STUFF: News, Technology, the cool and the plain weird

[MIKA27]

Project Invincible: McLaren's Custom-Made, Sci-Fi Body Armour

OK, let's not get ahead of ourselves. McLaren won't be deploying an interplanetary squad of space marines to slay brain-guzzling bugs anytime soon. It does, however, have an interest in protecting its valued clients and when one of them asked the company to make some custom armour to protect their body post-surgery, it turns out McLaren was not only happy to entertain the idea, but actually do it.

Developed by McLaren Applied Technologies for a "client X", the armour is designed to "help protect vital organs after surgery":

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The fully wearable composite shield does the job of the rib cage — protecting vital organs including the heart and the lungs, with the garment providing further protection from unexpected low energy impact.

According to McLaren, it's designed to conform precisely to the client's physique and is manufactured from a combination of materials, including carbon, Zylon and Dyneema fibres, as well as "highly-toughened resin".

A "unique gel" provides additional cushioning, to "attenuate the load and protect weak ribs and the vital organs".

Going from the information provide by McLaren, it's clear the armour won't be mass-produced. Heck, it might only make one piece. Still, it's rather cool the company has the facilities and know-how to craft such a specialised item. I cannot fathom how much it cost "client X" though, though I do hope HONDA are not in any way affiliated with this...  

[MIKA27]

According to HBO’s Spielberg Doc, Everyone Thought 'Jaws' Was Going to Be a Flop

HBO released the trailer for its documentary on legendary director Steven Spielberg Saturday, and it’s a predictably star-studded affair featuring talking heads from the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Oprah Winfrey, and Spielberg himself.

The film traces Spielberg’s career from its beginnings, including the production of the then-26-year-old director’s 1975 instant classic Jaws. According to Martin Scorsese, “the word around town was that Jaws was a folly and that it was going to be a disaster.” The production was notoriously overlong and expensive, filled with constant rewrites and glitchy robosharks. Of course it all ended well, with the film becoming the highest-grossing in history— until it was dethroned by Star Wars two years later. Check out the trailer below.

 

MIKA: For me... Spielberg is the greatest. Especially Sci-Fi

[MIKA27]

And the Stephen King Adaptations Just Keep On Coming

Now’s a great time to be a movie adaptation of a Stephen King novel: It just surpassed The Exorcist to become the highest-grossing horror film in American history. Netflix is striking while the iron’s still smoking, releasing its adaptation of Gerald’s Game, out September 29th, and 1922, streaming October 20th, in quick succession.

The film, based on a novella the of same name that appeared in King’s 2010 collection Full Dark, No Stars, features Thomas Jane as a farmer who murders his wife in the titular year and is deservedly very, very haunted. The trailer looks absolutely terrifying, and definitely isn't for anyone who has a problem with rats.

[MIKA27]

First ‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure’ Trailer Reveals the Trilogy’s Concluding Installment

20th Century Fox has unveiled the first trailer for Maze Runner: The Death Cure, the third and final installment in the adaptation of author James Dashner’s YA trilogy. Dylan O’Brien returns in the role of Thomas, as he leads his group of escaped Gladers on a mission to break into the WCKD-controlled Last City to find answers to long-burning questions.

Directed by Wes Ball, the film was originally scheduled for release in February 2017 but production was notably shut down when O’Brien suffered severe injuries as a result of an on-set accident. Filming resumed nearly a year later, after O’Brien had thankfully recovered and was ready to complete the series once and for all.

This is pretty short for a debut trailer (especially since the first 20 seconds are just a rehash of the first two movies), but we do get a look at the expanded scope for this latest—and final—installment. It looks as though Ball is really going big with the effects and scope this time around, and I like the distinction in visual palette from the other two films.

Dashner did write two more prequel books beyond Death Cure that reveal the origins of the maze itself, but it remains to be seen if Fox is interested in extended this franchise or if, especially considering O’Brien’s injuries during the making of Death Cure, they’ll call it quits with this third movie. Whatever the case, it certainly looks as though fans won’t be disappointed, and it’s nice to see the same director sticking with a franchise from beginning to end.

