A defining moment for a franchise comes when it transcends its original form into something else; an action figure is made, a statue or bust is cast, a movie tie in or a comic book. We embrace stories and characters when they go from one from to another, this is the truth this is what happens.
The first time I saw Hellboy merchandise besides a poster or a t-shirt, I thought there could be no better day. What is that feeling? Is it caused by a need of acceptance from peers with similar passions? The average Batman fan does not have to look far to be shown that what he is passionate about has been long accepted by those who make acceptance. Since I have been alive there has always been some kind of Batman toy.
Rather than waste time trying to figure out ways to market themselves, and exploit the consumer they only concentrate on the product itself. Since its release 119 updates have come out from Valve. Those 119 updates have all been free and have included everything from game fixes, new maps, new weapons, and novelty items. Once you buy the game there is nothing left to buy. Team Fortress 2 should be the standard model on how to support a game and community.
Valve has licensed its characters to be released as statues. Starting first not with Gordon Freeman, the nexus for all things Valve, but with very charismatic Heavy, from its successful Team Fortress 2 game. With their stylized looks these characters more than almost any other have been crying out to be moved to the next level.
Team Fortress has grown so much over the years, starting from very humble beginnings as a mod for Quake, an moving all the way to being a one of the four corner stones in the church of PC gaming. That community now has something to put on their desk that is made with the same level of quality that the original product was made, a 229 dollar resin sculpture of The Heavy.
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