ve got game improvements all around.

With all these changes, will I finally finish the game? Time will tell. Becoming a parent changed my gaming habits: I’ve gotten used to games I can pick up and turn off at any time, because I never know when that little voice will call for me. Majora’s Mask 3D can now be one of those games, but with so much to wrangle, it’s better played in long bouts. The New 3DS game might not be one of my Four in February, but I’m definitely impressed enough to keep at it.

Majora’s Mask 3D is available today for a suggested retail price of $39.99.

GeekMom received a promotional copy for review purposes.

The post Dawn of the First Day: Majora’s Mask 3D Out for the New Nintendo 3DS appeared first on GeekMom.

Photo: Kelly Knox

Have you been looking for a way to help out at your kids’ school, but you’re not quite cut out to be a room mom? Or maybe you’re too introverted to be an active member of the PTA? Or perhaps you only have an hour to spare each week, but you’d love to help out somehow. Enter: the school library. Literally, I mean, go in the school library.

If you consider yourself a geek or nerd, libraries likely conjure many fond memories of your own days as a student. Finding new worlds to get lost in, hiding in the corner and reading during a free period, or even browsing through things that your own kids have never heard of, like “card catalogs” and “encyclopedias.” Having many such happy memories myself, and being too shy to be active in the PTA, I chose my daughter’s school library for my volunteering efforts.

And I love it so much that I just had to tell you all about it.

Here are 7 reasons why volunteering at the school library is a fun, fantastic way to give your time.

1. Learn about current books and authors and recommend them to your kids. After checking in the pile of books sitting on the counter every week, you start getting an idea of what titles are popular and what genres kids are getting into at their age. (Spoiler: Graphic novels.) If a picture book catches my eye that I know my kindergartener will enjoy, I write down the title to check it out for my daughter at the public library later.

My favorite section, though, is the chapter books/YA novels that I would have loved to read as a kid myself. Or, you know, now. So not only might you find your kid’s next book to love, you might find one for yourself, too.

Photo: Kelly Knox

2. Help a busy librarian. The school librarian has a lot more to do during the day than fiddle with the books on the shelves. He or she needs to write lesson plans, order books, coordinate school literacy initiatives, and find out just what the kids in the hallway are shrieking about. Your 30 minutes checking in books and shelving them helps them get it all done and actually take a lunch break.

3. Meet the kids in your child’s class. Some school libraries have weekly class times and allow a parent to volunteer during their child’s lesson. Checking out the books for your kid’s classmates lets you put faces to the names you hear about at the dinner table every night.

4. Shelving books is delightfully mind-numbing. I might have deadlines looming or a problem nagging me, but for one hour every week, all I worry about is finding 636.81. (Kindergarten girls really like books about cats.) Putting the books back on the shelves is a wonderful way to focus on something else for a little bit.

5. Help advocate for your school library by getting a firsthand look at where it might need some help. “They’re always under threat of budget cuts, and parents play a big part in saving libraries and librarians,” says Jackie Reeve, GeekMom’s resident school librarian. Spending time in there every week might highlight some problem areas (outdated books? in need of donations?) that can help you take your volunteer efforts further.

6. Get crafty. The school librarian once asked for my help with the books in the window display and you’d have thought I won the lottery I was so giddy. If you enjoy crafty stuff at all, helping with the bulletin boards and setting out books to display can help you get creative for a good cause.

7. Nerd alert: Learn the Dewey Decimal System. There’s something strangely satisfying about directing a curious kid to the Ancient Egypt section or a book about the Loch Ness monster without having to look it up on the computer. This probably doesn’t seem like a huge benefit or useful life skill—unless you’re a book nerd, which I personally am, and I have a feeling you might be, too.

The post Calling All Book Nerds! 7 Reasons You’d Love Volunteering at the School Library appeared first on GeekMom.

© Crash Course Astronomy

Whether you’re looking for videos to catch your homeschooled teen’s interest, browsing for something to occupy yourself for a few minutes, or you’re a lifelong fan of learning, it’s always fun to tumble down the YouTube rabbit hole.

Thanks to some incredibly talented science communicators, you and your kids can dive into subjects like physics, astronomy, and more, and find experiments to take science off the screen and into their own hands. Here are four YouTube channels for those who wonder how the universe works—which is everyone!

