Steampunk
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A steampunk USB drive that could clean H. G. Wells' house
Site ChipChick nailed it when noting the similarity between this 8GB steampunk USB drive and Rosie the Robot of Jetsons yore. The drive's creator, however, says it was inspired by a "narrow bridge" sign seen on a old country road. Really? Just look at that barrel-shaped cap staring down at you from atop a frilly gear collar; hands on hips in a tempestuous pose that makes us feel like we've somehow wronged her. Regardless, for $300 she'll make a fine addition to your alternate-history abode.
iRetrofone goes steampunk
We've posted about the great iRetrofone handset base for the iPhone before -- it's really just a block of resin, but having an actual handset hooked up to your iPhone around the house makes for some pretty nostalgic phone calls. The iRetrophone's creator Scott Freeland said he would be hard at work on new designs, and now he's gone a little Steampunk with the latest one, as you can see above courtesy of iPhone Savior. It's designed specifically for the iPhone 4, and has both an audio hookup and a USB connection ready to go -- just plug your iPhone into the base and start calling. It's not quite as nostalgic as the old handset, of course, but I like the steampunk aesthetic. And for $450 plus $25 shipping, you better like it. Still, as an art piece (the whole thing is actually cast in copper, rather than just the resin of the first one), it's a pretty unique piece of tech.
Steampunk Arduino Watch tells time, plays Breakout, thrills the world
We've seen no shortage of homegrown watches in our lifetime, and the quantity of Arduino-based gadgetry that graces the web each day might just outnumber the quantity of humans incensed by BP right now. But so far as we can tell, this is the first instance we've seen of the two combining in holy matrimony. The delicately crafted Arduino Watch: Steampunk Edition actually lives up to its name, providing augmented sensing of temperature and range, a 16-bit color drawing program, Breakout game and the ability to display time in digital, analog or binary. Best of all, the creator asserts that various other sensors and programs can be added on a whim, which is something your $4,000 Sea-dweller most certainly cannot say for itself. Speaking of cost, we're told that the whole shebang can be crafted for around $250, but considering that you'll be a local hero should you actually duplicate the effort here, you owe it to yourself to give those source links a long, hard look.
Global Agenda on sale at Steam just in time for Sandstorm patch
Hi-Rez Studios has been busy since the launch of Global Agenda -- and they've been even busier preparing the Sandstorm patch. Patch 1.3 is being released in stages, and if the buzz surrounding it was enough to get you interested, then this is the perfect time to buy. Hi-Rez has announced a sale on Global Agenda in anticipation of the patch: The first phase of Global Agenda's major new Sandstorm patch arrives shortly. Get prepared by buying the game on Steam for 25% off (that's $29.99/₤18.74/€22.49). The sale is listed as this week only, so you've got several more days to pick the game up for yourself and convince your friends to join you!
The Virtual Whirl: Vox virtualis
A change is as good as a holiday, they say. Seriously, I don't actually know anyone who says this other than myself; though I'm assured that there are some folks out there who do. With that tragically underutilized platitude in mind, then, last week I posed a question to a spread of well-known virtual environment users (at least to those that I felt would actually respond) and collected the responses. The question put to the respondents was "What's the single thing that the operators/developers could do to make you feel more satisfied with their virtual environment offering; what thing would help an operator keep you as a customer, or that would make some other operator more appealing than the one or ones you already have?"
Fantasy action game Ravensdale steaming up 360, PS3 and PC in 2012
Click to enlarge, punk Fans of steampunk fantasy don't have many choices when it comes to video games which adhere to their beloved genre. Right now, it basically boils down to Arcanum, Penny Arcade Adventures and ... Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts? Maybe? However, German developer Spellbound Entertainment recently announced a new entry into the category: Ravensdale, a "fast paced fantasy action game in a very unique 'steam powered' setting featuring cool and outrageously over-powered gadgetry." The game, which is expected to launch on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, is targeted for a 2012 launch. For now, all we've got to sate our curiosity are two pieces of concept art, posted in the gallery below. Make sure you take your time while analyzing them -- you've got about two years to kill. %Gallery-91449%
Unicat retro TV channels the 1940s, bidding now underway
How does technology a half-century old manage to be this sexy? We're not certain. But this one-of-a-kind, handmade retro television -- which seemingly combines an old desktop lamp and a giant magnifying glass -- definitely tugs at our heartstrings. With a 5.5-inch monochrome CRT screen and no inputs to speak of, you won't be watching Blu-rays on this set, and its PAL standard and 220V plug mean non-Europeans might not be bothered to try. Still, for an old over-the-air TV, it's remarkably full-featured, with knobs for volume, band (VHF-L / VHF-H / UHF), brightness, contrast and V-sync, and we can't get over its clean, handsome design. If your Nixie tube collection is getting lonely, check out the auction at our source link; bidding starts at €300.%Gallery-90244% [Thanks, Alex]
Remnants of Skystone launches
If you've been waiting for a hearty fix of Steampunk in your gaming life, Remnants of Skystone may have what you crave. After a couple years of development and testing by Flipline Studios, this quirky 2D browser MMO just launched on Kongregate, and so far, it's looking solid. Players can choose between three classes: the steam-shooting Aeronauts, the blade-wielding Ferric or the whip-lashing Crags. Character creation is simple and painless, with a decent if not overwhelming selection of visual options. After that point, players enter this unique world full of Victorian gadgets and fashion to fight an alien threat that has taken over the world.
