This week’s constant delight provided courtesy of flickr user gadl: Wee Planets.

By first taking panoramic shots of bits of France and then running them through a handful of easily obtained software tools, he’s created enough planets to populate several galaxies if not his own private universe. Each one offers some wonderful detail worth looking at, and most of them are completely facinating. I’ve had a browser tab opened to the photoset all week long, and whenever I’m feeling lost for inspiration or otherwise unfocused, I spend a few minutes staring and it all comes rushing back.

First thoughts? Reminds me of the Wii’s forthcoming Mario Galaxy – I could easily see the iconic plumber exploring any of these, bouncing from enemy to enemy while at the mercy of each world’s unique take on gravity. Second thoughts? I want to explore them – I want to build little worlds like this to be wandered through and lept between, jumping from world to world, staying just ahead of their respective sunsets. Even after the beauty of each shot has faded, the part of my brain where level design is kept just keeps itching.

(Ganked from Boing Boing, though I can’t for the life of me find the original story)

Filed under: Ephemera