Keyboard Culture With Higround: a HYPEGEEK Deep Dive

Status and culture are two mechanisms that are so closely linked together, that they have the power to create these very subcultures that we see in each and every one of our articles here on sabukaru

Two of these very special subcultures grace the pages of sabukaru each day - gaming and fashion. They collide in ways that we can imagine, and in many ways that we can’t. Take for example, the collaboration between LE SSERAFIM and Overwatch 2. A full appearance by the group, a dedicated game mode, with exclusive in-game items. These subcultures are merging together, and many of us are trying to find our footing here. How do we explain why these vastly different outlooks come together so seamlessly

Where do people who have a deep vested interest in both of these types of subcultures reside on the spectrum? Is there a way to accurately capture who these individuals are or peer into what they think about this? Higround creative director and co-founder Rustin Sotoodeh and CMO and co-founder Kha Lu think so.

Higround focuses on making gaming peripherals for those who grew up trolling the Niketalk forums and Halo 2 lobbies morning to night. The term they’re using to describe these individuals at the intersection of these subcultures is called @hypegeek. These are people who feel that even their functional first, precision tools can and should be collectables - and Higround is here on a mission to grow this special community.

From us to you, here’s a collection of sitdowns with #HYPEGEEKs that we think are at the forefront of making sure we understand the effects that fashion has on gaming culture, and vice versa.

Interviews

Joey Valence - Musician @jvb

What’s your earliest gaming memory?

My earliest gaming memory is from when I was about 4 years old, playing Spyro on the PlayStation 1 and thinking to myself “wow I wish I was purple, like Spyro”. Fast forward, I’m unfortunately not purple…but Spyro has remained one of my favorite games of all time.

How do I feel gaming culture has affected the way we consume mainstream culture?

Gaming is such an important part of mainstream culture. I think it gives a lot of people hobbies and allows them to express themselves in their own ways, especially in a community sense. The culture and community around gaming has also given plenty of people genuine connections and relationships with others in a way that some other media hasn’t. Gaming has completely changed the way we buy things, consume media, and make friends. People consistently are buying video game related clothing and accessories, listening to video game OSTs and music, and watching gaming related streamers, content, and movies.

Do you feel as though gaming culture doesn’t get the same consideration/recognition for it’s influence on culture as something like the music or film industry?

I feel like gaming culture is always going to be something that’s not taken as seriously as some other medias like film or music , despite how much influence it has had on those medias and how intertwined they each are with each other. As a musical artist, It certainly has had a massive impact on our music and its success given how involved in the culture we are. I feel like gaming has always had this stigma of being “nerdy”, but has been changing pretty quickly in recent years. Gaming has become much more accessible and is being skyrocketed in to other medias. For example, the Mario and Sonic movies, the Halo tv show, and plenty other video game movies. I think it’s awesome how much of an impact gaming is having on all aspects of media.

How would you describe a HYPEGEEK?

I would classify a “HYPEGEEK” as someone who has a combined hobby of video games, modern fashion, collecting, and street culture. So basically, myself

Can you also share a pic of your setup with a Higround keyboard?

Jasmine.asia - Model @Anti-Agency London

What’s your earliest gaming memory?

My uncle took me and my brother to this huge marketplace just for technology to get a modbo chip on our new Playstation 2, I’d say it was around 2007. It was important for him to get his niece and nephew's new console chipped so he could play his PS1 games with us haha. The atmosphere of the marketplace is something I’ll never forget. It was a huge car park full of baskets of spare parts for cameras, TVs,  music players. Wires just everywhere. I didn’t know how to describe it as a child- now I can say it looked like the set of Hackers.

When we got home we had a new game to play.. Timesplitters. Deeply ingrained a love of FPS for me till this day, and the GunCon blew my mind too. I can’t tell you the story at all, just remember shooting, the techno music, funky artwork and the fact you could plug a gun and use that as a controller.

How do I feel gaming culture has affected the way we consume mainstream culture?

