Introducing Pixel Robot Jump Saga on Google Play

If you have an Android phone, Pixel Robot Jump Saga (available on Google Play) is a game that has charmingly retro graphics and a simple, fun interface.

The game features, yes, a pixel robot character, and the goal is to make the little guy jump vertically as many times as you can. The catch is that he's jumping inside a moving circle, and there's a gap in the circle, so you have to time your jumps carefully so that he doesn't jump through the gap, thus ending the game.

This YouTube video gives you a very clear idea of how the game works.

This game is made by Universal Games Team, and I asked them if there was anything in particular they wanted readers to know about it. They replied, "Pixel Robot Jump Saga is an insanely difficult retro game with pixel design and vintage sounds, making Flappy Bird seem easy."

I have to agree about the vintage sounds; listening to the game reminds me of my old Atari system in the best way possible. :) And the ease of the game--you just tap to jump--reminds me of old-school games, too.

I also asked the team what makes the game fun to play, and they said, "It's a frustratingly addictive game, an almost impossible game where you must tap to help a robot jump vertically out of a rotating circle and help it get back in safely. Just test your reflexes and see if the highest score you can obtain exceeds a single digit--you'll be a master if you get a two-digit score."

Have you played a game like this, where the creators say it will be hard for you to break into two-digit scoring? Sounds like a worthy challenge, if ever I've heard one!

Learn more by checking out the free app on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pixel.robot.jump.

Introducing Yellow Bee Vintage on Etsy

Did you know that I have another blog where I post about online selling on eBay, Etsy, and other platforms? I like featuring indie sellers, especially those who are running a business that clearly has a strong sense of creativity and thought behind it.

Check out my recent post to learn more about Yellow Bee Vintage, an Etsy shop which has a really nicely curated collection of 20th century items like glass, pottery, home decor, clothing, and accessories.

If you're looking for just the right items for a vintage-themed wedding, Yellow Bee Vintage will have something to pique your interest. Nicci, the shop owner, has a knack for finding quality items that really show an attention to detail. Remember the pretty handkerchiefs your grandma had? This is the kind of thing you can find in Nicci's shop.

Yellow Bee Vintage is clearly a labor of love from someone who loves to find and share those items that bring up our collective past. I hope you'll check out the shop!

Introducing Ol' Curiosities & Book Shoppe on Etsy

Do you ever feel like browsing through shelves of old books but can't find the time to venture to a neighborhood bookshop? Or maybe you don't live near a brick-and-mortar shop that sells rare and secondhand books. Or maybe it's three in the morning, and the shops are closed... In short, if you're a fan of reading and/or collecting print books, check out Ol' Curiosities & Book Shoppe on Etsy.

The cool thing about this particular Etsy shop is that it's run by booksellers who run a physical bookstore that they opened in Alabama in 2012. So really, this is the closest you can get to browsing a mom & pop bookshop from your computer. The shop owners source books from estate sales, thrift shops, flea markets, library sales, and more. They have a huge inventory, and what's listed on Etsy only represents a small part of what they have available; in fact, they encourage customers to contact them if you have a particular book you're looking for.

When you browse the Ol' Curiosities & Book Shoppe's Etsy storefront, you can browse books by categories such as children's books, law books, photography books, and books by Pearl S. Buck. But the bulk of their books are difficult to categorize as they are unique and vintage items. Most of the shop's listings are very brief: it's clear to me that the customer base is people who are looking for specific titles/authors, or people who will find familiar titles/authors while browsing the shop and feel inspired to buy. Who wouldn't be inspired to buy a book you loved in the past, or maybe a book that reminds you of a beloved person or place from your past?

One last thing: the prices are quite reasonable, many around the $5 mark. You can explore an old book for what it would cost to buy a couple of lattes. I got the distinct feeling that Ol' Curiosities & Book Shoppe is both a carefully run business and a labor of love from people who know and deeply respect the book culture of yesterday and today.

A Great Site for Military Flash Patches

I have an abiding love for vintage and vintage-style objects, so I can understand why people admire and collect military uniforms, patches, and other items. The old designs are often very unique and striking. If you like military patches, Paul Harding's Military Flash Patches site is a great resource for you. The goal of the site is to assist people who are interested in preserving wartime history.

Paul is based in the UK and ships his patches all over the world. His site specializes in military items worn by American, British, and German troops in WWII, and he receives a lot of business from re-enactors. As he notes on the site, "Paul Harding's military patches in no way subscribe to any Nazi or right wing views, and the items we sell are purely to customers for re-enactment and military history purposes only."

The site sells a combination of original/vintage and high-quality reproduction items. In addition to patches, you can find uniforms, helmets, hats, boots, and more. Made-to-order items are available if you are looking for a particular uniform or other item for your collection or a historical display or event. Another reason to recommend the site is that Paul is working to help raise funds for the Staffordshire war memorial through his product sales. If you are a militaria collector or a military re-enactor, it's worth checking out Paul's site!