Casino Games Inspired on Pop Culture

If you participated in a gambling activity out of entertainment at any point of your life, you probably noticed that there are tons of casino games inspired on pop culture. After all, the gambling industry is heavily influenced by this culture. During the 60s and 70s, pop culture played a key role in making this activity legal.

Since authorities lifted the restrictions on gambling around the world, the industry has flourished, boosted economies, employed thousands of people, and revolutionized the way we look at gaming. In fact, it evolved so much that people can now play the best casino games online. Yes, it’s true. Online gambling has become a reality and millions of people visit casino sites daily to enjoy their favourite casino game.

Since we mentioned that the pop culture has a great influence on casino games and the casino industry in general, we wanted to dive into the details and explain which area had the biggest influence, why casino games have pop culture themes and which games are most likely to have a theme of that kind.

Movies and Music

When we think of casino games inspired on pop culture, the first thought that comes to our minds is the gambling movies. These movies had a massive breakthrough in the 50s and 60s. People were fond of them and not only did they enjoy them, but they also became interested in gambling. But, this activity was restricted at the time, so they had to put pressure on the authorities so legalize them. And they eventually succeeded in that.

After the ban was lifted, casinos around the world started operating and generating billions of dollars in revenue. They paid a lot of money in taxes and employed many people, which is why they were labelled as huge contributors to the global economy. Theme songs from those movies were also popular and played a big role in the process of legalization.

Pop Culture Themed Games

These days, online casinos have many games that have themes inspired by movies and certain characters. The reason for that is because they want to attract players to their sites and play their games. Logically, many fans of gambling movies are also fans of gambling games and they are more than willing to participate in this type of activity. The most famous casino games inspired on pop culture at online casinos are slots.

Slots Inspired By The Pop Culture

Slots have many variations of movie themes. You can find the best Marvel and Star Wars themes, cartoonish themes, as well as many of the most popular characters in the movies. They serve to target a certain audience and attract them to the casino site, thus offering them a unique gaming experience.

Some other games even have background songs inspired by the previously mentioned gambling theme tracks. Nevertheless, the first thing that comes to mind when we think of casino games inspired on pop culture is slots. They are simple and cheap to play and carry great rewards.

Santa and Pop Culture: How Santa Subdued Marketing

Christmas and Pop Culture: How Santa Capitalizes on Consumerism

Everybody loves Christmas.

That holiday is one of the most important holidays to exist, celebrated by diverse nations in all parts of the world. It is a period of happiness and festivity – with a sprinkle of chaos. Most often, we get into the Christmas mood right on December 1st – and remain high-spirited until Christmas Day.

But, how did we come to love and cherish Christmas so much? Is there a recipe for his popularity despite the progressive nature of modern society? Let us rephrase that: how did Santa look before he discovered marketing?

Everybody’s Favorite Guy

It is not a coincidence that we mentioned marketing and Santa in the same sentence.

For the society of today, marketing is everything. Promoting products boosts sales, and what does that bring? Well, a lot of things, but most importantly, it brings the need to buy more.

Before the 20th century, society relied on customs to strengthen the cultural heritage of each nation. Although we still do that, we now have more ways to preserve the traditions. Santa is a perfect example of that.

For us, marketing today is an inseparable part of our daily routines. We are so used to commercials that, for the most part, do not even distinguish them from the program that we are watching. Advertisements are not restricted to TVs anymore. Billboards, newspapers, the internet – wherever you go, you will see them. And how is Santa connected with marketing? Well, the two concepts do have something in common – they rely on the people’s attention to remain present.

The correlation between Santa and marketing dates to the beginning of marketing as we know it. Pop culture, an effervescent machine that powers the entire social framework, utilizes Santa as the trigger for the collective spirit. To put it simply, society needs Santa as a bow to tie around the gift box. And Santa needs marketing to remain on the gift wish-list.

Who is the real Santa?

Just like most popular icons in our history, Santa’s real identity remains a mystery.

Questions of his age, profession, location, and general existence have been used as settings for numerous movies and TV shows. Is he a mixture of several traditions and folk stories? Is he a real man living in Finland? No one knows. And for the most part – it does not matter.

