Blog Archives
Watch This! Part 8: Super Mario World
This is not a watch or clock design exactly, just a clock face design that can be applied to a clock or watch. And this face design uses the ten Boos that flew in a circular pattern in a Ghost Castle level in Super Mario World (SNES). Filling in the void is a question block and Mario himself. Read the rest of this entry
Share this:
Washington DC Metro Map - Super Mario 3 Style
You can buy a high-res poster of this image here.
(UPDATE - August 6th 2014): The first leg of the Silver Line opened recently, and I had to make one correction (no rush service for the Silver Line east of Stadium-Armory), so I fixed that and also went ahead and gave the map a makeover. I wanted something a little less cluttered, with more emphasis on the station names.
The previous 2013 and 2018 maps have been retired, and going forward I’m just going to feature one version of the map (that features the completed Silver Line circa 2018) to keep things simple. 2018 will be here before you know it!
Share this:
Beware Of Chain Chomp Sign
Once in a while I like to make things people can print, and today I am offering this geek version of a standard “Beware Of Dog” sign. Perfect for the office or home habitat, or anywhere you might feel jokingly territorial.
You can find a few sized for an 8.5″ x 11″ sheet of paper after the jump. Read the rest of this entry
Share this:
Geeky Flash Drives Part 1: N64 Expansion Pak
Ah the good ol’ N64 Expansion Pak. I remember getting this for Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, and not seeing any discernible difference in the game (turns out only the resolution was increased). Since then I’ve developed something of a soft spot for this cartridge-like peripheral, and not just because it proved beneficial for many more games after Rogue Squadron; I just really like the idea of forward-thinking hardware expansion for game consoles, something we haven’t enjoyed too much here in North America.
With that said, I like the idea of enlisting the Expansion Pak to be plugged into many other devices in the form of a USB flash drive. Its signature red grill would not only be embraced by Nintendo fans, but it is pretty stylish too. It belongs on your key chain or lanyard!
One day I’d like to submit this to Makerbot as a case that can fit over an existing USB flash drive — no ETA on when I can go about doing that.
Share this:
Super Metroid Missile Lamps
The missile upgrades spread throughout Planet Zebes in Super Metroid were encased in a glass dome (well, I think they were glass domes), so I always thought they’d make for a nice display piece. And what better display than a lamp?
It probably wouldn’t be a full-on lamp mind you. Just an ambient light, something that could be used as a night light or just decoration. If it were up to me, they’d be solar-powered and would also have a light sensor to activate when it gets dark.
Also it couldn’t be a life-size replica, otherwise it would be 2-feet tall (they were 1/3 of Samus’ height in the game). Personally I’d like these to be about the size of a coffee mug, so I can leave several throughout my home.
Share this:
Wii U Peripheral For Playing DS and 3DS Games
Between the television and the gamepad on the Wii U, the dual screen experience is now akin to that of the DS and 3DS, Nintendo’s acclaimed handhelds. So can we expect a peripheral that would allow people to play their DS/3DS carts on the Wii U?
We’ve already seen two instances of Nintendo releasing a device that would allow a console to play handheld games: The Super Game Boy for the Super Nintendo, and the Game Boy Player for the GameCube.
And looking at the hardware DNA of the Wii U, it is very conceivable that a third device is possible. The Wii U’s GamePad has a touchscreen, camera, microphone, and all the basic controls that would allow for the DS/3DS experience to be played on the console.
The only feature that probably wouldn’t make the leap to the Wii U is the 3D ability of the 3DS. There are glasses-free enabled 3DTVs on the market, but compatibility could be an issue. Seeing as 3D was always an optional feature for the handheld, I don’t think this would be a deal-breaker for consumers.
The allure of having a device that would allow an install base consisting of nearly 174 million handhelds (152 for DS, 22 for 3DS) to play their games on a console would be too great for Nintendo and consumers to ignore. On the fence about the Wii U? A device like this would certainly seal the deal.
It looks like an external device would be warranted as opposed to an adapter or hardware expansion like the aforementioned Super Game Boy and Game Boy Player devices. More than likely a small device that plugs in via USB, unless the DS/3DS handhelds themselves got a firmware update that allowed them to plug-in directly to the Wii U, which is another possibility.
I put together this basic design and named it the “DS U”. Its silhouette is that of the ‘U’ from the Wii U logo, so it could sit beside the console in a complimentary fashion. The ‘U’ opening also prominently displays the game cart label, giving it an old-school cartridge vibe.
Really hope Nintendo does something along these lines, as it would certainly expand the Wii U’s potential.
