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Frogger Synchronized To Real-Life Traffic

Posted by timothy on from the bonus-lives dept.

Cerlyn writes "In order to celebrate 30 years of Frogger, Tyler DeAngelo and his friends created a version of Frogger synchronized to actual vehicles on 5th Avenue in New York City. Unlike a previous (dangerous) attempt at recreating the game, this version fits safely inside of a Frogger arcade cabinet, and pictures and videos of the construction of the game are available as well." (Just scroll down that first link to see the construction details.)

43 comments

  1. Bad link to the previous version by damn_registrars · · Score: 2

    The story about the previous attempt at creating real-life Frogger links to a story that no longer exists.

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    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
    1. Re:Bad link to the previous version by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      unless timopthy has managed to edit it in the last second or two.... works for me

    2. Re:Bad link to the previous version by Brucelet · · Score: 1

      The slashdot story exists but the yahoo article it links to is gone.

    3. Re:Bad link to the previous version by FrootLoops · · Score: 2

      I spent a while searching for a copy of the Yahoo! article and came up with nothing. I did find this story from a local news outlet that probably says about the same as the Yahoo! article did. I also wasn't able to find more than search engine hints of a followup article saying that the guy was released from the hospital. He missed out on a Darwin award, at least. I imagine he recovered mostly or completely.

    4. Re:Bad link to the previous version by Hal_Porter · · Score: 1

      Well he said it was dangerous.

      --
      echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
  2. Damn you videos by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    I skipped through the video in the second link then checked the first link for more information...and found that all the information about building it is in videos.

    Sigh.

    1. Re:Damn you videos by arth1 · · Score: 1

      Agreed. A few screenshots and a real article would have been much more useful. And would use so much less bandwidth that it might not be slashdotted so quickly either.

      No, I can't view the Vimeo video - pressing play just switches from a black screen to a black screen. So there is no article.
      Again, can /. please put a video icon on submissions where a video is a substantial/required part of the "article"? Cause this is wasting both time and bandwidth for many of us, for no good reason.

  3. /. TV by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That video was cool. A perfect example of what could go on /. TV.

  4. Holes! I need holes! by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Holes! I need holes!

    1. Re:Holes! I need holes! by MrEricSir · · Score: 4, Funny

      Jerry, I've been preparing for this moment my entire life.

      --
      There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
  5. real life frogger = rest of the world by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The "real life" frogger story should make you all reflect on how nice we have it in the Western world in terms of pedestrian safety. Real life frogger is an every day reality in every third world country. Pedestrian fatalities are so common it's not even newsworthy. You tube "crossing the street in India" or insert your favorite third world country...

    1. Re:real life frogger = rest of the world by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You tube "crossing the street in India" or insert your favorite third world country...

      Ah. You mean http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=crossing+the+street+in+united+states
      Nod, nod.

    2. Re:real life frogger = rest of the world by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Most of the Western World doesn't walk, so of course there are less pedestrian fatalities.

    3. Re:real life frogger = rest of the world by Machtyn · · Score: 1

      Seeing their civil engineering in practice, I think I come away with why their software engineering is the way it is.

    4. Re:real life frogger = rest of the world by ChatHuant · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Real life frogger is an every day reality in every third world country.

      Hehe, yes. I went to see the Pyramids a number of years ago, and did a bit of solo sightseeing in Cairo too. Crossing streets was a real challenge - pedestrian crossings, street signs or red lights were completely ignored by locals. The best strategy I came up with was to either close my eyes or keep them firmly on the other side of the street while crossing, moving at a steady pace and making a point NOT to watch for incoming cars. The point was that incoming drivers estimated my speed and aimed their cars either in front or behind me (I honestly don't think any of them ever stopped or slowed down to let me pass). Keeping a constant speed helped their estimation, while sudden changes like slowing down (or jumping away in terror :) ) would probably have caused an accident.

    5. Re:real life frogger = rest of the world by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I know you are right, so I Googled "Crossing the street in Canada" instead.
      this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTogWQfFUt0 8 minute video of geese crossing the street while trafic stops was the first link.
      The police show up around the 7 minute mark to help a slow gozling finish the trip....

    6. Re:real life frogger = rest of the world by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Ah I see you have visited north carolina

    7. Re:real life frogger = rest of the world by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My niece visited India and was quite shaken by an incident where a pedestrian was hit and killed in traffic. Not only did the vehicle that hit him not stop, no one else did either and the victim kept getting run over again and again...

    8. Re:real life frogger = rest of the world by karzan · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think you'll find that outside North America, most of the Western world does walk extensively, and makes extensive use of public transport. There are even a few enclaves of civilisation in the US itself, like New York City, where this exotic practice can be seen without leaving your sacred soil.

    9. Re:real life frogger = rest of the world by BenJury · · Score: 1

      Well whose fault is that? There are many things the first world can do to help the third world, but improving their traffic safty isn't one of them.

