Whedonesque : Comments on 7734 : Serenity website relaunched.

If anybody doubted Universal's faith in Serenity... Heh.

AWESOME.

Just one word: shiny!

Guess what? If you take the stupid little easy-as-pie quiz, it asks you what Zoe's last name is. Correct answer: Warren. Bizarre to see that in a semi-official capacity, especially when considering that Wash's last name is now officially NOT Warren.

rbt | September 01, 01:33 CET

My god... This is so sweet! Awesome site! I just got stuck playing that horseshoe game in the airlock. And does anyone know what's up with the control panel in the engine room. I just kept pressing those numbers atleast nine times in a row and nothing ever happend. Then I screwed up and it reset...

Djungelurban | September 01, 01:33 CET

bobtaylor - Warren is in the script as Zoe's last name. As are two other names.

gossi | September 01, 01:35 CET

gossi -- I wasn't aware of that. Thanks for the info. I just know that there was a lot of debate about it here.

rbt | September 01, 01:38 CET

Well, I say that but I haven't checked as my script book is still in London (Mr Whedon wrote me a message in it. I'm such a fan boy). I remember reading it and knowing there would be confusion about Zoe's name, anyway, as it gives multiple names.

gossi | September 01, 01:41 CET

Damn that is awesome, they've put some serious effort in there. Good stuff.

Paul_Rocks | September 01, 01:44 CET

Why does Zoe have to have her husband's last name? Just because Warren isn't Wash's last name doesn't mean it's not Zoe's.

electricspacegirl | September 01, 01:45 CET

Absolutely beautiful.
The trivia game was so easy :-)
And that horseshoes is addicting.
Bravo universal!

JustNick | September 01, 01:46 CET

Certainly true, electricspacegirl, but it amuses me that it used to be assumed that Warren was Wash's last name, turns out that's incorrect, but now it's his wife's official last name. Ironic...or confusing...or something.

rbt | September 01, 01:48 CET

electricspacegirl: it's not that, she has another surname in the script. Speculation: she may have been married before.

gossi | September 01, 01:48 CET

The cookbook was a great touch! Now we know how to make Mudder's Milk!

flashofgenius | September 01, 01:48 CET

But in a recent interview Gina gave her name as Zoe Washbourne!

Cider | September 01, 01:50 CET

I think Zoe's last name is a much simpler deal, she had no intensions changing her name just cause she got married. I just can't see Zoe giving in to something like that.

Djungelurban | September 01, 01:51 CET

Argh.

In the script her name IS given as Washburn. There's multiple names. I'm not entirely sure it makes sense: it either means she's been married before, or it's jossism (anybody remember the Buffy episode which gives Angel two differing ages?)

gossi | September 01, 01:53 CET

Wasn't it Buffy that had two different birthdays on two different computer screens less than 5 seconds apart in the episode "I Robot... You Jane", which by the way is an episode that we should not talk about...

[ edited by Djungelurban on 2005-09-01 00:02 ]

Djungelurban | September 01, 01:57 CET

"I Robot... You Jane". I'd forgotten about that.

Back to the argh.

gossi | September 01, 01:58 CET

That's a cool site, seems that Universal are realizing this movie could be very big.

I like how this site is top of the "Links" list, as it should be.

And yay, "buy tickets", the movies nearly here (even though us British peoples have to wait an extra week), it's nearly here!

Ghost Spike | September 01, 02:02 CET

Wow. I am impressed. Kudos to the site designers.

Oh yeah. Check the links page ;).

Simon | September 01, 02:02 CET

Yeah, multiple birthdays for Buffy is a sign of a continuity person not paying attention.
But they sure put a lot of attention into this new Serenity site. Like WOW!

impalergeneral | September 01, 02:03 CET

I'm just working on a relaunch of the UK Cant Stop The Signal site, and then Universal launch this... It's a LITTLE bit better than my effort! ;)

gossi | September 01, 02:03 CET

Pretty obviously that US site has been being worked on for a long, long time. Those saying Universal haven't had a marketing stategy for Serenity are really very wrong - they do, they just plan things closer to release I'd suggest.

gossi | September 01, 02:06 CET

Man, I cannot stop messing up the keypad in the engine room. There had better be something at the end of it, should I ever not screw up. Heh.

The One True b!X | September 01, 02:14 CET

I like the screensaver. Inara's candles flicker!

gossi | September 01, 02:18 CET

Whedonesque is at the top of the links list! That's so shiny. THis is a gorgeous site. I'll be there for hours.

electricspacegirl | September 01, 02:20 CET

Check out all the new pictures, the new wallpapers, and the screensaver. Shiny.

bonzob | September 01, 02:21 CET

I thought Wash's full name was Hoban Washburn, but the screensaver gives it as Jerry Lee Warren. What gives?

com4tador | September 01, 02:26 CET

Damn addictive horseshoe game :) There's just some much to do/look at. Right, time to crack Kaylee's keypad (or at least try to).

