I wouldn't call this "an exercise in skeuomorphic excess," since it doesn't actually re-create any real-world interactions.
The value of skeuomorphism is that it uses visual representations of familiar physical objects to help people understand how to interact with an interface. It's not always appropriate, but it has its place when it's done right.
In this case, there's a cassette tape, which is not itself an interface, but a storage medium. Unless the user mouses over the cassette, there are no controls visible at all. Once revealed, the hidden controls turn out to be simply a set of traditional play and seek buttons, albeit oddly arranged (I'm not sure why the play button is backwards). It took some experimentation on my part to learn that clicking the cassette itself also toggles playback, and that clicking on the label reveals a hidden input field.
One of the biggest criticisms of "flat UI" is the lack of visual affordances that show users what is clickable, and what it should do. This ersatz "skeuomorphic" interface has the missing affordances of a flat UI, without the trendy design.
I guess it's funny, but I would had more fun if it had gone all the way, such as re-creating a classic cassette deck, or a Walkman, or something.
True, it has some skeuomorphic elements. I suspect the creator was trying to make fun of skeuomorphism through excess, but missed the mark by misunderstanding the concepts involved.
The value of skeuomorphism is that it uses visual representations of familiar physical objects to help people understand how to interact with an interface. It's not always appropriate, but it has its place when it's done right.
In this case, there's a cassette tape, which is not itself an interface, but a storage medium. Unless the user mouses over the cassette, there are no controls visible at all. Once revealed, the hidden controls turn out to be simply a set of traditional play and seek buttons, albeit oddly arranged (I'm not sure why the play button is backwards). It took some experimentation on my part to learn that clicking the cassette itself also toggles playback, and that clicking on the label reveals a hidden input field.
One of the biggest criticisms of "flat UI" is the lack of visual affordances that show users what is clickable, and what it should do. This ersatz "skeuomorphic" interface has the missing affordances of a flat UI, without the trendy design.
I guess it's funny, but I would had more fun if it had gone all the way, such as re-creating a classic cassette deck, or a Walkman, or something.