custom magic 8 balls
Posted by: Daria
custom magic 8 balls - 20/01/2004 16:33
So far I found only promobrands.com doing this. Anyone aware of anyone else doing it?
Edit: they won't customize the answers, so there's no point. Oh well. Anyone else?
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 20/01/2004 16:42
Well, there is always
this...
Posted by: Daria
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 20/01/2004 16:55
There are a pile of flash, java, etc versions. I want to share my bitterness here by giving everyone a magic 8 ball with custom answers. I don't have the cash for 2500 balls, nor do I have 2500 coworkers, so at the moment I'm sort of screwed.
Posted by: Laura
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 20/01/2004 17:10
I'm sure one of the answers you would like to see would be 'sure, fine, whatever'
Posted by: Daria
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 20/01/2004 17:12
It would be a fine answer, but not nearly as bitter as would be useful for this case.
Posted by: g_attrill
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 20/01/2004 17:41
Hmm... There was a
Simpsons version by
Sababa Toys. Can't find any other custom phrases though.
edit: Here's somebody who modified one neatly is this feasible for you?
http://8ball.ofb.net/howto.html
Gareth
Posted by: Daria
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 20/01/2004 17:59
Modifying one would be ok, but I want a few of them, so I suspect I'm sad. I did find that...
Posted by: foxtrot_xray
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 20/01/2004 19:59
I agree, actually.
I work in Technical support, and If it wqere possible, I'd get a custom one for everyone in my department (~15), with answers like:
Reboot
Call Your Vendor
It's A Feature
You're On NoServ
..Would just be great.
Me.
Posted by: Phoenix42
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 20/01/2004 20:09
mike, put me down for some of them
Posted by: Daria
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 20/01/2004 20:23
I'm more bitter than most people I work with, I just want to "share"
Posted by: g_attrill
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 06:06
One for Tony:
"Read the FAQ"
"Read the FAQ"
"Read the FAQ"
"Read the FAQ"
...
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 06:29
Well, never doubt the insanity of the anti-social hermit. I submitted a request for quote today - to find out exactly how expensive it would be to create a minimum run of these guys. They have both a 4" and a 2.75" version. It would depend on the price per unit, of course, if this can actually happen. But, if you never ask...
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 08:47
Hmmm... Intriguing...
I was expecting an answer that would immediately eliminate this as a possibility. The quote I received back though is almost do-able. They are allowing a minimum order of 1000 units at a lower cost per unit than expected... It is almost within range, if I could justify that kind of quantity. (I mean, WTF would an anti-social hermit do with 1000 Tech Support Magic 8 Balls...)
I could almost imagine ordering a bunch of "tech support" ones, with appropriate phrases, and selling them on ebay... Hmmm...
Posted by: Daria
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 10:10
Sell them to people here. Duh.
Posted by: wfaulk
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 10:28
Talk to ThinkGeek. They might could sell 'em.
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 11:04
Greetings!
Nevermind. I just received an updated set of information from the manufacturer. There is an addition one time tool creation cost for making the floating answer module. When that is added in, it pushes this project outside of my random insanity budget. Worth a shot, though.
Carry on.
Posted by: canuckInOR
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 13:09
Just curious... what *was* the cost?
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 13:35
Greetings!
The first quote only had the price per unit and an undefined tool fee. I did not get the tool charge until the second email...
Price: $3.87 per 8-ball ($3,870 for 1000)
Tool charge: $2,500
End price: $6.37 per 8-ball ($6,370 for 1000)
This includes custom logo printing. (I was thinking about 1000...) I am not sure about tax and shipping from China.
Now, if I felt like reselling them, that is one thing. But I still have a day job, and that is a bit too much cash for a random amusement without knowing that there are (sufficient) buyers out there.
Posted by: foxtrot_xray
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 14:03
Greetings!
The first quote only had the price per unit and an undefined tool fee. I did not get the tool charge until the second email...
Price: $3.87 per 8-ball ($3,870 for 1000)
Tool charge: $2,500
End price: $6.37 per 8-ball ($6,370 for 1000)
This includes custom logo printing. (I was thinking about 1000...) I am not sure about tax and shipping from China.
Now, if I felt like reselling them, that is one thing. But I still have a day job, and that is a bit too much cash for a random amusement without knowing that there are (sufficient) buyers out there.
Wow.. I mean, if I could find a few grand sitting around, that *WOULD* be worth it. You could ditch them on eBay (ThinkGeek, etc) for $20 each, easily!
It's a completely untapped market of geeks out there!
Me, who's actually running it by his boss. Right now. Really.
Posted by: loren
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 14:07
Thinkgeek could get rid of those things in a heartbeat. Hell, i'd buy one for $12.