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    10. Re:real life frogger = rest of the world by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think most believe he'll be back. And the rest who ran over him will have that on their karma. So no big deal from their point of view?

  6. oh, great. by sdnoob · · Score: 1

    now i got that fucking song stuck in my head

  7. Curious Choice for the Spokesfrog. by Psion · · Score: 1

    Why is the "spokesfrog" a ... toad?

    1. Re:Curious Choice for the Spokesfrog. by jd2112 · · Score: 1

      They couldn't afford Kermit.

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      Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
    2. Re:Curious Choice for the Spokesfrog. by allo · · Score: 1

      but is the toad a lawyer?

  8. I've played Frogger in real life by m3000 · · Score: 2

    It's called crossing the street in Vietnam

    Just keep slow and steady.

    1. Re:I've played Frogger in real life by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 0

      My little brother came to visit me recently (China). While we were out shopping for some silk for his girlie, I walked across the street, thinking nothing of it. I looked back, and there he was, still on the other side. He took what I thought was an inordinately long time to wait for a gap, then finally joined me. Evidently, from someone who lives in America, I had just walked out into dangerous traffic. To me, it was no big deal and it's how things are every day. Crosswalk? Are you joking?

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
  9. Next by dumuzi · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Mario Kart synced to the Grand Prix. Eat my turtle Schumacher.

    1. Re:Next by Another,+completely · · Score: 1

      My first thought was "Brilliant!" but something like the Massa incident in Hungary 2009 might end up looking a little too much like life imitating art.

  10. Real-Life Frogger (Starring Eddie Murphy) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cb5Ka9SqGM&noredirect=1

    One of Steve Martin's funniest movies ever. I still bust out laughing every time I watch this.

  11. Won't somebody think of the children? by Legion303 · · Score: 0

    Typical, another videogame that encourages youngsters to endanger themselves by running into traffic. Why, when I was a lad I almost got killed by a spider trying to play real-life Centipede. The only solution is to ban all forms of entertainment.

    1. Re:Won't somebody think of the children? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You try too hard to fit in here.

    2. Re:Won't somebody think of the children? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Typical, another videogame that encourages youngsters to endanger themselves by running into traffic. Why, when I was a lad I almost got killed by a spider trying to play real-life Centipede. The only solution is to ban all forms of entertainment that I personally don't like.

      FTFY

  12. Don't Walk by sjames · · Score: 4, Funny

    I've often thought the Don't Walk sign should make the Frogger splat sound to discourage jaywalking.

  13. just the start of things by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 2

    i cant wait for GTA 3 based on real life. "Intellectual Property infringement: 3 stars!"

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    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    1. Re:just the start of things by witherstaff · · Score: 2

      I went to school at GMI, located in Flint Michigan. At that time there were large billboards with a phone and a word balloon of "911? Hello, anywhere there" advertising about lack of police. GTA police that drive around all over the place and chase you would be an improvement!

  14. It's a novel gimmick... by multicoregeneral · · Score: 0

    But first it's not the original frogger. And second, the whole point of frogger was to play levels that get progressively more difficult. If you're playing on 5th avenue, you never know what, if anything, you're going to get.

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    1. Re:It's a novel gimmick... by Another,+completely · · Score: 1

      So level 1 should be some branded driving school training track, then Winslow, Arizona, progressing through New York, and working up to Cairo? There's something there, and lots of product placement and local tourism authority opportunities for alternate revenue streams. The overhead is just one web cam location with internet connection per level. Maybe "Frogger Route 66?"

      Is 5th Ave. harder at 9am or 2am?

    2. Re:It's a novel gimmick... by multicoregeneral · · Score: 1

      Or maybe, they start on 5th avenue, but work their way through faster roads, progressively getting more difficult, until you're on the Jersey turnpike? That might do it.

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    3. Re:It's a novel gimmick... by greg1104 · · Score: 1

      A Frogger based on the NJTP traffic around the Manhattan exits--14 toward the Holland, 17 toward the Lincoln--would be exciting. Ditto for one around the lead-in to the George Washington Bridge. Those all have the fun property that cars are either bumper to bumper, leaving few holes, or are going at >55MPH. Within Manhattan, there's a harder level possible trying to cross the East or West Side highways with the same properties.

      I don't know of a good way to rank them objectively, but the worst traffic messes I've even been--with spots I've spent stuck for multiple hours before just due to regular traffic (not a accident etc.)--are:

      • Manhattan tunnels
      • Long Island Expressway
      • George Washington Bridge crossing
      • DC beltway near the MD/VA border
      • Los Angleles rush hour
    4. Re:It's a novel gimmick... by Fned · · Score: 1

      Just turn your head, you'll see what's coming up next.

  15. Re:synchronised Donkey Kong by Reality+Master+301 · · Score: 1

    Then you just didn't insult them enough.