TALES FROM THE WEB

By Gareth Branwyn, Makezine.com Editor-in-Chief

Let the Games Begin

WE’VE POSTED OODLES OF ARTICLES AND PROJECTS on makezine.com related to gaming, from tabletop wargames to video game console hacks to such outdoor geek pastimes as geocaching. Here are a few of our favorites. Find more in our online Gaming category (blog.makezine.com/archive/category/gaming).

How-To: Custom Dice via Toner Transfer

From Barcelona dice hacker Abraham Neddermann (aka Dicecreator) comes this cool and straightforward project for creating your own dice using inkjet paper and a laser printer. makezine.com/go/tonerdice

Gaming Racing Cockpit in an Ottoman

An Australian gamer built this full-featured racing game cockpit housed in an ottoman that stows away everything when not in use. An Automan? makezine.com/go/automan

How-To: Shrink-Film Gaming Minis

One of our favorite gaming projects is from MAKE contributor Sean Ragan: use polyolefin shrink film to create simple, handsome custom game components. Check out his full how-to: makeprojects.com/project/s/346

Gaming Minis From Twist Ties

Miniature gaming can be an expensive hobby, but enterprising maker “lonustron” proves that it doesn’t have to be — he fashions his gaming figures from twist ties! makezine.com/go/twistminis

Intricate 3D-Printed Gaming Dice

Shapeways and other 3D printing services (and home 3D printers like MakerBot) are revolutionizing tabletop gaming — suddenly players can design and print out their own custom figures, playing pieces, and dice. Here’s a gorgeous set of Thorn Dice designed by Chuck Stover and available through Shapeways. makezine.com/go/3ddice

Homebrew Video Game Cartridges

MAKE contributor Joe Grand offers detailed plans (and downloadable PCB files) for creating your own Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit, and ColecoVision game cartridges. makezine.com/go/diycartridge

Cansole: Arduino-Based Game Console in a Can

When author John Graham-Cumming (The Geek Atlas) isn’t surveying global geek travel destinations, he’s building things like this gaming console housed in a candy tin. makezine.com/go/cansole

Gareth Branwyn is editor-in-chief of makezine.com.