Donkey Kong Remade as Science Fiction & Fantasy Series

Posted on 16/03/2013 by Technabob

Whenever I get a chance, I like to dust off my arcade emulator and try to see if I can get any further at Donkey Kong than the first couple of levels. Even after all of these years, the game still kicks my ass every time. But if the game were loaded with aliens and villains from science fiction and fantasy, I’m betting it would be even harder to beat then going up against Kong and his stupid flaming barrels.

That’s exactly what deviantARTist BazNet set out to explore with his series of Donkey Kong levels inspired by classic science fiction and fantasy movies and TV series. I can’t decide which I like the best, but the Alien and Doctor Who ones are among my favorites. I would not want to try and jump over Facehuggers or Daleks. The Adventure Time version is pretty great too, though it needs more Beemo. There are also The Dark Knight Rise, Game of Thrones, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi levels. And while it doesn’t qualify as science fiction or fantasy, Cookie Kong is pretty swell too.

Many of the designs are available over at BazNet’s RedBubble shop, while you can get the Aliens and Ladders image on a t-shirt over at welovefine.

[via MightyMega]

Space Invaders Fridge Magnets: Once Your Base is Destroyed, So are Your Perishables

Posted on 25/02/2013 by Technabob

Get your laser cannons out, folks. The invaders have arrived in your kitchen and you need to start blasting away at them ASAP. But unless you’ve got a cannon that fires an anti-magnetic field – or one of those stainless steel fridges like mine that won’t hold onto a magnet to save its life – you’ll soon be in a world of hurt.

However, for those of you with good old metal fridge doors, you’ll be able to watch the pixelated invasion as it takes over your icebox, and starts blasting away at all of your perishable foodstuffs.

Well before my imagination runs away from me, I should tell you that these officially-licensed Space Invaders magnets come in a set of 34, including 15 aliens, one UFO, one laser canon, 16 bits of ammo, and a Space Invaders emblem. What, no shields to protect us? How will we ever survive as they increase speed, drop down and reverse direction across the face of our fridges?!?!

The set sells for €8.95 (~$12 USD) over at GetDigital.

Space Invaders Chess Set: Pew! Check! Pew! Pew! Checkmate!

Posted on 03/02/2013 by Technabob

If you’ve been following Technabob for a while, you know I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Space Invaders, so when I saw that these guys were working on a chess set inspired by the classic arcade game, it put a big grin on my face.

The guys at Michigan’s NMI Laser have finally put their schmancy Epilog industrial laser cutter to good use, creating an awesome version of the invaders, adapted to the chess board. The set comes with fluorescent acrylic invaders in green and pink, and a laser-etched black game board to go with. I love their selection of aliens for each of the different chess playing pieces – especially the laser base for the King and the spaceship for the Queen.

The complete Space Invaders Chess Set will set you back $65, including both the board and the 32 invader playing pieces. Keep in mind that this is a Kickstarter project, and they need to hit their goal of $5000 by February 28 in order to go into production by April.

They’re already almost half way there, so I know you guys can make it happen! All you need to do is just drop down, reverse direction and increase speed on over to Kickstarter now to pledge your support.

King’s Landing Recreated in Minecraft: Pixels are Coming

Posted on 31/01/2013 by Conner Flynn

I know you can’t wait for the third season of Game of Thrones when it hits at the end of March. Me too. Well, here is something to help tide you over until then. This amazingly detailed Minecraft King’s Landing was created by the people at Westeroscraft - who are gradually recreating the entire domain of Westeros using only Minecraft. And even though it is awesome, it makes me sad because we still have to wait for next season.

I want to watch it now! I’ll just take a deep breath instead, and absorb all of detail of King’s Landing. Just look at all of those buildings, the docks, the countryside. This city is alive – though we all wish King Joffrey wasn’t.

The only thing missing is an immense battle with green wildfire spraying over the ships in Blackwater Bay.

Hit this link for a gallery of hi-res images. They did an amazing job. But I still want to watch the show now!

[reddit via Nerd Approved]

Zelda Inspired Pixel Heart Jewelry Symbolizes Your Love Bar

Posted on 30/01/2013 by Lambert Varias

Etsy artist Nastalgame sells plastic jewelry inspired by the hearts from The Legend of Zelda. There’s a necklace, a bracelet, a ring and two different types of earrings. The hearts can also be “broken”, in case you’re not feeling particularly romantic.

For example, the bracelet you see above has two sides:

The hearts on the necklace and the pair of earrings with short chains can literally be broken apart, but the chains will hold up both heart halves. The other pair of earrings on the other hand consists of two halves that match together. But my favorite piece is the ring. Not only does the heart snap in to two pieces, the ring itself can be separated, so you can give one of the halves to someone else. Awwwww.

zelda pixel heart jewelry by nastalgame 3 300x250

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zelda pixel heart jewelry by nastalgame 8 300x250

zelda pixel heart jewelry by nastalgame 9 300x250

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zelda pixel heart jewelry by nastalgame 11 300x250

Head to Nastalgame’s Etsy shop to order some Pixel Heart jewelry before Valentine’s Day. It’ll cost you $6-$11 (USD) depending on which jewelry you order.