Check out the first Maze Runner 3 trailer below. The film also stars Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Giancarlo Esposito, Walton Goggins, Aidan Gillan, Patricia Clarkson, Rosa Salazar, Nathalie Emmanuel, Will Poulter, Ki Hong Lee, Jacob Lofland, and Barry Pepper. Maze Runner: The Death Cure opens in theaters on January 26, 2018.

[MIKA27]

OLD FORESTER STATESMAN BOURBON

First introduced back in 1870, Old Forester bourbon was an immediate hit among the imbibing crowd that frequented Louisville’s Whiskey Row. Since then, their reputation as America’s First Bottled Bourbon has grown significantly, culminating in specialized tribute releases like the bottle you see before you.

Dubbed Old Forester Statesman, this specialty-made batch was inspired by the upcoming film Kingsman: The Golden Circle. It’s a 95 proof variant – named after the American secret service counterparts in the film – that’s hand-selected from 4-6-year-old casks of their Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. And since it’s proven these guys can stand up to the pressure, Statesman offers a little bit of heat and spice, compliments of peppery notes, cinnamon bark, and citrus on the palate along with some hefty spice and eucalyptus on the back end fading into orange cream and caramel. Interested bourbon fans can pick up a bottle of their own now at select locations.

[MIKA27]

VOLVO XC40 SUV

The all-new Volvo XC40 isn't just an entirely new model — it's coming with an entirely new model of ownership. Called "Care by Volvo", the program works like a subscription service. It's a flat fee, which means things like price differences by region, down payments, incentives or negotiating are a thing of the past. Depending on availability, it also includes digital concierge services like refueling, pick-up for maintenance, and e-commerce deliveries to the car. And on top of all that, it's a Volvo. The smallest SUV in the lineup, the XC40 will be powered by 200 and 250 hp four-cylinder motors, with a three-cylinder hybrid due later in 2018.

[MIKA27]

CEMENTERIO MEZCAL

Some of the best mezcals in the world honor an old tradition of aging the precious spirit in glass, underground. These limited stocks are unearthed for special occasions like birthdays, weddings, and baptisms. Cementerio Mezcalero is the first release in a series of mezcals that recognizes that tradition, aged in glass underground and bottled in very limited quantities. Only 435 bottles of Cementerio are being released, and a portion of the sales will be donated to purchase tourism equipment to promote the mezcal unearthing traditionally held during the celebration of Día de Muertos (The Day of the Dead).

 

[MIKA27]

The It Sequel Finally Has An Official Release Date

Here's some joyful Tuesday morning news for all the Stephen King horror fans and devoted Pennywise meme-makers. The It sequel finally has an official release date, and you won't have to wait 27 years to see what happens to the Losers Club. You will, however, have to wait a couple of years.

It part two will be hitting the big screen in the US 6 September 2019, a not-so-surprising choice for a film that has basically owned the month of September since opening on September 7. According to Deadline, the film's bragging rights include:

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[The] largest opening for a horror film stateside, biggest opening for an R-rated film, largest opening for a pic based on a book, best preview night for a horror film ($US13.5M), best IMAX opening for September and horror pic, and best opening for a New Line release. Worldwide It is nearing close to a half billion, and at the domestic B.O., it's already the largest horror film ever with $US266.1M, beating The Exorcist late last week.

Even though director Andy Muschietti will be under plenty of pressure to make the sequel, which follows the characters as grown-ups, be just as successful, we hope he's enjoying the moment he's living in right now. And he sure seems to be — as evidenced by this heartfelt Instagram thanks aimed at the film's multitudes of fans:

[MIKA27]

Much Of Puerto Rico Can't Even Call For Help

Hurricane Maria left Puerto Rico absolutely devastated. We're talking flattened houses, lost lives, shattered power grids, flooded towns, forests destroyed — devastated. On top of all that, mobile phone service, one of the island's most important lines of communication, has been almost entirely cut. So many are now struggling just to tell their families they're OK.

