Reed Bond's 'Pink Yoshi'

Remember the "Sexy Shy Guy" I wrote about a few days ago? (Check it out here if you don't.) Well, it appears it was part of some sort of concerted effort by the folks behind the Drawed Goods site to illustrate characters from the Super Mario Bros. universe.

Another of the pieces created as part of the aforementioned effort is the one seen below (and here):

It was made by Atlanta-based artist Reed Bond and is, in my humble opinion, the definition of "adorbs." (I'm especially fond of Yoshi's side-eye.)

To see more of Bond's work, hop on over to his tumblr--reedicule.tumblr.com--when you have a second. Also, I'd highly recommend checking out drawedgoods.com while you're at it.

Super Marilyn Clouds

You know what I'd do this weekend if I lived in Atlanta? I'd drag the hubs to the Emily Amy Gallery on Saturday evening so I could take in Ashley Anderson's "Shinobi Marilyn" exhibition, that's what.

Why did Anderson call his first solo show, "Shinobi Marilyn," you ask? According to the Emily Amy Gallery's website, he chose the strange moniker because he was "inspired by an online discovery of imagery embedded in a classic Sega video game from 1987 (Shinobi). Convinced the appearance of Marilyn Monroe in the game was a posthumous tribute to Andy Warhol created by the game designer in 1980s Japan, Anderson sought to explore the subject further."

(For more on what prompted Anderson to focus on this head-scratcher of a subject, read Henry Detweiler's informative interview with him over at burnaway.org.)

A series of 10 digital collages will be featured as part of the "Shinobi Marilyn" exhibit, including the following trio:

According to Anderson, the second of the three pieces above was inspired by fellow artist Cory Arcangel, whose most famous creation also incorporated cloud sprites pulled from the first Super Mario Bros. (On a related note, I'm pretty sure the third piece is made up of coin sprites taken from the same game.)

Want to know more about this Atlanta-based artist? Check out his blog, his Facebook page and his Flickr photostream.

This one's for the ladies

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1oddgent's Boo, Kirby and Tron stickers

In an effort to thank me for mentioning him and his art on this blog on a few occasions, artist Dan Taub (aka 1oddgent) recently sent me a pack of stickers featuring some of his awesome creations.

The subject of leftmost sticker in the image below isn't a character from a video game, although I could see him being one. (He'd seem especially at home in a brain-training or puzzle game, don't you think?) The subjects of the remaining two stickers, on the other hand, should be instantly recognizable--despite their somewhat abstract redesigns.

For those of you who are scratching your heads: Boo from the Super Mario Bros. series is the subject of the sticker in the upper-right corner of the image above, while Kirby is the focus of the bottom-most sticker.

Taub also sent me the Tron-inspired sticker seen below. I especially like the pink "1UP" that's stamped on the gal's/guy's/thing's helmet.

All of the stickers above have been printed on white vinyl sticker paper and are about three inches square. Well, except for the Tron-inspired one, which is about three-and-a-half inches by four-and-a-half inches.

If you know a surface that's just begging to be plastered with a bunch of awesome stickers, hop on over to the 1oddgent etsy shop and pick up a pack or two (or three).

See also: 'Boo-tiful, just boo-tiful' and 'I love air, too, Susumu Hori'

The awesome alternate covers of the Nintendo 3DS Card Case 18

About a month ago, Nintendo of Japan added to its Club Nintendo reward stash something called the Nintendo 3DS Card Case 18.

Admittedly, the item's name isn't the most creative--although it is descriptive. (As you've probably already guessed, the Nintendo 3DS Card Case 18 is an accessory that holds up to 18 DS and/or 3DS cards.)

I don't know this for sure, but I have a feeling the case's name is lacking in creativity because its designers focused all of their attention on its awesome alternate covers.

You see, although the case's standard cover, seen in the photo above, is a bit bland, its alternate covers (each "order" comes with three of them) are anything but. For example, here's one that includes sprites from The Legend of Zelda:

Additional covers--featuring Bowser, Mario, Pikmin's Olimar and more--can be seen in this Flickr photo set.

These cases are now available via the North American Club Nintendo "shop," too, by the way. They're called "Nintendo 3DS Game Card Cases" (I guess the "18" part was too exciting for them) in this region, but the alternate covers appear to be the same.

The Great Gaymathon Review #49: Super Mario Bros. (Famicom)

Game: Super Mario Bros.

