With games like Wii Fit doing gangbusters at retail, professional gamers becoming the the face of a brand in mainstream commercial endorsement deals and Playboy models coming out as hardcore gamers, it is safe to say that waning are the days of the pale-skinned, corpulent gamer stereotype. The weakening of any stereotype is great news, of course, but what visual cues are left for us to distinguish gamers from non-gamers? Undoubtedly, chief among them must and will always be the gamer t-shirt, de rigueur for any true gamer. So, in the spirit of the holidays, I urge you to consider a gift of a game-related shirt for your loved ones or even yourself. A game-related t-shirt is a multipurpose gift, functioning to strengthen a sense of community, to demonstrate allegiance, to amuse, bemuse and, more practically, to keep your loved one clothed so he can get himself an Egg McMuffin. [Note: Shoes still required, pants questionable.]
To this end, the Examiner's Carol Orsini has compiled a list of what she feels to be the 10 best game shirts for the holidays. Behind the cut, Orsini's picks as well as 5 of my own suggestions for game-inspired clothing.
Here's a compendium of Carol Orsini's top ten shirts with links to each below. To read her complete commentary on each shirt, please click here.
1. RRoD @ SplitReason.com | 2. Portal shirt @ Jinx.com | 3. Body By @ Jinx.com | 4. BioShocker @ Jinx.com | 5. I Press Jump @ Jinx.com | 6. Zombie Repellent @ ThinkGeek.com | 7. Achievement Unlocked @ Splitreason.com | 8. Tetris @ Threadless.com | 9. Rapture @ Threadless.com | 10. "Dead Sucker" @ Threadless.com -- out of print.
Need more? Allow me to offer just a few selections of my own. First up, for that Portal-loving expectant mom, this beauty from a CafePress shop devoted entirely to the Weighted Companion Cube:
For the Nintendo-phile, the Family Tree from NerdyShirts:
For the retro arcade gamer, the Pac Man hoodie available at Fred Flare:
Another one from NerdyShirts for the PC-gamer:
And, finally, my personal favorite: a hoodie for the lover of classic adventure games from Topatoco:
Go Consumerism!
[Top image: a selection of Half-Life 2 shirts available at the Valve Store. Special thanks to Chris for his discerning taste.]
November 29th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Who wants to buy me the Nintendo Family Tree shirt for Christmas?
November 29th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
@Brendon Who want to buy me the Whale?!!?!