PlayStation Television Ad Captures Nostalgia That Makes Fans Passionate About Star Wars

It's an exciting time to be a Star Wars fan!  A hit television series, Rebels, just kicked off its second season, brand new Star Wars video games are hitting store shelves (Disney Infinity 3.0 Star Wars Saga & Electronic Arts' Battlefront) and of course a new movie, The Force Awakens, premieres in theaters across the United States on December 18, 2015.  While there has been a lot of buzz about the trailers for the movie, I have to say that this television advertisement for Sony's PlayStation really has been the most impressive marketing piece I've seen so far as it really captures the nostalgia that fans have for Star Wars which really is "The Force" behind the ongoing success of the brand.  If you haven't seen this ad yet, check it out!



That orange '70/'80s era carpeting so hits home for me in the scene with the kids playing with their Kenner Star Wars action figures.  These new additions to the Star Wars saga are arriving at a great time for my family as my kids are just at the right age for me to share my passion for these characters and stories with them.  Things are a bit different now though as when I was their age I had pretend lightsaber duels with my friends using flash lights like in the PlayStation advertisement but now my kids have high tech light up light saber recreations that make sound effects when you joust them together.  Some things don't change though as just like his dad who took a Empire Strikes Back lunchbox to school my son carts a Star Wars: Rebels one to first grade with him every morning.  My daughter opted for a FROZEN lunch box but she does have a cute Chopper plush she hangs from her school backpack.

I've been a fan of the comic books, novels, toys and movies revolving around George Lucas' original trilogy of films since watching them as a kid when they originally came out.  My kids aren't as much into those characters but love the new generation of characters in the Star Wars: Rebels animated shows.  We really are looking forward to watching The Force Awakens when it arrives at theaters and sharing in enjoying it for the first time together as a family.  Who knows maybe The Force Awakens will become the favorite part of the Star Wars saga for all of us?!



So what are you looking forward to the most in the upcoming Star Wars film?  For my kids it is getting a better peek at BB-8.

While for me it is seeing the return of "old friends" on the silver screen.

Oh yes and I'll admit we've purchased the Disney Infinity 3.0 Star Wars video game and pre-ordered Battlefront for our PlayStation4 so we will definitely be in a Star Wars frame of mind when the movie opens!

Digital Media Academy Offers Summer Camps To Keep Kids Productive Over The School Break

 ** This is a U.S. Family Guide Sponsored Post that I have been compensated for.  Any claim, representation, statistic, quote or other representation should be verified with the service provider, Digital Media Academy **

It is that time of year when the end of school days is quickly approaching and parents need to start thinking of what their plans for the kids will be during the summer break.  If you want to make sure your children have a productive summer check out the Digital Media Academy (DMA) which has programs aimed at tech savvy youth that will interest them and build their skill sets at the same time. Kids and teens learn computer programming, app development, 3D modeling, robotics, graphic design, film-making, and much more. DMA summer camps are one or multiple week experiences taught by industry experts and tech professionals. Campers get hands-on experience creating projects using the latest hardware and software from Apple, Canon, Adobe, and more.  To help inspire future women computer programers, scientists, and engineers, DMA is also introducing a new program this summer, Made by Girls, dedicated to empowering girls and closing the gender gap in the tech industry.


The DMA Experience from Digital Media Academy on Vimeo.

From talking with my teen aged niece and nephew, I know that designing and making money from creating apps is something all the kids are into right now.  Participating in the DMA summer camps can really help a kid get the skill set to put them on the right track to making their own apps. You can't beat an opportunity that lets your kids have fun while learning skills that could help them get into a career field they are interested in.

A Geek Daddy Blog readers can save $75 off summer camps at DMA with code TECHSUMMER at www.DigitalMediaAcademy.org. Sign up for multiple weeks and save big! Campers save $125 for each additional course they register for. Register by May 31,2015 to #CreateTheNext best-selling app this summer!

Founded at Stanford University, DMA is ranked as one of the ten best summer camps in the world.  Give your teen a pre-collegiate experience or build a child's confidence through project-based learning. Learn at some of the most prestigious colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada. Questions? Call 1(866)656-3342 to speak with a Guest Service Representative or email info@digitalmediaacademy.org and mention this US Family Guide Special Offer.

DMA Summer Camps are held at college campuses across the United States. For example, in my home state of Michigan DMA is hosting its camp at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. They also have programs at Northwestern University in Illinois, Harvard University in Massachusetts, Stanford and UCLA in California, and Rice University in Texas among other locations. Programs are specifically designed for children 6 - 12 or teens 13 - 17 in nine digital media specialties ranging from Programming & App Development to Robotics & Engineering.

For more information visit: DigitalMediaAcademy.org

April 6 - 13 is officially TV BINGE WATCHING WEEK thanks to Xfinity Watchathon

**Disclaimer**  I have been provided a complimentary subscription to the Xfinity TV Go app and access to the Comcast cable programming lineup as part of the Xfinity blogger reviewer program.   Opinions expressed are my own. #Xfinityreviewer

If you are a Comcast's Xfinity television customer you may want to get a doctor's note ready or reserve some vacation time so you can skip work the week of April 6th through the 13th for its 3rd annual Watchathon. During that week Xfinity TV customers will have an all-access pass to 215 of the hottest shows from premium, cable and broadcast networks for FREE on Xfinity On Demand.  Don't have HBO and missed Game of Thrones or STARZ and haven't seen Black Sails, which are two of my favorite shows,  now you can watch the entire recent season of shows you might have otherwise missed out on because you didn't include a premium channel in your cable television package.

"Watchathon Week continues to be one of the most anticipated events of the year as the number of really great, high-quality TV series has reached an all time high," notes Andy Hunter, Vice President of Programming for Comcast. Last year, Xfinity TV customers spent nearly 50 million hours catching up on or checking out new shows they had previously missed out during the recent television season.  "Watchathon enables us to unlock the biggest and best TV content of the year for the ultimate TV binge week," Hunter added.

So if there is a show that you've been wanting to watch that isn't included in your regular cable package of channels next week's Watchathon is your time to tune in on Xfinity On Demand.  Watchathon Week programming partners include premium networks: Cinemax, ENCORE, HBO, SHOWTIME, and STARZ; cable networks A&E, AMC, BBC America, Bravo, Comedy Central, Discovery, DIY Network, E!, Esquire Network, FX, FXX, HISTORY, Lifetime, MTV, National Geographic Channel, Spike, Syfy, TBS, TNT, VH1 and USA Network; and broadcast networks: ABC, CBS, The CW, FOX, NBC and PBS.

If you need a reason to stay home next week, Xfinity has you covered with a customized excuse generator to get out of school, work or to just check out for the week.  CLICK HERE to generate your excuse so you can focus on binge watching your favorite television shows during the Xfinity Watchathon.

I don't normally have access to BBC America so I foresee a DOCTOR WHO marathon next week.  Fortunately, I don't have to worry about an excuse myself to get out of work because I've blocked off that week already to watch my kids while they're off school for Spring Break.  So what shows would you binge on during the Xfinity Watchathon?

DISCLAIMER:  I have been provided a complimentary subscription to the Xfinity TV Go app and access to the Comcast cable programming lineup to allow this blog to review the service.  This blog post is associated with my participation as an Xfinity blogger reviewer.   Opinions expressed are my own #Xfinityreviewer