X-Files iPods: misplaced merchandising, or desperate bid for profitability?

We want to believe it's not the latter. Okay, this is (hopefully) the last one of these Fox-branded iPods we do, we just thought it would be funny, you know, because the movie did so badly and... stuff. Yeah, on second thought, not very funny.

[Via TUAW]

[Stem $ell @ Aug 14th 2008 8:58PM]

I want to re-heave...

[Nicholas S. @ Aug 14th 2008 9:41PM]

Seriously. I like the back of my iPod the way it is thank you very much.

[Blackstar @ Aug 15th 2008 3:02AM]

The marketing... is out there.

[Marvin Quach @ Aug 15th 2008 8:53AM]

Trust no on... when asked why making this iPod was a good idea.

[Fox @ Aug 16th 2008 5:21PM]

I want to be leaving

[d @ Aug 14th 2008 8:59PM]

Should at least be black.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Aug 14th 2008 11:31PM]

If you browse the store a bit, you can find another X-Files themed model in black here:

http://foxshop.seenon.com/detail.php?p=63860&v=foxshop-thexfiles

[Isaac @ Aug 14th 2008 9:18PM]

Wake me up when they come out with a Firefly or BSG ipod.

[Fernando @ Aug 14th 2008 10:17PM]

+1

[Wormbolt @ Aug 14th 2008 10:35PM]

Firefly and BSG would be more at home on a Zune. iPod is too popular a cutesy for their cultish fan bases.

[BirdofPrey @ Aug 15th 2008 9:30AM]

So say we all.

[a ham sandwich @ Aug 14th 2008 9:28PM]

wow. and i thought the U2 iPods were bad. jeez....

[Zinger314 @ Aug 14th 2008 10:31PM]

The U2 iPod, back then, was the only way to have a black iPod. So this isn't THAT stupid.

Although if the iPod had only Gillian Anderson on it, I would buy 100 of them.

[Dan Halen @ Aug 15th 2008 12:02AM]

Gillian Anderson? You need to seriously upgrade your fantasies, man.

[JohnTitor @ Aug 14th 2008 9:37PM]

well the movie coulda done better but the core audience was mostly watching dark knight instead

[nDee @ Aug 14th 2008 9:38PM]

X-File : I wish my iPod looked better
Coming soon.

BTW: what the hell happened to the comment box, I knew it looked nice but it's annoying

[Chuckles McGee @ Aug 14th 2008 10:03PM]

It is annoying! A whole extra click for a regular to post?! Bah!

[AlphaTeam @ Aug 14th 2008 10:49PM]

I would have preferred the "Remember me" actually worked.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Aug 14th 2008 11:30PM]

I know, right? lol.

[Bradley @ Aug 14th 2008 9:41PM]

Movie failed. Chris Carter should move the series to the tubes. I even went to the X-Files convention in Chicago (read: uber fan) and this movie did not do me any favors. Except the part after the credits lolz.

[Marq @ Aug 14th 2008 9:54PM]

Wait...the X-Files came out with a movie? Wow, I missed that one!

[Fox @ Aug 14th 2008 10:15PM]

It should be noted for the sake of the title that these are not simply retail priced version of ipods.

The etching comes to you for only an extra $100.00! What a deal!
Let's see that computes to approximately 10 movie tickets per each fan sale.

I think in this case with regards to the question you could have included the possibility of both.

[eddy @ Aug 15th 2008 7:26AM]

Seriously? Wow... I just got my wife a Zune a few weeks ago and the artist engraving only cost an extra $15. $100 extra seems a bit exorbitant.

[JohnnyBoy @ Aug 16th 2008 5:12AM]

Wow. It's a real mystery why customers would be *charged* $100 for the privilege of advertising somebody else's film. Perhaps Mulder and Sculley should investigate this one... (cue spooky theme tune)

[Minilap @ Aug 14th 2008 10:26PM]

Come on engadget, filter the crap.

[GSK @ Aug 14th 2008 10:32PM]

I love The X-Files. I loved the movie, I loved the second movie, loved the series. I got into the show around 2006, so was just wanting to see the movie for the sake of seeing a *new episode*, since I wasn't into the show when it was actually on.

I think I Want to Believe was really good. I enjoyed it greatly, and will be purchasing it when it comes out on DVD/Blu-Ray -- first day, mind you.

