A reader explains how a visit to a pop-up store for Pac-Man and other video game merchandise helped his relationship with his 12-year-old daughter.
So it all started with a little bit of news from GameCentral about a pop-up store in Birmingham and London, concerning Bandai Namco. I had every intention of visiting the Brum store as that’s where I’m from.
I’m an absolute dinosaur when it comes to gaming and anything Pac-Man is going to turn my head. My youngest daughter (12) Is a keen gamer too and loves anything from retro to modern day times.
But here is where it gets a bit dark and I hope it doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable. [Warning: the follow article contains references to self-harm – GC]
Since the death of my wife, I was left with two young girls to look after. I work full time and I can’t be there for them every hour of the day.
My eldest has grown up and is studying singer/songwriting at university but my youngest has got into self-harming.
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I had the week off for the school holidays to spend some time with her and ensure her life isn’t all bad and there is a lot out there for her. I took her to a K-Pop concert and a museum but the icing on the cake was to take her to London for the day.
Being 12 years old she really wasn’t that impressed with Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.
We had three hours to kill when it suddenly dawned on me that there was a Bandai Namco pop-up shop in Camden Market (thanks to GameCentral) for us to go to.
So we made tracks, the Bandai pop-up shop in Camden delivered on what it promised, but a word of warning if you are going with an infant. Those gashapon machines are going to drain your bank account in seconds.
Anyway, I found the London store to be relaxed, spacious, and everything I had hoped for.
The staff where very friendly and they had numerous arcade machines, including a Mario Kart with a two-player set-up.
I got back to Birmingham and decided I might take my daughter on a short journey to see our local pop-up store, as she loved the one on London so much.
I even told her she might be one of the few people in the country who has visited both.
The staff where equally as warming as the one in London and you even get a security guard at the front door there.
Naturally my daughter drained my bank account for the gashapon machines but I wanted her mind to think of something else other than what she diverts to. This shop did the trick.
It’s hard to compare one to the other, the Birmingham store definitely feels a lot more squashed in and it’s hard to see what the gashapon machines have to offer, because the isles are so small. But I have to say, on balance, London had a bit more arcade stuff for you to get your teeth into but Birmingham has a bit more choice when it comes to buying items.
There seemed to be more arcade grab machines in Birmingham (prize every time) but it will cost you.
If you were to push me, I would say London was a better experience but Birmingham definitely had a better choice of products to buy and had more Pac-Man stuff.
Anyway, if you live anywhere near either of them and you are a gaming fan and haven’t paid a visit? Then I would definitely recommend you give it five minutes of your time.
My 12 years old daughter stood in the middle of the Camden Market shop and said, ‘I want to live here’.
That’s all the endorsement I needed.
Bandai Namco, I salute you and thank you.
By reader freeway 77
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What a heartwarming story! It’s lovely to see how shared interests, like video game merch, can strengthen bonds between family members. Thanks for sharing your experience!