The Importance of Bacon
by FEMAELSTROM, HSM team writer
To most people, bacon is a great side to some breakfast eggs or an important ingredient to a BLT. Some folk avoid the stuff like the plague, but to those of us that enjoy the flavor, there is a pretty good drool factor involved. There is such an interest in bacon that the nationwide restaurant chain, Denny’s, even had a celebration of bacon and offered fare such as bacon pancakes, bacon meatloaf, and a bacon sundae. Now it seems bacon is once again about to break out of its pen and invade our Home, past the confines of the Homeling Collective.
The all-too-necessary shot of bacon!
Recently there was a grassroots movement that started from what was really nothing more than a joke and some fun photo play, but sprouted life into an interesting example of what our voices can do here on Home. Originally named “Rocky the Bacon Companion,” it was an idea that came along in the form of a Facebook post on the Lockwood Facebook page.
It was Lancevfx who first cried, “We need a moving bacon companion>:0″. Lockwood rendered up a picture of a girl in her Harbor studio apartment with a google-eyed bacon companion named “Rocky,” and the notice that it would not be coming out as an item. “Lancevfx” responded saying that for him it was an instant buy if it ever came out. Lockwood took it one step forward and asked if we really wanted this to come to pass.
The response was overwhelming, especially from those in the Homeling Collective who have a special place in their hearts for bacon. The Lockwood Facebook page started a poll regarding a bacon companion. The final tally was 90% of responders in favor (flavor?) of the yet-to-be-named companion. After a vigorous response, Lockwood saw the value to the fans, the world of Home and of course the bank account (and that’s not to be faulted).
Then came the real crowning moment for this whole affair: we got to vote on a name. As witnesses and participants to this great event of not just buying content but helping shape it, we were even given an even more in-depth opportunity into the design of this companion as we are allowed to vote for the name. They had great names: Rasher, The Baconator, Kevin, Chris P, and the frontrunner, Sir Francis Bacon. More important than any name given to this new companion is the mere fact we were given the community inclusion to name it. Another thumbs up for Lockwood. On July 23rd, 2012, our bacon companion was officially dubbed Sir Francis Bacon’.
“Wait, that was not my intro, I thought it was. Sorry.”
To all involved in the creation of this bacon companion, I offer my congratulations. This is a perfect example of how to hear the voices of the consumer audience and to work to satisfy their desires.
It could be contended by the cynical types that Lockwood is making a profit, and this only serves to make them some more money — that the whole event was designed from the beginning to drive community engagement via asymmetric marketing. This is not a view I hold to. Many of the people here on Home realize that developers are not non-profit companies and are out to make money in an environment where there is a commercial facet. This should in no way be looked down upon. I applaud Lockwood’s attention to the fans. It shows that they scour the social media and listen to the voices of those that do pump large amounts of money into the Home economy. There are some hallmark developers here on Home, and with masterstrokes like these, this again serves to place Lockwood at the top with few competitors.
(By the way, to the critics of ‘puff’ pieces, I get nothing free from Lockwood beyond what is offered to the regular public; I feel though, that with this level of customer attention, it has to be acknowledged and pointed out that this is a level of attention other developers on Home can certainly learn to embrace and emulate.)
From where I sit, I am committed to this: I will buy this companion if just to support the effort. This way, in my own participation, I can stand up and put in my support for this type of consumer/developer relationship.
I love these guys, and they aren’t even paying me to say that.
Lockwood has again shown what listening — and interacting with — the customer base will do for you. We are the buying public: if you make it and make it well, we will but it and spread the word. Those that are part of the buying community are quick to talk about what is good and what is not. We are quick to make it well known what is bad or glitchy, and what is a real disappointment and on the other side of the spectrum: we are fast at letting our friends know when something is good and worth buying.
(What makes this experiment interesting is that it’s a very low-cost way to see how much of a correlation there is between enthusiastic response and actual sales revenue. –Ed.)
