Do you remember us telling you about GamerFood? It's a new line of snacks designed for gamers. We were curious so we ordered some to try out. The results of this test can be found in the above video. No animals were harmed in the testing of this product.
Our original story was very un-Destructoid in that it didn't hang this product out to dry. Honestly, I originally wanted to question this product's enhancing claims (and taste) but withheld judgement until I could try them for myself. Now we have.
How does GamerFood taste? The sunflower seeds are a miss with their lack of flavor, but the cashews are fine (but a bit plain), and the peanuts are actually pretty good. Out of all of them the Nuts of Destruction, with their ancho chili/lime flavor, surprised me. I was expecting too much salt and some bitterness, but they didn't kill them with flavor, and I didn't hate them. Overall, they're nuts. Flavored, enhanced nuts.
As for the game-enhancing claims on the packaging and marketing, we would never be able to test these with any kind of serious approach, nor would we try. GamerFood says that their snacks can increase performance, improve concentration, and give faster reaction times. Of course, there's the disclaimer that individual results may vary. My results varied.
My lazy afternoon will have to serve as a test. Here's how it went: I ate a lot of each of the three flavors, and then played Super Mario 3D Land and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, followed by my favorite golf PC MMO, Pangya United. I got stuck finding coins in Mario (again), got frustrated with the camera and combat in Zelda (again), and dominated in a few rounds of Pangya (again). That's a pretty standard gaming day for me. I wasn't a better gamer today after eating GamerFood. That said, there's ingredients in these nuts that seems to be doing something. I would say that I feel a bit more wound up than usual after eating. Alert? Maybe. But 'wired' would be a better word. There's a notable buzz that still lingers some hours later. It's a pronounced feeling. Maybe I ate too many nuts.
Look, you're going to eat whatever you normally eat while gaming. For me that's green tea and sometimes M&Ms. For others its beer and Cheez-Its. It may just be me, don't see a lot of gamers going out of their way to eat snacks that are marketed toward them. I also don't see a lot of gamers buying into the claims that these nuts will enhance their game. That said, if nuts are a part of your snacking habit while gaming and you need to step up your energy level, these GamerFood snacks might do the trick.
Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools.
Meet the rest of the team
Hey, watch your language, Dale! Don't say fuck in your video!!.... Furries might invade this place.
Anyways, nice vid, but you ate the food the wrong way. You're suppose to put it above your mouth and shake it until nuts come out so that you're hands don't get sticky and salty......
GameWipe brand gaming toilet paper, for when all that GameFood and Mountain Dew Game Fuel: Liquid Killstreak sprints through your body and ammo dropkicks you in your Hanes Tactical GamerBriefs.
I was wincing when you were reading the back of the packets. Whoever wrote that jock-gamer crap really needs to be shot. That said the nuts seem alright, I mean they're just nuts with caffeine - you'd get the same effect eating peanuts and drinking Red Bull...
Thanks for the video, Dale! This isn't something I'll ever pay money for regardless of how good (or rather, un-bad) they taste just because I can't support the mentality that goes into such a creation, but neat stuff nonetheless.
Corgis made this video soo goood, i need that dog Dale. And looks like it's just some peanuts with stuff on it, i don't know if GamerFood is the way to go. Normally gamers look at the price tag to eat gaming food, hence Mountain Dew and Doritos (here is Pepsi and Doritos, Brazil doesn't have Mountain Dew).
"Taurine is an amino acid that supports neurological development"
"Some studies suggest that taurine supplementation may improve athletic performance ... Other studies suggest that taurine combined with caffeine improves mental performance, although this finding remains controversial."
" Little is known about the effects of heavy or long-term taurine use."
I don't see why people don't just drink coffee or red bull and eat some nuts.
Personally I wouldn't buy them, I'm not a fan of overloading on the caffeine when I game really.
If theyre cheaper than stuff I would normally get and I dont have to order them online, then Id eat them. I really dont give a shit what I snack on while gaming,
Fortunately, assuming these nuts aren't also covered in a sugary glaze or something, even a whole bag of nuts (har har) is far more healthy than a slice of pizza or 12oz can of soda. If "GamerFood" does become the new trend in gaming snacks, my overly optimistic self believes we might see more moderately healthy gamers.
