Ah, lovely, colorful, and not-quite-deadly. Two out of three ain’t bad, as they say. Id’s softer, gentler grenades are at least life-size, so you know they’re satisfying in the hand, even if they are significantly more squeezable than a real grenade. Also? Less useful against zombies, or not-zombies, as the case may be (those last Resident Evil games have been veering away from the normal undead menace, after all… if you can call any violent, face-pounding menace of any sort normal).

But they look great in Photoshop, and really, that should be enough for anyone.

[via Geek Crafts]

Fresh off the boat from Japan, this USB gadget looks just like the grotesque giant-headed, acid-blood-dripping, eponymous alien of Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien vs. Predator, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, Alien: Resurrection (and the soon-to-be Alien prequel).

Just plug the nasty thing into your USB port, its grotesque inner mouth randomly pops out of it’s mother mouth, backlit by a glowing red LED. Yummy.

If you’re a fan of Alien, you’ve gotta grab one of these. They’re available for pre-order over at Strapya World for ¥3990 (appx. $44 USD), and should start shipping this December.

I think I’ll put this right next to Hello Kitty and Domokun.

The bazookas are made of aluminum and were manufactured in Spain in the 1960s and 70s. Each one measures a whopping 70″ long, and is equipped with an optical sight, eyecup, shield, strap and bipod. It looks so awesome!!! And heavy.

Why are you still reading this? There are vintage bazookas for sale! This will be the best $200 (USD) you’ll ever spend. Go to Centerfire Systems and arm yourself soldier! And oh, if you’re from California I’m sorry but you can’t buy one of these. It says so on the product page. I wonder why.

[via Retro Thing]

The FroliCat’s adjustable mirror allows you to direct the dot up to the ceiling if you want. Here’s the FroliCat in action, complete with jangly hoedown music:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

You can get the FroliCat at Amazon for $17.25 (USD). Ironically, the FroliCat has a manual mode; I think if you’re going to wave this thing around anyway then you’d be better off with a laser pointer.

[via GadgetGrid]

Walky’s interface is idiotproof – make your fingers walk and the robot walks, make a jumping gesture and the robot jumps, kick and the robot kicks. You can imagine how much easier it would be to teach people how to control robots using a system like this as opposed to something that uses an array of buttons, levers and knobs. Nintendo hit upon that idea too, and turned it into lots of money by creating the Wii. Hand over a gamepad to an inexperienced gamer and you’ll have to spend quite some time explaining the controls before the person gets the hang of it, but give that same person a Wii and he won’t even need your help because the input system is much more natural. But is gesture-based input really the simplest and most practical input system?

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

I don’t know about you, but I’m gonna have to side with buttons, levers and knobs for now. If you watched the video you saw how freakin’ cumbersome the system was; there was simply too much effort needed for a simple command. Maybe gesture-based systems are okay for entertainment or educational purposes – Walky is indeed a fun way of introducing robotics to kids – but if I had to use a natural input system I’d rather it be a voice-operated one.

[via Plastic Pals]

The Cool Rider isn’t quite as schmancy as a Segway, but it still looks like a fun way to get around. The vehicle features a powerful single-wheel drive system that can pull you along the streets at a zippy clip.

The battery-powered motor can hit a top speed of 12 mph, and can run for about an hour per charge. The battery pack is removable too, and plugs into any wall outlet. The other unique thing about the Cool Rider is that you can detach the standing sled from the back and just use it to pull you on your skates or rollerblades.

While the $1250 (USD) retail price isn’t exactly pocket change, the Cool Rider does sell for about 1/4 the price of a Segway. Sold? Then head on over to Opulent Items and plunk down your credit card. While you mull it over, why not watch this Cool Rider video clip…

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Gotcha.

BTW, Did you notice that none of the people in the photos are wearing a helmet or knee pads? I don’t know about you, but the whole thing looks just a little bit dangerous to me.  I’d have to bet these things aren’t street-legal anywhere around here.

[via 7Gadgets]

These Gundam-inspired ballpoint pens are being released as part of the 30th anniversary celebration of the series, and come in a variety of different styles. While I’ve always enjoyed the graceful, destructive force of a beam rifle, I have to say I’d really like to show up to all of my meetings carrying a pen that looks like a 280 mm Zaku bazooka. I only wish it would fire tiny little rocket-propelled grenades at the guy who creates a 50-page PowerPoint deck that actually has only two bullet points that actually mean anything.

Gundam Ballpoint pen weapons sell for ¥990 (appx. $11 USD) each. You can grab the entire collection over at StrapyaWorld now, but you’d better move fast before they sell out.

The DSi Studio Kit provides you with a variety of shooting options including a removable flash, and wide angle, macro/close-up and telephoto lens attachments. There’s also a set of 6 color filters you can use to create visual effects. Thrustmaster also includes a (shiny metallic) protective cover that holds the lenses and filter attachments in place.

