[SUNDAY READ + WATCH] Sci-Fi in the Valley Con Brings Jedi, Vulcans to Ebensburg

Mike Mirobelli of Pittsburgh's Snake Eyes Gaming surveys the field during Sci-Fi in the Valley Con's "Warhammer 40,000" tournament play.

On Friday and Saturday, the North Central Recreation Center in Ebensburg was the epicenter of a splash of sci-fi, fantasy and horror subculture previously unseen in this area.

The first "Sci-Fi in the Valley Con" packed the rec center for two days of geeky communion.

The event wraps up today, yet many starships have landed, lightsabers have “vwoomed” and undead have shuffled alongside pirates and robots on the show floor - luckily, author Kirk Allmond put together a "Zombie Preparedness" panel.

[OMG] Diablo 3's Dark, Disturbed Secret

See that image above? Fill your eyes. Cherish it.

Where we're going, the most depraved and desensitized are given cause to shudder.

User "Zerofire" on the European Battle.net brought this evil upon us. His mortal meddling in the demonic world of Diablo 3 has caused a rift, through which unspeakable horror creeps and threatens all.

Read on to see harrowing, unedited footage of Zerofire's discovery...

[OH, INTERNET] The Diablo 3 Experience Thus Far

"Diablo 3's first level is a tough one" - Reddit user Flash_09

Reddit is aflame today, specifically /r/gaming, who had their sick days called and their Doritos in-hand in preparation for the Diablo 3 launch. Except, few have actually been able to play it, what with constant connection to the Battle.net servers a requisite for even single-player mode.

And with the hundreds of thousands frothing - no doubt, frothing - to get back to Sanctuary, it seems the Battle.net servers can't handle hundreds of thousands of near-simultaneous logins.

But seriously, how long have we been doing this first-day-of-an-online-game thing? How long, folks? And you didn't expect the developer of the most high-profile launch of 2012 to come out of this with egg on their face (or title screen, which is about as far as most got in the early hours of the morning.)

The good thing - at least for those who haven't gotten around to D3 yet - is that the outcry is hilarious.

[WATCH] Game of Thrones' Westeros Being Built in Minecraft

A speedy tour of Westeros in all its pixellated finery

I know, I know - another Game of Thrones post.

Oh, the horror.

But here, I get to combine my A Song of Ice and Fire passion with my vidya passion and give you this: Fanatic fools that are re-creating George R. R. Martin's world of Westeros - all on a lone Minecraft server (dubbed "A Server of Ice and Fire" - tee hee.)

Click through for more video and to watch a live map of the blocky Westerosi construction...

[WATCH] Diablo 3's Animated Short, "Wrath", from Titmouse

Diablo is coming...

... In about a week. BUT - here's something that might tide you over: a six-minute animated short from Titmouse Inc., of Metalocalypse fame. 

Borrowing heavily from Eastern stylings - who doesn't nowadays - the plot follows Tyrael, Archangel of Justice and a recurring character in the Diablo series, and his angelic comrades. 

The production quality is reminiscent of Avatar - which stands high above material from other Western studios.

Diablo 3 will descend from a swirling, fiery rift in the sky on May 15. Enjoy!

SOURCE: Joystiq

[WATCH] Animated Game of Thrones Shorts Before They're Pulled

History & Lore | The History of House Targaryen

Here - here's your Saturday afternoon. You're welcome.

[SUNDAY READ + WATCH] Gates of Fire Was... Pretty Cold

Pete “Alistair” Walsh scans the crest of a green hill ahead of him. To his rear, a handful of tightly formed, iron-clad sentries await with blood red shields raised, spears thrust out. They are his men – a unit he proudly serves as commander.

Rising over the cold, stiff horizon before the Roman 14^th Legion sentry are dozens of leathered orcs bearing axes and crude flails. Yesterday, Walsh was an office worker. Today, he raises his gladius and the hardened Roman 14th leap into a melee.

An orcish arrow whizzes past the Romans’ tower shields and finds an infantryman’s neck. Luckily, the padding on the tip bounces the arrow away.

Most would call this fantasy, but thousands all around the world have another name: The Dagorhir Battle Games.