Welcome to Mars City, marine.
April 26, 2005 3:22 PM Subscribe
Mars City. An amazing case inspired by Doom 3.
reading this, I thought. "some nerds are intense! I bet someone out there has done a case mod that looks like a borg ship." and sure enough, somebody had!
posted by mcsweetie at 4:00 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by mcsweetie at 4:00 PM on April 26, 2005
That's one scary Barbie Dream House.
posted by fleacircus at 4:07 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by fleacircus at 4:07 PM on April 26, 2005
Unfortunately, I'm sure he plans to leave it in a dark room, and if you want to see it you'll have to put down whatever you're carrying to pick up a flashlight.
posted by me & my monkey at 4:09 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by me & my monkey at 4:09 PM on April 26, 2005
wow. that's some serious love of the game.
Maybe I should give it another try, since I got bored to tears after an hour of playing it.
Then again, if the game were so great, he'd be playing it, rather than replicating it, right?
But a beautiful, massive undertaking with results I wouldn't dream of attempting myself. Hope he enjoys...
posted by Busithoth at 4:27 PM on April 26, 2005
Maybe I should give it another try, since I got bored to tears after an hour of playing it.
Then again, if the game were so great, he'd be playing it, rather than replicating it, right?
But a beautiful, massive undertaking with results I wouldn't dream of attempting myself. Hope he enjoys...
posted by Busithoth at 4:27 PM on April 26, 2005
Your Borg nerd is Dutch - extra points...
posted by runkelfinker at 4:32 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by runkelfinker at 4:32 PM on April 26, 2005
I don't have a Cray Supercomputer that is apparently necessary to play DOOM3. I played it for 30 minutes on my mediocre machine and it ran so choppy it gave me a headache.
This guy is a total nerd, but the case is a work of art. Nice.
posted by zardoz at 4:36 PM on April 26, 2005
This guy is a total nerd, but the case is a work of art. Nice.
posted by zardoz at 4:36 PM on April 26, 2005
I am filled with admiration for him. Never played Doom 3 myself, but I think he has reason to be proud. Made me think of the Tron guy.
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:40 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:40 PM on April 26, 2005
I'm confused, page 3 seems to end with no final picture of the entire, finished project... or am I missing something?
posted by jonson at 4:58 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by jonson at 4:58 PM on April 26, 2005
You can make a more accurate Doom 3 case by simply turning off all the lights in your room.
posted by angry modem at 4:58 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by angry modem at 4:58 PM on April 26, 2005
Uhh, then I guess it's just me, Joey, and weretable that think this is a pretty awesome bit of work on the guy's part.
I imagine my own attempt to make a Doom III inspired case would probably just involve taping some screen shots printed on A4 paper to the side, maybe drawing a pentagram with red Sharpie.
posted by Hildago at 5:08 PM on April 26, 2005
I imagine my own attempt to make a Doom III inspired case would probably just involve taping some screen shots printed on A4 paper to the side, maybe drawing a pentagram with red Sharpie.
posted by Hildago at 5:08 PM on April 26, 2005
Speaking for myself, I am floored with the attention to detail and artisanship on display. I am relieved to see my own OCD-tendencies normalized to well within the human-realm yet am simultaneously deeply envious.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:17 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:17 PM on April 26, 2005
EB, do you have a job? I have the feeling you'd be a great Senior QA Engineer!
posted by angry modem at 5:47 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by angry modem at 5:47 PM on April 26, 2005
This is hugely nerdy, but the craftsmanship is still totally awesome.
What I find impressive is the visual sense you need to create texture like that - anyone can make something elaborate if they're told what to do and given enough time, but to know how to make something appear that way is something else.
posted by invitapriore at 5:48 PM on April 26, 2005
What I find impressive is the visual sense you need to create texture like that - anyone can make something elaborate if they're told what to do and given enough time, but to know how to make something appear that way is something else.
posted by invitapriore at 5:48 PM on April 26, 2005
Fantastic work - I tend to think that this guy works in FX in some capacity, or will someday. Great attention to detail - don't we all have personal project that result in something we love yet is in the grand scheme of things totally useless? You have a beautiful deck out back, this guy has a really badass looking computer. Apples and apples in my book.
posted by GriffX at 5:55 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by GriffX at 5:55 PM on April 26, 2005
I think it's a work in progress. Look at the post dates.
posted by zsazsa at 6:07 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by zsazsa at 6:07 PM on April 26, 2005
that's as far as the forum thread goes, and it's an old thread. I don't know if he ever finished it, but the thread showed him at that exact point in its construction back when BB linked this months ago.
it is totally badass, though.
touchscreen
lcd
on
the
case.
hawt.
posted by shmegegge at 6:14 PM on April 26, 2005
it is totally badass, though.
touchscreen
lcd
on
the
case.
hawt.
posted by shmegegge at 6:14 PM on April 26, 2005
"...but to know how to make something appear that way is something else."
