This group of guys aren’t just a bunch of developers huddled in a dark room, (although looking back on it, you could practically print some 8×12’s in the joint – more to do with Dutch weather than a love to bathe in monitor glow I think). Over in Utrecht, I met up with two of the co-founders of Ronimo Games, Jasper Koning and Fabian Akker who sat down and had a chat about their new Nintendo WiiWare game, Swords and Soldiers. Inspired by the ending to Super Moine and the Flash game, Age of War, Swords and Soldiers is kind of like a mutant cross breed between Worms and Civilization. It takes flat style illustration and couples it with strategy as well as the love for senseless, repetitive violence. You make them better. Faster. Stronger.
Not only is this game coming while the company is practically still in diapers (they just graduated last year from HKU), but they’re Dutch, and trying to do comedy all in a $10 game. I personally would have attached some string to a ball and called it a day, but everyone has their thing.
They’ve made the most out of what their education and country has to offer. According to Jasper, they were able to secure some subsidies for their company (albeit not a whole lot, but enough to keep them and their game independent). In fact, when they first started they quickly grew out of building that housed collective artists but were able to get the digs they are currently using for their company alone with the help of the government. Talent definitely has its rewards.
Just because they get a little help doesn’t mean that they have to answer to anyone. Swords and Soldiers is the result of a collaborative effort between everyone at Ronimo whether it was a designer, a programmer, an animator, or that weird guy in the corner (they’re all in corners – HA!). They even got some local high school students to test out the game with high marks from those who like strategy games. I give the boys high marks for being funny and creative. I mean, how long have I been saying there should be a game about barbecue sauce?
Yes. Yes, you do. Tamagotchi has taken it to the next level with the new Tuttuki Bako, a Chinese finger trap that has been electrified with Japanese craziness. Apparently, if you stick your finger into the alloted hole, you’ll be rewarded with interactive goodness with a virtual character (poking it, tickling it, whatever it wants). And, it still follows that great Tamagotchi principle – As demanding to take care of as a real pet, but easier to throw away.
Thanks to Nadege for bringing this to our attentions!
♥ FELT IS THE MATERIAL OF GODS!
Hey-Sign in Germany makes all kinds of things with big, thick felt. Favorites include felt-covered books and these keychains which were swag (“shit we all get) from a convention a friend attended.
♥ ONE STOP SHOP FOR ONE OF KIND CLOTHES
Tucked in St. Nicolaastraat here in the A’dam. Check out the custom designed umbrellas and make sure you say hi to my girl behind the sewing machine.
♥ WREEEEEETCHES!!!
Gears 2 Announced (from the site): “So by now there’s a slight chance you’ve heard something about…(blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah)… November 2008.” Yes, jeez, thank you.
♥ THE TEXTILE COLLECTION OF BENNO PREMSELA
Illustrator for such companies as De Bijenkorf (for display windows), and Van Besouw (for carpets), his designs will be on display at the Utrecht Centraal Museum from March 8th-12th. On side note, currently on exhibition is a collection of iconic fashion pieces throughout time as told by the medium of film.
♥ TINKY-TINY USB CAMERA
Still trying to figure out if this real and if it takes pictures larger than the common nipple.
♥ BEAUTIFUL KATAMARI IN MY HANDS FEB 29TH!
Additional Xbox Live levels include “Shopping Spree”, “Milky Way Constellations”, “High Calorie Katamari”, “The Weaver Girl”, “Mechanical Katamari”, “Dangerous Katmari”, and “Perfectly Sized Katamari”.
♥ LAST DAY OF THE ‘DESIGNING HYBRID WEARABLES’ WORKSHOP
More arty-farty fun from Mediamatic in the Netherlands. Hopefully a wrap-up of the last three days of workable/wearable creations will be posted in the coming weeks.
♥ NINTENDO-THEMED VALENTINE’S DAY CARDS
If you get one, you’ll know just how much that lazy sack of shit on the couch with the bluetooth headset on really cares about you.
♥ YOU HEARD IT HERE LAST, FIRST!
Directions for Listening:
1. Slow dance with the closet door
2. Go to Hospital
3. Have the “Cut Copy” single bouncing in your bludgeoned head all the way there.
♥ “SMACKDOWN” GOES OFF THE AIR AFTER THIS SEASON ON CW
Mr. Macmahon has already begun negotiations with other networks. I’m surprised they didn’t try to use the walls of Jericho to block the contract from going sour.
♥ SCIENCE JOURNALIST CONTEST
Writers looking to have a career reporting on Science and Technology should take a look at this internship program located in London.
♥ A LOOK INTO FASHIONCLOPEDIA, “THE MEANING OF SUNGLASSES” BY HADLEY FREEMAN
Excerpt from book (taken from original post), “Cocaine may well have been created for moments such as these, helping to keep one’s chin up, if nose down, when you see Anna Wintour clocking that you are in the eighth row.”
