Beth Elderkin, Author at Gizmodo

Image: Chaosium, Inc. / Image: Z-Man Games / Image: I Love Toast / Image: Jesse Finkelstein

Friday the 13th Unleashes Terror and Thanos Gets a Love Letter in the Latest Gaming News

Welcome back to Gaming Shelf, io9’s column all about board games and tabletop roleplaying games. It’s now been a couple of weeks since social distancing started, making at-home game nights feel more important than ever. We’ve got some suggestions on things to play at home, as well as some upcoming releases that take Thanos, Friday…

Games Beth Elderkin

Tales From the Loop’s Showrunner on How Sci-Fi Can Bring Us Comfort in Uncertain Times

Amazon’s new series Tales From the Loop was a unique creative challenge. Instead of adapting a book like Game of Thrones or His Dark Materials, showrunner Nathaniel Halpern was making a series out of paintings. Specifically, the Tales From the Loop artbook from Simon Stålenhag. Luckily for Halpern, he was “uniquely cut out” for this. io9…

io9 Beth Elderkin

Onward Deleted Scene Features a Capitalist Twist on the Siren Song

Disney Pixar’s Onward brought the fantasy world into the 21st century—complete with smartphones, hoodies, and chain restaurants. But how would the legend of the siren song get a timely update? In this deleted scene shared by Entertainment Weekly, Ian Lightfoot (Tom Holland) finds himself tempted by an offer he can’t refuse—alongside a key character who…

Movies Beth Elderkin

Tales From the Loop Is Beautiful to Look At But Doesn’t Have Much to Say

Simon Stålenhag’s Tales From the Loop is a work of art. His paintings of an alternate reality town filled with machines and conspiracies is a lovely glimpse into another world, with small details hinting at something greater. Amazon Studios’ version loves what it’s adapting, creating a show that looks as gorgeous as its inspiration. But…

io9 Beth Elderkin

Image: Adult Swim / Image: Shudder / Photo: Showtime / Photo: CBS All Access

11 Nerdy Things You Can Watch and Read for Free While Social Distancing [Updated]

There are only so many times you can rewatch episodes of Futurama or Love is Blind. For folks wanting to branch out beyond Netflix and Hulu, or take a momentary break from Animal Crossing, there are plenty of places to watch cool shows and films online for free—as well as some services to help keep…

Television Beth Elderkin

Image: Evil Hat Productions / Image: Tabletop Simulator / Image: Tabletop Simulator / Image: Steam

13 Board Games, RPGs, and Resources for Playing with Friends and Family Remotely

Let’s face it: We miss playing games with people. Social distancing doesn’t just mean avoiding other shoppers at the grocery store; it means no longer having friends or family over to our houses. Gaming is such a great way to bring people together, and right now that’s kind of gone out the window. Luckily, there…

Games Beth Elderkin

Image: © 2020 Skydance Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved

Altered Carbon Looks Stacked in an Exclusive Preview of Netflix’s Coffee Table Book

Netflix’s Altered Carbon is a show that tries to match its substance with lots of style. Taking inspiration from the cyberpunk genre, most notably Blade Runner, the series intertwines wealth, poverty, and technology to represent a universe where death is meaningless. We have a first look inside Netflix’s official artbook that shows the style, substance,…

Books & Comics Beth Elderkin

Sam Witwer on His DC Universe RPG and GMing While Social Distancing

Thanks to shows like Critical Role, The Adventure Zone, and Queens of Adventure, it’s more popular than ever to watch others play tabletop roleplaying games. DC Universe has now gotten into the game with DC Universe All Star Games, based on a classic 1980s DC RPG, and io9 spoke with Game Master Sam Witwer (Star…

Games Beth Elderkin

That’s Our Doctor

It’s a scary time right now. Luckily, Doctor Who’s Jodie Whittaker is here to help to share an inspiring message during her own special brand of social distancing. In short: Be kind, trust science, and don’t let the Sontarans get you. The BBC released a video from Whittaker’s Doctor, who received a transmission in the TARDIS…

io9 Beth Elderkin

You’ll Have to Wait a Bit Longer for Supernatural’s Final Episodes

In a previous article about the final season, I said it was hard to imagine a world where Supernatural did not exist, calling the series “a streetlight—always there, always on.” Thanks to covid-19 and social distancing, that light is going to stay on a little bit longer but don’t expect extra episodes. The final episodes…

Books & Comics Beth Elderkin

Image: Wizards of the Coast / Image: Evil Hat Productions / Image: Plaid Hat Games

15 Unique Board Games and RPGs for Families That Aren’t Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit

Families are experiencing some of the hardest changes with social distancing. Kids are home from school and parents have had to transition to a new way of learning for the first time. There’s also the issue of keeping kids entertained while they’re stuck inside for hours. We’ve made a list of family-friendly games, sorted by…

Games Beth Elderkin

Westworld’s Episode 3 Teaser Hints at Tessa Thompson’s Secret Identity

One of the looming questions in Westworld season three is: Who is Charlotte Hale? Tessa Thompson’s character may have been sheltering Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) during the escape from the island, but now she could be home to anybody. In a look at next week’s episode, the mystery rises to dangerous levels. HBO has released…

Trailers Beth Elderkin

Netflix’s Next Animated Adventure Is All About…Potential Parenticide?

In the time of covid-19, road trip movies are one of the best forms of escapism. But the first trailer for Netflix’s new road trip movie The Willoughbys comes with a surprising twist: These kids may have murdered their parents. Based on the children’s book by Lois Lowry, The Willoughbys is an animated film about…

Trailers Beth Elderkin

Image: Renegade Game Studios / Image: Arcane Wonders / Image: Hush Hush Projects / Image: Spectrum Games

12 Board Games and RPGs 2 People Can Play While Keeping Their Distance…Together

Social distancing isn’t necessarily a one-person experience (although if it is for you, we made a list of games that can help with that). Some of us are living with a partner, a roommate, or someone else who plays an important role in our lives. It’s important to take time to spend together—without driving each…

Games Beth Elderkin

Into the Spider-Verse’s Jake Johnson Is Helping Kids Cope With Personal Messages From Spider-Man

We’ve all been facing challenges because of social distancing, but perhaps none more so than children. Being forced to stay inside during key phases of development is rough—not just for the kids, but for their parents. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse star Jake Johnson is doing his part to give them comfort by sending personal voicemails…

Movies Beth Elderkin

China Hopes Harry Potter Will Coax People Back to Theaters…Once They Reopen

In the United States, we’ve only recently started seeing movie theaters closing their doors because of the covid-19 pandemic, but in China, things have been shut down for weeks. Now that the country seems to finally be turning the corner, Chinese studios and regulators are coming together to try and bring their box office back…

Movies Beth Elderkin

Cats Is a ‘Medieval Morality Play’: 20 Highlights From Tom Hooper’s Strange Director Commentary

Cats has finally come home, and we’ve combed through the director commentary to uncover the film’s greatest secrets. It may be one of those movies that’s impossible to explain, but director Tom Hooper was determined to try. The Razzie award winner and modern cinematic classic is now out for digital home release, which means an…

Movies Beth Elderkin

Dammit, Legends of Tomorrow, It’s Only Wednesday

The latest DC’s Legends of Tomorrow episode was an emotional whirlwind at a time when we’re still reeling from our real-world sudden spiral into fear and isolation. But it was a wonderful showing of compassion and a reminder that human connection is a powerful thing. “Romeo V. Juliet: Dawn of Justness,” which aired on Tuesday night, was…

Books & Comics Beth Elderkin

Image: Victory Point Games / Image: Fantasy Flight Games / Image: Stonemaier Games / Image: Behold Studios