Crash Course Astronomy

© Crash Course Astronomy

Phil Plait, also known as the Bad Astronomer, is no stranger to the geek world. When he’s not busy with the Bad Astronomy blog on Slate, he’s often spotted at conventions like San Diego Comic-Con. Recently Plait teamed up with Crash Course and PBS Digital Studios for the new YouTube series Crash Course Astronomy.

Plait’s “f***ing majestic” voice (according to one impressed commenter) clearly and quickly leads you through topics like moon phases, eclipses, the basics of astronomy. Stylish graphics and high-res images make each video exciting and engaging for anyone who loves to gaze up at the stars.

Physics Girl

© Physics Girl

Dianna, an MIT physics grad, calls herself the Physics Girl. In her easy-to-follow videos, Dianna addresses everyday questions that you might otherwise not have spent much time thinking about, along with exploring the mysteries of the universe. Why is our image flipped in a mirror horizontally and not vertically? Why is the universe flat?

Physics Girl also shares her experiences with being a woman in physics, including her time at MIT, and chats with other interesting scientists in her field.

SciShow

© SciShow

Cathé named SciShow as one of her secret YouTube affairs a couple of years ago, and it’s easy to see why. Hank Green and other knowledgeable hosts share the answers to some of life’s burning questions in quick chunks, like why does mint taste cool and why we have baby teeth.

SciShow also dives deeper into current science topics, such as the recent measles outbreak, and host Hank Green even sat down to chat with President Obama at the beginning of the year. It’s easy to spend hours browsing the fascinating content of SciShow.

Sick Science

© Sick Science

If you’re more hands-on than just eyes-on, or you’re looking for experiments to do together as a family, Sick Science from Steve Spangler Science is what you’re looking for. There’s no talking in these videos—just quick how-to’s for putting together eye-catching science demonstrations that are sure hook anyone with an interest in science. You can also find other science demonstrations by Steve Spangler on the channel, which is always entertaining.

The post Science Class Is in Session—On YouTube! appeared first on GeekMom.

© Nintendo

Animated. Clay-ful. Play-D’awwwww. There is no shortage of puns to describe Nintendo’s cute and whimsical release, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse. Another standout title for the Wii U, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse makes excellent use of the GamePad for a unique gaming experience in a colorful and memorable world—it’s just a shame that you spend so much time staring at the GamePad that you never really get to fully enjoy those colors in glorious HD.

A mysterious villain has stolen all of the colors from Dream Land, and with the help of Elline and Waddle Dee, Kirby must navigate through Pop Star and defeat monsters to save his home. With a swipe of the stylus on the GamePad screen, you can get Kirby started on his journey, drawing a rainbow path to scale tall walls, make a way through and around obstacles, and even attack (adorable) enemies.

© Nintendo

It’s a unique way to play that was introduced in Kirby’s DS adventure, Canvas Curse, and drawing the rainbow rope adds a bit of a learning curve for players of all ages. Or, if you’ll forgive one more pun, it takes a while to learn the ropes. Kirby is controlled only with a tap or swipe of the stylus, not with the D-pad, so your brain may take a little bit of time to adjust. But it won’t take long, and you’ll appreciate the change of pace from your standard platformer.

© Nintendo

Since you have to stare at the GamePad to plan the next move of the rainbow rope, the person controlling Kirby rarely looks at the big screen to appreciate the vibrant world of Dream Land. The clay effect is done so well that it’s a shame to see it only on the GamePad’s small screen.

Your partner, however, gets to enjoy it as they use the Wii controller to join in the fun. As Waddle Dee, the second player uses standard controls to help Kirby along the way. If your kids have trouble getting Kirby where he needs to go, controlling Waddle Dee instead can lead to much less irritation and a fun gaming experience for you and your kids together. (Up to three other players can join in.) There are no time limits, and Waddle Dee is instantly transported to Kirby’s side without penalty if he falls behind, making it ideal to play with younger kids.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a great break from the Skylanders and Lego games that you may typically play co-op as a family. It’s an adventure game that will get you thinking in new ways as you play with your kids, and it’s sure to provoke a few “awws!” along the way.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is available now for the Wii U for a suggested retail price of $39.99.

GeekMom received this item for review purposes.

The post Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a Clay-Ful Family Adventure appeared first on GeekMom.

Photo: Kelly Knox

With all of the exciting news about Spider-Man finally joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, now’s a great time to celebrate your friendly neighborhood wallcrawler! This simple watercolor resist portrait of the webslinger can be a fun art project for the entire family.

