Can we play? Meet the couple who turned their travel footage into a retro video game, with level ups, a pirate mode for kayaking, and fail points for running out of fuel

  • Traveller Nick Hewitt realised his GoPro footage of his adventures looked like an arcade video game 
  • Spanning over six months with 27 vehicles, the video documents the highlights of their explorations
  • Game points are awarded for tricky bike jumps, extra passengers and for seeing exotic fish

By Becky Pemberton For Mailonline

Published: 06:05 EST, 16 May 2015 | Updated: 09:26 EST, 16 May 2015

One intrepid traveller with a chest-mounted GoPro has turned his holiday footage into perhaps the most epic travelling video of all time!

Nick Hewitt realised his transport footage around the world looked like he was being featured in an arcade video game and set out to bring it to life with authentic game visuals and music.

Watch as Nick gains levels as he travels to different countries on everything from camel to bike, getting points for seeing extraordinary sights like exotic fish, and having a temporary fail for running out of fuel.

Scroll down for video 

The adventure begins: The novel racing video starts with the 'gamer' selecting which character he wants to race, settling for himself
The adventure begins: The novel racing video starts with the 'gamer' selecting which character he wants to race, settling for himself

The adventure begins: The novel racing video starts with the 'gamer' selecting which character he wants to race, settling for himself (right)

Starting on level Canada, the video shows downhill biking as the first leg of the international racing video. Nick starts on zero points but raises his score through pulling off tricky jumps

Starting on level Canada, the video shows downhill biking as the first leg of the international racing video. Nick starts on zero points but raises his score through pulling off tricky jumps

Sydney-based couple Nick and Elle have travelled and lived around the world since they met in 2012, and between them have visited countries such as Canada, India, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and Australia.

Spanning over six months with 27 vehicles, the video documents the highlights of their explorations, in a fun, unique way.

‘Extended travel is essentially like playing a big game,’ Nick said.

‘When we got home I spent a month adding video game visuals and sounds and was thrilled when the final result appeared as I'd envisioned it.’

The video begins like retro game, with Nick selecting which player he wants to be; opting for himself who apparently comes with a super power of ‘ignorant enthusiasm.’

Selecting the ‘race track’ as East: Canada to Australia he begins his game on a downhill biking trip in Canada, starting on zero points.

As he flies down the hill he gains points for difficult jumps and losing them as he falls off his bike.

A level up sees Nick scooting through India, now on 500 points. The footage was captured by a chest-mounted GoPro but sometimes he had to get creative and even held the camera in his mouth for the car driving and strapped it to the base of his back for swimming

A level up sees Nick scooting through India, now on 500 points. The footage was captured by a chest-mounted GoPro but sometimes he had to get creative and even held the camera in his mouth for the car driving and strapped it to the base of his back for swimming

A vehicle swap to a camel formed the next leg of the racing game, which was published on the couple's travel blog, Follow Me East

A vehicle swap to a camel formed the next leg of the racing game, which was published on the couple's travel blog, Follow Me East

The creative videos is set to arcade game music, and includes a fun twist on many game bonus points, such as rewarding a 'cow dodge'

The creative videos is set to arcade game music, and includes a fun twist on many game bonus points, such as rewarding a 'cow dodge'

The video sees the couple travel through some of the most beautiful spots in the world, and is a fun way to remember their time away 

The video sees the couple travel through some of the most beautiful spots in the world, and is a fun way to remember their time away 

A level up sees Nick, who works in travel marketing, riding on a scooter in India, with an expert cow dodge earning him some deserved points.

The game progresses with Nick travelling by camel, push bike and car as he journeys around the world.

When kayaking in Railay, Thailand, the creative traveller even manages to sweep some pirate points boosting his score +300 points to reach a whopping 1,600

Nick even manages to commandeer a river ferry in Cambodia during the 'international racing game'

Nick even manages to commandeer a river ferry in Cambodia during the 'international racing game'

Oops! A lack of fuel in an ATV sees a loss of 400 points for the gamer, as he travels through Ko Tao in Thailand

Oops! A lack of fuel in an ATV sees a loss of 400 points for the gamer, as he travels through Ko Tao in Thailand

Pirate points! Nick manages to get an increase in points after activating pirate mode whilst on board a kayak in Thailand

Pirate points! Nick manages to get an increase in points after activating pirate mode whilst on board a kayak in Thailand

Girlfriend Elle even makes an appearance in Vietnam on the back of his bike, earning him extra passenger points.

After a quick life recharge on the tube in London, and a cycle through Australia, Nick ends the game at Sydney Harbour bridge on a cool 2,200 points.

He hopes to beat this score on his next trip, which is hoped to be South America or Cuba.

Nick said: 'At first friends and family were sharing the video, which was nice, but then people we don't know jumped on the bandwagon. 

'I just wanted to make a fun video we can watch later to reflect on our travels.'

The couple’s adventures can be seen on their website or Facebook. 

Nick unlocks the London level, and even manages to try a Boris bike, although his life bar is dangerously low at this point

Nick unlocks the London level, and even manages to try a Boris bike, although his life bar is dangerously low at this point

Recharging on the tube?! Nick manAges to emerge from the tube will a full life level, ready for the next leg of the trip

Recharging on the tube?! Nick manAges to emerge from the tube will a full life level, ready for the next leg of the trip

The Sydney-based travel marketing worker flies back home and continues the last leg of the journey on bike

The Sydney-based travel marketing worker flies back home and continues the last leg of the journey on bike

Game over! Nick completes the race with a score of 2,200, at the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, and hopes to do the next race soon

Game over! Nick completes the race with a score of 2,200, at the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, and hopes to do the next race soon

 

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