It feels like I’m just pummeling you all with PD (product development) questions this week. But, heck, you Core-Techs are so full of good advice, guess I just can’t help myself.
As you might have guessed, we’re working on a lot of cool swag right now. This is due in no small part to Black Market Beagles joining forces with QMx. But it’s also an acknowledgment that during these challenging financial times, we need to do even more to ensure maximum fun can be had for minimum credits. Rest assured, though, these efforts will not in any way impede progress on Serenity (more on the Serenity schedule below).
But first, some sorely needed swag advice: We’re cooking up a line of those country code bumper stickers you see all over Europe, and that civic-minded towns sometimes offer their residents. Only, we thought it would be really cool to do a few of these for Stargate, Battlestar and, of course, Firefly/Serenity locations (you can see the Stargate design below). But, we ran into a little snag of the Serenity sticker:
What *is* an appropriate abbreviation for “Serenity Valley”?
We’ve tried “SV”, which some said is too obscure. We also pondered “SER VLY”, which is actually a little on the long side – keep in mind that the more letters on the sticker, the smaller the font. We want to make sure other Browncoats can see this from a distance!
So, what do you Core-Techs think? Seriously, we’re open to suggestions.
Okay, on to other news: Wolvster and I have been talking about the final stages of the Serenity pattern development, which is moving along at a very nice clip right now. Based on where things are and what’s left to do, it looks like we (or should I say Wolvster) should have the pattern done by the end of the month – give or take a week. At that point, everything goes over to the build team who will work up the paint master and electronics.
Based on that schedule, I wanted to let you know that it now looks like Serenity will hit the streets Q1 2009. I know a number of you are saving your credits toward the replica, so wanted to give you the latest ETA as soon as possible. Just please keep in mind this is a “best guess” on the schedule – your mileage may still vary.
Sorry, still nothing solid on pricing, but at least you have a better sense on the schedule. Guess this is the downside of having all this advanced information, eh?
Speaking of updates, Wolvster put a little pictorial guide together on the master casting process which I hope to have posted next week.
One last thought I wanted to share with you all. It’s not about any specific product or some such, so feel free to click forward to your next destination on the Information Superhighway if introspective posts are not your thing.
<waiting…>
Okay! So, for the rest of you that stayed for the end, wanted to share something that’s been on my mind this week. And that is, how incredibly lucky we are at QMx to be serving customers like yourselves.
A couple things happened that brought this to mind. But the biggest was the outpouring of positive feedback from you folks on the Cerberus t-shirts. You know, there’s just no way hearing your customers appreciate the extra effort you put into the quality of your goods is ever gettin’ old. A lot of people in this business think it’s nuts to pay extra for really nice cotton or 100-pound paper stock or any of the little things we do because we know we’d want it that way. So it’s awesome to know you notice and that it matters to you, too.
All that good will also made me realize that, while none of us are likely to retire from this life of crime any time soon, we are unbelievably lucky that we get to do this job – do what we love for people we care about – and keep flying.
And, really, what more could any Browncoat ask for?
Okay, now you went and made me cry.
SV,H for Serenity Valley, Hera might work.
What about BOS (Battle of Serenity) Then location: Serenity Valley, Hera
Thanks for the serenity update, Q1 is pretty soon, I’ll have to start saving.
I know how it is to be working in a place where you really enjoy what you do. And that’s good news for us because that means you put a lot of work into this stuff and we reap the benefits.
micjwelch, you beat me to it. I was going to say SV,H or SV-H.
And right back at ya Andy. The customer service we get from QMx is very rare. It’s not often that a company gives their customers such detailed previews of new products. Or asks their opinion on anything, let alone product development.
So,,,,, Thanks to everyone at QMx!
jim
Well taking a theme similar to the SGC sticker I would go with “FFSW” and “Serenity Valley, Hera” underneath like the SGC sticker. If I remember correctly there is a FFSW plant located in Serenity Valley. So that would be the connection there.
Something like this:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/2911542930_b7839113ec.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28454338@N07/2911542930/
(I hope one of these links will work)
No offense, it is just easier to show than say.
I wouldn’t do BOS because of a fairly popular game called Fallout. There was a group that call themselves the Brotherhood of Steel and BOS was their acronym. It could get confusing. Sorry Darth no offense.
Ooh! I had another idea. Running along the same lines.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3240/2910752909_fb4f9fe6da.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28454338@N07/2910752909/
I hope I am not stepping on any toes.
Chris has a pretty good idea there, that kinda catchy – “FFSW – Serenity Valley, Hera.