You can challenge your older kids to draw and paint Spider-Man on their own, or help a small Spidey fan by setting up the drawing and glue the night before.

What You Need

• White/school glue (Elmer’s Glue)
• Watercolor paper
• Pencil
• Watercolors

Use a pencil to lightly draw Spider-Man’s mask.

I’ve found it works best to start the project the night before you want to paint to give the glue time to dry, especially if you’re drawing Spidey’s face for a younger child to paint later.

Grab the pencil and watercolor paper and lightly draw only the outline of the face itself, along with Spider-Man’s eyes. (You don’t have to draw the lines of the web yet.) For a reference for the mask, along with a guide to drawing the webs exactly right, check out Marvel artist Will Sliney’s excellent how-to below.

I created a little gif on how to draw @Marvel Spider-Man’s webs. You can view it here http://t.co/5LKigRazl7 pic.twitter.com/SppMVB8rlO

— Will Sliney (@WillSliney) February 10, 2015

Trace the mask outline with glue.

Once you’ve finished drawing the outline of the mask and eyes, trace over the pencil with a thick line of glue.

Next, use the guide above to draw the webs across the mask with just the glue only. The web lines are a little easier to freehand with the glue, and this minimizes the pencil marks you might have peeking through the dried glue later.

Photo: Kelly Knox

Allow the glue to dry completely.

Time to paint!

Once the glue has dried clear, it’s time to grab the watercolors and get painting. I preferred to paint Spider-Man with his classic colors, while my daughter had her own take on his design.

Photo: Kelly Knox

Spidey’s eyes are typically white with a thick black outline, so I traced the inside of the lines with the black watercolor.

Photo: Kelly Knox

These were my first attempts at drawing Spider-Man, and thankfully the watercolors are a little forgiving for completing the portrait. I’m already thinking of setting up two more pictures because my daughter had so much fun painting the first one—and so did I!

The post Spectacular Spider-Man Watercolor Resist Art appeared first on GeekMom.

© Marvel Press

Marvel’s picture book Shake to Assemble is an interactive story that you might expect to see told with pixels on a tablet rather than printed on pieces of paper. Young readers are invited to tap, shake, flap, flick, and even tickle the pages to assemble their favorite team of superheroes.

On our first read-through, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Hervé Tullet’s brilliant book Press Here. Shake to Assemble will get kids giggling as they get hands-on with every page of this highly entertaining picture book.

These are not the serious Avengers poised to save the planet in Age of Ultron. This is a silly, just-for-kids version of the team: the hapless Hawkeye, a boisterious Thor, and five more Avengers to assemble the complete team. The text asks kids to touch the page or book in a certain way to call the next Avenger into action.

Without spoiling too much of the surprises each page holds, I will say that it’s a treat to see the roster selected for this team of Avengers. Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Hawkeye, and Iron Man are pretty much a given for any Avengers lineup, but I was delighted to see Falcon (in his original costume) and Black Widow join the others. My daughter was even happier. She paused to pat Black Widow and whisper, “You’re my favorite Avenger.”

While you might first wonder why the book wasn’t simply created as an app—especially when the narrator instructs you to swipe the page to make Black Widow appear—it’s a fantastic reminder that a fun story doesn’t need animation and sounds to be engaging.

Shake to Assemble hits bookstore shelves March 31, 2015, for a suggested retail price of $12.99.

GeekMom received a promotional copy for review purposes.

The post Tickle the Hulk—and Your Kid’s Funny Bone—in Marvel’s Shake to Assemble appeared first on GeekMom.

© Disney Publishing / Lucasfilm

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is less than a year away, and this week Disney Publishing and Lucasfilm announced a mind-boggling 20+ book publishing plan kicking off in the fall leading up to the film’s release.

Star Wars fans will be treated to a variety of published works and media covering the time period between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens to uncover what adventures Luke Skywalker and our other beloved characters have had after the end of the Empire, and even re-tell the original trilogy from a different point of view.

If you’re worried about possible spoilers for The Force Awakens hidden in the new titles, Disney Publishing put those fears to rest in a quick tweet.

Published works will be considered canon and aimed at Star Wars fans of all ages:

Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, kicking off this fall, is planned to include more than 20 titles available in print and digital, and will feature new narrative stories for middle grade and young adults as well as comics, illustrated reference, Look and Find, and sticker book formats.

