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GDC08: Hands-on Inchworm
Bob Sabiston, creator of the rotoscoping software behind A Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly wanted to draw and animate on his DS. So he wrote his own application, Inchworm. He says, "[It was] sort of a passion project, something we really want to see on the DS." In between his GDC meetings to find a publisher, I sketched through the latest build of the tool.Even though Inchworm is closer to Painter than Mario Paint, it's still fun for dabbling. Artists use the stylus to scribble out stills or cels. Top-tier tools that I'd expect in Photoshop even filter down to this level, including layers, opacity settings, alpha channels, selections, and onion-skin animations. Sabiston also intends to add smear brushes to blend paints and sound effects for animations.
GDC08: Inchworm: Mario Paint meets Photoshop
It has been almost a year since we heard anything new about Fatbits Pocket Painter, and we were beginning to worry that the project had been abandoned. While homebrewers already have Colors! to satisfy their DS-digital-painting needs, we really wanted to see what Bob Sabiston, the programmer behind Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly's Rotoshop software, had come up with.Dismissing concerns of its halted development, the painting and animation application has appeared at GDC, this time under the name Inchworm. Along with its reintroduction comes a new site packed with tutorial videos and user-uploaded samples/flipbooks. Artists can easily create and share their work online, all with a robust selection of drawing and editing tools.One unique feature we spotted in Inchworm is the ability to draw under a painting without having to create and move around new layers. Very useful for animation, we hear!We're not sure if Inchworm has found a publisher yet, but we hope someone helps this program hit the mainstream market. Bob Sabiston definitely sees potential in the software: "If people can make money selling math and brain teasers to kids, imagine how popular a program that lets you draw and make cartoons [would be]!"
Take a shine to this custom NES
It's hard to argue against this modded, repainted NES in terms of looks, even if red and black isn't your thing. That sleek shine could put your eye out at twenty paces under the right lighting conditions, and the LEDs really set it off. But the best part? It works, and that's what really matters. We'd suffer even the most hideous NES so long as we could turn it on and have a chance to blow on a few old carts. In this case? Said old carts are Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3. All that's missing is a Zapper so you can get your Duck Hunt on.If you want to see this baby in its full, glossy glory, eBay seller metrosqurl provided a video, which you can scope out after the break.
Feedback Friday not as fun
It happens to even the best games out there. In the wake of the latest patch release, the next few updates from the developer prove... underwhelming. They've already blown their proverbial wad, so there isn't really much for them to put on offer. In this week's edition of Feedback Friday, the Tabula Rasa team posted to let us know that there are uh... still hybrids! I suppose it's handy to compile all the information for people who don't have the time to comb through the community sites, but it's still a bit of a downer for your average Joe Grenadier.They also included a short Q&A that outlines some of what we can assume are the more common questions from the player base. They ask such pertinent questions as whether vehicles are in the works, whether they plan to add new paint schemes such as camo, and whether secondary color schemes will ever be something that players can tinker with. Unfortunately, the answers are no, no, and no. Well nyah at you too, Destination Games!
When modding goes wrong
Well, you can't expect every Zelda mod to knock your pants off. In fact, you might want to put an extra pair of pants on to help shield your legs against the oh-god-this-is-awful rays emanating from this NES paint job. Consider the rest of your body tainted, your eyes suffering the worst of all.What's that cone shape in the back? Does that paint look as sickening in real life as it does in this photo? And why is Link pouring glowing sludge out of his Gust Jar and into the Triforce?Next to those offenses, the handwritten controller port numbers and "version" text are almost cute. We imagine the modder's thoughts behind those touches went like this: "Oh, it's nearly perfect ... I just need to write the word 'version' on it! Otherwise, people will think I just named this NES Zelda." Rumor has it that when you open the cartridge slot door, you can hear the system crying.Jump past the break for a close-up of the Link figure dumping ooze onto this Teenage Mutant Nauseating Mod. Make sure to bring a friend -- it's dangerous to go alone!
What is wrong with the world today?
Does this count as a furry pinup? Is "fur" a requirement for these sort of dealings? And if you're the kind of person who is really into dragons, wouldn't these anthropomorphised features (e.g. blonde hair, humanoid limbs, and dragon breasts all up in your grill) turn you off?Apparently not! Upon seeing the above piece, deviantART member RajginKisaragi commented, "Very beautiful job! I'm glad to be a dragon looking at this ... *Boing*" There you have it, straight from the dragon's maw! A real-life dragon, at that!Natasha "Dark Natasha" Mleynek painted the lid of this Black GBA SP back in 2004 for a friend. While the subject doesn't fit our tastes in either women or dragons, we recognize that Natasha is very skilled in her craft; there are few, if any, technical flaws with this customization. Believe us, she could have done a lot worse. Also, she added a layer of clear coat paint to protect her artwork from any man-handling. See also: Orcs & Elves & a John Carmack autograph
There's a triforce in the center of the emblem
eBay seller and DS decorator viper640_0 is back, this time with an Onyx Lite worked over with a Zelda motif. We're digging the color scheme and the general approach, but the triforce seems like a bit much. Disagree? Well, the whole spiffy package can be yours for a mere $200, and it comes straight from POWER SELLER VILLAGE. That's how you know it's quality.
