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.
Sometimes things matter. People putting in a little bit of effort to do something good and that good gets appreciated. Something that might help the community. Something that sends a positive message that can be related to many people. Something like selling coffee on the train platform.
I can't tell you how excited I was when the restaurant located at the train station decided that they would sell coffee. I would much rather go to them than to the Dunkin Donuts or the Starbucks in the morning. The convenience of it, I get to help out a local business; it's good for me, it's good for them. Heck when I went to the restaurant during regular hours the man who sold me coffee recognized me and pulled out my chair for me when I came to show my support of the establishment.
This is how my customer support is appreciated.
They might want to try and let those customers that did support them down a little less hard on a rainy Monday morning when there were plenty of people wanting a delicious hot beverage. Perhaps slightly less passive aggressive too.
The water was very cold, the road with the white fence matched the shoreline of the lake. The lake was large, dark and deep. There was some old snow on the ground.
A ship is there, capsized half sunk in the water. There is a way into and out of the ship, but only underneath. Like an overturned canoe.
I know the person trapped in the airspace beneath the water and the hull.
I was driving in a car, with someone. We discussed the half sunk ship. Then an Orca breached the surface and showed me his eye. The whale looked at me.
The whale dipped beneath the surface and slammed hard into the half sunk ship. It made a loud noise. The ship started to sink. I began to panic. I knew my friend was dead. I woke up.
