Tag: system

The Lego Famicom, A Nintendo Family Computer

The Lego Famicom, A Nintendo Family Computer, And Retro TV

The Nintendo Famicom looks a lot different than the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). In 1983, Japan was introduced to the Famicom, also known as the Family Computer. It would take three years (1989) until the rest of the world could play the updated grey box design. The Famicom is a top loading video game system, with a distinct red, white, and gold design. This Lego Famicom is the creation of qian yj. Recreating the original design in Lego, with a period accurate television. The system even comes with a Lego Contra cartridge. So when you pick up your controller make sure to enter in the Konami code. You will probably have a very hard time beating the game without the help.

Lego Retro TV, Back Details

The Lego TV is completely made out of bricks. It features a Lego made screen showing off Contra’s title screen. There are a variety of knobs and switches on the front, even the classic rabbit ears style antenna. The design also includes a handle on the top (not load bearing), and a fully detailed back. With all the hookups, ports, and power stuff you can find on a TV from the 70s/80s. With the volume of this thing, I don’t know if the weight of a cathode TV or this Lego version is heavier. There is a lot of Lego in this build.

The Lego Famicom, A Nintendo Family Computer System

The Lego Famicom with Contra game, is a perfect recreation of the original. The SNOT style building here gets pretty complicated, with moving buttons, and a sliding cartridge eject system. Even the video game cartridge can be removed. The cords and hookups are also made of official Lego pieces. It is all brought together with the use of a few custom stickers.

The Lego Famicom, A Nintendo Family Computer with Contra Video Game

Check out a lot more photos of this Retro TV and Lego Nintendo Family System over here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/acgshow/49711169208/

If you are looking for more Video Game inspired Lego creations check out this link too: http://everydaybricks.com/category/video-game-2/

Lego Atari Pong

Quy's Lego Atari Pong

This Lego MOC of the Atari Pong system is spot on. From the fake wood cabinet, to the joysticks everything has been carefully thought through. Speaking of which, those joysticks are genius; using Lego tires worked well. Here the retro styling works well with Lego. The system currently doesn’t work, which like most Atari Pong systems is accurate.

Atari Pong, built by Quy, can be found on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nxtquy/9068875671/

Lego My Eggo by AuntiePesto!

AuntiePesto's Lego My Eggo

Lego art is awesome. Not only does Lego inspire people to go to great lengths to create elaborate builds and MOCs, but it inspires people to create in other mediums too. Starting today Lego doodles, drawings, graffiti, paintings and sculptures will be featured in the new Art category.

Lego and Eggo have gone together since the dawn of time. Recently in the funny weird LeggoMyLegoEggoLeglessLegoLegolas meme. If I was a red Lego Spaceman, I too would float towards a giant Eggo.

Check out Lego My Eggo over at Tumblr, it was drawn by the super cool AuntiePesto. Her site is full of fun doodles. And, according to AuntiePesto, make sure to listen to some Chaka Khan during your future Lego doodles.

BrickPi: Lego Bricks with a Raspberry Pi Brain @ Kickstarter

BrickPi: Lego Bricks with a Raspberry Pi Brain: Robot

BrickPi is a simple system for joining together Lego bricks with the Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi is a super small open-source computer that is powerful enough to play high definition video. The standard connections available are USB, RCA, LAN, Audio, HDMI, GPIO, and SD Cards. With this system you will be able to hook a Raspberry Pi computer into the Lego Mindstorms sensors; specifically 3 motors and 4 sensors. These things combined can be used to create smart robots. BrickPi is looking for funding on Kickstarter, check out the video for more details:


BrickPi will be powered by Arduino and Python. As an added plus, the designers will be providing examples and libraries for all your robotic needs.

BrickPi is made by the people over at Dexter Industries.

“We were founded by John Cole, an engineer who had never touched a soldering iron before 2009, but had a burning desire to make robots. Most of our products before this were for the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT or Arduino.

When we saw the RPi, we saw the future and ordered six of them.  After setting up the Raspberry Pi, we were a little frustrated that it stood still. So we looked for a way to make it into a robot.

Thus was born the BrickPi.”

BrickPi: Lego Bricks with a Raspberry Pi Brain: Robot 2

Kickstarter: http://kck.st/13vuWtb
Dexter Industries: http://www.dexterindustries.com/BrickPi/

Lego Printed & Named Beams & Bricks

Gary Istok’s Printed/Named Beams 01

Back before the Pirates, before the Minifig, even before Duplo, Lego introduced the Town System. With this new system came the first named beams and printed bricks. Usually produced on white 1×6 and 1×8 bricks. These printed bricks were so popular at the time that there were hundreds and hundreds of varieties available in different colors and typefaces.

Gary Istok’s Printed/Named Beams 02

The very first printed/named bricks hit the stores in 1955, just 6 years after Lego introduced their original sets. Since these bricks were there in the beginning, their availability matches the spread of Lego across Europe. First appearing in Danish, Norwegian and Swedish. Originally these bricks were available in a Named Beams set (Set No. 1224). As Lego started selling in new countries, they started translating these printed/named bricks in all the different languages. By 1962 Lego was offering printed/named bricks in Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, Italy, France, Finland, Britain, Ireland, United States, Canada, and Australia. Most of these countries had bricks printed in their own native language, with one interesting exception. Lego never printed Portuguese bricks.

The bulk of these printed/named bricks were made in the 1950–1960’s. Since working with ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic was relatively new the printed/named bricks were often misprinted. The typefaces that Lego worked with were originally hand–lettered before being transferred to the molds. There is nothing directly comparable to this printing today, the closest results are found with Flexography (Flexo) printing, which is commonly found on plastic shopping bags.

A very wide variety of typeface styles can be found on these Lego bricks. Anywhere from Sans Serif, Serif, Slab Serif, Script, and Decorative styles were available. The imperfections of coming from hand–lettering greatly contributed to their personality. Some of this printing is interesting in that they exhibit reverse stress on the letters. This is especially noticeable with the “TAXE” and “TABAK” bricks.

Gary Istok’s Printed/Named Beams 03

As time moved on, so too did most of these unique typefaces. By the time the 1970’s came around Sans Serif typefaces were standard, and most of the charm of these named bricks started to fade. These printed/named bricks would completely die out before the 1980’s, being replaced with the much cheaper, and more versatile, sticker. Today Lego only prints a few bricks a year, and almost never text. Making this an interesting relic from the past.

Gary Istok’s Printed/Named Beams 04

One last thing; some of these bricks are a product of their time, especially the “TABAK” and “SIGARETTEN” bricks. You would never find a product marketed to children today with a tobacco reference.

Credit & More Information.

All of the above images were provided by Gary Istok. Who, can be found on the Eurobricks website as the Lego Historian. He has written extensively about printed/named bricks/beams here, and here. Also, for extremely detailed information about “Thousands of things you probably never knew about Lego sets, Lego parts, and Lego related items…” make sure check out Gary Istok’s “The Unofficial Lego Sets/Parts Collectors Guide (1949–1990’s)” which is available for DVD and Download. Seriously, his work is awesome.

 

Lego Space Madness Wallpaper

LegoGenre: Space Madness

Introducing the new LegoGenre Wallpapers with the most popular Space Madness! Lego Space has never been so mad.

These new wallpapers are the best of the best, and are available in *NEW* widescreen. Then to make it even better, there are no watermarks!

Go check them out now: http://everydaybricks.com/legogenre-wallpapers/ and keep an eye out for more…