Output video as ASCII art in VLC on this lazy Friday

It’s Friday. You probably have loads of work but no motivation. I know that feeling. So why not fire up VLC and watch videos Matrix-style.

Here’s how you do it in version 1.0.1

• Click on Tools and then Prefrences all the way at the bottom
• Click the Video icon on the left
• Click on the drop down box next to output
• Select “Color ASCII art video output
• Restart VLC

Older versions might require you to go into advance or “all” settings in order to select this option. It still should be under the Output option though.

Let me suggest watching Futurama and the Simpsons in this mode. It’s very entertaining and ate my time while the site was down this morning. Fun times. [via Reddit]