Neglectful Blogger Makes A Cameo
Sorry about the lack of updates recently. Been super-busy as of late. Some news and notes:
If you don’t know, I started a second blog called www.davesgeekyhockey.com, and there you’ll find all my hockey stuff, including a new offer for Browncoats and Voltron 2.0 hockey jersey designs.
The Ghostbusters and Lannister hockey jerseys are nearing completion/shipment. For those who ordered Lannister jerseys thank-you for your patience*. Speaking of which, Game of Thrones hockey jerseys will be back soon, but at that aforementioned site. This weekend, methinks.
Karen R. you ordered 2 Zelda jerseys but my confirmation emails to you keep getting bounced back. Looks like Rinkgear and I have the wrong email address. Please e-mail me!
Here is a post about some 3D work I’ve been contributing for a short animated film. A commenter there points out the anti-aliasing. No idea how to curb that! I’ve cranked the anti-aliasing quality as high as I can. Maybe vector rendering, but there are so many objects in the scene – could really slow things down (also using 64-bit Maya, which has no Vector Render option – weird).
I really want this Makerbot 3D printer. They call it the Replicator, which is so much win. Not too crazy about the ridges caused by the layered printing, but that is a minor complaint.
It will be a little slow here for the next few weeks due to my busy schedule. And I feel bad about that because there are so many things I want to post. Making this more agonizing is how site traffic keeps increasing every week. And I’d like nothing more than to build momentum on that, but my hands are tied right now. Argh.
If I could make this my full-time job I would. Maybe I’ll go blogger school for my blogger degree and land a job. BLOGGER SCHOOL! Bonus idea. I amaze myself sometimes.
*These had to be remade because they turned out Salmon instead of Crimson. I have mine, and I have to say the salmon has grown on me.
10 Films That Deserve A 3D Re-Release
Older 2D films being converted into 3D for theatrical re-release is a new Hollywood trend that’s starting to pick up steam. Disney has been leading the charge so far with the first two Toy Story films, the recent Lion King release, and soon Finding Nemo. The Star Wars franchise begins its slate of six 3D reissues next month with the Phantom Menace. James Cameron has also been hard at work on Avatarizing his blockbuster Titanic film, set for release this year.
The following films have lots of potential for the 3D treatment, based on their overall visuals. In no particular order:
1. The Fifth Element (1997). Going beyond the famous Taxi cab chase scene from the film’s first act, there is plenty of shots that lend themselves to the 3D format. Plenty of people pointing weapons at the camera, in-your-face action, and not much shakiness that is the norm now. If you watch this film, it’s almost like the Director wanted it to be immersive – lots of medium shots and tight close-ups (especially in Dallas’ apartment). It’s almost as if this film was shot with 3D in mind.
2. The Incredibles (2004). With Disney already converting three Pixar films into 3D, the Incredibles is the most likely on this list to get the 3D treatment. Dash’s chase scene in the third act would shine, but there are plenty of other shots that are at home in 3D. The family falling from the plane explosion, Mr. Incredible jumping over the waterfall, the entire opening sequence, and so on.
3. King Kong (2005). This film should be like Tron Legacy. Everything in 2D until they reach Skull Island. All the dinosaurs and creepy bugs turn this period piece into a sort of thrill ride. Who doesn’t want to see a giant gorilla swat planes out of the sky in 3D?
4. The Matrix (1999). The strongest of the Matrix trilogy by far, it has plenty of set pieces and effects that are begging for the 3D treatment. The lobby shootout and bullet-time sequences would be worth the cost of admission. You probably could retrofit the sequels in 3D too, but those might be ignored by audiences. Speaking of which…
5. Independence Day (1996). Laugh all you want, but this is a film that looks great in HD, and I think it would benefit from 3D release – especially in IMAX. I recall seeing a making-of FX film in IMAX (Which featured a peek at the Star Wars Special Editions) way back when. ID4 was showcased, and it was awesome to watch the White House getting destroyed on a 4-story screen. A 3D coat of paint for IMAX would make those giant spaceships a sight.
