NS2 Merchandise
Renegade.
Join Date: 2003-01-15 Member: 12313Members, Constellation
Join Date: 2003-01-15 Member: 12313Members, Constellation
<div class="IPBDescription">Because a Gorge plushie would outsell SE in spades</div>What happened to the NS merchandise store, is still around? The prints and logos weren't great or stylish so I'm not surprised if nothing moved.
We had standard fare - t-shirts with logos - but we needed zest.
Where are the community memes we could really rock on a cotton tee...
the "Bacon Maker" t-shirts?
a "L0rk on the Cl0rf" hoodie?
a "Shirtgun" shirt?
a "Super Skulk" sweater?
And most of all, the thing we came so desperately close to having but never materialized:
<!--sizeo:5--><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->The Gorge Plushie<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
<!--sizeo:1--><span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->(the NS1 gorge that is... not its hideous pot-bellied rock-nosed younger brother)<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
There was an interest thread a long time ago that generated so many responses, but alas no plushie.
Here's an enterprising idea for NS2: is it possible that we see some merchandise accompany its launch?
Great publicity, free advertising, dime-a-dozen t-shirt press cafe's, and best of all supporters can rock our NS1 nostalgia haute coutoure.
Express your interest here if you'd like to see some NS2 merchandise on release!
We had standard fare - t-shirts with logos - but we needed zest.
Where are the community memes we could really rock on a cotton tee...
the "Bacon Maker" t-shirts?
a "L0rk on the Cl0rf" hoodie?
a "Shirtgun" shirt?
a "Super Skulk" sweater?
And most of all, the thing we came so desperately close to having but never materialized:
<!--sizeo:5--><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->The Gorge Plushie<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
<!--sizeo:1--><span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->(the NS1 gorge that is... not its hideous pot-bellied rock-nosed younger brother)<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
There was an interest thread a long time ago that generated so many responses, but alas no plushie.
Here's an enterprising idea for NS2: is it possible that we see some merchandise accompany its launch?
Great publicity, free advertising, dime-a-dozen t-shirt press cafe's, and best of all supporters can rock our NS1 nostalgia haute coutoure.
Express your interest here if you'd like to see some NS2 merchandise on release!
Comments
Nowadays there are some other services online such as <a href="http://www.customplushtoys.com/quote.php" target="_blank">this</a> but again 500 plushies minimum.
We'd need to find atleast 500 owners of plushies who are also willing to pay shipping. If you really want one, go ahead and organize.
Nowadays there are some other services online such as <a href="http://www.customplushtoys.com/quote.php" target="_blank">this</a> but again 500 plushies minimum.
We'd need to find atleast 500 owners of plushies who are also willing to pay shipping. If you really want one, go ahead and organize.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm horribly busy and not a great organizer to boot, but I may be coming into some free time for the break and wouldn't mind taking on a cause.
I poked around and you are correct - most have a 500 min., but I've sent off some inquiries to about half a dozen companies to find out what options are available. I think realistically given the last thread ago and with the pending release of NS2 we may have anywhere between 100 and 350 interested in NS2 gear (if not the plushie, at least other merchandise); 250 would seem a safe estimate. The following quote I received from <a href="http://www.custom-plush.com" target="_blank">http://www.custom-plush.com</a> puts 500 units at $8 ea., for around $4000 total for a bulk order:
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Pricing is based on;
- Medium to High Quality Toy
- A 12" Stuffed or Beanie custom toy
- A Bulky volume toy
- Your name printed on a custom sew in label (bum tag)
- Will meet or exceed all International health and safety standards
- Based on the information provided to date
- Price include ocean shipping to your country
- Price is 'per piece' in US$
QTY Price Per in US$
500 $7.99
750 $7.80
900 $7.30
1,200 $6.22
1,800 $5.99<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'd be wiling to pay $10 for a plushie! All we need is around 500 others to say the same. If NS2 has a good launch we can make it a reality.
But also I want a T-shirt which looks like the khaara/marine armor. :O
Basically I may be able to buy something like 30-50 plushies for my country. There used to be atleast 1500 NS Players in Finland back in the day.
You have to remember shipping isn't free. If you get, say, 500 possible buyers and transfer all of the plushies to your house the price will be probably like 10-12$ each. Then it costs about 2-10$ dollars more to get them to regional distributers. So I'd say 20-30$ per gorge is pretty realistic. You would have to take the biggest financial risk, then the regional distributers.
Also a problem is that many will want to see how it will look like. To give them the exact idea, you might want to take 10-20 pictures with HL model viewer of the gorge. Having prototype pictures would be awesome but I dont know if its possible (you might to ask the company).
old topic:
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=98988" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index....showtopic=98988</a>
And if NS2 succeeds, the devs might want to buy some of the toys for their shop?