The scene sounds desperate. According to multiple reports, there's virtually zero mobile phone service outside of San Juan, the capital. Even there, only 25 per cent of mobile phone towers survived the storm. In an attempt to find a signal, people are driving for hours around the island, a risky endeavour since Puerto Rico is also facing petrol shortages. Still, the highways are lined with cars as people park and wander around looking for just one or two bars. Wired internet and phone service is also spotty, since the Category 4 storm decimated utility poles and other aspects of infrastructure. A major underwater cable was also damaged.

"The only thing I can do is text," Avalon Clare, a tourist from Colorado who's stranded on the island, told the Associated Press. "We're trying to leave because we can't work without internet… We only have half a tank of gas. We're running out of cash. It's just getting harder."

Some of the most troubled victims simply want to report back to their families on the mainland and elsewhere that they have survived the storm. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, word of mouth and handheld radios were the only form of communication. Meanwhile, people outside of Puerto Rico would call local radio stations and give the names and addresses of their loved ones, hoping to connect. For most, however, the path to recovery will be a waiting game.

"There's no communication," kitchen worker Yesenia Gomez told the AP. "We're in God's hands."

And by "we", Gomez means the 3.3 million residents of Puerto Rico, virtually all of whom have been impacted by the storm. There have been at least 10 deaths reported so far, and aid is arriving slowly due to the infrastructure damage. Quite conspicuously, Donald Trump has remained silent about the storm since Friday. The president did approve a disaster declaration in Puerto Rico last week and ordered federal assistance to the island. 

[MIKA27]

Batman Uses His Clown Fighting Experience On Pennywise In Masterful Fan Trailer

Batman isn't a stranger to clown problems. If you want anyone on your side when the inevitable clown apocalypse rains down from the heavens in garish rainbows, it's ol' Bruce Wayne.

This masterfully edited fan trailer, courtesy of YouTube channel Adeel of Steel, shows exactly why. Using footage from Batman v Superman spliced with 2017's It, it makes a pretty clear argument that Batman is the man to take on Stephen King's trans-dimensional clown horror. To wit, Bruce even has the childhood trauma to attract the monster.

I especially like the touch of recasting Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor as a raving, clown-fearing lunatic here. Y'know, as opposed to a raving, alien-fearing lunatic. I'm sitting here imagining a whole continuity of Lex Luthor plotting and scheming against a supernatural clown now. Whatever timeline that is, I'd like to visit.

[MIKA27]

KEN BLOCK’S CLIMBKHANA

In a true battle of man vs. mountain, Ken Block took to the hellish Pike’s Peak hill climb in a souped-up Hoonicorn to prove that once again he’s a driver to be reckoned with. From drifting around hairpin turns to skating along the road’s razor-sharp edges, Block exercises controlled precision unlike anything we’ve seen before.

For the latest Gymkhana journey, Block decided upon a 1965 Ford Mustang Hoonicorn RTR V2 featuring a twin turbo methanol-fueled 1,400 horsepower engine to make the 14,000-foot climb. Additionally, the ride was outfitted with Toyo Proxes R888R tires for the job as well. It’s here that, along with Block of course, that the Toyo tires become the star of the show – taking a beating yet surviving the iconic incline Ken Block style. Regardless of the takeaway, Climbkhana is certainly a fine example of professional driving and is worth watching for the production value and skill involved here if nothing else.

[MIKA27]

GLENFIDDICH WINTER STORM 21-YEAR SINGLE MALT

As the third installation in their Experimental Series, Glenfiddich Winter Storm looks to serve as a warming spirit for the upcoming seasons. It’s all thanks to the inspiration Malt Master Brian Kinsman found in the freezing vineyards of Niagara, Canada – namely the sweet ice wine he fell in love with during his visit.

