I didn't end up having the kind of time in 09 that I had hoped to spend on this site and enjoying Funkeys with my youngest son. Between our lack of playing time, and the over-all lack of Funkeys news I never really got around to talking much about the new feature we got with Paradox Green.

Which is sad, because the Game Creator tools that are opened up with Ace and Mulch are probably one of the coolest thing they've introduced since the initial launch of U.B.Funkeys. So please, feel free to comment here about what you liked (or disliked) about the new feature. What would you like to see them do to expand the feature if we do see further expansion of the Funkeys universe in 2010?

Labels: Ace, Game Creator, Game Factory, Mulch, Paradox Green

There's very little evidence to point to a future for U.B.Funkeys right now, but I still hold a cautiously optimistic view that it will survive.

The official website hasn't been updated in quite a while and neither has the game itself. Pretty much every Walmart I've been to recently has stopped carrying them, and that's a blow for any toy line. The momentum of continued releases and updates is what spurs interest in a product/game/collectible like Funkeys and that has really dried up lately.

I also have not been able to get any news from Mattel. Trust me, I don't know anything more than the rest of you.

What we do know is that Mattel has in the past 6 months closed a large location in Texas and relocated some of those employees to California. At that point the news was that Funkeys *would* survive. But then there was the awful mix-up in the release of Paradox Green (which had looked to be a savior for the toy line) when ALL of the singles release were of the VR assortment. This obviously led to the decision not to release the other variations. I doubt they were ever manufactured in the mix-up or they would have been released by now.

It would be a huge blow for Funkeys to end this way. The response to the Wendy's kid's meal toys was great. People have been waiting anxiously for the Common and Rare versions of the Paradox Green figures. There have been some mis-steps in the marketing (can you say Dream State VR box sets?) but I do believe that the toy line could survive all of this if Mattel gave it another chance.

The DC series could be that savior. We all know that Entertainment Earth has been doing pre-sales for the DC series recently. I asked them about it and all they could say is that they still have pre-order release info from Mattel on the series and that they haven't seen anything to make them believe they won't be released. If they were far enough in production, I could see Mattel giving it "one last chance". While I wish it was a non-licensed series to turn things around, I'd be happy if it worked.

Labels: Funkeys News, Future Release, Paradox Green

So I've been watching the Paradox Green figures on eBay so far (or I guess I should just call them Series 5 since two of them are labeled as Hidden Realm) and I know I can't be the only one wondering why in the world they've all been the Very Rare versions so far? I'm not saying that "a lot" of them are the Very Rare, "ALL" of them have been so far.

Take a look. Here are links to each of the four figures out so far on eBay right now. As of the time I'm writing this, here are the counts:

Nectar: Common: 0 - Rare: 0 - Very Rare: 11

Tadd: Common: 0 - Rare: 0 - Very Rare: 8

Rastro: Common: 0 - Rare: 0 - Very Rare: 12

Maul: Common: 0 - Rare: 0 - Very Rare: 14

So what's up?

Labels: Hidden Realm, Maul, Nectar, Paradox Green, Purchasing Funkeys, Rastro, Series 5, Tadd

The same seller that sold the Rastro and Tadd now has Nectar and Maul up, again both the VERY RARE versions! They are "Buy It Now" auctions for $24.99 so you better hurry if you want them! :)

Maul is here... -- Nectar is here...

Labels: Funkeys News, Hidden Realm, Maul, Nectar, Paradox Green, Purchasing Funkeys

Checked eBay earlier and "Bam!", there they were. Then they were gone! :( Yeah, Paradox Green Funkeys were on eBay, the VERY RARE versions of both Tadd and Rastro and they sold via "Buy It Now" for $24.99 each. The seller was either in a hurry to make some money or didn't realize how much more they would have likely gotten if they had left them up for bidding. They always go crazy high at first...

