h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Would you want one? Would it be practical for h2g2 to handle (ordering online, etc.)? Does it need a "legal fine print" section or can it just be a fun card?

Nice idea. But until h2g2 becomes well-known the system won't really work. You stick out your h2g2 ID card to the Turnip Festival staff and they just look at it, puzzled. Thing is, like any card, until it accepted or known it is rather useless - as big as h2g2 may be, Guide Research are very rare and the probability of meeting another Researcher by chance is very small. But hopefully h2g2 will grow to the size where such a project will work...eventually .

Perhaps I was being too cute in the description. Of course, the Turnip Festival staff will look blankly at it. I mostly saw this card as a form of h2g2 novelty merchandise (sort of like a T-shirt) for the researchers. However, I would love to see the expression on people's faces when I try to present it

And if a magnetic stripe was on the back, you could claim it was a credit card and it would display 42 repeatedly if swiped . Yes, I could see any such ID card going down well with Researchers - I'd probably go for it .

There probably would be some legal red tape if you wanted this to be real, but I think it would be a great novelity item. I know people who would buy it, me for starters. But as from getting informantion with it, that's going to be hard. If I ever need to get info like that I usually use my press pass (I'm not a reporter or even old enought to be but I have a legal press pass). But for those who don't have a press pass this card would be cool way to puzzle people. And the 42 magnetic stripe would be easy and funny to have. I think it's a good idea.
Thanks
Dirk Gently
ACE
Subeditor

P.S. One of the ACEs or Subeditors (I forget which one) has brought this page to the attention of the higher ups at H2G2.

Thanks for the responses, Slvad Cjelli, and Mr. Cynic. I'm glad you like it.

As far as it being real, Dirk, it's almost irrelevant. The idea of an official researcher card has no real legal significance anywhere -- it doesn't even claim to be a press pass.

I've updated the page to show the three possible responses you'd get if you actually tried to use this novelty card to get into the turnip festival.

Sure, if one of us tried to use it to get into Congress or a backstage at a rock concert, we'd be laughed at and thrown out. However, I've done press for lots of events, and I know that there's a lot of press conference-type events where they'd be thrilled to let you in (just so the marketing director could tell her boss they had one more press person there, since the only TV station decided to cover the cat stuck up in a tree, instead). And if they've read any DNA, even better.

Mostly, however, I just want to have it in my wallet so I can show my friends.
Redbeard

But like any other card, it won't -be- known til it's spread around.. and it will help spread the word about h2g2 in the process.

I like it, excellent design. In fact, I like it so much I've already stolen and modified it into one for myself. I don't know exactly where I'm going to post it yet, but...

'Nonnie

Oh yeah.. and Yeah, if they made a laminated 'official' version (and priced it reasonably, of course.. by 'reasonable' I'd say anywhere between US$2 and US$10) I'd definitely order one!

'Nonnie
(Who just got an idea of where to post it. *scurries off twitching whiskers*)

Yes, I think you've got the price range right, 'Nonnie.
Thanks for the comments... I'll have to check out yours, if I figure out where you decided to post it.
Redbeard
*tries to scurry while twitching whiskers, and dislocates jaw*

See the other thread here.

'Nonnie
(*twitches whiskers more slowly so you can grasp how it's done* )

Months ago (it may even have been early last autumn) I came across a similar idea on h2g2. I have to say your's is far more thoroughly worked out and the card's a more attractive design, though I think it could be more adventurous still. Would there be anything stopping it from being goo shaped as well as having goo decals? I know manufacture would be more wasteful, but it'd have more rounded corners and so be easier on the pocket - might get more people carrying if that was the case. Also, it'd single it out from all the other cards that are so multitudinous these days (rather like the Beatles shaped CDs, perhaps )
The magnetic strip idea is interesting if there's something that'll read it... Though if there is, you could actually put it to some use, like differentiating it from other cards if it's owned by, say, an ACE.

Certainly you could do goo shaped, but it becomes a matter of practicality and cost.

Part of this will involve how it is done. There are a number of companies that will specially print credit-card style id cards in a variety of arrangements depending on quantity, amount of personalization, etc. The trick with many of these options is how you get the name on the card (I think personalization is critical for this card). Do you have to wait until you collect a certain number of names, etc., etc.

I found one company (and I'm sure there's more) that sells card printers that attach to your PC. The printer uses pastic card stock, and prints full-bleed, full-color cards with magnetic stripe or bar-code if you wish. Since it's controlled by software on the PC, all you have to do is type in the new name and pop out another card. This would also allow the addition of extra information (like identifying sub-editors and ACEs). This seems to be one of the easiest solutions. Then you price the card to cover cost of materials, paying for the printer and software over some reasonable number of cards, etc, plus overhead. Once the printer's paid off, it becomes profit for h2g2. Maybe even up the price another dollar for researchers and give ACEs and Sub-editors a free card or discount as a small thanks for all their hard work.

I like it. I would definitely purchase one myself. Have you brought it to the attention of the other ACE's yet?
~S

Yes. That's how I found out about it .

And I think Peta was the one who posted it .

Joanna volunteered to let the Aces know about this. Seems to be positive response, but I have no idea what will come of it from here. After things have settled down a little, I think I'll drop a line to Peta to make sure she knows about it.

Worst comes to and they decide not to carry it at DNA, you could always get permission to do it independantly. Oh, by the by, I'm Shadow, nice to meet you both. I heard from Abi yesterday and have just became a new member of the ACE's group. ::Beams proudly:: Now all I need is one of those little hanging signs on my page.
~S

Congratulations, Ace Shadow!

Whatever you do, please don't produce a design along the lines of the Alabaster skin. Classic Goo was an inspired design. Alabaster isn't.

Definitely classic goo!
Regarding promoting classic goo, you might be interested in the banner on my home page

*lol* Read my mind.

I found Classic Goo a curious interpretation of the idea of the Guide in DNA's books, but liked it and it's definitely interesting and distinctive. I did feel it was a little graphically over-burdened at times (I always imagined a Guide as being text only), but Alabaster is definitely not the solution. It's not bad, it's just totally un-memorable. h2g2's image risks being watered down with it.

If we're going to have skins, I imagine we'll have more than those two though. Which could create a problem with the ID card design - you can't exactly change that at the touch of a button.