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Nazi R2-D2

This bizarre plastic model kit by Imai comes from the days when Japan blatantly plagiarized stuff. Here is the “Command Robot VR-1” kit from their “Star Command” series, also known as “Nazi R2-D2.” I’ve actually seen this kit in person (at an IPMS show in Phoenix) and it comes with swastika decals. Sieg heil, you overweight glob of grease.

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A couple of clever ’80s game arcade memes

The first time I visited Japan was in 1998, and at that time all I saw were sit-down cabinets like the Sega Astro City, Taito Egret, Namco Cyberlead, etc. So, I was unaware that game centers here in Japan once had standing cabinets like America did until talking with my Japanese friend. He said that he would play Atari’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in the ’80s. Atari had some successes in Japan back in the ’80s, especially Gauntlet and Marble Madness. And going back further, Breakout obviously made quite an impression in Japan, giving birth to the “block kuzushi” genre with Arkanoid being the most exemplary title. Dang, if only I could travel back in time, or at least Quantum Leap into my childhood self and relive those memories…

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R2-D2 by Claude Monet

The Dall-E image generator allows you to create images as though they were painted by famous painters. My friend Brian did Ryu from Street Fighter as painted by Picasso, and Hillary Clinton as painted by Rembrant. I gave it a shot with Darth Maul painted by Georges Seurat and it looks pretty cool. I entered R2-D2 by Claude Monet and these pictures are beautiful.

It looks like Artoo is having a nice day by the waterside. That’s nice.

BONUS: Indiana Jones, as painted by Vincent Van Gogh.