iam8bit, Inc. is an American company that sells products, publishes video games, and is a group of artists based in Los Angeles, California. The company has an online store where it mainly sells special vinyl records of video game soundtracks. It also sells t-shirts, artwork, pins, and other items. iam8bit often works with Skybound Games to create physical copies of independent video games. The company also owns an art gallery in Los Angeles. This gallery holds different art shows each year.
History
iam8bit began as an art show about pop culture in 2005. The event and the later company were started by Jon M. Gibson, a video game and tech journalist, and Amanda White, a film director who also made the mockumentary I'm Still Here.
After starting as an art event, iam8bit became a lifestyle brand focused on the artistic side of video games. It first sold limited edition T-shirts with images from the exhibition. Later, the company created events and products for other businesses.
Chronicle Books published a book in April 2005 that collected artwork from the first iam8bit show. The book was titled iam8bit: Art Inspired by Classic Videogames of the '80s and sold in stores like Urban Outfitters, Barnes & Noble, Giant Robot, and other shops. A second book, SUPER i am 8-bit: More Art Inspired by Classic Videogames of the '80s, was published by Insight Editions in June 2010.
As a merchandising brand, iam8bit began with T-shirts featuring art from the exhibition. In 2010, the company started selling collectible vinyl records, including ones for Disney's video game Tron: Evolution.
iam8bit partnered with Blik, a company that makes vinyl wall decals, after creating a custom window installation for its office. This led to a series of removable Space Invader-style wall stickers that became a popular product for Blik. In 2007, iam8bit also partnered with Couch Guitar Straps to create guitar straps for use with games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band.
For New Line's 2008 DVD of The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, iam8bit produced extra content, including the "iam8bit Music & Gallery" feature. This included Donkey Kong-inspired art from the first three years of the iam8bit art show and a soundtrack by artists like 8 Bit Weapon and ComputeHer. Jon M. Gibson, along with director Gabe Swarr, also made a one-minute animated short called A Really, Really Brief History of Donkey Kong, which included music by 8 Bit Weapon. The short received praise from critics and fans. Gibson and Chris Carle, an editor at IGN Entertainment, also created a commentary track for the DVD that explained the cultural and historical importance of the 1980s arcade scene.
Productions
In 2008, iam8bit was hired by Capcom to create the cover artwork for Mega Man 9. The cover art, made by Gerald de Jesus (a member of the iam8bit artist group), was designed to look like the original American box art of the first Mega Man game, which many fans considered "ugly." Chris Kramer, a senior director at Capcom Entertainment, explained that the marketing team decided to run the campaign as if they were working in the video game industry in 1987, to match the style of the original game.
iam8bit then created a "limited edition" press kit using the same cover art. To stay true to the 1987 release, the iam8bit team took apart hundreds of old Nintendo Entertainment System cartridges, magnetized them, and inserted mini CDs inside. These CDs included screenshots, character art, and other media originally meant for reporters but later sold to fans through the Capcom Store. The cartridges were placed in custom-made boxes that looked like classic Nintendo Entertainment System packaging, complete with shrink-wrap and price tags labeled "SALE $9.99." The press kit became highly valuable, with eBay listings reaching up to $1,200, making it one of the most desired promotional items in video game history.
In March 2009, Capcom created the Tricell Progenitor Virus Detection Kit to promote the release of Resident Evil 5 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The kit was designed to look like a pregnancy test and was sent to journalists and media outlets. Later, it was sold in limited quantities to the public through the Capcom Store. The box did not include any branding from Capcom or iam8bit, only references to Tricell, a fictional company from the game.
Inside the kit were Tricell-branded gloves, a surgical mask, hand sanitizer, and a bio-hazard bag. It also included two discs labeled "Advanced Detection & Suppression Technology." When inserted into a console, the discs simulated a fictitious anti-virus detector that "analyzed" a system for signs of infection with the Progenitor virus.
For the 2010 video game Tron: Evolution, iam8bit produced a custom vinyl picture disc. It was sent to a select group of journalists, and only 200 copies were made. The vinyl included music from the game, composed by DJ Sascha Dikiciyan, and artwork by artist Jim Rugg.
Before the release of Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, iam8bit hosted a "Fight Club" event. Over 1,500 fans attended, and an almost complete version of the game was playable. This event was the first public location to feature the Nintendo 3DS handheld, with a demo of Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition.
In January 2010, iam8bit worked with artist Mike Mitchell on the online campaign "I'm With Coco," which began with an image created by Mitchell.
To celebrate The Legend of Zelda’s 25th anniversary, Nintendo of America asked iam8bit to design a Zelda-themed conference room at their headquarters in Redwood City, California. Gerald de Jesus created the design and artwork, which included references to the game series.
In February 2019, Twentieth Century Fox partnered with iam8bit to create "Passport to Iron City," a fan experience that recreated the setting of Alita: Battle Angel. The event was held in New York City, Los Angeles, and Austin, Texas.
Exhibitions
The iam8bit art exhibition happens every year and takes place in Los Angeles. Some of the artists shown are Gary Baseman, James Jean, Tim Biskup, Seen, Luke Chueh, Joe Ledbetter, Jorge R. Gutierrez, and Amy Sol.