7 Real-Life Things Named After Video Games

Summary

• Many video games, including Pokemon and The Legend of Zelda, have been used as inspiration to name real-life things, from music to scientific discoveries.
• There are even many places across the world named after video game characters, including a Las Vegas neighborhood inspired by Pokemon.

Did you know there's an American street named after Jigglypuff? Or that there was a top-ten rock and roll song based on Pac-Man? Since the 80s, video games have influenced culture in many surprising ways, inspiring new types of food, music, and even scientific discoveries.

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That's the magic of video games. Series like Pokemon and The Legend of Zelda are more than just pixels on a screen. These characters and the worlds they inhabit have served as a goldmine of inspiration when it comes to naming real-world things. While there are way too many examples to list, the following are some of the most notable.

7 Charizard Lane

A Las Vegas Neighborhood Named After Pokemon

How would you like to live on a street called Charizard Lane? You can if you move to Henderson, Nevada. About 13 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, there's a neighborhood with multiple roads named after Pokemon. These include Jigglypuff Place, Squirtle Lane, Snorlax Lane, and Charmander Lane.

Funny enough, that's not the only place with video game-inspired streets. If you visit Zaragoza, Spain, you can walk down Avenida de Super Mario Bros, along with roads named after Sonic, Space Invaders, and The Legend of Zelda.

Fun fact: not too far away from the Pokemon-themed neighborhood is a community with streets named after PAW Patrol characters.

6 Zelda Williams

Robin Williams Named His Daughter After The Legend Of Zelda

The legendary actor and comedian Robin Williams loved The Legend of Zelda so much that he named his daughter after the title character. You may recognize Zelda Williams as the voice of Kuvira from The Legend of Korra, but she's also worked with Nintendo several times since 2011.

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The father-daughter duo starred in a wholesome commercial for Ocarina of Time 3D, which showcased how video games can bring families closer together. Not long after, she hosted the London Zelda Symphony Concert for the series' 25th anniversary, and her career is still going strong today.

5 Pac-Man Fever

A Rock Song Based On Pac-Man

Have you ever loved a video game so much that you burst into song? The musical duo Buckner & Garcia know that feeling. In 1981, they dropped a single called Pac-Man Fever, a novelty rock song about spending every last quarter trying to get the high score. It even charted at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The duo went on to write other video game-inspired tunes, including their 1982 dance song Do the Donkey Kong. Unfortunately, none of them had the same success as Pac-Man Fever, which is still featured on TV shows such as South Park and Family Guy.

The band Gorillaz also wrote a song called Pac-Man in 2020. However, the reference is metaphorical.

4 The Mario Kart Cocktail

And Many Other Video Game-Inspired Drinks

If you're ever in need of a drink, there are many video game-inspired beverages you can try. The Emporium Arcade Bar in the United States has created many recipes based on gaming, including a lemony Mario Kart cocktail and a Pac-Man-inspired screwdriver.

Those living in Brisbane, Australia, may remember the Mana Bar, a gaming lounge known for its video game-themed drinks. These include a passion fruit-flavored cocktail named after Angel Island from Sonic the Hedgehog. While the bar sadly closed in 2015, many of its recipes live on thanks to the internet.

3 Pikachurin

A Protein Named After Pikachu

Did you know there's a little bit of Pikachu in everyone? Literally - there's a protein in the human body called Pikachurin. Long story short, it helps the brain process light and is part of what allows humans to see. Much like the electric mouse, the protein moves lightning-fast and produces something akin to electrical energy.

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Pikachurin was first discovered in 2008 by a Japanese scientist named Shigeru Sato, who also coined the name. It was initially found in certain types of mice before it was established to exist in humans, making the reference all the more fitting.

2 Kirby Cafe

A Japanese Restaurant Named After The Pink Puffball

Everyone knows Kirby loves to eat, so it only makes sense to name a restaurant after him. Debuting in 2016, the Kirby Cafe serves various foods inspired by the pink puffball, including Maximum Tomato soup and Invincible Candy cupcakes. You can even get pancakes resembling Kirby's face.

The restaurant is currently exclusive to Japan, with locations in Tokyo and Hakata. If you happen to come across one, you can enjoy remixed versions of iconic Kirby songs while you dine. Otherwise, you can listen to the playlist via The Sound of Kirby Cafe soundtrack.

1 Animals Named After Video Games

Pokemon, Galaga, And More

Usually, Pokemon are named after real-life animals, but sometimes, it's the other way around. For example, there's a family of Australian beetles called Binburrum, three of which are named after the legendary birds Zapdos, Moltres, and Articuno. There's also a species of Brazilian spider called Epicratinus pikachu.

The Epicratinus family of spiders has many other species named after video game characters, including Zelda, E. Honda, and Zangief.

But Pokemon isn't the only video game that made it into the animal kingdom. In 2019, a new type of shark fossil called Galagadon nordquistae was discovered. The name derives from its teeth, which resemble the spaceships from Galaga. There's also a species of Brazilian harvest spider named Taito galaga, which has a mark on its back resembling one of the game's enemies.

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