We have finally had some respite after the holiday game release rush of 2008. There were just so many games to check out in such a little timeframe. It was quite an unfortunate situation for many publishers. There is only a finite amount of consumer attention to go around after all. We still don’t know too much about games slated for 2009 though there are a few slated for first quarter release that we had been looking forward to. Halo Wars is high up on that list and we’re quite pleased that the publishers decided to delay the release until after that rush so we could take the time to give it the attention it deserves.

Its a real-time strategy game (or RTS) set in the fiction of Bungie Studios’ Halo series. Executive Producer Steve Schreck has crafted this title specifically for the Xbox 360 at Ensemble Studios, allowing them to forgo concessions of multiplatform design and focus on what was best for that environment. The video game console is argued by many to be an atypical environment for an RTS game (these people favor the PC for such games) though it is easy to draw up a list of strategy games on platforms other than the PC comparable to any list of those on it, suggesting this argument is a fallacy and deserving of dismissal. continue…

Get a load of this handy little tool design from Lee Valley & veritas. It’s called the Brush lugg and it helps you open paint cans, but also can be either clipped or magnetized to them such that they provide a handy place to put your brush when not in use via another inclined magnet. They even have design consideration factoring in the fill level of the can in question. Wonderful design work here.

Neil Fraser has taken nine specifically spaced cross sections from an MRI brain scan then affixed portions to corresponding 1″ wooden cubes to create a three dimensional model representing the whole head. The result is a combination of puzzle and visualization tool, allowing one to explore the head in three dimensions very flexibly and turns medical visualization in to a toy. It may not be as useful for doctors but it is a great way to help us visualize and explore biology. One imagines this project being a catalyst for future projects extending the theme with greater complexity and ambition.

[Neil Fraser]

David Wiggins Has built this monster DeWalt-16 which is some type of unholy lovechild between a DeWalt nail-gun and an M-16 Rifle. If he could make it shoot nails, we could drywall like a pro. As it is, it shoots bullets. the Magazine is even edited to mimic a DeWalt battery pack. Nice work David.

Miss prison? Having difficulty adjusting to life on the outside? Before you shank the mailman, maybe try getting one of these prison style toilets for your home. They’re actually good designs which ought to be used more residentially. They’re efficient on space and water use too. Even cheaper for plumbing. Plus all your guests will think you’re hard. Don’t forget to sharpen your toothbrush to complete the effect.