6. Jurassic Park (1993). Another 3D release that would be a hit in IMAX (heck, just a regular IMAX re-release would suffice). Looking up at the Brontosaurus munching on a tree, or being chased by a T-Rex in 3D would drive people to theaters. I suspect this film would have a successful re-release, much like Star Wars or the Lion King, just because of how good it is by default. It appeals to fans old and new.
7. Spider-Man Trilogy (2002 – 2007). If you look at a lot of Raimi’s films, you’d swear he was shooting them in 3D, but forgot to use a 3D camera. They are all very much in-your-face, with so many objects being thrown at the camera. Swinging through New York with the webhead in 3D is the primary reason to plunk down the cash. Fortunately we’re getting a taste of that with the new Amazing Spider-Man this summer. And yes I included Spider-Man 3…despite its faults it would be a fun experience in 3D.
8. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010). After exiting the theater for this one my first thought was “Why didn’t they make this in 3D?” Because all the visuals seemed destined for the third dimension. I’d like to think the 3D would’ve offered more incentive for audiences to come flocking, making the release a success instead of falling short of the production budget. At the very least the 3D price bump would’ve had this film breaking even.
9. Wanted (2008). Like the Matrix, this one was chock-full of bullet-time effects. I’d like to think with the 3D added, you too will feel like you’re shooting the wings off a fly. This also reminds me that Angelina Jolie was the lone highlight of the Beowulf 3D release. *Sigh!*
10. Kung-Fu Hustle (2004). This one is over-the-top when it comes to action, and the use of CG to escalate many fight and action sequences was brilliant. The upgrade to 3D makes this a can’t miss film.
Honorable Mention: Fight Club, Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, The Iron Giant, Men In Black, Starship Troopers, True Lies, Mission Impossible (1995), Labyrinth, Minority Report, and Star Trek (2009).
Related reading: If I owned a movie theater, and this orchestra entertainment idea.
Places That Don’t Exist Yet (But Totally Should)
1. A Communal Car Repair Garage. This is like a co-op artists studio, but for the mechanically inclined. You’d be able to rent a garage bay to fix your car for more demanding repairs. Sure you might have a garage and set of tools at home, but there are times when you need to get underneath the car. Or maybe you need an engine hoist and an industrial air compressor – stuff like that.
Got this idea when I owned a Ford several years ago (har-har, go ahead and laugh), and so often I would’ve liked to have access to a communal garage setup like this. I also think they had something like this in that film Christine.
2. Local Municipal Garbage Depots. Landfills are way out in the suburbs, and require a truck. Or you gotta pay an arm and a leg to some company to haul your stuff away. I propose ‘garbage depots’, which are set up in warehouses throughout the city, much like recycling depots. Garbage trucks that are not filled to capacity would stop in here, and collect junk until full or when it is needed to do another pickup route.
People would pay a fee to drop their stuff off here, but that is the cost of convenience. It would also maximize loads for trucks, allowing for optimal efficiency.
3. Restaurants With Retractable Roofs. It’s not just for sports stadiums anymore! You could turn the whole restaurant into a patio. It would be like that restaurant scene from Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, minus the falling food (unless you have a clumsy server).
Speaking of servers – I imagine they’d love this idea. They’re not too fond of heading out the door to the patio with food, or collecting outdoor furniture at the end of the night.
Also: tall building rooftop bars. Those alcohol commercials lied — you never see those in real life.
5. Themed Drinking Holes And Restaurants — which are actually cool. If they made a bar based on Cheers, the Brick, or 10 Forward, it would be the busiest in the city. I’m telling ya, franchises to be had there. As for restaurants, I’d say ones based on those featured in Pushing Daisies (I think? Wasn’t there a pie restaurant?), Seinfeld, Goodfellas, Office Space, and that’s all that comes to mind. As long as it’s not too over-the-top like Planet Hollywood (forgot about those, didn’t you?)
