When Nintendo released its Wii, it won the world over with its revolutionary controls; but this was just one of the many cool features that came with Nintendo’s console. The ability to create your very own Mii look-alike was just as much fun as any of the games in the consoles library. Soon after the novelty of creating yourself and friends, many gamers got super creative with the limited amount of options they were able to use. The results of their creativity are pretty entertaining. Here is a look at some of the best Mii creations out there. [nextpage]

Most of these resemble characters we have known for some time now. I can’t imagine people's surprise when they find themselves playing with a Mii version of Mario and Luigi, or a Mii that looks like she has a dong

People with some form of talent, a dream, and a lot of extra time on their hands can make some pretty strange products. Luckily for all us gamers, one such person that meets all the above has not forgotten the world of gaming. Or that of personal hygiene. What has this person created? Soap, of all things! But obviously not just any old bar of soap: they're gaming soaps! [nextpage]

Chrystal Doucette, a woman that goes by the name of Digitalsoaps, has created gaming- and gadget-related bars of soap, or as she says, “hand-poured glycerin soaps.” I’m not exactly sure what that means, but the whole idea apparently started on a “whim,” according to her profile on Etsy.com, the site where you can purchase her soap.

This self-proclaimed geek first started by making a PS2 remote, and

Welcome back! This week, we decided to highlight one of the greatest gaming franchises (and characters) in gaming history. Launched back on the NES, Metroid has grown into an absolute beast when it comes to great games. And with the release of Metroid: Other M, we thought it was about time to highlight some great Metroid art. So here are some of the best art pieces Metroid fans have created. [nextpage]

From canvas to street walls, Metroid and its main character, Samus, have never been so popular. These pieces of art are pretty amazing to say the least.  Some show the super sexy side of Samus, while others show her more deadly side in full armor.

It’s easy to forget that under that cold, hard armor lies an extremely hot blonde that can

Life working at the Nintendo offices sounds like a dream come true for many long-time Nintendo fanatics. But would it really be as neat as many think? Well, thanks to this fan video submitted for a contest, the answer to that question is yes - and no. Here’s why. [nextpage]

Yes, because you would be working for one of the oldest and coolest gaming companies around. No, because you could be one of these unfortunate souls constantly tormented by Nintendo characters around the office.

Can you imagine the horror of being called in by the CEO, who happens to be Bowser, or being stuck in an elevator with Birdo? Things could get strange, to say the least. Still, it would be kind of amazing watching Luigi constantly escorted out of the building.

During the height of the 8-bit era, many fans were already falling head-over-heels for Nintendo and their cast of lovable characters. During that era many kids were first introduced to gaming via the NES and never looked back. However, for one seventh grader, simply owning a normal NES just wasn’t cutting it for him any longer. To right this, he designed and built his very own Nintendo arcade cabinet. Did I mention that he was still in elementary school? [nextpage]

This kid was not just a huge Nintendo fan, he was also a big time arcade lover. Combine both those and some woodshop lessons, and blamo! Soon enough he was the proud owner of an original Nintendo arcade cabinet. His inspiration for this cabinet was the NES Advantage joystick, which he owned two of, as well

Nintendo is well known for the many peripherals their devices can use and implement.  Nintendo themselves create plenty of them, but even 3rd party manufacturers try and get in on the fun every now and again.  eBay currently has one such useless item available right now, so get your wallets ready for: the Handy Famieight![nextpage]

Okay, so it's not that handy, but it sure is catchy.  This attachment was created for the Game Boy Advance SP and was only available to our Eastern friends.  Don't worry though, I don't think you missed out on much.  Its purpose was to allow you to play your old NES (or Famicom) through your GBA SP....sort of.

The SP really only provided the screen and you didn't play with the SP buttons.  Instead, you plugged in a couple of

Last week, we took a different direction without an Artist feature. We jumped from the two-dimensional plane into the 3-D realm. This week, we will continue to do things differently and hope The Kartel members will enjoy the art despite its lack of complexity, skill, etc., so instead of featuring one artist, we compiled works of gaming art by children. [nextpage]

Hardcore gamers often forget children love videogames as much as everyone else, and they also love to draw. So it’ no surprise that they sometimes draw their favorite gaming characters. Though they might not be the best works of arts on the web, these little artists are the future of the gaming industry. And if you are a fan of kids or have kids of your own, then you will surely enjoy these. I can’t imagine how proud

Nintendo has done well to keep many gamers’ expensive TVs safe from flying Wii controllers. As soon as the company began getting reports that people were launching their products through windows, TVs, and backs of heads, Nintendo immediately added the gel grip to the control. So it’s safe to say that Nintendo likes to be on the safe side. Surprisingly, their concern for safety extends into people’s sex life. [nextpage]

Created by Ben Marsh, obviously a BIG and LONG time Nintendo fan, these condoms were created to promote safe sex. Even though you might not be as sexually active as you thought you should have been after high school, simply purchasing these condems is a promotion for safe sex according to I Like Doodles, the website that features these packing designs.

The 8-bit generation is a very nostalgic time for many gamers now in their mid-thirties. Often times this generation of gaming holds fond memories of better, simpler days. It was an era that single-handedly created some of the most popular game series and established what we know today as some of the most iconic characters in videogame history. So it’s with little surprise that we are now seeing a growing trend of old school remakes. Well, not remakes exactly; more like de-makes. Some very skillful and creative individuals have taken today’s newest franchises and have given them an 8-bit makeover. The games retro counterparts are popping up everywhere and The Kartel thought it would be fun to round some of these up. [nextpage]

8-bit Halo

An 8-bit version