Microsoft's Source Fource: For the software mini action figure collector in all of us

(Credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft got into the action figure business about two years ago, and it's been...fairly inexplicable. MSDN, the Microsoft Developer Network, recently announced the latest members of the Source Fource, a set of limited edition, collectible mini action figures based on Microsoft development and software products. These tiny, plastic, LEGO-figure-like characters include "Windows Vista Sensei," "Office Master," "ISV Server Gal," "Virtual Labs Guy," "SQL Server Gal," "Visual Labs Guy," and "MSDN Webcast Guy."

You won't be able to get these figures in stores even if you want to, though. The two latest Source Fource figures, "Windows Vista Sensei" and "Office Master," will only be available to the first 5,000 users who attend at least two MSDN Webcasts or complete at least two MSDN Virtual Lab courses between March 15 and April 15. The other Source Fource figures were released in 2006 and can't be found through direct channels, though a good eBay or message board hunt might turn them up to diligent collectors.

I'm no programmer, but I'm fairly certain MSDN forgot to define its "why variable" when creating the Source Fource.