Hmmm… yeah, kinda like the sound of that…
you guts at qmx think you’re lucky, well just wanted to tell ya all how lucky we browncoats feel to have you guys. you don’t make no junk,and in this day of cheaply made crap it’s good to have 100% cotton, and 100 pound paper stock. keep it up and keep flying with the rest of us.
I like keeping the focus on Serenity Valley because of the history and importance of the Battle of Serenity Valley.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2912080670_d5d07e4397.jpg?v=0
Jim – see? This really is tougher than it sounds. The problem is, unlike Stargate or BSG, there don’t seem to be any immediately recognizable abbreviations in the ‘Verse. I mean, what kind of bureaucracy *is* the Alliance, anyway??
Thank you, John. We wouldn’t have it any other way and I’m just glad you feel the same!
Hmm… can you do more than one?
I like the “never forget” on Jim’s. It reminds me of Remember the Alamo.
This isn’t gonna be easy.
Can you do Chinese characters? For Serenity Valley?
That’s genius, Chris! Now I just have to make sure they’re the right characters
(btw if anyone has the correct unicode characters, please share.)
I found an on-line English to Chinese dictionary. I don’t know if this is right but it looks cool. I’m sure the QMx researchers would make sure it is authentic.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/2911919653_143c483c95.jpg?v=0
jim
Oops, I forgot the black circle.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/2912791628_37505cea43.jpg?v=0
jim
Battle of Serenity……hum…………………How about
BTL/SER/VAL
2050 the 2050 represents the year of the
Battle-it could all be in an oval with
small 12 cav. patches on both sides.
Just a thought
Just to be contrary,
How about a UAP sticker?
And then a roundel with UAP and a red circle-/
UAP .. no UAP?
I suppose the UAP could be a one off collector’s item… sales might be low on that one.
I’m really liking this idea. Very firefly to have your location sticker in Chinese, Ry?
I’m loving this feedback, thanks! But I’m not sure about the battle date.. Was kind of envisioning this as being prewar. Unless you guys think that’s a bad idea?
Btw, I’m on a x-country flight right now on a stopover. And I’m using an iPhone to read your comments and respond.
Ain’t technology grand?
Dang, this is getting too good just to keep on a decal …………… sounds like a great T shirt in the making as well.
Next step is getting a graphic logo for the pre war FFSW company itself, but perhaps that’s pushing the snowball downhill to fast.
Jim, wow. I look all over(at least what seemed like it) and couldn’t find anything. It looks good.
Pre-war? I hadn’t thought of that. Sounds good.
Love the SGC bumper sticker!
I know loads of folk (me for a start) who’ll want one.
As for a Battlestar Galactica one – how about BSG-75, Caprica City, Caprica?
I was under the impression that until the war, Serenity Valley wasn’t the least bit important.
Heya Michael – well, it was probably important to the people who lived there
It was a strategically important location in terms of that’s where the Hera FFSW was located and where the gunboats were outfitted. I think the big issue with the war date is the conceit here is that these are location stickers like what people put on their cars today. A memorial sticker would probably look different. At least, that’s what the voices in my head keep telling me 
Duffer – The FFSW logo at the top of the pages of this site is the pre-war logo (as designed by Geoffrey Mandel), seeing as the Ship Works was destroyed in the war (post-war Fireflies are built on Osiris by the Firefly Coach Works).
Spleen – first, *love* your handle; works on so many levels
We should have the SGC sticker ready to go in a couple weeks, so keep an eye out. The BSG sticker I was thinking of going simple “BSG” in big letters and “Ragtag Fleet” in small letters. What do you think?
Chris, here is the site I used. I searched on the two words separately.
http://us.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php
Andy, I like the idea for the BSG sticker. Nice and simple. I kinda feel the same way for the Serenity Valley sticker too. SVH looks clean and simple. The date can always be removed for a pre-war version. But the Chinese version looks so cool too. ARGH! My head hurts
jim
Once again, I’m late in checking in. (I’m in the final prep stages for the Browncoat Ball) I LOVE the Kanji sticker idea…a lot!
I have to agree with earlier posts about how totally cool you all are, to be bringing us the ‘verse in such a high quality way. No Luh Suh here.
Can you feel the love?!!
I can indeed!
A nice feature to include with the ship, or maybe even make available for free might be a behind the scenes making of documentary showing various stages of assembly of the ship, painting, etc. It might be too late to capture any video of actual sculpturing but that would be cool too. If for free I could see it making its way onto YouTube as a promotion/advertisement as well. Thanks for the 2009Q1 update info!
Quality products, great research, a staff that works had to keep the fan base from going broke….lol
The greatest part is company/fan feedback, and the best customer service for its fan/customer base.
I have made numerous purchases, and the quality of the items cannot be beat. No made in China stickers……Shiny