Sometimes gift ideas are just… boring.

That’s how this started. I was trying to come up with something fun to give a friend — something a little unexpected, a little weird, but still personal. I didn’t want to send another “here’s a link to a playlist” or a generic mug with their name on it.

So I built this:

A physical postcard you can mail to someone. But when they scan the QR code? It opens a browser-based game — made from their photo.

💡 What Is It?

It’s called ohlookitsme.com, and there are currently three game modes:

• 🧩 Puzzle — a tile-sorting game using their photo
• 🕹️ Retro arcade — a side-scroller where they are the pixel character (my personal favorite)
• 🔍 Spot-the-difference — subtle changes are hidden in a copy of their image

It’s silly, it’s oddly intimate, and it turns a simple card into a kind of digital surprise.

👥 From Friends to Everyone

At first, I just made these for friends — for birthdays, inside jokes, and moments where I wanted to give something a little more memorable than a link or a text.

The reactions were better than expected. People laughed, screenshotted, and shared the cards with others.

That’s when I realized: maybe this shouldn’t just live in my circle.

So now I’m offering them more widely. If you’re someone who likes giving slightly strange but very personal gifts — this might be for you too.

🔧 How It Works (Lightly Technical)

Each order includes a custom-designed postcard printed with a QR code. When scanned, it opens a mobile-friendly web game.

The photo you upload becomes the central material for the game:

• In the puzzle, it’s sliced into movable tiles
• In the arcade game, your character sprite is manually generated from your photo
• For spot-the-difference, I edit visual tweaks by hand — changing small details, lighting, or objects

➡️ No auto-generation here — every game is crafted manually.

😂 Tested on Friends, Approved by Laughs

Friends were the first testers — whether they wanted to be or not. They didn’t expect much. Then suddenly, their face was jumping over pixelated cats.

That moment — the “wait, what?” moment — is what I wanted to create.

The 8-bit arcade mode quickly became my favorite. Seeing people realize they’re the pixel hero never gets old.

🚀 What’s Next?

I may eventually automate part of the process, or add more game modes. But for now, I like that it’s hands-on. Each one stays weird and personal.

If you want to try it out or send one to someone who’d love it: 👉 https://ohlookitsme.com