Yep. What really impresses me is his facility with everything end-to-end. He has the creativity to envision what he wants to achieve—and for it to look good—and then the skills and know-how to make it himself. There are lots of artists who could conceive a case mod that looks that good, and engineers who could conceive how to realize that concept, and home-tinkerers who could undercut the engineers on cost-of-execution...but this guy is basically all three wrapped together.
"EB, do you have a job? I have the feeling you'd be a great Senior QA Engineer!"
Heh. The closest I came to QA was when I cooperated on some project with those strange and mysterious QA-folk. Honestly, I thought a lot of what they do would bore me to death if I had to do it all the time. On the other hand, we uncovered some problems I had a hand in diagnosing and fixing, and that was fun.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 6:14 PM on April 26, 2005
Yep. What really impresses me is his facility with everything end-to-end. He has the creativity to envision what he wants to achieve—and for it to look good—and then the skills and know-how to make it himself. There are lots of artists who could conceive a case mod that looks that good, and engineers who could conceive how to realize that concept, and home-tinkerers who could undercut the engineers on cost-of-execution...but this guy is basically all three wrapped together.
"EB, do you have a job? I have the feeling you'd be a great Senior QA Engineer!"
Heh. The closest I came to QA was when I cooperated on some project with those strange and mysterious QA-folk. Honestly, I thought a lot of what they do would bore me to death if I had to do it all the time. On the other hand, we uncovered some problems I had a hand in diagnosing and fixing, and that was fun.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 6:14 PM on April 26, 2005
I can't wait for Doom 9. That one will rip skulls.
posted by sharksandwich at 6:15 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by sharksandwich at 6:15 PM on April 26, 2005
Yeah, first thing I thought was that he was in the viz fx business or, at the very least, a prop maker.
posted by bz at 6:30 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by bz at 6:30 PM on April 26, 2005
You can make a more accurate Doom 3 case by simply turning off all the lights in your room.
Ha!
It would also help to have the assistance of a friend who jumps out from behind you every other minute.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:01 PM on April 26, 2005
Ha!
It would also help to have the assistance of a friend who jumps out from behind you every other minute.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:01 PM on April 26, 2005
I've actually been following progress on this particular case over at Best Case Scenario for a while now, and updates have been sporadic at best. I get the impression he has a pretty busy real life, so I don't think it'll be finished for a while. It's not something I'd ever do - I actually prefer simple biege boxes to today's molded-plastic bullshit - but I have a great respect for the ability on display here.
posted by Ryvar at 7:06 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by Ryvar at 7:06 PM on April 26, 2005
oh. case. not case.
Slashdot's on the line, they want their posts back.
posted by blacklite at 7:29 PM on April 26, 2005
Slashdot's on the line, they want their posts back.
posted by blacklite at 7:29 PM on April 26, 2005
That's one scary Barbie Dream House.
Heh. Same impulse, isn't it?
Slashdot's on the line, they want their posts back.
Wasn't aware this was a race.
*looks around for finish line*
posted by mediareport at 7:35 PM on April 26, 2005
Heh. Same impulse, isn't it?
Slashdot's on the line, they want their posts back.
Wasn't aware this was a race.
*looks around for finish line*
posted by mediareport at 7:35 PM on April 26, 2005
Ho. Ly. Crap. I am in awe of this guy's: skill with a knife and polystyrene; skill with an airbrush and dry brush; ambition to make the most bitchinest Doom3 machine anyone could imagine.
I mean, look at the size of the base alone - all the drives fit in there! It's like another computer case, attached to the computer case! I don't know how that thing will fit with any desk or room that this guy likely has - he's may have to go even further, and make a Doom3 room to put it in, otherwise it will just look too out-of-place.
I'm a little concerned about the keyboard. While it is cool, with dedicated buttons for the flashlight and stuff like that, it looks like a kiddy toy next to the case.
Anyway, awesome. Another tribute to the lengths to which some major geeks will go. Geek on, brother.
posted by dammitjim at 7:53 PM on April 26, 2005
I mean, look at the size of the base alone - all the drives fit in there! It's like another computer case, attached to the computer case! I don't know how that thing will fit with any desk or room that this guy likely has - he's may have to go even further, and make a Doom3 room to put it in, otherwise it will just look too out-of-place.
I'm a little concerned about the keyboard. While it is cool, with dedicated buttons for the flashlight and stuff like that, it looks like a kiddy toy next to the case.
Anyway, awesome. Another tribute to the lengths to which some major geeks will go. Geek on, brother.
posted by dammitjim at 7:53 PM on April 26, 2005
That is some really great work! The guy could probably get a job as a modelmaker for a Hollywood SFX company if he wanted to.
posted by Potsy at 8:16 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by Potsy at 8:16 PM on April 26, 2005
I love Metafilter. No one posted what I cynically expected here (well, not yet, anyway).
I really hate it when there is a post somewhere of something totally awesome that somebody built or did ... and you get truckloads of the following post:
"Some people have way too much time on their hands."
