Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

Slashdot

News for nerds, stuff that matters

Create Account | Retrieve Password

Stories

Slashdot Log In

Create Account | Retrieve Password

Microsoft's "Source Fource" Action Figures

Posted by CmdrTaco on Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:03 AM
from the is-frequent-rebooting-a-power dept.

RCanine writes "Microsoft is attempting to curry mind share with the 3-12 age bracket with their new event, the Source Fource, a series of developer-based action figures. Windows Vista Sensei, SQL Server Gal and some lame gender stereotypes presumably seek to rid the world of bearded, katana-wielding evil-doers. From the article: 'Between March 15th and April 15th 2007, the new super dudette will be offered and will be sent to developers who get their act together and attend at least two live MSDN Webcasts or two MSDN Virtual Labs, or one of each.'" I just can't figure out what to make of this, except that I hope someone can tell me if it blends. Or melts. Or burns.

+ -

For the love of... (Score:5, Funny)

by x3rc3s (954149) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:06AM (#22488024)

This is a sure sign of the apocalypse...
- Re:For the love of...Apocalypse Ponies! (Score:4, Funny)
  
  by korbin_dallas (783372) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:32AM (#22488442) Journal
  
  Apocalypse Ponies, my Little Ponies....
  
  (little girl voice): I'm war pony (flames couch)
  (little girl voice): A I am (evil deep voice) DEATH PONY!
  
  google: robot chicken apocalypse pony
  
  Parent
- I think I speak for everyone here... (Score:5, Funny)
  
  by DragonHawk (21256) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:46AM (#22488650) Homepage Journal
  
  I think I speak for everyone here when I say: Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. Over.
  
  Parent
- Re:For the love of... (Score:4, Insightful)
  
  by Pvt_Ryan (1102363) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:58AM (#22488860)
  
  I am actually crying.. I mean reading MS's superhero page actually brought tears to my eyes.
  I think I have lost the will to live.
  
  That HAS to be the most depressing and pathetic thing I have seen in years.
  
  Maybe the big bad penguin TUX will be the evil genius that is trying to lure potential windows developers away, and the new "superheroes" will rally to their aid.
  
  Its not even 1700 and after reading that I need a drink..
  
  Parent
- Xerox must have hired the same consultants (Score:4, Informative)
  
  by fellini8.5 (517017) <fellini8.5NO@SPAMgmail.com> on Wednesday February 20 2008, @11:16AM (#22489124) Homepage
  
  Xerox recently announced a "viral" marketing campaign involving superhero characters that extoll the virtues of solid ink printing. I shit you not.
  
  IncredibleInc [incredibleinc.com]
  
  Parent
- Bluescreen (Score:5, Insightful)
  
  by wideBlueSkies (618979) * on Wednesday February 20 2008, @11:53AM (#22489664) Journal
  
  Wow. My knick-nack shelf just bluescreened.
  
  The only thing left standing is my stuffed Tux.
  
  Parent
- - Re:For the love of... (Score:5, Insightful)
    
    by HTH NE1 (675604) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @11:43AM (#22489516)
    
    I like how they're the "Fource" because there's seven of them.
    
    Parent
Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:06AM (#22488026)

SQL Server Gal is hot! Is she single?!
- Re:Hmm... (Score:4, Funny)
  
  by somersault (912633) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:19AM (#22488236) Homepage Journal
  
  I was hoping that she'd be hawt, but then it turned out that she's the demon heck-spawn of a block of lego and that big sleeping Pokemon dude.. :s
  
  Parent
  - Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)
    
    by xSauronx (608805) <xsauronxdamnit.gmail@com> on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:24AM (#22488322)
    
    If you don't want to say "hell" you can substitute "Detroit"
    
    Parent
    - Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)
      
      by egomaniac (105476) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:31AM (#22488422) Homepage
      
      If you don't want to say "hell" you can substitute "Detroit"
      
      Hey hey hey, there are kids reading this. You know you can't say words like "Detroit" in polite company! Now go wash your mouth out with soap, young man!
      
      Parent
      - Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)
        
        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:33AM (#22488454)
        
        Belgium, man. Belgium.
        
        Parent
- Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)
  
  by Lemmy Caution (8378) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:23AM (#22488308) Homepage
  
  I am not going to make an SQL Injection joke. No. I am not.
  
  Parent
  - Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)
    
    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:42AM (#22488604)
    
    I will then.
    
    I would inject her then 9 months later watch her drop her tables. If you know what I mean.
    
    Parent
  - Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)
    
    by $RANDOMLUSER (804576) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:48AM (#22488700)
    
    I will, in return, refrain from making any "back-door vulnerability" jokes.
    
    Parent
- Re:Hmm... (Score:4, Funny)
  
  by ivansanchez (565775) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:33AM (#22488450)
  
  > Is she single?! I guess she has lots of foreign relationships...
  
