5punk

As the title suggests, you're my only hope obi-wan kenobi (I love that chrome spell check knows how to spell that!) None of you will remember me, but I was Amblin's bitch when he had a proper job, rather than when he bunked off to become a student and I mainly registered on here to see when he was showing online when he was sick/hungover at home...

Anyhoo - I'm opening a retail computer shop, against all the naysayers that proclaim doom and gloom shall fall upon it. This is where I need your help - not to send me your meelions, but to tell me what "Geek Artifacts" I should have on display...

The layout of the shop is sorted. The products/branding/range is sorted (mostly) but what I would like is something to give it the WOW factor for geeks.

For example:

The Halo helmet has been suggested:


As has a teminator head:


I like the idea of a PipBoy:



So what would make you go "ooh" when you walk into a computer shop? Then dial it back again and keep it under £100 per item budget!! Random as you like - but must be geeky, preferably PC related and attainable!

Your wisdom is appreciated oh wise ones.

Dan

Clearly.

Quick trawl of Play:

Portal gun (pricey): http://www.play.com/Gadgets/Gadgets/-/3 ... hfilters=c

Portal gun (cheaper): http://www.play.com/Gadgets/Gadgets/-/3 ... hfilters=c

Bat Pod: http://www.play.com/Gadgets/Gadgets/-/3 ... .html?ob=3

Serenity: http://www.play.com/Gadgets/Gadgets/-/3 ... .html?ob=3

Vader Helmet: http://www.play.com/Gadgets/Gadgets/-/3 ... .html?ob=3

Hulk: http://www.play.com/Gadgets/Gadgets/-/3 ... .html?ob=3

This is no cave (Star Wars space slug): http://www.play.com/Gadgets/Gadgets/-/3 ... .html?ob=3

??

Not a suggestion (although only because I don't think you can buy them) but the Microsoft campus in Reading has a full size replica of a gun from Gears of War. Even as a PC geek I thought that was cool.

You can have this one for free

The problem you'd be facing is that most of that stuff often costs above £100, but if you're handy you could work something out yourself. For example, the crowbar Grimmie suggested might seem kind of dumb but it's a nice geeky touch that an avid game will recognize and will cost you under £100. And perhaps less applicable for a computer store, but I bought me a cheap cricket bat, took off the decals, sanded off the primer, changed the rubber handle and gave it a different coating to make it look like Shaun's bat from Shaun of the dead. Except I did it wrong and now it's just a really brown cricket bat.
But yeah, if you're handy I'm sure you could come up with something better.

This is all assuming you're putting them up for display purposes only.

Top quality ideas there, especially Friznit!

I'm good with DIY but lack artistic vision to create something myself.

They'll be out of reach in clear perspex boxes, about head height above the demo/gaming PC's. In something like this, but perhaps less gaudy:

Hello!

Despite hating the series myself (and all the bullshit nostalgia that goes with it), people seem to go crazy for Zelda stuff.

I would lose my shit if I saw a Sonic the Hedgehog gold ring.

Mario and Luigi hats

[edit] Afterthought: With Yoshi's head mounted on a plaque on the wall

Bioshock syringe, FF Potion drinks, Figurines, Plushies, replica or painted toy swords/guns/armour?

Mock up some posters from in-game stuff, anti-Combine HL signs, Weyland-Yutani, Pißwasser Bier, etc

FatherJack wrote:Mock up some posters from in-game stuff, anti-Combine HL signs, Weyland-Yutani, Pißwasser Bier, etc

That's a great idea. There's the slight potential of pissy copyright issues, but Irrational were quite pleased with Sol's Bioshock beer weren't they?

Loving the ideas! Thanks!

When I've got something to show for it I'll post pics up.

The real man's hat:

That's some skilled thread necromancy there, KV.

Hah didn't even realise.