Gamer apparel evolves!

Throughout the dawn of the gaming community, gamer's culture for clothing has always been the conventional T-shirt and ball park cap. Many video game companies have lent a hand to try and push for some exclusive game apparel such as flight and leather jackets. Nintendo who has been the leader in putting their brand clothing on gamers has made several attempts to push for the growth in this part of gamer culture.

In 2004 Empire Arcadia hosted the first Greater Gaming Community fashion show for gamers. Setting the tone for the foundation of what gamers should wear, Empire Arcadia expressed to the community that gamers deserve their own apparel. During the fashion show Empire Arcadia speaker Triforce asked gamers in the audience what they would like to see. Audience member interacted with the Fashion panel. This brought up many ideals for future gamer apparel. In April of 2005 Nintendo opened their World Exclusive " Nintendo World Store ". The store featured video game apparel along side of the many various Nintendo products such as video games, video game peripherals, strategy guides and trinkets.

The video game apparel that the Nintendo World Store provided was that much like what you can find in Hot Topics . However they provide exclusive merchandise, especially their clothing line. For the most part Nintendo World carries mostly t-shirts and skull caps. They do however have other apparel that is less casual. Sporting leather, nylon and suede jackets along with wool hoods, polo shirt; both male and female and fleece zip up. This selection of exclusive apparel for gamers needs to be more accessible and need competition from other video game companies. This will create diversity, give gamers a sense of their own fashion and most importantly give the gamer culture what they finally deserve; "Their own apparel."

Empire Arcadia has long recognized this demand from gamers and has now set their eyes on 2006 as the year to bring gamers the information that they need to be more accessible to where they can find their own gamer apparel. Along with that Empire Arcadia will be releasing their brand of gamer clothing in 2006. Empire Arcadia will be addressing many new issues about gamer clothing at the Greater Gaming Community Summit at M4. Such as how companies are giving brand clothing to select few people rather than putting their line up on the market where gamers will be able to shop.

The depth of Gamer Culture and Community has not yet been recognized by the video game industries leaders. Nintendo has made a cautious effort to use both the Pokemon Store which was then turned into the Nintendo World store to test the waters of this market. However a more aggressive approach must be taken and Empire Arcadia along with the Greater Gaming Community urges the video game industry to make their gamer merchandise more accessible.

Other topics at the Summit within the fashion segment will be about seasonal wear. Gamer clothing should be taken with the same seriousness as any other cultural wears throughout the world. Nintendo should not be the only one to be test the waters as other video game companies such as MicroSoft-Xbox, PlayStation, Namco, Sega and Square-Enix are encouraged by Empire Arcadia and the Greater Gaming Community to share in this market. Endorsement through key celebrity gamers creates new trends which in turn help kick start a untapped market. Sounds like a plan right? Well Empire Arcadia is not going to wait until someone else decided to get around in doing this. Hosting its second Fashion Show at M4 will be a reinforced testament to Empire Arcadia's commitment to promote and further the gamer culture.

Female game wear has evolved greatly throughout the years; however it should be used to spare head this fashion movement in the gamer culture. Female game wear extends from underwear's to pocket books. This has been happening for quite some time and should not be confused or believed that video game companies have no interest in the fashion part of the gamer culture. Video game companies have and had made several efforts to push this segment of the culture. However it is arguable to believe that the aggressive effort that is truly need has not been provided. Perhaps gamers can make a change by participating in an interest survey which will help inform the video game industry of our interest. If you would like to participate in this survey please attend M4 . If attendance is not possible you can write you concern and interest to GameLetters@EmpireArcadia.com . Please tell us what you think about gamer clothing and what you would like to see come out. Tell us what your favorite characters are etc.

Three letters will be chosen and posted on Empire Arcadia's site along with your name and state that you live in to show everyone what you came up with. Empire Arcadia will then create these concepts game apparel pieces that you requested and post a picture of them online.