Announced authors for upcoming Star Wars young adult titles include Cecil Castellucci, Greg Rucka, Jason Fry, and Claudia Gray.

The post Journey to ‘The Force Awakens’ With 20+ New ‘Star Wars’ Books appeared first on GeekMom.

Mario Party 10 (amiibo Party) © Nintendo.

Shake up your next family game night with Mario Party 10, available March 20 for the first time on the Wii U! Up to five players can join in the fun, with someone even taking control of Bowser in the entertaining new Bowser Party mode.

Party On, Mario
Mario Party veterans will find plenty of familiar elements in the latest installment. You and your family and friends choose characters (up to four in the classic Mario Party mode) and roll dice to move around the board. Along the way, you’ll earn stars with lucky rolls and by winning the clever mini-games hidden around the board.

© Nintendo.

Many of the mini-games rely on luck rather than skill to win (it is Mario Party, after all), which works well for younger wielders of the Wiimote and occasionally frustrates older ones.

Note that players can only use the Wiimotes in Mario Party mode, so the GamePad isn’t a controller option for anyone playing. Neither are the Pro Controller or GameCube Adapter. So plan your Wiimote situation ahead of time, so no one is left out!

Party On, Bowser
A player can use the GamePad as a controller during the new Bowser Party mode.

© Nintendo.

Bowser chases Mario and friends around the board, as players race to capture the star waiting at the end. One person can play as Bowser in the mini-games, roaring and stomping and generally trying to ruin Mario’s day, or all players can play against Bowser in this amusing game mode.

© Nintendo.

Oh, No, amiibo!
We were dismayed to find out that the Rosalina amiibo we’d leveled up previously in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U couldn’t be used in Mario Party 10 unless we erased the Smash data. As Rosalina isn’t a figure you can easily find in the store, buying a second amiibo for our daughter’s favorite character wasn’t an option, so erasing it was.

My daughter wasn’t terribly heartbroken, but it is unfortunate that only a single game’s data can be saved on the figure at a time.

Once that was taken care of, it was time to try out the new amiibo Party mode, which isn’t a bad option when there’s no one else around to play against. Play even more mini-games to customize your amiibo in game.

‘Cuz an Amiibo Party Don’t Stop
With over 70 minigames, several game modes that take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, and even bonus content you can buy with tokens you earn in game, Mario Party 10 is another family-friendly home run from Nintendo that offers hours and hours of play.

Mario Party 10 is out March 20, 2015, at a suggested retail price of $49.99 (or $59.99 with Mario amiibo bundle).

GeekMom received this item for review purposes.

The post ‘Mario Party 10′: Ain’t No Party Like an Amiibo Party appeared first on GeekMom.

Osmo is a unique iPad accessory that places a mirror over the tablet’s camera to allow kids and parents alike to interact with one of their free apps. Whatever your hands do on the table in front of you also appears on-screen, whether you’re playing a tangram puzzle or spelling words with letter tiles.

Osmo recently released a new app, Masterpiece, that can turn anything you want into a picture to trace on the paper in front of you. Simply follow the lines you see on the screen and you’ll feel like you’re drawing like a professional in no time. Or, in my case, blissfully pretend that you’re a comic book artist drawing your favorite superhero.

There is a small learning curve with the free app; keeping an eye on the screen while your hand draws can be a little tricky to get the hang of at first. Kids can start with simple drawings included in the app, or even take the opportunity to practice handwriting.

My kindergartener was most excited to try her hand at writing cursive like the big kids. Anything that gets her excited to practice handwriting is a winner in my book.

Photo: Kelly Knox

The most engaging feature of Masterpiece is the ability to snap a picture of whatever your heart desires and see it transformed immediately into a simple line drawing.

Snapping a photo of Captain Marvel #1. Photo: Kelly Knox

Integrating the “real world” with the iPad screen is a welcome feature of Osmo, and Masterpiece takes it one step further by giving kids the chance to create a real work of art they can hold in their hands. Or, again in my case, happily butcher a lovely Captain Marvel cover by David Lopez.

Captain Marvel #1 original cover art by David Lopez, gleefully traced by Kelly Knox. Photo: Kelly Knox

Osmo for iPad is available for $79.99; companion apps are free of charge.

GeekMom previously received a promotional item for review purposes.