Anyway, this is what many of us have been waiting for! The floodgates will likely open soon on eBay for those who don't have good distribution nearby. I seriously still haven't found any multiplayer Dream State figures in the store but one time. Of course the TWO they had were both ones I had already broken down and purchased on eBay months after being released. But enough about me!

Check to see if there are Paradox Funkeys on eBay now!

Interestingly, the seller was out of Chicago this time. Might be a good idea to keep an eye open in that area. :) These are the ones that sold already...

Labels: ebay, Funkeys News, Paradox Green, Purchasing Funkeys, Rastro, Tadd

I'm personally trying to wait for the actual Paradox Green figures come out before doing much exploring. I know others have been using portal jammers and have been posting a lot of great info. If you WANT to know what's coming, check out some of these sites...

ubfunkeysarefun.blogspot.com
pteprocks.blogspot.com
funkeysfun.blogspot.com
onewa80blog.blogspot.com
funkeyman.blogspot.com

If there are other sites out there doing some digging like these folks, just add a comment with your URL. (I don't usually approve comments with links in them, but for this I will) :)

Labels: Game Updates, Links, Paradox Green, Portal Jammer

The update is installed and it look like there will be plenty to explore tomorrow!

The first thing I noticed that I feel was a GREAT addition was the screen that tells you to wait while the updates are being installed. We've seen SO many people have issues because with previous updates, they would get impatient waiting for the game to pop back up after clicking "let's go" and try to launch the game again. This would then cause issues with their game files and big headaches for parents who's kids just lost their progress...



The one little glitch I saw personally is that when the game first loaded I got the "invisible Funkeys" all over town...



No worries though. I went to my crib, came back out to town, and everyone was back to their nice solid selves...

So I took a quick trek over to the library and did screen-shots of the new Funkeys. Below you can see them in all their rarity defining glory...

Mulch:


Ace:


Maul:


Rastro:


Tadd:


Nectar:


I'll link them to their profile pages here once I get them built...

Good night all!

Labels: Ace, Game Updates, Maul, Mulch, Nectar, Paradox Green, Rastro, Tadd

I'm downloading it right now myself. More to come once I have it up and running. For now, go get it!!!

Labels: Game Updates, Paradox Green

It's been quiet on the Funkeys front. Very very quiet...

For those who are still trying to fill in the holes of your collection while waiting for the next series, I've noticed that the Target Exclusive Funkeys Plushies have become a LOT cheaper to pick up on eBay! Other stuff you can round up pretty cheap over there on eBay right now are the Funkeys Speakers,the Funkeys Flash Drives and the Funkeys Storage Cases, all of which were Target Exclusives as well.

The bright spot in the lull is that there IS a new series coming this summer. As we know, it's Paradox Green and it looks like it's going to be pretty cool. The game creation aspect (Game Factory) could really help with the fact that some of you play through the games so fast you get bored waiting for the next series. With the game creation aspect of Paradox Green, everyone should be able to keep each other interested and entertained by creating their own games to share! :) Hmmm... Once we know how it works, we'll need to add a new area to the forum to support all the "check out my new game" posts.

As many have already brought up, the Paradox Green Funkeys are being pre-sold at Entertainment Earth. You can click below to check them out...

UB FunKeys Paradox Green Single Pack Assortment Case



UB FunKeys Tools Assortment Set


If you choose to pre-order them, I'd love to hear back from some of you when you get them! I'm curious how long they take to get them out once they start showing up...

Labels: Funkeys Cases, Funkeys Flash Drives, Funkeys Speakers, Game Factory, Paradox Green, Plushies, Purchasing Funkeys

The series five (Paradox Green) propaganda posters just keep coming! Funk-E was gracious enough to let us introduce the latest in the line of posters here at theSpeakEasy. This one features the "frog-looking" Funkey (Tadd) tribe from the upcoming release...



I'd also like to apologize to anyone waiting to hear back from me on various things. I have quite a few PM's on the forum that I have not gotten on to read. Things are very busy right now on this end and I will get back with you all soon!

