Blog Archives
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.
Like this:
Montreal Metro Map - Super Mario 3 Style
You can buy a high-res poster here.
As promised, Montreal’s Metro map rendered in Super Mario 3 style. I’d like to dub this map trend as “Mariotography” if I may.
Special thanks to Chris Erb from Spacing Montreal for the translation and layout assistance.
Sorry for the post-retirement post. I’m beginning to think it might just be a long-term sabbatical instead. Not sure when I’ll be back. Thanks to everyone for their comments and emails, your support is greatly appreciated.
Like this:
The Versatile Bob-omb
This might give you some disturbing insight to my mind, but today I was installing the lights on my bike (part of my transformation from Calvin to Calvin’s Dad), and I thought to myself: “You know what would be cool, is if they made blinking tail lights in the guise of a Bob-omb.” Even just a flat disc-shaped version would be great.
So I did a check online, and no Bob-omb bike lights. I figured there had to be a blinking LED Bob-omb somewhere, but further searches revealed that the only electronic Bob-omb item available is a USB drive.
Obviously a Bob-omb with a blinking LED would work great as a toy, especially if it also had the wind-up walking feature. But I think there are plenty of other applications too:
1. Car security light. I suppose the one risk here is that thieves (or weak-willed geeks) might want to steal the Bob-omb itself.
2. Alarm clock. If I designed it, you’d have to pick it up and set it back down for a snooze press.
3. Fire/smoke detector, or emergency light.
4. Egg timer. Makes good use of the wind-up key.
5. Key Chain light. The key would be a switch, settings include always-on and blinking.
6. USB Charging hub. The Bob-omb blinks while your devices recharge.
7. Plain old desk lamp*. Like this Mario mushroom here. Or a party strobe light.
8. String of Xmas lights. Might be tempted to use these year-round.
9. Shoelace ends. You’d plug a small Bob-omb onto both ends of a shoelace, making it look like they each have a super-long fuse. Would work for your hoodie drawstring too.
10. Health reminder thingy. This is a reference to this old idea, where you’d have an alarm that tells you to stand up from your desk at an hourly interval and take five (you earned it).
11. The previously mentioned bike light and toy ideas.
So there you have it, many potential applications for the under-appreciated Bob-omb. Well, for such an iconic character in this blogger’s opinion.
*No lie: Police’s Roxanne appeared on my iTunes shuffle while I typed this. It’s a sign.
Like this:
Super Mario Curtains
shower curtains depicted
You could probably accuse me of phoning this idea in, as it is merely a screenshot of curtains imposed onto an actual curtain (there’s an Inception joke in there somewhere). But what I am trying to do here is make this an actual product.
I’ve found a few Etsy people who specialize in sublimated bedding and curtains, and I believe this design would make for a good candidate. As for bedding, I’m hoping for something along the lines of the duvet cover pictured here. With matching cartridge pillow case!
This design is ideal for the shower curtain, especially if you have black and white checkered tiling present. It could also be employed for windows too.
Other articles: Super Mario Toaster, Super Mario Alarm Clock, Super Mario Maps, Donkey Kong Jeans, (deep breath) package concept, and Super Mario case.
Like this:
Thinkgeek Remix Part 2: Air Swimmers R/C Flying Fish
I really dig these radio-controlled flying fish from Thinkgeek. Not only do these helium balloons look convincing at a glance, but their swimming movement also looks realistic. Check out the video:
If it were up to me, I’d swap out the fish with the flying balloon-like Boo from the Super Mario games. It too moves slowly and not all that gracefully. I’m hoping that the tail and wing-like arms can help propel it like the flying fish. The tongue could also be used as a rudder perhaps. If it’s possible, a voice chip could be added for his “laugh” sounds.
But why stop there? There are plenty of other geeky things known for flying that could be used:
1. A flying droid briefly seen in the Star Wars: A New Hope (Special Edition onwards). I chose it because it has a rudder and wings. 2. Metroid. Would make for a beautiful balloon. 3. Lakitu, an enemy-turned-friend, also from the Super Mario games. 4. A City Scanner robot from Half Life 2. Looks like a product of Aperture labs. 5. Laserbeak! Okay, probably wouldn’t work as a balloon. 6. Probe Droid from Empire Strikes Back. 7. Torture Ball droid from A New Hope. And you thought your dad was harsh. 8. Orko from He-Man. I’d enlist his large elf-like ears to be the wings, and his hat tip for the rudder. He’d be life-size, I believe.
Anything you’d like to see as a flying toy?