@flintmech
True, people tend to forget the health benefits (particularly heart related) that nuts possess. They worry about the fat content without seeing what kind of fats they are.
You need some Rap Snacks in your life, Dale. I still have some ODB Ranch bags. They expired in 2006 but that Rap Snack flavor is everlasting. You just may have to die afterward.
Hmmm... I never liked sunflower seeds either. I remember trying some kind of "gamer food" at E3, a few years back. It was pretty good from what I remember, some sort of smores candy-like mix. There was also this peanut butter and jelly mix, if I recall. Anyway, hate to say, the idea of "gamer food" is kind of dumb. =/
All these new gamer specific products are making me feel a bit uneasy.
I mean, first we got our own dedicated consoles, our own computers, our own stores and hangouts like arcades and stuff. But then we got our own clothing line, out own shoes, our own eye wear and now... Gamer tailored food?
Do companies think that gamers are their own damn species?
Is there really a need for gamer food? I mean what's the purpose? Are they for regular play sessions, or when you're really tired and still want to keep going? Or are they actually advertising it as a get better product? Bleh, even Corgi saw no purpose in them.
You know now that I think about it, you guys are some excellent taste tasters, Nicks review of that energy drink from Japan was that it wasn't bad, and Dales review of these nuts (lol) was also comprised of words that ended with there not bad; good thing you guys are game reviewers first!
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Contest:
6:45 PM on 12.08.2011 | 
Anyways, nice vid, but you ate the food the wrong way. You're suppose to put it above your mouth and shake it until nuts come out so that you're hands don't get sticky and salty......
Boy, did that sound wrong
I was wincing when you were reading the back of the packets. Whoever wrote that jock-gamer crap really needs to be shot. That said the nuts seem alright, I mean they're just nuts with caffeine - you'd get the same effect eating peanuts and drinking Red Bull...
Damn marketing.
-Dale North, Destructoid Editor, on GamerFood.
Seriously... Sticky, oily nuts aren't something I want to be messing with while gaming.
There will be plenty of that around porn o'clock. And there will be so many more awkwardly worded comments on this topic I'm sure.
Thanks for the video, Dale! This isn't something I'll ever pay money for regardless of how good (or rather, un-bad) they taste just because I can't support the mentality that goes into such a creation, but neat stuff nonetheless.
(drinks out of hampster water bottle)
Nothing says hardcore like having a heart attack in the middle of a MW3 session.
Perfect for the teabagger in your life.
"Taurine is an amino acid that supports neurological development"
"Some studies suggest that taurine supplementation may improve athletic performance ... Other studies suggest that taurine combined with caffeine improves mental performance, although this finding remains controversial."
" Little is known about the effects of heavy or long-term taurine use."
I don't see why people don't just drink coffee or red bull and eat some nuts.
Personally I wouldn't buy them, I'm not a fan of overloading on the caffeine when I game really.
I want to know what it tastes like.
Fortunately, assuming these nuts aren't also covered in a sugary glaze or something, even a whole bag of nuts (har har) is far more healthy than a slice of pizza or 12oz can of soda. If "GamerFood" does become the new trend in gaming snacks, my overly optimistic self believes we might see more moderately healthy gamers.
True, people tend to forget the health benefits (particularly heart related) that nuts possess. They worry about the fat content without seeing what kind of fats they are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLyEeyVGCN4
You guys should do a "scientific study" on the claims they make. And by scientific I mean gaming marathons with and without gamerfood or some shit.
I mean, first we got our own dedicated consoles, our own computers, our own stores and hangouts like arcades and stuff. But then we got our own clothing line, out own shoes, our own eye wear and now... Gamer tailored food?
Do companies think that gamers are their own damn species?
:facepalm:
It's a pretty stupid product tho.
Srsly, it's all about you sucking on "flavor-enhanced nuts".
"MY NUTS HAVE SPICES ON THEM. I CALL THEM THE NUTS OF DESTRUCTION!"
Pure, classic comedy.
Everything else is just cake frosting.
I hate cake frosting.
That's what she said..