Archive Category: Toy & Video Games
Be A Martian
NASA needs lots of help sorting through the hundreds of thousands of images they’ve collected from the surface of Mars. What do do? Make it into a game! Be A Martian combines the work of analyzing those images online with the competition of gaming. In this way, NASA hopes to enlist citizens to help with the huge project.
Nasa hopes the mix of real data and fun will also inspire the planetary scientists of tomorrow.
“We really need the next generation of explorers,” says Michelle Viotti, from the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which oversees Mars missions.
“And we’re also accomplishing something important for Nasa. There’s so much data coming back from Mars. Having a wider crowd look at the data, classify it and help understand its meaning is very important.”
Link to story. Link to game. -via Metafilter
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Puzzle Forms an Image of ANY Face
Mark Setteducati and Ken Knowlton have invented a unique puzzle marketed in Japan as "Jingazo." The puzzle includes 300 jigsaw pieces that can be arranged to form a picture of anybody’s face. The puzzle works in conjunction with an online interface. Users upload an image and recieve instructions on how to arrange the shaded puzzle pieces. You can create pictures of yourself, your friends or even your pets. Currently, The Jingazo Puzzle is only available in Japan but a U.S. release is planned for the near future.
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Pulp Fiction Super Mario Bros.
(YouTube Link)
Animator Jeremie Duval remixed Super Mario Bros. with the tone and sound of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. Content warning: not for mushroom lovers.
Via Geekologie
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Pokemon Marriage Proposal
(YouTube Link)
How else would one propose marriage to the woman with the world’s largest Pokemon collection? Especially if you met her at a Pokemon competition? JC Fletcher writes for Joystiq:
When Chris Herbert decided to pop the question to his girlfriend of three years, Belle Starenchak, he picked the most romantic place he could think of: Anime Weekend Atlanta, with both dressed as Pokemon. It … kind of makes sense for them.
Belle, or “PikaBelleChu,” is featured in the Guinness Book of World Records: Gamer Edition for her massive Pikachu memorabilia collection, and Herbert met her by staging a Pokemon auction. So while we might be tempted to laugh, it would seem that the pursuit of ‘em all is a major component of this couple’s lives.
Link via Geekologie
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Throne Made from Nintendo Cartridges
Photo: Erick Kwiecein
This throne, according to Internet rumor, is seven feet tall, can be found in Tokyo, and is made entirely of Nintendo game cartridges.
To be really useful for gamers, it needs to have a built-in toilet and a soda dispenser.
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The Shrinky Dink Solution
Remember Shrinky Dinks? Michelle Khine sure does, and has implemented the decorative toys into her research project at UC Irvine.
She was experimenting with tiny liquid-filled channels in hopes of devising chip-based diagnostic tests, a discipline called microfluidics. The trouble was, the specialized equipment that she previously used to make microfluidic chips cost more than $100,000–money that wasn’t immediately available.
Racking her brain for a quick-and-dirty way to make microfluidic devices, Khine remembered her favorite childhood toy: Shrinky Dinks, large sheets of thin plastic that can be colored with paint or ink and then shrunk in a hot oven. “I thought if I could print out the [designs] at a certain resolution and then make them shrink, I could make channels the right size for micro fluidics,” she says.
Technology Review has the story: Link. | Photo by Dave Lauridsen
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Grand Theft Auto vs. Frogger
From the same mind that brought us Mortal Kombat vs. Donkey Kong. Daneboe has another brilliant mashup:
I wonder what George Costanza would think?
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Stack the Bones
Stack the Bones – $19.95
Stack the Bones is a classic stacking game, just like Jenga … but more gruesome! The game, designed by Chris Collicott, includes 54 wooden "bone" pieces and 1 wooden skull piece. It’s grisly fun for the whole family. From the Neatorama Shop: Link
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Roombas Playing Pac-Man
(YouTube Link)
Three computer scientists at Colorado University programmed several Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners to act like Pac-Man and the ghosts which chase him. Jack Elston, Cory Dixon, and Maciej Stachura did so in order to demonstrate the unmanned aerial system that they are developing. Click on the link for more videos, pictures, and schematics for this project.
Link via CrunchGear
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Flute Hero?
[YouTube - Link]
Ever wonder what would happen if you combined true musical talent with a popular video game like Rockband? This is what you would get.
While taking a break from practicing one day, MsFrizzyHair, a recent college graduate with music degree had a bizarre thought as she watched her brother play Rockband. "I wonder if that microphone would pick up a flute…" Check out the video to see the answer!
– via youtube
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8-Bit Wedding Invitation
Image: GeekStir
Luis Diaz Santis and Magaly Guerrero Ramierz sent out invitations to their wedding depicting themselves as 8-bit characters in a two-player combat video game. Chris Jacob of Gizmodo suggests that this is a subtle social commentary on modern marriage. Either way, it’s cool, and you can view a picture of the groom proposing in binary at the link.
