Gimmicks
Radix
Join Date: 2005-01-10 Member: 34654Members, Constellation
Join Date: 2005-01-10 Member: 34654Members, Constellation
Bleach is a terrible anime that barely qualifies as pulp fiction. I want to get that disclaimer out of the way so that people know I'm not telling the devs to be more like whatever studio unleashed that catwoman wannabe on the world.
With that said:
Bleach has many fantastic examples of the iconic gimmick.
First, I draw your attention to that plushie bear that talks:
<img src="http://www.vgblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/Games/BleachShatteredBlade/kon_03.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Contrast with the following:
<img src="http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/603/5508lsl6.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
The point I'm bringing up here is that the series' creators have come up with a way to bring the elements of the series into real life, by writing the series in such a way that mundane things can link into the plot as much as fantastic swords or big scary monsters with masks.
The lesson, I think, is that you can create a visible, mundane, but iconic item in NS2 that would easily translate to merchandise for real life- that way NS fans would garner utility by buying it, and more dev time wouldn't have to be spent coming up with excuses to buy NS2-dubbed products like board games (one of which I still want), or an LMG water pistol that goes "PEW PEW PEW" when you squeeze the trigger.
With that said:
Bleach has many fantastic examples of the iconic gimmick.
First, I draw your attention to that plushie bear that talks:
<img src="http://www.vgblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/Games/BleachShatteredBlade/kon_03.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Contrast with the following:
<img src="http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/603/5508lsl6.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
The point I'm bringing up here is that the series' creators have come up with a way to bring the elements of the series into real life, by writing the series in such a way that mundane things can link into the plot as much as fantastic swords or big scary monsters with masks.
The lesson, I think, is that you can create a visible, mundane, but iconic item in NS2 that would easily translate to merchandise for real life- that way NS fans would garner utility by buying it, and more dev time wouldn't have to be spent coming up with excuses to buy NS2-dubbed products like board games (one of which I still want), or an LMG water pistol that goes "PEW PEW PEW" when you squeeze the trigger.
Comments
Yeah, I think NS2 will be fine with accidental merchandise like the plush cube and gorgies, rather than trying to design it in.
Edit: Also, Kon is easily the worst character in Bleach and I don't think removing him would have reduced the popularity of the manga or the anime. He doesn't have any depth in the manga beyond the first dialogs about how he still is alive even if he was created in a lab. Even that concept has been abandoned since he is such a throw away character that is treated poorly by the other characters.
Skulk plushies and NS posters would be kinda cool.
I don't think it's wise to try and engineer elements for the sake of merchandise. It's better if they compliment something that's really awesome, so people want to have things that are associated with it. For example, the Halo helmet that gets sold. I doubt they engineered Halo with the iconic helmet as a merchandise idea.
Oh, I wonder if they sell beam swords....
Ahh, Icons.
Hmm ...
<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tsa.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::tsa::" border="0" alt="tsa.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tiny.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::onos::" border="0" alt="tiny.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/fade.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::fade::" border="0" alt="fade.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/skulk.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::skulk::" border="0" alt="skulk.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pudgy.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::gorge::" border="0" alt="pudgy.gif" /> (for some reason it only allows so many smileys in a post)
Ok, I know, they are the smilies, but as far as icons go from NS1, how well do you think they work?
Now, considering NS2 development has been described as that 1/3 new, old thing, then a good question seems to be is do you think the old icons of NS1 would work in NS2 or do we need some new or updated ones to improve the situation of easily recognized imagery?
Sure you can make a plushie gorge, but really, that doesn't "belong" in the real world, it's just a symbol of a digital game, not something that would have a corollary in real life (all plushies share this) without specifically engineering it that way.
The reason Kon is such a good example is because people make teddy bears in warehouses regardless of how they look - there's a difference in my mind between a teddy bear and a plushie, the first is a child's toy, the second is... more like a soft paperweight.
Summary: You don't want a headcrab(or gorge) hat, you'd want a subtle TSA t-shirt, maybe even done in the "faded old navy style".
Summary: You don't want a headcrab(or gorge) hat, you'd want a subtle TSA t-shirt, maybe even done in the "faded old navy style".<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sorta like some of the stuff ThinkGeek does? Simply geeky, but not blatantly overpowering. Just enough flare and those in the know get the joke. Or the Companion Cube shirts. Iconic symbol, but the shirts didn't just slap on a Cube, they made nice designer patterns and stuff so that it looks trendy too.
Hell, I would order one!
As for a gorge hat,no, woulden't look good and would feel Uncomfortable.
Gorge plush toy,yes, why? because you could and just for the hell of it <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" /> .
Instead of making a shirt with a gigantic NATURAL SELECTORS!!!11 logo on it, you make a shirt with a great piece of concept art, and let people buy that.
It's a tradeoff between creating an advertisement for a game, and creating products for that game. The fact is, if someone is wearing a T-Shirt from a videogame, they probably like the game enough to make all their friends painfully aware of how great it is.
I would not wear a videogame shirt. I <b>would</b> wear a shirt with a tastefully rendered mysterious creature on it.
I guess I really was dreaming that up.
I thought they already had them.
(1). Black T-Shirt with TSA on front in navy across chest, left arm has small NS skulk eye, right arm has the letters NS2 ( or something like that ) and the back is a large navy <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tsa.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::tsa::" border="0" alt="tsa.gif" /> symbol.
It wouldnt be blatantly geeky and ppl would ask you what it meant so you could spread the news about NS2.
(2). Black T-Shirt similar to above but with kharaa proganda instead of marine ones. ( <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hive5.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::hive::" border="0" alt="hive5.gif" /> ) <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />??
(3). gorge plush lulz. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pudgy.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::gorge::" border="0" alt="pudgy.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pudgy.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::gorge::" border="0" alt="pudgy.gif" />
(4). Key chains. They might not make a ###### load of money but they are definatly a good way to spread the logo. Exp: my dad ( who didnt play video games ) say i had a halo sword for my car key chain and asked me what it was, i explained the premise of the game and now he plays xbox alot. The same could be done with NS2 marine weapons or even mini kharra units. Funky key chains always will attract some attention.
Just some ideas to brood over and maybe make some money for the NS2 team so they can put even more than the ton the already have into makign the game.
It's like the difference between buying a pitch black shirt with the eye of Sauron on the back, and buying a dark green shirt that has the Fellowship lined up in a dramatic group pose all over the front that plasters THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING in big obtrusive font on your chest.
Keep your ###### subtle, basically.
I dont think a fade would look good. I can only imagine a gorge looking alright, however, i have high standards, and i doubt even a gorge could live up to my love.
Figurines though, that could be awesome. I want to hang lerks from my roof with string fishing wire!