Chapter 1, Page 20
From: JPinley@HGS.xop
To: LSenti@HGS.xop
Subject: Product Marketing Division; VX-II design
Laya,
As far as functionality is concerned, I have no issues with the VX-II model. However, I feel we need to completely overhaul the suit’s appearance. The visual aesthetic needs work–I’d like to see the VX-II have a more intimidating design. This was a non-issue on prior models when we were working strictly with government contracts. But now that we’ve expanded our client base with the VX-II, we need to be more aware of how potential clientele want their weapons to be seen on the battlefield. Fifty years ago, Mirai Cybersystems’ T.O.T.O. models were the best selling unmanned units on the market solely due to their threatening appearance. The units were known for being unreliable and, yet, appearance alone made the company billions in yearly revenue.
I know it’s late in the game to be altering the VX-II, and this should have been discussed much earlier in the design stage. That said, major private military companies have recently been contacting Horizon Global Solutions regarding this particular model, along with requests for customized units. Even without us divulging the classified specs, Death Widow, Cauldron Iron, and Raptor Security have already offered substantial bids for exclusive early-access to the VX-II.
I’m aware that redesigning physical elements of the VX-II at this point may impact aspects of the suit’s overall performance. Unfortunately, I see no other possible choice in the matter. As the suit appears now, it honestly wouldn’t frighten a child. I want our PMC’s enemies half a world away to be stricken with fear before the VX-II fires a single round. These alterations will likely delay the suit’s release slightly, and I have taken that into account. And please, do something with that ugly dome-shaped canopy. Can’t we design something more aggressive, maybe resembling a death’s head? And can we add any bladed weapons to the suit? I know I’ve mentioned including them before, but their functionality was called into question by the engineers. That said, the engineers don’t need to market this, I do. Just have them add a high-frequency blade onto the non-Gatling arm. Marketing research shows that mech designs with bladed weaponry are more popular with PMC clientele.
Send the updated designs after they get drafted.
Thanks,
Jale Pinley
Product Marketing Division
Horizon Global Solutions
Danger Zone One. Story by Midnight. Art by Katsu.
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This company is doomed to die.
Trying to retro a “look” into what is effectively a finished design is what runs the red ink.
Somebody doesn’t respect the 90% rule that states the last 10% of the project will take 90% of the time, and the “look” should have been part of the first 90%.
BTW Officer Wynter is the full package. She doesn’t just have a full bust and a nice waist, she has the best set of legs I’ve seen anywhere in a long, long time.
Sorry, I should have said, the “Look” should have been in the first _10%_.
“This company is doomed to die.” Heh, that made me laugh–it’s so true, and reminds me of the company I used to work for. I couldn’t believe how they kept the doors open, let alone made *any* profit. Total backward designs and last minute tinkering on near finished products was a daily practice. They eventually did go under too!
“This company is doomed to die.” Nope, Jale the Evil Marketer is dead right. About 10 years ago the pentagon ordered a redesign of body armor mid-way through development because they wanted the soldiers to be better looking in the armor, rather than protected or effective. A buddy who works as a deputy for the county explained that upper management [my term not his] preferred younger, ‘healthier’ looking officers rather than older, experienced officers on patrols, simply as a matter of appearances.
Style is more important than substance to a bureaucracy’s leadership, and a military officer or LEO who is safe as a desk jockey will always lie to themselves regarding the consequences of their decisions on human lives they are responsible for. Mr. Evil Marketer is 100% realistic on this point.
Jale the marketer is right in that appearance is mighty important to sales, depending on the clientele. Sheik is right that such changes at a late stage easily brings a project into the red. Better launch the bland looking one and follow up as fast as possible with the next model with improved looks.
“I … I’m not sure what happened … a nearly naked blonde came running in screaming something about ‘Oh no you don’t get away with that shit!’ and tore the mecha to pieces with her bare hands. The brunette wit a few more clothes on helped some.”
I’m loving this comic. Great writing/art and it’s genuinely fun.
And bonus points for the additional “world-building” additions below every page. I like when webcomics do that, but few do it as well as this.
Minor technical point – the image file for both this page and the next seem to be named “Page21.jpg”
Oops, just fixed it. The image file for this page is now the proper “Page20” — thanks for catching that!
And let us take time to celebrate this comic’s first official Wardrobe Malfunction.” A lot of people seem to underestimate how easily a zipper can be pulled apart, compared to the durability of the fabric that it’s attached to.
😀
Alright!! We are going full Ikki-Tousen with the fight scenes.
Wardrobe malfunctions… Crappy clothing and sloppy way of wearing it. Some veteran police she is…
I understand fan service is the point by now, but there should be better ways for it, like bath scenes. Or undercover gig in the strip club.
Yes, but she was just in the middle of 4 exploding rockets … I don’t know of any police uniform that could stand up well to that. I never did like it when a movie or TV show depicted a cop crawling out of the rubble & brushing the dust of her/his otherwise intact uniform. This is much better …
We need to see Wynter in an undercover gig at a strip club at some point. I wanna see her reluctantly shake ass and show her tits. Angry/embarrassed expression.