12 Board Games and Tabletop RPGs You Can Play Alone While Social Distancing

As we hunker down for weeks or months of social distancing, refrigerators stocked and extra toilet paper on hand, it’s okay to allow ourselves a little time for fun and games. Today we’re talking about solo games. Whether you’re by yourself, or needing a little alone time, here are some board games and tabletop roleplaying…

Games Beth Elderkin

Image: IDW Games / Image: Arcana Games / Image: The Op / Image: Ta-Te Wu

Onward and Lord of the Rings Get RPGs and More Gaming News, Including Covid-19 Updates

Welcome back to Gaming Shelf, io9’s column all about the latest in board games and tabletop roleplaying games. The coronavirus pandemic has changed a lot of things in a very short amount of time, and we’ve got some updates on where you can find news for cancelled gaming events and in-person gathering bans. In addition,…

Games Beth Elderkin

Beth Elderkin

Friday the 13th Unleashes Terror and Thanos Gets a Love Letter in the Latest Gaming News

Tales From the Loop’s Showrunner on How Sci-Fi Can Bring Us Comfort in Uncertain Times

Onward Deleted Scene Features a Capitalist Twist on the Siren Song

Tales From the Loop Is Beautiful to Look At But Doesn’t Have Much to Say

11 Nerdy Things You Can Watch and Read for Free While Social Distancing [Updated]

13 Board Games, RPGs, and Resources for Playing with Friends and Family Remotely

Altered Carbon Looks Stacked in an Exclusive Preview of Netflix’s Coffee Table Book

Sam Witwer on His DC Universe RPG and GMing While Social Distancing

That’s Our Doctor

You’ll Have to Wait a Bit Longer for Supernatural’s Final Episodes

15 Unique Board Games and RPGs for Families That Aren’t Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit

Westworld’s Episode 3 Teaser Hints at Tessa Thompson’s Secret Identity

Netflix’s Next Animated Adventure Is All About…Potential Parenticide?

12 Board Games and RPGs 2 People Can Play While Keeping Their Distance…Together

Into the Spider-Verse’s Jake Johnson Is Helping Kids Cope With Personal Messages From Spider-Man

China Hopes Harry Potter Will Coax People Back to Theaters…Once They Reopen

Cats Is a ‘Medieval Morality Play’: 20 Highlights From Tom Hooper’s Strange Director Commentary

Dammit, Legends of Tomorrow, It’s Only Wednesday

12 Board Games and Tabletop RPGs You Can Play Alone While Social Distancing

Onward and Lord of the Rings Get RPGs and More Gaming News, Including Covid-19 Updates

INIU Portable Power Bank Is Small in Size and Smaller in Price for Amazon’s Big Spring Sale (45W, 10,000mAh)

Humans Were Already Dog People 16,000 Years Ago, DNA Suggests

California Regulator Says Tesla’s ‘Robotaxis’ Are More Like a Limo in the Eyes of the Law

Dyson Airwrap Falls to an All-Time Low in Amazon’s Spring Sale, Lowering the Barrier for This Premium Multi-Styler

The ‘Tales from ’85’ Trailer Wants You Back in ‘Stranger Things’ Already

Forget Ray-Ban Meta, XREAL 1S AR/XR Virtual Screen Smart Glasses Drop to Record Low on Amazon

Pixel Buds Pro 2 Hit Record Low as Google Continues Its Clearance-Like Price Cuts Following Smartphone Deals

DJI Now Has a Cheaper 360 Drone Than Insta360, but the U.S. Won’t Get It

Amazon Clears Out Apple Watch Series 9 With Silver Stainless Steel Case at 48% Off During Spring Sale

What Do You Mean Fox McCloud Is in the ‘Super Mario Galaxy’ Movie

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

Nintendo’s Talking Flower Is Annoying as Hell. I Love It

Level Lock Pro Review: As Good as a Secret Smart Lock Gets

Apple Studio Display XDR Review: It Looks So Good, I Wish It Were an iMac

RayNeo Air 4 Pro Review: My Eyes Love These Video Glasses, but My Nose Disagrees