The rumours are flying that Half Life 3 might be close to done. We're trying not to get too hyped just in case, but this might actually be happening this time.

Alan Moore spoke about his new novel, The Great When from The Long London Quintet. Lots of parallel universe shenanigans seem to be heading our way.

2025 has some great astronomy opportunities coming up in Australia, from the possibility of more auroras, some great meteor showers and the temporary disappearance of Saturn's rings.

Half Life 3 news

- Why Half-Life 3 speculation is reaching a fever pitch again - Ars Technica 

How to write like Alan Moore : The Novel

- How Alan Moore’s new novel builds on his iconic comics 

2025 in Astronomy

- Meteor showers, eclipses and supermoons. What you can expect for 2025 in astronomy - ABC News 

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1USeKcuUg3AvWagjq6bC5ColnoBvMFoFXpXehznPyKng/edit?usp=sharing

Follow us on

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/NAmalgamated

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@nerdsamalgamated142

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@nerdsamalgamated

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the end of the year, so welcome to our Year in Review episode. We discuss our favourite things of the year from games to movies and science.

We hope you have a happy New Year and we'll see you next year for more nerdy shenanigans.

2024 in video games

– 2024 in video games - Wikipedia 

2024 in film

– 2024 in film - Wikipedia 

2024 in Science & Technology

– 2024 in science - Wikipedia 

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g1w1Tdyexpox_2cz-dx8WKSyGnEGx78ZNpWiovypFeM/edit?usp=sharing

Follow us on

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/NAmalgamated

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@nerdsamalgamated142

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@nerdsamalgamated

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your kids might be gambling in underground Roblox casinos. Or you might be gaming in underground CSGO casinos. Either way, there's been a proliferation of underground gaming casinos gambling in game assets for real world money. The latest investigation shows found children who have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Robux. Scary stuff.

In what is certainly not just a way to get on the hype train, 50 Cent and others have announced they are working on documentaries about Luigi Mangione. We discuss whether this could cause copycat killings and might not be such a wise idea.

Science is big, wonderful, and complicated. We'll tell you how scientists actually make decisions, and how you can make sure you're not being conned by bad science.

Illegal Gambling in Roblox

- Investigation claims "network of illegal casinos" lets children gamble with their Roblox account details | GamesIndustry.biz 

Luigi the Documentary

- Luigi Mangione Documentary in the Works From Alex Gibney, Anonymous Content 

- Second Luigi Mangione Documentary in the Works From ‘Amanda Knox’ Producer (EXCLUSIVE) 

- 50 Cent reveals details about his documentary on Luigi Mangione: "I kinda like this killer” - Meristation 

Correlation vs causation...

- If ‘correlation doesn’t imply causation’, how do scientists figure out why things happen? 

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aCBAMfBpgbOn6MzVhEx1c4cOeb36mftE-rVwgRtLtvA/edit?usp=sharing

Follow us on

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/NAmalgamated

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@nerdsamalgamated142

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@nerdsamalgamated

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's a big potential for the untapped Indian games industry. Why hasn't it taken off yet? Is 2025 finally the year of the Indian games industry?

Former Bond girl Gemma Arterton thinks James Bond can't be genderbent. Someone out there will probably take that as a challenge.

A group of scientists working with school students have identified a cytotoxic chemical found in goose feces. Really. It'll take a lot of work to convince people to rub it on their cancer though.

Gaming potential in India

- Why gaming is India's "new entertainment frontier" | GamesIndustry.biz 

Genderbent 007 is not possible

- 'Quantum Of Solace' Star And Former Bond Girl Gemma Arterton Disagrees With Idea Of Gender-Swapping 007: "Isn’t A Female James Bond Like Mary Poppins Being Played By A Man?" - Bounding Into Comics 

A new antibiotic from goose shit...

- Discovery of New Cyclic Lipodepsipeptide Orfamide N via Partnership with Middle School Students from the Boys and Girls Club | ACS Omega 

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Paun3E2y41-dJkBmlgEv6kXbpeYucGIfEPh7c_QOtCc/edit?usp=sharing

Follow us on

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/NAmalgamated

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@nerdsamalgamated142

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@nerdsamalgamated

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, things get heated when Professor and DJ talk about the reasons AAA games have to play it safe and take no risks.

Disney is remaking Snow White and it looks AWFUL. They really should stop doing this, but they won't as long as people keep watching them.

There's been a lot of news about birdflu lately. So why hasn't it become a pandemic?

Playing it safe Triple A style

- Borderlands 3 and The Elder Scrolls Online director says AAA game studios are playing it safe since "you have people who get nervous because big money is involved" 

First Snow White movie trailer released

- Disney's Snow White Trailer Highlights The Biggest Problem With Rachel Zegler's Live-Action Remake 

Why no birdflu

- Why hasn’t the bird flu pandemic started? | Science | AAAS 

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/13Yx4UKAA6WrVq-fdfQPWoosqEMOPJKEbcj-YjMRN12k/edit?usp=sharing

Follow us on

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/NAmalgamated

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@nerdsamalgamated142

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@nerdsamalgamated

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are have a new Nerd on the Block : Shane from ComX

Once an international brand, GAME is on the verge of shutting down. They've adapted to the changing market by not selling games anymore. We're not sure there's a way to survive as a physical games retailer with the domination of online marketplaces, but they're trying.

