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Jenga + 'Donkey Kong' = Stress-Inducing Awesomeness


What is it about 8-bit nostalgia that makes everything better?

We didn't think it was possible to improve upon the classic hair-puller Jenga. But then again, we never thought to paint the blocks with pink girders and work in plastic Marios and a Donkey Kong.

While you can play Donkey Kong Jenga just like the original, the real fun comes when you play the 'Donkey Kong' variation, which has you working a plastic Mario up the tower to free Pauline (the damsel in distress from the original 'Donkey Kong') from the clutches of the simian villain.

To play the game, you spin a wheel that dictates how many girders (blocks) to remove and how many vertical spaces you move Mario up. The game takes longer than you'd imagine (if you can keep the tower from collapsing). The game starts with 14 levels, but as you remove girders and add them to the top, Pauline slowly moves further from your reach.

Apparently, the pegs that stick Mario to the bricks have a tendency to bring the whole thing crashing down prematurely. So, if you're already prone to profanity and violence when playing the classic Jenga, we suggest you stick with the original. [From: Joystiq]

'Donkey Kong' Recreated With LEGO Bricks



Dan Kressin recently built a LEGO recreation of Nintendo's classic 8-bit title 'Donkey Kong' using a LEGO Mindstorms system (a collection of programmable LEGO bricks, motors and sensors). While you can't actually play the game (maybe a feature in the next version?), you can sit back and relive some of your childhood memories of sitting in front of the tube, tapping away at your Nintendo Entertainment System. Though we spent thousands of hours of our childhood playing with LEGO blocks, we've never seen a LEGO creation like this -- Donkey Kong throws plastic barrels, Mario jumps, and yes, even the 'Donkey Kong' theme song plays.

Need to know how this thing was actually put together? Check out Kressin's Web site, and you'll find a video of the 'guts' of the contraption after the break. [From: LEGO Donkey Kong via: Unplggd]

Video Game Picassos

Video Game Picassos
Last night in Los Angeles, a line extended down the street outside of Gallery 1988 as enthusiasts of art, classic video games and free booze waited to check out the opening of this year's I Am 8-Bit art opening. The diverse lineup of artwork (over 200 pieces by more than 100 artists) was fueled by gamer nostalgia, with all of the work inspired by old-school video games. Mario and Luigi drinking moonshine? Check. The Frog from 'Frogger' now on crutches as a result of being hit by multiple cars? Check. Link and Princess Zelda goofing off in a photo booth? Check.

Other highlights included performances by nerdcore bands ComputeHer and 8 Bit Weapon, a mammoth five-and-a-half foot Atari controller hooked up to games being projected on a wall outside, and a surprising number of living, breathing women (generally a rarity at video game-related events).

Get your art collector on at 1988 Gallery, and find more info at I Am 8-bit.

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