Instead of pushing buttons like the old games, LOOPZ uses a set of infrared beam sensors to detect when you place your hand through four semi-circular rings. The game comes with 7 gameplay modes, and lets you play with 1 to 4 players. Game modes include Music Studio, Freestyle DJ, Musicology, Reflex Master, Versus mode, Rhythm and Flow, and Repeat the Beat. The multi-player mode even lets players  create their own patterns to try and outsmart their rivals. While most of the modes are just variants on the old “Simon Says,” there’s a bit more variety with the rhythm-matching games which test not only your memory, but your timing too. Here’s a fun little video showing off how you can even use LOOPZ Music Studio mode to make your own tunes.

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I got to play with a LOOPZ unit for a little while, and have to say it really is a fun diversion from today’s crowded market of casual video games. I can only imagine if I were a kid, I’d enjoy it even more. The only thing I’d like to see is the addition of tracks from popular artists. The built-in generic techno loops did nothing for me. Heck, if Mattel made add-on memory sticks with additional artists, they could extend the replay value of this thing quite a bit.

LOOPZ is available now over at Amazon for $29.99 (USD).

Each pattern sells for $3.50 (USD), but you can order any two of them for $6, or go Pokemon master and catch ‘em all for $26. Go to LucyRavenscar’s Etsy shop to place your order.

Don’t know how to crochet? Well then learn! Too lazy to learn? Previously featured Geek Central Station is selling actual Star Wars amigurumi, although LucyRavenscar’s creations are a wee bit cuter because they have mouths. Teeny tiny smiling mouths.

[via Crafty Crafty]

It’s so soft! So cushy! So eerily suggestive! Seriously, a little color variation or something might have kept the ship from looking so phallic. Did Serenity look like that in space? Oh well, I guess it just makes this ship hug-proof, so it can sit on a shelf and be admired.

And if you happen to have a little shelf space of your own and a pair of ready knitting needles, you can whip one of these up for your own browncoat self, since there’s a free pattern available. Firefly fans are a generous lot.

[via Geek Central Station]

Not to be outdone by the classic Atari Video Music synth, Pete Edwards of Casper Electronics put together this highly modded Nintendo Entertainment System capable of cranking out a wide variety of hypnotic and just plain weird video patterns.

By adding a patch bay and connecting them to various locations on the video processing chips, the images on screen can be modified by interconnecting the patch points or by feeding in external signals.

Here’s a video of the circuit bent NES being controlled by signals from Pete’s modular synth:

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You can also achieve similar effects from your NES by smashing it with a hammer while plugged in – for at least 10 seconds. Check out the complete worklog here.

[via Make:]

Designed by artist Markus Lerner for lighting company OSRAM, the installation samples traffic patterns and maps them onto seven colorful light towers side of the road, each containing over 110,000 individual LEDs.

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The waves at the bottom of each panel represent the amount of traffic that has recently passed, while a “spark” that flashes across each screen whenever a new car passes by. The more cars that pass the sensors, the bigger the waves, and the faster the motion.

The installation is currently on display alongside Munich, Germany’s highly-congested Mittlerer Ring, a thoroughfare that conveniently happens to be right in front of OSRAM’s headquarters.

[via today in art]

To play Konami’s music pattern matching game, pop open the ladybug-like wings on the Be-Mouse controller to access the game’s nine buttons. As the colored indicators fall down the screen, you tap frantically on the buttons to keep up with the music.

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It plays out much like the chord pattern interface on Guitar Hero and other familiar music games. While you might think it’s just another GH clone, it’s actually based on the popular Japanese Pop ‘N Music arcade series which dates all the way back to 1998.

While you can use the mouse for other computer activities, it’s a bit unwieldy for most things. I certainly can’t imagine using this thing to navigate around Excel spreadsheets, but to each his own, I suppose. Importer Play-Asia is now taking orders for the game and controller package for $69.90.

The system used an array of thousands of individual mechanical irises, each designed to react to the amount of light in front of it. The darker the subject, the wider the aperture would open, resulting in a real-time halftone effect.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Designed by Berlin interactive artists Gunnar Green and Frederic Eyl, Aperture never made it past the prototype stage. It’s a really cool idea, reminiscent of the mechanical mirrors of Daniel Rozin, and I hope someday they decide to resurrect it for more of us to see up close.

TV2ART’s Lightascope attaches to the front of your flat panel television and transforms moving images into a work of abstract modern art. The Lightascope hooks onto your screen using a special non-adhesive “nanotechnology micro-suction” tape (that sure sounds fancy!) so it won’t damage your display. The artworks are even designed to provide visual interest when when your TV is turned off.

Lightascope panels come in a variety of different patterns and in 32-inch ($99), 42-inch ($149) and 50-inch ($199) sizes. Each one comes with a special protective artist’s portfolio case for storage when not attached to the front of your set.

It sure beats having to watch an episode of Two and a Half Men or Gilmore Girls.

[via MocoLoco]