Today in Nerd History | November 19

Nerd culture is a vibrant tapestry of events, releases, and milestones that have shaped the entertainment landscape. From iconic movies to groundbreaking games and significant literary contributions, this article takes a trip down memory lane to explore the notable nerd culture events that occurred on November 19th in history. Let’s celebrate these cherished moments that have left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans around the world.

Photo Credit: Collected Editions

MULTIPLE MAN

In 1974, Multiple Man made his first comic appearance in Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4. Multiple Man, also known as Jamie Madrox, is a mutant who can create instant duplicates of himself.

Nerdy Fact: He was originally intended to be called Zerrox, but the name was changed to avoid a lawsuit from a copier company.

Photo Credit: Nintendo Life

COLOR IN YOUR POCKET

In 1998, the Nintendo Game Boy Color released. This handheld game console can play games in color and is compatible with the original Game Boy games. It sold over 118 million units worldwide.

Nerdy Fact: The Game Boy Color had a camera and a printer accessory that could be attached to the console. The camera could take low-resolution pictures of the user or the surroundings, and the printer could print them on stickers. Some people say that the Game Boy Color was responsible for the popularity of selfies.

Photo Credit: Steam

HALF-LIFE

Also in 1998, Half-Life released on the PC. This game revolutionized the first-person shooter genre with its immersive storytelling, realistic physics, and innovative gameplay. It follows the adventures of Gordon Freeman, a scientist who must escape a secret research facility after a disastrous experiment opens a portal to an alien world.

Nerdy Fact: The game’s sequel, Half-Life 2, was delayed several times due to a hacker stealing the game’s source code in 2003. The hacker, Axel Gembe, was later hired by Valve to test the game’s security.

Photo Credit: Plugged In

I’M GONNA STEAL THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

In 2004, National Treasure premiered in theaters. This is a movie about a treasure hunter who follows a series of clues hidden in historical documents and landmarks to find a secret treasure that has been guarded by a secret society for centuries.

Nerdy Fact: The movie features several historical artifacts and documents, such as the Liberty Bell, the Resolute desk, and the Silence Dogood letters. Some of them are accurate reproductions, while others are fictional or modified for the plot.

Photo Credit: Slant Magazine

ARE YE READY, KIDS?

Also in 2004, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie premiered in theaters. This is an animated comedy film based on the popular TV show, in which SpongeBob and Patrick embark on a perilous adventure to recover King Neptune’s crown and save their boss Mr. Krabs from his wrath.

Nerdy Fact: The movie was intended to be the series finale of the TV show, but it was renewed for a fourth season due to its success and popularity. The episodes after the movie are set before the events of the movie.

Photo Credit: Nintendo Life

WEAR YOUR WRISTSTRAPS

In 2006, the Nintendo Wii released. This home video game console features a wireless controller with motion sensing and gesture recognition abilities, allowing players to interact with games in novel ways.

Nerdy Fact: The Wii was the best-selling console of its generation, selling over 101 million units worldwide and surpassing the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360.

Photo Credit: Azlift

TWILIGHT PRINCESS

Also in 2006, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess released for the Wii. This is a game where you play as Link, a young hero who must save Hyrule from the evil Zant and his army of shadow beasts. Along the way, you will meet Midna, a mysterious creature from the Twilight Realm, who will help you transform into a wolf and explore the darkened world.

Nerdy Fact: The game features a hidden reference to Super Mario Bros. 3 in the form of a Tanooki suit. If the player uses the Hawkeye item while wearing the Zora armor, they will notice that Link’s helmet has a raccoon tail and ears, similar to Mario’s power-up in the NES game.

Photo Credit: Amazon EU

DIGITAL BOOKS

In 2007, Amazon released the Kindle, its first e-reader. The cost was $399 and it sold out in 5 and a half hours, remaining out of stock until April of the next year.

Nerdy Fact: The original Kindle had 256 MB of internal memory, which could store up to 200 books. It also had an SD card slot for additional storage. The battery life was estimated to last up to 4 days with wireless on and up to 2 weeks with wireless off.

Photo Credit: Cleveland.com

THE DEATHLY HALLOWS

In 2010, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 premiered in theaters. This fantasy film follows Harry and his friends as they search for the Horcruxes, the hidden pieces of Voldemort’s soul, while the evil wizard takes over the wizarding world.

Nerdy Fact: Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) originally considered not returning for this movie, fearing that his character’s arrest and imprisonment at the end of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) would mean very little, if any, screentime in the finale. Upon meeting J.K. Rowling, he begged to be let out of prison. She told him “You’re out. Chapter one.” This immediately convinced him to sign on for the movie.

Photo Credit: PolyGon

GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE

In 2021, Ghostbusters: Afterlife premiered in theaters. This sci-fi film follows the descendants of Egon Spengler, one of the original Ghostbusters, as they uncover his secret legacy and face a new supernatural threat in a small town.

Nerdy Fact: The film was screened unannounced during the CinemaCon event in Las Vegas on August 23, 2021, and received a standing ovation from the audience.