You’re probably already well aware (I mean, it’s not even Sunday yet and we’ve been seeing fantastic commercials releasing in droves including a fantastic Pokemon ad), but Super Bowl 50 is less than two days away!
If you’re anything like me (and if you’re reading Geekscape, you probably are, and I’m sorry)… you have little to no interest in the event. Unless there is booze, that is, and in that case I am VERY interested in it.
So, we at Geekscape have put together our Top 5 favorite alternatives to watching the big game!
5 – Blood Bowl
Blood Bowl is the Warhammer: Fantasy take on football itself. Set in the mythical land of Warhammer, it pits two players against each other in a turn based game of football. Each player chooses from a selection of fantasy races, naturally with their own advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, players can hire and level up non-fielded characters such as Cheerleaders, Assistant Coaches, and even Healers. All boost the statistics of the players on the field. The best part of the game, is where the actual BLOOD comes into play. It’s not just about moving the ball down the field, its about trying to injure or kill opposing players.
You can play Blood Bowl all old school (on the tabletop itself, painting up figures and sets). OR you can find a digital version of the game on PC, PS4, Xbox One, Google Play, Amazon Store and iOS.
For more information check out the Blood Bowl Fan League!
4 – Online Gaming (Rocket League, CS:GO, League of Legends)
Around major events like the Super Bowl and national holidays, the online servers for A LOT of games see their populations dwindle. The casual players get all wrapped up in the festivities, and all that’s left are the die hard players.
If you really want to test your skill in games like Rocket League or CS:GO, then there is no better time than this very Sunday. You can tell your friends and family that you’re practicing for the eSports league, and that they will be watching you play League of Legends on the big screen in a few years…. Hey, a Geek can dream about more than just cartoon ponies, can’t he?
3 – Sports Related Manga
Much like the Rule 34 of the internet (my favorite rule, if you’re curious), if it exists, there is a Manga about it. Japanese manga are so ubiquitous that essentially everyone around is able to find something they’re interested in confined to a half-inch thick book.
From titles like Prince of Tennis, King Golf, Hikaru no Go, and Initial D, you are sure to find the book of your fancy.
Check out this list of The Top 50 Sports Related Manga’s from OtakuSmash and be amazed. I never would have dreamed I be interested in fishing manga!
2 – Kaiju Movie Marathon
If you have no interest in watching a bunch of big guys run around a field and beat each other up for a few hours, then why don’t you watch a bunch of big guys in MONSTER SUITS run around and beat each other up for a few hours!
There are so many to choose from that you don’t even have to limit yourself to just Godzilla and friends! Get some buddies, fire up the Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Torrents (not Torrents) or if you’re a die hard Kaiju fan break out those antique VHS tapes.
For a lighthearted twist on the big monster movie genre, you can snag yourself some episodes of MST3K! Their personal twist on the Gamera films always leave me in stitches.
1 – ACTUALLY WATCH THE GAME!
Didn’t see this one coming, did you? I know this may be counter intuitive to what this entire list is about, but actually watch the game! Get some of your friends together, get some bad food and alcohol and enjoy the damned festivities. Even if you’re like me and have ZERO interest in football, there is so much to offer.
The commercials alone should be enough to attract all the Geeks. We have plenty of hilarious commercials that will be the talk of the Twittersphere (or… Facebookverse?) come Monday, and you don’t want to be out of the loop. Keep an eye out for appearances from some internet famous (it’s a thing) people like The Texas Law Hawk and Giorgio Tsoukalos. We will also see plenty of Geeky ones too. The biggest (for us geeks) is the long-awaited Pokemon 20th Anniversary ad. Yeah, we all have already seen it, but seeing it on air is going to be exciting!
Aside from the commercials, of course there is also the legendary Half-Time show. Last years Katy Perry performance literally had me smiling from ear to ear (she always does), and for the last 11 years we’ve all been hoping for another wardrobe malfunction like we had back in 2004.
If you don’t have television, or are a cordcutter don’t fret! There are plenty of free, LEGAL, options to watch the big game. LifeHacker has compiled a giant list, but the easiest is snagging the CBS sports apps on your favorite streaming platform.
SO GEEKS! What are you going to be doing come Sunday? We’d love to hear what everyone has planned!