The Attract Mode video game culture shop opened last week.  It has zines, chiptune albums, shirts, limited edition oversized prints… basically everything a single dude with disposable income would lust after.  I ordered the Psychosomnium Button Pack and a copy of 1-Up MegaZine #3. Both items arrived today and are absolutely gorgeous. But the real kicker is the amazing packaging…

If you want a great example of how to connect with your customer, this is it.  The order arrived packaged in my very own cardboard edition Game Buddy.  There was even ASCII art on the receipt! Everything about Attract Mode screams “Hey, I’m like you.  We should be friends.”  We should be friends, non-sentient online storefront.  You’d probably blow my Tetris high score out of the water.

BONUS ROUND! Check out the Virgin Mother (?) pin that was attached to my receipt. Can someone give me some details on this? I love it. Most pins end up attached to my messenger bag, but this thing is blazer worthy. I’ll be wearing this at SPX on Saturday; if you see me, throw out a high five. Even if it happens to be some other person wearing a pixel Mary pin, I’m sure they would appreciate a random high five.

These octopus mug things from CAKE are soon to be mine. Not because the design screams “pretentious hipster” (meaning it will match everything else I own), but because it doesn’t have a stupid handle. I’m an adult. I understand how beverage containers work. I don’t need a handle sticking out and taking up space in the cabinet. If I want to grip something that may be uncomfortably warm, I should be allowed to.

If white iPod earbuds say “hey muggers, look what I’ve got!” then these must scream “hey muggers, I might be schizophrenic… wanna test me?”