Through the experimental process, Kinsman discovered it was only the older whiskies that could handle the extra ice wine intensity after spending 6 months in French oak Icewine casks. So, for the project, they chose their 21-year variant of the project that now boasts notes of candied sweets along with the oakiness and tropical fruit notes of Glenfiddich. There’s even a specific method to drinking the dram as well – though we’ll leave that up to you to decide. Over the course of the next few months around 8,000 bottles are set to be released into the market.

[MIKA27]

Arnold Schwarzenegger Has an All Electric Hummer H1

Everyone knows that Arnold Schwarzenegger is a big fan of large trucks capable of making a meal out of smaller cars. Well, he’s also a huge proponent of the environment, which is why he teamed up with Kreisel Electric to convert his Mercedes G-Wagon to full electric. They worked together again on Arnold’s new fully electric Hummer H1. The bright red truck looks and feels every bit as bad ass after the electric conversion, but now it has a top speed of 75 mph and a max range of just over 185 miles. With the original gas guzzler getting around 10 miles a gallon, the electric conversion will eventually pay for itself in fuel costs alone. Kreisel Electric has said they will not be mass-producing the model, but maybe if enough of us ask they’ll actually put something on the market. As part of the unveiling of the new H1, Kreisel Electric also opened their new development and manufacturing center in the Rainbach, Mühlkreis district of Austria, which is slated to begin operations in 2018 with all kinds of new “electromobility” projects.

[MIKA27]

On 01/09/2017 at 12:56 PM, MIKA27 said:

Killing Gunther Trailer: Arnold Schwarzenegger Stars in Action Comedy

Arnold Schwarzenegger combines action and comedy with Killing Gunther, written, directed by and co-starring SNL alum Taran Killam.

Killing Gunther represents one of the more interesting entries on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s contemporary slate of straight-to-VOD actioners and theatrically released classic franchise reboots. While the action icon has also famously dipped his well-defined toes into the realm of comedy, this film – the brainchild of SNL alum Taran Killam – seems to be the first of his to cohesively combine those elements.

The Killing Gunther trailer showcases a film that carries the appropriate amount of self-awareness regarding its campiness and the unmistakable presence of its star. Indeed, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s role as Gunther – a legendary assassin – is not going to beat around the bush with any semblance of character depth or nuance. He’s Arnold being Arnold – it’s what people are here to see and the trailer even showcases some referenced classic Arnold movie lines.

The story centers on a cat-and-mouse game headed by Taran Killam’s bumbling mastermind Blake, whose attempts to carry out the titular task of killing Gunther, seems to be destined – in a hilarious manner – for repeat failures. However, he’s put together quite the team to do the job, with an explosives man (Bobby Moynihan), a sultry sniper, (Hannah Simone), a ex-militant robot arm-wielder, (Amir Talai) and sibling Russian assassins (Allison Tolman and Ryan Gaul). As the trailer shows for a split second, Cobie Smulders also fields a role.

Killing Gunther debuts on Ultra VOD on September 22, with a day-and-date release for select theaters and on demand on October 20.

Dear god and all reading this thread... Do NOT watch this movie!

I watched Killing Gunther last night, the movie goes for 1 Hour, 33 minutes and Arnie is in it an entire 17 minutes! 

I'm a massive fan of Arnold, but I am super surprised how he even signed up for this movie? It has got to be by far the worst Arnold Schwarzenegger movie I have EVER seen and I say Arnie movie loosely because it doesn't really have him in it all that much. Seriously, Arnold is seen and heard at around the 1 hour and 7 minute mark.

It's the kind of home made movie one sees on Youtube, horrible over acting by people trying to be funny and serious all at the same time. 

Honestly, take my word for it and do not see something that can never be unseen.   Remember... I warned you.  

