These days music, specifically of the dance, rap, and remix variety have an over abundance of auto-tunedness.(is that even a word?) Don’t get me wrong I love my auto-tune especially when it is put to creative use. But there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. So when I came across these two remixes I was amazed.

Please hear this next one out. Yes it’s Rick Astley but in a way you have never heard him before.

I am a huge fan of fan of epic fantasy and I think my favorite series of all time would have to be “The Wheel of TIme” by the late Robert Jordan (James Rigney). Before Robert passed away he wrote eleven books full of action, mystery, and political intrigue.

While reading I, like most readers do, build up mental images in my head as to what the characters look like. So recently when I was bored and had some time to spare (thats a rare moment) I found some fan made art. Below are my three favorite pictures, depicting Rand, Mat, and Perrin, the three boys the whole series revolves around.

Rand al’Thor by Mindtrap

Mat Cauthon by lord_of_chaos_jr

Perrin Aybara by lord_of_chaos_jr

To view more great Wheel of Time fan art visit Dragonmount.

This fan film, submitted as part of the Ubisoft/IFC Assassin’s Creed Fan Film Contest in June of 2007, didn’t win. But, I like it a lot, and I think it’s worth watching, just for the production value and the style. I think it follows very closely to what an movie based on the game would look like. However, I would like to challenge every fan filmmaker out there: WORK ON YOUR FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY. It’s essential. Thank you.

There are quite a few contest submissions still online, and you can even view the winner’s film here on YouTube.

Most men spend days and days agonizing over how to ask the girl of their dreams to marry them. I have heard some amazing stories but this tops them. Ladies this is what happens when you fall in love with a geek. I think some congratulations are in order Mr. and Mrs. TheRealPfhreak.

I know all the ladies are asking so I will just answer now. No, I have not proposed to anyone. Yes, I want to. Contact me at FanMadeDotOrg@gmail.com for more information.

Well, I am going to take a page out of my good friend Levi’s book and give you a Craig’s Top 3 – Space Invaders. Everyone loves retro games and Space Invaders is a personal favorite. I remember spending hours as a child playing it. And for good reason, its just plain fun. And so are these fan made creations.

Having trouble getting your kids to take bath. Are you having trouble finding motivation to take a bath. Well look no farther. Yes, Digitalsoaps has made a Space Invaders soap set.

(via Boing Boing)

Multitouch Space Invaders Demo from Multitouch Barcelona on Vimeo.

Ok, so playing in real life is pretty cool. But what I like the most here is the orchestra playing the game’s soundtrack live while the guy plays. The audio is a little hard to hear.

The amazing Patrick Boivin is at it again with yet another You Tube ‘game’. This time around he uses his unique talents to re-create Street Fighter. So grab your mouse and get ready for the fight of your life.

First things first, sorry that there are not pretty pictures or action packed movies in this post. What I am covering does not really lend itself to screen shots. What am I covering you may ask yourself. Well, I am glad you asked.

A while back I ranted about Square Enix targeting their fans and forcing them to shutdown ‘Crimson Echoes’, a fan made Chrono Trigger game. Today I would like to celebrate the late Robert Jordan (whose real name is James Rigney), author of the epic fantasy series The Wheel of Time. He is a man who truly looked out for the best interest of his fans.

Way back in 1993 a group of fans got together and created a MUD, a text based online role playing game, based off of the Wheel of Time books. Clearly they were infringing on Robert Jordan’s intellectual property, but instead of getting upset and shutting them Robert empowered them to use his works and to expound upon them.

Don’t just take my word for it, read what the Wheel of Time Mud has to say about it and read the letter from Robert Jordan himself.

I know it is not full of the graphical goodies that we have all come to expect from our video games, but if you love role playing games and have some spare time check this MUD out. I promise you you won’t regret it.

Youtube user Nicolas Ménard has taken one of my my favorite childhood video game characters and brought him to life. This takes me back to the days when I would draw out my own video game levels and detail the travel of various beloved heros as they conquered everything that stood in their way. However, this is a lot better than anything I ever came up with.

(via Capcom-Unity.com)

In case you have not heard, this week a jarring blow was dealt to the fans of Chrono Trigger and the long awaited fan mod Crimson Echoes. For the past 5 years countless fans of the game have spent hours upon hours working on this unofficial game. The result were amazing (see video below). The finished product was going to feature roughly 35 hours of game play, 10 multiple endings, and consist of 23 chapters. Development was roughly %98 complete when Square Enix contacted them with a cease and desist letter.

What is going on here. The people behind Crimson Echoes were not in it for the money. There was no malevolent intent behind the making of this game. It was a group of fans celebrating the game and wanting to impart a little bit of themselves into it. If anything Square Enix should be happy to have fans like this. It is not often that something comes along that will inspire a group of people to this level.

Ok enough ranting. I just want to throw a shout out to all the fans who worked on Crimson Echoes. You inspire me. And to every one else, here is what you will now not get to experience :(

Anyone who knows me knows that I easily spend 5+ hours a day on my computer. Between work, programming, research, and just plain fun I spend the majority of my time online. Anyone who uses a computer a lot knows that the search for the perfect mouse is just as maybe more important than the quest for the Holy Grail. If you are searching then look no farther…

NES Mouse Mockup

Unfortunately this mouse found here is not functional. It’s just a mockup, but its a great proof of concept and I for one would love it.

LEVI SAYS: It’s just so beautiful. I am going to go cry somewhere.