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Drench
You may have to lose once to figure out how the game Drench works, but then it’s a lot of fun! Select your next color to make your paint splotch bigger, and try to cover the entire floor in paint. You only have a certain number of moves for each level. Link -via Metafilter
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Pop Culture Alignment
This chart shows the moral alignments of nine pop culture characters using the Dungeons & Dragons alignment system. Rorschach as Chaotic Good? I think that Chaotic Neutral is more likely. And Neutral Good for John Locke at best.
Top row, left to right: John Locke of Lost, Dwight from Sin City, Rorschach of Watchmen.
Middle row: Indiana Jones, Niko Bellic of Grand Theft Auto 4, Tyler Durden of Fight Club.
Bottom row: Darth Vader, Anton Chigurh of No Country for Old Men, and the Joker.
I’m not sure who’s responsible for this chart — it’s been floating around the net. I’ll edit with a photocredit when someone claims responsibility.
via Popped Culture | Explanation of Alignment System
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The Most Popular Christmas Toys By Year Since 1960
If you are a sucker for nostalgia, this will make your day. I can remember getting that amazing trio of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Super Soakers, and then a Gameboy. In fact, those would still make great gifts for grown men with a penchant for walks down memory lane.
The holiday shopping season is quickly descending upon us, which means this year’s more popular toys and consumer electronics are soon to become in increasingly high-demand. In recent memory, the Sony Playstation III, Beanie Babies, and of course, the Tickle-Me-Elmo have generated a considerable amount of hype – quickly selling out, and then establishing a re-sale market. But have you ever wondered what the “it toys” have been throughout the decades? We have; and as a result, we decided to compile a time-line which illustrates the top toys from the last 50 years. Here they are, the most popular Christmas toys since 1960.
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A Giant Version of Guitar Hero Played with Soccer Balls
(YouTube Link)
This video is a promotional gimmick for the British rock band Kasabian. It begins with craftsmen creating enormous functional buttons on the wall of a London warehouse. These and additional visual effects make a giant version of the video game Guitar Hero. Participants play by kicking soccer balls at the buttons in the right order to the tune of one of Kasabian’s songs.
via The Ampersand
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Silver Playing Cards
Silver Playing Cards – $9.95
Don’t play poker with those b-o-r-i-n-g playing cards! Check out these: a deck of silver playing cards that will surely liven up your next poker night. It’s a guaranteed winner!
Newly listed – From the Neatorama Shop: Link
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Tetris Dress
Image: Erin McKean
Erin McKean is a Chicago-based lexicographer who writes at the blog A Dress A Day. There she opines on various dresses that she sees and makes. Her most recent creation is a dress inspired by the classic video game Tetris. You can view more pictures at the link.
Link via Geekologie | Interview with McKean
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World's Smallest Working Model Train
Model train enthusiast David K. Smith has built a miniscule train layout which works – the train travels in an ellipse, including through a “mountain.”
“Thus, what was intended to be a Z scale model of a 4- by 8-foot HO scale layout became a Z scale model of a 2- by 4-foot N scale layout! After I picked myself up off the floor, I made a few quick calculations… the modeling scale would be an eye-popping 1:35,200, and the finished layout would measure .125 by .200 inches…”
The video shows the basics of the layout and the clever solution re the motor. Further details re the construction are here.
Neatorama has previously posted links to about 80 of the world’s smallest things.
YouTube link. Via Nothing to do with Arbroath.
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Beyond Monopoly: The 15 Greatest Board Games Of All Time
People often blanche at the thought of playing a board game, but that’s because they have only been exposed to the old "classics" that really aren’t worthy of the title due to poor rulesets that promote luck over skill. Here are 15 games that are probably superior to the old standbys like Monopoly, including Last Night on Earth, a zombie thriller:
Last Night on Earth is essentially a survival game. Participants can play as either the “Hero” team or the “Zombie” team. The objective is for one team to complete their “scenario objective”, thus defeating the opposite team. The game is designed to have a horror movie feel, and even comes with it’s own soundtrack!
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Hello Kitty Guts
If you’ve ever wondered what’s inside Hello Kitty, we now know there’s a Valentine-shaped heart with a little bow as well as lungs that look at you and cute little intestines. Of course. Designer Dr. Romanelli made these for MediCom Toy Incorporated. Link -via Buzzfeed
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Steampunk Toilet
(YouTube Link)
Sean Michael Ragan of Make magazine declares that with this video by inventor Patrick Brawley, steampunk has ‘jumped the shark’:
Introducing the Electro-Flush! Technically, TeslaPunk Urinal. Hand-made solid oak tank with battery powered flush pump, laser aiming assist (aim at the laser dot in the bowl at night), lights, antique gauges, flush capacitor, and cup holder. Bowl is a round 1949 Standard.
via Make
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Wack-A-Banker
Engineeer and cartoonist Tim Hunkin created an arcade game that at first appears to be an ATM or banking kiosk. When coins are inserted, the banking poster drops and reveals Wack-A-Banker, giving you an opportunity to take your aggressions out on a group of financially oppressive stereotypes. See more pictures and read how this project came about at Tim’s site. Link -via Everlasting Blort
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Zelda Papercraft
Master Sword and Pedestal by Xenonray – via Nintendo Papercraft
Whoa! This is awesome: Gajitz blog has a nice compendium of the various papercrafts inspired by the Zelda games. I remember fondly playing Zelda II: The Adventure of Link on my NES oh so many years ago.