Paul_Rocks | September 01, 02:26 CET

Jerry Lee Warren is wrong, I'm pretty sure... I seem to recall it comes from somebody mishearing Wash saying KAY-LEE! (Jerry Lee!) in Serenity (the episode) and adding it to IMDB. I think.

To add to the confusion... Yes, the script gives another full name for Wash, too.

gossi | September 01, 02:32 CET

Well, it's a good thing I'm getting a cable connection next month when I'm finished moving. Even with my pretty fast computer, it doesn't work a bit with my phone connection. Will be slipping over to the bf's computer in a few to jump on in.

As for Zoe's (original) last name, it's Alleyne in the novelisation. Which, I might add, I'm enjoying quite a bit. I know people bash novelisations, but c'mon y'all, the writer has restrictions and they need to write at a level that makes the book more accessible to younger readers. Younger readers soak up loads more novelisations than older readers, so don't be hard on krad. He's done a great job with tone and voice and characterisation.

Off to the puter with a cable connection! :)

WhoIsOmega? | September 01, 02:36 CET

Very cool. Can we get all that on DVD? :-))

Caroline | September 01, 02:48 CET

very fun. I just wasted way too much time playing around with it... :-)
The horsehoe game was pretty addictive. I got two ringers in one round, but mal still beat me a couple rounds later. and I can't for the life of me figure out the keypad.
Nice that Universal has put so much effort into the site!

acp | September 01, 02:49 CET

This site is fantastic, but I have a question: is anyone else concerned that the expected huge leap in gas prices in the US as a result of Katrina will hurt the BDM's box office? I just heard gas was over $5/gallon in Atlanta now, and the price is expected to spread elsewhere and rise as early as tomorrow.

jaynelovesvera | September 01, 02:54 CET

Bloody hell, has anyone done the keypad yet? After 12 numbers I fired up notepad and started to cheat. I'm currently at 22 and still no joy....
Had a couple of goes at the horseshoe game and score 5724 on my 2nd. Will have another go once I've done/failed the keypad.

ETA: Arrgghhh, failed on 24 :(

[ edited by Paul_Rocks on 2005-09-01 01:11 ]

Paul_Rocks | September 01, 03:06 CET

jaynelovesvera - it's the beginning of September, you have 30 days to fix gas prices. If a natural disaster manages to scupper Serenity, I may have to ritually sacarfice a few priests along with Fox.

gossi | September 01, 03:37 CET

Wow, fantastic site. Will have to find time to explore it more.

palehorse | September 01, 03:49 CET

Noticed the music on the main page. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I think this is not the music I remember from the sneak preview version I saw. Exciting to get some more flavor of the finished product :)...

Ronald_SF | September 01, 04:05 CET

The key pad game is easy, do nothing and watch the order of the lit numbers, then duplicate it. You'll get a message saying 'all correct' or something if you get it right.
My favorite game is the concentration game in Inara's shuttle, I have only won at the 'easy' level, I've been too slow for the medium (but it is still fun!).
I adore this site, I'll be there all the time!

embers | September 01, 04:43 CET

That page is all kinds of awesome. I cannot wait for the end of September!

My only complaint so far would be the picture of Kaylee on the main page. Jewel Staite is adorable, and deserves a better picture!

A few things that seem a mite bit spoilery, too, but haven't come across anything major.

kishi | September 01, 05:08 CET

jaynelovesvera: Color me concerned. I knew I should have filled up last night when gas was $2.69 a gallon. This evening I grudgingly filled my tank at $3.05 a gallon. Local authorities are suggesting that before the end of the week gas will hit $4 a gallon. And, mind you, I live in upstate New York. In my travels today I heard more than a few people mention that they won't go anywhere that's not absolutely necessary if prices keep rising like this. And as necessary as our BDM is to us, I'm not so sure it'll rank up there with work and school for the general populus.

binkaboo | September 01, 05:33 CET

bobtaylor: When you said that Wash's name wasn't Warren I flashed to Empire Records and the "I thought his name was Warren" scene. :P

The site is amazing! Now Universal just has to get non-fans to go to it.

deathisyourart | September 01, 05:42 CET

The key pad game is easy, do nothing and watch the order of the lit numbers, then duplicate it. You'll get a message saying 'all correct' or something if you get it right.

Yes, but then you get another set of numbers, this time 1 more than the last. This continues until at least 24 consecutive numbers which is where I failed.
Just wanted to add I tried the horseshoe game again, damn addictive little thing. Got 8245 this time.
Also liked the concentration game, but once you've done it on hard there's less reason to try again.

This talk of gas prices in the US is always a shock to me as petrol is so much more expensive over here.
From the AA Fuel Price Report:

On Sunday July 10th, the UK average price of Unleaded fuel passed the £4 a gallon barrier for the first time ever. Average prices for all regions are now over £4 a gallon.

Paul_Rocks | September 01, 05:48 CET

I did see something spoilery on the site. Mind you, I haven't seen the movie, but from the site it seems pretty clear that Inara has some kind of relationship with the Operative, and that he is or has been a client of hers. That seems like kind of a big one to me, and I wish I didn't know this. It certainly hasn't been revealed in the trailers.

