Hasta La Gadget!

Atari has reportedly confirmed plans to release RollerCoaster Tycoon for iOS and Android, resurrecting the iconic title for a new generation of mobile gamers. The game is one of a number of classics Atari has decided to re-fettle for smartphones, Slide To Play reports, and will be joined by Atari Casino, Outlaw, and an update to Centipede: Origins.

“We’ve spent this year focused on developing mobile games based on some of Atari’s most iconic and enduring franchises,” CEO Jim Wilson said of the ported titles. “Our upcoming lineup should make clear Atari’s strategy to work with the strengths of our key franchises and offer our expanding global audience of mobile gamers a collection of accessible and fun consumer experiences.”

Exactly how RollerCoaster Tycoon will be modified for mobile play hasn’t been revealed, though since it’s not expected to arrive on Apple and Android devices until Q1 2013, Atari has plenty of time to decide. For those who managed to miss the game first time around, the 1999 classic puts the player in charge of a virtual theme park, giving them control over the rides as well as maintenance.

The original allowed for both pre-configured rides and user-created rides to be created and deployed, but it’s unclear whether that will follow on in the new mobile versions. Meanwhile, Outlaw will feature hand-drawn graphics and Western-themed gameplay, and will be a free download in November.

Atari Casino will also be free, and available later in 2012, with slot machines, blackjack, and other games to play. Finally, Centipede: Origins will be updated with new maps, gadgets, items, and new challenges that can be played against friends. It will be released in November.

[via Pocket Tactics; Image via RCTGo]

RollerCoaster Tycoon coming to iOS and Android in early 2013 is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Here’s a rarity for all your trekkies out there. It’s a collectible Christmas tree ornament made up to look like the transporter chamber from Star Trek (The Original Series.)

The ornament even has got tiny (though grossly inaccurate) versions of Kirk, Spock and Scotty getting ready to be beamed down to some hostile planet’s surface. It even has flashing transporter lights and transporter sound effects when you press a button.

Apparently, these were made in limited quantities by Hallmark back in 2006, but you can find them pretty readily over on eBay. This particular one is up for sale at Hooked on Ornaments for $54.95(USD), and if you want it, you’d better ask Scotty to beam you on over there right away, before Khan beats you to the punch.

Due to medical reasons, I’ve recently had to give up one of my favorite vices – caffeine – but I still like to drink the occasional cup of decaf and imagine that it’s the real thing. The next time I break my coffee mug, I know exactly which one I’m going to order.

This handmade, wheel-thrown ceramic mug is made from white stoneware clay, and is inspired by the classic 8-bit NES gamepad controller. It’s the perfect place for gamers to keep their joe in between rounds of Duck Hunt and Super Mario Bros. I just love the dimensional A/B buttons and D-Pad on the side of the mug. I think I’d be trying to push them whenever I picked it up to take a sip.

It was made by Danyelle Butler of ArtHaus Ceramics, with the design by her husband, Jared – a real family effort. If you want one, pop on over to Etsy now, where it can by yours for $24 (USD). I think Danyelle should make a whole series of mugs based on game controllers – though it might be hard to make one based on the Kinect.

A while back I came across a Pac-Man-themed bathroom that was pretty great. But since it was a commercial establishment, it had no shower. But if that inspired you to make your own Pac-Man bathroom at home, you should definitely consider a Pac-Man shower curtain to start things off.

This hand-painted curtain was made by geeky crafter Holly, and I have to say it looks great. It’s got the full maze, plenty of power pills and of course Pac-Man and his ghostly nemeses. Sure, the power pills and the regular dots are erroneously the same size, but we’ll forgive her. Right? Right?

This design first appeared a couple of years ago over on CraftNerdy, and everything you need to know to make your own appears on the original blog post here.

[via Neatorama]

Italian artist Lorenzo Durantini made this 5-foot tall tower from his collection of 2,216 VHS tapes. It looks like a shrine to the TV demons. Or, if you believe that TV makes you stupid, a monolith that turns people to monkeys on touch. Unless these are all 2001 tapes. More »