Posted by: JeffS
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 14:51
I'd buy one too for sure. Only 998 more to go . . .
Posted by: ricin
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 15:17
Ditto. I'd buy one.
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 18:12
Everyone, sing along!
Nine hundred, ninety seven magic eight balls on the wall,
Nine hundred, ninety seven magic eight balls...
Take one down, shake it around
Nine hundred, ninety six magic eight balls on the wall.
But seriously. If I could find a way to justify it, I would. I was even thinking of random details. For example:
The logo would be "1000", maybe with a "binary" in tiny print to the bottom right for those without a clue. It would be inside a white circle in black (or null) print, just like an 8-ball...
Sayings so far would include:
1) Zero
2) One
3) Yes
4) No
5) Perhaps...
6) It depends...
7) Sure. Fine. Whatever.
8) You can never have enough disk space
9) Blue Screen Of Death
10) Network Error
11) Check for a virus
12) E-Mail is down
13) Reboot the computer
14) Plug in the computer
15) Reboot the Internet
16) /dev/null
17) Check the router
18) Blame marketing
19) This space intentionally left blank.
20) ping 127.0.0.1
It is still kind of tempting, but there is no way I can see myself selling 1000 of these things... Edit: corrected quote.
Posted by: oliver
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 18:24
I've setup a sample i found with a magic 8-ball online a couple of years ago. I've never customized the xml file, but you could even enable custom messages based on username.
I have this running in my AIM profile, and it passes the user name into the 8ball, and emails me thier question/answer.
lt will bomb without the querystirng 
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 18:41
An image of the logo... Assume a black background, a perfectly round circle and kerning that does not look like I threw it together in a few seconds in photoshop...
Posted by: foxtrot_xray
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 18:42
I love the "1000" idea. It actually took me A SECOND to figure out what you were talking about.
And now, I need to.. uhm.. ask a styoopid question. How many answers DOES an 8-ball support?
Me.
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 18:43
20. It is an icosohedron.
Posted by: Laura
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 18:51
#7 needs to be Sure. Fine. Whatever. I would buy a couple at least. Could you have one say arp -F or arp is your friend?
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 18:53
Ooops. Misquoted. That would be fixed. But then, that shows another possible issue - "all your base...". I can probably drop an arp in there, sure...
Posted by: Laura
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 18:58
I hope this can happen. I've always loved the Magic 8 Ball and have one on my desktop. I almost bought one in a store a few weeks ago. I think they are so cool
And I learned that arp is my friend the hard way.
Posted by: Laura
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 19:04
I asked my Magic 8 Ball if you would end up getting these made and it said "it is not clear". It is always right
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 19:10
That is about right at the moment...
Other quotes that need to be there:
a) arp -F
b) CAFFEINE !!!
c) BEER !!!
d) RTFM !!!
e) Read the FAQ !!!
f) TANSTAAFL
g) 42
Posted by: Ezekiel
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 19:11
One of the answers must be 42.
-Zeke
Posted by: Phoenix42
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 20:15
Posted by: foxtrot_xray
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 20:54
Hmm.. I dunno about some of those. IF we (someone) was to do it, the answers would have to be.. 'generic' enough for ANY 'tech support'. I LIKE the 42, tho. That stays.. I think the list should be (editied for true 'answers'.
In reply to:
Sure. Fine. Whatever.
42
Talk to your MIS Dept.
Other Vendor Issue
Virus
E-Mail Down
Reboot Computer
Power On Computer
Reboot Internet
We See No Problem
ping 127.0.0.1
Blame Marketing
This Space Intentionally Left Blank
It's a Feature
Has Been Known Issue
We'll Get Back To You
Check Cables
Not Covered under Support
You're on No Service
Operates By Design
I'm curious as to size/length limitation.
Me.
Posted by: JeffS
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 23:12
One of the answers must be 42.
Without Question!
(pun intended)
Posted by: canuckInOR
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 21/01/2004 23:13
Dang, that's a lot cheaper than I thought!
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 05:43
Okay. Following up on this...
I was thinking about it. Slept on the idea. Every now and then, I get a "feeling". Usually that feeling is right, and I know it was true after the fact. Two examples:
Even though it may seem like a bad idea now, you probably want to retrieve that kidney stone from the bowl and get it analyzed so that you can avoid others in the future...
or
You might want to get more of that Nortel stock. Nortel and Alteon are not going to go away, and at $0.50 a share, you should get a lot more than your standard 500 shares.
I have a "feeling" about this. I don't know if I will be able to get rid of all 1000, but I have a feeling that I will regret it if I do not try.
So, it is extremely likely that I will be going ahead with this project. I will take into consideration everything on this thread, including the responses posted, and I will come up with a final list. I agree with Mike - they will have to be more generic. Thinking about it...