The post Everyone Is an Artist With Osmo’s ‘Masterpiece’ appeared first on GeekMom.

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #3 (Variant Cover by Gurihiru) © Marvel Comics

For better or worse, social media has ushered in a new era of comic fans’ voices being heard. In recent weeks, negativity and harassment have dominated the online comics conversations. In the middle of it all, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #3 hit comic book store shelves, a welcome (and much needed in my case) reminder that comics can be fun.

Even when comics discussion on Twitter isn’t engulfed in flames, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is an entertaining, upbeat, refreshing, and yes, nutty series for readers of all ages and levels of fandom.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Here are 5 more reasons you should be reading The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl.

1. It’s an ideal series for new-to-comics readers of all ages. You don’t need to know what’s coming up in Secret Wars (does anyone?) or have read Marvel Super-Heroes #8 to understand the nuances of the character. In a nutshell, Squirrel Girl is a confident part-girl, part-squirrel trying to make it through her first year of college. And she beat Wolverine once, no biggie.

2. It’s funny. Like, really funny. Writer Ryan North brings humor, fun, and personality to every page of this book. (How many times can I say “fun” in this list?)

Deadpool’s Guide to Super Villains, Art by Erica Henderson (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #3) © Marvel Comics

When faced with a new foe, Squirrel Girl refers to her handy card deck, “Deadpool’s Guide to Super Villains.” Each of these cards is worth the cover price alone.

Jokes in the dialogue and background aren’t uncommon, either, so I find myself grinning from start to finish with every issue.

3. The art style is a refreshing change of pace. With a variety of body types and a superhero who dresses sensibly, Erica Henderson’s artwork gives me no qualms about sharing this book with everyone I know.

When asked in the letters section of Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #3 about Squirrel Girl’s body type, Henderson replied, “I tend to draw super heroines with more physical powers thicker because I honestly have a hard time believing that a 90-pound woman can take down a 200-pound steroidal dude who has equal fighting ability.”

4. The series is a few issues into the story, so it’s easy to catch up. Only three issues have been released so far, and you can find them easily on Comixology or in your local store. In fact, the first two issues both went to second printing due to demand.

5. Squirrel Girl has her own theme song. ‘Nuff said.

The post You’re Not Reading ‘The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl’? That’s Nuts! appeared first on GeekMom.

Monster High Dolls © Mattel

I avoided Monster High for a long time.

My daughter has been clamoring for the dolls since she was in preschool, thanks to the row upon row of eye-grabbing black boxes in the Target toy aisle. Year after year I convinced her the toys were too scary and not made for her age, and that we’d talk again about it later. I first wanted to chat with her about how different body types are beautiful, how to dress and wear makeup when you’re not a big-headed stick figure, and about realistic role models.

And then Netflix added 234 Monster High movies to the streaming line-up.

Again I insisted she wait, until my entirely-too-logical six-year-old pointed out, “They look just like Equestria Girls, and you let me watch that.”

And so I lost an argument to a kindergartener.

I realized that she had a point, and I agreed to let her give one movie a try as long as I watched it with her.

© Mattel

Monster High has an interesting and admirable concept at its core, and it’s not one that I’m completely against my daughter seeing. “Monster High students are encouraged to be themselves—imperfections and all—and celebrate their freaky flaws,” touts the official toy web site.

But what imperfections are we talking about? While watching the movie, I noticed that all girls that attend the school have the same body types and features: large heads with big eyes and pouty lips, stick-figure arms, and legs with calves that are wider than their thighs. (The boys also have identical muscular builds.) Presumably their feet are only big to show off their fabulous shoes. Or is it “fangbulous”? Whichever.

But to be fair, the movies do build upon the tried-and-true themes of “it’s okay to be different” and the value of friendship, so the Monster High movies finally won approval in our house. (Sorry, dolls, but you’re staying at the store.) And we finally had that chat. But I’d be so much more comfortable with scenes showing girls of a variety of body types also being accepted for who they are.

“So,” you might be asking yourself, “What about Equestria Girls? Why is that not an issue?”

It took me a while to realize the difference, but I finally did. Because it’s based on the premise of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, in my mind Equestria Girls and My Little Pony were the same thing. I never worried about body types with My Little Pony, because duh, they’re ponies, and that instinctively carried over to Equestria Girls. There’s also no talk of boyfriends or outfits or looking “gore-geous,” so I never had any qualms with the ponies’ human counterparts, but now that I see there are some short-skirted similarities… I’m keeping an eye on you, Equestria Girls.

