What are some of your favorite merchandise items related to video games? Do you like it because it was fun, functional, or really captured the experience/personality of the game in physical form?
I recall the PlayStation /E3 area had some real interesting gems and one-offs, in terms of swag items only available at conventions and official merch/tie-ins usually only available in Japan. Perhaps the pre-internet times bred creativity because you had everyone competing for attention in the physical "real world," and publishers needed to spread things literally by hand and word of mouth to help generate buzz for a game. These were the days that also saw the deluxe game box items of Working Designs, too.
Off the top of my head, I like Monster Hunter and Dragon Quest stuff in particular. Especially the "replica" type stuff and household items. I have a lot of weird DQ items around the house, from towels to a headband for when you wash your face and even ponytail bands (they kinda suck unfortunately lol but cool to have a metal slime in your hair I guess).
I was inspired to ask because I received this Felvidek OST cassette in the mail from Czechia and it sparked much joy. I'm not even an analogue audio nut or anything (had to fish out the cassette player from a drawer and it sounds like shit unless I set the connector in the audio jack just so lol) but it's just fun to see something like this and be reminded of a great game experience, almost like a memento from an old friend to remind you of a happy time.
I recall the PlayStation /E3 area had some real interesting gems and one-offs, in terms of swag items only available at conventions and official merch/tie-ins usually only available in Japan. Perhaps the pre-internet times bred creativity because you had everyone competing for attention in the physical "real world," and publishers needed to spread things literally by hand and word of mouth to help generate buzz for a game. These were the days that also saw the deluxe game box items of Working Designs, too.
Off the top of my head, I like Monster Hunter and Dragon Quest stuff in particular. Especially the "replica" type stuff and household items. I have a lot of weird DQ items around the house, from towels to a headband for when you wash your face and even ponytail bands (they kinda suck unfortunately lol but cool to have a metal slime in your hair I guess).
I was inspired to ask because I received this Felvidek OST cassette in the mail from Czechia and it sparked much joy. I'm not even an analogue audio nut or anything (had to fish out the cassette player from a drawer and it sounds like shit unless I set the connector in the audio jack just so lol) but it's just fun to see something like this and be reminded of a great game experience, almost like a memento from an old friend to remind you of a happy time.
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