6. Party Room Conference Centers. This is a building that would feature a dozen or so ‘party’ rooms, and a communal bar and/or restaurant. These rooms would house something in the area of 10 – 30 people. Some rooms would be equipped with large screen TV’s and seating, ideal for film marathons or gaming sessions with your buds. Other rooms would just have tables and chairs for poker or Magic: The Gathering parties. A stereo and a dance floor could fill another room — whatever you need for your party. This type of conference center would promote social activity – a dying art.
If I ran such a place, I’d charge about $100 – $200 per room per night. And if all the party-goers bought a lot of food and drink, I’d offer a rebate.
Hotels have many conference rooms, but let’s face it — these are snooty establishments. At least that’s what I learned from Home Alone 2.
7. Themed fitness clubs. Three words – Pokemon Training Center. All the geeks would be tricked into staying in shape.
Starbuck Vanished! Where’d She Go?
You might have noticed the Battlestar Galactica jersey is no longer available. Those who ordered it will be issued refunds.
Right to the point: Rinkgear and I received a Cease and Desist order today from NBC Universal, the parent company and rights holders of Battlestar Galactica. I have complied to the best of my abilities, and will continue to do so because I am a huge supporter of NBC and Battlestar Galactica.
This is disappointing news for those who ordered, myself included. My deepest apologies, this was supposed to be a fun and cool item that was niche and truly your own.
All the blame for this lies with me alone. Where I am at fault is how I portrayed this endeavor in a fashion akin to a merchant selling goods. I created a solid design, a detailed sales pitch, lots of pricing and ordering information – pretty much went the whole nine yards to relay information about these jerseys and how to go about attaining one.
I didn’t put enough emphasis on this being a non-profit affair, or how this was a custom team order, or that this was a fan initiative. Instead I posed to everyone “Hey this is cool, want one?” And spent my efforts coordinating these orders.
Also I assumed all things that you commission for yourself (in this case custom jerseys), don’t need approval from IP holders. I thought this would be akin to cosplay or fandom appreciation, but clearly I have a lot to learn.
I truly hope that NBC doesn’t find Rinkgear responsible for this – they’re just a custom hockey jersey vendor. It’s their business to make what customers want. I also talked to many other jersey vendors about making these, and not once did any of them say it was illegal or could land them in jeopardy. The common refrain was “anything you want”.
This was a big wake-up call, and I am now wondering how to proceed with geeky jerseys, if at all.
Doctor Who TARDIS And Legend Of Zelda Hockey Jerseys UPDATE: Order Window Now Closed
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UPDATE: After almost 2 months, the order window is now closed. Stay tuned for future geeky hockey jerseys at www.davesgeekyhockey.com.
Introducing Dave’s Geeky Hockey – Your One Stop For Geeky Hockey Jerseys
I launched a new site which will handle all the hockey content, specifically hockey jersey orders: davesgeekyhockey.com
This dedicated outlet will make it easier for people to know what I am working on when it comes to hockey jerseys. It will also feature the odd hockey idea or rant.
All announcements, news, and updates for jerseys will take place there. Which is great, because those particular items get buried here.
If you’ve been wanting Game Of Thrones jerseys, bookmark that site. Both blogs will feed into the same Twitter account. Those who subscribed to Dave’s Geeky Ideas to stay on top of hockey jersey news will want to subscribe to Dave’s Geeky Hockey instead — sorry about that.
I’ll have more news at Hockey in the coming days.
Dave’s Geeky Ideas will continue to be my primary site, Hockey is a companion site. You might think I’m trying to turn Dave’s Geeky Hockey into a huge enterprise, but it will be quite the opposite. You’ll see what I mean soon!
A Few More Hockey Ideas (Again!)
