Retro Marketing: Videogame Shoes

[Flack]

(Reposted from my blog)

While searching for some old videogame manuals on Google the other day I discovered that Nike had released a tennis shoe in honor of one of my favorite old arcade games. This seemed a little odd to me, so I did a little research and here is what I found.

Nike Dunks were born in 1985, retired, and were reborn in 1998. Dunks are known for their bright colors and unique patterns. Nike also makes an offshoot of the Dunk called an SB ("skateboard") Dunk. There are literally hundreds of different SB/Dunk color combinations, most of which have cute color combinations with matching names and pop culture references. The "Shrek" model is gray on gray with lime green laces. The Boba Fett dunks are olive green, black, red and white. Michaelangelo Dunks (named for the Ninja Turtle, not the artist) are green, light yellow and red. The Mork and Mindy model (I'm not kidding) are red and silver.

The two seminal skateboarding games of the 1980s were Atari's 720, and Electronic Arts' Skate or Die. And now, thanks to Nike, both games have been immortalized with their own SB Dunks. There's only one minor problem: both shoes are pretty darn ugly.

http://www.robohara.com/pix/blog/nike-720.jpg

Here is the 720 shoe. In the picture I made above you can see where they got the colors from (Atari's 720 logo), but that doesn't make the shoe any less ugly. I can't think of a single piece of clothing I own that would match orange, pink, cyan, black, white and gray shoes.

http://www.robohara.com/pix/blog/nike-skate_or_die.jpg

The Skate or Die shoes are, in my opinion, even worse. Again the colors were taken direct from the classic game's cover, but I just don't feel like blue, cyan, yellow, orange and black sneakers is a look I can pull off. They even incorporated the little 80s "squiggles" on these.

While browsing through pictures of over a hundred different SB dunks (http://www.nike-dunks.net) I found a lot of them that I liked better. Even though I like the idea of 720 or Skate or Die themed shoes, I kind of wish they had the game's name on the side of them -- without that, I suspect (should I purchase them) I'll end up spending a lot of time answering the question, "Why'd you buy those ugly shoes?"

[GnawRadar]

Even though these shoes are video game-themed, they aren't geared towards collectors at all...well, video game collectors at least. These are designed for the sneaker collector instead. Now I don't fancy myself a sneaker collector, but I do dabble and I happen to dig the Skate or Die shoes over the 720s. Also, these are geared for the younger crowd as well. Alot of owners will only wear these shoes with specific clothes instead of every day wear and some even go to lengths as to remove the insoles as to not wear the labels off on the inside. I'm suprised that they don't have the game's logos on the back of the show under the tail end of the Nike "Swoosh". I mean I like sneakers and I like video games but I probably won't pick these shoes up because they don't blend with the clothes I wear, which is the general reason most people pick up the sneakers they buy anyway, because they'll match what they wear on most days.

So, I guess a general answer would be that someone will buy them because they like the games, they collect sneakers, or they will wear them to match one or maybe two outfits.

Now, if you'll excuse me I'm going to go put my Puma's that have a snake skin finish and change colors when the heat from my feet warms them up on. ;)

[MrSparkle]

oh man say what you will but i would kill for those skate or die dunks. Problem being as mentioned above that these things came out in the 80s and are collectible. I'm going to have to sign up for some kind of shoe equivilent of digital press. Or maybe those nice shoe spammers who always get us will have some for sale lol. I almost ordered from those guys once but it doesnt show you the price until you commit to buy them which is not how I feel comfortable doing business. That and the fact that you can only really order in bulk. But i digress skate or die dunks are to skate or die for. Someone sell me theres ;).

[Andred]

oh man say what you will but i would kill for those skate or die dunks.

I respect your gusto but you probably don't have to commit murder to get a pair. Here, let me save a life: http://cgi.ebay.com/Skate-or-Die-Dunk-US-12_W0QQitemZ280273297141QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item28 0273297141&_trkparms=72%3A1207%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C 240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

*children, please don't murder*

[InsaneDavid]

Pro-Keds did game sneakers better about two years ago...

http://classicplastic.net/dvgi/pics-shoesalienarcadeII13.jpg

Yeah, they're Galaga themed. A few other game styles were done but I liked these the best. Sadly they were impossible to find (any of the styles except a couple which I'm pretty sure Zappos still sells for an arm and a leg) but once I searched them out I couldn't have been happier. They went over pretty good at California Extreme 2008 and I was surprised that I didn't see another pair there.