As to the amount of text, my guess is a few words, tops. Here is my current list:
Sure. Fine. Whatever.
fourty two
call the helpdesk
blame the vendor
virus
divide by zero
reboot
what problem?
ping 127.0.0.1
Make it so.
feature / known issue
let me call you back
not supported
read the manual & FAQ
caffeine
/dev/null
network error
blue screen of death
outsourced or downsized
plug it in
Posted by: foxtrot_xray
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 07:45
I can agree with that list.
I think it's a great idea, don't think you would have much problems ridding yourself of them (if you want, I can take care of the ebay thing, if there are a few we just can't rid ourselves of! Aside from buying like, 20 or so.
) I would, actually, be doing it if I had the money. As it is, I'd have to wait a year before ordering.
Me.
Posted by: Ezekiel
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 07:55
I'd be in for at least four or five. I hope you do it. I think they'd sell very nicely.
-Zeke
Posted by: tman
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 07:56
You might want to spell it "Forty" instead of "Fourty" tho
Posted by: JeffS
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 08:05
It seems to mee there are a few obvious answers missing:
ID10T
Mouse Driver Error
Nut Loose On The Keyboard
A problem between the keyboard and monitor
Ok, maybe not most of those, but ID10T at least.
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 08:10
Cool. This looks like it will be happening...
You might want to spell it "Forty" instead of "Fourty" tho
Aw... That is one of those words I deliberately misspell because I think it makes more sense the other way... Hmmm... Well, I guess I should...
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 08:11
The problem is there are only 20 spaces and only a few words per space. The only ones that might fit are ID10T (a possibility) and Mouse Driver Error (also good).
Posted by: Cybjorg
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 08:11
Why not sell them on
Think Geek? They'd probably sell like hotcakes (whatever
that means).
Posted by: JBjorgen
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 08:11
A problem between the keyboard and monitor
Better known as PEBKAC
(problem exists between keyboard and chair)
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 08:12
I didn't know regular users could sell there. I thought that I would have to get "in" with their marketing folks and have them carry the product.
Posted by: JeffS
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 08:14
Better known as PEBKAC
Ah yes. I couldn't think of it exactly. Thanks for the assist!
Posted by: JeffS
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 08:16
Cool. This looks like it will be happening...
Excellent! I told a few people here at work and they just smiled and said "what a fantastic idea. I want one."
Posted by: tman
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 08:16
heh. It does make more sense the other way
I'd be up for a couple so that's another 2 you don't need to worry about selling
Posted by: Ezekiel
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 10:13
Yes, but then you'd need twoty threety and fivety as well.
-Zeke
Posted by: Cris
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 11:03
Paul,
I would take say 100 (or even more) and sell them on this side of the pond through ebay.co.uk etc...
What do you think ???
Cheers
Cris.
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 11:03
...but I would be covered for sixty, seventy, eighty and ninety...
Posted by: Cybjorg
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 11:34
I didn't know regular users could sell there. I thought that I would have to get "in" with their marketing folks and have them carry the product.
I'm sure you're right, but it may not be as hard as you think. After all, I'm sure there are plenty of geeks that would purchase one.
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 11:44
Greetings!
Well at this stage, I am going to do it. I am going through the process with them now (still very tempted to deliberately misspell
fourty). I hope to have proofs or mock-ups soon.
That is when the patience kicks in. After the proof is approved, it is still a 60 day turn around time for orders like this.
Posted by: ricin
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 11:52
I told a few people here at work and they just smiled and said "what a fantastic idea. I want one."
Same here. Looks like i'll be getting 10+ for people here at work.
Posted by: Dignan
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 11:53
But just think of the day you receive a thousand balls on your doorstep
Posted by: tfabris
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 11:55
still very tempted to deliberately misspell fourty
Don't. In fact, I highly recommend making it just the numeric version "42".
Since you're going for the humor effect, you need people to react to it in the proper way. It's hard to do comedic timing in text, but in this case, your choice of how to print the word give you some control over that. The reader's brain needs to interpret the result as quickly as possible, and when seeing just the word all by itself, the number is going to hit their brain stem quicker, and make the Douglas Adams association quicker, than the full words would.
It would be different if it were a long piece of written prose. But since it's a tiny triangle in the 8-ball window, I think the number would work better than the words.
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 11:57
Hmmm... The numeric would work very well... An excellent idea!
Posted by: JeffS
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 12:33
Since you're going for the humor effect, you need people to react to it in the proper way. It's hard to do comedic timing in text, but in this case, your choice of how to print the word give you some control over that. The reader's brain needs to interpret the result as quickly as possible, and when seeing just the word all by itself, the number is going to hit their brain stem quicker, and make the Douglas Adams association quicker, than the full words would.
