Search Results for: games

March 20

Accessories Sold Separately

As promised, I come bearing geekiness as gleaned from Mr X Stitch at the Stitch and Craft show…

I am, frankly amazed (and a little appalled) at myself for never having come across Lord Libidan before. His work is amazing – generally centered around video games, and packed full of original, interesting ideas.

The Transformers, sewn onto plastic canvas, actually transform. Oh yes. There’s Jetfire &  Optimus Prime (as seen here) who of course become a plane and a truck respectively – and also a couple of tapes; Ratbat & Laserbeak, which will fit into the soon-to-come Soundwave/tapedesk. I love that they are based on the original toys, not the new versions – tres retro chic. And (this is the best bit) all of the patterns are all available from his Etsy Shop. Huzzah!

This Pokemon image is stitched stereoscopically – so if you put on red & blue 3D glasses (great fashion choice, btw) it pops out at you. Excuse me while I cry at the awesomeness.

This manbroiderer may not really be a lord, but I agree with him; he should be.

Category: Computers, Craft, Games, Geek, Toys, TV, Video Games | 2 Comments on Accessories Sold Separately
March 18

Gather ’round children, as I weave you a tale of isotropes and kilowicks…

Developed in 1869 by the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev to help illustrate commonalities in the various properties of elements, the Periodic Table has been both boon and bane to high school chemistry students around the world (my own experiences fell definitely to the “bane” side.)

Fast forward about 140 years, and we have a more modern version, and infinitely more useful, thanks to James the ComputerSherpa. In his first Visual Design class he came up with this little beauty – the Periodic Table of Storytelling.

Periodic Table of Storytelling, by ComputerSherpa

James really did his research, turning to TVTropes.org for inspiration and information on “tropes” –  which TVTropes defines as “devices and conventions that a writer can reasonably rely on as being present in the audience members’ minds and expectations.” Writers (and Hollywood types) can use these fictional elements to craft endless variations of story lines. Being a wiki, TVTropes has vast quantities of information and discussion threads, so James’ graphical version of the Periodic Table is a real timesaver.

Beyond the concept as a whole, I love the examples at the bottom, illustrating how one might describe certain shows, movies, games, etc, using formulas based on this Periodic Table.  For instance, when you combine:

  •  A Five-Man Band (5ma – made up of a Hero, Lancer, Smart Guy, Big Guy, and a Chick)
  • Conflict (C)
  • The Empire (Emp)
  • Dragon-The Chosen One-You Have Failed Me (DraNeoFai)

…and you get Star Wars. Not sure about the “Dragon” element on this one, but then, I have mentioned my chemistry is not my super power.

James very kindly put the image up for purchase as a poster – it would be fun to sit around with a bunch of geeks and work out formulas for various shows and book storylines. Maybe I’ll have to get one for my son to take to college in the fall, for he will surely find himself a gang of geeks to hand out with, and I wouldn’t want them to run out of things to talk about.

[Via: BitRebels]

Category: Craft, Geek, Movies, Science, TV | 1 Comment on Gather ’round children, as I weave you a tale of isotropes and kilowicks…
March 5

Cosplay Pics from Naka-kon 2012

My husband and daughter recently returned from their annual sojourn to a local anime convention, so I thought it might be nice to introduce you to it as well. Dubbed Naka-kon, this convention is held annually in Overland Park, Kansas, to “celebrate Japanese animation and the influence anime has in the Midwest and around the globe by educating people from all walks of life in many diverse facets of popular and traditional Japanese culture.”

No matter whether promoting Japanese anime, video games, or the otaku lifestyle in general, these Kon-goers love to cosplay! The following are but a few examples that my husband took over the weekend.

Montage of photos from NakaKon 2012

I spy cosplayers as No Face from Spirited Away (or what I call “that freaky ghosty thing”), Mojo JoJo from Powerpuff Girls, a Stormtrooper, Mario & Princess Peach, and GLaDOS from Portal, but I don’t recognize the others. Do you?

Category: Anime, Craft, Geek, Video Games | 2 Comments on Cosplay Pics from Naka-kon 2012
January 10

Tutorial Tuesday: Mario and Sonic Quilt

It hurts me a little inside (or should I say, I get a little smaller, and lose my rings!) to see these two guys side by side. I love them both so much but it just reminds me that there won’t be any new SEGA consoles anytime soon… and that reminds me of the Dreamcast (swoon) … and that reminds me of Shenmue… I digress…

Instructables member SheWhoMustNotBeNamed has the perfect solution to my discontinued-game-console woes, with a fantastic Mario and Sonic quilt tutorial.

I could wrap myself up in it while I play my old Master System games…. doesn’t look the same on a 32″ TV *sniff*……………

Category: Craft, Geek, Video Games | Comments Off on Tutorial Tuesday: Mario and Sonic Quilt
January 9

Carcassone T-shirt embroidery

With yet another holiday season behind us, it is nice to reflect on some of the quality time spent with family and friends. I was fortunate enough to have my wonderful in-laws visit us from Milawaukee for a few days around the New Year’s holiday. One of our favorite things to do together is play the game Carcassonne. If you are not familiar with Carcassonne, it is a tile-based German-style board game that has been lauded, by some, as one of the best-designed board games out there. So fun, you guys.

Today’s craft comes by way of Laura Hatrich’s embroidery of one of the Carcassonne tiles on a T-shirt for her husband. You can see the side-by-side comparison of the embroidery and tile in the image.  Really smart use of the various thread colors to bring out the detail in the tile! I have no doubt Laura’s husband incited envy among Carcassonne lovers wherever he went!

Category: Craft, Games, Geek, History | 4 Comments on Carcassone T-shirt embroidery
December 28

Geek Love

 

I celebrated my 8 year wedding anniversary yesterday. Bronze is the traditional 8 year anniversary gift, which made me think about Steam Punk weddings, chemistry themed weddings, robot weddings, etc.  I still am hooked on looking at wedding ideas, and here are a few I think I would use if I were to get married again, (to the same guy, of course.)

For the robot love, check out this amazing robot cake topper, from Etsy shop buildersstudio . We have one on our mantel, and I love seeing it everyday.

 

Who needs a rose, when you could adorn your lapel with a Lego man. Check out these cool Lego boutineers from off beat bride.

 

 

 

 

Check out these awesome robot wedding shoes also from Off Beat Bride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And if you’re more into games than robots or Legos, check out this board game wedding cake. (that I made for my friends Deb and Brad.)

 

 

Category: Craft, Geek | 1 Comment on Geek Love