[MIKA27]

Minipresso NS

Can´t live without your Nespresso coffee? The Minipresso NS is the perfect way to take your favorite Nespresso capsule on the go! When you are traveling or camping, and you crave the sweet flavor of espresso, but there is no cafe in sight, simply pull out the hand held espresso machine, pop in your Nespresso capsule, add hot water, hand pump and pour. You no longer need to be confined to your kitchen or office counter, now you can enjoy your Nespresso espresso wherever you go.

[MIKA27]

THE WATERHOUSE AT SOUTH BUND

Set along the Huangpu River, The Waterhouse at South Bund converts the former Japanese Army headquarters into boutique accommodations for Shanghai's Cool Docks district. The building retains its original concrete facade, while a Corten steel extension adds a fourth floor. Much of the structure's industrial roots are left exposed throughout the communal spaces, leaving the 19 guest rooms to take on a more modern aesthetic. The hotel is also host to a modern European restaurant, a bar in the lobby, and a rooftop terrace, serving food, cocktails, and expansive views of the Pudong skyline.

 

[MIKA27]

DRIPO COLD BREW COFFEE MAKER

Unless you're just adding ice cubes and watering down your java, making proper cold brew coffee can be a chore. The Dripo Cold Brew Coffee Maker, on the other hand, is a 2-in-1 iced-drip coffee maker that is not only easy but is also a portable tumbler. Just add coffee grounds and filter it to the coffee section, add cold water to the top section, assemble, and enjoy fresh cold-brew in about two hours. Easy and available on-the-go, it's as good of an option for properly made cold brew we've come across.

[MIKA27]

BOSE SOUNDSPORT FREE HEADPHONES

The Bose name is known throughout the world for high-quality sound in small packages, and now the company is ready to release their first truly wireless in-ear headphones. The SoundSport Free Headphones are engineered to stay in place and stay comfortable if you're walking to work, or sprinting towards the finish line. They play consistently and clearly whether you're staring at your phone or have it tucked away safely. And the SoundSport Headphones also feature a water-repellent mesh in the open ports, to ensure everything inside stays dry and functional while you sweat or endure an unexpected downpour.

[MIKA27]

Bali Prepares For Devastating Volcanic Eruption

This month has been marked with a staggering number of geological and meteorological catastrophes. Powerful hurricanes have pummelled the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, and a spate of earthquake events rocked Mexico. Now, geologists worry that seismic activity in Indonesia will lead to a powerful volcanic eruption.

A 3031m peak on the Indonesian island of Bali has begun rumbling and quaking. The volcano, Mount Agung, erupted back in 1963 and claimed over a thousand lives. Residents and visitors to the popular destination have begun to flee ahead of the seemingly impending disaster — The Washington Post reports that evacuations have hit nearly 50,000.

Volcanic earthquakes began on August 10, according to the Smithsonian. The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) in Indonesia created a 3km exclusion zone surrounding Agung in the weeks that followed, which eventually increased to six, then 7.5, and now 12km. The active volcano is 72km away from Bali's tourist destination, Kuta, reports The Washington Post.

The aftermath of the 1963 eruption

Agung's 1963 eruption was catastrophic — its staggering death toll came from pyroclastic flows, 200 to 700C clouds of gas, rock and lava moving at speeds faster than 80km/h that buried and burned everything in their path. Pyroclastic flows accompanied the Mount St Helens eruption in one case, and buried the city of Pompeii in another. Agung's 1963 blast also brought lahars, mudslides from water mixing with the volcanic material.

The 1963 eruption disrupted air traffic and sent gas into the atmosphere, temporarily lowering the global average atmospheric temperature by between 0.01 and 0.4C, Australian National University geologist emeritus Richard John Arculus wrote in The Conversation.

Arculus added that technological improvements have greatly improved seismologists' ability to predict volcanic eruptions. "A primary line of evidence is the frequency and locations of earthquakes beneath the volcano, caused by upward flowing magma," he wrote.

