I kid you not. Hello Kitty and Street Fighter are coming together in 2012. They may not be the strangest bedfellows that one can think of, but this “merger” is one that raises my eyebrows. I know that Hello Kitty is one of the most popular and longest lasting franchises, but I just never got it. Maybe it’s because I am not really a cat person. (Yes, sacrilege for some!) [Read more…] about When Hello Kitty and Street Fighter Collide
Tetris. Remember those days when your mom would threaten to smash your Game Boy because you wouldn’t stop playing that highly addictive game with blocks of various shapes falling from the “sky”?
This game is arguably the most popular game ever, and it has withstood the test of time. Created in 1984 by Alexey Pajitnov, Tetris has been distributed all over the world for practically all kinds of interfaces. From the personal computer to handheld consoles to mobile phones – anything that can be used to play a game has been used to play Tetris.
For some, Tetris may just be that – a mere game. For others, Tetris means so much more. Various studies have been done to study the effects of Tetris on the human brain. One study claims that playing Tetris – especially during the first few times – makes the brain more efficient. Another study has shown that general cognitive functions become better due to regular playing. Yet another study showed preliminary results that patients deal with traumatic events better when Tetris is used as part of their therapy.
Here’s a firsthand testimony as to what Tetris can do to a real person. Have you ever heard of James Clewett? He is the 1999 Tetris world champion and a certified Tetris addict. This guy has not let his addiction get in the way of pursuing the rest of his life goals, though. If anything, he has gone beyond what the average person does (though he has already done that by becoming world champion). Pretty soon, this Tetris world champion is going to be a doctor as well – in the Dr. Sheldon Cooper way, that is.
Watch the Confessions of a Tetris Addict – you will walk away with a gem or two.
There is something to be said about babies, children, and alphabets. While not everyone wants a kid of their own, many can’t help but want to buy their nephews and nieces all sorts of things. (At least I know I do.) And when it comes to teaching kids to learn the alphabet, the traditional “A is for apple. B is for boy…” does not appeal much anymore. Why stick with those tried and tested relations when you can use other words that follow themes that your children will learn more from?
Remember the Star Wars alphabet book I wrote about some months ago? It’s all very good for those who have The Force in them. Now what if you’re a child of retro video games? Think Tetris. Asteroids. Ahh…now do you see where I am going?
I’ve got no alphabet book for you this time, but I have a perfect image for you to print out: the alphabet of retro video games. ((Source: Ufunk))
Not only will your kids learn their ABCs, but they will also benefit from the educational experience that only video games can bring. Enough said.
How good are you at Super Street Fighter IV? How about Super Smash Bros. Melee? Some of you may be pretty proud of what you can do, but after watching this video, I am willing to bet that you will have a different perspective.
This guy, Broly Legs is one of the best players of the two games I mentioned above. His real name is Mike Begum, and he has a condition called arthrogryposis. Also called Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, the condition places a lot of limitations on the person who has it. Basically, the person will have limited use of his limbs due to the shortening of the muscles in the joints. It is also characterized by muscle weakness and fibrosis.
Broly cannot use his legs and hands. Well, he can use his left hand a little bit, but that’s not what he uses when he plays Street Fighter or Smash Bros. So what does he use? Believe it or not, he manipulates the controller using his mouth and cheeks! And this guy isn’t all talk, mind you. He says he thinks he is pretty good, and he can actually back that up with some action. A lot of action.
In this video, Broly shows just how he can kick the butt of people who have the use of both hands. And yes, you can see how he uses cheek, mouth, and tongue in a way that will put many a gamer to shame.
His words of inspiration: find what you can do and just keep at it. The next time you feel like saying “FML”, think of Broly.
Every person who has played Super Mario has probably dreamed about having real life versions of some of the items found in the game. What better item to have in real life than the coin block that spits out coins when hit from the bottom? I mean, come on, we could all use a few extra coins here and there.
An Instructables member, who goes by name brunoip, has created a do-it-yourself Super Mario coin block and by golly, it works!
At first glance, the box may seem unassuming. Indeed, the main material that was used to create it can be described as “blah”: cardboard. If you gut this thing, though, you’ll find some interesting things inside:
The mp3 player gives you that oh-so-familiar sound that the box in the game makes when coins pop out. The other elements give you the possibility of gaining real coins when the box it tapped. Here is the block in action.
You’re probably reeking with envy now – wanting your very own coin block. If you have the time and the skill, you can actually make one for yourself. The brilliant Super Mario fan who is behind this project has provided all the information that is necessary to make a real life coin block. ((Instructables)) And if you’re just that good, then why not create more than one and give them away? I am pretty sure that this coin block can come in handy. You even get to choose what currency to use!
Hackers may not be the proper word to use, but there is no doubt that hackers are clapping their hands with glee with the recent announcement from Microsoft. The software giant recently announced that it is going to open up the playing field by releasing a software development kit sometime in spring. This will allow software developers to play around with the Kinect on a deeper level than the average user.
According to Microsoft, “The intent of releasing a “starter kit” for application developers is to make it easier for academic research and enthusiast communities to create even richer experiences using Kinect technology.” Furthermore, with the release of the software development kit, people will be able to access “deep Kinect system capabilities such as audio, system APIs, and direct control of the sensor”.
At first, the software development kit will be targeted at amateurs only. Those who want to jump into the fray for commercial purposes will have to wait a little longer for the commercial release. Just how long – there is no word as of yet.
Personally, I will never be able to take advantage of this software development kit as I have no idea what to do with it, but I am sure there are enough “hackers” out there who cannot wait to try and see what they can do with the Kinect.
If Microsoft can be believed, the Kinect is the fastest selling gadget of all time. It really is not that surprising as it really upped the ante after the Wii revolutionized the way we play our games, is it?
Via The Telegraph