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Ecko Zip earbuds pump tunes through a functioning zipper, let you drop your fly in public
We already knew that New Jersey was a hotbed for personal audio innovation, so it certainly came as no surprise when the Garden State's ECKOUNLTD (Ecko Unlimited, with a hint of Jersey Shore) hit us up with a slew of new stylz. We're most curious about the new Zip 'buds, which replace the traditional cord with a functioning zipper, presumably to keep that ever-so-prevalent tangling issue from crampin' your style. These in-ear beauts will set you back just 30 beans -- or about a half-dozen servings of Ron Ron Juice. Other offerings include the $13 Zone earbuds, $15 Chaos II (that Chaos I was off the hook), the $20 Stomp, $25 Lace (which include a shoelace-inspired cord), and the $40 Chain, which, as you probably guessed, features a beaded dog-tag chain cord. At those prices we wouldn't expect stellar acoustics, but if you're rockin' out to any of these budz, you're probably most concerned with lookin' good. And nothing says six-pack like zippers and chains. Update: As it turns out, the zip 'buds concept was in fact not born in New Jersey, but rather in Carlsbad, CA about a year ago. Those appropriately named Zipbuds are still currently in line for a patent, hence the copycat 'buds above. Hit up the coverage link below to see the original version.
Not getting up: Ecko's Macbeth game dispatched
Seeing as how the whole "Macbeth with gunz" thing has already been done (see: movie starring Aussie heartthrob Sam Worthington, above), we're ever so curious to learn more about Marc Ecko's canned game concept for a "completely re-imagined Macbeth." Unfortunately, the famed clothing designer -- turned failed game designer -- has his lips sealed. "I don't want to give it away," Ecko told Destructoid, after admitting that the rumored project was at least, in some form, quite real. Sadly, we're left to contemplate what could have been from a single, proposed gameplay mechanic: "cutting people's heads off." Surely, Shakespeare's inclusion of only one, climactic beheading -- and "off stage" at that -- in the accepted original Macbeth was merely a limitation of the special effects of the playwright's day. Just imagine how much more epic Renaissance works could be as video games ... Oh, right.
Wiispray turns Wii Remote into virtual graffiti spray can
If only Mark Ecko had a Wiispray when he was developing Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, perhaps people the world would have understood his vision for a videogame-based, graffiti-tagging urban dystopian angst. Anyway, this Wii Remote turned into a spray can is the product of a student's thesis at Bauhas-University in Weimar, Germany. Martin Lihs crammed the controller into the can-like structure and plans (hopes?) to create a communal -- but not illegal -- virtual graffiti wall in which people can add their digital tags and keep it real clean, yo. Curious that he's using PlayStation-based triangle and square buttons, though.[Via SlashGear]
Showtime's Dexter slices his way into gaming
It's expected that tomorrow, Showtime Networks will be announcing that its hit television series Dexter will be headed into the gaming world with the announcement of Dexter the video game. Showtime and Marc Ecko Entertainment are said to be developing Dexter very closely to keep the game's feeling, content and writing as close to the television series as possible. A release date, how fare in development or which platforms have yet to be announced, but it's safe to say that we could be seeing our complicated friend Dexter on the 360 within the next year. Chop chop!
Ecko billboard lets your mobile handle the graffitiing
Sure, we've seen a plethora of interactive billboards before, but Mark Ecko's (credit to Benjamin Busse) latest eye-catcher could seriously make you miss your ride. This brilliantly designed ad sports an LCD that can be painted up by your Bluetooth cellphone, as it allows passers to use their mobile as a spray can to decorate the screen as they please. No word on whether this thing accepts multiple connections or not, but a tagging duel would be mighty fine entertainment whilst waiting on the next bus.[Via AdGoodness, thanks John]
Human Head rolls with Marc Ecko game division
The division of MEE has disclosed a partnership with Human Head Studios to develop an original IP for consoles. While both parties share a recent history of novelty acts (see: Ecko's Getting Up; and Human Head's Prey), neither has succeeded in producing a truly exceptional title. So then, perhaps it's a bit early to trumpet the forthcoming project as a game that will "push the boundaries of entertainment," no? But, as Ecko claims, he's now got "Michael Jordan" on his team. So does that make him Pippen -- or Kwame Brown?Last month, former Human Head CEO Timothy Gerritsen revealed that he had left (in November) because he did not agree with the direction the studio was headed. According to MEE president Mike Lynch, that direction is to "change perceptions of what a game can be." Yackety-yack...
Ecko: DS > Xbox 360
In the June issue of Play magazine, Marc Ecko commented on the gaming industry again, on everything from the current state of things to some of his most favorite games of the past. What stood out the most, however, were his comments about loving his DS more than his Xbox 360.Play: You're obviously a huge gamer. What are some of your favorite titles? Ecko: I've been obsessed with games since childhood. Favorite titles... where do i begin? Atari, Colecovision, i had all of them. Yar's Revenge, whatever. The NES Mario, Sega's Sonic, of course. I remember being immediately hooked by Metal Gear Solid, and on PS2 GTA3. Lately i've been playing a lot of DS games, i've found found a lot of them more fun than the Xbox 360 launch titles. Although i have to admit Fight Night 3 is amazing. I could go on for days, i have billions of games. Oh yeah, World of Warcraft is beginning to ruin my life. We're not huge fans of the guy, but we can't help but back up a statement as strong as that.
Metareview - Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure
Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure is the latest urban action game. A mash up of Jet Set Radio, Prince of Persia, and Grand Theft Auto, there is hardly consensus on the controversial title. A look at some notables: Gamespot (87%) - "It's easy to look at a game that has a non-gamemaking fashion designer's name right in the title and assume that it's going to be some sort of flashy, style-over-substance licensed product, but Atari, The Collective, and Ecko have effectively teamed up here and put together a game that has plenty of flashy style, but is a quality game underneath all that flash." 1UP (70%) - "The worst thing a decent action game can suffer from is bad camera control, and this malady afflicts Getting Up... The game strikes a nice balance between fighting and tagging. Although frequent, the fighting winds up being secondary to advancing the story line. In some missions, it even works out better to evade authorities and simply complete your objective." GamePro (50%) - "Focusing the majority of gameplay attention on the actual art of writing, rather than on a hackneyed up-from-the-streets story, would have been a good start. And, regrettably for Ecko, development just couldn't work the kinks out of the shoddy Getting Up game engine. Frame rate consistently dips to horrific lows, and many in-game objects and actions break frequently during gameplay." The reviews criticize the tempermental camera system and technical glitches, while praising the title's quality voice-acting, solid soundtrack, and immersive graffiti culture. See also:Australia knocks down Marck Ecko's Getting UpMore Joystiq coverage of Getting Up
