Playing famed titles on the sides of buildings ain't nothing new, but this rendition of Tetris is just too svelte to be ignored. Folks from the Finnish Student Union and Universimo gaming company (among others) were responsible for rigging up an elaborate (and shall we say, quite beautiful) colored graphics platform using the Mikontalo's D-staircase as light pixels. Reportedly, the installation will also be used for other demos created by pupils at the Tampere University of Technology, but we've all ideas the falling blocks you see above easily stole the show. Be sure and check out a bevy of photos from the unveiling in the links below, and in case that's not enough, you can peep a video of the setup in action just beyond the break.
[Thanks, Stanislav S.] Read - Mikontalolights project page Read - Mikontalo Tetris photographs Read - Mikontalolights videos / blog
I suppose you're doing something far more productive, such as, say, commenting on an article you have no interest in about how these people who did something pretty cool have too much free time?
Given the elongated taillights in front of the onlookers, the photo appears to be an extended exposure (which makes sense, as it was taken at night without aid of a flash). In essence, you're looking at an 'L' block that's fallen and been rotated.
Pretty incredible. A simple enough concept, a simple PIC controller Tetris game, 120V controllers, and a ton of hours running wire. I'm an EE, so I feel for ya, guys :).
I have to comment on this. I was testing out all the pixels on the screen to find bugs. So yes the playing is really bad, but it also brought attention two faulty lights that we had to replace.
Very cool, reminds me of a story I read about a group of MIT students who supposedly hacked into a nearby building's power controls and basically did the same thing, maybe minus the pretty colors though.
Although the basic principle is nothing new but there are some hallmarks on this project. Like the facts that Mikontalolights featured color (64 of them) matrix display and, this being Finland, one could play the games by mobile phone, via WLAN or Bluetooth.
We didn't copy it from BlinkenLights. This idea was discovered from the student council's papers from early 90's. It just hasn't been done before as the building was supposed to be renovated for last 10 years. So the project waited for renovation to start inside the building.
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posted Dec 5th 2007 10:36AM
Someone needs to attempt to do space invaders this way. How cool would that be??
one of the games played was a crappy shoot em up
Doom would be way better.
Let's hope that's not how they originally built the dorm.
Wow, that's pretty awesome. I wanna play next.
People have way too much time up in northern Europe.
Well, it was a particularly long, hot and boring summer up in Finland this year, as you can see from the mere inches of snow on the ground...
I suppose you're doing something far more productive, such as, say, commenting on an article you have no interest in about how these people who did something pretty cool have too much free time?
@duez. look whose talking
@self *facepalm*
Hmm nice..but I've seen this like 6 years ago in Holland. Still pretty cool.
Oh man thats too cool.
That is great!
The piece falling is not a valid piece!! It completely screws the puzzle...
maybe its rotating really really fast.
Given the elongated taillights in front of the onlookers, the photo appears to be an extended exposure (which makes sense, as it was taken at night without aid of a flash). In essence, you're looking at an 'L' block that's fallen and been rotated.
Nothing new under the sun
This is way cool. I've an idea that this story is easily the best Engadget has ever had!
Pretty incredible. A simple enough concept, a simple PIC controller Tetris game, 120V controllers, and a ton of hours running wire. I'm an EE, so I feel for ya, guys :).
Reminds me of the ZigZag building or Lagoon Tower in Doha, Qatar.
Regardless if this is old or new, that is friggin' cool! I just wish the EE students at my old college were this creative. >.>;
Another video of them testing it:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5FmTWBoQ-jc
They aren't very good at Tetris.. =/
haha, yah, they are horrible at tetris! cool though
I have to comment on this. I was testing out all the pixels on the screen to find bugs. So yes the playing is really bad, but it also brought attention two faulty lights that we had to replace.
I'll be impressed when they manage to get a game of Pong going with the building next door...
First (as far as I know) done in 2000 at Brown University in RI:
http://bastilleweb.techhouse.org/
This is the most awesome thing I've ever seen! lol
I love engadget, but lately guys are reporting stories that gizmodo has cover a few days prior. What the hell!
you guys are suppose to be the best?!?!
I heard that they were going to make the lights look like Super Mario, but they couldn't find a large enough building.
Cheers,
Dave
http://theregoesdave.com
Very cool, reminds me of a story I read about a group of MIT students who supposedly hacked into a nearby building's power controls and basically did the same thing, maybe minus the pretty colors though.
http://hacks.mit.edu/Hacks/by_year/1993/green_bldg_vu_meter/
This is extremely cool. Mega kudos to the people who pulled this off.
this is a much better video of it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyMbAI67hUM&feature=related
But does it play Doom?
Hahahaha, THE most important question indeed!
Don't encourage him.
A video of another similar setup from Hungary (BME, Schönherz dormitory): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFqnDjyDI9o
It was first assembled in 2003.
They did this at my university back in '95, very cool!
http://www.etv.tudelft.nl/vereeniging/archief/lustrum/90/english.html
Although the basic principle is nothing new but there are some hallmarks on this project.
Like the facts that Mikontalolights featured color (64 of them) matrix display and, this being Finland, one could play the games by mobile phone, via WLAN or Bluetooth.
cheers
The original: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Blinkenlights
We didn't copy it from BlinkenLights. This idea was discovered from the student council's papers from early 90's. It just hasn't been done before as the building was supposed to be renovated for last 10 years. So the project waited for renovation to start inside the building.