Genre: Platformer

Developer: Nintendo

Publisher: Nintendo

System: Famicom

Release date: 1985

My question to anyone who owns a Famicom (or an NES) but doesn't own a copy of this game: What on earth is wrong with you? I know a large number of "must own" titles were released for Nintendo's first world-conquering console, but this one is the granddaddy of them all, and no Famicom/NES collection is complete without it. There are countless good reasons for that, of course, with the main one being that the game is supremely playable (and enjoyable) thanks to Shigeru Miyamoto and company's masterful programming--which makes all of the running and jumping and everything else in Super Mario Bros. feel so sublime--and level design. (Anna Anthropy, aka auntie pixelante, expertly expounds on the latter abilities in this blog post, by the way.) There's more behind the game's must-own status than that, though, or at least there is for me. I believe that another reason so many people have been enamored by Mario's first console outing over the years is how surreal it is. I mean, it's a bit like playing a dream, isn't it? A bizarre dream, admittedly, but a dream nonetheless. How else would you describe a game in which a mustachioed plumber battles walking mushrooms and flying turtles and once in a while plucks a flower from the ground that allows him to shoot bouncing balls of fire on his way to rescuing a princess named Peach?

See also: Previous 'Great Gaymathon' posts

Manual Stimulation: Super Mario Bros. (Famicom)

I'd be hard pressed to call Super Mario Bros.' instruction manual disappointing, but I'd definitely call it a bit underwhelming considering the status the game has achieved since its release in 1985.

Still, I think it's nice enough to highlight in one of these "Manual Stimulation" posts--thanks in large part to its not-at-all-stingy use of illustrations and sprite art.

You may want to skip past the next few scans (as always, click on them for a closer look) if all you're interested in are the above-mentioned illustrations and sprites, by the way, as Nintendo's designers take their sweet time getting to them.







In fact, the first one that's at all worth mentioning doesn't appear until the manual's seventh page. Sure, it's a wonky drawing showing regular Mario and super Mario both standing still and jumping, but it's better than a bunch of text, don't you think?

It's like a bad Christmas sweater, but better

I can't remember with any certainty the last time I owned any kind of Christmas sweater, be it of the bad or good (is there such a thing?) variety, but I think it was back when I was a pre-teen and I think it (the sweater) had reindeers sashaying across the chest.

Well, I'd proudly own (and even wear) one again if said sweater used the t-shirt design below, created by Tim Shumate and called "8Bit Christmas," as a source of inspiration.



As a t-shirt, though, I'm not sure what I think about it. Oh, it's creative and interesting and all that, but I honestly couldn't see myself buying it and wearing it around town. How about you?

(Via gonintendo.com)

Mario's mad mushroom man

Have you ever wondered how all of the power-ups that dot the Mushroom Kingdom landscape got to be placed within question blocks?

Artist Dan Taub (aka 1oddgent) has, and the result of his daydreaming is the decidedly creepy t-shirt design seen below (and here).

If you're a daring sort, check out oneoddgentleman.com to take a closer look and this mad mushroom man's Pac-Man-like eyes razor-sharp teeth.

Sadly, the t-shirt Taub is wearing in the photo above isn't yet available via his etsy shop. If you're itching to buy something of his, though, may I suggest picking up one of his "Arsenal of Power-Ups" prints?

See also: More of 1oddgent's art

Boo-tiful, just boo-tiful

Dan Taub (aka 1oddgent) is quickly becoming one of my favorite etsy artists/sellers.

His Mr. Driller-inspired piece, "i <3 air," introduced me to Taub's abilities just over two months ago, while his most recent piece, below, has solidified his brilliance in my mind.


                                          "Death, Color, and Ghosts," by Dan Taub

Now, I'm not completely sure what's going on in this illustration--are the King Boo's tears creating the primary-colored Boos above/behind him?--but who really cares when said illustration looks so cool, right?

Five-inch-by-seven-inch prints (on natural linen paper) can be purchased from the 1oddgent shop for apiece, by the way. While you're there, check out Taub's similarly awesome Tanooki Mario print, too.

Another day, another Super Mario Bros. t-shirt

Does the t-shirt design below look familiar to you? It should--if you've been visiting this blog for a while. After all, I mentioned it three months ago (in this post) when it was up for a vote on threadless.com.



Although it seems like the folks at Threadless have decided to pass on the design, the folks at TeeFury have not. In fact, light-blue tees bearing the design above--produced by Los Angeles-based artist herky, aka Flickr user Lucky1988--are being sold (for just $10) as we speak.

TeeFury shirts are only sold for 24 hours, so if the idea of owning and wearing a tee featuring a Ski-Doo-riding Blooper and a surfing Bullet Bill tickles your fancy, get your butt over to teefury.com pronto.

More steamy shots of the Super Studly Mario Bros.

Do you remember this post about the upcoming issue of MUTO Manifesto magazine that will feature on its cover two rather attractive men dressed in form-fitting Mario Bros. drag? Of course you do. (If you don't, re-acquaint yourself with it by clicking on the link embedded in the previous sentence.)

Well, that issue, the online magazine's second, is now available (here) for your reading and viewing pleasure. The photo above is just one of 16 included in the cover story, titled "Kiss & Tell," by the way. (Full disclosure: Most of the others probably wouldn't be considered safe for work.)

(Via videogamesmademegay.tumblr.com)

'Fire flowers don't always sit well'

After Mario picks up a fire flower, does he eat it or hold onto it? Also, does said flower allow him to spit fireballs or throw them?

