History Main / GeekReferencePool

** Its also common to depict the death of a player's character as having an unusual level of finality to it. There is no resurrection ([[DeathIsCheap very common in D&D]]) or even rolling up a new character. Similar to the way when your character dies in ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' the cartridge permanently self destructs and you kill yourself out of grief. This is getting better with the widespread popularity of MMOs and console [=RPGs=] helping more writers and audience members realize how ridiculous this is.

* ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' has sketches that demonstrate encyclopedic knowledge of cartoons, toys, video games, comic books and science-fiction movies (especially ''Franchise/StarWars''). Generally plays it straight when it comes to the subject of anime, though, aside from one skit spoofing ''Anime/RanmaOneHalf''.

* From the late 10s onward, in video game related works aimed at children, expect the only three games covered to be ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Fortnite}}'', and ''VideoGame/{{Roblox}}''. If you're really lucky you might occasionally see popular Creator/{{Nintendo}} properties as well, but not as often as you'd think.

This is a SubTrope of SmallReferencePools and exists for the same reason that trope does. Namely, the show is targeting a general audience with only limited familiarity with geeky and nerdy interests.

* If a RomanceGame is brought up in a Japanese work, it'll almost always be ''VisualNovel/TokimekiMemorial''. On the rare occasion otome games are brought up and it isn't just based on the "[[DeadUnicornTrope Reincarnated As a Villainess]]" light novel trope, it'll usually resemble ''VideoGame/{{Angelique}}'', ''VisualNovel/TokimekiMemorialGirlsSide'' or more recently, ''VisualNovel/DiabolikLovers'' or ''Franchise/UtaNoPrinceSama''. BL games are so rare in fiction that they may as well not exist, but for the rare times they are, they'll likely be either pure smut or angsty and vaguely [[Creator/NitroPlus Nitro+Chiral-esque]].

** Common before 1999 but after 1997 (and common since then, but overshadowed by the above) is bitching about the Special Editions of the Original Trilogy, well-known mostly because they were actually released theatrically. Nobody knows who Greedo is, but he apparently shot somebody before they shot him, and it's "[[HilarityEnsues hilarious]]" to hear geeks complain about it.

-->"She's the Mary Jane to your Franchise/SpiderMan! The [[VideoGame/ChronoTrigger Marle to your Crono!]]"

And by nerds, we mean [[MostTropersAreYoungNerds us]]. In the course of [[AcceptableTargets mocking us endlessly]], the media seem to have developed an interesting set of {{stereotyp|IcalNerd}}es about the common {{geek}}. No, not [[GeekPhysiques the glasses or the acne or the pocket protectors]], but the things we actually get geeky ''about''.

* If non-{{hentai}} anime [[AllAnimeIsNaughtyTentacles exists at all]], it consists solely of ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', ''Anime/SailorMoon'', ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'', Creator/StudioGhibli movies (and even then, only ''[[Anime/MyNeighborTotoro Totoro]]'' and ''Anime/SpiritedAway''), ''Anime/{{Akira}}'', ''Anime/SpeedRacer'', ''Anime/{{Naruto}}'', ''Anime/GhostInTheShell1995'', ''Anime/DeathNote'' and ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' in order from most likely to least likely to exist. Something like ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' might exist if writers didn't do their research. [[TheNewTens Since 2010]], you might be able to see ''Anime/AttackOnTitan'', ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'', and ''Anime/OnePunchMan'' acknowledged if you're lucky.