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Skullphone's Clear Channel billboards not hax0r3d, actually pa1d for
That Skullphone billboard hack we saw yesterday had everyone at Engadget HQ pretty impressed with the corporate-pranking hijinks. Too bad it turns out that Skullphone is actually a phony (and total buster, we might add) who had to pay The Man (aka Clear Channel) cold hard cash to "glitch up" the digital billboards. According to Curbed LA (and our reliable tipsters / commenters), Skullphone paid the massive media conglomerate for one-day Los Angeles-wide ads -- there was no hacking involved at all. From now on, he should just leave the signage-goofing to the pros, or at least make it clear there's some money changing hands. Fool us once, shame on you... and... we won't get fooled again.[Thanks, Dakota]
Clear Channel digital billboards in SoCal hax0r3d
We've gotten pretty used to seeing crashed digital billboards and signage dot the landscape, but just like regular billboards, what's really interesting is when the graffiti artists manage to get their own messages up on the big (big) screen. Looks like Clear Channel is the latest victim - 10 LA-area billboards owned by the media giant started displaying the logo of 18-year-old graffiti artist Skullphone last Thursday, slotted innocuously within the regular ad rotation. Sure, it's not quite at the anarcho-political level of the Billboard Liberation Front and their ilk, but every great leap begins with just a small step, no? Hit the read link for tons more photos.[Via Textually.org]
Wall-climbing robot concept sprays graffiti, bad influences
We've already seen cities turn to technology to combat graffiti, but it looks like the tables could one day be turned, at least if designer Stefan Rechsteiner has his way. As you can see above, his so-called "Couleur sur l'Objet" robot concept would be able to climb walls (relying on suction, it seems), leaving a trail of graffiti behind it. That would apparently be entirely done using software to plot out its course ahead of time, although we're sure it could also be rigged with a remote control to allow for a little freestyle spraying. Of course, the chances of anyone actually releasing such a bot are pretty slim (at least for graffiti-ing purposes), although there's nothing stopping you from taking a certain DIY-friendly solution and trying to build your own.
Texas news report blames graffiti problem on "Getting Up"
It's a well known fact that graffiti was on the decline nationwide as recently as two years ago. Spray paint sales were down, wall cleaners were going out of business, and the country's youth were refocusing their energies on local art classes and scrimshaw. Then the unthinkable happened. On Feb. 14, 2006, Atari released Mark Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, a game that went on to become a best-seller and created a new tagging boom.This twisted view of reality seems to be behind this KRIS-TV report, which largely blames Corpus Christi's increasing graffiti problem on Getting Up and games like it. According to CCPD Detective Ramiro Torres, school children use these games to "develop a base of membership to form these tagging groups." The report also implies that "students play this type of game and get ideas." Because, really, no one had the idea to tag a building before these video games were around. The whole concept of putting paint on a wall is entirely a creation of the gaming industry. Look, we're all for fighting graffiti and preventing costly vandalism. But blaming a recent boom on a two-year-old game that was drubbed by critics and sluggish in the sales department is a bit much. Especially when everyone knows it was really Jet Grind Radio that started the graffiti boom.