Buy this steampunk Game Boy for us on eBay
Despite what you may assume, we're not the sort of people who'd buy ourselves a steampunk Game Boy like the Thretris-created model you see above (see it in action after the break). We are, however, the sort of people who'd use our popular internet website to politely request that our readers buy said Game Boy from eBay and send it to us for a holiday of their choice. It probably seems a little ethically dicey to the layman, but ethics are really complicated (they have whole college courses about them!) so you shouldn't feel too bad about yourself for not understanding. Hey, speaking of things you should or shouldn't do, did you bid on that steampunk Game Boy yet? [Via GoNintendo]
iMac goes steampunk
Brian Chen over at Wired came across this sweet Victorian iMac mod. If you're a steampunk fan, it's a must have. The owner of Old Time Computer makes all the covers by hand. This iMac's cover is hand crafted oak with brass and gold trim accents. A hand painted faux marble finish base covers the iMac's aluminum stand. To complete the look there's a keyboard trim cover made of oak and gold trim for the Apple Wireless Keyboard. If you've got deeper pockets, splurge on the antique keyboard and mouse set. The iMac cover is available for the 20-inch and 24-inch Core 2 Duo models and start at US$265 with the keyboard costing an additional $345. Now the iMac can finally join the Mac mini in steampunk glory.
GDC10: First look at Divine Souls
What, you've never heard of Divine Souls? You Philistine! Actually, it's not the public school system that has failed you here -- Divine Souls is only now crossing the waters of the Pacific (and Atlantic) in its worldwide debut. Created by Korean development studio Game Prix under the title of St. Soul, the renamed Divine Souls is being brought over to North America and Europe through an agreement with publisher Outspark. Divine Souls's makeup is part steampunk, part brawler, part co-op, and part traditional MMORPG, so don't expect the normal routine in this one -- it actually feels more of a hybrid of several MMOs. Massively sat down with the game at last week's GDC to put this title through its paces. Channel your inner Karate Kid, and hit the jump for the full scoop!
Steampunk sequencer generates audio from Lego blocks
In 2007, steampunk musician Yoshi Akai wrote his master's thesis on how to turn color into sound, and he's been dreaming up unorthodox ways of producing music ever since. Case in point: the Lego Sequencer MR II, a contraption that uses three-dimensional Lego structures to emulate a three-channel, eight-step sequencer, where each differently colored plastic brick produces a different sound and complex combinations (including tremolo and overdrive) are possible when the blocks are stacked. Akai tells us it works using resistors embedded in each and every block, with parallel networks of resistors formed as the bricks pile up, equalling lower resistance and thus a higher frequency sound generated by the contraption. While the result certainly won't back a techno track -- Akai says he's "building sound more than playing sound" -- it looks like a good step up from the lethargic phaser noise produced by his Wireless Catcher, a lot of fun to play with, and much less expensive than hiring a team of hot models. Video after the break.
Neo Steam versus the volcano
One of the many new free-to-play games launched last year, Neo Steam kind of got lost in the shuffle among several other contenders, but that hasn't stopped it from gaining a following. Plus, it's about as close as you're going to get for the time being to a true steampunk MMO, which is something that's going to vary in importance depending on how much players like things that are awesome. We've recently gotten word on a major content update for the game, featuring the last-known source of the eponymous Neo Steam that fuels much of the game's technology: Rope Isle. Covered in jungle and active volcanoes, Rope Isle would be a fairly easy romp toward the precious steam if not for the fact that the island already has inhabitants who aren't pleased with the idea of anyone else coming in. Since they're unlikely to respond to a reasonable discussion about the demands of industrialized economy, Neo Steam players can expect to be pitted against a difficult battle. The update will also increase the level cap to 70 and two new battlefields, to help hone players and improve their skills for the dangerous island.
What happened to Gatheryn?
