The Taste of Video Games

It’s those times when you spot a familiar face/item from the corner of your eye and suddenly our inner geek hearts just explode wildly. A sudden rush of excitement and you’ve become Phoenix Wright helplessly compelled to point your finger like crazy.

I know certain members of Ready Up go weak at the knees for gaming merchandise. Video game shrines of all sizes from book shelves to walls, computer desks to wardrobes, displays of rare gaming collectables, promotional items; there’s usually something geeky we’re holding onto in our homes.

Personally I’m a sucker for gamer apparel and cosplay. Sometimes it’s kind of surprising to see the lengths we go to for particular things, for example I actually sat down and waged a fierce mouse-clicking battle with someone over eBay for a Mirrors Edge bag… and I won, hehe.

Recently I was given a Street Fighter energy drink for my efforts in using Ken in Street Fighter IV, it just so happened to be a coincidence of the can! Unfortunately I can’t really say what it tastes like because I don’t really drink energy drinks. Looking at what’s in it, I’m more likely to expect sugar to just flow out of the can rather than carbonated liquid. Right now it hides away in my fridge but for once I’ve never felt quite so confused about what to do with it. At some point I’ll have to empty it as I keep envisioning it bursting out its fizzy content. Although it’s one hell of an awesome can there’s just a voice in the back of my head that says it’s going to end up in the bin. One reason is because at the end of the day, it’s a drink: the can is likely to get dented (accidentally or on purpose), it doesn’t have an outer packaging (which is the saviour of keeping things pristine) and so poor Ken is left unsociably inside a fridge.

Now I’d been aware of video game energy foods and drinks and so this made me a little curious to scope out what else is out there. I had seen glimpses of Street Fighter energy drinks being given out in America. However I didn’t realise just how far the aisle stretches for other brands too. Surprisingly the results were many:

Heaven for the candy kids but it’s quite a task if you really want to get a hold of these things. I know for certain ESC in Glasgow have Mana potions and I’ve seen Mario Kinder Eggs in ‘Artbox’ in Camden Markets, London. I’m guessing you may find some of this stuff at conventions but otherwise my guess is a Google and import job. Although I enjoy sweet confectionary, this is the kind of thing that those opposed to gaming would just love to point out because of their narrow beliefs in them causing obesity, lack of sociability, unhealthy habits, etc. However, I did also find the healthier options, with some amazing video game bento boxes:

So there’s a little taste of video games for you. Kudos to those who took time to make these fabulous lunch boxes but gosh these pictures are really making me hungry now!