{"id":217,"date":"2006-10-27T21:35:30","date_gmt":"2006-10-28T02:35:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/?p=217"},"modified":"2013-10-31T07:50:43","modified_gmt":"2013-10-31T12:50:43","slug":"vcgs-last-minute-halloween-costume-ideas-computers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/archives\/217\/vcgs-last-minute-halloween-costume-ideas-computers","title":{"rendered":"<em>VC&#038;G&#8217;s<\/em> Last-Minute Halloween Costume Ideas: Computer Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/composite_small.jpg\" alt=\"Last Minute Computer Costume Ideas\" class=\"alignright\" \/>With Halloween only four days away, it&#8217;s getting quite late in the game to figure out what you&#8217;re going to dress up as this year.  Here to the rescue, as always, is <em>VC&#038;G<\/em> with the first of two parts on last-minute Halloween costume ideas.  This first part deals with vintage computer-related costumes.  The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/archives\/216\" target=\"new\">second part<\/a> will deal exclusively with video game-related costumes and will be published soon.  So if you&#8217;re desperate for some ideas, feel free to take a look what we&#8217;ve cooked up for you below.  And by all means, share any of your own ideas with us as well.<\/p>\n<p><strong>By the way, if you like these, here&#8217;s even more costume ideas:<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/archives\/709\" target=\"_blank\">2010 Video Game Edition<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/archives\/595\" target=\"_blank\">2009 Video Game Edition<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/archives\/506\" target=\"_blank\">2008 Video Game Edition<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/archives\/372\" target=\"_blank\">2007 Video Game Edition<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/archives\/216\" target=\"new\">2006 Video Game Edition<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h3>Lord British<\/h3>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<a href=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/british_large.jpg\" target=\"new\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/british_small.jpg\" alt=\"Lord British Costume\" class=\"centered\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption_text\">A guy who spent most of the 1980s dressed as a fictional medieval fantasy character &#8212; complete with tunic, tights, crown, and sword &#8212; is just too easy to make fun of.  But everybody knows that Richard Garriott is actually quite awesome because he created the <em>Ultima<\/em> series.  For more inspiration on Lord British costumes, check out <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thealmightyguru.com\/Reviews\/Ultima\/Ultima-RichardGarriott.html\" target=\"new\">this page<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong><em>Lord British<\/em> Costume Recipe:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One Renaissance-festival-reject-bin tunic<\/li>\n<li>One Set of black tights<\/li>\n<li>One Ankh\/serpent pendant<\/li>\n<li>Five Intricate silver rings (no, not <em>Of Power<\/em> &#8212; for your fingers)<\/li>\n<li>One Set of floppy faux leather boots<\/li>\n<li>One Plastic (gold-plated) crown, if possible<\/li>\n<li>One Portable bonfire on rollers to stand in front of for dramatic effect<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>In-Character Behavior:<\/strong> Autograph random objects you encounter with a &#8220;Lord British&#8221; signature.  Proclaim, in a kingly and sophisticated manner, how much Electronic Arts blows donkey balls.  Offer to show people your &#8220;castle.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<h3>MC Double Def DP (aka &#8220;Don&#8217;t Copy that Floppy&#8221; Rapper)<\/h3>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<a href=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/rapper_large.jpg\" target=\"new\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/rapper_small.jpg\" alt=\"MC Double Def DP Costume\" class=\"centered\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption_text\">\nThis rapper hails from the infamous &#8220;Don&#8217;t Copy that Floppy&#8221; <a href=\"http:\/\/video.google.com\/videoplay?docid=4837609090332617729\" target=\"new\">educational video<\/a> and is also known as &#8220;The Disk Protector.&#8221;  He&#8217;s obnoxious and weird, but irresistably&#8230;annoying.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong><em>MC Double Def DP<\/em> Costume Recipe:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One Shiny black <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pork_pie_hat\" target=\"new\">pork pie hat<\/a><\/li>\n<li>One Garish yellow and black tie<\/li>\n<li>One Garish yellow and black leather jacket<\/li>\n<li>One Garish yellow collared shirt<\/li>\n<li>Five Floppy disks to taunt people with<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>In-Character Behavior:<\/strong> Walk around pulling floppies out of people&#8217;s hands (if you can find any) while chiding them about copying commercial computer games.  In fact, chide them about copying commercial software programs regardless of what they&#8217;re doing.  