If you’re the kind of (mainly 2d) graphics programmer that I am, the thing you find most attractive about Processing is the one-click publishing to make a webpage and show people what you’ve been doing. Everything else after that is a bonus.

If you’re not that kind of programmer, and the web isn’t your primary concern, then you should definitely check out LÖVE. It looks like they’re having a lot of fun over there, and Lua is just nicely mind-bending enough but still familiar if you’re coming from Java or Actionscript.

A man called Ze Frank made a flash-implementation of an interesting experimental etch-a-sketch system, he called “Voice Draw“. You use your voice, to control the ink on the screen. The volume of your voice is the parameter used to control the sketch. Low-volume turns the line counterclockwise, mid-volume straight and high-volume clockwise.

The volume-controlled control is an interesting approach. Like on the real etch-a-sketch you first have to learn to draw again, especially because you have your “pencil” always on the paper. But, if you think the system further, you could even record or render sketches to sound and save them in audio-format. Wow, I should start experimenting with it…

via Neatorama / Etre

A man called Ze Frank made a flash-implementation of an interesting experimental etch-a-sketch system, he called “Voice Draw“. You use your voice, to control the ink on the screen. The volume of your voice is the parameter used to control the sketch. Low-volume turns the line counterclockwise, mid-volume straight and high-volume clockwise.

The volume-controlled control is an interesting approach. Like on the real etch-a-sketch you first have to learn to draw again, especially because you have your “pencil” always on the paper. But, if you think the system further, you could even record or render sketches to sound and save them in audio-format. Wow, I should start experimenting with it…

via Neatorama / Etre

Marius Watz: Conical (prints released on Cronica Electronica)

I just completed a new series called Conical, which was initiated as an artwork for the Cimatics festival but never used. So when Miguel Carvalhais from the Cronica Electronica label asked if I would do a cover for Morten Riis’ Digital Sound Drawings, I was happy to have a chance to bring the project to a good conclusion.

In addition to the cover artwork for the album (released as a downloadable rather than as a physical CD), we are releasing a series of 10 limited Conical prints as part of the Cronica Limited series:

Conical is an investigation of a 3D form composed of lines that trace out segments of multiple cones. Seen at a distance, the form becomes a spatial volume. Zooming in, the sense of volume disappears and the form becomes a 2D surface. The image resolves into a complex pattern of optical interference, without any depth cues to indicate its 3D nature.

The 10 prints are 40×40 cm archival inkjet prints, released as uniques and signed by the artist. The price is a modest €125 per print. You can see all 10 images here.

Simply brilliant. Hand-driven. Note the operator. She learned how to speak with sounds. Beautiful!

Simply brilliant. Hand-driven. Note the operator. She learned how to speak with sounds. Beautiful!

Yesterday I discovered a very lovely game. It is “Corpse Craft” and although the game is about killing, it is very very cartoony and sweet. The style is oriented on vintage horror, like Edgar Ellen Poe or the game Alone in the Dark, but in a plain illustrated hand-drawn style. With extreme charming details. Just have a look at this detail:

Detail: You against your enemy, zoomed x 2

Even the gameplay is somehow inventive, but foremost addictive. It features a combination of various game-genres and mixes them together into a whole gaming experience. The most basic gameplay is in an arcade-puzzle-style with game-mechanics, you should be familiar with. But… you do not solve the puzzle all the time just for the fun itself, but in order to fill up your energy-portions. If you have enough of them, you can send zombies into the arena, because your primary goal is to defeat your enemy. This is where also a strategic component comes into play. As the levels progress, you are able to collect points on a meta-layer and exchange them into special items. The games uses the “Whirled“-API to manage the transaction, that is relative new, I think, it’s in beta-phase. You can even play against others with the integrated multiplayer mode.

Nevertheless, just try out this game. And be sure… you will be entertained! Play it on Kongregate or Whirled.

Yesterday I discovered a very lovely game. It is “Corpse Craft” and although the game is about killing, it is very very cartoony and sweet. The style is oriented on vintage horror, like Edgar Ellen Poe or the game Alone in the Dark, but in a plain illustrated hand-drawn style. With extreme charming details. Just have a look at this detail:

Detail: You against your enemy, zoomed x 2

Even the gameplay is somehow inventive, but foremost addictive. It features a combination of various game-genres and mixes them together into a whole gaming experience. The most basic gameplay is in an arcade-puzzle-style with game-mechanics, you should be familiar with. But… you do not solve the puzzle all the time just for the fun itself, but in order to fill up your energy-portions. If you have enough of them, you can send zombies into the arena, because your primary goal is to defeat your enemy. This is where also a strategic component comes into play. As the levels progress, you are able to collect points on a meta-layer and exchange them into special items. The games uses the “Whirled“-API to manage the transaction, that is relative new, I think, it’s in beta-phase. You can even play against others with the integrated multiplayer mode.

Nevertheless, just try out this game. And be sure… you will be entertained! Play it on Kongregate or Whirled.

I gave a talk earlier this week to the mighty brains of the award winning group Flash Brighton. I showed a large-screen projection of the video above (a much better quality version of it obviously) by way of introduction to my “Generative Art Cookery Class“.

The group were very kind towards my work, and the talk was a lot of fun. Although it also happened to be my birthday that day so the flow of beer and pizza may have contributed towards the warm reception too.

I would love the opportunity to project this somewhere even bigger one day.

Johan from Dahearit-records was so kind to point me to their latest release “Kickstart” from Tom Woxom. The entire album is made with the good old Amiga 500 and features kicking beats, sweeps and overall decelerated madness. Not only the music, but also the artwork was a factor, that convinced me to download. It seems, that Tom Woxom is living here in the surroundings, in the Ruhrarea. But hey? Are the Germans not the most active Amiga-users still? I remember it was Germany and Sweden, but are not sure about it.

Anyway, don’t expect retro-battles or screaming 8-bit inferno on this one. The album is very gentle and it hears to me like a slow-motion ride of all the other 8-bit music.

Some more words on the DaHearIt-Netlabel. This is nerd-stuff, that fits good. Quality is high and their love for “dirty” pixel-artworks is somehow charming. The main organisers are French-people. Check out the catalogue.

Artwork by Nazilla

Johan from Da ! Heard It Records was so kind to point me to their latest release “Kickstart” from Tom Woxom. The entire album is made with the good old Amiga 500 and features kicking beats, sweeps and overall decelerated madness. Not only the music, but also the artwork was a factor, that convinced me to download. It seems, that Tom Woxom is living here in the surroundings, in the Ruhrarea. But hey? Are the Germans not the most active Amiga-users still? I remember it was Germany and Sweden, but are not sure about it.

Anyway, don’t expect retro-battles or screaming 8-bit inferno on this one. The album is very gentle and it hears to me like a slow-motion ride of all the other 8-bit music.

Some more words on “Da ! Heard It Records”. This is nerd-stuff, that fits good. Quality is high and their love for “dirty” pixel-artworks is somehow charming. The main organisers are French-people. Check out the catalogue.

source code

This requires some interaction. It is basically just 21: Lissajous Blur Two, but rendered onto the 3D plane. The angle of view is controlled by the mouse, so with a gentle touch, you can build up some nice squiffy curvature.

Author: kanodii
Keywords: Cubsicles
Added: January 26, 2009