I’m pretty sure this news has been passed around the block, but if you didn’t hear about Meat Bun, Mike McWhertor of Kotaku fame just opened up a store with gamer clothes. The seeds of the project started at Tokyo Game Show 2006 when McWhertor went to Beams to pick up an Every Extend Extra Shirt. Prototypes were printed around E3 2007.
The goal of Meat Bun is to make nods at their favorite games, but without resorting to things “done to death” like 1up mushrooms. Right now the store has shirts inspired by Street Fighter II, Spy Hunter and the cult hit Typing of the Dead. I admire how they are not afraid to take risks with lesser known titles. Usually, video game wear is derived from platinum hits. I have seen plenty of Halo, Mario and Guitar Hero shirts, but no Persona 3 clothing, at least in North America.
Actually, I asked McWhertor about making a Persona 3 shirt, but not something basic with the main character silk screened on the front. My idea was to design a t-shirt with a print of the protagonist’s school uniform, headphones and dangling digital music player. Sort of like a mock tuxedo shirt, but Persona style. The idea evolved into making a sweater based on the iconic tattoos from the player controlled demi-fiend from Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne. For now this idea is a dream since Meat Bun is sticking to franchises they are experienced with. However, they are interested in working with artists who are passionate about games. Anyone artists feel like drafting a SMT inspired shirt?
The other good news is McWhertor offered to give a t-shirt away to a Siliconera reader! Instead of making this a complicated contest, this will be easy. Just post what shirt you would like in the comments by Wednesday, March 26 10PM PST.