Link | More at the excellent blog Nintendo Papercraft (you can lose hours there!)
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H1N1 Swine Flu Giant Microbe Plush Toy
Swine Flu / H1N1 Virus Giant Microbes – $7.95
With all the commotion over swine flu, who knew that the culprit – H1N1 Influenza Virus – could be so … cute? Here’s the popular Giant Microbe plush toy based on cause of the global flu pandemic. Get yours before the second wave of the pandemic hits!
Featured Item: every order will get a Free Mystery Bonus. It’s for a limited time only, so get yours today!
From the Neatorama Shop: H1N1 Swine Flue Virus Plush Toy | Other Giant Microbes | Swine Flu: Bacon’s Revenge T-Shirt
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Donald Duck Transformer
Andrew Dobrow of GearFuse worries that we could see more monstrosities like this if Disney buys Hasbro as well as Marvel Comics. The “Donald Duck Holiday Vehicle” is on sale (but backordered) from the Japanese company Takara Tomy for about $40. Most worrisome of all — it bears neither the Autobot nor Decepticon icon.
Link via GearFuse | Images: Hobby Search
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Tekno Bubbles
While we were waiting for Zubbles, I completely missed the development of black light bubbles! Tekno Bubbles are the creation of Byron and Melody Swetland. They glow blue or gold under ultraviolet light, available in one ounce or gallon sizes. You don’t even have to blow bubbles to enjoy this -you can paint the bubble mixture on a surface to make glowing decorations! Link -via Random Good Stuff
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Nintendo Tattoos
Depending on how you feel about Nintendo and tattoos, you may love or hate this huge collection of Nintendo Tattoos. Some of them have some really great artwork, others…not so much.
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6 Weird, In a Cute Way, Plush Toys
Our very own Neatoramanaut Jill Harness wrote this very neat post over at InventorSpot about 6 "weird art" plush toys. I’m going to quibble with her and say that these are 6 "omigosh cute" plush toys … case in point:
Haminal
Haminal was the brain child of Crystal Chesney-Thompson, an animator who has worked on such major shows as Futurama. He is a blend of pigs, hamsters and guinea pigs, created so he would be easier to be canned than a traditional ham. There are two sizes of Haminal, a classic version served in a plastic “can” complete with nutrition info and a small one perfect for spam-style sushi. Of course, both flavors are best complimented with a foam pineapple ring.
See the rest of the list: Link
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Video Game Questions Your Ethical Standards While Deleting Files from Your Computer
(Video Link)
Zach Gage says that he created the free video game Lose/Lose to make people question their ethical assumptions. The game is similar to Space Invaders, but every time you kill an alien, the game deletes a randomly-selected file from your hard drive:
Lose/Lose is a video-game with real life consequences. Each alien in the game is created based on a random file on the players computer. If the player kills the alien, the file it is based on is deleted. If the players ship is destroyed, the application itself is deleted. Although touching aliens will cause the player to lose the game, and killing aliens awards points, the aliens will never actually fire at the player. This calls into question the player’s mission, which is never explicitly stated, only hinted at through classic game mechanics. Is the player supposed to be an aggressor? Or merely an observer, traversing through a dangerous land? Why do we assume that because we are given a weapon an awarded for using it, that doing so is right?
Clicking on the link below will not download the game onto your computer and begin deleting your files. But it will give you the option to do so.
Link via Geekologie
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A Quantitative Study of Ethnicity and Gender in Video Games
Dmitri Williams of the University of Southern California at Los Angeles, et al., conducted a census of video game characters and concluded that non-Whites and women were vastly underrepresented:
Seasoned gamers were recruited to play each game for 30 minutes. The researchers analysed video of the sessions and recorded the demographics of each character that appeared on screen, no matter how briefly. They then weighted the results in proportion to each game’s sales. For example, characters in a game selling 2 million copies counted for twice as many character stereotype impressions as those in a game selling 1 million.[...]
Williams and his team found that male characters are “vastly more likely to appear” in games than females. They made up 85 per cent of characters, compared to 51 per cent of the real population.
Compared to the real population, African Americans were under-represented by 13 per cent and Hispanic/Latino people by 78 per cent. Asians were over-represented by 25 per cent and white people by 7 per cent.
The researchers also noted that video games originating in Asia demonstrated a similar disparity.
Link via Popular Science
Image: flickr user Gamer Score Blog used under Creative Commons License.
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| Neatorama Shop » Toy & Games » Science Toys | |
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BuckyBalls Magnetic Toys are 216 rare earth magnet balls that can be shaped and molded into virtually any shape. Tear 'em apart and snap 'em back together in unlimited ways for hours of fun! Watch the video for a quick demo of what BuckyBalls can do. Remember to get two for twice the fun! Link |
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