Dork Adore » Nintendo

Super Mario Converse Sneakers

Emma Cossey — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:00:45 +0000

I’m not really a converse fan. Eternal emo Avril Lavinge ruined them for me (and continues to do so).

But these Limited Edition Super Mario Converse might just win me back over to the brand. The shoes have been created as a continued celebration of 25 years of the hairy plumber.

If you fold down the cuff around the heel, you can even get a peek at Mario jumping for some coins. Cute!

The bad news? They’re only available in Japan *sob*.

Source: BitRebels

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Free Super Mario Mushroom Cushion Pattern

Michelle — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:00:52 +0000

I have mentioned previously how well old school computer games lend themselves to cross stitching but that’s by no means the old craft that works well. This free Super Mario Mushroom cushion cover pattern by the plaid scottie is a fine example of how good old patchwork techniques can be used to replicate perfect pixels!

Get that needle and thread out now and you will have plenty of time to rustle one up for very favourite geek crush this Valentine’s day. You’ll be sure to score major heart points!

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Free mini Mario Mushroom & Invincibility Star amigurumi patterns

Michelle — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:00:54 +0000

Earlier this week I gave you a roundup of some of the best Christmas decorations for geeks. However, as wonderful as they all are, it can’t be denied that us crafty types can never resist the opportunity to do it ourselves! So I give you, not one, but two free patterns to get you crafting up a storm this festive season with these mini Mario mushrooms and invincibility stars from Amy’s Odyssey.

Who could possibly resist the sight of these cute little crochet fellas peeking out through the branches of their Christmas tree this festive season? If you make plenty you could even string them together for some totally dork-tastic Christmas bunting!

But please do remember, mushrooms are for life not just for Christmas, so be sure to find them a new spot to live once the tree comes down!

What are you waiting for — go get hooking right away!

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The best Christmas decorations for geeks

Michelle — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:34:31 +0000

It can’t have failed to escape your notice that Christmas is now well and truly on its way. Not only are people roaming the streets with mugs of mulled wine and German sausages in hand, but the Coca-Cola advert is back on our screens which is a surefire way to tell the holiday season will shortly be upon us!

This year, leave that tired ol’ box of Christmas decorations in the attic and deck your halls, or tree at least, with heaps of geek instead!

Storm Trooper Felt Tree Ornament, £3.95 from Fabric Fancies

May the force be with you this Christmas! Star Wars fans should head straight over to Fabric Fancies on Etsy for a wonderful range of tree ornaments including Darth Vader, Boba Fett and a Storm Trooper or two.

AVP fans should also take a peek at the site as you can get to decide who will win the battle of Alien vs Predator on your tree?

Ghostbusters Peg People, £32.92, from Randomly Generated

Technically these aren’t Christmas decorations, but I can’t help but think that, with the help of a small cup screw, these Ghostbuster peg people from Randomly Generated could be hanging from my tree!

We have already featured the Dr Who regenerations peg people here on Dork Adore but for those with a more macabre outlook how about hanging Jason Vorhees from your Christmas tree?

Super Mario Bros. Boo Pair of Baubles, £3.95 from Noodle Jewellery

In a much less horrific, but still slightly spooky vein, you may wish to decorate your tree with a pair of these Boo baubles from Noodle Jewellery, which are also available in a set of three for £5.27.

Or perhaps you may be tempted by the shiny Pokémon or Animal Crossing baubles, amongst many others, that are also available in the holidays section of the shop.

Set of Four Retro Video Game Tree Hangers, £7.90 from OMEGAZOID

Yeah, yeah, I know I only just featured Spugmeistress in the recent Etsy Finds: Gaming Geekery post, but it would be remiss of me not to include this set of four retro video game inspired tree hangers.

Not only are they generally darn pretty fantastic but they are also made with translucent beads so will glow and shine as they reflect your tree lights!

So, go on then, tell us will you be thinking geek when you decorate the tree this year?

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Etsy Finds: Gaming Geekery

Michelle — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:00:36 +0000

After taking a peek at the latest Tron Legacy trailer, this week’s Etsy finds is dedicated to some of my favourite old school computer games.

