Discussion Dbrand announces "Clone of the Kingdom" Switch skin, taunts Nintendo to sue them (as marketing)

[totofogo]

Clone of the Kingdom » Special Edition Drop » dbrand

Introducing Clone of the Kingdom: a custom skin design that's "heavily inspired" by the latest novelty console. Available for the Switch & Steam Deck for a limited time only.

dbrand.com

The Power of Plagiarism​

Contrary to popular belief, you need to spend money to save money. Specifically, by giving it to us. You see, when one of the world's most litigious companies announces a $359.99 price tag to replace your Switch with a limited edition variant, only dbrand is up to the challenge of charging you slightly less for a "creative reinterpretation" of their overpriced novelty console. If a dollar saved is a dollar earned, Clone of the Kingdom is the easiest $310.04 you've ever made.

uh, black version of the joycon skin looks sick. I don't have too much else to say lol.

Spoiler: "for some reason, also available for steam deck

 

[Magic-Man]

They got some balls, I'll give them that.

 

[Jimmy Joe]

I'm not sure this is quite as "Ah, I dare you to sue us!" as their copywriter made it sound

All the imagery on there is very much easily distinguishable—pyramids with eyes, block mazes, etc.

I feel like the "We dare you to sue us!" is just more marketing guff for a deeply safe product

 

[totofogo]

I'm not sure this is quite as "Ah, I dare you to sue us!" as their copywriter made it sound

All the imagery on there is very much easily distinguishable—pyramids with eyes, block mazes, etc.

I feel like the "We dare you to sue us!" is just more marketing guff for a deeply safe product

Yeah it's safe similar to a parody / no trademark infringement, just a smart marketing move especially given how silly Ninty is with their LE switches lol

 

[Hailinel]

Yeah, that's all marketing bluster when custom/knock-off console/controller decals and the like have been around for ages without repercussion.

 

[Ramune]

If a dollar saved is a dollar earned, Clone of the Kingdom is the easiest $310.04 you've ever made.

Thanks but I actually know a way to save the full $359.99, I'm not spending $50 for some limited time only stickers no matter who's pocketing it. Worra swizz!

 

[Ahmed]

Kudos to them for that marketing.

I would get a dock only sticker if it wasn't that expensive.

 

[EvilChameleon]

 

[Gay Bowser]

wow, so edgy

As I grow older companies pretending to be punk rock actually irks me more than companies being corporate and boring about everything. It’s like, both of these two companies are for-profit enterprises; only one of them is acting like they’re not. they’re the cool brand, fighting the power, being snarky about an “overpriced novelty console” while selling a…$50…novelty console skin.

being all “fuck the lawyers!” feels kind of artificial when you have lawyers, in other words.

 

[mazi]

tacky

 

[Hailinel]

wow, so edgy

As I grow older companies pretending to be punk rock actually irks me more than companies being corporate and boring about everything. It’s like, both of these two companies are for-profit enterprises; only one of them is acting like they’re not. they’re the cool brand, fighting the power, being snarky about an “overpriced novelty console” while selling a…$50…novelty console skin.

being all “fuck the lawyers!” feels kind of artificial when you have lawyers, in other words.

It's the same energy as Devolver saying "Fuck the corpos!" while putting a ton of money into an Adult Swim wannabe E3 showcase.

 

[totofogo]

tacky

I get it, cause it's a sticker

 

[totofogo]

wow, so edgy

As I grow older companies pretending to be punk rock actually irks me more than companies being corporate and boring about everything. It’s like, both of these two companies are for-profit enterprises; only one of them is acting like they’re not. they’re the cool brand, fighting the power, being snarky about an “overpriced novelty console” while selling a…$50…novelty console skin.

being all “fuck the lawyers!” feels kind of artificial when you have lawyers, in other words.

I mean...

Contrary to popular belief, you need to spend money to save money. Specifically, by giving it to us.

lol, but yes I agree. This would be a fine thing to do for those that want it, the spin that marketing took on it is cringey and unnecessary

 

[scamander]

50, I repeat, 50 fucking Dollars for a bunch of stickers. Lol, yeah, thanks, I pass.

 

[Cucufate]

Nintendo: Here's a limited edition console for $360!
Me: Jesus, I don't even want it, but fuck off with that price!

Dbrand: Here's a limited edition console skin for $50!
Me: Jesus, I don't even want it, but fuck off with that price!

Huh... what do you know? They were right. To me, they ARE pretty much the same thing.

 

[Deleted member 1005]

Didn’t they do the whole “come sue us lol” thing before, and actually had to change/remove a product because lawyers came knocking. Seems pretty dumb to do it again, but I’m not a sticker seller so what do I know.

 

[Cucufate]

Didn’t they do the whole “come sue us lol” thing before, and actually had to change/remove a product because lawyers came knocking. Seems pretty dumb to do it again, but I’m not a sticker seller so what do I know.

Now that you mention it, yep, that happened:

Dbrand pulls its PS5 Darkplates from sale after Sony threatens legal action

‘Go ahead, sue us.’

www.theverge.com

Well, if it happens again, they can always keep things on-brand by reacting to it with a (legally distinct) surprised Pikachu face.

 

[edamame]

 

[Maronic03]

Wow so brave!!

 

[thoughthaver]

wow, so edgy

As I grow older companies pretending to be punk rock actually irks me more than companies being corporate and boring about everything. It’s like, both of these two companies are for-profit enterprises; only one of them is acting like they’re not. they’re the cool brand, fighting the power, being snarky about an “overpriced novelty console” while selling a…$50…novelty console skin.

being all “fuck the lawyers!” feels kind of artificial when you have lawyers, in other words.

adbusters and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race

 

[robertman2]

Big Reddit vibes

 

[Xaltmas]

Capital G gamers and the culture that surrounds them is embarrassing.

 

[Paxie]

A bit funny they make a point of it being cheaper than getting the ZOLED normally, but assuming you're going from OLED to OLED you can just... sell it normally and make back $300+, or gift it and save someone else $350. The difference on the former in particular would make the custom decal barely cheaper or actually more expensive in practice. That and the cringe aside though, I don't really see a reason to get hung up on this

EDIT: and yes, I understand the overall meaning is not giving money to Nintendo, but it still stuck out to me

 

[totofogo]

A bit funny they make a point of it being cheaper than getting the ZOLED normally, but assuming you're going from OLED to OLED you can just... sell it normally and make back $300+, or gift it and save someone else $350. The difference on the former in particular would make the custom decal barely cheaper or actually more expensive in practice. That and the cringe aside though, I don't really see a reason to get hung up on this

EDIT: and yes, I understand the overall meaning is not giving money to Nintendo, but it still stuck out to me

Yeah it seems well done, if I had a steam deck I’m pretty sure I would have ordered that one lol. Marketing aside it’s a very normal product, as are DIY replacement shells. The price is pretty normal for a protective decal, though it’s a stretch to say the extra joycon set is “free”.

It is silly of Nintendo to not offer things piece meal on a modular system. I loved the new 3DS faceplates but sadly never got around to getting one. Well, it’s smart of them business wise. Silly to me as a fan who wants to collect things lol.

 

[boris_feinbrand]

Kinda meh on DBrands marketing, but Companies like Apple, Sony, Nintendo etc. that throw their weight around to monopolise the accessory market to charge insane markups uncontested, need to fuck off into the sun like yesterday.