[via The Wooden Arcade]

8-Bit Rose: From Player 1 to Player 2

Posted on 28/01/2013 by Lambert Varias

If you’re looking for a geeky gift for your loved one for Valentine’s Day, the 8-Bit Rose might be the thing that wins their heart. Just like the 8-Bit Flower Bouquet, this rose will stay bright red and upright forever.

The 8-Bit Rose is made from EVA foam and has a fold out stand. I wonder if EVA foam has a sweet scent.

You can order the 8-Bit Rose from ThinkGeek for $15 (USD). Make a 96-bit bouquet if you have some extra coins on you.

Interlocking Space Invaders Chair: Aliens, Assemble!

Posted on 22/01/2013 by Conner Flynn

Are you sitting down? Good. Because this interlocking Space Invaders chair will floor you. The pieces all interlock to create an oversize Space Invader that you can park your butt on.

It is called “Game Over” and comes from Italian design firm DOKC LAB. These chairs are put together from five separate interlocking pieces and it is all held together without any screws, glue or nails. Pure geek joy holds everything together.

I just hope that this awesome design becomes a reality, because I can’t get enough Invaders. I’m betting the chair would cost you more than a working Space Invaders arcade cabinet, but I think it would be worth it.

[via Gamefreaks via It8bit via Obvious Winner]

PIXEL Interactive Picture Frame Adds a Bit of Pixel Art Into Your Room

Posted on 20/01/2013 by Lambert Varias

Because I grew up with video games, pixel art looks great to me whether it’s made of paint, thread or LEGO. But nothing makes pixel art pop more than its original medium: light. Case in point, this nifty interactive picture frame that is simply called PIXEL.

Invented by Al Linke, PIXEL is an LED display that shows pixel art images or animations. The default build of the PIXEL consists of a frame with 1,024 LEDs arranged in a 32 x 32 matrix, so it’s been designed to scale images or animations to 32 x 32. Linke partnered with several pixel artists to make art especially for PIXEL. They come in the form of free Android apps that you can use to beam the images or animations via Bluetooth. Yep, there’s currently no iOS app, which is unfortunate, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that changes soon.

PIXEL can also be used as a mirror when the LEDs are turned off. It also has a proximity sensor, which programmers can use to toggle or change the animation automatically.

You can reserve a ready-made PIXEL by pledging at least $229 on Kickstarter. PIXEL has been a huge success on the fundraising site. It’s already earned nearly $25,000 (USD) in pledges as of this writing, way more than the $8,000 target and with 48 days more to go.

Linke is also selling a parts kit with only 512 LEDs for the much lower price of $99, but Linke admits that the existing art was made only for the 1,024 LED version. Fortunately you can just create your own art and then send it to PIXEL via an Android device. Or you can just mount a CRT TV on your wall.

[via Hacked Gadgets]

Disney Promote Wreck-It Ralph in London with 8-bit Lane

Posted on 17/01/2013 by Hazel Chua

Wreck-It Ralph has been released in a lot of places worldwide, my country of residence included, and I really found it entertaining and enjoyable. If you like video games at the very least and played a couple of games when they were still all pixelly and in 8-bit form, then chances are you’ll like the movie, too.

The film doesn’t come out in the UK until February 8, 2013, so Disney is going the extra mile – or is it the extra lane? – to promote the movie by setting up 8-bit Lane in London.

It’s basically a street art exhibit where, if you look closely, you’ll spot a few things that aren’t as they should be. For example, water flowing out of a pipe looks suspiciously pixelated. Two pigeons on a pipe also get treated to some 8-bit action.

All of the sculptures on 8-bit Lane were created by Aden Hynes, who is Disney’s film production sculptor. Check out more of the exhibit in the gallery below.

Photos taken by Michael Reeve.

[via it8bit via Laughing Squid]

Merrio Christmas!

Posted on 25/12/2012 by Technabob

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to one and all! While here on Earth, your presents should have been delivered under the tree by a fat, bearded man who came down the chimney and ate your cookies (boy that sounds a bit creepy when I say it that way), if you happen to live in the Mushroom Kingdom, Santa has a unique way of delivering presents.

He’s also much skinner than I remember him. I wonder what’s in the box? I sure hope it’s not another lousy gold coin. The value of gold isn’t what it once was in the Kingdom. I blame King Koopa and his economic policies. I was really hoping for a Fire Flower this year. Or maybe a Tanooki suit.

Thanks to Metin Seven of Seven’s Heaven for sending along this Merrio Christmas illustration. Be sure to check out his site for more great graphic design and illustrations.

GIZMODO.cz

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