Hate might be a strong word but Denis Villeneuve really doesn't like Star Wars anymore. And his hatred goes a long way back. Still, Dune is the better movie so he has a point.

The HPV vaccine has nearly eradicated cervical cancer in young women. A great victory for science. We're excited to see even more cancers prevented by new vaccines.

GAME Shutting down

- Inside the fall of GAME: "no games, no accessories - instead we received 136 Zendaya action figures" | Eurogamer.net 

Denis Villeneuve’s disinterest in Star Wars

- Denis Villeneuve Explains His ‘Star Wars’ Disinterest: “It All Derailed in 1983” 

Is there a cure for cervical cancer….the answer is yes

- Cervical cancer deaths are plummeting among young U.S. women 

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MxjzIS5Ycpi6-_2ar5YxdpHpcA-wjJ0fmMpcFHuvyvI/edit?usp=sharing

Follow us on

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/NAmalgamated

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@nerdsamalgamated142

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@nerdsamalgamated

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Disco Elysium is a famous game for very good reasons. But when it comes to creating a sequel, there are now five companies all claiming to be working on a spiritual successor, all with part of the original team. And they're all suing each other. Get your popcorn.

Ben Affleck (Batman) and Hirohiko Araki (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure) have both come forwards to complain about AI. The future of their industries is at risk, after all, so they have some personal stake in the matter.

Rats enjoy driving cars. When given the option to take a car or walk to a treat, even though the road is longer, the rats will gladly hop into their vehicles and zoom off to the supermarket. Hmm, just like humans.

Drama Elysium

- The Wild Story Behind Disco Elysium’s Spiritual Successors: Allegations, Legal Threats, and a USB Stick - IGN 

A.I. Concerns in movies and manga

- Ben Affleck Says Movies ‘Will Be One of the Last Things Replaced by AI,’ and Even That’s Unlikely to Happen: ‘AI Is a Craftsman at Best’ 

- 'JoJo's Bizarre Adventure' Creator Hirohiko Araki Express Concern Regarding AI's Effect On Manga: "We're Going To See An Increasingly Shady World Filled With Scammers Exploiting It" - Bounding Into Comics 

Rats driving cars

- I’m a neuroscientist who taught rats to drive − their joy suggests how anticipating fun can enrich human life 

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eAxmrTUth73GjS2jLhTX2pPqMzV1gUmEs_M81dIAEwY/edit?usp=sharing

Follow us on

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/NAmalgamated

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@nerdsamalgamated142

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reuploaded due to Spotify sync issues

Australia's proposed social media ban is very broad and will likely affect gaming platforms like Roblox and Fortnite. We discuss the impact on the gaming industry if this comes into effect.

Disney announced new Star Wars movies, then almost immediately cancelled one of them. What are they doing? Does anyone there have any idea what to do? Probably not.

Track your farts for science. Really. CSIRO have launched a citizen science initiative to track how often and how badly you fart to investigate gut health. Science is amazing.

Social media ban affecting gamers

- The government plans to ban under-16s from social media platforms. Here's what we know so far - ABC News 

The Future of Star Wars

- Disney Turns To Rey To Lead 'Star Wars' Movies With Everyone Else Dead 

Community farting

- ‘Chart your fart’: Calling Aussies to track flatulence for science - CSIRO 

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1udGFB4mm0gxbDvFa344Xf930m5FbHwSxyRIJmk61n-Q/edit?usp=sharing

Follow us on

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/NAmalgamated

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@nerdsamalgamated142

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we went to Supanova 100. We'll discuss our favorite panels, some great sights and of course the best cosplays.

Brisbane Supanova 2024

– Event Home - Supanova Comic Con & Gaming

 Shane Syddall from Comics Network Australia (ComX)

– Comics Network Australia

– Shane Syddall | Comics Network Australia  

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tdeHIlAmUYvngQu4K5j3NJBvACToANCafjd7H0bV0DI/edit?usp=sharing

Follow us on

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/NAmalgamated

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@nerdsamalgamated142

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 has a new pay to win audio tier using customised Head Related Transfer Functions. Cool tech, but what isn't cool is allowing some players who can afford a subscription to have a gameplay advantage.

Netflix are saving the Anime industry by... *checks notes* paying the animators a fair wage. This utterly insane idea will hopefully lead the industry in a better direction, away from child labour and exploitative practices.

Aureispira bacteria have been witnessed using grappling hooks and cannons to hunt unsuspecting prey. This pirates of the microscopic world scenario could lead to interesting nanobot technology.

COD Black Ops 6 new tier…enhanced headphone mode

- What exactly is up with Black Ops 6's 'Enhanced Headphone Mode' and its $20 paid tier | PC Gamer 

Netflix is saving anime

- Netflix Reveals How It's Helping Save the Anime Industry in Massive New Report 

Bacteria Pirate AHOY

- Microscopic pirates attack with cellular cannons and grappling hooks 

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Hg0UI_Up_OHHLvAm0TE6A3dIAiX2B5XByJxjCS3VFX8/edit?usp=sharing

Follow us on

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/NAmalgamated

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@nerdsamalgamated142

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.