What happens next? Well, check out the video below – when a camera views the barcode, it’s transformed into a flying dragon.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The augmented reality tattoo was developed by the Buenos Aries based ThinkAnApp studio. They developed specialized software to recognize the AR barcode on a curved surface like an arm.

[via Designboom]

I have to admit, Brando’s Fire Dragon gamepad would look pretty sweet… if it wasn’t, y’know, a game controller. That bumpy texture, that angry glowing light, the slick bejeweled sticks–it’s like reading a recipe for distraction and failure. If you ever need to throw a game, this may be the controller you need to wield. You’ll only be suspected of having bad taste.

If you like dragons and hate winning, you can pick up one of these USB controllers for $29 (USD).

Gregory Weir’s How to Raise a Dragon offers very simple choices, but every one seems to have an effect, and there’s a lot you can do with your dragon in such a barebones game. Color and abilities are set early on, and after that… well, I don’t want to spoil things for you.

How to Raise a Dragon is an excellent browser-based diversion with a lot of replay value, and that alone would be enough to set it apart from many similar games. And it’s about dragons. Really, what more do you need?

[via IndieGames]

Each handmade dragon starts out as a piece of tin plate, which is cut into pieces and then fashioned to become the dragon’s parts. Once the parts are done, they are soldered by hand and fitted with a “nickel-plated brass boiler double-acting Wilesco steam engine”. After being painted and embellished by hand, Tucher + Walther’s deliverymen ride on horseback, and sometimes even walk to customers’ houses to deliver the dragon. Kidding.

The steam powered dragon is actually a collectible – only 100 units were made. I’m sure you know the formula by now: Handmade + limited edition =  freaking expensive. The tin dragon sells for $1,500 USD. That’s right, a steam-powered piece of tin that costs more than the Wii + Xbox 360 + the PS3 + DSi +PSP combined. I’m sure your kid will like this dragon even less when you tell him that.

But if you’re little one is interested in mechanical stuff or if you’re into this sort of thing then go ahead, go to pucciManuli and let the dragon puff your money away.

[via Nerd Approved]

WHAT’S UP. WHAT IS UP. Some guy named John got this as his birthday cake. Fortunately his friend Astro-Lopithecus shot these wonderful pictures before the filthy humans attacked the helpless creature.

Look at that stupid grin. They probably drugged him to coax him out of his cottage-cheese cottage. Or maybe he paid for his debts with his life, what with his meager treasure.

Or maybe he died and was cakefied while protecting his ginormous D20. Astro-Lopithecus also took pics of the aftermath, but I refuse to defile the memory of the Cake Dragon with such barbaric images. A commenter on Astro-Lopithecus’ Flickr account claims that the Dragon Cake was made by Mike’s Amazing Cakes, but that’s nothing more than a rumor. False claims. Tall tales. Mark my words: Cake Dragons exist.

[via Boing Boing]

Designed by UK studio Axelsson Design, these awesome dragon speakers look like something that belong in the villain’s lair in a John Woo film. The 2-way speakers are made from sturdy polyurethane plastic cabinets, and bass is actually ported through the mouth of each dragon (no fire breathing, however). Both the 1-inch tweeter and 4-inch woofer are provided by respected audio manufacturer Peerless.

The speakers measure about 15.4-inches tall, and are available in gloss black, white or candy apple red finishes. Axelsson also says they’ll embellish them in a color of your choice if you have something else in mind (how about something really off the wall, like a GREEN dragon?)

A pair of Axelsson’s dragon speakers will set you back $940 USD.

[via Home Theater Blog]

Smart Design’s Dragon I iPod dock has a unique style that certainly isn’t shy. For starters, the sound system has a bold red and black gloss color scheme perfectly suited to the U2 special edition iPod (but should look good with any black iPod.) Then it’s got some crazy “tentacles” which each have a 5-watt speaker at the end of a flexible rod. The design also features a cozy little drawer to store the systems’ compact remote control.

While the Dragon I looks best with an appropriately styled iPod, you can also dock pretty much any MP3 player with a mini stereo connector. It should be available in Europe sometime in April, and willcost