I think its a very good idea, I know i would be the first one in line to buy a <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beyond.gif" alt="" /> and a <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" /> T-shirt, cap, coffee mug, poster.... whatever they come up with... and its something that will be very easily accomplished, all the art is done, there is little or no change to convert the art images to a format that silkscreeners can use, the cost of digitizing for embroydery is also minimal compared to what you can charge for a embroydered logo, instead of a silkscreened one...
And i am also very sure that most people wouldnt mind paying a decent price for accessories as long as its a decent quality.
As for marketing research... the most common accessories in demand is:
1. T Shirts (normally either the normal black with the BD picture on, or various forms of lighter shirts with the larian logo and lighter logo's on)
2. Caps (they have been a all time favourite since the dawn of time
3. Jackets (yes a bit more expensive, but well appreciated and they make out brilliant advertsing especially during the colder seasons.
4. Coffee mugs - its like drinking out of a trophy....
5. here is a new idea that is not featured by most games (though comics are famous for using it, and it WORKS) Swords, Axes, Shields, and other armour and weapon sets. A sword (especially a collectors item) , lets say like a famous sword featured in the game, fetches a handsome price in most fantasy shops, and i know where i live, most people have their famous swords on the wall in the living room, along with that battle axe and shield. (I am married to one of the compulsive sword collectors and know many more)
And i presume i am fairly close to the mark when i say that most people who LOVE BD, are also the type of people who love just about any fantasy object. (we are considered by some to be a little gothic compared to the rest of the world)...
So please, let us know what you think, and please come up with more ideas of items that would sell.
ITs not only the selling of the items that counts here, its free advertising for larian too. If we want BD to become the chart topper, we also have to help with the advertising of their products and i can think of no better way, that to prowl around in a nice T-shirt with the game-name (decent picture that makes you want to hack some monsters), and a web address on.
On top of all this i have to congrats Deon for the marketing ideas. South africans just KNOW how to create a market where none were before <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />
