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]

Modder Trstn18 created his SNEGENES P handheld with the parts from an authentic “mini” SNES, and a Gen-X clone machine. The whole thing is set into a custom see-through case so you can see all the electronic goodness inside. While I wouldn’t necessarily call a system that’s 8.6-inches wide, 5.4-inches tall and 1-inch thick “handheld”, it’s still a pretty great mod job.

The SNEGENES P is powered by six 2600mAh batteries, which let it play for somewhere around 5 to 7 hours on a single charge. There’s also composite video and stereo audio outputs, which let Trstn play his favorite games on a TV. And yes, Virginia, it can play actual cartridges from these retro systems – unfortunately, the rear of the SNEGENES is a bit of a hot mess:

Here’s a brief video clip showing off the SNEGENES P in action:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Now why the video clip is backwards, I have no idea. Maybe it’s because “snegenes” sounds like a backwards chant you’d hear in a subliminal message on a Beatles record. Just hold your computer up to a mirror and you can watch it properly.

[via Ben Heck Forums]

Of course, if you’re not a smoker, you can still take the old man along with you; he doubles, in this incarnation, as a card case or a very thin wallet. See, not only is he helpful, he’s also useful.

Best of all? He’s pretty cheap. You can get your hands on this versatile case for a mere $15. It’ll go really well with all those nifty lighters we’ve seen of late.

These Rubik’s pixel portraits by Irish artist John Quigley are truly mind-boggling. Not only did he have to map out the precise pixel positions for each cube in these creations, he had to rotate the sides of each cube into exactly the correct color scheme to make it all work. To put it all in perspective, the Space Invaders scene above required a whopping 1,330 cubes.

And while Sonic only took 784 cubes to get his spiky blue hairdo, he’s still cool in my book. Not all of John’s creations require hundreds or even thousands of cubes either. Check out this Pac-Man scene, created from just 102 cubes – it still gets the point across just fine.

And Mario is no less fun, even though he only consumed 24 Rubik’s Cubes.

For obvious reasons, I’m drawn to his retro video game pixel creations, but I couldn’t leave you guys without showing you John’s unbelievable 2,622 cube portrait of Barack Obama.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Be sure to check out all of John’s amazing Rubik’s Cube creations over at the Neo-literal Cubist’s flickr page. He can also solve a Rubik’s Cube in 44 seconds.

Of course, if you prefer a different shade of green or perhaps a nice red, no worries–there’s a fleece hat for all tastes, so long as those tastes involve Nintendo characters. If you have to have something more absurdly elaborate, there are even Kingdom Hearts hats available from the same Etsy shop.

You’ll pay through the nose (head?) for one of those fancier numbers, however–that Kingdom Hearts hat is $50, compared to an average of $26 for the other available designs.

Sadly, all pointy ears sold separately.

Look at those muscles! Look at that intensity! Surely the other side can’t be quite this badass, right?

I’m pretty sad right now that this isn’t my Xbox 360. I’m pretty sure the only thing that’s better than this custom shell would be, say, an actual planet named Plun-Darr or something.

[via Xbox Freedom via Gamefreaks]

The sequel to the far-reaching Mass Effect is due out in January, and if you’re willing to drop the extra cash, you can pick up an art book, a DVD, and a comic book, all packed into a pretty tin box. The superplusgood edition will be available for $69.99 (Xbox 360) or $59.99 (PC).

As for the in-game Collectors, they are an advanced insectoid race prepared to throw down some nastiness against your Commander Shepherd. They’ll be joined by Abominations (super Husks), Batorians (a flying formation of Husks, quite possibly the scariest idea ever), and Scions, some crazy zombie-fied humans grafted onto weapons. Those sound a little more like Abominations to me.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[via Joystiq]

If you’ve seen the trailers before then you’re probably familiar with the graphics, but I believe this is our first glimpse at the HUD and controls of the game. Also, BIG-ASS SWORD!

I don’t know why this dude and his MegaBastard Sword only appears at the very beginning of the game – although it seemed like whoever was playing could control Sir Huge Sword here, note that the HUD is absent – but according to 1UP’s Kevin Gifford, players will be able to customize and  swing huge swords. But of course, even heroes have to start somewhere – here’s the puny little fight stick the king gives the hero as he starts on his quest:

According to the same 1UP article that I linked to above, players will be able to choose from three archetypes – the Hero, the Prince, and the Adventurer. If you like none of those three, you can make your own hero, dot by dot, and even customize its animation. Going back to the footage, here’s the world map, which is very reminiscent of Link’s Map in the first Zelda, except that this one is pseudo-3D:

All in all, the game does have a very old school feel, but the cute graphics will probably lure in kids as well. Gamersyde is have bandwidth problems so they’ve disabled embedding for now, meaning I can’t post the video here, but all you have to do is go here to watch the high quality version, and here for the low quality one. You can also download the video if you want.  The Japanese version of 3D Dot Game Heroes just dropped this week; a North American release is coming, but we don’t know when exactly.

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.

I shudder to think of it.

Actually, there’s no telling just what Jimmy Buffett’s brand might be used for in a gaming sense, but one thing is fact: Margaritaville has been trademarked for use in video games. I’m calling it now: nothing good can come from this. I’m almost pleased there aren’t any more details available. The truth will probably be too horrible to contemplate, and right now, I’m contemplating a lot.

[via Joystiq]

Created in celebration of Pac-Man’s impending 30th birthday (boy, I feel old), these limited-edition series of Zippo lighters from Banpresto includes shiny, butane-filled versions of Pac-Man, Galaxian, Xevious and Dig Dug. Each one features the pixelated likenesses of the classic 8-bit games – although I have to say I like the tiny little tactile Galaxians the best. Although I would argue that Galaga was the true classic. And while I don’t smoke, I’ll buy just about anything with Dig Dug on it, so I’m sold.

They sell for ¥8400 (appx. $93 USD) each, so I guess I’ll have to skip meals this week so I can afford one. For now, I’ve only found these in Japan, but hopefully somebody will export these for all to enjoy. Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.

Created by stained glass artist Radiant Art, this stained glass super ’shroom was created as an homage to the classic 8-bit Super Mario Bros. series. Instead of being made from pixels, it’s made from colorful glass. The piece was created from over 80 individual pieces of glass and comes in a 15-inch square zinc frame – I’m pretty sure there was no zinc in the Mushroom Kingdom. All I remember is gold coins. So much for accuracy. Feh.

So if you’re looking for some art to complement your other Mario decor, you can find the super mushroom stained glass window over on Radiant Art’s Etsy shop for $175 (USD). While you’re over there, be sure to say hello to Pac-Man.

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]

Baby and Me comes with a doll, but not just any doll. This doll features a slot for the Wii remote so that the game can track feeding, playing, and excessive shaking motions. Watch for the sequel: Chiild Protective Services and Me. The game also features Balance Board support so that you can rock baby to sleep.

Just remember to remove the baby before you take on something else, like Wii Sports boxing.

[via 1UP]

Now, at this point, you may be thinking “colorful? huh?” I know, the two shades of blue does not a rainbow make. But not only does this particular little Mega Man glow oh-so-brightly, his color scheme can be changed as well. Sometimes, you just have to power up.

The tiny (less than an inch and a half!) Mega Man LED fashion plate was made simply, from construction paper and plastic from CD cases, which means you can do this yourself if you can handle a little pixel art (and also put in the LEDs).

[via Tiny Cartridge]