Ten Times Video Games Became Food And Drink

Playing Video Games is one of the most popular pastimes in modern society. Eating is a necessity, much to the chagrin of some gamers (less time to game!), but if we don’t eat, we die. As a result of this terrible affliction and inconvenience to gamers, a clever promotional niche of Video Games x Foodstuffs was born. I present to you: Ten Times Video Games Became Food & Drink.

1. The Breakfast Cereal: Nintendo Cereal System

“NIN-TEN-DO, two cereals at once! Wow!” goes the rather infectious song in the Nintendo Cereal System TV commercial. As the song suggests, Nintendo, in one box, included not one but two different kinds of cereal based on popular games available on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the late 80s.

Enough to make you go wow? Maybe not but the product itself is arguably a rather genius marketing ploy. By including two different kinds of cereal in one box, Nintendo were able to market two of their biggest games simultaneously. Additionally, children who already had the NES would surely want to eat a cereal based on their favourite games and children who didn’t have the NES could subtly bring Nintendo’s marketing machine into their home, masquerading as a wholesome promotion of the day’s most important meal, and push the purchase of an actual games system to their sleepy parents who may just agree to anything for a quiet life.

The cereal was released in the 80s but boxes still occasionally sell to collectors for eye-watering prices. You can, however, get an adorable fridge magnet right here.

2. The Energy Drink: Resident Evil T-Virus Antidote

Resident Evil is a fantastically popular franchise originating as a zombie-battling survival horror game back in the early days of the Sony PlayStation. Over the years it has spawned numerous sequels, spin-offs and a disgustingly popular series of increasingly awful blockbuster films.

So, what better way to create a ‘buzz’ for a new game or film than by releasing an energy drink? Well, I’m sure there are loads but this particular energy drink is uniquely branded as an antidote to the T-Virus, the virus created by despicable biotech company The Umbrella Corporation, which re-animates a recently deceased corpse into a shuffling, blood-thirsty zombie.

No-one wants to suffer that particular fate so of course a product such as this is a must-buy (assuming their claims are scientifically proven). You can get yours here.

3. The Chocolate Bar: Chocolate Games Controller

What are the requirements for a good games controller? Well, it should be ergonomic and fit to the contours of your hand to remain comfortable throughout long gaming sessions, the button placement should be convenient to avoid injury to your tactile extremities and it shouldn’t become sweaty and sticky through continued use for obvious reasons.

The Chocolate Games Controller would appear to tick those first two boxes but unfortunately will inevitably become a soft, greasy, mess after just a few minutes in the hands. So, it’s not appropriate as an actual controller then? No, I mean that’s obvious really, but as a yummy treat, it does a pretty good job.

The fact that it’s shaped like a games controller is just a cheeky added bonus. Grab your own one here.

4. The Off-Brand Cola: Fallout Nuka Cola

In the world of Fallout, Nuka Cola was invented in the year 2044 by John-Caleb Bradburton and quickly became the most popular drink in the United States of America. Following The Great War which plunged humanity into a world of post-apocalyptic chaos, Nuka Cola remained an incredibly popular drink with the bottle caps even being used as currency.

In our own reality, a special batch of 2,500 bottles of Nuka Cola was made by the Coca Cola company in Poland and handed out at a special launch event for the release of Fallout 76. I imagine it’s just standard Coca Cola in a different bottle and it’s a shame the bottle caps aren’t Nuka Cola branded but the bottles themselves have a deliciously vintage aesthetic.

An absolute must for die hard fans as they’re extremely rare and as a result very expensive.

5. The Hard Candy: Pac-Man Video Game Candy

Pac-Man, that pill chomping, ghost avoiding, cherry guzzling, pizza with a missing slice, is an unforgettable pop culture icon and an important cornerstone in the history of video games. First released in arcades in 1980 it was an instant sensation and has been a huge inspiration to both players and game developers ever since.

So how do you celebrate (read: cash in) on such a legendary game and iconic character? Release Pac-Man shaped hard candies enclosed in a tiny and unbearably cute arcade cabinet, that’s how.