United States Geological Survey geophysicist Michael Poland explained to Gizmodo via email that "predicting eruptions is a significant challenge. We can certainly detect the onset of unrest at a volcano, and track changes in that unrest over time. The increase in seismicity there is easy to chart and points to a volcano that is showing some of the classic indicators of a system that is about to erupt. The timing and style of potential future eruptions, however, remains quite difficult to forecast." It's possible that Agung will go back to sleep, and there are examples in history of these alerts being false alarms. Volcanology is getting better at predicting eruptions, but it still isn't an exact science.

Of course, "Because of the high population density in Indonesia, most volcanoes there have the potential to cause significant loss of life and property," he said. At this point, we have to wait and see what happens. But based on the evacuations, and the past experiences of a nation accustomed to volcanism given its location on the geologically-active Pacific Ring-Of-Fire, there's definitely cause for worry.

[MIKA27]

Nyko Is Mercifully Making The Wireless SNES Controller That Nintendo Refuses To

Nintendo can claim that sticking with wired controllers makes its SNES Classic Edition a more authentic retro gaming experience, but in reality it's probably just a cost-saving measure. Wrangling controller cables isn't a part of your childhood worth reliving, however, so Nyko once again has mercifully bestowed gamers with an affordable wireless alternative.

AU Editor's Note: The Super Miniboss isn't available in Australia, but Nyko sells its kit on Amazon — we'll let you know if we see them for sale there in the future. — Cam

The $US20 Super Miniboss for the SNES Classic Edition is essentially just a more ergonomically-shaped version of the Miniboss that Nyko released for the NES Classic Edition earlier this year. We tried its predecessor and while it was easy to set up, with buttons that felt true to Nintendo's included wired gamepad and a solid 15 hours of battery, we were a little disappointed that the Miniboss couldn't be used as a wireless controller for other devices.

But the $US20 price tag made up for that. It's a relatively affordable way to upgrade both of the NES Classic Edition's bundled controllers, and it's likely that the Super Miniboss will wind up being an equally worthwhile upgrade for the SNES Classic Edition. We just wish that Nyko would sell them in a slightly discounted two-pack, because who's going to buy just one?

[MIKA27]

THIS GUY TRANSFORMED A FALLEN RED WOOD INTO AN IMPRESSIVE OCTOPUS USING A CHAINSAW

This giant octopus is an impressive show of chainsaw carving mastery! Drafted from a single redwood log, the sculpture features incredibly detailed tentacles that would have even the saltiest sea captain shaking in their boots!

The octopus was carved by Jeffrey Michael Samudosky, a chainsaw artist in Gig Harbor, Washington. The sculpture took 6 months to make and measures 7 feet tall and 14 feet long. 

Samudosky's hobby originally began after a nasty snowboarding accident back in1998. He had been bedridden for eight months and was anxious to get back on the slopes.

On the way to the mountain in Vermont, he spied word carvings along the road and thought, "I could do that". With a new lease on life and renewed mobility in his legs, he decided to pick up word carving right then and there.

Since then, the hobby has blossomed into an award-winning career. Samudosky's chainsaw art has taken him all over the world for competitions and even landed him an appearance on the Discovery Channel.

[MIKA27]

HANGING BABY CAGES USED TO BE ALL THE RAGE IN 1930S LONDON

Apparently, it used to be totally acceptable to hang your baby outside the apartment window in a tiny cage.

And not only was it acceptable, it was even encouraged! My, how things have changed.

This set of strange photos reveal what it was like to raise a baby in crowded 1930s London.

Newspaper clippings reveal that these baby cages were hailed as a fantastic new invention and the perfect solution to apartment living.

Don't have a yard for your tot to wander around in for fresh air and sunshine?

Apparently, placing the baby in a precarious cage suspended several stories off the ground was a great alternative. Clearly, this was before lawsuits were commonplace.

Keep scrolling for photos and even a video outlining the benefits of this strange phenomenon!