We've recently received a tip-off to a lack of communication from the developers of the social steampunk MMO, Gatheryn, in recent months, signaling what could be the collapse of the game. The website is still up and running, but the closed beta signup page has vanished, the download game link is broken, and the game's servers are down for the count. Players are asking for assistance or information on what's going on with the game on the beta forums, but things are very, very silent. The current forum rumor (must have forum access to read link) is that Mindfuse Games has run out of funding and is shutting down the game, but that rumor has been posted by a forum account that only has one post and does not possess a developer tag, making the rumor extremely unverified. We have contacted Mindfuse Games for comment, but have yet to receive a response. [Thanks for the tip, Torsten!]
Champions Online winter update goes steampunk, killer toys
The winter event/patch for Champions Online is adding a few new costume pieces, along with a pretty fun looking winter event. For all you steampunk enthusiasts out there, we won't keep you waiting, just head on over to the official event page and absorb the glorious monocle and arm pieces awaiting your characters. Unfortunately, the new pieces do need to be unlocked, but that's not such a bad thing since participating in the rather enjoyable sounding event is the only obstacle in your way. For instance, defeating Black Harlequin's giant white mecha teddy bear robot, Clarence, earns you that spiffy monocle. We can't wait to show that fluffy metal menace who's the boss around here -- and it's not Tony Danza... well, not unless someone makes a parody character. If you'd like to see more of Clarence, his killer friends and master Black Harlequin, then check out all the new screens in our gallery section below.%Gallery-17946%
Second Life's Caledon expands to Blue Mars
Desmond Shang, operator of one of the most popular and cohesive themed communities in Second Life, is extending his community into Blue Mars in just a few days time. Shang's Caledon, popular among aficionados of Victoriana, Steampunk and Gaslight, is opening a sister colony, Caledonia on Blue Mars, with an initial stake of roughly four million square metres. Caledonia is roughly 30% larger than Caledon, sporting a lot of wilder country, forests, mountains and more. We'll be looking forward to seeing what the content development pipeline will really do. Initial reports are that Caledonia will, even when built out, be considerably less bandwidth intensive on its own than Caledon.
Chumbophone proves that even Chumby can go retro (and like it)
For the seasoned DIYer, there's hardly anything that can't be done with a set of Chumby Guts. For a seasoned DIYer with a set of Chumby Guts, an old clock, a few brass horns and a Dremel tool, there's absolutely nothing -- save for spare time and determination -- standing between him / her and a homegrown masterpiece such as the one you're peering at above. Etsy member AbrahamBook's latest creation is a WiFi-enabled widget monster that is shoved within a half vintage, half steampunk-styled enclosure. The Chumbophone doesn't actually seem capable of making calls via the integrated horns, but we'd sure love to see a version that was. Not that we're trying to force any ideas down your throat or anything...
The Digital Continuum: Torchlight my fire, page 2
Torchlight's setting is somewhat fantasy with a little bit of steampunk -- right now I'd say it feels something like 75/25 leaning towards a unique fantasy world. Can we get a little more steampunk, though? Of all the many strengths it possesses, story and setting are the game's biggest weakness.
Toyota's FT-EV II concept sports steampunk interior, joystick controls
Toyota's FT-EV concept was tiny, quirky, electric powered -- and honestly a bit predictable. Its successor, the FT-EV II, takes that staid design and sends it way out there, leaving the exterior unchanged (some gold detailing adds a touch of flash) but dialing up the intrigue on the inside. The traditional wheel and pedal controls have been replaced by a gilded mechanical joystick contraption that would look appropriate on a Victorian-era rocket ship (had any such thing actually existed) leaving more legroom and what looks to be a more ergonomic driving experience. It's a control scheme the company used previously on its i-Real concept... chair... thing, but this is the first Toyota with doors to rock it. Will those sticks and all that brushed metal and faux-ivory still be there when this car releases? Not a chance, sadly.
Neo Steam lets in the soul reapers
It's October, and that means all of the spooky Halloween events are coming out of the woodwork. But how many of them are offering you a pair of steampunk goggles for completing them? Well, only one right now -- Neo Steam.Atlus is throwing open the doors to the Underworld, and all sorts of creepy-crawlies are invading their fantasy steampunk MMO. Defeating these event monsters will get you souls to trade in to special soul reapers to claim pumpkin seeds and pumpkin pie for recovery purposes, but the big 250 soul turn in will get you a special pumpkin hat (as seen above) to commemorate the event.However, some monsters will drop event tickets, which enters your account in for a chance to win a pair of handcrafted steampunk goggles. So, what are you waiting for, an invitation? Kill stuff, get loots!
