With Halloween only four days away, it’s getting quite late in the game to figure out what you’re going to dress up as this year. Here to the rescue, as always, is VC&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 will deal exclusively with video game-related costumes and will be published soon. So if you’re desperate for some ideas, feel free to take a look what we’ve cooked up for you below. And by all means, share any of your own ideas with us as well.

By the way, if you like these, here’s even more costume ideas:
2010 Video Game Edition
2009 Video Game Edition
2008 Video Game Edition
2007 Video Game Edition
2006 Video Game Edition

Lord British

A guy who spent most of the 1980s dressed as a fictional medieval fantasy character — complete with tunic, tights, crown, and sword — is just too easy to make fun of. But everybody knows that Richard Garriott is actually quite awesome because he created the Ultima series. For more inspiration on Lord British costumes, check out this page.

Lord British Costume Recipe:

• One Renaissance-festival-reject-bin tunic
• One Set of black tights
• One Ankh/serpent pendant
• Five Intricate silver rings (no, not Of Power — for your fingers)
• One Set of floppy faux leather boots
• One Plastic (gold-plated) crown, if possible
• One Portable bonfire on rollers to stand in front of for dramatic effect

In-Character Behavior: Autograph random objects you encounter with a “Lord British” signature. Proclaim, in a kingly and sophisticated manner, how much Electronic Arts blows donkey balls. Offer to show people your “castle.”

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MC Double Def DP (aka “Don’t Copy that Floppy” Rapper)

This rapper hails from the infamous “Don’t Copy that Floppy” educational video and is also known as “The Disk Protector.” He’s obnoxious and weird, but irresistably…annoying.

MC Double Def DP Costume Recipe:

• One Shiny black pork pie hat
• One Garish yellow and black tie
• One Garish yellow and black leather jacket
• One Garish yellow collared shirt
• Five Floppy disks to taunt people with

In-Character Behavior: Walk around pulling floppies out of people’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’re doing. And of course, be prepared to recite the “Don’t Copy That Floppy” rap on demand.

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Dan Bricklin

Dan “The Brick” Bricklin is kinda like our god here at VC&G (and by “our” I mean “my”). Everybody knows that no one can chop down trees or program faster, better, or greater than Brick. 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’t take flak from anybody.

Dan Bricklin Costume Recipe:

• One Full, dark beard (For 1980s Brick, otherwise mottled grey and black)
• One Pair of plastic-framed glasses
• One Plaid wool long-sleeved shirt
• One Pair of “Regular Fit” Lee jeans
• One Rugged leather belt with brass buckle
• One Large, sharp axe
• One Set of lumberjack boots

In-Character Behavior: Alternate between randomly yelling “Timber!” and “VisiCalc Rules!” while jumping off of low walls and over small bushes. React to someone yelling “Hey, Brick!” with a deep “Yo” while holding up your axe in a reaffirming fashion.

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Pilot from Flight Simulator II

No 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’s damn creepy.

Pilot from Flight Simulator II Costume Recipe:

• One Spherical, featureless pink head
• One Sharply-angled, polygonal yellow body suit
• Zero Feet
• One Plain green stadium fan seat
• One 50-inch floating computer monitor

In-Character Behavior:
Be 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.

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Will Wright

As creator of games like SimCity series, The Sims, and The Sims 2, Will Wright is the ultimate nerdy, relaxed, filthy-rich game designer. He’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.

Will Wright Costume Recipe:

• One Hawaiian print t-shirt
• One Pair of large, metal-framed glasses
• One Grizzled Van Dyke
• One Copy of The Sims to remind people who you are
• Two Gigantic canvas bags stuffed full of money from sales of The Sims and its progeny

In-Character Behavior: Chuckle lightly and attach the prefix “Sim” to every noun you say. For example, “Hey SimGuys, how’s the SimWeather?” and “Hey, SimLadies, how about coming back to my SimPlace for a SimGame of The Sims?” Also, brag about how completely mind-blowingly awesome and groundbreaking Spore will be.

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Computer Secretary of the Future

Here’s one is for the ladies. Unfortunately for you, there were no “Xena Warrior Princesses of Computing” back in the day, so you’ll have to settle for a more underwhelming role — 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 Grace “The Ace” Hopper.

Computer Secretary of the Future Costume Recipe:

• One 1960s Pencil Skirt
• One Quiet, acquiescent demeanor
• One Conservative bun / beehive hairdo
• 1,000 Pounds of obsolete mainframe computing equipment built into a desk

In-Character Behavior: Pose beside your equipment, beaming with exuberant happiness, but be silent. Remember that product model women in the 1950s and 60s didn’t talk, they just smiled a lot. Get a male friend in a suit to explain the virtues of the “paperless office” while you type away on the teletype/keyboard.

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Bloody, Screaming Steve Wozniak

If you don’t know who Steve Wozniak is by now, I’m not going to tell you. These days, dressing up as regular ‘ole Steve Wozniak is too boring. Instead, you should go as “Bloody, Screaming Steve Wozniak” for better effect.

Bloody, Screaming Steve Wozniak Costume Recipe:

• One Full beard
• One Set of prominent cheekbones
• One Sheet of uncut, folded U.S. currency in back pocket
• One Pint of fake blood
• Thirty Extra pounds

In-Character Behavior: Scream like you’re being repeatedly stabbed in the chest. Woz probably does this all the time as a practical joke anyway.

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“Dirty Hippie” Steve Jobs

Sure, you could go as “clean-cut black turtleneck/tight jeans/tennis shoes” Steve Jobs, but that’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.

“Dirty Hippie” Steve Jobs Costume Recipe:

• One Scruffy, untrimmed 5-day old beard and mustache
• One Dead hamster (replicates the stench of not having showered in ten days)
• One Pair of Birkenstock sandals
• One Easy-going buddy to boss around and take advantage of

In Character-Behavior: At parties, eat only fruit. Be ready to call everyone you meet an asshole, then spontaneously meditate or break out crying.

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So that’s all for the computer side of things — let us know how your Halloween goes! Coming soon is “VC&G’s Last-Minute Costume Ideas for Video Games,” so stay tuned.

Tags: 2006, Costume Ideas, Halloween

This entry was posted on Friday, October 27th, 2006 at 9:35 pm and is filed under Computer History, Humor, News & Current Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.