While the packaging and styling appear to be targeted towards the Barbie and American Girl Place set, there’s no reason that we can’t all enjoy it. Although I might have to replace the shiny metallic carrying bag with something a bit more macho.

The DSi Studio Kit should be available any day now, and retails for $19.99 (USD).

The gun-shaped controller projects a bright red light beam (not sure it’s really a laser beam) where you want the car to go, and the car follows along. The vehicles stick to smooth surfaces using a reverse-fan mechanism that creates suction between the bottom of the car and the wall or ceiling.

Each car has a set of photosensors mounted into it that detect the light beams’ position and tell the car which direction to turn. Place the light beam in front of the car, and it follows, place the beam at the back of the car, and it turns around and starts following the light again. And if you thought that all sounded cool, wait til you get a load of this…

Convinced? The guy in the skintight blue suit has me sold already. In action, the cars are actually pretty cool. Here’s a good video clip showing off how the Aero Spider Laser works. And more people dressed in silly outfits for no particular reason. You gotta love Japanese marketing.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Aero Spider Laser cars start shipping early this month, and are available over for pre-order over at Hobby Link Japan for ¥6,000 (appx. $65 USD).

Definitely awesome on the outside, especially for anyone who gets as excited over pixel art as I do. But the inside? One hundred times more impressive. I did the math.

This is frighteningly well-organized. I can’t even imagine living a life of such convenience. But the rest of designer J. Jamme’s pieces seem to be more about style, and that’s something I can really get behind. Oh, don’t get me wrong; I love this box. But in my house, it would be a tangle of wires in about three minutes.

[via Hawty McBloggy]

The system uses a custom wireless computer that receives digital information via a Wi-Fi connection and translates your maneuvers into servo control signals for R/C cars. There’s also a USB jack for a compact webcam. Joker Racer lets you use a web browser to drive cars on a closed course, and watch POV video from tiny cameras on-board each car.

There’s even an iPhone app coming in 2010 that lets you control cars using the iPhone’s motion sensors. In addition to being able to drive their remote-hosted cars, in future you’ll be able to buy your own Joker Racer R/C Server hardware for your own racecars.

Here’s a couple of videos showing off Joker Racer in action…

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Joker Racer’s website recently wrapped up its initial beta and is moving on to a full release in early November. For now, you’ll just have to sit back and enjoy some of the site’s pre-recorded clips and maybe remotely control the course webcam.

[via TechCrunch]

This Bioshock 2 EVE syringe is an exact replica of the nasty looking hypodermic implement found throughout the game. Not only does it look just like the decrepit genetic serum injector, but it glows an eerie blue when the lights go down. Extra-special-creepy there. Nice touch.

You too can get your hands on the EVE hypodermic prop over at UK retailer Play.com for £13.99 (appx. $23 USD). It’s not shipping until January 2010, just in time for the February release of the much-anticipated sequel.

Hooray for Plasmid power!

[via Nerd Approved]

It even comes with a magnetic pick for some strumming action, and an awesome mini amplifier that has “Think Geek” written on it using the same font that Marshall uses on its amps. Aside from controlling the volume, the amp also has a tone knob.

Ready to go beyond randomly waggling your fingers when you’re rocking out to your favorite song? Then get the Electronic Rock Guitar Shirt at ThinkGeek for just $30 (USD). Requires 4 AAA batteries, not included.

Each Roadkill stuffed animal comes packed in its own see-through body bag, complete with all of its plush and squishy guts pouring out of its body. They even throw in a death certificate and an “I heart Roadkill” bumper sticker in each bag.  The smashed menagerie includes Twitch the Racoon, Grind the Rabbit, and Splodge the Hedgehog (Sonic’s long-lost cousin?). There’s also Pop the Weasel, who’s not stuffed at all – rather a flat rubber door stop. (You can read their obituaries here.)

UK readers can find the entire series of squashed Roadkill toys over at the RoadkillToys website for £25.00 each. Live in the U.S.? The guys over at Charles & Marie are selling Roadkill animals for $40 (USD) each.

Okay actually the 2009 Baltic Robot Sumo Cup wasn’t illegal; in fact it was sponsored by major robotics companies like iRobot and ABB. 60 robots participated in 3 categories – Mini Sumo, 3 kg Sumo, and of course Roomba Sumo. But it was really held in Lithuania. And Roombas really do sneak off at night. They meet with other miniscule warriors and oshitaoshi the circuits out of each other. True story.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Of course the only move that these robots have is “push”, but I’m sure ten to fifteen years from now, when Roomba v. 10.10 or something will be out, and it’ll look like a human, only with 4 arms and missiles for fingers, we’ll all look back to these pioneers, and curse iRobot for coming up with the darned things, because obviously we’ll be the ones who are cleaning the Roomba’s homes at that point. So enjoy their limited functionality and their silent yet comedic fights, because it won’t last long folks. It won’t! What was I talking about? Oh right, android tennis! Awesome stuff.

