July 31st, 2009 by Amanda

We were fortunate enough to take some footage of Flynn’s arcade and Tron Light Cycle at Comic-Con this past weekend. Can I just say, I am so excited that Daft Punk is doing the soundtrack for Tron Legacy.

Here is the perimeter of the arcade:

Here is the Tron Light Cycle. I could have stared at it for hours:

And this one…I have no words:

July 31st, 2009 by Amanda

Aidra and Ernest were married on July 4th in Buhl, Idaho in full Katamari Damacy attire, complete with headpieces for the entire wedding party, adorable invitations, and a katamari ball for a cake topper. Basically, this is the cutest thing I have ever seen.

Thank you Kirsten Shultz for taking these adorable pictures.

Read More »

July 30th, 2009 by Amanda

Well now you can!!…well sort of. You can learn Samurai techniques known as iaido at the Asian Art Museum in San Fransisco Thursday, August 27. There will be a very special and rare appearance by Esaka Sensei, one of Japan’s finest and esteemed swordsmen. You can also view LORDS OF THE SAMURAI, the special exhibition of gorgeous artworks that reveals a softer, unknown side to these legendary warriors, as well as a screening of Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman.

You can go to Way of the Sword for more information.

July 29th, 2009 by Sydney

OH MY GAWD! ROBOTS EVERYWHERE!

Broomba:

These “brooms” travel around just as normal roombas do, changing direction when it bumps into objects.  Though they don’t clean much, they do play “spooky music” and emits “frightful cackling” sounds. Ooo! Spooky music and crackling sounds!  I’m there!

(via Gizmodo via Grandinroad)

iPhone Robot:

Robocna, a robot that uses an iPhone for its brain.”

“The body is a Kondo KHR-2HV humanoid kit, but its controlled by the iPhone, which connects via the dock connector at the neck. The screen shows the facial expression while also letting you control the robots weird, leek-based dance moves.”

(via Gizmodo)

Baseball Robots:

Researchers at the University of Tokyo show off their industrial robot technology by programing two robot arms to play baseball.  While the pitcher can release the ball with near-perfect timing, the batter has a near-perfect batting average.

(via Pink Tentacle)

Modular Snake Robots:

I don’t know if it’s the music or just the sheer coolness of snakes lifting up floor vents and slithering around like little stealthy spies but this one has got to be my favorite.  Sliterbots!

(via Posthuman Blues)

July 29th, 2009 by Amanda

Shared Worlds says:

“At Shared Worlds students create fantasy and science fiction worlds to fuel their writing, art, and game development. But even the strangest made-up place can have some real-world spark. Our own planet is often surreal, alien, and beautifully strange–and cities tend to focus our fascination with these qualities. Sometimes the exoticness comes from finding the unexpected where we live, and sometimes it comes from visiting a place that’s foreign to us. Everyone also has a different idea of what “fantasy” or “science fiction” looks like in real places.

So we decided to ask five top SF-fantasy authors – Elizabeth Hand, Nalo Hopkinson, Ursula K. LeGuin, China Miéville, and Michael Moorcock –the following question: “What’s your pick for the top real-life fantasy or science fiction city?” “

#1 – Elizabeth Hand – Reykavik, Iceland

#2 – Nalo Hopkinson – Kingston, Jamaica

#3 – Ursula K. LeGuin – Venice, Italy

#4 – China Miéville – London, England

#5 – Michael Moorcock – Marrakesh, Morocco

Quite frankly, I’m surprised that not one person said Tokyo. Hmm…too cliche? Click here to see in detail what each author had to say about each city.

July 28th, 2009 by Sydney

The FantasyIRL bloggers spent much of last week at Comic-Con without access to the internet besides our phones but we’ll be back with new posts tonight! Until then, take our poll and let us know what you think of our site! We’re thinking of making a few changes to the blog’s layout and we want your input! Leave us a comment and let us know what you think, what you’d like to see, etc.  We would really appreciate it.

[poll id="1"]

July 24th, 2009 by Amanda

128 places where science and technology come to life to create your very own real life fantasy.

John Graham-Cumming’s book, The Geek Atlas, will give a list of places where science, mathematics, and/or technology is happening or has happened. You can use this book as a travel guide or just as an enlightening read. Each place has its own unique chapter that includes a general introduction to the place’s significance and a related technical subject covered in more detail. It also shares practical visiting information to places such as, the Horn Antenna in New Jersey, where the Big Bang theory was confirmed, or the Trinity Test Site in New Mexico, where the first atomic bomb was exploded, and much much more.

Amazon.com review says,

“The history of science is all around us, if you know where to look. With this unique traveler’s guide, you’ll learn about 128 destinations around the world where discoveries in science, mathematics, or technology occurred or is happening now. Travel to Munich to see the world’s largest science museum, watch Foucault’s pendulum swinging in Paris, ponder a descendant of Newton’s apple tree at Trinity College, Cambridge, and more. Each site in The Geek Atlas focuses on discoveries or inventions, and includes information about the people and the science behind them. Full of interesting photos and illustrations, the book is organized geographically by country (by state within the U.S.), complete with latitudes and longitudes for GPS devices.

You won’t find tedious, third-rate museums, or a tacky plaque stuck to a wall stating that “Professor X slept here.” Every site in this book has real scientific, mathematical, or technological interest–places guaranteed to make every geek’s heart pound a little faster. Plan a trip with The Geek Atlas and make your own discoveries along the way.”