MissKittysMom | September 01, 05:58 CET

Book has recipes! Neat. I like Inara's memory game. I'm still checking out all the stuff. It's lovely.

[ edited by electricspacegirl on 2005-09-01 04:13 ]

electricspacegirl | September 01, 06:10 CET

Ronald_SF: I was thinking the same thing about the music. I'm pretty certain a final score wasn't attached to the two screenings I saw -- if this is the real deal, I think it's so on the money. It gives me that highly emotional weepy-panicky-patriotic-anxious-puffed-up-proud feeling that comes over me when I watch heroic acts amidst tragedy, or when I see my team come from behind to win, despite horrible injuries to half the players, or that freeze-frame moment that often comes at holiday time, when I realize that right at this very minute, in this very room, amidst chaos and laughter, I'm surrounded by all the crazy people I love.

Take your pick from the above, or load them all on to your tray... but methinks that's quite the fitting musical buffet for our Big Damn Heroes to do some big damn heroing to.

barest_smidgen | September 01, 06:10 CET

MissKittysMom: I've seen the BDM and read your inviso-text. Don't worry... you have not been spoiled.

barest_smidgen | September 01, 06:12 CET

Smidgen, that's good to know. Thank you!

MissKittysMom | September 01, 06:21 CET

I know what you mean, Paul_Rocks.

$3.05 US a gallon is a bargain at 80 cents CDN a litre. We pay over a $1 a litre (3.78 litres per US gallon, which is smaller than the Imperial gaollon). (I know, you Europeans pay double that, I believe. 4 UKP a gallon is about $8.50 CDN, or almost $2 a litre.)

The entire Rest of the World pays natural catastrophe level prices for gasoline as a matter of course.

But no matter how high the price goes (it's been proven; each hike changes the acceptability threshold), every motorist will keep paying -- except me who lives downtown Toronto. I don't even use a tank a month.

On topic: wicked site! I haven't even delved into it yet. I like the dangling links, which just reminded me of Jayne's drug-induced collapse after trying to grab the twinkling lights in the cockpit. HI-larious!

Drifter | September 01, 06:27 CET

The new site is nothing short of orgasmic. Thank you, Universal!

PurpleYoshi | September 01, 07:05 CET

awesome awesome... they have a Cookbook or Cook Book cause he can cook, get it? so, okay im lame :)

Mr Universe | September 01, 07:28 CET

It is shiny, if hokey in spots. ;)

However, I hope that music ain't from the soundtrack. If so, I'll try not to think of Greg E. while I watch the movie...

I'm bummed that I can't buy tickets yet, and I have to have an AOL account (there) to get a reminder. Oh, just let it be the 30th already.

A- for the site.

RBB | September 01, 07:56 CET

I'm bummed that I can't buy tickets yet, and I have to have an AOL account (there) to get a reminder. Oh, just let it be the 30th already.

Other ticket websites also have reminder functions. I know Fandango does, for example.

The One True b!X | September 01, 08:06 CET

Thanks, onetrue. I'm already signed up at Fandango, I'm just not sure who will pop first (and if a service doesn't sell tickets, they probably won't pop at all).

RBB | September 01, 08:37 CET

Yeah, I'm quite impressed in how cool they have made the website and love all the little games. However MissKittysMom is right that it does have some spoilers in the dialogue. So if you are worried about spoilers, turn the volume off right away and you should be okay.

Matt_Fabb | September 01, 09:22 CET

Paul_Rocks, granted the US price has been ridiculously low compared to there. However, that's irrelevant to the potential effect of an historically huge increase in this society, which has multitudes of people commuting 40+ miles each way to work alone in vehicles designed to get the worst mileage possible, who won't receive a corresponding wage increase to offset said increase. Most Americans spend their whole damn check, have considerable debt, and if they ever gave it any thought would pride themselves on their conspicuous consumption. If gas prices rise high enough, and stay there long enough, something will have to give. Hopefully, it won't happen pre-BDM.

jaynelovesvera | September 01, 14:25 CET

Where are the links? I can't seem to find them.

Lioness | September 01, 16:47 CET

On the bar at the bottom on the right hand side. In white writing, just click where it says links and a popup appears with our mighty site at the top :)

Paul_Rocks | September 01, 17:31 CET

I can't wait until they open up the "make your own wallpaper" feature. I want a Simon and River wallpaper. Or a Mal/Inara wallpaper. Can I make naked wallpaper? ;)

[ edited by electricspacegirl on 2005-09-01 15:52 ]

electricspacegirl | September 01, 17:48 CET

If you can I'm sure you won't be the only person doing so esg ;)

Paul_Rocks | September 01, 18:22 CET

This is very nice, and will hopefully encourage more Internet users to check the film out.

Is it just me, or does the main page of the flash version of the site, with pictures of all nine castmembers and Serenity in the centre, look like it would make an awesome alternative poster?

Razor | September 01, 19:40 CET

September 01 2005