Written by Jim Ziegler

October is the month to get spooky. It’s the time when we dress up as ghouls and celebrate monsters, ghosts, and goblins and are surrounded by pumpkins and tombstones… at least for a couple weeks, until the stores start putting out Christmas decorations.

 

One Halloween tradition is watching scary movies or series, and Over the Garden Wall is a modern classic. It’s readily available on Hulu, but one of the spookiest things is how easily a series can vanish on a streaming series.

 

Warner Bros. has been on a spree over the last couple of years, canceling finished movies and scrubbing their streaming platforms of content without notice. The most recent victims are a collection of Cartoon Network shows, including the fan-favorite Steven Universe and The Amazing World of Gumball.

 

Several series under the Warner umbrella are no longer available anywhere (unless your Halloween costume involves an eyepatch and a hook), and there’s no indication when more will get the ax. This shines a spotlight on a big problem with streaming services: they can delete your favorite shows at the drop of a dime. Perhaps even worse, they can change your favorite shows. Recently fans have noticed that Disney changed a scene in Lilo and Stitch to show Lilo hiding in an oddly-placed cupboard instead of a dryer, and later removed the scene entirely.

 

Electronic media is as ethereal as a ghost, and can vanish in an instant. There are probably songs on your Spotify playlist that are no longer available on that service, or a favorite series that you can no longer watch on Netflix. If you’re buying packs on MTG Arena or Pokémon TCG Live (or the upcoming Pokémon TCG Pocket), be aware that sooner or later they’ll disappear, along with your money.

 

Now more than ever it’s important to buy physical media. Cherish your pre-revision edition of Volo’s Guide to Monsters, your functional Deadpool PS3 disk, and your rare out-of-print copy of Weird Al’s Peter & the Wolf. And if you want to show your kids your favorite movies or TV shows someday, buy a physical copy before they disappear.

 

IN THE WORLD OF POKÉMON

Pokémon League Casual Play + Pokéween

Monday and Saturday at 6:00 PM, Sunday at noon

Receive a pack of your choice from any in the store, as well as a promo pack. Participants are entered into the end-of-season prize pool, and also receive a Halloween BOOster pack. Entry fee: $10

 

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet VGC Casual League

Thursday, 6:00 PM

Explore the Paldea region in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Meet new Pokémon, and battle it out with other Trainers at Gam3Escape’s VGC Casual League. Entry fee: $5

 

Pokémon GO Great League Blind 3 & Trade Night

Monday and Wednesday, 6:00 PM

Do you play Pokémon GO? Interested in meeting up with other players and playing in sanctioned Pokémon events? Gam3Escape hosts Pokémon GO League events. Stop in from 6pm to 9pm for our Great League blind 3 casual play and trade night. Entry fee: $5.00

 

Pokémon Standard Constructed Tournament

Sunday, 3:00pm

Show everyone that you’re the best! Like no one ever was! Join the battle at the weekly Standard Constructed Tournament! Regulation F, no deck list required. Entry fee: $7.

 

Pokémon GO Scavenger Hunt

Grab an achievement sheet in-store and GO out to collect them! Complete the scavenger sheet to earn a booster pack and a promo pack, and to be entered into a drawing for an Elite Trainer Box and other prizes. Entry fee: $10 

 

GATHER FOR MAGIC

Friday Night Magic: War of the Spark Draft

Friday, 6:00 PM 

Relive the War of the Spark this Friday at Gam3Escape. Will Nicol Bolas conquer the multiverse this time? Or will good once again triumph over evil? Entry fee: $22

 

Standard Showdown

Saturday, 3:00 PM

Adorable bunnies mix with nightmare monsters in the Duskmourn Standard Showdown. Standard constructed format. Entry fee: $10

 

Casual Commander

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 6:00 PM.

The most popular format in Magic, Commander, is back on the table. Bring your favorite deck, or playtest a new one against other magicians. No entry fee: These battles are for honor, not prizes!

 

TIME TO DUEL! Yu-Gi-Oh!

Advanced Constructed Tournament

Wednesday, 7:00 PM

Duel for supremacy in the Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game. Earn booster packs and OTS Tournament Packs while demonstrating your skills as a duelist. Entry fee: $10

 

Grand Prix Series Advanced Constructed Tournament

Friday, 7:00 PM

Entry fee: $10

 

A WHOLE NEW WORLD

Shimmering Skies Set Championship

Saturday, 3:00 PM

Take to the skies in the Shimmering Skies Set Championship! This core constructed tournament will be played in 50-minute rounds, best of three. Deck lists are required by 2:30 PM and are available online or in-store. Full rules are available online. Entry fee: $35/$25

 

Shimmering Skies Lorcana League

Monday, & Saturday, 6:30 PM

The adventures in the Inklands continue with Locana League. Bring your sealed deck, or join the fun! The initial entry fee includes a starter deck of your choice, a booster pack, and a 200-card deck box to keep your sealed cards from getting mixed up with your collection. Entry fee: $25 (one-time charge)

THIS MEANS WAR(HAMMER)!

Casual Warhammer

Friday & Sunday, 5:00 PM

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. At Gam3Escape, there is only Warhammer! Whether it’s a Tyranid terror or a Blood Angel battalion, stage your army and prepare for battle at the weekly Casual Warhammer event. 

 

CARDFIGHT! VANGUARD!

Divinez Constructed Tournament

Monday, 5:30 PM

Bring your cards and get ready to fight! Cardfight! Vanguard is back with weekly tournaments, every Monday night. Entry fee: $6

 

STAR WARS: UNLIMITED

Casual Play League

Tuesdays, 6:00 PM

Whether you’re an aspiring Jedi, a sinister Sith, or a bounty hunter looking for your next score, Star Wars: Unlimited has all the excitement of your favorite space opera in cardboard form.

Also check out Jim's latest article in The Gamer: https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-dnd-sorcerer-build-guide/