July 23rd, 2009 by Amanda

…wow has it really gotten that bad?

io9 says:

“Wondering just how bad the current financial situation is? Apparently so bad that it’ll take superhuman resources to fix it. And, more worryingly, the people who’re saying that are the self-styled financial experts. Translation: We’re all screwed.

Admittedly, that’s probably not the reaction that LendingTree, the online lending company, hoped that their new advertising campaign would provoke, but what else do you expect when your ads feature former Batman Adam West telling us that “a wave of financial tomfoolery has been unleashed upon us,” before calling those responsible “corporate mischief-makers”?

The new campaign – with tagline “You to the rescue” – hopes to tap into disquiet with financial experts by promoting the idea that LendingTree allows you to stay in charge of your money, but we’re not sure that telling us to dress up as superheroes is really the way to go about it.”

July 20th, 2009 by Amanda

I was fortunate enough to get an interview with Greg De Stefano, photographer of the Super Smash Bros. portraits entitled BRAWL. You can check out all of the brawlers here. Also view the previous post about it.

FantasyIRL: First, I just I want to say again just how amazing these pictures are. I felt you really captured the personalities of each character so well. Looking at them I found myself thinking, ‘yeah, I could totally see (insert character here) doing that’ or ‘they would definitely lose and be confined to a wheel chair’ or ‘they WOULD be a total badass.’

Thank you again for letting us do an interview with you.

Greg De Stefano: Thank you for your compliments, it is really encouraging to hear from so many people and I am quite flattered. BTW I love the Fantasy IRL name as well, so much of my new work now has been incorporating fantasy into real life and I’m glad we are getting the chance to talk.

FantasyIRL: What initially influenced or motivated you to take these pictures?

Greg De Stefano: It was actually the result of something I’ve been wanting to do for awhile, some kind of creepy Mario and Luigi pics, like them taking mushrooms and a slutty Peach.  And I was trying to put together my own shoot when my roommate (Daitenshi / Sheik) was like, “Why don’t you just ask Matt and shoot the There Will Be Brawl guys?”  That kind of cinched it, and this has grown into something I never could have expected.

I got my degree at CalArts in Photography and Integrated Media, so video game and conceptual art has been a passion of mine for awhile.  Especially the work in I AM 8 BIT.  But I never really found the right segway to combine it all until BRAWL.

Read More »

July 20th, 2009 by Sydney

That’s right! All you have to do is retweet any of our past tweets @fantasyirl and we’ll put you in a drawing to win a poster from the recent film, Blood: The Last Vampire!  RT us multiple times for multiple entries into the drawing!  Drawing ends July 26th @ 1AM!

Now tweet, I say! Tweet!

July 19th, 2009 by Sydney

“Sneaker freaker” Daniel Reese, also known as Brass Monki, designs custom shoes featuring characters from of your favorite games and films.  While he’ll definately make you a pair with any of his featured designs, he’s open to custom jobs at his clients’ requests.  Here are a few of my favorites.

(Via Kotaku)

July 19th, 2009 by Amanda

io9 says:

“Josh Koury’s documentary “We Are Wizards” delves into the genre of Wizard Rock. As homespun as the fan culture it celebrates, it’s an endearing snapshot of the freaks and geeks who’ve made a place for themselves in the Potter fan-verse.

True fandom knows no bounds. The evolution of fan culture is not a trajectory that can be measured or predicted.”

Brothers Joe and Paul DeGeorge formed Harry and Potters in 2002. Other bands have formed since, such as Draco and the Malfoys, Whomping Willows, The Parselmouths, The Moaning Myrtles and many others. Many of whom wrock together and play at festivals such as Wrockstock.. Umm, we’re definitely going to Wrockstock this year.

“The world of Wrock is not just geeky, but also strives to be socially conscious. Joe and Paul know that their elementary school fan base looks up to them as idols, and they try to promote literacy in the true spirit of Rowling’s best-selling series.”

You can buy We Are Wizards here.

You can read the whole article here.

July 19th, 2009 by Sydney

That’s right! And just in time for that giant squidless Watchmen director’s cut screening at Comic-Con! Underwire reports:
“…Hordes of fearsome, violent Humboldt Squid have invaded shallow waters off the coast of Comic-Con International’s host city San Diego, assaulting divers and anyone else that gets in their way…

The predatory squid — which grow up to 7 feet long, have razor-sharp beaks and tentacles spiked with teeth — have been migrating northward at an alarming rate, as temperatures warm and their food stores thin out…

Comic-Con attendees might want to think about if they plan a dive near the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California.”

Hey, on the bright side, at least this thing isn’t what’s attacking the shores of San Diego, though I’m sure there are a few fanboys out there that probably wish that it was.

July 17th, 2009 by Senna

So I guess I am a sucker for anime plushies…yesterday I bought a somewhat rare character plush of Maromi from Paranoia Agent.  It’s a cute little pink dog-creature that ends up being rather evil.  Without giving away the plot of the series, it’s creepy.  And now it just stares at me.  I’m not sure how to feel about Maromi, but I better stay on his good side.

July 17th, 2009 by Senna

High end Italian designer Antonio Berardi has created a monster!  Heel-less heels and boots!  I do have to say, however, if they were not so incredibly expensive, they would serve as a great base for my dranei hoof shoes I am still yet to make.  Most would think these strange futuristic-looking footwear would be difficult to walk in and an easy sprained ankle or even a broken neck.  Quite the contrary, Berardi has mastered the balance and distribution of weight on the solitary platform, the same method I will be using when creating platform hooves.  Although I’m sure his creations will stand to be more luxiourious than mine! -_-

Check out Antonio Berardi’s other mythical fashions here.