Ultimately, the fan structure, whatever it is has to serve two functions:
To bring the fan base together and give them structure, and
To bring awareness of the games to outsiders.
While the Lab Rabbit thing obviously did the first, the Looneys apparently
feel that it didn't do the second well enough. Having a quirky theme is
fine, but it wasn't getting the image of games for adults across, and was
confusing to others who then look for rabbit-themed games.
I don't expect the hippy-image to go away, with its tie-dye and all that,
and I don't see any reason why people can't continue to wear rabbit ears,
but the lab coat was always a better indicator of a volunteer anyway, from
what I've seen.
I'm not certain that the change is needed, but the Looneys obviously are
certain, and they have more experience with marketing their games than
anyone else. In order to keep the games spreading, sometimes changes have to
be made. A tweak to the public image of the volunteer force hardly seems
like a great sacrifice to that end.
Just talk with the Looneys at a convention, it's obviously to me that they
are not and unfeeling megacorporation, far from it. How many other game
companies have a volunteer force with a name and unified look at all, let
alone one as much fun as we have? Lab Assistants include Igor, after all....
;)
--Penn
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Durfee" <browncoat@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Rabbits Discussion List" <rabbits@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 1:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Rabbits] wwNEWS - Back To the Future! / New Hires /
RenamingRabbits / Shel & Shake
Kristen,
Let me be blunt. I agree with Stephanie and Seth. I think that over the
past
couple of years, in an effort to restructure the organization, Looney Labs
has lost its brand identity and ultimately its way. Demolishing the old
Rabbit program before a replacement was ready and then after such a long
wait bestowing the inglorious moniker of Lab Assistants on a
disenfranchised
fan base are clear signs that Looney Labs does not value us fans the way
it
used to, which is a real shame.
As a Rabbit, I felt like I was a part of something special. As a Lab
Assistant, I feel like I would be a tool of an unfeeling megacorporation,
which only reinforces my discontent with the direction the company has
taken.
Regards,
Chuck
On Wed, May 19, 2010 at 8:55 AM, Kristin Looney
<kristin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:
Stephanie -
I totally understand... and we know how hard this transition is
going to be for many of our long time Rabbits... but I hope that
our reasons for why we want to make the change make sense to you.
Here is the announcement that Stephanie is referring to:
<http://www.wunderland.com/WhatsOld/2010/WN.05.18.10.html#Rabbits>
Please trust me when I say this is not a decision we have made
lightly! The change will be a slow process... starting with
the launch of the new web site we are working hard on right now.
Expect to hear more about this in the coming months...
-Kristin "Mamma Rabbit" Looney
--On May 19, 2010 "Stephanie M. Clarkson" <thespian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
On Wed, May 19, 2010 at 8:56 AM, Andy Looney <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> the decision to change the name
> of the Mad Lab Rabbits
I am sad about that, and as someone who spent 20 hours at PAX in bunny
ears, which were readily recognized as a sign of Looney Labs by most
people, I feel like this....removes a bit of recognizable goofiness
that most Rabbits really enjoy. Lab Assistants just does nothing for
me; as a program name it just sort of makes me shrug, unlike the Mad
Lab Rabbits, which I've enjoyed.
I'm devoted to your games. But I think I'm a Rabbit regardless what you
call me.
S.
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