Graffiti artist creates real-time, 3D paintings
Regular graffiti not doing it for you? Looking for something a little more up-to-date than spraycans and brick walls? Perhaps you should direct your attention to the artist known as DAIM and his recent project creating real-time graffiti in 3D. By utilizing a multi-camera scheme, DAIM is able to smear virtual paint across an empty gallery space using special handheld markers which are tracked by proprietary (we assume) software, calling the project "Tagged in Motion." A picture says a thousand words, and in this case, a video says about a million -- so hit the clip after the break and see the work in action.Update: The software in use is not proprietary, rather it's the ARToolKit (or Augmented Reality Toolkit), which is an open source project. Thanks for the info Kenijo![Via Fresh Creation]
World of Warcraft graffiti in China
I'm pretty sure this isn't a Blizzard PR stunt (if so, I think they would be well-advised to pick a more populated area) but instead the work of a fan, adorning this graffiti-covered wall with an image of a Troll Shaman. While it's beyond my abilities to translate what's being said (and Babelfish doesn't have a good grasp of Chinese, though for the easily amused, it provides a variety of interesting phrases if you ask it to translate for you), you can snag a couple of higher resolution screenshots here. This is the first example of World of Warcraft graffiti that I've seen, but with a game this popular, it don't think it will be the last.[Via The Ironic Gamer]
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]
Scottish researchers reveal cameraphone-enabled 'invisible art'
Granted, we've already seen what wild colors can hide behind a shutter, but now a team of Scottish researchers are hoping to "bridge the virtual and real worlds" by applying invisible artwork to buildings around Edinburgh. Put simply, users who snap pictures of landmarks and MMS them back to the database can receive "an image with extras added to it." Dubbed Spellbinder, the invisible graffiti project uses image-matching algorithms to analyze the image and send back tagged snapshots of the location a user just photographed. Additionally, location projects and "virtual games" are also being looked into, which should thoroughly please both the social networking fanboys and hide-and-seek lovers alike.[Via mocoNews]
Graffiti working on XBLA title, Crazy Frog Racer fans rejoice
Graffiti has been given the green light to begin work on an Xbox Live Arcade title for 2008 ... could it be Crazy Frog Racer? CEO Kenneth Hurley dropped this not-so-subtle hint as part of the announcement, "We are excited to 'jump in' on the Xbox 360 and introduce our title to the millions of gamers around the world playing on the console."Either that's a terrible pun, or the worst hint in the history of hints. At any rate, look for this unnamed title to hop it's way into XBLA in 2008.
Van-sized StreetWriter prints messages, burns rubber
Concocting zany printers seems to be all the rage these days, and if the sugar, 3D, and film renditions weren't sophisticated enough for you, this creation is giving new meaning to taking your word to the street. In a DIY endeavor that eerily resembles one we recall from years back, the StreetWriter project stuffs a computer-controlled industrial spray painting unit into an extended-body cargo van, where it can then roll up to unsuspecting sections of pavement and drop all sorts of textual delight. Granted, the prints can really only be deciphered from tall buildings or low-flying crafts, but we're sure it needs all eight of those cylinders to skedaddle if caught printing on public property. No word on how long this bad boy's been rolling about, but be sure and click through to get a closeup of the innards.[Via CNET]
Tag'd: Nintendo graffiti hits the streets of Norway
If you ever find yourself in Oslo, Norway, during your travels, you might just run into a few familiar faces. That would be the faces of sprites from Nintendo mascots and other gaming characters alike, gracing trash cans and signs all about the town. And, upon looking at TheFunkyHorror's Flickr photo set, we wonder how much walking around the guy did to take all of these pictures.Is it just us, or do some of those pictures look photochopped, though?[Via The Tanooki]
Mario is a music fan
We spent this last weekend rocking out at Bonnaroo down in the drought-ravaged state of Tennessee, and look who had a prime spot right between What stage and Which stage! Yep, it's our own overalled mascot. With his mushroom habit and hairy neck, Mario fit in nicely with a good portion of the crowd. Maybe he was responsible for the orange confetti that rained down during the Flaming Lips show on Saturday night. With the insane heat, there was sure to be a fire flower around there somewhere.
Friday Video: It's-a me! On the PS2! And kind of creepy!
Normally we don't feature Playstation 2 games on Wii Fanboy (unless they're ported to the Wii, am I rite) but this week's video is all about someone we're all familiar with, looking somewhat less familiar. We're happy to feature games from other consoles when they're so reverent of our icons. Garakuta Studio's Graffiti Kingdom allows players to make their own 3D characters for use in a platforming adventure. Someone went to the trouble of making a Mario that is almost dead-on. We say "almost" because the movements are slightly weird, but for something made in-game this is quite an achievement. It's good enough for a Graffiti Kingdom character, right? Check out the video of "Mario" doing some adventuring and some basically 3D Mario moves after the break.And while we're talking about Graffiti Kingdom, we can't help but link to these fanmade versions of the King of All Cosmos and a weirdly accurate Razor Ramon HG-- how disturbing, as the King would say.
