Re-Pivot

May 23, 2013Blogging, DrossLeave a comment

Ok, so I got overly ambitious a few months back. I thought it would be cool to turn this lame blog into something important – something meaningful to the world, you know, life-effecting, politically charged and deep. I thought it would be cool to make a blog about 8 Bit culture.

They say you should make stuff you would want to buy. So hey, I love all that 1980′s pixely fun. But it boxed me in.

Then I got bored with it. Then I stopped.

Then I was stuck because I didn’t have a place to just write anymore. I got sad. Not Hyperbole And A Half sad. No.

Alas I Re-pivot (or is it just pivoting?).

I head back to the Dross, that of the Dazzling Digital variety.

I feel better already…

8 Bit Rose

January 25, 20138 bit, productsLeave a comment

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, there was a plumber with a fantastic mustache, a brave left-handed warrior with a pointy hat, and a bounty hunter whose suit allows her to morph into a ball and roll through small spaces. What do they all have in common? They all needed a romantic gift for a special someone to show just how much they care. ThinkGeek is here with the perfect gift for your princess, plumber, or Player 2. The 8-Bit Rose sprouts from its 8-Bit pipe-vase and its bright red petals never wilt. Due to super-secret pipe-vase technology it never requires watering, either! It will bloom forever and ever, just like your 8-Bit love. Product Specifications The ultimate gift for your Player 2: a beautiful 8-Bit Rose! Fold-out stand for displaying on a desk or table Table decor for an 8-Bit or Gamer-themed wedding reception Materials: Durable EVA foam Dimensions: 9.5″ tall x 4″ wide

Buy 8-Bit Rose here.

How to Delete Your Instagram Account

December 19, 2012InstagramLeave a comment

I’m pretty mad. I use Instagram. I have children who use Instagram. I don’t like their new TOS policy. I don’t like their clarification. I don’t like that they say they listen to us. I don’t like it Sam I Am. Instagram wants to reserve the right to sell my photos and your photos and your children’s photos to third parties for ads and oh, they don’t even need to tell me, you and us.

So let’s take action.

If you would like to delete your account and find something better start here:

1. First you can download all your all of your photos, because after all they are pretty cool photos, to your computer. You can down load all your Instagram photos using Instaport’s website.

2. Then you can get to the good stuff and permantly kill, delete and remove your Instagram account Forevs.

It does not appear as though you can delete your account from the Instagram App. I believe you can only delete your account via their website. To delete your Instagram account click there “I want to delete my account” page. You will need to have your username and password handy so you can log on to their site to delete your account.

3. Tweet @instagram that you deleted your account and why. Boom.

4. Find an alternative to Instagram. In my opinion the front runner and best photo taking, photo filter and photo share iPhone App is Snapseed. You can download Snapseed here and it’s free.

Let’s not forget those photo collecting vets, Flickr. They’ve released a new version of their apps. What did they add on this new release? Filters, of course! You can download Flickr iPhone App free here.

I’ll add more as I research more Instagram alternatives. Know of any other good ones?

Now back to 8 bit goodness…

Street Fighter X Mega Man in 8-Bit Free Download!

December 18, 20128 bit, Chiptune, computer gamesLeave a comment

Street Fighter X Mega Man; a free downloadable game is available celebrate the Blue Bomber’s 25th (!) Anniversary.

This 8 bit version is available absolutely free as a downloadable game from Capcom:

“Having fought countless robot masters over the years, Mega Man is ready to lay back, relax and enjoy his 25th Anniversary. Getting wind of this, Ryu and his fellow Street Fighters want one last battle before they let their own anniversary finish. Charge up your mega busters and stretch out your lightning legs, this is Street Fighter® X Mega Man®!”

The game play should be pretty cool. And you can enjoy that classic 8 bit graphic look and feel along with fantastic 8 bit retro sounds.

Now go download Street Fighter X Mega Man in 8-Bit Free now!