Are your kids Monster High or Equestria Girls fans? Did you have any reservations about it?

Special thanks to Jessica Boyd for inspiring this train of thought.

The post ‘Monster High': It’s Okay to Be Different As Long As You’re Size 0 appeared first on GeekMom.

© PBS Kids

SciGirls is back this April with six brand-new episodes! As recent new fans of the PBS Kids show, which features real girls showing a real love of STEM, my kindergartener and I can’t wait to see what new science adventures are waiting for them in this third season.

The theme of the new season is “citizen science.” Here’s the latest info about what that means for the SciGirls:

Citizen science is the hottest new STEM frontier that engages the general public –and kids! – in real science. Scientists worldwide invite ordinary people—like the SciGirls—to observe and record data about everything from birds to beaches, monarch butterflies to maple trees. The data is then shared with scientists, who use it to generate new scientific knowledge.

New episodes premiere in April on your local PBS station, so check the listings to catch the girls in action.

© PBS Kids

The new season will also will also be available online nationwide starting April 15 on the official SciGirls web site.

The post A New Season of ‘SciGirls’ Premieres in April appeared first on GeekMom.

Image courtesy © Emerald City Comicon.

Chloe Bennet and Clark Gregg took the stage at Emerald City Comicon to talk about their favorite parts of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., along with hints of what’s to come in the upcoming action-packed episodes.

Both actors gushed about the cast and crew of the ABC series. Bennet feels a “sense of family” on the show, which Gregg echoed by saying that Bennet feels like a daughter to him. She also mentioned an interesting dynamic with Agent May (Ming-Na Wen) as Skye grapples with her new powers, and revealed that not only do the two characters grow closer, we’ll also see parts of May’s past in upcoming episodes. (The Cavalry, anyone?)

Image courtesy © Emerald City Comicon.

Bennet also shared what’s in the future for Skye as she learns more about what it means to be Inhuman. “She grows a lot,” she said. Luke Mitchell’s character is part of that journey, serving as her guide into her new life.

Gregg was a little more coy about upcoming episodes of the show, but did say, “People who like the Inhumans will be satisfied by what’s coming up.”

When asked about additional characters from the Marvel cinematic universe crossing between Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the films, Gregg would only say with a smile, “There’s always that possibility.” A fan of the way Marvel is telling an overarching story across multiple media, Gregg left the impression that there are still surprises to come.

With Coulson and his crew so active in Marvel’s world, sooner or later The Avengers are going to find out. When they do, a fan asked, which does Gregg think will have the most intense reaction? “Coulson would like to see Cap happy to see him alive again,” he said. “But I hope Banner wouldn’t be too angry about it.”

Both actors seemed genuinely happy and excited to chat with their fans and be a part of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. “Growing up, [pretending to be] a Disney princess was not as exciting to me as being a superhero,” said Bennet. “And now I get to be one!”

Gregg echoed her sentiment. “I’m really proud of what the show has done and where it’s going… I get to go to work and be my 11-year-old self every day.”

The post Chloe Bennet and Clark Gregg Talk ‘S.H.I.E.L.D.’ at Emerald City Comicon appeared first on GeekMom.

Photo: Kelly Knox.

“We’re here to disassemble the patriarchy!” yelled moderator Kelly Sue DeConnick, and thus the Valkyries panel at Emerald City Comicon got underway.

The Valkyries are a group of women working in comic book retail around the world. Comic book artist and writer Kate Leth organized the group when she worked in a store herself and wanted to find other kindred spirits to talk shop. Since then, the membership has grown to almost 400 women worldwide.

Swords of Sorrow #1, art by Kate Leth, colors by Paulina Ganucheau. © Dynamite Comics

Discussion within the group doesn’t simply focus on ranting about customers, even though negative experiences as a result of being a female employee do occur. Together, the members discuss recommendations for customers and how to improve the comic retail experience for all visitors to their stores.

Their influence is now even felt by publishers. At Emerald City Comicon, Leth announced variant covers that can only be ordered at shops with Valkyries within their ranks. First up, variants for Dynamite Comics’ Swords of Sorrow and Image’s Pretty Deadly.

Curious if your comic book store will carry the variant covers? Contact the Valkyries through Twitter to find a member in a store near you. (I recommend following their account for fantastic comic book discussion, even if you’re not employed in a store.)