Wow. I was thinking this (in some vague "it'd be funnier just as a number" kind of way) but couldn't really figure out how to say it. Very well done!
Posted by: ricin
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 12:37
Well put.
I think leaving out the word "binary" for the logo text (or whatever that's called). I think it has a better impact just having "1000" by itself, and it looks better. If people don't get it, too bad, maybe they shouldn't buy one in the first place.
Plus, it can always be explained if need be.
Posted by: wfaulk
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 12:39
I agree 1100100%
Posted by: JeffS
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 12:39
Well at this stage, I am going to do it. I am going through the process with them now
I can't wait!
One thing, though. You're not going to get in any legal trouble over this are you since the "Magic 8 Ball" is a Tyco product? I have no idea about such things, but I'd hate to see you get sued for selling them over ebay.
Posted by: ricin
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 12:48
Mattel, actually.
I don't think there'd be a problem, that company (PromoBrands) would have to have permission to manufacture the custom versions in the first place, right?
Posted by: g_attrill
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 12:50
Put me down for a few!
I was going to say they are authorised manufacturers, but since they use the term "8 ball" and then "Fortune Balls" I guess not. Perhaps they licence the design but not the "Magic 8 Ball" name?
Gareth
Posted by: tfabris
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 12:53
I think leaving out the word "binary" for the logo text (or whatever that's called). I think it has a better impact just having "1000" by itself, and it looks better.
I wonder how you could clearly indicate that it's a binary value without saying Binary. You could do Hex with "0x08", but what's the proper notation for binary?
Posted by: JeffS
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 12:57
I wonder how you could clearly indicate that it's a binary value without saying Binary.
I don't know how it would look on the eight ball, but you could do something like
10010100101001
1001
1000110111
10001000110000
where the background numbers are REALLY faded.
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 13:01
Greetings!
Actually, I like the word binary there. Visually, it serves to orient the unit (I know the 1 is in a font that you can tell if it is upside-down, but...) and kind of balance the image.
As for the legal aspects, the packaging is from the manufacturer, so it would not have the words "magic" or "eight" or "ball" anywhere associated with it. I personally would use a weird term like "techie thousand sphere"...
Posted by: wfaulk
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 13:05
Mathematically, bases are indicated by a trailing subscript of the base in decimal.
In many computer languages, hexadecimal is preceded by `0x', as you say, and octal is preceded by `0', but binary isn't generally allowed, as it's just as easy and nearly as understandable to use hex or octal with the added benefit of taking up much less space. I suppose he could have it be `010'. `0x8' isn't particularly interesting, though.
Posted by: wfaulk
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 13:07
I'm not inclined to buy this kind of gewgaw, but I know that I'd think it was cool if it said `1000', but be inclined to call it amateurish and desperately pandering if the word `binary' followed. Make the font something obviously computerish, like OCR-A, if you think it needs some added implication that it's binary.
Posted by: tfabris
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 13:19
Maybe it would be enough to say "001000"?
Posted by: mcomb
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 13:19
I would buy a couple. Would like to see 'RTFM' and 'Wetware error' as options
-Mike
Posted by: JeffS
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 13:31
Just to follow this through (and because it looked awful in my post), see the attachment for what I was thinking.
Posted by: tfabris
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 13:33
I like that idea.
Posted by: foxtrot_xray
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 15:37
Aside from that, we'd never say that they're "our own", just custom..
There's nothing wrong with buying something at the store, then selling it on eBay. People do that alot, it seems..
Me.
Posted by: skibum
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 15:46
Gonna need about 30. Hopefully by April 19th if possible. The 1st meeting of our team. Shame its in the UK, but can't have everything. People coming in from 10 countries.
Posted by: DLF
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 15:51
At ~$10-12 each, I'm in for qty. 8 or ~$100 worth, whichever is greater. You're now taking down all our orders, right?
And as a tech writer, I have to second the vote to slip in "RTFM" there somewhere. That said, I trust your judgement.
Posted by: pgrzelak
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 16:16
Greetings!
Hold the orders and projections for a little while. I am still going ahead with the minimum 1000 order, but even best case we are still talking about a 60 day delivery cycle. I would not expect to see anything actually arrive until the early part of April. Once I get a firm delivery date, I will post something in the For Sale forum and let people know they are near.
When I get the final proof text and logos, I will post them here for people to look at.
Posted by: g_attrill
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 17:54
I guess if you're shelling out for the tooling you don't want to rush choosing your answers.
Another one: "PRESS CTRL+ALT+DEL"
Gareth
Posted by: Daria
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 22/01/2004 18:50
subscript 2 to the right of the number.
Posted by: ShadowMan
Re: custom magic 8 balls - 23/01/2004 07:14
I dreamed about this last night... put me down for one as well I guess!