Image via Complex Original
Like all other forms of media, video games have crazy product tie-ins as well.
It's a part of the mass marketing machine, and a great way to make sure these pricey brands stay in the public eye -- thus, of course, making even more piles of money. Though some of the products considered for release are a little bizarre, we're not sure how they fit into the video game itself or why anyone saw fit to greenlight the project.
We've scoured the wacky world of cross-promotion for video game and food tie-ins for some of the strangest we could muster. We've found weird snacks, promo characters, and even pork buns. Take a look at our findings and report back with weirdness of your own. We're sure it gets even worse, though it's unclear how you could sink any lower than giving a JRPG character a Colonel Sanders skin.
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10. Subway and Counter-Strike: Source
A few years ago, unauthorized Subway ads began appearing in various parts of Counter-Strike: Source. Valve was understandably up in arms about the entire ordeal, but why did Engage Advertisement think Subway was the best option for in-game advertisements?
Just because there's a subway map, that doesn't always mean players want sandwiches. Although, if you're making sandwiches, go ahead and give us one. We'll take it.
9. Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity and Yum! Brands Crossover
Talk about weird. The cross-promotion between Yum! Brands and Sega for this release found special character skins for players to walk around as Colonel Sanders of KFC fame, or a Pizza Hut box and pan complete with pizza as a sword and shield combination. Tacky? Yeah, just a tad.
8. Sumi-e Pizza
Sumioni: Demon Arts was an interesting game, but why it deserved a special pizza all its own is beyond us. Pizza California, a Japanese pizza chain, promoted a pizza riddled with squid ink to resemble that of the sumi-e art style with thick black "smudges" to form a vague connection to the game. The pizza looks anything but appetizing.
7. Metal Gear Regain Energy Drink
Metal Gear was once again crossed with a popular energy supplement in Japan with the Regain Energy Drink campaign.
Other tie-in promo items were cell phone screen cleaners and artwork with familiar Metal Gear characters. Snake himself got in on the action, appearing in the commercial for the drink, which is said to taste like Red Bull. At least it followed in the same vein as the Calorie Mate commercial?
6. Metal Gear Calorie Mate
Calorie Mate is an energy supplement sold in Japan that comes in several forms, including a canned soft drink. It comes in different flavors as well, and the item was seen in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater as a consumable that fully restores Naked Snake's stamina.
It looks like a ration, we suppose, but the generic packaging sticks out like a sore thumb.
5. Soul Calibur IV Church's Chicken Coupon
While not a food item per se, this promotion made waves when it was found slid into the case of every copy of Soul Calibur IV upon its release.
Of all the restaurants in the world, and of all the types of food, why Church's Chicken? Why Soul Calibur IV? It cheapened what little bit of value the inserts inside the box had already, and it seemed like one of the most random product placements that could possibly have been chosen.
4. Pac-Man Pasta
Pac-Man may inspire some interesting types of candy, but different varieties of pasta doesn't seem like the best promotional food.
Plus we don't even want to know what the "golden sauce" is actually made from. The commercial was hokey as well, but it's still pretty odd to have seen an iconic character immortalized as a noodle. Have you actually tried one of the cans of this pasta? Let us know
3. Pokemon Curry
Not that we've never seen branded food products before, but Pokemon Curry doesn't make much sense.
Especially when you consider there's nothing in the curry that is distinctly Pokemon. Not to mention the pictures on the box itself look much less appetizing when you consider the grinning Pikachu on the left may have had something to do with the creation of said curry. Were they coming in flavors, it might be a better idea.
2. Dragon Quest Slime Pork Buns
Pork buns are a delicious treat the Japanese enjoy.
It's not that weird to see tons of different varieties, but this particular shape could be a little unsettling to some. While certain individuals find it adorable (we do!) the Slime of Dragon Quest/Dragon Warrior fame has a disturbing, vacant stare with a cheerful grin. It makes perfect sense, then, to release a pork bun shaped like the iconic enemy and serve it at dinner, right? Totally.
1. Final Fantasy XII Potion Drink
Drinks aren't exactly a strange promotional item, but the Final Fantasy XII Potion released to novelty-hungry fans in Japan is pretty out there.
With a taste like a "nutritional supplement" drink, it's hyped as offering a "mysterious taste." We're willing to bet it doesn't bestow any restorative properties on whomever imbibes it, but at least it comes in a gorgeous bottle. You can display it once you're done if you ever decide you want to empty the bottle of its contents.