Edit: Ooops, I forgot to mention that you can click on it for a nice BIG version... :)

Labels: Images, Paradox Green, Propaganda, Series 5, Tadd

I was in a bit of a hurry when I submitted the last post and I glossed over some of the credit that should have been given. I mentioned Figures.com but failed to link to them, so please do go check out the rather vast pictorial they have up of the 2009 New York ToyFair... (I've also added a link in the last post)

I also failed to mention that although I had been watching the sites that typically post images form the shows, I didn't catch these myself. I noticed the report of these new images by Blogger Mom over on the ubfunkeysarefun Blogger site. She in turn credited obsessedfunkey for getting the report in first over on her blog.

This use to be THE only place to come get the latest Funkeys info (besides the official site), but we've got a lot of great blogs out there now to keep us all up to date! :) Tis a good thing...

A few more images I didn't get up in the last post...

Labels: 2009, Adventure Pack, Daydream Oasis, Hidden Realm, Images, Paradox Green, Toy Fair

All I can say is "it's about time!" The coverage of the NY ToyFair has been miserable this year so far. Hopefully more people have been taking pictures and still plan to post them.



As has been swirling through the various U.B.Funkeys Blogs, Figures.com has posted some images from the Radica booth including Funkeys and the new F.A.M.P.S figures. YOu can check them all out here...

I have to admit that while the stuff on display is quite awesome, I was expecting a bit more of a display this year. The display budgets must have been slashed from last year.

My favorite images are the ones here that show what we can obviously expect to see in the Adventure Packs for Dream State and Hidden Realm if/when they get released. I'm pumped for these figures!

Daydream Oasis Adventure Pack Characters:


Hidden Realm Adventure Pack Characters:


I think they did a nice job with some of the non-traditional bases in making them look good and still be able to attach to the existing UB hubs...

There was more, but I have to run! I'll try and post the rest later tonight...

Labels: 2009, Adventure Pack, Dali, Dream State, Goya, Hidden Realm, Marshal, Oni, Paradox Green, Toy Fair, Toy Show

Sorry that it's been so long since the first of the three new propaganda posters was released in hi-res format here. Funk-E gave us all three to release and with the collapse of the old Babble Forum, we've been a bit distracted. But in talking with Funk-E today, I can tell you two things...

1) The fourth installment of ask Funk-E should be in our hands by the end of next week or sooner...

2) The "official" name for Series Five will indeed be what has been assumed by many. Others have wondered if it would maybe be "Game Factory" or something else entirely, but Funk-E has confirmed it. Paradox Green it is... :)

So with no further ado, we bring you posters #2 and #3...

Click on the image for a larger version...


For a SUPER huge version, click here... (2.4MB)


Click on the image for a larger version...


For a SUPER huge version, click here... (2.91MB)

Labels: Funk-E, Future Release, Images, Paradox Green, Series 5

Funk-E has been nice enough to supply us with larger, clearer versions of the "Paradox Green" series of propaganda posters we all first saw on Mayor Sayso's Facebook account. They are some really neat looking poster images based on the upcoming (yet to be officially named) series 5 and they've been creating quite buzz for the past week or so on a lot Funkeys blogs.

Each highlights one new Funkey Tribe from the coming series and all three have two common pieces of text. One is "Paradox Green" and the other is "This message has been approved by Mayor Sayso". While Funk-E was happy to share these images with us, we are still as "in the dark" as the rest of you regarding what any of this means.

The first up is the one featuring the "green" or "recycle" Funkey that caught a lot of folks attention a few weeks back when we posted the images from the Consumer Electronics Show. This little recycle Funkey with the crazy new head shape has a lot of people drooling for the new series.

Click on the image for a larger version...


For a SUPER huge version, click here... (2.35MB)

Check back in the coming days for the other two!

PS: Keep in mind that the next series we can all expect will be the DC Superheroes & Villains series this coming spring. Series 5 will be later in 2009...

Labels: Funk-E, Funkeys Poster, Game Factory, Images, Paradox Green, Propaganda, Series 5