[Sniderman]

Pro-Keds did game sneakers better about two years ago...

http://i34.tinypic.com/2db8dxg.jpg
Pac man and Asteroids shoes too....

[MrSparkle]

I've actually SEEN those asteroids shoes in real life once. those and the pac man ones are pretty badass and thanks to that ebay link.

[MrSparkle]

im for the moment at least the high bidder on those skate or die dunks :). How long that will last has yet to be seen.

[InsaneDavid]

Pac man and Asteroids shoes too....

Yeah, they had two styles of Galaga, Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man (ladies), Asteroids, Starmen (Mario, not EarthBound) and Centipede (still looking for a pair but they have a LOT of hot pink in them). They also released a series of canvas sneakers based on some of their arcade royal court designs, a low version of the Centipede ones and a totally new design that was a bunch of Super Mushrooms.

Finding them to purchase is a game within itself. I actually got my Galaga sneakers from a men's apparel store based on the east coast. From the invoice included it looked like they shipped them out of a retail store. LOL Sadly they went out of stock shortly after.

[Gapporin]

I actually think the Skate Or Die shoes are pretty sweet looking -- of course, this is coming from the guy who usually buys and wears the "ugliest" clothing he can find at thrift stores. Not to mention the fact that I have a generally "horrible" sense of fashion altogether. :D

Those Pro-Keds shoes are awesome looking as well.

[MrSparkle]

best part of this is that the shoes im bidding on may actually fit! Though they would probably be shelf toppers sitting next to a newly elevated boxed copy of skate or die.

[rbudrick]

Wow, cool thread, Flack! I've never heard of any of this.

If only they had made some CHo-Aniki shoes, amIright? AmIright? Right? ;)

Actually, I guess that wouldn't be any worse than any of these, heh heh.

-Rob

[emceelokey]

The 720's look pretty sick. You can actually wear those without having to buy a new set of clothes to try and match it. I like the shoes that are a shoe in it's own right that are inspired by the games or whatever rather than a shoe that has a bunch of video game things on it like the pac man and galga shoes. For some reaon those just make m think of PayLess and their Sonic & Knuckles shoes from back in th day. I would totally dig a pair of Chuck Taylor All Stars that have the colors of Kratos and a few stripes to look like his skin but I would pass on a shoe that had a picture of Kratos on it. Ya feel me.

[darkslime]

Why would anyone collect shoes?

Don't you just wear them, then they wear out?

[Arcade Antics]

Why would anyone collect shoes?

Don't you just wear them, then they wear out?

Somewhere there's a sneaker forum with a thread posted about the same advertisement.

And you can bet someone on that forum is asking the same question about video games. Circle of life.

[InsaneDavid]

Why would anyone collect shoes?

Don't you just wear them, then they wear out?

Suppose you could ask yourself the same about shirts, pants, etc.

I will have to say though that the Pro-Keds are some of the highest quality and most comfortable sneakers I've ever owned. The two full days standing and walking around at CAX were a pleasure. I do wear them only for specific things though, simply because of how hard they were to find. Most days it's the usual red or green suede Puma - which is how it's been for years.

[Krook]

I was to lazy to read the thred but have anyone mentioned these space invader shoes yet?

http://www.space-invaders.com/shop/index.php?page=shop/flypage&product_id=45&category_id=e1ed509015f5a10d3f4aea68d348f716&

check the sole, it leaves a space invader footprint. totally awesome :D

[MrSparkle]

snagged those skate or die sneaks only to find that i DON'T have a boxed copy of skate or die i only have a boxed copy of ski or die! so now I'm gonna have to pick one of those up to match my new shelf topper shoes.

[Rob2600]

A company called Run Athletics made Nintendo sneakers a year or two ago:

http://www.paunchstevenson.com/nintendo-sneakers.jpg (http://paunchstevenson.com/2007/02/05/episode-59/)

[boatofcar]

I saw these at Super Potato in Japan.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/2862803774_cd7beeb533.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnshawler/2862803774/in/set-72157607330066564/)

[MrSparkle]

Turn for the worst in the saga of skate or die dunks. went back to the auction today to show a friend of mine. Auction was de-listed, seller canceled his account. Why what a nice thing to do AFTER i pay you. Had to put in a Paypal claim hopefully this isn't some kind of scam.

*add* also those super mario world golf shoes are too geeky even for me lol.

[Gapporin]

*add* also those super mario world golf shoes are too geeky even for me lol.