More hockey ideas. One day the well will run dry on the topic! So far there hasn’t been any complaints about this from readers (that’s not an invitation to start now!). I’ll try cover more sports in the future. Read the rest of this entry
If IKEA Made Geeky Furniture Part 17: Star Trek Lamp
This is an item I had trouble narrowing down to one application. The warp core from Star Trek (Next Generation version depicted), can be turned into many things. A floor lamp, desk lamp, lantern, USB hub, power switch, wireless router, and a universal recharger just to name a few. I think it’s really iconic and I’m a bit surprised no one has turned it into a gadget for geeks.
My favorite application would be a combination of a desk lamp and USB hub/universal charger. It would look like your source of power! And much like how it was seen in the show, it works in the background, and is not too distracting.
Here is a desktop version that features a USB Hub:
I added a case so the two conduits at the rear can attach to something. I think it would look cool on the desk.
I wouldn't mind having it encased in glass (left), or on a simple base (right).
My second favorite use would be a floor lamp (depicted top left). You know those tall paper lamps IKEA has? I think this could be done in a similar fashion.
Like this? Check out this Borg charging station, Holosuite wallpaper, Star Trek jewelry, and LCD TV’s with built-in view screen lights.
Geeky Lunch Box: McDonald’s Happy Meal
This one is for the kids or the “really self-assured geek” (not to be confused with a hipster), either way the novelty appeal of this lunch tin cannot be denied! A lunch box tin based on the beloved/reviled Happy Meal from McDonald’s.
This is the sort of thing I enjoy posting on this blog, nostalgic items that harken back to carefree times. Anything that provides a positive vibe, even for a few brief moments, can make a big first impression and yield lasting appeal.
The design is pretty straightforward. There is a cradle for a can of pop, an interchangeable divider for food, and that’s pretty much it. You’ll have to add your own toy.
Originally I had designed this to open with two flaps at the top just like a Happy Meal, but decided to go with this layout. May not be watertight when it comes to nasty spills, but all the food is more accessible here. I was also going to include a matching Thermos bottle shaped like a McDonald’s fountain drink, but that made this box much bigger, and took away real estate from the food.
The main goal was to make this compact. This would be about 5 x 5 x 9″, so slightly bigger than the actual Happy Meal (I think). Still makes it small enough to throw in your backpack or handbag.
Note: I should have added a padlock loop, for those who have to share communal fridges at work. I wish there was a better solution for that…
Unwanted Toys Part 4: Saints Row 3 Prestige Edition
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Unwanted Toys is a series of package concepts I made for a now-shuttered European company that specialized in high-end media packaging for European distribution.
I’ve learned that when you are crafting these collector’s editions for video games, there is a lot of guesswork involved, because you’re not given much to work with from the game publisher. Often that means looking at the games that have come before, in this case Saints Row 1 and 2.
I didn’t coin this idea, but Port Plexus really loved the idea of an R/C Lowrider, and even sent me a few videos of the toys in action. So I got to work and built them this car and radio control tandem. It looked sharp. An art book was also made to round out the package.
But this was never shown to THQ, because just prior to submitting they sent some specifications for what they didn’t want, and R/C toys and art books were on that no-go list. They even specified Lowriders were not apart of the brand image.
It was surprising, with Saints Row 2 being so 50-Cent in style. Clearly they were taking Saints Row 3 (eventually titled Saints Row The Third) in a new direction, and ultimately did so. At least we had some direction for the collector’s edition going forward. It was probably for the best this wasn’t submitted!
An R/C car I did like somewhat, but I felt a miniature one would have been appropriate. This car is about 10 – 11″ long, though nothing compared to that monster truck thing that was released for Call of Duty Black Ops.
And I know this may sound weird coming from an “artist”, but I’m not a fan of art books for video games. Unless it was something amazing and visually rich like a Final Fantasy title. Otherwise you can appreciate the art shown in-game.