Cities turning to technology to combat graffiti
Reuters reports that cities in the U.S. are increasingly turning to high-tech tools to go after those spreading graffiti across town, although the systems being used aren't exactly as complex as you might think. One such system, from Los Angeles-based Graffiti Tracker, simply employs a digital camera with a built-in GPS tagging feature, which is used to snap a picture of and record the location of a piece of graffiti before it gets painted over. The graffiti then get analyzed and added to a database, which police can use to track those creating it and use as evidence in cases against them. While that simplicity has apparently proven to be effective so far, we can't help but think that the cities would benefit even further by putting some graffiti-patrolling policebots on the street to catch 'em in the act -- but we're sure that's only a matter of time.[Photo courtesy of Reuters]
PSP graffiti appears on Tonight Show
Last night, while channel surfing, I came across "The Tonight Show." The title screen shown just before "The Tonight Show" went to commercials had the infamous PSP graffiti that Sony used to advertise the system some time ago. I'm not sure if this occurrence was just by chance and "The Tonight Show" just liked the image, or if this is subliminal advertising set up by Sony. While I have no proof either way, my instincts lean towards it being planned by Sony. After all, I doubt they got their money's worth on these graffiti ads originally.
Wii: It's everywhere
Well, everywhere except in a store, boxed and ready for purchase. But Wii-fever continues to burn strong and bright, as evidenced by this street art captured in the wild of Illinois. We approve the clever use of crosswalk lines, but what's with that cord? Someone must be doing it wrong ... because the last time we checked, the Wiimote is wireless, and we only wish the nunchuk cable was that long.We're forced to give this an A- for lack of realism, but we applaud the effort. Just one question, though -- player 1, where are you?[Via Digg]
Town offers money and Wii for snitching
Garner, North Carolina seems to have a graffiti problem, as the town has teamed up with Police in an attempt to catch the culprit(s) responsible for the recent epidemic. The problem comes from the word "ghost," which has been apparently tagged all over the town, finding its way onto everything from street signs to a railroad bridge.And the amount of money being offered by the town is no pocket change either, as they're offering up a total of $1500 or $1000 and the choice of a Wii, PS3, or Xbox 360, all for information leading to capture. The total comes from a combined reward from both the Police, who offer $500 (or the choice of console, natch), and the town board, who're offering up the remaining $1000. Personally, we'd take all the money and try our best to find a Wii at retail.Would you snitch on this person for the cash and prize?[Via Play Nintendo]
Graffiti Research Lab's L.A.S.E.R. Tag
Lessee here, we've got lasers, creative input devices, a "stick it to The Man" aesthetic and a Mooninite -- sounds like a successful night of hacking to us. Graffiti Research Lab and friends hacked together a high powered projector with some computer components and a camera to track the writings of a 60mW Green Laser on the side of a building in Rotterdam and project it as blue graffiti. The resulting art looks surprisingly good, and the perpetrators were kind enough to document the event, along with providing instructions for doing up your own version. It's hard to describe, so we recommend peeping the video after the break, or the better quality vids and pics over at the read link.[Thanks, Teferri]
The Warriors tagging NYC?
PSP Fanboy recently spotted evidence of a Warriors resurgence in New York City. With a PSP port of The Warriors in the works, could those Rockstar hooligans be dabbling in guerrilla marketing? We wouldn't put it past the studio, which is headquartered in NYC; but this could easily be a remnant from the game's first go-round on PlayStation 2 and Xbox -- or just the uninspired work of a fan. Anyone else spotted tags?
Rockstar using graffiti to promote The Warriors
While I was walking in downtown NYC, something interesting caught my eye: a spray-painted tag of The Warriors on the sidewalk. While it's true that Rockstar's offices are located in my fine city, I'm sure Mayor Bloomberg won't be too pleased about this apparent graffiti advertising. Remember when Sony tried the same thing? They were busted, and fined. Will Rockstar also get caught?
