Category Archives: Toys
Jurassic Park Blu-Ray Case Redux
This is just an old idea from a few years back. I’m just giving it the red carpet treatment that recent Blu-Ray designs have received.
The original Jurassic Park Blu-Ray case really helped launch this blog from relative obscurity, so it’s something I’ll always look back on fondly. Certainly helped make me feel less silly about posting stuff, that is for sure.
The only change I made from previous incarnations is the Velociraptor cage is more screen-accurate. I could’ve made it 100% exact, but I wanted to keep the cage openings fewer in number and larger in size, so the Raptor eye peering out is noticeable. The addition of the ladder makes this design look more ornate, but less-friendly for sitting amongst your Blu-Ray library - so it is an optional attachment I feel.
The actual cage is slightly wider than this case design, so it could easily be home to four Blu-Ray cases, which could be handy when the 4th film debuts, or possibly for that 3D re-release arriving in Spring 2013 (to mark the 20th Anniversary). That is, if Universal Studios would consider adopting this design. They’re more than welcome to use it!
Video Game Power-Up AC Adapter
The basic premise here (if it is not already obvious) is a grounded tap adapter which has a video game theme, to give the appearance that you are drawing power from a power-up item. The Triforce of Power, for example, would look like your preferred energy source.
Other bells and whistles include LED night lights (which have light sensors), USB adapters for charging mobile devices, and maybe some sound effects too (when plugging an item in).
I chose to make these tap adapters, because it would be as simple as plugging them in. You could make them specialty outlets too, which you’d have to install in place of a vanilla outlet.
(I added USB ports after I rendered this)
Sorry for just showing Nintendo themed designs! Other outlets can include: the energy tank from Mega Man and the power pellets from Pac-Man to name a few. Another way to go would be outlets that look like game consoles, like a Nintendo 64 or GameCube. This way the sockets could look like controller ports, and the lights would mimic the console’s power indicator.
Personally I’d love to have the Energy Tank from Super Metroid (middle). The ‘E’ would pulse yellow, which would look cool.
Back To The Future Flux Capacitor Blu-Ray Case
Thought I’d revisit one of my first Blu-Ray designs and add a few more fun touches, all while providing the same kind of presentation I gave the recent Breaking Bad case. Usually I just did this sort of display for clients, but I will try to make this a staple going forward.
A working LED Flux Capacitor would be a must-buy in my opinion. Even if packaged media goes extinct tomorrow, it would still be something you display and use indefinitely.
A couple of fun details I added are the OUTATIME license plate, which acts like a gate partition for the Blu-Ray cases; and the Hoverboard which clamps down the booklet(s):
You flip down the plate to get at the movies. The reason for the large cavity above the movies is to allow your hand to grab the cases easily. I’m not a fan of cases where you have to wedge out the contents with your fingertips.
I’ll revisit other designs that I’ve done previously and spruce them up and add more details from time to time. Click here to see the older ones.
Thinkgeek IdeaFactory Submission Part 2: Music Visualizer
This is a straightforward device: An audio visualizer (represented by a tower of LED lights) that would intercept the audio feed to your speakers from the computer or media player (iPod/iPhone) and display some pretty lights accordingly.
This would operate as visualizer or can become an ambient mood light at the flip of the switch. This can be expanded to be an iOS device dock, and can include a USB Hub to add functionality.
Personally I like idea of a visualizer on my desk for atmosphere, but it is just a cosmetic decoration when all is said and done.
Submission For Thinkgeek’s IdeaFactory Part 1: Desk Dashboard
Thinkgeek has created a portal for people to submit ideas called the Thinkgeek IdeaFactory. Product ideas will be evaluated and should they come to fruition, the submitter can earn some money (payment and royalties) and can re-sell their product if they so choose. They only stipulate that product ideas aren’t based on a licensed property (so no dinnerware based on TRON discs), the products have to stand on their own. I submitted a few designs. Here is the first one:
This is the “Desk Dashboard”. which is like a small clock you keep at your workstation that is plugged into the PC via USB, and is entirely based on the dashboard of an automobile. It emits lights and sounds to notify you of important emails, lunchtime, coffee breaks, and your hourly stand up and stretch health check. Program your routine in the PC and the Desk Dashboard carries it out.
The “Fuel” (Coffee) gauge is a countdown clock to your scheduled coffee breaks. It would not actually be able to detect the coffee level in your cup! Maybe a weight scale peripheral can do that.
The dashboard emits chimes similar to a car, like when the door is ajar and the keys are left in the ignition, or forgetting to put the seat belt on.
It can be expanded to include Facebook and Twitter notifications, an Odometer-style time clock, a hazard light function (red button and yellow blinking lights) to scare co-workers away, and a quitting time alert. Your boss might not be enamored with the last one.
Breaking Bad Collection Blu-Ray Case
The easiest cases for me to design are based on actual cases. So when I saw that ‘Vamonos Pest’ stage case roll by a few episodes ago, I knew it would be perfect for a collection.
I already did a Breaking Bad design, which is like a Steelbook with a plastic front. This case can hold five of those, but I opted to design some new Criterion-like cases for the set*.
The dimensions of the real-life stage case are quite ideal for a box set. This design is a bit wider to help contain all five sets. I believe it would fit amongst your Blu-Ray library seamlessly, if the individual cases were a bit shorter than normal Blu-Ray cases.
There are only 2 working latches on the sides to open and lock the case. The rest of the small latches are for show. This creates only two halves of the case, instead of the actual 3 or 4 sections the real stage case uses.
Every season case is loaded with imagery from its respective season. As much as I like uniform sets, it was fun to play with the imagery the show has imparted during its memorable run.
A completely optional feature are stowaway wheels beneath the case. The wheels make the case authentic to the show, but aren’t necessary in my opinion:
We won’t see a Breaking Bad Complete Series release until Winter 2013. The fifth and final season just started, and won’t finish airing until next summer (season 5 is comprised of two 8-episode halves). This design is very early, but looking back I can’t think of a better candidate than this stage case. Yes a case based on the RV might be cool, though somewhat over-the-top. I’m often told my vehicle-based cases are too astronomically expensive to manufacture.
UPDATE: Here is the cover art. I went a little overboard for season 5, as it goes with the case somewhat.
*As far as I know Criterion doesn’t release TV shows. But if they did, Breaking Bad would be eligible (along with contemporaries The Wire, The Sopranos, and Game Of Thrones for sure).
