It seems like Sacramento has always been a trendsetter of sorts when it comes to geek culture. We’ve had a healthy (if not contentious) Star Trek band scene for more than a decade (see: “To boldly go,” by Cosmo Garvin, August 21, 2003). We’ve got copious cosplay fanatics (that’s “costume play” to newbs). There’s the television documentary series Beyond Geek (www.beyondgeek.com) airing on PBS, showing a bunch of local geeky stuff. We have a recently-completed Kickstarter campaign to fund a table-top gaming bar called Save Point Tavern (www.savepointtavern.com). We even have a community calendar called Sac Geeks (www.sacgeeks.com), and multiple anime and comic-book conventions every year. The list goes on.

Now this weekend, people can channel their inner geeks with a pair of awesome events. One is billed as “the first ever Sacramento MegaGame” (www.sacramentomegagames.com), happening Saturday, January 3. It’s a massive part-social game, part-table-top game that can accommodate up to 100 players in teams of five. Registration is already closed, but people can still watch the 16th-century Japan-based battle by purchasing $10 spectator tickets (bonus: no need to read the novel-size player handbook). It lasts about six hours, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Fair Oaks Community Clubhouse, 7997 California Avenue. 

Elsewhere, SacAnime (www.sacanime.com) returns this weekend, from Friday, January 2 through Sunday, January 4 at the Sacramento Convention Center (1400 L Street) and the Sheraton Grand Hotel (1230 J Street). This one also has plenty of games (console gaming, table-top, cards and even “cosplay chess”)—plus art, music, fashion shows, karaoke, exhibitors, panels, workshops and special guests (including Peter Cullen, voice of Optimus Prime in various Transformers shows and films). Hours and ticket prices vary; head to the website to find out more. 

—Jonathan Mendick

Other (slightly less geeky) stuff to do this week after the page break.