This is a perfect example of a developer working hand-in-hand with the community. This is the kind of relationship I hope others will take note of — and, to be fair, there’s been an overt increase in community outreach from Home’s top third-party developers. There are other buying motives for a virtual commodity beyond just wanting the commodity itself, and this is where branding via community outreach can make a huge difference.
July 26th, 2012 by FEMAELSTROM | 10 comments
FEMAELSTROM came to Home in June 2011 and never wanted to leave, even at weekly maintenance when he usually gets booted. The sand box environment appeals to the explorer in him and often is out and about as he ‘geeks’ out dressed like some sort of sci-fi character, while he people watches in popular public spaces. An artist and writer, FEMAELSTROM loves making friends and meeting people. He loves sci-fi and decorating Home estates and loves to respond “here” when people ask “where are you from?” in public places.
Awesome! I totally voted for this companion to be made as well, but I voted for it’s name to be Kevin LOL!
It is very rare I write a fluff piece myself, but after purchasing the new modular kitchens, I was so impressed by the quality and versatility I was mentally and emotionally forced to sing praises to VEEMEE for outstanding work.
I can’t wait for Sir Francis to be released, and just on a side note… we see full size and baby animals released all the time, does this mean Sir Francis will have a youthful version of the same? If so, maybe we can vote to name that one Master Bacon “BIT”? *snicker*
It was a man named Unyon over in the EU forums that wanted to call it Kevin. I suggested Mr.Streakeasy, but since I don’t have a facebook account, was never considered lol.
LOL!
I reckon that the world is not ready for the likes of you Krazy… its a lucky thing for us all that you are without the book of faces.
Ya’ know Dlyrius, I don’t even consider this a fluff piece because I was coming from the view of giving credit where it’s due. Lockwood listened to the people. Most of the time in life that does not happen. Lockwood broke the mold and I hope that they reap the benfits of this good response for what is: a brilliant move.
Just goes to show that they do listen, more than many believe. I bet the Homelings are ecstatic!! There are several hundred automatic sales right there, lol.
Anything goes in Home, costumes or companions alike, it will be funny watching people play with their “food”. Nice story Strom.
Sir Francis Bacon -the iconic idol of the supply and demand marketplace. There is just too much irony for my small brain to wrap itself around. (I am rather like a meat head which might lend itself to a Filet Minion pun)-but I digress… the important thing is -as you said here so eloquently Mael -That we, the people, do have bearing on what the market produces.
Interestingly enough, Bacon was noted as a philosopher for this:
But the Idols of the Market Place are the most troublesome of all — idols which have crept into the understanding through the alliances of words and names. For men believe that their reason governs words; but it is also true that words react on the understanding; and this it is that has rendered philosophy and the sciences sophistical and inactive. Now words, being commonly framed and applied according to the capacity of the vulgar, follow those lines of division which are most obvious to the vulgar understanding. And whenever an understanding of greater acuteness or a more diligent observation would alter those lines to suit the true divisions of nature, words stand in the way and resist the change. Whence it comes to pass that the high and formal discussions of learned men end oftentimes in disputes about words and names; with which (according to the use and wisdom of the mathematicians) it would be more prudent to begin, and so by means of definitions reduce them to order. Yet even definitions cannot cure this evil in dealing with natural and material things, since the definitions themselves consist of words, and those words beget others. So that it is necessary to recur to individual instances, and those in due series and order, as I shall say presently when I come to the method and scheme for the formation of notions and axioms.
Pretty heady stuff -I am surprised that they did not put a policeman’s hat on the thing and call it Officer Wilbur. Kudos for to them for taking the higher road.
I think that I had the same reaction of morbid fascination as when I saw this book sitting in the children’s bookshelves in a book store.
Very nice writing btw Mael -I love this!
http://www.amazon.com/Stinky-Cheese-Other-Fairly-Stupid/dp/067084487X
LOL i wanted it to be called Kevin too!
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