Purple DS, Purple DS
Seeking to convert his girlfriend, Rachel, into a handheld gamer, DS Fanboy reader Shawn wrapped this custom-painted Nintendo DS and put it under their Christmas tree along with copies of Nintendogs, Cooking Mama, New York Times Crosswords, and My Word Coach.In order to achieve that smooth shine, the system was disassembled, sanded, primed, spray painted, then finished with a high gloss clear coat. Shawn chose the metallic sparkling purple, the color of royalty, because it's his girlfriend's favorite color. You can follow the project's progress and see more photos of the painted DS on Shawn's Flickr set.
Halo DS a reality after all
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Halo_DS_a_reality_after_all'; A custom-painted Halo-themed DS Lite, that is. What, did you think we meant the game? Nope, it's just a chance for you to meld your fandoms -- and mention the game that might have been at every opportunity. Or you can just talk about Halo 3. We hear that one is pretty popular.Hit the break for more pictures! Or, if this tickles your fancy, head on over to eBay and get your bid on.
Pair of Pokemon Lites pop up on eBay
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Custom_painted_Pokemon_DS_Lites_you_probably_don_t_want_3'; eBay seller viper640_0 (who hails from POWER SELLER VILLAGE, apparently, which is near A+++ town), has posted two custom DS Lite paint jobs featuring those wily Pokémon. Rather than going on at length about these hot little numbers, we'll let viper640_0 tell you all about them:Dont pay 350.00 or more for Pokémon Diamond & Pearl DS-Lite when you can have this one and save 100.00 or more. (Well, tell us more!)Note: there are some small imperfections in the clear coat. but this is still an awsome work of art!!! (Hmm, the number of exclamation points raise suspicion.)I took a Crimson Red & Black ds -lite and made it 200% better (Well, it's certainly de-seniored, at least.)This DS-Lite is awsome in every way. (But will it wash the car? That would be pretty awesome.)There's another custom job up for auction as well -- another retooled Crimson and Black Lite -- that is Poké-free. At least, we think so. It's hard to tell exactly what that is. We are, however, sure that it would be just perfect for that "birthday Girl or Boy."Read - Diamond & Pearl LiteRead - Pink Pikachu Lite
Everyone should download Colors, and also learn to draw
Still on the fence about homebrew? This demonstration of what is possible with the homebrew drawing program Colors! will boot you off the fence and send you shopping for an R4. All you need to create gorgeous watercolor-looking portraits like this one is homebrew capability, the Colors! program, and to be Joe Quinones. Which, unfortunately, you aren't. Unless you are, in which case you've already seen these.In addition to this portrait, he painted a lovely Princess Leia portrait that we think would be quite an achievement even if it hadn't been made with a DS. It proves that Star Wars fan works don't necessarily have to be embarrassing for everyone involved or watching.[Thanks, Jason!]
Paramagnetic paint lets you change your car's color on a whim
Sure, the whole "temporary vehicle paint" idea was a fine concept if you adored hassles, but Nissan scientists at TK have a much cleaner approach for those who appreciate easy. The effect is paint color change at the press of a button, and the secret is a "special polymer containing paramagnetic iron oxide particles," which is applied to the whip's exterior; an "applied electric current then adjusts the spacing of small crystals within the iron oxide particles, and therefore affects their ability to reflect light and change color." Essentially, vehicles could rock a default color when turned off, and then your imagination could go wild once you turned over the ignition. If all goes well, expect to see commercial applications ready to roll by the time Fast and the Furious: 10 Times 2 Many hits theaters (or 2010, whichever comes first).[Via Autoblog]Update: Sounds like Nissan expressed some interest and / or viewed a demo of the tech, but isn't actually the developer. Quite in fact, we're not entirely sure which scientists claimed to have developed this tech in the first place, but we'll let you know if more details become available.
Guess who loves Marth? This girl
However hilariously fitting Elyssa's initials might seem, this personalized DS Phat looks leagues better than the previous project we featured. Nintendo actually threatened a recall after seeing that deformed system. Working under her deviantArt alias, Fruitsexual (lol), Elyssa spent three hours decorating her handheld with plastic paint, immortalizing her favorite video game character and Fire Emblem hero Marth. She must have been really happy to hear that Fire Emblem DS would be a remake of the first game in the series, Marth's debut. But probably not as happy as Kitanara, who commented on the customized Nintendo DS, "Uuuhh ... *moans and shivers* Marth is the best ... I luff him." Having a name like Fruitsexual must attract strange company, we suppose.
