Mike Chen, Author at The Mary Sue

Mike Chen

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On May the 4th, Let’s Remember Why Fans of All Factions Love Star Wars

For Star Wars, it's a weird and divisive time. But on May the 4th, perhaps it's time to set down our lightsabers and blasters and remember why we love the Galaxy Far, Far Away so much in the first place.

Less is More: Why Short Video Games Still Rock

Got 50 hours to finish a video game? How about several titles of that length, all stacking up in your to-do list? The game industry has shifted towards long open-world games, but they're forgetting that there's still something very powerful—and fun—about a 10-hour game with a great narrative.

How Ahsoka Tano Completed the Arc of Anakin Skywalker

For many Star Wars fans, one of the biggest issues regarding the prequel trilogy was the character of Anakin Skywalker. But when viewed through the eyes of The Clone Wars' Ahsoka Tano, the Chosen One has much more complete arc before he turns to the Dark Side.

Like Mother, Like Daughter: Sam & Nancy Maggs on Growing Up Geek

Do families that geek together stay together? For one of the brightest stars in the geek galaxy, that's totally true. You probably already know Sam Maggs, but here's how her mom Nancy was influential in growing up immersed in sci-fi, anime, and video games.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens One Month Later: What Worked & Didn’t Work

Were you giddy after seeing The Force Awakens? Yeah, we were too. But then that wore off, and here's what happened when we thought a little more objectively about it one month later.

8 Video Games That Mattered in 2015

There were many great video games released in 2015. But which games left an impact on a constantly shifting industry? For better or worse, these eight titles will influence how developers and publishers will approach 2016 and beyond.

Baby’s First Con: A Geek Parent Survival Guide

Thinking of taking your baby to a con? We did it, and we survived, but not before learning a bunch of lessons along the way. Here's everything a new parent has to know about going to -- and actually enjoying -- baby's first con.

Five Ways to Fix Assassin’s Creed

Hey, have you played the new Assassin's Creed? It kind of plays like every other game in the series, with nearly decade-old parkour and combat mechanics. If you've avoided it, you're not alone; low sales numbers show that the franchise is growing stale. But here are five ways to help rebuild the Assassin brotherhood from the ground up.

In Defense of the Star Wars Prequels: Let Go of Your Hate

The Phantom Menace. Attack of the Clones. Revenge of the Sith. Chances are, your stomach turns at just hearing those titles. Ten years have passed since the Star Wars prequel trilogy concluded...and perhaps it's time to give these much-maligned films a second chance.

Don’t Listen to Your Family; You Should Totally Geekify Your Baby

Do your parents think you're weird for geeking out your newborn? Getting outside pre-baby pressure about being more normal and less nerdy? Don't listen to any of that; geekifying your baby can be one of the best things you do for your little one.