And of course, be prepared to recite the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.geeknewz.com\/board\/lofiversion\/index.php\/t1768.html\" target=\"new\">&#8220;Don&#8217;t Copy That Floppy&#8221; rap<\/a> on demand.<\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<h3>Dan Bricklin<\/h3>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<a href=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/bricklin_large.jpg\" target=\"new\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/bricklin_small.jpg\" alt=\"Dan Bricklin Costume\" class=\"centered\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption_text\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bricklin.com\/\" target=\"new\">Dan &#8220;The Brick&#8221; Bricklin<\/a> is kinda like our god here at <em>VC&#038;G<\/em> (and by &#8220;our&#8221; I mean &#8220;my&#8221;).  Everybody knows that no one can chop down trees or program faster, better, or greater than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/archives\/197\" target=\"new\">Brick<\/a>.  So if you dress up as Mr. Brick this Halloween, go with the knowledge that you can out-wit, out-program, out-calculate, and out-chop anyone within a five-mile radius of where you stand.  And don&#8217;t take flak from anybody.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong><em>Dan Bricklin<\/em> Costume Recipe:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One Full, dark beard (For 1980s Brick, otherwise mottled grey and black)<\/li>\n<li>One Pair of plastic-framed glasses<\/li>\n<li>One Plaid wool long-sleeved shirt<\/li>\n<li>One Pair of &#8220;Regular Fit&#8221; Lee jeans<\/li>\n<li>One Rugged leather belt with brass buckle<\/li>\n<li>One Large, sharp axe<\/li>\n<li>One Set of lumberjack boots<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>In-Character Behavior:<\/strong> Alternate between randomly yelling &#8220;Timber!&#8221; and &#8220;VisiCalc Rules!&#8221; while jumping off of low walls and over small bushes.  React to someone yelling &#8220;Hey, Brick!&#8221; with a deep &#8220;Yo&#8221; while holding up your axe in a reaffirming fashion.<\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<h3>Pilot from <em>Flight Simulator II<\/em><\/h3>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<a href=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/pilot_large.jpg\" target=\"new\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/pilot_small.jpg\" alt=\"Pilot from Flight Simulator II Costume\" class=\"centered\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption_text\">\nNo one knows much about this mysterious pilot who was featured both on the cover of the famous computer game and in its advertisements.  But he&#8217;s damn creepy.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong><em>Pilot from Flight Simulator II<\/em> Costume Recipe:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One Spherical, featureless pink head<\/li>\n<li>One Sharply-angled, polygonal yellow body suit<\/li>\n<li>Zero Feet<\/li>\n<li>One Plain green stadium fan seat<\/li>\n<li>One 50-inch floating computer monitor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>In-Character Behavior:<\/strong><br \/>\nBe mute and mysterious. Project dramatic offset shadows while hovering five feet or more off the ground.  Pretend to fly a plane without moving any part of your body.<\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<h3>Will Wright<\/h3>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/wright_small.jpg\" alt=\"Will Wright Costume\" class=\"centered\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption_text\">As creator of games like <em>SimCity<\/em> series, <em>The Sims<\/em>, and <em>The Sims 2<\/em>, Will Wright is the ultimate nerdy, relaxed, filthy-rich game designer.  He&#8217;s also a strong proponent of the value of computer and video games as an art form.  Those who love the nerdy side of things will feel at home dressing up as Will Wright.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong><em>Will Wright<\/em> Costume Recipe:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One Hawaiian print t-shirt<\/li>\n<li>One Pair of large, metal-framed glasses<\/li>\n<li>One Grizzled Van Dyke<\/li>\n<li>One Copy of <em>The Sims<\/em> to remind people who you are<\/li>\n<li>Two Gigantic canvas bags stuffed full of money from sales of <em>The Sims<\/em> and its progeny<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>In-Character Behavior:<\/strong> Chuckle lightly and attach the prefix &#8220;Sim&#8221; to every noun you say.  For example, &#8220;Hey SimGuys, how&#8217;s the SimWeather?&#8221;  and &#8220;Hey, SimLadies, how about coming back to my SimPlace for a SimGame of <em>The Sims<\/em>?&#8221; Also, brag about how completely mind-blowingly awesome and groundbreaking <em>Spore<\/em> will be.<\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<h3>Computer Secretary of the Future<\/h3>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<a href=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/woman_large.jpg\" target=\"new\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/woman_small.jpg\" alt=\"Computer Secretary Costume\" class=\"centered\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption_text\">Here&#8217;s one is for the ladies.  