I love 'em. Let me refer back to my previous post, however. LOL

[robo3355]

Turn for the worst in the saga of skate or die dunks. went back to the auction today to show a friend of mine. Auction was de-listed, seller canceled his account. Why what a nice thing to do AFTER i pay you. Had to put in a Paypal claim hopefully this isn't some kind of scam.

*add* also those super mario world golf shoes are too geeky even for me lol.

I would be VERY careful buying any sort of Nike dunk SB or not off of eBay. Most if not all are scams and or fake sneakers. There's a huge issue of bootleg Nikes being made and it's hard to tell whether or not you're actually getting legitimate sneakers until you get them. If it's cheaper than usual, that's because it's probably going to smell like burnt plastic and never fit right when you get it. Not to say that there aren't legitimate Nike sneakers to be had on eBay, just that I got burnt once really bad and then looked into it. After finding out about the insane amounts of bootlegging I decided personally not to bother buying Nike's on eBay again. Just passing on the message is all.

I did look into the skate or die shoes on eBay, and the ones that are going for about 200+ seem to be legitimate as far as price for limited dunks go. If you're that serious about getting a pair head over to niketalk.com, someone there should be able to help you out as far as identifying them as fakes or not.

[Daft Punk]

A company called Run Athletics made Nintendo sneakers a year or two ago:

http://www.paunchstevenson.com/nintendo-sneakers.jpg (http://paunchstevenson.com/2007/02/05/episode-59/)


Those are made by rev run from run dmc. Thats one of his companies.

The inside sole of the shoe has super mario with his cape . I think I remember seeing one that had yoshi also.

[Daft Punk]

I just found some new kicks online that are game related.

Nintendo nike air max with d-pads and select and start.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/cubby78/shao_bw_nintendo.jpg


custom mario air force one's ( they also have some megatron's)
http://www.tsunamicustom.com/sitebuilder/images/IMG_0103-250x187.jpg
http://www.tsunamicustom.com/ShoeSection/Marios.html

[Oobgarm]

I just found some new kicks online that are game related.

Nintendo nike air max with d-pads and select and start.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/cubby78/shao_bw_nintendo.jpg

Wow. Looks like I know what I'm asking for for Christmas. Those are too cool.

[emceelokey]

Those Air Max are sick.

[InsaneDavid]

Cross post from the finds thread, new game sneakers.

Super Mushrooms...
http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/finds/DP-Finds-2008-11-17(01).jpg

Starmen...
http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/finds/DP-Finds-2008-11-17(02).jpg

Centipede playfield...
http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/finds/DP-Finds-2008-11-17(03).jpg

[XYXZYZ]

Damn, I had no idea these things existed.

[kainemaxwell]

Those sneakers are teh awesome.

[emceelokey]

Hey, I found a pair of Galagas at Ross today.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/emceelokey/galagashoes1.jpg

I might ebay them though. I checked ebay and couldn't find anything unter "Pro Keds Galaga shoes" so it might be worth it to do so.

[cyberfluxor]

I might need to stop by Ross tomorrow! I'm left out of the loop not finding these awesome shoes. Might need to stop by... Hot Topic as I'm sure they may have some.

[InsaneDavid]

Just a heads up on what you buy at Ross. Most of the stuff there is like third or forth pass quality - uneven seams, missed stitches, etc.. Shoes there tend to be those that didn't quite pass QC 100%. I'm going to have a small cache of the sneakers pictured in my above post in a week and a half or so. All brand new first run, from a source that got most of them from the old overstock of a high quality east coast clothing retailer.

[emceelokey]

/\ you forgot to mention that most of the clothes that Ross carries are freakin UGLY! Ugly ass Joker brand pants. Just a crappy selection of pants in general.


I found a pair of the centipede's as well. Size 12 which is not my size so they're up on ebay already.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pro-Keds-CENTIPEDE-mens-size-12-shoes-royal-court_W0QQitemZ190269129122QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_M en_s_Athletic_Footwear?hash=item190269129122&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C2 40%3A1318

[InsaneDavid]

I found a pair of the centipede's as well. Size 12 which is not my size so they're up on ebay already.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pro-Keds-CENTIPEDE-mens-size-12-shoes-royal-court_W0QQitemZ190269129122QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_M en_s_Athletic_Footwear?hash=item190269129122&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C2 40%3A1318

I'm always suspicious of specialty sneakers that don't have inserts or the box, as I know that usually denotes that they weren't prime production. :) Others will flock however. Also the price I'll be able to offer the three above will be less than the starting price of that auction.