You've heard of totems commemorating spiritual and sexual journeys, or just a dank meme, but have you ever come across one that took you back to your childhood?
Without the exuberant camaraderie of rave culture, the pandemic forced upon us a grim barrage of virtual experiences and “immersive” streams. At that elusive intersection is the “Super Nintotem,” an interactive totem that is taking electronic dance music festivals by storm.
Part totem and part gaming center, the traveling “Super Nintotem” offers a new entertainment experience at EDM festivals. The modified totem allows you to play classic Nintendo games on a console while in the crowd.
The totem debuted in 2023 at EDC Las Vegas, says its creator, Brian Tai EDM.com. But the idea arose a decade earlier on the festival's main stage, where he says he vividly remembers talking to a friend about how cool it would be to somehow start a game while he was in the crowd.
Technology caught up along the way, so he decided to give it a try. But how exactly does this portable nostalgia machine work?
Tai says carrying the totem is not easy. It's heavy and comes with a lot of fragile components, and you can't move or dance as freely.
“It's designed from the ground up to be modular and foldable for flight,” explains Tai. “A gaming system on a desk is pretty easy. A gaming system on a pole is a little more complicated. It uses a 3-piece PVC pole system that fits into a standard suitcase. All brackets and connectors are designed to measured and 3D-printed.”
“Thin-panel portable displays have come a long way and are reasonably energy efficient,” he continues. “Everything runs on large lithium batteries and I need to carry several in my CamelBak overnight. It's been an iterative process over the last year. The screen got bigger. A base with wheels was created to help with transportation. Moved to Wireless Controllers to prevent randoms from covering their clothing while making their way through the crowd. A lighted amnesty tube was placed on top to help with 360-degree visibility.
Brian Tai
The “Super Nintotem” is not just a distraction: it is a fusion of experience, a postmodern Mario combination where power-ups are found in kindred spirits and the final victory is the shared joy of classic games under the electric sky.
However, while totems are an undeniable part of American rave culture, many, especially abroad, consider them unnecessary and disruptive. Tai wants to show those naysayers that totems have value in places where DJs often lull crowds with hypnosis.
“Totems have the practical purpose of helping your friends find each other in a sea of 170,000 people at night,” he says. “But beyond that, they are an expression of creativity, humor and joy. God knows how many times I looked next to me and saw someone's totem that made me laugh and smile. They are a form of communication and interaction. Events are not “just isolated strangers standing next to each other listening to music on their own.”
Regardless of what you think about totems, there is no denying the emotional response elicited by the “Super Nintotem.” Tai brought it back over the weekend to EDC, one of the most popular EDM festivals in the world, where over 500 people played. And the reactions were all the same: pure, unfiltered happiness.
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As he spent more time with it, Tai realized that it achieves a number of benevolent goals despite requiring little from participants: inclusivity, participation, immediacy, a form of gift.
The cornerstone of the totem, however, is its ability to connect people through shared experiences, both past and present.
“A lot of social media is me, me, me,” Tai says. “Everything published in the supernintotem The account focuses on the players, none of the posts are about the totem or the people who run it. “It's a snapshot frozen in time, with a lot of really happy people.”
thanks to our partners at edm.com