Call it a suspension of disbelief, but we all know he does not exist (sorry for the spoiler). Nevertheless, we still watch movies that revolve around him and his potential identity. A mysterious old man that you help on the street, who later is revealed as Santa who gives you a gift back? Classic.

Santa is a cult, an image that is used as an attention-grabber for society. And it is a well-oiled machine that we happily believe in. And we keep asking for more.

More Than Pop Culture

Pop Culture is teeming with Christmas references. At first, we had a holiday genre that focused on holidays in general. However, as movies specifically dealing with Christmas increased in numbers, a new genre emerged. Now, the Christmas genre is present in almost all categories of entertainment.

Films are the most obvious example, but let us not forget music, shows, and games. For example, try thinking of Mariah Carey without singing “All I Want for Christmas”!

When it comes to TV shows, almost all shows must have one episode that happens during Christmas preparations. And it usually airs in December, because the theme provides excellent ratings. The gaming sphere is abundant with Christmas paraphernalia and symbolism as well, including online casinos. Santa is very popular there, and some of the best Christmas-themed slot games can be found here on MoneySlots website. Considering the extent of Santa’s presence in everyday media, it is safe to say – Santa transcended even the popular culture.

Shop, Shop, Shop

After you have seen it in commercials and laughed about it in your favorite show, what is the last thing you are left to do? Well, buy it. Marketing and entertainment have slowly guided us to the most important part of the festive enterprise. Shopping! While classic gift hunting in malls is gradually becoming an archaic activity, people still shop.

As a world that relies on shopping for the continuation of industry, we are used to buying items. We buy things all the time but buying for Santa and Christmas has more prevalence than mundane things.

The season is all about family values, sharing, caring, and big presents. Everyone needs Christmas gifts for their loved ones, even with the chaos that accompanies the shopping. And the chaos that typically ensues has been portrayed in numerous movies. It is not even a Christmas stereotype.

Nevertheless, all that is quickly forgotten once the festivities begin. No one cares about it, as long as the house is full of presents and Santa is coming.

Tips On How To Stay Updated in Pop Culture 

If you are into pop culture, then there’s no running from it. Indeed, pop culture is the center of the current generation. People call it trivial or too mainstream. But they do not understand the whole picture and they are just looking on one part only.

As you become aware of what is happening around you, you determine the context and begin to live in the moment.

Pop culture is a great strategy to keep you updated and your brand relevant. Here are some tips on how to stay informed in pop culture:

Stay Longer on Social Media

One of the quickest and easiest ways to gather information is through social media. Thus, to be on the trend, you must invest your time and stay longer on various social media pages. For example, if you play the situs poker online, try to visit as well their Facebook page.  

It is crucial to know how various social media platforms appeal to age groups. For example, Facebook has the most number of users. However, millennials are moving away from it. Thus, only the older generations are staying to use it.

In real life, most of the teenagers get their pop culture update on Snapchat, Youtube, and Instagram. You can also get most of the news update on Twitter and not on Facebook.

Sign up for Newsletters

As you wake up each morning, you can check your emails. You can have enough information from spending a few seconds at your email digest each morning.

In a similar note, many media outlets create an option for pushing that notification that enables alerts whenever a story is shared or posted.

You can use your best discretion or you can subscribe to it. For example, subscribe to the email list of situs poker online.One to two emails per day will not hurt your morning routine.

Listen to Podcasts

Podcasts are the baselines of pop culture. Often times, these are the source of the topic of pop culture. Today, you can find podcasts on various topics. For example, you can listen to murder mysteries, life advice, or romantic comedies. In most produced podcasts, topics tend to be well-researched.

Indeed, podcasts are not for everyone. If you are not used in learning through an auditory device, then it may be hard for you to follow it.

Participate Actively on Forums

The majority of the websites have forums. This is a great way to find out what’s relevant to your interests. Just a tip, do not exert all your efforts on the meandering conversations because you may miss the gist of the conversation.

To keep up with the forums, it is best to get over your fears with regards to the post. Participate actively in the conversations. There are forums that allow anonymous users where you can participate. This is good if you are to shy to introduce your identity.

Share your Interests and Listen to the Advice of People

Lastly, not all information must come from the internet. You can also ask your coworkers or housemates. Sometimes, it is easier to gather information from your friends and loved ones. Thus, it is best to establish open communication and listen to each other.

