Chic Gadgets

Some things to avoid in life? The Tamagotchis! Because it’s so addicting! The main idea behind a Tamagotchi is in taking care of a virtual pet, instead of an actual living one. You feed it, you play with it, you tend to it, with just a click of a button. That’s all fine and dandy, until you get obsessed about it and it’s starts controlling you instead of the other way around.

Still, people get a certain thrill from it…so I can’t blame them and understand the addiction. Especially now, when there’s a million versions of this handheld device.

There’s even this….the Virtual Boyfriend! Within your reach are eight different guys to choose from, each with his distinct personality. Go on your first dates, shower your Tamagotchi boyfriend with compliments and gifts, try to keep a lasting virtual relationship with it. This sounds like a toy for losers or girls who can’t get the man they want. But there is a reason why this toy is such a hit in the UK. It gives women the illusion that we understand how men are and how they think! LOL.

The Virtual Boyfriend also comes with the Virtual Girlfriend for the guys. The game is adult oriented, be forewarned and don’t make the mistake of gifting this to young kids.

Available at Aria UK

I am not even sure how much useful this gadget is, but then again….cheerleading? The pom poms make it twice as fun to do, isn’t it? Which is probably what the idea behind this Wii Hip Street Cheer Pom Poms is about. That even if you’re just virtually doing your jeers and cheers through the Wii, you feel the total experience when you have the right props around.

The Wii Hip Street Cheer Pom Poms is an add on for the Wii console when one is playing cheer games such as Wee Cheer or All Star Cheer Squad. 

I wasn’t even aware such games existed, but hey, you know this Wii thing nearly has every little virtual activity game out there, so I’m not even surprised.

It would be fun to see the husband playing with this one though.

Okay, this lamp seems to be more appropriate for a bachelor’s apartment, but a geeky lady technophile, who is also into gaming, will most definitely love this one, too. She will also recognize what this lamp resembles — it’s none other than the Atari Joystick. Atari’s used to be the video game craze of the 80’s.

The guys over at Instructables, a DIY site, created this one. It has a step by step guide on how, even you can re-create this.

We don’t see stuff like this everyday, don’t we? Heck, we don’t even see Atari’s anymore. So, this lamp isn’t only a work of art, a functional work of art. It is also a sentimental piece, an ode to the 80’s.

If this looks mighty familiar to you….it’s because I know you’ve already seen it as a younger child, while playing video games at the arcade. Even if weren’t into it back then I am pretty confident you are still familiar with the joystick.

Because joysticks like this are no longer in vogue, an artist based in Santiago, Chile, have come up with a better use for it. Designer Felipe Morales didn’t have much anything to do with the item, but his concept is actually quite useful. He recycled this and turned it into a coat rack or hanger.

It doesn’t look so bad, does it?

The item went on display at the StgoDiseno,  a design exhibition which was held in 2005.

Via Coroflot   

 I’d like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas! I hope you are all enjoying the celebration with our friends and families.

This Christmas tree is found lighting up the streets somewhere in Spain and was created by very enthusiastic PACMAN fans. This tree is done mostly in LED lights. It is amazing to watch as PACMAN does animatedly move around to gobble up the pellets, the stars and the trees or avoid his enemies. This looks pretty cool to any fan of ultimate video game of the 80’s. It would have been cooler if they let people play it, no? There will probably be a long line of interested people who’d be willing to try it.

Source

If you grew up in the 80’s or most especially the 90’s, you know what Tetris is like. You and friends your age may have been so addicted playing with it.

When the holiday dinners come (and there’s going to be plenty I’m sure!), surprise your friends when they visit you at home by serving drinks with ice cubes shaped like Tetris puzzle pieces, as in this photo to the left.

Or if there is not party at home, you can always use this at any time on any regular day. You can even play with the cubes and build the puzzle, if you like. Or relive a naughty scene from that movie, 9 1/2 Weeks, with this geekier version.

You can get the ice box tray for this at this site for $9.99.

Iceblox Ice Cube Puzzle Tray

• Create ice cubes in the shapes of your favorite block puzzle game
• Made of flexible, food grade silicone
• Each tray makes 12 cubes
• Dimensions: approx 9.3″ x 5.5″ x 0.8″

It’s still a few more years before my son moves off to college but he has been thinking ahead. He is planning on taking a course relating to video gaming design, solidifying his love for both video games and drawing (art).

I mentioned to him this article and he couldn’t believe it. NYU is offering a course in video games expertise.

Other universities have been offering similar things albeit only part of another program (such as a degree in Interactive Media). This one, based on the report, is actually offering the whole course as a degree in Video Gaming.

I would never imagine in a million years college students cramming to learn a game, much less needing to study early games like Space Invaders, Mario or Pacman for class. Or that the game gadgets I got my son have plenty of valid use after all — it will help in college, eventually.

Quite an awesome opportunity for video game freaks!

The center will offer about 70 courses on game design and development. In the fall 2009, 10 to 12 NYU students will have the opportunity to choose a minor, major or double major in gaming. Beginning in the fall 2010, about six graduate students a year will be admitted to a two-year Master’s program and certificate program.

Those into gaming, particularly Nintendo gaming, will be able to recognize this custom built coffee table immediately —

Yep, that’s your NES controller right there. Putting a glass top over it, makes it one useful furniture. Removing the glass top, though and what do you get? A giant Nintendo controller!

This isn’t just a custom built table, it’s a custom built game pad that’s actually working…thanks to the able hands of one Kyle Downes who took months of hardwork putting this together complete with wires and all.

Watch this video to see it in action:

A table like this would be perfect for a teen’s bedroom or a grown man’s basement or entertainment center at home.

Via TeamTeaBag 

Here’s a Christmas gift suggestion for those crazy over crossword puzzles. And this is one that will set you back under $30…except I don’t know how much shipping it out would cost.

This is a 91,000 Square Crossword Puzzle which may be placed up on the wall for decoration, and of course, entertainment. The puzzle is estimated to have 28,000 clues. It will take months to actually finish the whole thing. But it’s not so advanced that it’s a gift even recommended for seven years old kids. How about that?

I’m not keen on word puzzles, but as in idea for entertainment for kids? I think I’d like to have one of this at my house.

Via Hammacher

Ahh, Guitar Hero…it’s a game most everyone gets addicted to. I haven’t tried this one for fear I’d get hook and then I’ll be abandoning work altogether. I do know though that the addiction isn’t limited to guys who pretend they are rock stars. Girls get a kick out of it, too. So much so that Guitar Hero signed up the best image model they can afford in order to justify that this game is also cool with the girls and to lure the female market. (And well, the male population, too. You’ll see what I mean from the video…)

From Kobe Bryant to Michael Phelps to David Archuleta and now….to Heidi Klum.

Watch her let her self go with the guitar and wearing nothing but black lacy underwear and white socks!

If the video doesn’t appear on this site, check here .