If you’re a woman working in a comic book store, “We’re recruiting all the time!” said the Valkyries at Emerald City Comicon. Visit their website to sign up and join the community!

The post Beware the Valkyries! Comic Book Women Take ECCC By Storm appeared first on GeekMom.

Convergence, art by Carlo Pagulayan and Jose Marzan, Jr. © DC Comics.

This spring, the big two comic book publishers are unleashing their giant crossover events for 2015. As with most crossover events, both publishers are going for big, crazy, earth-shattering, “things will never be the same” events, when universes collide in both the DC and Marvel books. Here’s a quick guide to what’s coming up, thanks to excellent panels at this year’s Emerald City Comicon.

DC Comics: Convergence (April 1, 2015)
As most DC Comics fans know, there are multiple universes, past and present, that make up the DC universe. Brainiac, the mastermind behind Convergence, has been bringing cities in those past universes on the brink of destruction into his own collection. But don’t take my word for it; here’s Dan DiDio in the video that kicked off DC Comics’ panel at ECCC.

What this means for longtime fans is that some of our favorite past characters who didn’t make it into The New 52—Stephanie (Spoiler) Brown with her previous history, Oracle and Nightwing, Renee Montoya as The Question—are now back and have new stories to tell.

All regular DC Comics titles will be postponed in April to tell those stories, beginning with Convergence #0 this Wednesday.

Not a longtime fan of DC’s multiple universes and worried about feeling lost? A fan in the audience posed this very question to the panel of DC Comics creators at the convention.

Jeff King, writer of the main Convergence series, admitted that he himself was new to writing in the world of comics, but that the crossover inspired him to learn more about the DC universe and the landmark books in it. New readers may be moved to do the same, thanks to the event. Naming Flashpoint, Red Son, and more, King cited those as books that “stand on their own right.” He also felt that Convergence could be used as a starting point for new readers, “leading them to the June books [when regular issues resume] and fill in the knowledge” of the characters.

Stuart Moore, writer of the two-issue Convergence: Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, also talked about how the other titles during the event are meant to be accessible for all readers. “The mandate was to tell a self-contained story,” he said, “meant to be picked up and read by anyone.”

40 different two-issue titles will be released over the next two months.

Secret Wars © Marvel.

Marvel Comics: Secret Wars (May 2015)
Goodbye, Earth-616.

The Marvel universe as readers know it, along with the Ultimates universe, is ending. There’s only Battleworld, where the remnants of those universes have come together after they collide. The eight-issue main event series from writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Esad Ribic kicks off in May and ends in September.

“It’s an opportunity to take things and twist them in new and interesting ways,” said Charles Soule at Emerald City Comicon. “I’m having a lot of fun with it.”

Soule is tasked with telling a new version of Civil War, the conflict between Captain America and Iron Man. Soule wondered what would have happened had Cap not surrendered. “If it kept going, the entire world would have gotten involved,” he said. His Civil War, now expanded to involve humans along with heroes, builds upon the theme of security versus freedom that framed the original series.

Marvel Comics at ECCC. Photo: Kelly Knox.

Kelly Sue DeConnick will be tackling a different Captain Marvel than the one we’ve seen recently in Captain Marvel & The Carol Corps. Co-writing the series with Kelly Thompson, DeConnick puts Carol Danvers in a world with no stars in the sky and strong allies at her side.

Captain Marvel’s ongoing series is one of 33 that ends as the crossover event begins, leading many to wonder and worry what’s next for the characters in those books. “This anxiety and uncertainty is our marketing plan,” DeConnick said. But C.B. Cebulski assured fans, “Every book in your longbox will still count.”

The post ‘Convergence’ and ‘Secret Wars': The Big Comic Events of 2015 appeared first on GeekMom.

Anthony Daniels (c-3PO) teaching a lesson about heckling at Emerald City Comicon 2015. Photo: Kelly Knox

I get it.

You waited outside the hall for hours, made a mad rush to a seat to situate yourself by the microphone, and now your palms are sweating as you wait for the moderator to open the panel up for questions—all for the chance to speak directly to one of your favorite celebrities. But when you finally get to the mic, you’re about to use up precious minutes of the panel’s allotted time to ask a question.

Make it a good one.