Warm up your Desktop the Pixely Way

December 15, 20128 bit, computer gamesLeave a comment

I downloaded this list app on my Mac and had a pretty good little chuckly. I even rounded up the fam and we all pretended to roast some 8 bit marshmallows.

First, you need to type the word “fireplace” to access the fireplace. Then you need to type “log” to add a log. Then of course you type “match” to light it up.

Ahh! There we go. Cozy isn’t it?

Pretty cute and it’s free. There is also a paid version where you can type other words like “Marshmallow” and even “Firecracker!”

You can get the Free version of Pixel Fireplace here.

Perfect for your Christmas morning unwrapping of your new MacBook.

Getting to0 toasty? Just hit your escape key and water will douse out your fire.

Re-imagined Modern Video Games as NES Cartridges

December 12, 2012computer games, Pixel Art, productsLeave a comment

The beauty of pixel art is that it can turn modern life in retro re-imagined awesomeness (not sure that even made sense, but you get the idea).

The 72 Pins people have created some very nice re-imagined video games, amoung other things, as NES cartridges. Only you can actually buy them! They are not real games of course, but these sweet looking faux cartridges would look great on any 8 bit shelf (like mine).

Here are a few of my favs:

Super Meet Boy NES Cartridge

World of Warcraft NES Cartridge

Doom NES Cartridge

Angry Birds NES Cartridge

Grand Theft Auto NES Cartridge

You can buy all of these and more on 72 Pins found via Vulture.

8 Bit Generation Documentary MIA

December 12, 20128 bit, MoviesLeave a comment

So sad. It appears this potentially great documentary called “8 Bit Generation” may never be. Oh well, at least we have a couple very cool and promising movie trailers…

8 bit generation: trailer “home computer invasion”

8 bit generation: trailer “playing the revolution”

Great looking documentary on the foundings of 8 Bit computers.

Found on, ASCII by Jason Scott via Hacker News.

8 Bit Flower Bouquet, DIY Style

December 9, 20128 bit, productsLeave a comment

Those geeky geeks over at Think Geek have this great looking 8 Bit Flower Bouquet, you know, a special geeky gift for that special geeky girlfriend of yours.

Well, if you are ultra broke and uber handy you can make one! Check out this DIY video on how to make an 8 Bit Flower Bouquet.

She goes to a lot of effort in drawing the graphic by hand and I like how she creates the outline grid but you could make thin in a fraction of the time if you drew this in Adobe Illustrator and printed it out. Just sayin’.

If you are not interested in a DIY project but love the 8-bit Flower Bouquet you can buy it here.

Fix It Felix Jr. iOS Game True to the Movie

December 9, 20128 bit, Blogging, iOS gamesLeave a comment

Well it was bound to happen. The fictional game Fix It Felix Jr. from the movie Wreck It Ralph is now a real game, for iOS iPhone, iPad Touch and iPad.

And unlike the Wreck-it Ralph game available on the iTunes App store, Fix It Felix Jr. is true to the 8 bit form it portrayed in the movie.

So if you liked what you saw in the movie and want to revive some of that old “Rampage” style gameplay, make sure to check it out.

Buy Fix-it Felix Jr. for .99.

A (Short) Pixel Art Documentary

December 8, 20128 bit, Chiptune, Pixel ArtLeave a comment

This is a very nice little explanation of the pixel art movement.

I thought it was particularly insightful how they describe the modern, high definition creation of retro pixel art as a harsh version of what soft, simple graphs were in the 1980s. The idea of hardware is important in not only the creation but the display of pixel art.

“In our search for recreating nostalgia, we have created a warped crisp digital version.”

They also cover the Chiptune music movement. Again, hardware plays an important role in Chiptune music creation. The original GameBoy is the hardware of choice in some circles. It also has risen out of a rebellious need to counter the “shiny and glossy” nature of the modern electronic music.

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