Tron 2885 Camera Lens Bracelet, $85 from ibwatson

I love the beauty and simplicity of this Tron inspired camera lens bracelet from Etsy seller ibwatson, aka Focal Length Designs.

I also love that all the jewellery in this store is made from unwanted broken camera parts. A wonderful example of upcycling at its very best!

Tetris Soap, $7.80 from DigitalSoaps

Have some fun times in the bathroom with this eight piece Tetris soap set, inspired by level nine of the game, from DigitalSoaps.

DigitalSoaps is a complete gaming geek heaven so if you are looking for a stocking filler for gaming fanatics I would highly recommend you go take a look, particularly at the impressively realistic-looking Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo/Wii and Sega console and controller replicas. (Incidentally, Emma wrote about Geek Soap’s games cartridge soaps earlier this year. Clearly, there’s big demand for game-based cleaning products.)

Set of Heart Meter Pins, $20 from spugmeistress

An excellent way to let your fellow geeks know your current life/health status with this set of four heart meter pins from spugmeistress.

You can also purchase an individual pin for $6, but buying the set allows you to wake up each morning and decide whether you are feeling fully charged or almost empty! I can see that they would come in very handy personally.

Nintendo Brooch, $18 from Ma Magasin

If you were ever, or indeed still are, the proud owner of a NES you can know wear your heart on your sleeve (or lapel) with this hand stitched Nintendo Brooch from Ma Magasin.

It is well worth paying a visit to the Ma Magasin shop to take a peek at some of the other wonderful work from this Manchester based crafter, including space invade bobby pins, moustache cufflinks and, I kid you not, an embroidered ‘sieve boob’.

Pong cross-stitch kit, $20 by craftease

I can still remember when we got our first family computer and programming it with a pong like game (yes, I am old!) so I couldn’t resist this Pong cross stitch kit from craftease. It comes complete with everything you need including black Aida cloth and white embroidery cotton as well as full instructions/patter. You even get a needle thrown in!

If you already have all the supplies then you can also buy the pdf pattern on its own for just $2.50.

These old school computer games really do seem to lend themselves exceedingly well to cross stitch don’t they?

So, what are your favourite old school computer games? Let me know if you are inspired by gaming geekery in your crafting!

Related: More Nintendo on Dork Adore | Tron Legacy Movie Trailer

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Get geeky-clean with game cartridge soaps

Emma Cossey — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:08:49 +0000

Proper gaming fans scoff at the idea of luxurious long bubble baths. Why waste valuable ass-kicking time, right?

Because you can wash with a retro games cartridge soap!

I came across these Games Cartridge Geeksoaps on Craftster. The range includes an 8-bit, 16-bit and 64-bit cartridge, and they’re all lemon scented to keep you wide awake for a further gaming session.

They start from around $2 each for the smaller cartridges.

Social Media geeks might prefer the Twitter, Facebook and RSS soaps for $5 each.

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Is Guitar Hero ruining creativity?

Dork Adore — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:00:29 +0000

This week, we’ve got a guest post from Jenny Williams.

In recent years, it has become quite acceptable to find yourself at a party being challenged to perform your best SingStar song. Since 2005, with the release of Guitar Hero, play-along gaming has got bigger and bigger. We’ve been given SingStar, DJ Hero, Lips, Rock Revolution and even Easy Piano on the DS.

Meanwhile, the Mix Me In iPhone app by Fried Green Apps has reached the ‘New and Noteworthy’ section of Apple’s App Store. Musical technology has reached every corner of the gaming market.

But, as we’re busy being Guitar Heroes, Elton John on the DS piano, in the Beatles’ rock band and a DJ for Jay-Z, has play-along music gaming reached a dead end?

I spent many evenings during my teenage years attempting to master hammer-ons and pull-offs, which is more innocent than it sounds. To surpass playing ‘Chopsticks’ or the introduction to ‘Smoke on the Water’ by Deep Purple, learning to play the piano or guitar is an often a painstaking process, requiring hours of practice.

However, within moments of loading Rock Band, I have received 100% rating at The Beatles’ Hello Goodbye and am boasting my musicality to my whole family. Result! What could be more fun than having your ego stroked while pretending to be a rock star?

