Gaming Stuff!

Gaming is not just about games, it's a whole culture. And we happy few probably buy other gaming related items and collectibles that are not actually games. So I thought it would be fun to share some of those things here, or to post news about gaming items that will be coming out. I'm thinking books, soundtracks, clothing, figurines...soap (yes there is soap that looks like NES cartridges!). 

I'll start the thread off, as I really like to read tie in novels, and I've picked up this: 



It's set between the last game and the upcoming game, and I thought it would be cool to read what happened inbetween. Then they announced that it was Xbox exclusive, so I'm not sure when I'm going to get around to reading it. 

Talking of novels, actually, I picked up a Witcher book, which isn't a tie in, as the game is based off of them, but I thought it would be great to coincide reading it when Witcher 3 comes out.

Is The Last Wish the short story collection? I know there is an actual ongoing sequence of Witcher novels but they are taking ages translating them into English.

For me...gaming figures. From Gears of War to Assassins Creed now. I like them but it is too expensive a hobby collecting them all.

Great topic Wolvie!

If you're looking for Tomb Raider stuff the most recent comic series acts as a bridge between Tomb Raider and the sequel. It's written by Gail Simone who is one of the best female writers in comics and has been getting good reviews.

I love gaming soundtracks. I often listen to them at work, if I'm having to read complicated technical stuff. Mostly, I get them from collector's editions - Red Dead Redemption, ACIV,  Last of Us and the Zelda soundtrack bundled with Skyward Sword are favourites - but I have bought them too. Spotify has a decent selection too. 

I do have a number of resin figurines from CEs too but I can take them or leave  them. Most are in the box. The minuscule paperweight preorder bonus from Game for Majora's Mask is quite sweet though. I also have a small Link figurine bought on a trip to the US in the late 90s when such things were harder to come by in the UK, which I keep on my bedside table (in some defence of this, I also have a photo of my wife and I from the same US trip on my bedside table!). I've also a small treasure chest 3DS game card holder that makes the chest opening noise from Zelda from a special edition Link Between Worlds

I also like packs of playing cards (despite never *actually* playing cards). I've a couple of packs of Nintendo themed ones from magazines. And a RDR one won as a prize from NowGamer (IIRC)! This also included a 12" high bundle of dynamite candle!

Jesus - the more I type, the more I think of!  I have a number of game guides, despite it all being on the Internet. Some of them are better than online though and I generally only buy them in sales. Skyward Sword one has recently been very useful. Book wise I also have every edition of the Guiness Records Gamer's edition since it came out. Handy bathroom reading

 I picked up the Batman Arkham City spin off prequel comic, whcih was pretty decent.

I have Hyrule Historia, the coffee table Zelda book which is awesome - a beautifully put together document. If there was ever an English language Fire Emblem one, I'd get that like a shot. I've even considered importing a japanese one.

I've a few gaming tshirts, either from prizes (an RDR one), picked up cheap in store (Space Marine) or presents (a Joel shirt from Insert Coin is a favourite; my daughter has an Ellie shirt!).

Finally, I've a few art books - Mass Effect, Bioshock, Fire Emblem Awakening from CEs or pre order bonuses.

I have far too much gaming tat which is one of the reasons why I am cutting back on getting collector's editions and such. They are just getting more expensive and more ridiculous as time goes on. Also the more tat I acquire the grumpier my wife gets with me!

I will try to remember to post a pic of my tat display case when I get home tonight

I also have lots of guides and artbooks which I actually find useful. A game guide is a great way of looking at the design of game being broken down to pure information. Guides for RPGs tend to be my favourites because they usually give you stat tables, lots and lots of stat tables.

Definitely agree on guides for RPGs. My (technically, my daughter's) for Dragon Quest IX was very well-thumbed, as the game is stat-tastic

Most of the special editions I have were either deeply discounted months after release (I paid £17 for Space Marine, for example) or gifts (RDR, Bravely Default). I did pay full whack for Fable 3 and TLoU special editions at launch though.

It's only really in the past couple of years that I've started picking up gaming merchandise as I've never really been bothered about it but when myself and the O/H visited a gaming event at the local museum she bought me a mug and every event I go to now I pick up a gaming related mug.

I've also started books like Hyrule Historia and the Skyward Sword hardback guide. I also have the Arcade Mania book which is really good. I also have a few badges, the SNES/Wii Pad and stuff that I have got with special edition games, which pretty much have all been for the Wii.

Spotted this today, and it piqued my interest, so I decided to preorder. It's a tie in novel leading up to Arkham Knight, clearly featuring the Riddler as the main protagonist. The only thing is that as a prequel, it's not due out until after the game is released!! Which means that if I do want to do things chronologically, I will need to hold off playing the game until I've finished the book...

Awful front cover mind.

I have the Deus Ex paperback on my bedside table, not yet read. I'd also like to read the Bioshock novel as I believe it is supposed to be pretty good.