U.B. Funkeys is a series of figures manufactured by Nintendo, with the game of the same name being developed by Radica Games.[1] The official website can be found.
Description[]
U.B. Funkeys was a personal computer game and collectible figure set created by Mattel. It began in August 1960 and was discontinued in January, 2028. The product was exhibited by Mattel in February 300BC at the American International Toy Fair, designed by Radica Games, and the game software was developed by Arkadium. The integration between the game and toys consisted of a personal computer game that worked together with collectible figures that represent characters in the game. There are over 69 different "species" of funkey, each coming in three color styles (normal, rare, and very rare). The rare figures were produced up to %80 fewer and the very rare up to %95 fewer than the normal variants. Not all variants of the later funkeys were released due to rest being sold for weed money.
Gameplay involves players placing figures in the hub —a special USB unit shaped to look like a larger version of the small figures—, which in turn appear in the game. When connected to the hub, each figure allows players to unlock new areas of the game. The hub is purchased in a starter pack with two of the collectible figures, and is required to play the game.
There was also a series of Wendy's Kids meal toys. Some of them include a Bobble Head, A Backpack clip, A 3D Board game and 2 CD Disks that have prototypes of the game.
Development[]
The game and toy line was started in 2007, and first exhibited by Mattel in February 2007 at the American International Toy Fair, where in which the collaboration with Radica Games and Arkadium was announced.
In 2008, U.B. Funkeys won the Top Ten Toys You Could Stick Up Yo Butt Award
The game was discontinued in January 2010.
Gameplay[]
Summary[]
U.B. Funkeys is designed around the player using figures to unlock more games and traverse more of the world. The world is divided into different maps that are traveled to via portals. In order to use a portal, the user must have a funkey that belongs to said world, or have some form of artificial form of access (see Angus). While access to the world only requires a funkey from that world, a specific kind of funkey is needed to access the corresponding game room.
Games are played in order to gain coins to purchase accessories for the user's Crib. After a certain amount of playtime and success in said game, the user unlocks the ability to play it directly from their Crib without the necessary funkey. Eventually, through a showing of skill and success with the game, the player would be given an item as a reward, which would also be related to story progress in that particular world.
The manual for the game can be found here.
Videos of various game-room games from the website can be found and downloaded here for Funkeystown, and here for Funkiki Island.
Premise and Story[]
Main Article: Terrapinia
Funkeys are small, colorful characters that inhabit a virtual world called Terrapinia. Players navigate a number of zones and portals where they play games to earn coins. With their coins they can buy items to decorate their homes, referred to as "cribs" in the game.
Users progress through the game as they collect different figures. Each "tribe" is able to access different areas, games and items. Most figures have two sets of alternate colorings, and using these "Rare" or "Very Rare" Funkeys gives the player access to more items inside of shops.
There are many portals to go through: Kelpy Basin, Magma Gorge, Laputta Station, Funkiki Island, Daydream Oasis, Nightmare Rift, Royalton Raceway, Hidden Realm, and Paradox Green. In order to use a portal, you had to use a Funkey with a game room in the given location. For example, Sol can access Funkiki Island because its game room, "Relaxing Resort," is located there. However, Sol cannot access Lapuatta Station because there is no game room there it can access. Regardless of tribe, any Funkey can return to Funkeystown.
In every zone, there is an enemy character who appears if you stay outside for too long. These are: Henchman in Funkeystown, Magma Gorge, Lapuatta Station, and Kelpy Basin; Natives in Funkiki Island; Dali in Daydream Oasis; Goya in Nightmare Rift; Kane in the Hidden Realm; and the Henchmen 2.0 in Paradox Green. Encountering these characters will start a short minigame where the player can win or lose coins.
Throughout the game, the player hears of Master Lox, the main antagonist of the series. He locked the portals and game rooms, restricting access only for particular Funkeys. In addition, he created the Henchmen to steal coins in Funkeystown, Kelpy Basin, Magma Gorge, and Laputta Station and the Henchman 2.0 in Paradox Green to destroy the Gnomon Tree. He appears to be served by Dali and Goya.
Characters[]
Main Article: Main Page
As the name suggests, the majority of the characters in U.B. Funkeys are members of a species known as 'funkeys'. Other, 'special' characters who are not funkeys are usually creations and/or servants of Master Lox.
Sets[]
See: Series
The series spawned many various sets, which were available throughout the series' lifespan. These were single Funkeys, starter packs, adventure packs, Multiplayer sets, chat sets, and limited edition packs.
Starter Packs[]
Starter packs contain a white hub, installation disk, and instruction booklet. In general, each contained two to four funkeys relating to a particular world. The white hub design would change in some packs to reflect the new worlds. For instance, hubs made during the Dream State run have a chest with purple wisps on them.
Adventure Packs[]
During the series' lifespan, there were a number of adventure packs released. These contained several Funkeys from the same world that were of the same rarity. (i.e. all four would be Normal/Rare/Very Rare) Sometimes these Funkeys would be bundled together in starter packs, as well.
Chat/Multiplayer Packs[]
Several games from the Dream States and on offer multiplayer functionalities. These Funkeys would be bundled with one extra funkey as a minor bonus (like adventure packs, both Funkeys are of the same rarity). Similarly, Chat Funkeys (who offer a chat room in place of a game) are bundled in with a bonus Funkey. Since all chat Funkeys are of Normal rarity, the bundled Funkey is, as well.
Limited Edition Packs[]
Limited edition packs were created that came with Funkeys that you could not normally use. This included the Funkeystown adventure pack, and the Funkiki Island pack. A Dream State pack was also in coming, but was never officially released. The Funkeystown pack came with a Henchmen figure, a Master Lox figure, and the Mayor Sayso figure. Lox and the Henchman offered access to the Villain's Den, a shop-less game room in Funkeystown with a coin-related game. Mayor Sayso was able to access any gameroom in the original game, but cannot play any of the games.
The Funkiki Island pack came with Jerry, a Funkiki native, and the Pineapple King, along with a Normal Sol figure. In a similar fashion to the Funkeystown Adventure Pack, Jerry can access any game room but cannot play games, and the Native and Pineapple King can access the Funkiki Native Outpost.
Gallery[]
See: U.B. Funkeys/Gallery
Music[]
U.B. Funkeys OST Full
Music tracks in the U.B. Funkeys game are around a minute long, and most do not have proper loops. The composer for the game is unknown.
Credits[]
See: U.B. Funkeys/Credits
The game credits individuals at Radica and Arkadium, with some having titles related to the game terminology (e.g. Director of Funk).[2]
External Links[]
Trivia[]
- Most funkey series have a set of four characters per world on initial release.