Dirk Valentine Flash Game

The year is 1897 and the world has been beleaguered by the machinations of the evil Baron Battenberg.  Five long years the few free countries of the world have fought against the Baron and his steam powered war machines, but now Britain has been struck a terrible blow – the evil Baron has kidnapped Queen Victoria!

Now is the time for the world’s greatest hero – Dirk Valentine!  Explorer, spy and expert in multiple exotic and secret martial arts, along with his scientist friend Monty for advice, Dirk will have to infiltrate the headquarters of the Baron using the nifty Chain Cannon weapon and tool – it can vanquish foes and aid in navigation both.  Time is running out – perhaps you can help Dirk save the day?

Congratulations on a game well made to the Nitrome team, and thanks to Ms(?) Djainette, Mr Xenocryst, Mr Brandon and Mr Rick for bringing it to my attention!  Evil is most certainly afoot as you say, Mr Rick!

Acanthusleaf

Posted by on April 3rd,2008
Acanthus Design's Armillary Ring Prototype

Urk!  I thought I was done for the evening, but I could not resist posting about this cunning creation by Acanthusleaf Design studio over at the Clockworkers Guild LJ group!  It’s a ring, as you can see, based on the one from the book by Diana Scarisbrick, Historic Rings.  It’s based on a 17th Century design with some modifications – but as you can see, it’s a ring with rivets that opens out like the armillary spheres that it is inspired by!  How utterly magnificient!

They are clamouring for the opportunity to buy one over at the Clockworkers Guild and I really cannot blame them in the slightest – were I a jewellery wearer, I’d be tempted in a second.  As it is, I wonder if you could engrave the seperate rings to hide messages, keep codes, or use as impromptu sun dials or sextants!  Wonderful work, Acanthusleaf!

Remnants Of Skystone, upcoming Steampunk MMO

Anyone for a Steampunk MMO?  Upcoming from the Flipline developer, and slated for release on the Kongregate site (known for free to play, Flash based games), Remnants of Skystone is a very Steampunk multiplayer game featuring character creation (look for gas masks, spats, goggles, brass cuffs and the most stunning facial hair I’ve yet seen in a game), socialising and co-operative side scrolling missions battling the bally alien invaders!  There may even be the opportunity to have your own floating residence!

Apparently going to go live sometime this autumn (or fall, if you prefer) it looks like it has some potential indeed, and the blog has some nice backstory, art inspiration pages, and character screens.  Several of the characters could do with smiling more, but I suppose with alien mimics denying the very ground you stand on, you might be a little disgruntled too!

If the creators of the game should perhaps stumble across this little post, you’d make me very grateful if you’d reserve the name Tinkergirl for me.  Thanks to Mr Tony for pointing it out some time ago, and to GameBunny for reminding me!

Elektra Belle Epoque Coffee Machine

Posted by on April 3rd,2008
Belle Epoque by Elektra, coffee machine in brass and copper

Those who can look at the above coffee temple and not see a Steampunk automaton staring back at them, are possessed of a different frequency of mind than I posess.  While it looks very much as though it should be able to create and serve the coffee under its own mysterious power, it’s actually the Elektra Belle Epoque Q1 coffee machine (also available in brass and copper, though not apparently in images of any useful size, alas. Also available in chrome – thank you Mr Graham!).  It’s beautiful, a little terrifying, and the sheer richness and the details – from porthole styled water viewport to the wooden looking knobs and handles – cry out to be the beverage maker of the most discerning of Steampunk caffine fiends.  Thank you, Laird Douglas!

It also introduced me to the wonderful phrase, Belle Époque – French for ‘beautiful era’ – which describes that almost impossibly interesting time in world history between the late 19th Century and the Great War.  Prime Steampunk-inspiring times with science and arts leaping forwards in an uncharacteristically peaceful time in Europe.

Dinosaur Safari in the Crystal Palace Park

If you find yourself in London this weekend, you may be interested in attending a meetup of those of the Steampunk persuasion at Crystal Palace Park.  There will be thunder lizards to observe, (though the only shooting should be done with light capturing devices – rayguns, pistols, harpoons, portable tesla cannons and shock-canes etc are forbidden, lest they peturb the local authorities) and time to enjoy some light refreshments that you may decide to bring.

