Kinect Hardware Evolution
A dare for Ben Heck and his followers: stuff the Kinect into a NES R.O.B.!
When I first saw the Kinect sensor tilt up and down, it looked like a head nodding. That’s when it occurred to me that Microsoft should have released something along the lines of the fabled Nintendo R.O.B. from the 80′s - a peripheral in the form of a robot. Read the rest of this entry
Open World Zombie Video Game Idea
Sick of zombie video games? Well I have one idea that I hope is the mother-of-all zombie games: an open world (think Grand Theft Auto) zombie game, where it’s you in a decaying city filled with zombies. Read the rest of this entry
Car Dealership Idea: Hot Wheels Sign
If I were to open a car dealership the first order of business would be a sign, one that is essentially a giant Hot Wheels package containing an actual car.
Not only would it serve as eye-catching signage, but it would also serve to highlight a particular car - much like dealerships do when they place a single car on a ramp or display stand to make it stand out from the lot.
This sign would also illicit smiles from those who see it because it triggers feelings of nostalgia, particularly the experience of car shopping when you were a kid. Because back then all the cars were in card packages sitting on pegs.
This type of signage makes it clear the car is a purchase item, and also implies the car is really cool and fun to drive.
It would only work for car brands that had a few cool models in their lineup. Seeing a Mustang or Challenger enclosed in the sign is appropriate. A compact or a station wagon, not so much.
Reminds me of this Acura commercial from the early 90′s, which has the greatest tag line at the end:
While it would be nice to feature the Hot Wheels package design, you could easily make the card backing compliment the dealership in appearance (like the image above).
I imagine this would draw people just to take their picture with it. People love giant touristy things.
Geeky Digital Cameras Part 2: Transformers
A few weeks back I designed a digital camera with a View-Master theme. I was hard-pressed to come up with another camera idea that was as much fun. Then I asked myself: what other object would you hold in front of yourself like a camera? It then struck me: The Autobot Matrix Of Leadership.
The handles on the Matrix make for a perfect camera. Harkens back to hose large box cameras from the 30′s and 40′s that had large handles on the sides.
This design was made possible by using a Ring Flash. Otherwise I’d have difficulty placing the the flash and lens in a way that preserves the look of the Matrix.
There is a picture-snap button located on the handle. The casing can open to access the memory card and battery enclosure. There would be an LCD screen on the back, with an array of buttons too - I just didn’t get around to making the back section!
Also, I should have included a chain-looking neck strap. And a camera bag that looked like Optimus Prime. You get the idea.
This design is intended for a compact camera. The ‘finger holes’ on the sides would be too small and are just for show. Your digits would wrap around the entire ‘grip’ section. To make those finger slots functional, this camera would need to be approximately 10-12″ wide, which is too big.
Not only would this camera be cool-looking, but it could double as bling* or a prop for the cosplayers out there.
*Galvatron wore it as bling.
Ghostbusters Earbuds Redux
Slimer if he were designed by Aardman Studios (Wallace and Gromit).
Earlier this year I posted a design for Ghostbusters earbuds and protective case that featured a rather plain earbud design. I thought I would update their appearance. These Slimers would be on the back of the earbuds, appearing to be caught in a proton stream, which is actually the cords.
This would still be used with a Proton Pack protective case, where the blaster is used as volume control extension these earbuds would plug into.
Rushmore Blu-Ray Case
Given the opportunity to make a special edition for this film, I would make a ‘Max Fischer Yearbook Edition’, which would copy the book seen early in the film.
This is a similar design to the Princess Bride book + Blu-Ray combo from a few months back, but I added a slipcase to it. Seeing as this addition is a sort of jacket, I made it look like a Rushmore-crested jacket from the film.
The yearbook would feature as much material shown in the montage from early in the film, depicting all the clubs Max Fischer has founded or is a member of. That would be hilarious to look over.
This excellent film has already been released on Blu-Ray by Criterion, which makes it a must-have. I love the design of that release, and included the cover art on the disc above.
Ice Hockey 2 Please!
I have a new nemesis. I dub this enemy 'Pixel Art'.
Yesterday Nintendo announced a new Mario Tennis for 2012. The Mario Tennis franchise has been released on the Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and GameCube (which saw a re-release on the Wii). While Tennis gets a lot of love, I feel Nintendo should resurrect a title they haven’t touched since the NES* - Ice Hockey.
In this blogger’s opinion, Ice Hockey was the first great hockey video game. It had a simple mechanic: create a lineup of 4 players, choosing between skinny, normal, and fat body types. Skinny players were fast, but easy to flatten with a body check. Fat players were physical and had a booming slap shot, but were very slow on the ice. Normal players were average across the board.
That core mechanic could remain for a sequel. The only major addition would be the inclusion of Mario characters, much like the other Nintendo sports games. Luigi could be the skinny player, Mario the normal player, and Wario the fat player. Many other Nintendo characters like Yoshi and Donkey Kong could be included as well.
This game would be ideal for the 3DS. You might be able to fit the whole rink in the top screen. Stick-handling, passing, and shooting could be done with the stylus on the touch-screen.
*I’m going to ignore the Stanley Cup game they released for the SNES, and the hockey mode in Mario And Sonic Go The Winter Games for Wii.
Finding Nemo Blu-Ray Case
Originally I was going to make an aquarium box set for Finding Nemo, but it seemed a bit overkill. Then I thought it would be better to keep the design similar to the already-released Pixar Blu-Ray films for a nice uniform look.
I thought the aquarium would still be a fun theme, so I applied that design to the standard Blu-Ray case.
How it works: The plastic case itself would be all clear plastic except for the top cap section. There would be an outer sleeve that is a clear cel, and would only have the title, green border, spine art, and back details (region info). Instead of a booklet, an inner clear cel sleeve would be used, and it would feature several characters. Finally the disc would feature some plant life and a few other characters.
The idea is to make this look like a frame of multiplane cel animation, with all the different characters looking like they are floating in space.
Like other Disney Blu films, this would have a removable cardboard outer sleeve. The booklet could reside behind the discs for the most optimal appearance, though I don’t think this design needs a booklet - all the relevant info could be placed on the back or cardboard sleeve.
Finding Nemo has yet to be released on Blu-Ray, which is weird because the film holds the crown as the greatest-selling DVD of all time. I’d like to think this film would floor people in HD.
If you like this check out the Incredibles Blu-Ray design one from last year.
BTTF Auto-Lace Shoes
There has been much hoopla these past 24 hours regarding the announcement of Nike’s Air Mag shoe, which is an official Back to the Future licensed shoe. They are based on those futurustic ‘power-lace’ shoes Marty McFly wore in BTTF II. Read more about them here.
Sadly, the shoes do not feature power-laces, probably due to cost of motors needed to execute the lacing gimmick. This has soured some people on the product.
I’d like to propose an automatic lacing system that does not require any motors. How it works:
Gravity does the heavy lifting. Place your foot in the shoe, which presses down on a spring-loaded platform (the spring doubles as foot support!). The platform locks into a clip located by the back heel, allowing the shoe’s wearer to walk or run around without issue. The platform is connected to a bunch of drawstrings - the type you’d find in a hoodie or sweatpants - which fasten the ‘ankle belt’ snugly. The shoe basically fastens as you insert your foot.
Here is the best part: that clip is accessible from the back, so to get your foot out of the shoe you step on the clip with your other foot to release the platform. It is exactly like how you take your shoes off now, only this clip triggers the removal instead of the back of the heel.
The drawstrings would be embedded into the shoe lining, so it wouldn’t feel like stepping into a net.