Never mind that ‘Guitar Hero’ guitars look essentially like Early Learning versions of grown-ups’ guitars, teenage boys across the world are happily trading in requests for a real Fender Stratocaster for a Rock Band version with buttons big enough for inpatient beginners.

After all, this isn’t about achieving musical finesse, Rock Band is about mimicking your musical heroes in your front room.

Not everyone is happy about the rise of this musical gaming foolery. In February 2008, NanaOn-Sha CEO and PaRappa the Rapper creator, Masaya Matsuura, famously challenged play-along music games at the D.I.C.E Summit in Las Vegas, saying the genre was growing stale and was in need of new ideas.

Admittedly, this type of gaming has its limits. Once you’ve demonstrated your rockability to your friends and stayed up ’til the wee small hours perfecting your Rock Band drumming, there is nowhere else for the game to go. But musical games are beginning to bridge the gap between fantasy and reality.

Following on from the popularity of play-along games, the release of Easy Piano on the Nintendo DS last month saw the launch of a musical tutorial game, complete with plug-in one octave keyboard. It’s no substitute for piano lessons; the layout is much the same as Rock Band, responding to on-screen prompts. However, basic musical theory is introduced. It’s like your Mum sneaking cabbage into your mashed potato when you’re a kid: play-along gaming with educational benefits.

So, perhaps, as music games keep developing to incorporate more complex musical features and theory, gamers will continue to move closer to achieving musical hero status. Heck, gamers might even be inspired to pick up a traditional guitar and become real-life musical geniuses.

In the meantime, I’m merely happy with the delusion. the gaming market has made us all think we could really be music stars if we gave up our day jobs and transferred those colour-matching skills to the piano keys or guitar frets.

Jenny is a freelance journalist and editor of her very own tech site, Witch Tech.

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Powermat gadget charger review

Emma Cossey — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0000

Loose cables are the bane of my working life. Between my phone, netbook, Nintendo DS and iPod, I’ve got wires all over the place.

Even with an extension lead, I’m still using all the available plugs. So how can I reduce the amount of cable clutter in my room?

The designers at Powermat think they’ve got the solution, and they’ve sent one over for me to try out.

The Powermat Home & Office edition is a hoverboard- shaped charging mat for a multitude of devices. The mat connects to the main with one cable….and that’s all the cables you’ll need.

To charge your gadgets, you click the phone/iPod/Nintendo DS into a receiver, and place it on the mat. Then with a joyful little beep, it starts to charge at the same speed as if you’d plugged it straight into a normal charger.

The benefits of this device are varied, including:

Space saving: You can charge up to four devices at once (with the extra USB port) so you’re not tripping over a web of cables.
Easy to use: Once you’ve clicked the receiver on, you just need to place the device on the mat and it’s charging. Job done.

However, it loses points for

Additional receivers: The mat doesn’t come with any basic receivers, so you’ll need to order one for each device you want to charge separately. And they’re not cheap at around £30 per receiver.

You’ve still got clutter: Unless you want to walk around with the receivers clipped to your gadget all day, you’re still going to have to store them somewhere. So you’re replacing wires with chunks of plastic.

Conclusion

For the ultra tidy gadget queen, this is a tempting product. Stylish, compact and convenient, it’s a clever gadget. It’s worth remembering though that you’re effectively paying around £70 for the mat, and an extra £30 per receiver to simple save you a little space and mess.

You can buy the Powermat from Amazon for £67.80. You can also get a package deal of the Powermat, iPhone 3G receiver and Powercube for £131.85.

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The 10 most confusing gadgets of the last decade

Emma Cossey — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:00:01 +0000

I’ve lost count of the amount of time I’ve spent puzzling over why a gadget is refusing to work. A recent study suggests I’m not alone in this area.

Research carried out by Confused.com has discovered that consumers constantly come across problems and confusion with their gadgets. And what was the biggest offender? The Wireless Router, of course.

Having spent hours in my old student house sitting on the phone to BT after conceding defeat to my router, I can sympathise with this top choice.

