Obsessively Cataloging Video Game "Pop" Culture
Want to be a successful YouTuber like lonelygirl15, Tay Zonday, or those girls who lip-synced to “Hey” by the Pixies that one time? Just lock yourself in an isolated shack with a PC, a webcam, and a vending machine stocked with snacks and sodas, and you’re off to the races!
Collect sugary treats — including the occasional cola — to save Halloween in Hallowed Candy. Thanks for the screenshot, Cornelius!
Fish Tycoon 2: Virtual Aquarium serves as a powerful reminder that you can’t expect to run a successful aquatic attraction with a dilapidated vending machine.
Dy-no-mite! Arcade brawler Dynamite Deka EX: Asian Dynamite brings us this pagoda-style soda machine, curiously located in the middle of a temple. [Source]
Fallout: New California, a massive fan mod for Fallout: New Vegas, features this upgraded Nuka-Cola machine in Vault 18’s diner. Choose from classic Nuka-Cola, Nuka-Cola Quartz, Nuka-Cola Victory, and Nuka-Cola Quantum!
The deck of a riverboat floating down the Mississippi River doesn’t seem like the ideal spot for a pop machine or a basketball court. Then again, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is a pretty dumb game.
Everyone’s favorite ultra-violent party-crashing sim Party Hard is back with a sequel that, inexplicably, isn’t named Party Harder. At least the developers remembered to throw in a drink machine!
Whenever I’m in an arcade, I wrestle with the possibility that I might see a soda machine in one of the games and have no way of taking a screenshot. Luckily, Fast Beat Loop Racer GT recently made the leap from arcades to Steam — soda machines and all.
Thanks for the screenshots, Cornelius.
Bump Cola and Swimmers Choice — a pair of disturbing soda machines from a disturbing survival horror game called Northbury Grove. Here’s another look with the game’s VHS mode disabled.
Thanks for the heads-up on these, Cornelius!
Even in the midst of Golf Club: Wasteland’s eco-apocalypse, soda machines (and giraffes) survive. Thanks for the heads-up on this one, Ángel!
Crazy Oafish Ultra Blocks: Big Sale is a brutal shopping simulator featuring a whole bunch of soda machines! Let’s take a look at a few more…
Thanks, Cornelius!
Low energy has derailed more esports careers than carpal tunnel syndrome and grossly offensive outbursts during heated gaming moments combined. It’s a good thing Esports Life: Ep. 1 – Dreams of Glory offers invigorating drink options like Rock Energy and Bul Lite!
If you had to guess, what kinds of soda do you think Clayface and Black Adam prefer? I feel like Clayface is way into root beer (obviously), whereas Black Adam just goes with whatever limited edition Mountain Dew variant is on the shelves at the moment.
Oh, and don’t worry if you’re out of spare change. Just smash these soda machines and steal whatever you want! Being bad feels pretty good.
Super-heroic thanks to Cornelius for tracking these down on launch day!
Sir, could you finish crafting your pointy stick/shoehorn killing device elsewhere? I’d like to purchase a drink.
This screenshot is from SCUM, a hardcore survival sim that incorporates pooping as a game mechanic. Needless to say, this is a major leap forward for the genre. [Source]
Didn’t spring for the express pass in Planet Coaster? Cool off with a psychedelic Pipshot while you wait in line. Just for good measure, here are the game’s milkshake and coffee machines.
Thanks for the screenshots, itsmethemcb!