Unfortunately for you, there were no &#8220;Xena Warrior Princesses of Computing&#8221; back in the day, so you&#8217;ll have to settle for a more underwhelming role &#8212; that of a stereotypical model secretary showing off the latest in futuristic office computer equipment.  Actually, if you want a more dignified costume, you could always go as the late, great <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Grace_Hopper\" target=\"new\">Grace &#8220;The Ace&#8221; Hopper<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong><em>Computer Secretary of the Future<\/em> Costume Recipe:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One 1960s Pencil Skirt<\/li>\n<li>One Quiet, acquiescent demeanor<\/li>\n<li>One Conservative bun \/ beehive hairdo<\/li>\n<li>1,000 Pounds of obsolete mainframe computing equipment built into a desk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>In-Character Behavior:<\/strong> Pose beside your equipment, beaming with exuberant happiness, but be silent.  Remember that product model women in the 1950s and 60s didn&#8217;t talk, they just smiled a lot.  Get a male friend in a suit to explain the virtues of the &#8220;paperless office&#8221; while you type away on the teletype\/keyboard.<\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<h3>Bloody, Screaming Steve Wozniak<\/h3>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<a href=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/woz_large.jpg\" target=\"new\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/woz_small.jpg\" alt=\"Steve Wozniak Costume\" class=\"centered\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption_text\">If you don&#8217;t know who <a href=\"http:\/\/www.woz.org\" target=\"new\">Steve Wozniak<\/a> is by now, I&#8217;m not going to tell you.  These days, dressing up as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/archives\/197\" target=\"new\">regular &#8216;ole Steve Wozniak<\/a> is too boring. Instead, you should go as &#8220;Bloody, Screaming Steve Wozniak&#8221; for better effect.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong><em>Bloody, Screaming Steve Wozniak<\/em> Costume Recipe:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One Full beard<\/li>\n<li>One Set of prominent cheekbones<\/li>\n<li>One Sheet of uncut, folded U.S. currency in back pocket<\/li>\n<li>One Pint of fake blood<\/li>\n<li>Thirty Extra pounds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>In-Character Behavior:<\/strong> Scream like you&#8217;re being repeatedly stabbed in the chest.  Woz probably does this all the time as a practical joke anyway.<\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<h3>&#8220;Dirty Hippie&#8221; Steve Jobs<\/h3>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<a href=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/jobs_large.jpg\" target=\"new\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/images\/costumes06\/jobs_small.jpg\" alt=\"Steve Jobs Costume\" class=\"centered\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption_text\">Sure, you could go as &#8220;clean-cut black turtleneck\/tight jeans\/tennis shoes&#8221; Steve Jobs, but that&#8217;s been done a million times.  Jobs was actually at his best when he was a whiny, smelly, unshaven post-teen with a more ambiguous vision.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong><em>&#8220;Dirty Hippie&#8221; Steve Jobs<\/em> Costume Recipe:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One Scruffy, untrimmed 5-day old beard and mustache<\/li>\n<li>One Dead hamster (replicates the stench of not having showered in ten days)<\/li>\n<li>One Pair of Birkenstock sandals<\/li>\n<li>One Easy-going buddy to boss around and take advantage of<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>In Character-Behavior:<\/strong>  At parties, eat only fruit.  Be ready to call everyone you meet an asshole, then spontaneously meditate or break out crying.<\/p>\n<div class=\"linebreak\"><\/div>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>So that&#8217;s all for the computer side of things &#8212; let us know how your Halloween goes!  Coming soon is &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/archives\/216\" target=\"new\"><em>VC&#038;G&#8217;s<\/em> Last-Minute Costume Ideas for Video Games<\/a>,&#8221; so stay tuned.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With Halloween only four days away, it&#8217;s getting quite late in the game to figure out what you&#8217;re going to dress up as this year. Here to the rescue, as always, is VC&#038;G with the first of two parts on last-minute Halloween costume ideas. This first part deals with vintage computer-related costumes. The second part [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,24,21],"tags":[301,620,255],"class_list":["post-217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-computer-info-and-history","category-humor","category-news-current-events","tag-301","tag-costume-ideas","tag-halloween"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=217"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vintagecomputing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}