In any case, I'll definitely want to buy one, or more, of these custom iPods, even if I'll just display them with the rest of my X-Files stuff.

[Fox @ Aug 14th 2008 10:57PM]

You love the X Files, you love the movie, you love the second movie, you loved the series, You reiterate that the movie was really good and you add you enjoyed it greatly. You will be buying the DVD/Blue Ray on the first day and you will buy possibly one or more of these ipods.

C'mon Chris Carter I know times are tough but posting here to encourage sales is "a desperate bid for profitability"

[henry @ Aug 14th 2008 10:45PM]

wow. at least the U2 ipod came with something extra... with this you're paying $80 for a laser engraving. what a effin' ripoff...

[sk8rpro @ Aug 15th 2008 5:11AM]

Now Henry, you must remember: this is not just any etching - it is a Special Edition X-Files Engraving. Remember, this is officially approved by Fox, and it's copyrighted - so yes, you have to pay for the privilege!

[AlphaTeam @ Aug 14th 2008 10:50PM]

Maybe they should charge less for this iPod.

[Ry @ Aug 14th 2008 10:54PM]

Wow. This is PATHETIC.

[sonicwind @ Aug 14th 2008 10:56PM]

I thought the movie was very good. It was a great thriller. It wasn't what I would have expected of an X-Files movie, no resolving of past mysteries, but on it's own it was as good a thriller as any. Basically, it didn't suck, like Batman.

[Fox @ Aug 14th 2008 11:04PM]

Not you too, Frank Spotnitz. Just alert the fan base and you don't have to do this yourself.

[AndrewAmazed @ Aug 14th 2008 11:05PM]

iPods are stupid and suck. period.

@ WormBolt
thats what makes the Zune good.

[papafew @ Aug 15th 2008 3:37AM]

maybe Andrew, but you'll be Amazed to see how much people using Zune are stupid ans suck too, period.

[Robot Kitten Face @ Aug 14th 2008 11:12PM]

I can't wait to travel back to 1995 and show this to my X-Files-loving self. And I'll be all, like, "Whoa, I LOVE the X-Files!" And then the new me will be all like, "I know! And check this out, I put your whole CD collection on this little device!" And then my old self will be like, "No fucking way! What is that thing? That is SO COOL!" And the the new me will be liiiii............ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[Eth @ Aug 14th 2008 11:18PM]

The second movie was good. I liked it. I wish more people would agree so it would make more money. I would actually like them to make the next alien invasion movie.

[cameraman @ Aug 14th 2008 11:42PM]

This makes me want to see the movie even less.

[Christian @ Aug 15th 2008 12:06AM]

those ipods are ugly/stupid as hell. why did apple agree to that

[GSK @ Aug 15th 2008 12:47AM]

Uhh, dude, I'm not Chris Carter. My internet alias is GSK, and I run a small personal website, gameshowkid.com.

Besides, I highly doubt CC has better things to do than patrol news websites like Engadget for X-Files iPods.

[GSK @ Aug 15th 2008 12:47AM]

Sorry - meant I believe he has better things to do...

*needs an edit button*

[Jhongerkong @ Aug 16th 2008 1:02AM]

joke









your head

[Hafk @ Aug 15th 2008 1:01AM]

I am sure the X-Files movie was not bad. It just got overshadowed by some other wildly popular film (Hmm, I wonder what?). Just another case of bad timing.

[skypecakes @ Aug 15th 2008 2:19PM]

You clearly did not see the movie. It blew.

[The Beef Machine (lala lala la) @ Aug 15th 2008 3:01AM]

Personally, I'm waiting for the special edition iPod with the face of Steve Jobs and Tom engraved on the back with horns protruding from their heads FWAAAA HA HA HA...

[papafew @ Aug 15th 2008 3:32AM]

the truth of MONEY is out there.

[Bad Beaver @ Aug 15th 2008 4:08AM]

The movie was fine, quite enjoyable. Very good even in some areas. Nevertheless, branded iPods are pathetic.

[BirdofPrey @ Aug 15th 2008 9:31AM]

So say we all.

[BirdofPrey @ Aug 15th 2008 9:32AM]

Stupid comment system putting this in the wrong place