If you don’t want whatever comes out of your mouth to make the audience groan, cause the celebrity give you a sad and sympathetic smile, or find yourself booed out of the hall, use that time standing in line at the mic to remember to avoid these questions.

1. “Can I have a hug?”/”Can I take a selfie?”/”Can I get your autograph?”

There are usually hundreds (if not thousands) of other people in the audience at celebrity panels at conventions. They’re there to hear from their favorite actor, not give you the chance to circumvent the autograph line and waste the time of everyone else at the panel. Consider the other panel attendees and ask a question that benefits everyone.

2. “What was it like working with ____?”

At Emerald City Comicon 2015, a fan found himself being admonished by Marina Sirtis after asking what it was like to work with Patrick Stewart. “Don’t ask me what it was like to work with anyone,” she scolded. “That’s an unimaginative question.” In the age of the Internet, she continued, any answer will immediately be made public, so she’s limited to saying nice things lest it get back to the other actor.

3. “Can I get your phone number?”/”Will you marry me?”

No. Asking if the actor is single is also a no-no. This is so obvious that it shouldn’t even be in this list, but I’ve been a spectator at more than one panel where this is happened. It never goes well.

4. “Can you take off your shirt?”

Related: Asking the actor to flex his biceps for you. They don’t want to seem like a bad sport, so they will likely do it for you, but 99% of the people in the room are now embarrassed (including the celebrity) and/or feeling like they need to go to the gym more often.

5. “Have you read my fan fiction?”

They haven’t. While some celebrities might be genuinely entertained by the various adventures your character and their character have had in your imagination, save your story for the autograph line. You might even have a better chance of starting a longer, more personal dialogue about it.

John DeLancie talks to a fan at the mic at Emerald City Comicon 2014. Photo: Kelly Knox

6. “In episode 12 of season 4, how did you feel when ______?”

You probably know way more about their show or movie than they do, especially as time marches on and it’s been 18 years since that episode was filmed. Also, always remember that you’re talking to the actor, not the character. Frame the question from an acting point of view and you might get a much better answer.

7. [No question.]

As in, you take this opportunity to relate your own personal anecdote as a fan of the particular person’s work and don’t follow it up with an actual question. Everyone in the audience also has memories of a beloved show or character—that’s why they waited in line with you just to be within 50 feet of this person. Again, try it in the autograph line to get eye contact and an actual discussion about how much he or she was a part of your childhood.

8. [The same question already asked three times in the panel.]

Again, I get it. You’ve been standing at that line and all you can concentrate on is not throwing up before you make it to the mic. But if you ask a question that has already been answered (even in part), you may hear a few groans as a result.

9. “What’s going to happen next season/in the sequel?”

The actors don’t write the scripts, so they usually know even less than you do about what’s down the road for their character. And if they do know, they’re not allowed to tell you anyway. You might get away with changing it to, “What would you like to happen next season?” but you probably won’t be satisfied with the answer.

10. “I love you.”

They know.

So now you’re probably even more nervous about standing in line the next time you go to a panel at your favorite convention. Here are just a few suggestions to keep in mind to get applause instead of facepalms:

• Plan ahead with 2-3 questions that benefit everyone in the audience, not just you.
• Your heart might be pounding so loud that it’s hard to hear the questions asked before you, but make every effort to listen so you don’t ask the same one. Use one of those backup questions if your first question is asked.
• Show the actor that you’re a fan of all of their work beyond just their most famous roles. The best question I heard at Emerald City Comicon 2015 was, “What other role or project of yours do you wish more people knew about?” You have my permission to use that one in case all of your backup questions have been taken.

Ruth Suehle, Corrina Lawson, and Sophie Brown contributed to this list.

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Clark Gregg at the Marvel office. Image courtesy © Marvel.

Clark Gregg, who kept the audience at Emerald City Comicon enraptured in March, also stopped by the official Women of Marvel podcast for their latest episode.

Episode 39 of the podcast is short, but sweet. Rather than focus on the action on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Gregg weighs in on what it’s like to be the father of a girl interested in STEM. It’s a fantastic discussion of encouraging his 13-year-old to explore whatever interests her.

Tune into the fast 10-minute talk with the ultimate geek dad, which also includes a little bit of insight into what it’s like being a fan-favorite character as Phil Coulson.

And if you haven’t caught up on the other episodes from the Women of Marvel podcast, load those up when you’re done! Each podcast is a fascinating inside look at the world of Marvel, both real and fictional.

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