What happens when you combine Kojima Productions, NASA, and a wristwatch manufacturer? You end up with a wristwatch based on a video game company’s mascot and possibly the strangest crossover event in history. Okay, except maybe for that time Elton John and Eminem performed together at the Grammys.
What’s Kojima up to now?
Uncle Hideo is known for being a little weird. Kojima Productions’ mascot is a character called Ludens. Ludens spends all of his time in a space suit. He’s famous for it, almost. You know who else spends loads of time in spacesuits? Astronauts? So the partnership between NASA and the game developer isn’t exactly outlandish. Both of them creating a wristwatch is a little weird, though.
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The device is called Space Ludens (because NASA, yeah?) and it’s a standard wristwatch. It’s a bit strange in terms of design — the rear has a clear panel so you can see the movement in action. Up front, the watch is very utilitarian with brass accents and a very prominent NASA logo. Even if you’re not a gaming nut, space fans will probably dig this one.
If you do, then keep your eyes peeled on the official website on 27 September. There are only 500 Space Ludens timepieces available and they’ll probably disappear fast. Plus, Hideo Kojima isn’t about to let a conventional item like a wrist adornment stop him from being odd. There are a further 100 Space Ludens watches that include a life-sized skull mask that appears to have been made from carbon fiber and metal. It’s about the most Kojima thing we can picture being bundled with NASA-themed wristwear.
As far as price goes, it’s probably too high but it’s a secret for now. Previous NASA-themed watches from Anicorn have gone for around R20,000 so expect this partnership to land thereabouts. There are also 100 themed sacoches (it’s a small bag of some sort) and Space Ludens t-shirts, in case you have a regular-person budget.