Personally, gaming culture has made me extremely nostalgic and appreciative of different points of time as opposed to other markers of time like politicians, music, beauty trends, fashion etc. Growing up being surrounded by mainstream capitalism, trends, class division- I didn’t find myself a place to enjoy and belong in the mainstream until recently. But gaming for me, has been the way for me TO consume other facets of culture. I didn’t know what designer fashion brands were until an online game called Stardoll showed me. Now I think a greater example of this funnily enough, Fortnite. Reintroducing legendary IP to a new generation of gamers who are most likely not going to purchase a remastered retro game, but will add that character to their skin collection, and potentially look into older games as they grow up.

Do you feel as though gaming culture doesn’t get the same consideration/recognition for it’s influence on culture as something like the music or film industry?

Largely yes. Due to how young video games are in human history. There’s hurdles stopping potential future gamers from showing up. Games nowadays are expensive! And on top of that - things like scalpers and resellers, hoarding consoles and PC parts. Many households don’t have disposable income. It’s common for gaming to be considered a luxury. Music and film is extremely accessible to people from all walks of life, and thus can inspire generations of people to appreciate the craft. Music has existed for millenia. Film has existed for only the last 100 years. Maybe in the 2050-2100’s when each generation will be born into a world where video games existed before them,l may be treated with just the same attention as music or film.

How would you describe a HYPEGEEK?

Someone who’s totally into video games and all things considered geeky, but also in tune with fashion, style and culture. A HYPEGEEK is a lovely multifaceted person.  A HYPEGEEK is someone who will say something like “I want my comic con photos to give Jeurgen Teller.” and that’ll make complete sense.

Can you also share a pic of your setup with a Higround keyboard?

Mike_sunday - Designer @dropbox

What’s your earliest gaming memory?

It might not be my earliest, but my most vivid oldest gaming memory is watching my friend play Majora's Mask for the first time. I remember thinking it looked so real and couldn't understand how it was even possible to have a game look this good.

How do I feel gaming culture has affected the way we consume mainstream culture?

There isn't a single thing that hasn't been affected by gaming culture. The fucking United States Army literally made their recruitment process to look like class selection in a CoD game (super dark I know).

Do you feel as though gaming culture doesn’t get the same consideration/recognition for it’s influence on culture as something like the music or film industry?

Definitely not. The gaming industry is so far ahead in so many ways compared to other "prestigious design" industries. Look at the notion of accessibility: the gaming industry and been doing it for years. Have you seen how Tekken 8 handles colorblind accessibility? Legendary!

How would you describe a HYPEGEEK?

1. Hyper-fixated

2. Youth

3. Perpetually

4. Energized

5. Gamer

6. Endlessly

7. Engaging with

8. Kulture

Can you also share a pic of your setup with a Higround keyboard?

Estherng - Founder @prix.workshop

What’s your earliest gaming memory?

Tekken 3 in my basement, xiaoyu land / carnival stage

How do I feel gaming culture has affected the way we consume mainstream culture?

I think we see everything through a unique lens and have deeper appreciation when things are done right. Depending on the games we grew up playing, i feel it often raises the bar for all other types of media. For example, i really enjoyed games with rich, complex worlds and in-depth lore so for better or worse it’s kinda what i started to expect when i was consuming film, music and television. I still grow pretty impatient if i see obvious plot holes or lazy world building.

Do you feel as though gaming culture doesn’t get the same consideration/recognition for it’s influence on culture as something like the music or film industry?

I do but I don’t really feel a way about it. To me it’s still a subculture and just doesn’t reach as far as music or film does solely because of the time commitment involved. The trade off is higher but to me the payoff is so rewarding and can involve a total mindset / creative shift if you pick the right game for you.

How would you describe a HYPEGEEK?

I find separating the word hypegeek w Rustin extremely difficult 😂

Can you also share a pic of your setup with a Higround keyboard?

Rust1n - Co-Founder @higround

What’s your earliest gaming memory?

My earliest gaming memory is playing San Francisco Rush in the arcades with my Dad. I remember he and I would go to arcades all the time and he would watch me play all sorts of games. It was really a way for my Dad and I to bond. I think that’s probably a large reason for why I’m so attached to all of this.

How do I feel gaming culture has affected the way we consume mainstream culture?

For the longest time, main stream culture has influenced gaming, but now that turn table is table turning if you catch my drift. Games are now doing the influencing. Look at all these PSP camera’s at concerts. There’s fashion influencers styling fits based off game characters. Rappers are playing games in the studio for inspiration. It’s really only the beginning for this Hypegeek wave. Over time, there will be more and more creatives in a position of influence who will use gaming as their references points. This cultural wave is programmed.