The t-shirt design below makes me think the answers to the questions above are: 1) He holds onto it and 2) It allows him to throw them.

I bring that up because before I saw Dave Mercier's (aka MercWorks') design this morning I honestly thought Mario ate these strange little flowers and then spit fireballs at his enemies.

Anyway, if you like Mercier's design as much as I do, vote for it at threadless.com before the end of the day.

Super Maui-o Bros.

I don't know what the weather is like in your neck of the woods, but here in Seattle it's cloudy and cool and summer seems to be at least a month (if not more) away.

As such, I'm finding myself attracted to anything and everything that makes me think of the sun and warmth these days--which may explain my excited reaction upon seeing the t-shirt design below this morning.  

Besides the setting, my favorite aspects of the design above--called "Super Maui-O!" and created by Flickr user Lucky1988--are the Blooper riding the Ski-Doo in the upper-right corner, the surfing Bullet Bill to the left of the flip-flop-sporting Mario and the Toad squeezing sunscreen on the toothy Goomba in the center of the illustration.

If you'd like to own a t-shirt bearing this design, vote on it in the next seven days at threadless.com.

Move over, Marilyn

Have you ever looked at Princess Peach and thought, "hmmm, she really reminds me of Marilyn Monroe"? I can't say I have, either.

I'll certainly be thinking that from now on, though, thanks to the following piece of pixelated art--title: "The Seven Year Peach"--which was created by London-based designer and illustrator Aled Lewis (aka fatheed).

To see more of Lewis' stuff, check out his Flickr photostream, his tumblog (Aled Knows Best) or his website.

See also: 'This one's for the ladies' and 'Size doesn't matter if you can perfect the Rising Dragon Punch'

This ain't yo' mama's version of the Super Mario Bros. theme

Are these guys--the ones who make up the bluegrass group, The Cleverlys--for real? Based on their name and the bio on their website, I'm not so sure, but I don't really care.

What I do care about is that they play a mean version of the Super Mario Bros. theme song.



To hear more of their stuff, including this rather awesome cover of Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)," check out their official YouTube channel.

(Via gonintendo.com)

'Pipe Dream'

The following, Super Mario Bros.-inspired t-shirt can be picked up for just $10 at teefury.com--if you visit the site in the next 10 or so hours. (The online retailer's tagline is "tee today, gone tomorrow," for a reason!)

Dutch artist Mathijs Vissers is responsible for the design, which Vissers calls "an homage to one of the most awesome games ever," by the way. Check out more of his stuff here.

(Via gonintendo.com)

I've never been so jealous of a bottle-cap collector

I've been called a lot of things in my lifetime, but "bottle-cap collector" isn't one of them.

I'd gladly answer to that title, though, if it meant I could lay claim to even a few of the 30 or so Super Mario Bros. bottle caps Pepsi placed on its Japanese products in 2005.



Although I think my favorite (of the ones I've seen) is the Cheep-Cheep cap above, all of them are pretty cool.

To see more of these drool-worthy collectibles, check out this post over at famicomblog.blogspot.com.

The one and only reason I wish I were in Los Angeles right now

Although I'm really not an LA kind of guy, I wish I could be in the City of Angels this coming weekend. The reason: That's when Giant Robot's "Water Works" exhibition, which will benefit UNICEF and child victims of the earthquake in Japan, will kick off at the GR2 Gallery.

One of the many pieces that will be displayed--and likely sold--during the exhibition is Jude Buffum's Super Mario Bros.-inspired "Minus World."

On Flickr, the Philadelphia-based Buffum says that 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to UNICEF.

While we're on the subject of helping the folks in Japan, Sean over at famicomblog.blogspot.com recently committed himself (in this post) to donating his entire gaming budget for the next year to a charitable organization helping his compatriots.

I don't really have a gaming budget (much to my husband's chagrin), but I am going to donate some money to this cause. If you'd like to do the same, and if you're at all uncomfortable giving money to the Red Cross, a good choice seems to be Doctors Without Borders, which allocates more than 85 percent of donated funds to program activities.

8-bit terrariums

When "Game Over IV," the show at Giant Robot San Francisco that "pays homage to the continuous evolution of videogames and their massive influence on popular culture," opens on March 4 (it runs through the end of the month), it will include a trio of "8-bit terrariums" created by Philadelphia-based artist Jude Buffum.

The terrarium below, "Toadstool Terrarium," was inspired by Super Mario Bros., while Buffum's other 8-bit terrariums--"Belmont Terrarium" and "Hyrule Terrarium"--were inspired by Castlevania and The Legend of Zelda, respectively.

On his blog, Buffum explains what prompted these earthly endeavors.

"I am actually a bit of a terrarium enthusiast myself, so this idea sort of evolved naturally from that interest. I see a lot of similarities between video games and terrariums; they are both closed systems that seek to nurture and sustain an entire world within a small viewing space. And I get equal enjoyment out of interacting and watching both."

Prints of each of the above-mentioned pieces can be purchased--for between $40 and $70--from Buffum's online shop.