Who doesn’t like pixels? Those lovable chunky squares so representative of the technological aesthetic. There’s something about their colorful blocky style that puts some kind of spell over people. Perhaps it was growing up on 8-bit gaming, or perhaps it’s just their geometric simplicity that will always guarantee them a place in the hearts of technophiles of all ages. But why confine pixels to a computer? Why not have them in your home, displaying gaming icons of yore? Such is the idea behind these LED panels, called PixelInvaders.
The panels consist of 64 modules (each module is 10 square centimetres) resulting in an 80cm x 80cm wall. You can also connect panels together to make them as large as your roommate/boyfriend/girlfriend/parents will allow. You can run real-time animations on them, which can be synched to music, or just use the panels as color therapy to zonk out after a hard day’s gaming. They also come complete with green credentials, as a panel consumes less energy than a lightbulb. So do away with lamps and light your room with a giant pixel wall instead.However cool looking they may be, their cost isn’t cheap. The basic package, which includes 70 modules, starts at $282 and requires you to assemble and create the housing yourself. On the opposite end, a ready-to-use wall will set you back $1,499. Otherwise, there are a variety of DIY packages available, which you can check out here. Using the custom built open source software called PixelController, you can control them using an OSC application or MIDI device. Then invite your friends round, turn the lights out and geek out to some Mario or Tetris animations synched to your fave chiptune artist (we suggest Sulumi or Anamanaguchi).
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