  Parent
- Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)
  
  by ultranova (717540) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:35AM (#22488492)
  
  SQL Server Gal is hot! Is she single?!
  
  No, but she isn't big on limiting access - hell, that's the name of her little sister. However, as a result she has worms, bugs, and viruses. Use virus protection if you want to mess with her, and remember: she charges for the "fun", unless you meet her at a shady BitTorrent server somewhere.
  
  Parent
- - Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)
    
    by Mister Whirly (964219) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @12:15PM (#22490056) Homepage
    
    ""she also likes Sex in the City". I don't know that show. I know of Sex and the City, a show popular with her type"
    
    They are not talking about the television show. She is just a slut.
    
    Parent
Oooo, Ooooo, Oooo!!!!!! (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:07AM (#22488036)

They MUST start making some "evil villian" models too. One that looks like RMS. I'll buy a dozen!
- Re:Oooo, Ooooo, Oooo!!!!!! (Score:5, Funny)
  
  by esocid (946821) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:12AM (#22488128) Journal
  
  They do. I think I saw a penguin on there.
  
  Parent
  - Re:Oooo, Ooooo, Oooo!!!!!! (Score:5, Funny)
    
    by skuzzlebutt (177224) <.gro.ylimafskoorb. .ta. .ymerej.> on Wednesday February 20 2008, @12:36PM (#22490380) Homepage
    
    I just got a picture of a panel with the nefarious villain BSOD laying on top of the Vista Sensie smacking the piss out of him...the bloodied superhero turns to TuxMan and says "OK, enough...call him off!" TuxMan replies..."um, don't look at me...I think he came in your van. He probably snuck out while you were waiting for your bloated sidekick SideBar to wake up."
    
    Parent
missing someone here.... (Score:3, Funny)

by Subgenius (95662) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:08AM (#22488054) Homepage

But Where is Bob? Or Super-Sweaty Ballmer?
- Re:missing someone here.... (Score:5, Funny)
  
  by TripMaster Monkey (862126) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:22AM (#22488286)
  
  Super-Sweaty Ballmer! Now with Mega-Chair-Throwing action (TM)! Pull the string and hear Super-Sweaty Ballmer say one of the following action phrases:
  
  - "Developers! Developers! Developers!"
  
  - "Woooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!"
  
  - "I'm going to f**king KILL Google!"
  
  Supplies are limited, so place your order now!
  
  Parent
  - Re:missing someone here.... (Score:5, Funny)
    
    by Rob T Firefly (844560) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @11:53AM (#22489660) Homepage Journal
    
    Those of us into customizing our own action figures can simply paint a necktie onto a Dr. Evil figure that's been dipped into thin chicken broth.
    
    Parent
Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)

by jrothwell97 (968062) <jonathan@@@notroswell...com> on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:09AM (#22488064) Homepage Journal

Let me guess.

Are the nemeses of these characters 'Evil Dr Torvalds' and 'The Jobs Bandit', who are intent on overtaking the world with their clone armies of penguins, platypuses and scary Finder icons?
- Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)
  
  by Hoi Polloi (522990) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:23AM (#22488302) Journal
  
  Batman has been fighting Linux for years. [wikipedia.org]
  
  Parent
- Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)
  
  by Viceroy Potatohead (954845) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:28AM (#22488378) Homepage
  
  Don't forget Professor Oppensource, with his evil creations! Give him a monocle and a Nazi armband, with the Firefox logo instead of a swastika. Lesser villains such as Dr. Oppenoffis could be thwarted by the team's pet Oox,Mel. If MS is going to implement the gayest idea ever, they might as well go all the way.
  
  Parent
- Those are over on Source Forge (Score:4, Funny)
  
  by billstewart (78916) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:37AM (#22488516) Journal
  
  I didn't have enough sleep, or something, to deal with this article. Is it mushroom season in the Pacific Northwest, or what?
  
  Parent
WTF? (Score:5, Insightful)

by joaommp (685612) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:09AM (#22488066) Journal

<irony>I work at Microsoft. How come I knew this first from /.?</irony>

Let the "you must be new here" comments begin.
- - Re:WTF? (Score:4, Funny)
    
    by joaommp (685612) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:59AM (#22488876) Journal
    
    No, I'm actually motivated by lunch. And learning, too. But lunch is a priority.
    
    Parent
WTF (Score:3, Insightful)

by Silver Sloth (770927) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:09AM (#22488068)

Maybe it's because I'm in my fifties but this seems incomprehensible - but then so does my teenage son's taste in music so maybe I'm just old.
Too much cash in MS marketing. (Score:5, Interesting)

by AceJohnny (253840) <jlargentaye AT gmail DOT com> on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:09AM (#22488072) Journal

Microsoft is the living proof that Marketing > Quality (as if anybody doubted that). They know that their marketing dept is their most important asset, and they can afford to pour cash at them. Hence their marketing people can afford to try out any wacky ideas and see what sticks.

