Film and video game makers are always trying to make their visuals bigger, better, and more spectacular. However, very few seem to realize the truth at hand: graphics reached their peak with 8-bit. But then 8-bit became 16-bit, which became 64-bit, which became 3D handheld madness, which became Hal 9000.

Meanwhile, we’re left with longing for a 8-bit world that just isn’t compatible with this shoddy system known as reality. But what if… what if 8-bit never went out of style? What if modern games, movies, and TV shows still had those blotchy sprites and ambiguous cubism? Why, if such a thing were possible, surely people would pay money for it… and that’s the kind of sentiment that was shared at the meeting where 72Pins was born.

72Pins gets us. There’s something special – dare I say “artistic” – about the 8-bit video game aesthetic. Zombies weren’t horrifying, half-decayed images that haunted our dreams, but green squares with cartoon worms coming out of their head. For something created by basic programming code, 8-bit is versatile as a creative medium, and scholars agree that if he had the option, Michaelangelo would have worked exclusively with very basic pixelation.

So 72Pins takes pop culture – games, movies, and TV – and reinterprets them as classic NES games.  And since what we’re talking about is essentially fan art, NES cartridges make the best platform (no pun intended) to showcase the art! Just imagine, holding that gray plastic cartridge for the Shaun of the Dead NES game that never was.

What do they have? Have you ever heard of this little show called Breaking Bad? Why don’t you check out Bad Breakers!? It’s easy to recognize Walter White’s characteristic goatee in glasses in that 8-bit format. Another little-known movie featured on 72Pins is a little-known feature called Star Wars. While they don’t have scenes from the theoretical game, the cartridge does feature pixelated scenes from the movie. And here’s a treat for Arrested Development fans: an entire set of six designs, including Mr. Bananagrabber and Stair Kart.

And then there’s the video games. How would our favorite turn of the century games look if they were made 30 years ago? Imagine blowing on your World of Warcraft cartridge to get to work. Or, a real treasure, a version of Half-Life 3 that actually exists! They even have inside jokes, like a somewhat blasphemous NES cartridge for the original Sonic the Hedgehog.

This site is a haven for gamers and geek culture lovers! Check out their full selection and find the classic game that’s right for you!

Shut Up and Take My Money: 72Pins NES Cartridges

Everyone familiar with Spider-Man and his lovable, angst-ridden whining, knows crime doesn’t pay. But guess what? Crime-fighting doesn’t pay the bills either. Peter Parker was a photographer. Clark Kent was a journalist. Even Bruce Wayne was a full-time male heiress! (We know the term is “heir,” we’re just being cheeky.)

Just when it seems Thor, son of Odin, isn’t going to make ends meet in time to pay the landlord, Malaysian artist Chow Hon Lam drew this set of Superheroes with Part-Time Jobs.  Finally, all those superpowers don’t have to be wasted on warding off evil and protecting the innocent!

Part-Time Jobs for Superheroes

Us gamers have our own language, full of acronyms (“GG”), insults (“N00b”), and poetry (“wankfest”). Which is why holiday cards that say things like “Wishing You and Yours a Merry Christmas” don’t make us excited for the season – but do make us gag. Luckily, these “bricked” Christmas cards aren’t the only ones available. Mario, Pikachu, Samus, and even Solid Snake may not send out cheesy photos of themselves wearing ugly sweaters, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to extend their best holiday wishes to friends and family.

We here at The Checkout proudly present these Video Game Christmas Cards to Reset Your Holiday Spirit. 

Pick up your set of Video Games Christmas Cards directly from designer Gamer Print.

Video Game Christmas Cards to Reset Your Holiday Spirit

With the success of 2011’s reboot The Muppets, everyone’s favorite puppets will be returning in a sequel titled Muppets Most Wanted, to be released next March. The tone of the sequel looks similar to the classic second movie in the original series, The Great Muppet Caper, in which the Muppets traveled to England and rode bikes (!).

Over the decades, the Muppets have drawn legions of fans, some of whom have done art tributes that are worthy of the Muppets name. We’ve collected 15 of our favorite art pieces and illustrations depicting Muppets characters in various ways, some referencing other pop culture icons. Where available, we’ve also included links to the artists’ websites where you can purchase prints or other items.

Time to raise the curtain!

Ministry of Silly Muppet Walks, Vincent Carrozza (Redbubble)

Oscar the Grandiose, Mike Mitchell (Tumblr)

Kermit & Jim, Mike Mitchell (Tumblr)

Moving Right Along, Sam Carter (Sam Carter Art)

Fozzie Bear Ice Pop, Chungkong (Redbubble)

Muppets/Tolkien, Will Robertson

Gonzo as Whistler’s Mother, Matthew Jeanes (Matthew Jeanes)

Kermit & Miss Piggy in Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss

Kermit Sherlock Holmes, The French Belphegor (deviantART)

Animal Battle Captain, Maryanna Hoggatt (Little Wolf)

X-Muppets, Rahzzah (deviantART)

Super Kermit

Super Grover, Alex Ross (eBay)

Mr. Snuffleupagus, Francesco Francavilla (Francesco Francavilla)

15 Muppet-tastic Muppets Fan Art Pieces

It’s two years away, but the summer of 2015 is gearing up to be a titanic battlefield of movie sequels. The Avengers 2,  Pirates of the Caribbean 5 and Jurassic Park IV are all slated to hit cineplexes at that time.

But what has fans really in a fever pitch is the summer 2015 release of two long-awaited movies that you might’ve heard of: Justice League and Star Wars: Episode VII.

Nobody knows anything about either movie beyond some basic details, but that hasn’t stopped some enterprising fans from casting the movies and producing some very tantalizing one-sheet art of everyone’s new favorite unreleased blockbusters.

Here are 10 cool-looking fan-made Star Wars: Episode VII and Justice League posters to whet your appetite:

Star Wars: Episode VII (Disney)

Lyndon Berresford and Paul Bateman

Aurelien Binant

themadbutcher @ deviantart

jphomeentertainment @ deviantart

Justice League (Warner Bros.)

sahinduezguen @ deviantart

sahinduezguen @ deviantart

Jolt17 @ ComicBookMovie

DiamondDesignHD @ deviantart

PaulRom @ deviantart

Cool Fan-Made Poster Art for Star Wars: Episode VII and Justice League