It’s a piece of marketing which appeals to everyone, from the generation who got repetitive strain injury from the original cabinets back in the day, to those who grew up in the aftermath where Pac-Man was already a legend with versions appearing on practically every home console imaginable and to today’s purveyors and unashamed purchasers of geek culture products because that’s what’s cool now or whatever. Available right here.

6. The Valentine’s Day Sweet Treat: Game On, Valentine Gummy Candy Remote

More game controller shaped confectionery? Sure but this time it’s in the name of love.

Picture the scene: It’s Valentine’s Day, a couple return home from a long hard day’s work to celebrate a night, just for them. They exchange cheeky cards, lovingly picked from a selection of sickening and obnoxious options, before one of them says “I got you a present. It’s 12 OZ of blue raspberry flavoured gummy in the form of a game controller”. Fade to black over long embrace.

Joking aside, I’d even buy this just for myself, I mean a blue raspberry D-Pad? More like D-licious. You can pick up one for your Valentine, or just for yourself right here.

7. The Pasta Shapes In Tomato Sauce: HP Sonic The Hedgehog Pasta Shapes In Tomato Sauce

We all loved classic HP pasta shapes in tomato sauce, especially as children. They now come in all shapes and sponsorship options including numerous Children’s TV shows or film tie-ins like Scooby Doo and Minions. Back in the 90s, though, they even had video game properties like Sonic, the star of the deliriously popular SEGA Mega Drive game, emblazoned on their cans of joy.

You know what to expect from this, Sonic shaped pasta in that familiar gloopy tomato sauce. Why mess with perfection? This product is no longer on sale and despite canned goods being pretty good at staving off the passage of time I can’t imagine any that are found out in the wild today would be edible without dire bowel dysfunction related consequences.

Sadly (read thankfully) I can’t find any options available for sale to test the above hypothesis.

8. The Food Delivery System: Burger King & Playstation BURGER CLAN

This one is a little bit of a cheat. The product itself isn’t edible but it’s such a ludicrous yet novel idea that it can’t possibly be ignored.

Between April 28th and May 21st 2017, Burger King and Sony partnered up to offer gamers the opportunity to order food for delivery whilst in-game. The orders were taken by other gamers, also playing the game themselves… Did I say ludicrous? It actually sounds genius. Despite their best efforts to reduce the inconvenience of eating, there’s still the small matter of actually answering the door, to receive the food from a delivery man, to worry about. We’re not quite there yet.

An idea that if improved could potentially be the holy grail for gaming.

9. The Artisan Burger: Pokémon Burgers

Pokemon is one of the biggest pop culture brands there has ever been. It’s impossible to ignore and you’ll be hard pushed to find anyone who doesn’t know who or what Pikachu is.

When a property gets that large it spawns all manner of weird products, some awful, some great but this one, Pokemon Burgers, is arguably the greatest of them all. Featuring three of your favourite pocket monsters: Pikachu, Bulbasaur and Charmander, the Pokemon Burgers are the brainchild of Australian fast fooders Hashtag Burgers who created the Down-N-Out restaurant in tribute to famous American chain In-N-Out.

Unfortunately, this adorable trio in fast food form was a limited time deal and ceased to be available in September 2016! Somebody get me Michael J Fox and a Delorean!

10. The Ketchup Flavoured Potato Chip: Poco Loco Angry Birds Ketchup Crisps

Ketchup, one of the best flavours of crisps. Don’t argue. Angry Birds, an insanely popular mobile game. Undeniable. Never the twain shall meet. Oh wait, they met.

Angry Birds really needs no promotion. It’s been a worldwide phenomenon for a long time now so surely Poco Loco are just riding the fame to advertise their particular brand of crisps? I mean they don’t even look like the birds or the weird alien pig thingies on the packet, more like ghosts, a product they also just happen to make. Due to its enduring popularity, there may just be enough people out there who love Angry Birds AND ketchup flavoured crisps to make this a worthwhile endeavour.

To be fair I love ketchup flavour crisps so would just by them anyway, regardless of popular branding.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this ridiculous list of Ten Times Video Games Were Food And Drink. Please let us know your favourites in the comments and tell us of any other weird video game tie-ins (food or otherwise) that you’ve come across in the wild.

Peace.

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