That's the only explanation I can come up for this initiative. Anything else makes me want to obliterate humanity.
Microsoft At Its Finest (Score:5, Funny)

by eldavojohn (898314) * <my/.username@@@gmail.com> on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:10AM (#22488092) Homepage Journal

The best part is when you click "Watch Them in Action!" [microsoft.com] and it takes you to a page.

Now, a lot of sites have this crazy idea of embedded video that streams from a site or source that's dedicated to streaming video. You know like YouTube, Blip.tv or any of the .tv sites really. Does Microsoft utilize any of those freely available options? Oh no, of course not! YouTube is Google! Even if we don't have a competing solution we must not use theirs!

So what happens when you click "view"? Well, it creates a popup window that opens up Windows Media Player! Good luck viewing a .asx file all you non-Windows users.

The least Microsoft could do is create their own streaming video server but, alas, we must revert to our archaic mentality, reject all that is sensible and invade my privacy and comfort zone by automatically opening a program that is tied to the kernel (and at least historically had admin rights when I didn't) sitting in kernel land on my computer.

Assistant: Mr. Ballmer! Research indicates that Richard Stallman is 50% more cuddly than you!
Ballmer: Damnit ... must be his hair. Well, we'll see about that! Put the action figures I've hand crafted here immediately into production! Release plush dolls of clippy! Find me puppies to carry around with me at press conferences and when their cute factor falls below 40%, have them killed and replaced!
- Re:Microsoft At Its Finest (Score:5, Funny)
  
  by mhall119 (1035984) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:34AM (#22488468) Homepage Journal
  
  So what happens when you click "view"? Well, it creates a popup window that opens up Windows Media Player! Good luck viewing a .asx file all you non-Windows users.
  Hmmm, if GIF is pronouned "jiff", and JPG is pronounced "jay-peg", wouldn't that make ASX....oh....oh my......suddenly it all makes sense.
  
  Parent
they should have just adopted the os-tans (Score:5, Insightful)

by Akatosh (80189) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:11AM (#22488114) Homepage

This has been done and done well [wikipedia.org]. Why the cheap knockoff?
- Re: (Score:3, Funny)
  
  by somersault (912633)
  
  Cool concept! Call me back when Miss NT is legal :p
3-12 year olds? (Score:3, Insightful)

by \\ (118555) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:11AM (#22488116) Homepage

I get that they're toys, and toys are traditionally for kids, and that it's fun to make fun of/hate on Microsoft, and that Microsoft is obviously trying to get people hooked early (did I cover all the bases?).. but these action figures are more collectibles than toys to be played with. This stuff isn't really for kids, it's for your OCD-afflicted nerd that has (hopefully) outgrown Pokemon.
Say what you want. (Score:4, Funny)

by Xest (935314) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:15AM (#22488176)

This is the coolest thing Microsoft has ever done and I'm not having anyone say otherwise!

They're like, ninja developer legomen superheroes!
Windows Vista Sensei? (Score:4, Funny)

by dkalley (776724) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:16AM (#22488182)

From the website:

He is highly thought of as one of the most powerful warriors alive. Although he is still young, Windows Vista Sensei is said to possess different strengths and confidence not known to anyone. He is already beginning to gain such world fame at his young age that folks are writing stories about him.

That's quite some selective perception, I can't even believe this is real!!
Marketing taking advantage of similar phrases? (Score:4, Insightful)

by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:16AM (#22488188)

It looks like Microsoft has been on a marketing rampage of trying to confuse various community project names with its own garbage.

Office Open XML (similar to OpenOffice.org?)
Source Force (SourceForge, anyone?)

Seriously, it's like they're trying to give all these great projects a bad name in the eyes of the ignorant masses who will make the subliminal association in their heads. When all they have is marketing left trying to revive the sinking ship, every problem can be made to look like a marketing one.
It's at times like this ... (Score:5, Insightful)

by Stavr0 (35032) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:16AM (#22488196) Homepage Journal

that I regret there's no photoshop contests on Slashdot.
You'll need your Time Machine... (Score:3, Informative)

by dzurn (62738) <daz-slashdot@zzz[ ].com ['urn' in gap]> on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:18AM (#22488232) Homepage

This article is from 2007, and these figures were originally released in 2006.

But go ahead and watch the video, if you can. See if they'll at least throw in a time-share condo.
DC will sue? (Score:5, Insightful)

by giminy (94188) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:34AM (#22488478) Homepage Journal

Visual Studio Guy [microsoft.com] is the Green Lantern, MSDN Webcast Guy [microsoft.com] is Superman, Virtual Labs Guy [microsoft.com] is The Flash. I don't see credit on there anywhere, and this is definitely a marketing thing (not a parody).

