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Tetris-like chocolates make our mouths water [update]
Okay, so this isn't true, blue Tetris (that would probably infringe on some copyrights), but these faux-Tetris-esque Meiji chocolates still look fun to us. If there's one thing we've learned from disobeying our parents, it's that playing with your food is fun. The goal in this case is to put all the pieces together so that you completely fill in the rectangle board.These Meiji chocolate bar puzzles come in different difficulties, too -- as the chocolate flavor gets more bitter (white, to milk, to dark), the piece placement gets harder. Of course, the hardest part would be the test in willpower. It's not easy to play the puzzle after you eat all the pieces, we're sure. These might stale by the time you import them, but if you'd like some anyway for the novelty they cost 730 JPY (about $7 USD) each at Strapya World, sans shipping. As of posting this, there were only four units in stock, so you might want to get on that quickly if you covet such treats.We just hope there's not too many zigzags.[Update: I just found out that the chocolate isn't actually edible! (Hear that? It's the sound of my heart breaking.) Sorry if I got any of your hopes up, too!][Via About:Blank]
F1 Ferrari phone is red, lacks speed and grace
This prancing red handset brings a dash of faux-Ferrari styling to the dreamers amongst us. This Chinese made phone features the typical touchscreen found on Chinese sets, dual-band GSM, 1.3 megapixel shooter, memory card expansion -- we're not sure on the type -- all packaged in a shifty looking red car housing. The handset also comes pre-installed with three games,Jet Plane, Intelligent Puzzle, and Hand & Boot Dance -- yeah, where is the racing game? Price is set at $190 though we suspect this novelty phone won't have the tifosi yammering and cheering like they did for their F1 hero, Michael.
Keepin' it real fake, part XCVIV: the edible Sony Ericsson K850i edition
We love when people appreciate a mobile enough to immortalize it via sugary sculpture and this seems to be the case for this Sony Ericsson K850i created by Michelle Wibowo of Michellecakes for Carphone Warehouse. We've seen keepin' it real fake cake before, but this is far "sweeter" and definitely "takes the cake" -- all puns intended and double quoted for those that missed them, and yeah, we know -- for attention to detail. We're not sure about the back story here, but suffice it to say we really don't care as we're more interested in how we can get a slice of K850i and find something cool to have sculpted for us. Any ideas friends?[Thanks, Michael]
$75,000 robotic Swami head would like a word with you
Look, we get it; that money is burning a hole in your pocket... it's like Brewster's Millions over at your house. Well, we've found just the item to match your need to blow cash like it's going out of style. Enter the $75,000 Swami Conversational Robot head -- a "cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence robot that recognizes family members, can carry on conversations, develops relationships, and answers questions with fact-based advice." Sound like it's too good to be true? Well, consider that your 75-large gets you "revolutionary character-engine artificial intelligence software," micro-camera eyes, over 30 "robotic micro motors," and a laptop which runs the whole show (included with your wallet-searing purchase). Want it? Need it? Go get it! It's available right now... for $75,000.[Via Tech Digest]
Flying pigs, dancing daisies, robotic Barbies...and the iPod
When you think of the iPod, Apple's carefully managed marketing campaign of hip with-it 20-somethings springs to mind. But there's another side to the cult of iPod, that's growing as a "cultural phenomenon". iPods inspire silliness according to this article from the New York Times. The iPod attracts ever-growing numbers of third-party products grounded more in "cute" than function: dancing iPod daisies and other plush creations, sportscar iPod docks, pulsing music-triggered LED displays, and so forth. It's novelty over function, and it's creativity outgrowing its brand. There's a cool slideshow to watch along with the article.
Hard questions: Wii novelty and drought in effect?
CVG decided to unleash the beast question: Is the novelty of the Wii wearing off? The drought is in full effect, but in all fairness, the same can be said for the PS3. The Virtual Console games are rolling out slowly, but old games to those who don't need to ask for mom and dad's credit card do not a console make. The Gamecube turned Wii games are good and fine, but where are the Wii games?CVG says, "Most prominent is the first batch of games, many of which do a better job at exposing the obstacles of full motion control, rather than the benefits ... Red Steel is twitchy and occasionally clumsy, Need For Speed: Most Wanted is near unplayable, Far Cry got it all wrong, and the motion control in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance just feels tacked on."The Wii is selling well enough and its Gamecube backwards compatibility, along with the VC, is a good distraction for many to not realize there isn't much of a Wii offering yet -- once again, the same can be said for the PS3. Oh well, don't be surprised to see more Wii backlash until there are some legitimate offerings this Christmas.[Via GoNintendo]
Twist to fitness with $1700 hover-chair controller
We've all found ourselves thinking it at one time or another: "Sure, this game is fun, but it would be even better if I were twisting around in some ridiculous-looking seat hovering just above the ground." Luckily, Australian Simulation Control System's had the same though, and actually did something about it with their pending Dream Machine game controller contraption. The highly-adjustable Dream Machine uses a " multi modal central support crown" for "rotational and four way pan and tilt action" -- basically a fancy way of saying you can move yourself around by pushing on the handlebars. It's not exactly clear how the $1,700 contraption actually translates your body movements to on-screen actions, but the device's web site claims it's compatible with PC, Xbox and PlayStation games, and that the company is actively looking for companies to create specially-designed applications. Those with too much money and too few novelty controllers can look for it in March. [Via SciFi]
The Helmet MP3 player rocks tunes, does not protect against head injuries
Sure, your MP3 player might show the world your love of Hello Kitty, U2, Minnie Mouse, or, um, geometry, but wouldn't it be great if there was a way you could rock out to tunes while supporting your favorite college team? Well break out your old letter jacket and stained white hat, because school's back in session, thanks to a new DAP on the market shaped and decorated exactly like a mini football helmet (minus the blood-stained facemask, of course). Coming at you from the same company that wowed us with the PEZ MP3 player, the Helmet MP3 sports 1GB of storage, a two-color OLED, and an FM tuner, and features the logo of one of almost 50 major collegiate teams (sorry, Vassar). A convenient belt clip ensures that your school spirit is on display for all to see, and at $100, this DAP is priced exactly the same as the 512MB, screenless PEZ model. Keep reading for a few more bigger-than-life pics, and then hit the Read link if you want to order one of these after your next keg stand.
More genre-breaking MMOs
As commenters on yesterday's post on cliché-breaking massively multiplayer games pointed out, the games listed in the Wall Street Journal article are by no means the only genre-benders out there. We've taken a look at some other titles which dare to do something different in a game genre that's becoming increasingly pigeonholed. While this list is by no means exhaustive, we hope it helps to give you some further background on the concept of non-fantasy MMOs, whatever your tastes.
