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Hold on, now GameStop's buying ThinkGeek
There was a hushed silence as the Priest shouted "should anyone have an objection to the marriage of ThinkGeek and Hot Topic, speak now or forever hold their peace." Suddenly, a side-door slammed open as GameStop rushed in, demanding that the ceremony stop, because it alone was ThinkGeek's one true love. Hot Topic blanched as ThinkGeek struggled to make eye contact, before nodding in agreement, apologizing and bolting from the altar. As ThinkGeek and GameStop ran down the aisle, arm in arm, the online retailer knew that it had done the right thing because, after all, GameStop had loads more money.
Hot Topic is buying ThinkGeek
High school is teenage tribalism, which is why the Lip Service kids aren't going to hang with the Forever 21 set in the lunch hall. Now, however, Hot Topic has realized that it's got plenty in common with ThinkGeek, and has decided to swallow the niche retailer in a deal worth $122 million. Hot Topic CEO Lisa Harper believes that it's a good fit, since both companies share a strategy of "delivering great products for avid fans of various licensed properties." Or, in non business-school buzzkill speak, selling y'all t-shirts with Marvel characters on them will make the company even more bank if it owns one of its rivals.
Guitar Hero III tournament has big prizes, a bigger catch
OK, so there's good news and there's bad news. The good news is that the Guitar Hero III skills that you've worked so hard to cultivate could actually nab you a big prize: A 2008 Pontiac G5. The bad news: All of the stops in the Pontiac Garage Guitar Hero III tournament will be held ... inside Hot Topics.Although GHIII is fine and you could probably survive being in Hot Topic, playing Guitar Hero III within the walls of a Hot Topic actual conscripts you into an emo band. It's true: A spectral version of Morrissey appears and eats all but .5 percent of your body fat, tears pre-caked in eyeliner spurt from your eyes and members of Jimmy Eat World chloroform you and force you to play bass. It's a nightmare. If it's worth the risk to you you can see all the details here. But we think we'll stay at home and put our eyeliner on by ourselves, thank you very much.
Clothe yourself with Xbox 360 wearables
We're happy to announce that showing off a fanboy's true passion for the Xbox 360 just got a little bit easier. Our buddies over at Hot Topic are ever so kindly offering a variety of Xbox 360 branded and game related tshirts. Have monster cravings for 360 gaming? Simply purchase the tshirt showcased to the right. Feeling all tangled and confused? Then buy this retro Xbox tee. Not only are there Xbox branded offerings, but you can also get your hands on tshirts featuring games like Gears of War and that rockstar in training simulator Guitar Hero II. We say empty your wallets (or sell your cat) and show off your Xbox 360 love with pride! Or you could just duct tape a controller to your chest. It'll get the point across all the same.
Get Halo 3 apparel at Hot Topic
Our fatherly figure Joystiq uncovered some gaming related goodies over at Hot Topic. No, not jewel encrusted black leather wrist straps silly, but Halo 3 apparel! Yup, black tshirts sporting that sexy H3 logo we enjoy so much ... yum. And I have a little different opinion than Joystiq about video game apparel for a game that won't be released for months. It's Halo 3, we fanboys friggin' love it! The apparel isn't just about the game or it's future release date, but is about the franchise, our excitment, and support for the game. Dare anyone question Halo 3 swag a year before launch ... if so, I banish you to a different fanboy site for all of 2007![Via Joystiq]
Joystiq goes to Hot Topic, finds WoW
Those crazy lads over at Joystiq have made a journey too perilous for us here at WoW Insider to even imagine. They braved the parking lots, dodged the teenagers, somehow avoided the tackiness, and reached a dungeon even scarier and harder than Naxx. Yes, they went to their local mall's Hot Topic.And surprisingly, they found WoW. A lot of it. There's buttons, stickers, t-shirts, hoodies, even hats-- all the stuff that Blizzard has been selling through J!NX online. You know the game has made it when the junk gift store down at the mall is selling your officially licensed crap accessories. That said, those hats are pretty awesome. I'd love one of the exclamation point ones. Just dream of what you could make people do for you in that thing.And as Joystiq found, Hot Topic is not only selling the gear, they're selling the game, too-- in the form of a $1.99 two week trial disc. It's a pretty nerfed trial, though. Not only is the full purchase of the game required later (along with that monthly fee), but apparently there are restrictions in game-- no trading items, no auctioneering. But then again, Blizzard didn't hit seven million players by not giving people ways to find the game for the first time. And the fact that Hot Topic is selling stuff that references WoW gives you an idea of just how popular this game has gotten.