MIKA: Hey @OZCUBAN do you remember this mate?  That's got to be your era 

[Fuzz]

5 hours ago, MIKA27 said:

HANGING BABY CAGES USED TO BE ALL THE RAGE IN 1930S LONDON

 

MIKA: Hey @OZCUBAN do you remember this mate?  That's got to be your era 

Raised in a cage and comes to Australia. We said we're not taking convicts any more!!

[MIKA27]

The Rarest Stuff We Found In Akihabara's Game Shops

You can blow a lot of money in Akihabara, the Tokyo district that houses the world's densest cluster of nerd-related storefronts. And if you have far more cash than sense, you can throw it down on some of these very rare and highly desired vintage games and related items.

Here's a look at the highest price tags, coolest rarities, and otherwise most memorable memorabilia I found on my trip through Tokyo's gaming stores last week.

Spotted at the store Super Potato, this "Tournament Special" edition of Kunio-Kun's Dodgeball for Super Famicom (SNES) was given out as a contest prize. Not only is it on a gold cartridge, but the game itself has been tweaked from the wide-release version as well. 98,000 yen (about $US950).

Venturing outside of Akihabara for a moment, here's a trio of thousand-dollar Super Famicom games at the store Mandarake Galaxy. Rendering Ranger R2 is 240,000 yen (~$US2200), Magical Pop'n is 140,000 (~$US1200), and Iron Commando is 120,000 yen (~$US1000).

Also in Mandarake Galaxy's glass case is a copy of a fanzine called Game Freak, a doujinshi magazine made by gaming enthusiasts in the '80s.

If the name sounds familiar, that's because the publishers of this zine went on to found the development studio of the same name and create Pokemon. That makes these original magazines quite hard to find, although not that hard in this case, since this one is only 7000 yen (~$US65).

Galaxy also has all but one of the rarest Virtual Boy games out there. Virtual Lab at 85,000 yen (~$US800) is the second-rarest. But if anybody pays 75,000 yen for that copy of the US version of Mario's Tennis, they're a fool; these sell for around $US100-200 in the US.

Rare gaming items aren't limited to just games, of course. Here's a brand-new copy of the CD soundtrack of Mario Kart 64 selling for an even 100,000 yen, or about $US950 ($1,205).

And if CD soundtracks aren't your thing, how about making your own music? You can buy piano sheet music for 16-bit games like Super Mario World, Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, Bahamut Lagoon and Romancing Saga 3, although it will cost you anywhere from $US50 ($63) to $US150 ($190) for the privilege.

That US copy of Mario's Tennis might have been significantly marked up, but here's a US game that might actually be priced accurately? This Apple II copy of Time Zone, one of the first games by King's Quest designer Roberta Williams, was in Beep, an Akihabara store devoted to vintage PC games.

In fact, there were multiple versions of Time Zone as well as early Williams hit Mystery House here in Beep, meaning that some Roberta Williams otaku probably just cashed out. This was the rarest and most expensive version of the game in the store, at 100,000 yen or about $US950 ($1,205).

One of the most expensive games in Akihabara was this copy of Galactic Wars 1, the first game ever made by Falcom, which would go on to develop RPG series like Ys and The Legend of Heroes. A mere 450,000 yen, or just shy of $US4,000 ($5,073).

Of course, Neo Geo games are ridiculously expensive the world over, and here's a row of a few of those in the Akihabara branch of Mandarake.

From left: Magical Drop III (140,000 yen or ~$US1,200), Metal Slug 2 (350,000 yen or ~$US3,200), and Rage of The Dragons (320,000 yen or ~$US3,000). Add in whatever game is next to them and you're probably looking at $US10,000 ($12,682) worth of games easily.

If you're a big Seaman fan, you're probably drooling over this 75,000-yen (~$US750) Christmas Seaman limited-edition Dreamcast hardware at Mandarake in Akihabara.

Nintendo's Game & Watch hardware can reach quite high prices for the fans who collect mint-in-box versions of these early handheld gaming machines.

