Nerd HQ
By Nick Eskey
Over the years, nerd culture has grown and evolved. As we have become comfortable and proud of our geekdom, the notion of being a nerd has become accepted by many. Today’s nerd culture has evolved so much that it has a unique style all of its own. High-end comic and cartoon artwork fill our walls and shelves, our closets have designer shirts that feature our favorite games and shows, and now we even share the weights rack with meat heads at the gym: we have become chic.
The New Children’s Museum.
It’s no wonder then that such an event as Nerd HQ exists. Nerd HQ is a party/club experience featuring games, electronics, and popular media. Is there anything better than drinking a mojito while playing video games?
This year, Nerd HQ is located at the “New Children’s Museum” near San Diego’s Gaslamp area. Admission for the 4 days event is free, except for the event happening on Sunday. Registration is not necessary, but if you want to get the full access to the activations there, register online to get reserved a wristband.
Some of the features this year will be a picture booth, live demos of the upcoming “Star Wars Battlefront” game, a Hoth set with a speed racer, a “Lootcrate” table with giveaways, a display of the AMD gaming machine and AMD Radeon peripherals, and of course a fully stocked bar. A lounge area will play host to party goers who want to mingle and relax, and also to special guests who will also be on site to give live interviews and answer questions.
The HQ had a preview on Wednesday night to select guests, and the residents that live in the coinciding residential building. Not all of the displays were fully installed, and unfortunately the Star Wars demos would be available till the next day, but gameplay showed on screens in a continuous loop.
When taking a break from the main event, head down to the New Children’s Museum to check out Nerd HQ.
Doubtless spurred by my relentless questioning of their existence, yesterday it was announced that Nerd HQ would be returning to Comic-Con this time merging with IGN and with a new venue, the New Children’s Museum at 200 W Island Ave—just across the tracks from the Hyatt and a very convenient spot for shilling. So this year we’ll have TWO nerdlebrity offsites, NerdHQ and Nerdist, which as we reported yesterday, will be located at PetCo. It’s unknown how extensive the Nerdist event will be, however.
According to some promo on IGN:
Zachary Levi and The Nerd Machine’s Nerd HQ will return to San Diego Comic-Con this July, making its home at the New Children’s Museum for the four-day pop-culture mecca. In addition, this year IGN is teaming with Nerd HQ 2015 as their global media partner, helping to bring Nerd HQ to the fans who can’t make it to San Diego. We’ll be streaming all of Nerd HQ’s Conversations for a Cause panels on IGN as well as on our YouTube channel. The streams will also be available on TheNerdMachine.com and the Nerd HQ App. IGN will also be hosting its own live stream throughout Comic-Con.
Nerd HQ provides fans a free retreat during the con, with the New Children’s Museum’s creative venue providing a 35,000 square foot, three-floor space that will host an expanded Conversations for a Cause panel series, fan-focused interactions, and exclusive hands-on game play with a number of this years’ biggest titles.
Nerd HQ activites include lots of media panels with top names—but instead of queueing up, you buy a separate ticket in advance for every panel. All the activities will be available on a IGN powered Nerd HQ app, and the traditional open fan party has been extended to two nights: Thursday, July 9th and Saturday, July 11th.
It seems the comics-themed off-site Tr!ckster is no more, but I still think there’s room for such an event, if some enterprising entrepreneur has the guts to give it a whirl again. Give it time.
