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Hot Topic cashes in on Guitar Hero II; yeah, punk is officially dead photo

Hot Topic, the company that brought you such chillingly anti-authoritarian fashion statements as, well, anything you've seen on that smelly kid who subsists primarly on pieces of his own flesh pulled from his face and Mountain Dew, have started selling a line of Guitar Hero II shirts. Of course, to compliment their psuedo-cutting-edge gaming-as-hipsterism shirts, they still offer wallet chains, music from bands Carson Daly is too hip to listen to, and all the faux-teen-angst you can shake a loaded shotgun at.

Sorry kids, gaming used to be cool. It used to be a refuge from the "normal people" with their "attractive girlfriends" and "proper hygeine", but with Hot Topic's apparent co-opting of your favorite titles, it's now strictly mainstream. Every time you fire up your PlayStation, Xbox or Wii, you're officially fellating the money-hungry phallys of "The Man".

As a reaction to the assault on our haven, Destructoid is going to be changing from a video game Web site to a Web site devoted to DIY bird feeders. You heard it here first; home made bird feeders are the new black.


Continue: More Hot Topic stories





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23 comments | showing # 1 to 23

tazarthayoot's Avatar
tazarthayoot at 03/27/2007 23:19
They also carry Gears of War shirts, Halo shirts, and comic shirts.

Let's just give up all of our hobbies altogether just because some shitty store wants to make a quick buck off of stupid kids.
-D-'s Avatar
-D- at 03/27/2007 23:25
I'm gonna go on the record and say I was the coolest employee in the history of Hot Topic. It's not hard when Care Bears are hardcore.
JLanphear's Avatar
JLanphear at 03/27/2007 23:28
I'm gonna make a cedar-feeder with a McDonald's inside!
tazarthayoot's Avatar
tazarthayoot at 03/27/2007 23:28
I've been lucky enough that the few Hot Topics I have gone into the people working there were somewhat intelligent. My current boss used to work with them and she's fucking awesome.

My only gripe is that one time I walked in and they were dancing to Coin Operated Boy. If I could I would have bludgeoned them all.
killaudio's Avatar
killaudio at 03/27/2007 23:35
woot topic
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 03/27/2007 23:38
I just got back from the Hot Topic at the mall and I saw a stack of DIY bird house kits with Gir from Invader Zim on them. TOO LATE!
Shipley's Avatar
Shipley at 03/27/2007 23:46
the greatest indictment against Hot Topic is the mere fact that it IS in the mall!
Seifersythe's Avatar
Seifersythe at 03/28/2007 00:00
Wow, what geek eliteism. We're too cool for Hot Topic now, are we? I do, of course, realize the irony of a counterculture themed store being owned by big corporations, but that doesn't make it's products any less valuable.

Sure, it cashes in on underground fads. But that's just how supply and demand works. I want a Fullmetal Alchemist jacket, and they provide it. Guitar Hero is popular in our circles, and they make a shirt of it. Should people not buy their because it's not uncool enough? It's ridiculous to limit your shopping locations from stores on such silly reasons.
Dyson's Avatar
Dyson at 03/28/2007 00:03
Hot Topic: where awesome goes to die.
Seifersythe's Avatar
Seifersythe at 03/28/2007 00:31
Because a product being sold at Hot Topic immediately negates any positive qualities.
Rockvillian's Avatar
Rockvillian at 03/28/2007 00:33
^^ I totally forgot what I was going to say after I read that dyson. Good god thats fucking hilarious

but in all honesty, who cares what they sell. are you going to stop buying camo shorts cause they sell them at pacific sunwear? of course not, camo shorts are both rad and timeless.
dark_inchworm's Avatar
dark_inchworm at 03/28/2007 00:54
Hot Topic isn't the problem. The problem is shopping exclusively there or getting into something because you saw it at Hot Topic and therefore it must be cool.

That's how I've been looking at it lately anyway.
bleep's Avatar
bleep at 03/28/2007 00:56
This isn't exactly what I was looking for, but since its so fucking weird I just had to post it...
s0lesurviv0r's Avatar
s0lesurviv0r at 03/28/2007 02:08
Is it part of their company policy to set their music at the highest level possible?
denki's Avatar
denki at 03/28/2007 02:36
Wait, I missed something. Gaming used to be cool? When the hell was that? Pong?
jeffk6's Avatar
jeffk6 at 03/28/2007 02:51
they been have that shit,,, a little late telling the world
Jecrell's Avatar
Jecrell at 03/28/2007 03:32
Hot Topic also has World of Warcraft shirts. FOR THE HORDE!
GatsuTheBerserker's Avatar
GatsuTheBerserker at 03/28/2007 03:48
I actually enjoy some of the clothing Hot Topic has (not the pants mind you...or any of the fucking emo band shirts) but I seriously shame myself hard for even saying that. The place is so undignified that I swear I'd puke after every time I'd go in there. And I hate...I Hate...I HATE goddamn scene kids. The emo trend whores. The fake "goths" or even emo trend whores trying to look punk. I swear to god the atmosphere is so vilely disgusting that showering after exiting the store is a MUST. In fact if anything, I suggest everyone to just buy the shit online.

So yes, some cool shirts, items, whatever are in there. It's just those teenyboppers that are the cross to my darkness that keep me from going there.
bleep's Avatar
bleep at 03/28/2007 06:57
I agree that online is the way to go.
not to whoreout shit, but spreadshirt.com is pretty cool and you can submit your own designs and then buy them. Im thinking of making some robot shirts...
Crackhippo's Avatar
Crackhippo at 03/28/2007 07:34
Hahah yes, SOY BOMB!
Bluefusion's Avatar
Bluefusion at 03/28/2007 08:13
Nex has the power to express my sentiments in such outrageous yet brutally honest ways that even if I wrote an eloquent paper over Hot Topic I'd still bow down to his mightiness.

I've been told that Hot Topic is owned by Abercrombie n Fitch..?

Either way, they're in the mall.

And I buy my Nintendo shirts there. Don't tell anyone.
Jordan Grim Devore's Avatar
Jordan Grim Devore at 03/28/2007 11:39
Isn't there a song called "hot topic is not punk rock"?
SaraAB87's Avatar
SaraAB87 at 03/28/2007 12:31
You can get the same merchandise hot topic sells at other stores, or very similar merchandise if you just look carefully. But since all the teens have seen it at hot topic, now they have to have it, and it has to be bought at the overpriced hot topic in order to be cool. It seems that hot topic has backfired against itself, since its now seen as a mainstream store just as abercrombie or hollister, it doesn't really make a difference if you shop there or at hollister, of course when you get out of high school no one gives a care where you shop or what you look like, so I am very thankful that I am not in high school anymore as I do not have to worry about trivial things like this.

Hot topic does have some nice exclusive video game merchandise and I have picked up many nice things there in the past, you shouldn't be afraid to go into the store because god forbid you find something you actually like, since its in a mall and its mainstream its not angsty enough for the teens now. I did enjoy their selection of old nickelodeon t-shirts that no one else had, and I was able to pick up a few for 5$ each, I seriously doubt the teens shopping there are even old enough to remember the good nickelodeon shows. Its mostly the 80s merchandise for me, fortunately I can wait until they have clearances or 50% off sales then I get stuff for a better price. I do not spend a lot of money there nor do I buy all my clothes there, its more an occasional item because it is something I LIKE, not because I am trying to fit in with some group.
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