Coming in a close second is the iPod or MP3 player. I’m assuming this is more down to the actual set-up rather than the day-to-day use.

Perhaps one of the reasons behind all this confusion is that in our excitement to try out our latest purchase, we skip past reading the directions. Of the 2,000 participants in the survey, 48% admitted that the instructions book sits gathering dust. This leads to 55% of participants connecting up the leads incorrectly, and 45% incorrectly inserting the batteries (seriously? How hard is it to insert batteries?).

So, aside from the Wireless Router and MP3 player, what other gadgets made it to the list?

1. Wireless router (27%)
2. iPod/MP3 player (16%)
3. Mobile phone (20%)
4. Digital camera (19%)
5. Sat Nav/GPS (14%)
6. Sky+ (10%)
7. DVD Player (9%)
8. iPhone (7%)
9. Ninendo Wii (6%)
10. Video camera (6%)

Source: Confused.com

What gadgets have caused you the most confusion?

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How to make customised skins for PS3, Wii and Xbox

Dork Adore — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:30:24 +0000

For many enthusiastic gamers the only present they want at Christmas or on birthdays is yet another game or a console. Which is all very well and good, but it is a little impersonal. Resorting to buying the latest release feels like a cop out, but you don’t want to spend lots of money on something that they won’t appreciate as much. What a conundrum!

I found a way around that by buying something intrinsically gamer related, yet also undeniably personal for my other half. You can create a customised skin for PS3, Wii or Xbox using online sites and templates. I didn’t have the tech or the printer to print my own, but as for craftily putting it together, that I could do!

I began with a trip around the DeviantArt website.

I found someone whose art I liked (in this case a manga artist) and contacted them about producing a portrait to a brief from various photos. Luckily I found my artist straight away and agreed a cheap price, but if you are having trouble their forums are great for finding interested parties. A few weeks later I had a piece of digital art on my computer, produced at exactly the size of a PS3.

Once I had the artwork as a jpeg, I researched printing options.

The most professional site that I could find online was DecalGirl, but due to a constraint on delivery time for disorganised me, I ended up choosing the website Unique Skins, and paying lots for delivery. The actual skin, however, is cheap, and you shouldn’t have to pay $25 for something that has been personally designed.

To create the skin, open their template program or communicate with their design team. It is then just a matter of uploading the image and adjusting it to look best on the outline of your console, including edges and the front. It is a good idea to have some panels of background image to use on these sides to stop the overall creation looking a little ridiculous and disjointed.

Once done, order and wait for it to arrive in the post. Make sure you buy proper skins rather than stickers, so they don’t leave residue on the console or peel off. These decals are also adjustable for if you, like I did, put them on wonky first time round!

Lauren Cooke is a freelance writer, blogger and shoe addict. You can follow her on Twitter, or have a peek at her other work here.

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Dork Adore » Nintendo

Super Mario Converse Sneakers

More stories like this

Free Super Mario Mushroom Cushion Pattern

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Free mini Mario Mushroom & Invincibility Star amigurumi patterns

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The best Christmas decorations for geeks

Storm Trooper Felt Tree Ornament, £3.95 from Fabric Fancies

Ghostbusters Peg People, £32.92, from Randomly Generated

Super Mario Bros. Boo Pair of Baubles, £3.95 from Noodle Jewellery

Set of Four Retro Video Game Tree Hangers, £7.90 from OMEGAZOID

So, go on then, tell us will you be thinking geek when you decorate the tree this year?

More stories like this

Etsy Finds: Gaming Geekery

Tron 2885 Camera Lens Bracelet, $85 from ibwatson

Tetris Soap, $7.80 from DigitalSoaps

Set of Heart Meter Pins, $20 from spugmeistress

Pong cross-stitch kit, $20 by craftease

So, what are your favourite old school computer games? Let me know if you are inspired by gaming geekery in your crafting!

More stories like this

Get geeky-clean with game cartridge soaps

More stories like this

Is Guitar Hero ruining creativity?

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Powermat gadget charger review

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The 10 most confusing gadgets of the last decade

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How to make customised skins for PS3, Wii and Xbox

More stories like this