Arcade whirligig

[EightBySix]

You know the animated things people have in their garden that animate or rotate when the wind blows? Well I'm nearing completion of my shed and fancy something to go on top. Most whirlygigs are traditional themes, like people chopping wood, or birds with spinning wings.

I thought it might be a good theme to have an arcade related one. I've come up with some ideas, but I wondered if such a creative bunch of arcade fans might have some more...

• Pacman with opening & closing mouth chasing a ghost
• Space invader with moving 'legs'
• Mario hitting a barrel with a hammer

You get the idea...

[ChadTower]

How many frames will you get from one?

[EightBySix]

well, its going to be analogue and spinny I guess. So not ideal for sprite animation. Some of them are like automata, with animated things which gives more scope, but more complex to make.

[ChadTower]

Can you post a pic of a physical example?  Pretty much anything animated starts out as a series of frames and then adpated to the medium.

[EightBySix]

Sure. this sort of thing

[ChadTower]

Ah!  I was picturing something more like a rotating windsock with pictures on it.

[Vigo]

Getting something to feel arcade game-ish might be a challenge. Without thinking too much on mechanics, I guess I can throw some ideas out...


Tapper sliding a beer down the rail and bar patron sliding it back
Pong paddles going up and down and a dot going back and forth
Liu Kang doing a bicycle kick
Elf shooting the food
Rampage monster climbing a building and punching

[nordemoniac]

Easy!
Pacman pie, double (so it is hollow), with a disc inside painted with a opening/closing animation, hook up the propeller to the wheel, you're done!

[knave]

Easy!
Pacman pie, double (so it is hollow), with a disc inside painted with a opening/closing animation, hook up the propeller to the wheel, you're done!

or rig up a spiral, so he chomps a few times and then his death animation...

[Le Chuck]

hurricane kick. 

[ChadTower]

Humanoid running in place?

[DaOld Man]

Space invaders. Ship going back and forth as the horde of aliens advance down, then back up when they reach bottom.

[BadMouth]

I second the pacman chomping by spinning an alternating colored disc.  It's too easy to not do.

Donkey Kong beating his chest.

Dig Dug pumping.

Pitfall Harry running



Not arcade related, but a creepy clown bringing an axe up and down would freak out the neighbors.
(I think I may have just found my pumpkin carving inspiration for this year)

[nordemoniac]

How about bub/bob from bubblebobble opening and closing his mouth, and having a bubble machine inside?