Thursday, February 7, 2013

Apparel and Video Games: The Perfect Mix

Video games are a force to be reckoned with. Raking in billions of dollars a year, the industry is a cash cow when it comes to merchandising. Everything from the actual video games themselves to items as strange as light fixtures and ceiling fans have had video game characters adorned upon them (the last two examples are courtesy of Mario). The endless possibilities and merchandising opportunities make the businessman salivate. Here in the United States, there are numerous stores that carry this type of merchandise, specifically clothing. Have you ever longed for a Mario necktie? How about a Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 t-shirt? You can’t go wrong with Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 apparel. Having sold over 11 million units and counting for the Xbox 360, this is the hottest game on the market right now. From boys in their teens to men in their 30’s, this type of merchandise sells…and sells well. Now, what if you aren’t into the logo t-shirts? What if you’re looking for more than just a shirt saying “Call of Duty”? Well, you’re in luck. Even specific game modes have their own merchandise. Take, for instance, the Call of Duty mode “Zombies”. Here is a link to a “Zombies” t-shirt. T-shirts aren’t the only article of clothing video games grab a hold of. Pajamas with Mario’s likeness exist. Want a Halo hat? You got it. People want to identify with their games. Gamers are proud of who they are and what they do. What better way to express themselves then through their favorite video game apparel? The best part about video game apparel is the personal satisfaction you get when wearing it. Gamers who love Halo spend hours and hours imagining what life would be like if they were Master Chief (the main character). In reality, the closest thing people will get to Master Chief are movies, virtual reality games (fingers crossed), and apparel. When you stretch that Halo hoodie over your head, you aren’t just putting on a piece of clothing. You’re sending a message. You’re telling people that “I support Halo” and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Some Call of Duty fans might have a problem with it (the games often act as rivals to each other), but all gamers support their games with apparel…and that’s just awesome. As you go browsing the Internet today, searching for that perfect Zelda t-shirt, you may want to check out a website called JJGames. It specializes in old and used games, as well as systems and accessories. I know, I got your video game juices flowing and now you just have to go back and beat Super Mario Bros. for the millionth time. Having trouble finding it? Is it lost in the basement? No need to worry, this link will help you out…and will also help you save some cash! Thanks for reading!

2 comments:

  1. Speaking of old used games, I wish I could find a copy of 1990 NES World Championship (gold edition). It just got valued at $22,000 on Pawn Stars last night.

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  2. That's a lot of dough, my friend.

    ReplyDelete