[via BotJunkie]

I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw this. Jin made the Dr. McNinja figure using a Firefly head and an SDCC Destro body. The coat was taken from an ROC The Doctor figure,  while the sword and sheath are from a Paris Snake Eyes figure. The stethoscope was made with using headphone wire. Awesome awesome figure. Now I know that there’s an official RE 5 Chris Redfield action figure, but I want to show Jin’s mixing and matching (and painting) skills, so here’s Jin’s take on the zombie-slaying cop:

Chris Redfield is made of  a custom Chris head from Broken Arrows Toys, a Firefly/beach head body, Storm Shadow upper arms joined to Tiger Force Flint lower arms,  Resolute Duke hands and legs, and some custom weapons from Marauder Gun-Runners. Finally we have Jin’s Air Man. Even though Dr. McNinja is still my favorite Jin Saotome creation, special mention goes to Air Man, probably the most complex of Saotome’s action figures. Air Man’s chest fan actually works and is battery powered. And even if it didn’t, man, look at the details!

Air Man is made of the following: an Animated Wolverine Colossus sans head with sculpted eyes for the upper body, Astro Boy Peace Keeper arms and lower legs, and Accelerator Suit Snails upper legs and waist. Jin made Air Man’s fan using styrene sheeting and a Nokia cellphone vibration motor.  The magnetic Wind Gust was taken from a DCU Red Tornado action figure. Unfortunately some lucky bastard already owns Air Man, and Jin says he had an insanely difficult time with the figure so he won’t be making another Air Man anytime soon.

Jin regularly auctions off his creations on eBay; keep an eye on his item list if you don’t want to miss out on his auctions. Check out his website for more custom action figures. I want a Dr. McNinja action figure dammit!

[via gameSniped]

Nanotech’s Multipin is a digital pinball simulator, mashed-up with the physical look of a classic pinballer. The game is a full-sized pinball machine that provides electronic renditions of 17 pinball machines in a single cabinet. The system comes loaded with a number of original pinball games, as well as several modern remakes of classic Gottlieb pinball titles from the 1970s and 80s. And if 17 games aren’t enough Nanotech plans on offering upgrade packs with additional tables you can load in later.

Games are played on a large 32-inch 720p high-def LCD monitor that’s set into the playing surface under glass. Multipin not only looks like a pinball cabinet, the game is controlled with all of the classic trappings, a mechanical plunger, clicky flipper buttons, and a realistic audio experience which includes all of the sounds you’d expect to hear coming from a mechanical pinball machine. There are even digital motion sensors in the cabinet that let you nudge and shake the ball around (and eventually tilt the machine if you go too far). There’s also a second LCD screen under the machines backglass that’s used for displaying scores, game graphics, and the occasional mini-game.

Here’s some video from a recent episode of NBC’s TechNow showing off the Multipin in action:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The best thing about the Multipin? You can buy one for yourself – now. This isn’t vaporware, it’s a real thing. The $6000 (USD) machine is available now over at Hammacher Schlemmer. Sure, you’ll need some seriously deep pockets to buy one, but if you’re a serious pinball addict, you might want to put Multipin on your Christmas list this year.

So you can well imagine the raging jealousy I experienced after discovering these kick-ass Ratchet & Clank vinyl toys exist, but are not yet (and possibly won’t ever be) available to the public.

These vinyl renditions of Captain Quark, Ratchet, and Clank were made by Insomniac Games character artists Dave Guertin and Greg Baldwin, who also run a little website called “Creature Box” where they post various character and comic art they create – presumably off company time.

Recently, in the spirit of looming holidays and employee gift giving, they decided to take their artwork three-dimensional and collaborated with Gentle Giant to make a series of a number of these Ratchet & Clank vinyl sculptures for the good folks at Insomniac Games. Color me jealous!

Unfortunately, according to their blog post Dave and Greg are “Not sure if these will ever be released to the public, for now they are just for employees.”

Insert frowny face.

[via Kotaku]

Staying true to it’s digital origins, Thompson made the banhammer using 3D printing. Thompson also says that it’s a “speldge” hammer. I don’t know what that is, so I’ll just assume that it’s the sound produced when the hammer is brought down on mortal flesh.

Thompson was kind enough to post instructions on making a banhammer, but if you’re not familiar with 3D modeling the instructions won’t make sense. Hey Chris, maybe you should try making a disemvoweler too.

[via Boing Boing]

The set comes with a pair of wired remote controls, and wheeled versions of Sonic and Tails to race around the 4-foot oval loop track. The guys over at Sonic fanblog Emerald Coast got their hands on a set, and weren’t that thrilled with how frequently Sonic goes flying off the rails though. Somehow Tails manages to stay on the track better. Go figure. I blame Dr. Robotnik.

The Super Sonic Racing System is available from UK retailer Play.com for £8.99 (appx. $15 USD). Frankly, I think this would have been way cooler if it had some crazy loops and corkscrews on the track. Oh well, what do you want for $15 bucks?

[via Nerd Approved]