This is one of the most desirable: Mario the Juggler, the final Game & Watch produced. It actually came out in 1991, two years after Game Boy, and thus was not produced in very high quantities. 85,000 yen (~$US800) for a complete copy.

Note here that the famously persnickety Mandarake staff has rated the outer box a "C," the lowest grade possible. Note that said box looks to be in mint condition. It probably has flaws that only microscopes and Mandarake employees can observe.

Here's another gold cartridge only given out as a prize: It's the first version of Punch-Out!! for the Famicom. Nintendo would later go in and add Mike Tyson to this game before its official release. It's 57,000 yen or about $US500 ($634).

Just to its right is All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros. for the Famicom Disk System, a version of Super Mario with hosts from a Japanese radio show added into it. It, too, was only given out as a prize. It is 140,000 yen or $US1,200 ($1,522).

The Satellaview was a device that let Super Famicom users download games over a satellite connection. Some of these games are quite rare to find still loaded onto a Satellaview memory pack, and Mandarake had them all for 47,000 yen, about $US440 ($558), apiece.

From top, it's Koi wa Balance, Radical Dreamers, and Treasure Conflicts. You may know that Radical Dreamers was a sequel to Chrono Trigger, and its story served as the base for Chrono Cross on the PlayStation years later.

Sonic Blast is a fairly common game for the Game Gear in the US, but its Japanese release G Sonic is... well, it's 38,000 yen (~$US350) is what it is. Next to it is a rare game for the early Sega console SG-1000, called Gulcave, for 57,000 yen or about $US500 ($634).

Despite the similar names and proximity to each other in this glass case in the store Trader, Trip World and Miss Peach World are definitely not in the same series.

The former is a rare Game Boy game that's a spiritual follow-up to Mr. Gimmick. The latter is a hack of an NES game called Menace Beach that has naked ladies in it. Both are hovering around the $US400 ($507) mark.

One of the reasons I'm probably not going to bother trying to collect a complete set of Japanese Castlevania games is on the right, here: I can't imagine paying 51,000 yen or nearly $US500 ($634) for a copy of Vampire Killer for the Mega Drive, which is just the relatively common Genesis game Castlevania: Bloodlines.

We close this out with something I've never seen before in all my years of Akihabara shopping: Super Maruo, which is apparently the very first unlicensed adult game ever released for the Famicom, back in 1986.

It has very badly drawn explicit sex scenes. Apparently one went for nearly twice this price back in 2007, so the 270,000 yen (about $US2400 ($3,044)) price tag here at Surugaya is a bargain! Maybe if you run there you can still buy it.

 

[MIKA27]

Burger King Is Trying To Ban It In Russia For The Weirdest Reason

Never let it be said that the Russian arm of Burger King doesn't have its priorities in order. While the rest of the world is busy just letting hordes of literal clowns flock to theatres to see their good friend Pennywise eat and murder children, Burger King Russia is trying to keep its country It-free. But not because of the whole kid-killing bit.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Burger King is petitioning the Russian government's Federal Anti-Monopoly Service to ban It from showing in theatres because they argue that the Stephen King reboot could potentially hurt its business. Burger King is arguing that because Pennywise the Dancing Clown is featured so prominent in the film, It actually works as a form of advertising for McDonald's, whose brand is inexorably tied to Ronald McDonald. Apparently, to them, Pennywise and Ronald McDonald look enough alike for It to be advertising.

Aside from their shared love of children and red hair, it's difficult to make the case that Pennywise and Ronald have anything in common, and one imagines that McDonald's wouldn't want its brand at all associated with primordial evils that lurk in the sewers. It would give "kid's meal" a whole new meaning.

It has been in Russian theatres since September 7 and, while the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service has confirmed that it received Burger King's request, there's yet to be any word of the movie leaving the country any time soon.

MIKA: Sure.... I see the resemblance 

Russia may as well ban Mel Gibson movies while they're at it because he looks like The Burger King.