So far, a healthy two dozen have signed up to attend either in the thread on the Steampunk Forum, or the Facebook event page, and all are welcome (though scallywags will have to be on best behaviour).  I believe several people will be taking the opportunity to dress to impress, and it would be lovely if others did too.  Weather forecast suggests sunny with showers (an appropriate British spring forecast) so bring a brolly!  I look forward to meeting you all.

Joule Thief Steampunk Headset Hook

Posted by on March 22nd,2008

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The honourable Garagemonkeysan wrote to let me know about this clever functional little gizmo created with a Steampunk style.  Designed with the joule thief circuit (a circuit designed to squeeze the very last dregs from previously abandoned batteries) this brass and glass panel will hold your chat-headset securely (using magnets to attach to another surface) and will light the ‘busy’ indicator when the headset is removed.

It makes more sense with the video, but I like it a great deal and it bodes well for future joule thief projects having practical purposes.  Discard not those dud batteries – make a joule thief like Garagemonkeysan!  chuckles  Lovely work, Sir.

Happy Air Kraken Day!

Posted by on March 18th,2008

Air Kraken Day, 17th of March

Once more, our skies darken with the threat of ominous lighter than air tentacles as the calendar once again informs us that it is Air Kraken Day!  Rejoice (or scream in abject terror, as you prefer) as we remember these giants of the sky – who’s loving embrace has been the gurgling end to many an aeronaut’s ill fated airship journey.

Some of you might take this as a time to raise a glass to those so lost.  Some might choose to spread the word that Air Krakens are simply misunderstood creatures, defending their airy territories.  While yet others might choose to craft Air Kraken decoys and go hunting this most elusive of aerogelliac fauna.  I recommend trying a modified solar balloon, this year, if last years kites did not bag you a specimen.  Good luck!

Dardenbahst Steampunk Mech, by Mr Spencer

I’m often of the opinion, that no matter the limits of the creative media that people have available to them, the sheer range of things that can be created despite (or because) of those limitations will perpetually surprise you!  Like the above beautiful custom Steampunk mech, named the Dardenbahst by Mr Spencer, with hand painted gold/brass accents and custom decal minifigs (with chest-mounted rebreathers and corset-wearing ladies)!

But, despite its threatening appearance, the Dardenbahst is designed for support – you can read more about it on the beautifully designed schematic here.  And were that not enough, the Deutsches Reich also created the Kreigerhund – a fully autonomous automaton to defend the empire’s border.  Thanks to Mr White and Mr Zoelen, and via the Brothers Brick (who have a wonderful Steampunk category – so many wonderful creations).

A Steampunk Dalek Model, By Mr Holden

Posted by on March 17th,2008

Mr Holden's Steampunk Dalek Model

We’ve seen the beautiful Steampunk dalek character design by Mr Promus-Kaa, and now the terrible anachonistic force from an alternative Skaro have independantly developed a third dimension!  Mr Holden’s model of a Steampunk Dalek, created for the upcoming Great Crystal Cyberdrome Exhibition (a retro-futuristic themed robot-exhibition at the Eastercon sci-fi convention in London) is a brilliant and terrifying creation!

Apparently created from the unholy union of a Dalek bubblebath bottle and a second hand brass Stephenson’s Rocket miniature, I am sure he will do very well exhibiting at the big event itself – and if things should go poorly, well, apparently the bubble bath is still inside, so he can perhaps generate a bubble-screen and make a getaway.  Good luck at the event, Mr Holden.

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Above, you may feast your eyes on Prof. Emilio Zuntaras’ Bi-Orbital Spectral Audiometer, an utterly wonderful CD player modification from newly-realised Steampunk fan, Professor Zuntaras, of the Steampunk Forum.  It is exceptionally hard to believe, but most impressive to know, that this started out life as a standard dull $14 CD player, but that now everything you see in the video above is functional!  From the handle that cranks to the bellows on the left that automagically pump, this is a beautiful creation all the way down to the etched glass CD cover.

For the discriminating gentelman who is ready to step up from the grammaphone or wax cylinders, Professor Emilio Zuntaras humbly offers the Bi-Orbital Spectral Audiometer.  Superior sound quality and, at just over 50 pounds, it offers full portability…

Read lots more and see many stunning photographs including the original plans and closeups of the horns, bellows, glass and knife switches!  (I do love knife switches.)  Congratulations, Professor Zuntaras, and I’m ever so glad you found like-minds in the Forum!