Stardock in conjunction with Marvel and FIS has released the Spider-Man Desktop. This new suite has been in development for months by a design team at SkinPlant. Under license from Marvel, the suite includes the software necessary to change the look and feel of your Windows GUI.

The entire suite is only $8.95 (there is a discount for Object Desktop users).

Check it out for yourself at https://www.stardock.com/products/themes/spider-man/
15,274 views 32 replies
Reply #1 Top

I want to add one additional kudo. FIS, also known as Filtered Internet Solutions which handled all the licensing, can be found at:


http://www.filteredinternetsolutions.com/


They also have launched the Spider-Man ISP: http://www.spidermanisp.com/ definitely worth checking out.

Reply #2 Top
Very Nice, and also of note... it is nice to see the skinning connected to a MainStream icon, Like Marvel. This is definately an avenue that can, hopefully be developed further. I mean Marvel has a great Stable of characters. Maybe other Movie tie ins, and great product cross marketing. I see Mass licensing, and Stardock Suite Cd's in Extravaganza Comic Issues? A great way to boost market exposure, and cross media possibilites.
Reply #3 Top
I've got up and on my comptuer right now . . . very sweet! To be honest, I think the price is a little high considering all you get is a mini-icon package, a WP and a WB skin. The quality is great, though. Very well done. I hope to see some additional Object Desktop elements with this same theme to contribute a total Spidey desktop.
I'm already using the Spiderman Sysmetrix by Apocalypse_67
. . . would have liked a lower price point but it's definitely a top-notch skin.

. . . would it be possible to get the wallpaper without the "www.spidermanisp.com" words on it?

. . . just an idea.
Reply #4 Top
I'm afraid the wall can only be supplied as is, since it was a client piece made to their requirements.
Reply #5 Top
gotcha . . . it'll work!
Reply #6 Top
Absolutely stunning WB and icons. I wish there were toolbar icons, however. I have to agree that the price seems at bit high even with the OD discount, but I'm always happy to support Skinplant
Reply #7 Top
That is a fabulous looking skin!

I'd think the price would be fair if it included ObjectBar skin and DX/ObjectDock zoomers. You'd really want the whole package if you have something that good looking.

How does it handle people with high resolution desktops without the fonts being too small? Most WB skins are hard-coded to use 8-point fonts (which look good at 1024x768), so people with 1600x1200 desktops (which are becoming more and more common) are stuck with fonts that are way too small. That "Enlarge the skin fonts" feature in WB has too many bad side effects you really need a separate version of the skin for hi-res users.
Reply #8 Top
I *was* looking forward to this, but just can't justify the expense (even just $8.95) for what seems to be an incomplete package: no toolbar icons, OD/DX bitmaps or zooomers, etc.

Are there any plans to update/complete this package? If not, it seems like an awful tease of what could have been.
Reply #10 Top
I agree with Chad.
Large bag of Popcorn = $5.00
2 Large Drinks = $6.00
A fun skin to use for years....Priceless.
Not to mention that it's discounted if you have an Object Desktop subscription.
Reply #11 Top
I can get both of those for $5.50 as a Triple Feature With Unlimited Refills

I would buy it if I could spare the money, would love to have that wall. Anyone wanna give the ole watson a present?
Reply #12 Top
They shouldnt charge for that.
If Stan Lee made the skin, then I would understand.
Reply #13 Top
100% awesome, people who don't want to shell out 6.95 or 8.95 for this skin are crazy, it's great.
Reply #14 Top
I certainly did not mean to denigrate skinners, especially the creator of the Spider-Man desktop, which I agree does look great...at least what there IS of it!

That's my problem with this desktop: I just think that a "Premium" (aka "not-free") desktop should, at the very least, take full advantage of WindowBlinds (toolbars, progress anims, fer instance).

It's also a shame that more of ODN isn't skinned by this, when you consider what the licensing must have cost. The Spider-Man desktop, if more complete, could also be one hell of a showcase for what can be done with Stardock's wares and introduce a lot of people to SD and WC who never before really considered Windows customization.

Like I said, I think what's here is gorgeous it's just incomplete (IMHO).
Reply #15 Top
Quality work by a quality team.Very encouraging to see skinning spreading even further.Brad needs to learn how to put together a ss,hehe.......turn off that user icon.(and whatever that is on the taskbar)
Reply #16 Top
My only suggestion would have been to jazz up the Marvel logo on the start menu...too flat,looks out of place.Love the taskbar and titlebar buttons.

I wanna do Swamp thing.Or the Hulk or Batman or Conan or the Fantastic 4 or.....
Reply #17 Top
One thing you can't always do with a corporate logo is jazz it up. It is what it is and that's the way they like it. Companies take their corporate identities very seriously.
 
Reply #18 Top
If a Company want their logo to be every where in the skin as they want it, they should think of making it a free download skin to reach a wider audience like zippo by pixtudio.

This is a beautiful skin I wish it was all completed with all the new features. Nice skin
Reply #19 Top
I was planning on purchasing it then noticed the comment on the ISP across the wallpaper (also on the startmenu). I think it looks like a nicely done package that is maybe a little highly priced given the limited contents. It's the paying to put someone's ad on my desktop that stopped me. And it has nothing to do with paying for skins (I do) but rather with paying for an ad.
Reply #20 Top
Wow, fans know no bounds, heh. I think this is great for the skin developers, though, I'm not sure I know anyone other than my 13 year old cousin that might be interested in using this skin. He's not really into the skinning or customization of windows, but he might like having Spiderman on his desktop. I don't think the screenshot does the skin suite much justice, it's very cluttered and not well organized / spaced out. That Spiderman branded internet services is kinda creepy though, heh.
Reply #21 Top
Congratulations for the great pack
Reply #22 Top

Just a reminder, when you're doing something like this an OFFICIALLY sanctions skin tehre are licensing fees. 


But let's keep things in perspective - I went to see Bourne Supremacy last night. It was $8 on its own. 2 hours and it's gone. If i want to see it again, that's another $8.

Reply #23 Top
Brad...you 'could' just hide under the seat in the theater....that way you'll get to see it twice.....
Reply #25 Top
Yes, Frogboy, let's keep things in perspective: ODNT is 50 bucks. Is this skin worth nearly 20 percent of all of the development effort that has gone into ODNT? It doesn't even have all of the features of WindowBlinds utilized (e.g., progress anims & toolbars). Based on the recent development standards, it's not a "complete" WindowBlinds skin.

Comparing the cost of "this" over "that" is hardly a fair or accurate way to justify the cost of a skin. Is it of the same caliber of the Universal Metal 2004 Suite? Perhaps artistically, but certainly not based on features and bang for your buck.

I won't be buying the suite. I, as many others have commented, feel this suite didn't meet the hype. If licensing fees were paid in order to use the Marvel name and the Spider-Man image, then perhaps these fees contributed to this suites price point being unreasonable to many people.