I think MSDN Webcast Guy's tagline says it best, "His parents weren't very creative."
embrace, extend, extinguish - on names (Score:5, Interesting)

by Tom (822) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:35AM (#22488484) Homepage Journal

I don't think it's coincidence that it sounds a lot like SourceForge [sourceforge.net].

I don't know why, but if I wanted to muddle a name, that's something I'd do: Create something that sounds much like it, is a bit childish and ridiculous, and try to make it popular.
Thanks (Score:5, Funny)

by lelitsch (31136) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:35AM (#22488500)

Thank you Microsoft, for setting your people back 1000 years.
I'm waiting for the Batman crossover (Score:5, Funny)

by GodfatherofSoul (174979) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @11:04AM (#22488938)

...because you know Source Fource is out to beat the Penguin.
hmmm... Source Fource... Source Forge (Score:5, Insightful)

by MadJo (674225) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @11:17AM (#22489142) Homepage Journal

Can Source Forge perhaps sue Microsoft for infringing on the trademark Sourceforge? (it's at least a closer approximation than Mike Row Soft)
Offer's expired - March 15 - April 15 2007 (Score:4, Interesting)

by tlhIngan (30335) <slashdot AT worf DOT net> on Wednesday February 20 2008, @11:55AM (#22489700)

I just noticed this - it's in the summary, and in TFA (twice!).
March 15th through April 15th 2007: Qualification period for the Windows Vista Sensei and Office Master superheros

(emphasis mine).

And in the rules...
Offer good only to the first 5,000 residents of the U.S. or Canada that attend at least two live MSDN Webcasts or complete two MSDN Virtual Labs, or one of each, between March 15, 2007, and April 15, 2007

(again, emphasis mine).

Either this is really really really old news (not unusual - it IS /. after all), or someone's got their time machine all messed up?
- Re:Haha, the description is ACCURATE! (Score:5, Funny)
  
  by esocid (946821) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @10:37AM (#22488526) Journal
  
  10th degree black belt and martial arts master trained in the ancient art of combat, security and connectivity.
  Unless he can't find the drivers needed to use his weapons, then he's SOL.
  
  Parent
  - Re:Haha, the description is ACCURATE! (Score:4, Funny)
    
    by Archangel Michael (180766) on Wednesday February 20 2008, @11:43AM (#22489524) Journal
    
    You're about to use a katana ...
    
    Cancel or Allow?
    
    Parent

There may be more comments in this discussion. Without JavaScript enabled, you might want to turn on Classic Discussion System in your preferences instead.

Slashdot

News for nerds, stuff that matters

Slashdot { color: "", viewname: "stories", filter: "", name: "Main", id: 13 }

Site Info

Stories

Slashdot Log In

Microsoft's "Source Fource" Action Figures

Related Stories

Microsoft's "Source Fource" Action Figures 50 Comments More Login /

Please Log In to Continuex

For the love of... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:For the love of...Apocalypse Ponies! (Score:4, Funny)

I think I speak for everyone here... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:For the love of... (Score:4, Insightful)

Xerox must have hired the same consultants (Score:4, Informative)

Bluescreen (Score:5, Insightful)

Re:For the love of... (Score:5, Insightful)

Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Hmm... (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Hmm... (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)

Oooo, Ooooo, Oooo!!!!!! (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Oooo, Ooooo, Oooo!!!!!! (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Oooo, Ooooo, Oooo!!!!!! (Score:5, Funny)

missing someone here.... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:missing someone here.... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:missing someone here.... (Score:5, Funny)

Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)

Those are over on Source Forge (Score:4, Funny)

WTF? (Score:5, Insightful)

Re:WTF? (Score:4, Funny)

WTF (Score:3, Insightful)

Too much cash in MS marketing. (Score:5, Interesting)

Microsoft At Its Finest (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Microsoft At Its Finest (Score:5, Funny)

they should have just adopted the os-tans (Score:5, Insightful)

Re: (Score:3, Funny)

3-12 year olds? (Score:3, Insightful)

Say what you want. (Score:4, Funny)

Windows Vista Sensei? (Score:4, Funny)

Marketing taking advantage of similar phrases? (Score:4, Insightful)

It's at times like this ... (Score:5, Insightful)

You'll need your Time Machine... (Score:3, Informative)

DC will sue? (Score:5, Insightful)

embrace, extend, extinguish - on names (Score:5, Interesting)

Thanks (Score:5, Funny)

I'm waiting for the Batman crossover (Score:5, Funny)

hmmm... Source Fource... Source Forge (Score:5, Insightful)

Offer's expired - March 15 - April 15 2007 (Score:4, Interesting)

Re:Haha, the description is ACCURATE! (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Haha, the description is ACCURATE! (Score:4, Funny)

Please Log In to Continuex

Close

Slashdot