Fuck those people. What a bunch of ignorant, boring pricks.
I salute focused, skilled, and passionate hobbyists and geeks everywhere.
posted by redteam at 8:43 PM on April 26, 2005
I really hate it when there is a post somewhere of something totally awesome that somebody built or did ... and you get truckloads of the following post:
"Some people have way too much time on their hands."
Fuck those people. What a bunch of ignorant, boring pricks.
I salute focused, skilled, and passionate hobbyists and geeks everywhere.
posted by redteam at 8:43 PM on April 26, 2005
Also unfinished, but another awesome case (not a mod): The Imperator
posted by coriolisdave at 9:34 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by coriolisdave at 9:34 PM on April 26, 2005
An older case, but one of my favorites, Mobile Suit Gundam
posted by Tenuki at 9:55 PM on April 26, 2005
posted by Tenuki at 9:55 PM on April 26, 2005
Humbling, and yet very inspiring. Not only is this guy extremely talented, he takes the time to show the stages of how to go about scratch-building a model - something I've always been fascinated with, but have never attempted.
I have no desire to do a case mod, but I've suddenly developed an urge to go out and but some polystyrene, xacto knives, and various paints and lacquers.
posted by C.Batt at 10:27 PM on April 26, 2005
I have no desire to do a case mod, but I've suddenly developed an urge to go out and but some polystyrene, xacto knives, and various paints and lacquers.
posted by C.Batt at 10:27 PM on April 26, 2005
I salute focused, skilled, and passionate hobbyists and geeks everywhere.
Agreed. Excellent work.
The thought of a lawsuit however, did cross my mind in the current copyright gone mad and intellectual 'property' atmosphere. Not that ID would do such a thing and not that there'd truly be grounds for one, but the ground is being rattled, pulled, and reshaped underneath us rapidly.
posted by juiceCake at 11:46 PM on April 26, 2005
Agreed. Excellent work.
The thought of a lawsuit however, did cross my mind in the current copyright gone mad and intellectual 'property' atmosphere. Not that ID would do such a thing and not that there'd truly be grounds for one, but the ground is being rattled, pulled, and reshaped underneath us rapidly.
posted by juiceCake at 11:46 PM on April 26, 2005
What really amuses me is that, with all the work on the case, there's no actual computer hardware in there yet. Well, hard drives, but other than that all the electronics there are for eye candy.
My guess is that he's aiming to have the case finished just about the same time that hardware capable of running Doom3 in super-high quality video mode hits the shelves.
Having said that though, damn. I mean, I can build stuff, but I never got that into modeling things. Heck, the few times I tried doing models, I could never get the window onto the car or plane without getting at least one superglue fingerprint etched into it. I can't imagine how long it would take me to do something like this, even if I was working on it full-time.
The sad thing is that, back in the day before everything was CGI, this case alone would land this guy a job in the props department at Lucasfilm. Moving to CGI might have been a good move for some things, but I can't help but think that we've lost something there when people like this guy end up doing it at home for no reason other than that they want to, and the big-budget films don't rely on this type of handcrafting and creativity as much as they used to.
posted by caution live frogs at 6:35 AM on April 27, 2005
My guess is that he's aiming to have the case finished just about the same time that hardware capable of running Doom3 in super-high quality video mode hits the shelves.
Having said that though, damn. I mean, I can build stuff, but I never got that into modeling things. Heck, the few times I tried doing models, I could never get the window onto the car or plane without getting at least one superglue fingerprint etched into it. I can't imagine how long it would take me to do something like this, even if I was working on it full-time.
The sad thing is that, back in the day before everything was CGI, this case alone would land this guy a job in the props department at Lucasfilm. Moving to CGI might have been a good move for some things, but I can't help but think that we've lost something there when people like this guy end up doing it at home for no reason other than that they want to, and the big-budget films don't rely on this type of handcrafting and creativity as much as they used to.
posted by caution live frogs at 6:35 AM on April 27, 2005
The antithesis of Mars City: Woodcube.
Good news. It's for sale.
0 bud :(
posted by mrgrimm at 4:13 PM on April 27, 2005
Good news. It's for sale.
0 bud :(
posted by mrgrimm at 4:13 PM on April 27, 2005
Now THAT is what I'd be able to do when it comes to case modding! Hand me that circular saw and a sheet of half-inch plywood, and I could mass produce those with no problems!
Don't think I'd be able to get $750 for 'em, though. Think sanding it down and some nice walnut pr oak polyurethane would increase the price?
JB
posted by JB71 at 7:49 PM on April 28, 2005
Don't think I'd be able to get $750 for 'em, though. Think sanding it down and some nice walnut pr oak polyurethane would increase the price?
JB
posted by JB71 at 7:49 PM on April 28, 2005
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This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
Sorry, it's the first thing that popped into my head.
posted by anthill at 3:55 PM on April 26, 2005