Paint by DS in preview
Picross not enough to fulfill your painting obsession? Fear not, for Paint by DS is on the way. But this is not your math-friendly grid environment; this is a full-fledged painting sim that challenges you to recreate the works of the masters. What seems like a simple title -- there are fifteen different paintings, as well as a few minigames that offer players a break from the painting grind -- shows some surprising depth when we take a closer look. Before undertaking a project, you're challenged with a choice of materials, from paint to canvas or paper, just as you would be with a real painting. You can also mix your own colors and save them for later ... and if you mess up, that's just too bad. There's no neat, clean "undo" function, but you can utilize realistic techniques to clean up your work as you go.For hardcore artists, Paint by DS may be too simple, but for those just embarking on an artistic hobby, or those who like to play around with paint without the mess, this one sounds like it might be worth looking into. Between this, Picross, and Drawn to Life, it looks like DS developers are finally utilizing the stylus in a very obvious way -- and we can only hope for more!
Where once there was beauty, there now lives despair
No amount of failed modding experiments or roadside accidents could've prepared us for the "personalized" DS Lite we saw in Marion Hemming's deviantART gallery, a homemade project so terrible in its realization, we winced and turned to the side as it loaded on our screens, unable to look at it straight on. To be safe, we've sealed its frightful visage past the post break, away from the casual reader's view. If you believe that Marion's "paint job" is something you'd like to see, then by all means, head past the jump. We stongly advise, however, that you keep your mouse pointer near, if not directly on, your browser's back button; you might find its mutilated face to be much more than what you bargained for.
Doc Mac shows off Colorwared iPhone
Doc Macenstein dropped us a note about his new Colorwared (can I use that as a verb?) iPhone, and just like everything else Colorware has done, it looks pretty darn sweet.The only problem, though, is that the process is not only pretty pricey-- a full paint job, including dock, earbuds, and button, will run you a whopping $219-- and it takes an eternity to get done: three long weeks. Don't get me wrong-- Colorware probably needs every bit of that to make sure the paint job is good and even, because their final product usually comes out great. But as the Doc told us, three weeks without an iPhone is a long time to miss out on the burgeoning hack scene.Still if your iPhone has to be in shades of "Mystique" and "Blush" rather than the standard black and metal, they'll get it done.
Digital painting done the DS way
Who needs a real canvas and messy paints when you have your DS! You have to love the technological age. And, while some of us aren't as capable to discuss the homebrew scene as others, we feel the two painting applications featured are something anyone could use. The first is Colors!, a program drawing heavy inspiration from the Wacom cowboys who rock Photoshop and Painter. This program even allows users to save up to 9 different paintings, plus other neat stuff like picture mirroring and instant replays. You can even transfer images created to your PC.Phidias also allows you to bring out your creative side on the DS. Users can utilize such effects as smudging or blurring, as well as name the paintings they save. As evidenced in the image embedded in this post, you can create some smooth skies and choppy water.Any of you Picassos out there thinking about giving these a whirl?
The best Yoshi-emblazoned Wii we've seen today
Do you love Yoshi? Do all your friends know you as "The Yoshinator" because you're always talking about how awesome Yoshi is? Is your Yoshi vs. Robocop fanfic well-regarded? Have you somehow managed not to pick up a Wii yet, even though it's the future home of the Yoshi-fied Super Smash Bros. Brawl?If so, you're probably already cracking open your Emergency Yoshi Gear Fund to bid on this custom-painted Wii. The only thing that would make this better would be the release of Kart Fighter for Virtual Console. An unofficial mod demands an unofficial game![Via Kotaku]
Show and Tell: The best sort of canvas redux
Remember Núshio's DS? When last we checked it out, it was a work in progress that needed a fresh coat, and we got to see the paint job every step of the way. Well, with the help of friends Kiwii and Kenryu, it's now finished, and Núshio is free to silently shout his fandom to the heavens every time he picks up his DS. Above is a shot of the finished project; below, we've attached the gallery from before, for comparison purposes. We also notice that he has a couple of guardians looking out for his machine when he's not around. Clever ploy -- you knew we were considering taking it, didn't you? Shenanigans.Got something you want to show off? Crafts, cakes, collections from modest to extreme, t-shirts ... whatever you've got, if it has a little Nintendo flavor, we want to see it. Just take some pictures (or copy your web album links) and send them to showmeit [at] dsfanboy [dot] com. We'll take care of the rest.%Gallery-3439%
Painted and sprinkled with fairy dust
We were galled to hear that Tinker Bell isn't technically a noblewoman, excluding the Peter Pan pixie from taking part in Disney's Princess Games, but it looks like she'll be making an appearance on the Wii anyway, despite her common fairy blood. AcidMods administrator CyberPyrot stenciled Tink's outline onto his console and coated its shell with flip flop paint to add a touch of fay magic. Depending on what angle you're viewing it from, the casing's color can appear as blue, green, or purple.There was an anxious moment, however, when a saboteur made a poisonous attempt to ruin the artwork. CyperPyrot held Tinker Bell's fading light in his trembling hands and turned to the audience, begging them to clap and yell out, "I do believe in fairies!" The viewers chanted the phrase over and over again, and wouldn't you know it, Tinker Bell was revived and cured! Think happy thoughts and take flight past the post break for more photos of the side panel project in-progress.