Do you feel as though gaming culture doesn’t get the same consideration/recognition for it’s influence on culture as something like the music or film industry?

We absolutely do not get the same recognition. Gaming is 2x~ bigger than music and movies combined in terms of revenue (there are 3B gamers!) but compare the awareness of the Game Awards to the Oscars or the Grammys and we’re irrelevant.

I’d say this is largely due to time. The first home consoles didn’t exist until the late 80’s. Gen Z is literally the 2nd generation to have video games. Movies and music have been around for 6 generations.

We also havent had a leader who could crusade for us; we don’t have a rockstar. Hideo Kojima is probably the closest thing we have to that. But i think our real rockstar will come from this new wave of gamers, the Hypegeek’s. We’re seeing streamers turn into fashion icons and famous musicians that started with gaming beats. I predict by Generation Alpha all of this will change and it’ll happen so rapidly, we won’t even notice when it occurred.

How would you describe a HYPEGEEK?

A Hypegeek is someone whose YouTube algo is comprised of runway shows and video game retrospectives.

Can you also share a pic of your setup with a Higround keyboard?

Jordan Bentley - Founder @hypland

What’s your earliest gaming memory?

My earliest gaming memory would be playing Pokemon Crystal on my Game Boy. Before I started playing plug in systems, I remember taking my uncles gameboy and playing Pokemon Crystal. This game was probably the first game I ever owned and remember playing.

How do I feel gaming culture has affected the way we consume mainstream culture?

Gaming culture has become increasingly popular. It went from being a niche medium for a specific community to now a powerhouse that can’t be ignored. Gaming culture is no longer niche, and IS mainstream culture. Additionally, it has further increased a collectivist culture that can be found amongst gamers.

Do you feel as though gaming culture doesn’t get the same consideration/recognition for it’s influence on culture as something like the music or film industry?

I do think gaming gets fair recognition for its impact, but it definetly does not get the same overall consideration as other mediums such as music or film.

How would you describe a HYPEGEEK?

I would describe a HYPEGEEK as someone who is well versed in video games but is also a fan of “cool” culture outside of gaming. Gamer, anime fan, fashion nerd, and everything in between.

Can you also share a pic of your setup with a Higround keyboard?

Zaptio - Co-Founder @RTFKT

What’s your earliest gaming memory?

Probably Minesweeper or Solitaire on Windows 🤣. Honestly it’s hard to pinpoint my first memory as I have gamed since a very young age on multiple consoles. I really cherish the gaming cartridge era like Pokémon on the Game Boy colour and Powerstone on the Dreamcast. For me I think OG RuneScape played the biggest role in inspiring me about the digital future and collectibles.

How do I feel gaming culture has affected the way we consume mainstream culture?

I think gaming is in the process of consuming mainstream culture. Gaming culture has evolved from the closet gamer to a global desirable culture. Gamers are the new rockstars and game publishers are the new Hollywood. People are spending more and more time online and connecting through digital experiences. The internet generation are defining the new culture and the mainstream are adapting to serve.

Do you feel as though gaming culture doesn’t get the same consideration/recognition for it’s influence on culture as something like the music or film industry?

I think so, but I believe over time this will shift. We can see all types of cultures merging and the lines between these industries blurring. Ultimately you can’t fake culture, and gamers recognise and support authenticity within their culture.

How would you describe a HYPEGEEK?

I see the term as a broadening of the typical traditional geek stereotype that have other passions like music, art, culture and fashion and the merging of them.

Can you also share a pic of your setup with a Higround keyboard?

Juxtaposition is defined as an “act or instance of placing two elements close together with contrasting effect”. As we’ve covered at length in this feature - individuals that have a passion for one subculture, shouldn’t be restricted to only similarly focused subcultures, and shouldn’t ever be defined as one or the other. Why can’t people who love gaming, also love fashion? Why should those individuals be put into a box or defined as strictly one or the other?

Connecting people with subcultures and communities like the ones we’ve covered here in this piece is what sabukaru Online does, and the #HYPEGEEK community is another one that we want to put a spotlight on and give shine to. 

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