So, if we sell the idea at $20 a share, we only need 200 investors and someone smart to organise it. Who's in? :p
Imagine, a collector's edition of NS2, a nice boxed version along with a gorge plush toy haha !
I'd buy.
Seriously, I think that UWE should consider that.. ;) (at least the plush toy)
However, one of the main obstacles, currently, is the fulfillment. Meaning the boxing up and shipping out of whatever is ordered. The up front cost to something like a plush gorgie is substantial, given that we'd have to buy them in bulk and there's an uncertainty of how many would be sold, but in addition to that we just don't have time to devote to packing and shipping of purchased merch.
The companies that do handle the fulfillment side, like cafe press, etc. tend to take such a large % chunk it doesn't make it worth the time, and the quality is often pretty crappy.
Hopefully we can figure out a way to make it work, but for the moment we (obviously) have bigger things to focus on.
--Cory
<sub>...Id buy one.</sub>
<!--sizeo:1--><span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->I'd want a complete Khaara set of plushies<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
P.S. i am talking about the gorge plushie
I dunno bout your country, but here it is generally forbidden to make money off the designs of other people. Unless UWE gives their approval, probably no one is allowed to make fluffy toys of uwe's IP for profit (not sure bout providing them at material price, but I don't see people doing all the producing, packing and sending for free)
ofc u cud go the chinese way and make them look slightly different, but that would be just plain lame
Please do if you get the time - it would be helpful to gauge interest. I can also host if needed.
<!--quoteo(post=1752423:date=Feb 11 2010, 07:12 AM:name=Jiriki)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jiriki @ Feb 11 2010, 07:12 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1752423"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Its likely more cost-efficient to have some regional distributers. And yeah, you would need a website. If you get a company to do this, I can do one, doesn't take me more than a day. Probably the best idea would to get atleast 350 names in the list (the poll showed something like 250 people interested to buy in the old topic).
Also a problem is that many will want to see how it will look like. To give them the exact idea, you might want to take 10-20 pictures with HL model viewer of the gorge. Having prototype pictures would be awesome but I dont know if its possible (you might to ask the company).
old topic:
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=98988" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index....showtopic=98988</a>
And if NS2 succeeds, the devs might want to buy some of the toys for their shop?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thanks for the link, and you raise a good point - regional distribution is a good strategy. My initial thought was (assuming a US manufacturer) we could have them shipped directly to UWE for US citizens, but as Cory notes the packing and shipping department isn't on payroll. However I know as a community we can be invaluable if we work together with UWE to cover menial tasks like gauging interest and packaging. Perhaps some form of joint venture?
<!--quoteo(post=1752509:date=Feb 11 2010, 04:16 PM:name=Psyke)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Psyke @ Feb 11 2010, 04:16 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1752509"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It's actually possible to just set up a system where people commit to buy one (actually put money down), but they aren't actually charged for it until the required # of orders are made.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Is it possible to pre-authorize payments for things like Paypal? I'm currently in talks with Miles from www.customplushproductions.com and if we can get at least 250 confirmations I think we can make it happen.
From what I can tell in the way of prototypes, most companies offer them, so it shouldn't be a problem showcasing the final product to the community. What we need though is some good artwork for such a prototype. I sent them several concepts of the NS1 and NS2 gorges, but I think we may want something more along the lines of "cute".
<!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->Kyliegirl<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--> if you're reading this, I found one of your old "chibi" style gorge sketches in my NS folder; I can't remember if there were anymore, do you still have them and would you be okay if they were to be used in our plushy endeavor? - I think this would make for the most huggable gorge ever!
<img src="http://hldj.org/ns/images/sitting.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />
The gorge a beast that vomits up bacterium to build for a team of aliens that destroy the human race. These cute pictures are ruining my perception of that alien.
<img src="http://www.offbeatearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/capybara.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
1) this is UWE's IP we're talking about. Even if they're okay with the community organizing this (as a non-profit venture, I can't imagine they'd be approve of someone else making money off it), I'm sure they'd have to give final approval over any designs before they could be made. Aside from estimating community interest and recommending manufacturers, there's really not much we can do to make this happen [without permission].
2) If someone makes a website to collect info about people who are interested, they'd better make sure there's a disclaimer to not use personal information for anything else
Also, at this point UWE would probably be more interested in making NS2 gear (rather than the NS1 gorge).
Yes, I want a plush gorge. Especially a soft, huggable one.
Gorge plushies
and a ns1 command chair figure.
and 'The evolution of natural selection' posters showing off the changes of the species from ns1 to ns2