Nov 10, 2015 | By Benedict
You might remember how, a few months ago, the 3D printing and gaming worlds combined to produce one of the coolest 3D printed wearables of all time: a 3D printed Pip-Boy 3000 Mark IV from the Fallout series of games. In case you missed the first wave of excitement, or got so engrossed in playing Fallout 4 that you totally forgot about the Pip-Boy, 3D Hubs has popped up to simplify the process of getting your own awesome Fallout wearable without requiring your own 3D printer.
At midnight last night, Bethesda Game Studios released the latest instalment of its wildly popular Fallout series of games. Fallout 4, actually the fifth major instalment of the post-apocalyptic RPG (with Fallout: New Vegas separating editions 3 and 4), has generated huge global interest, which can be partially attributed to the company’s inspired marketing campaign. In particular, one major money-spinner for Bethesda has been its Fallout 4 Pip-Boy Edition, a special release of the game which includes a “Pip-Boy” wearable device, as worn by the player’s character in-game. That product, which combines with a player’s smartphone and the associated Pip-Boy app, sold out almost instantly. “We reached a point where we'd go back to the factories, and they were like, 'guys, this is it, sorry'," said Bethesda's Pete Hines regarding the high demand and short supply.
Luckily, the gaming community were bound to find a way around this minor problem, and earlier this year, one dedicated maker set about creating a 3D printed alternative to bring the Pip-Boy experience to everyone. That brilliant 3D printed model, which we reported on back in July, was built by 23-year-old Yvo de Haas, and 3D Hubs has now streamlined the printing process of Haas’ design, just as interest in the game reaches its high-water mark.
For those new to Fallout, a quick summary might be needed. The immensely popular games take place in the 22nd and 23rd centuries, in a post-apocalyptic America. Fallout 4 takes place in post-apocalyptic Boston, 200 years after a nuclear holocaust in 2077. The “Pip-Boy” (Personal Information Processor-Boy) you keep hearing about is a kind of technical wrist-computer worn by the player’s character, which serves various functions relating to quests, inventory and more. The Pip-Boy has garnered an iconic status since its appearance in the very first Fallout game, so the popularity of both Bethesda’s replica and Haas’ 3D printed version should come as no surprise.
Given the release-day excitement currently surrounding Fallout 4, 3D Hubs decided to renew interest in Haas’ 3D printed design, and have offered a simplified procedure to enable fans to get their own unofficial Pip-Boy as easily as possible, using their local 3D hub. The 3D printed device, which is essentially a fancy smartphone case for iOS, Android, and Windows Phones, has been optimised by 3D Hubs into 3 print-ready kits: Small, for Galaxy S4, iPhone 5 etc., Medium, for LG G3, Galaxy S5/S6 etc. and Large, for iPhone 6, Nexus 6P etc. Customers can place an order for any of these kits, then have it 3D printed at their local hub, before collect the product themselves or having it delivered. Customers can then assemble the kit themselves by following the online instructions.
If you missed out on the official Pip-Boy Edition, this looks like your best chance to get your hands on the iconic wrist-computer. And what could be better than a 3D printed wearable smartphone case for the post-apocalyptic future? Head over to 3D Hubs to place your order. The company is offering everyone a 20% discount on their Pip-Boy print through November 13th. 3D printing. 3D printing never changes.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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