Mark Hamill’s Pop Culture Quest Set For Fall 2016

THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH COMIC-CON HQ
MARK HAMILL’S POP CULTURE QUEST
SET FOR FALL 2016

The stage and screen star will host and executive produce the new series with fellow Star Wars alum, Return of the Jedi producer Howard Kazanjian

SANTA MONICA, June 2, 2016 – Best known for his iconic role as Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy, Mark Hamill will bring his encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture and passion for memorabilia to Comic-Con HQ, the new subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) destination that will extend the experience of San Diego Comic-Con into a year-round event.

Mark Hamill’s Pop Culture Quest, a docu-style series featuring authentic stories about passionate fans and their collections, will be hosted and produced by Hamill. Production on the series will begin in June when he returns from shooting Star Wars VIII in the U.K. The series will debut on Comic-Con HQ this fall.

Hamill has been amassing memorabilia, including comic books, toys, lunch boxes, records, puppets, original artwork, and much more since the early 1970s. Now with Pop Culture Quest, he can share his appreciation and introduce other interesting collectors and their treasures to the Comic-Con community.

“I’ve been a collector all my life,” said Hamill. “This show is a natural outgrowth of that passion. Now I have an opportunity to collect other people’s collections! I can’t wait to see what’s out there and share it with the world. Collectibles are a living history of who and what we are, so we just might learn something…but there’s no doubt we’re going to have fun!”

Seth Laderman, EVP and General Manager, Comic-Con HQ, added, “From the moment I started talking with Mark about this idea over three years ago, his enthusiasm was infectious. It had such an impact on me that after I came to Comic-Con HQ, my first call was to him and his team about how to bring this show to our community. Passion is at the heart of all of our original series, with a goal to allow innovators like Mark the opportunity to create and bring their ideas to life. We couldn’t be happier to help Mark’s show find a home.”

Hamill will once again team with his friend and Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi producer Howard Kazanjian. Kazanjian was Executive Producer on Raiders of the Lost Ark and served as VP at Lucasfilm during the dramatic expansion of the company in the 1980s. Producer Darren Moorman, whose film Same Kind of Different as Me will be released next year, and longtime collector and vintage show promoter Scott Kinney will round out the producing team as Executive Producers on the series.

More news about upcoming programming and partnerships for Comic-Con HQ will be announced in the coming weeks. Anyone can register now for a free extended trial on Comic-ConHQ.com via web browsers and iOS/Android devices. The paid subscription service will officially roll out this summer across more connected devices and distribution platforms such as Roku, AppleTV and Amazon’s Streaming Partners Program, with additional devices becoming available in the months to come.

 

Book Review “Jack Davis: Drawing American Pop Culture- A Career Retrospective”

Author: Jack Davis
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Fantagraphics
Release Date: December 12, 2011

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I recently had the privileged to interview Jack Davis himself and discuss his work with him. I have to tell you that it would honestly take hours of questions to barely scratch the surface on his work. This book is packed with really great high quality coverage of all of Jack’s work. It starts from the beginning  in the early days and gives a pretty thorough look at his career portfolio. I feel that the book work as a tribute to his work and would be enjoyed by his lifetime fans and newly founding fans alike.

Some of the work that “Jack Davis: Drawing American Pop Culture” covers is his comic work in EC, “MAD”, “Humbug”, “Trump”, and horror work like “The Vault of Terror” and Tales from the Crypt”. It focuses on his work with movie posters and albums covers including “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”, “The Bad News Bears”, “Bananas” and record jacket art for musicians and bands like Hans Conreid and the Creature Orchestra’s Monster Rally and Spike Jones. Jack’s work has also been featured in magazine like Playboy, Sports Illustrated, Time and TV Guide. Lastly a main draw for the book has to be unpublished illustrations and and newly found drawings from Davis.

I did not think that one book would be able to encompass all of it all of Jack’s worth but this one does a decent job. The images though are very clear and crisp whether in black and white or color. You can even see the pencil marks on some of the pictures, which adds to the beauty of the images. After you finished enjoying all of his work, there is a great biography written about Jack to round up all of his work and delivers some great information about his career.  Fans of Jack’s and of art in general should definitely check this out if you are able to pick up a copy from Fantagraphics.