Yeah, we've discussed this on that "other" community board and with all the various designers out there I am surprised they don't access them more. They recently offered some very cool 400% designs that I thought would be fantastic as series figures. Instead it's more corporate icons and shit. That's sorta what has turned me off from collecting them as much as I use to.

I was just solicited on the new(ish) 400% wood Bear with the two suitcases, but the retail price looks to be a whopping $1300 USD. I can only assume it's because there are three companies involved in its release.

Yeah, what about the new alumnium one? 6,7k, isn't it? Crazy. Still, a layered wood one is a grail, if I ever get filthy rich and have nothing better to do with my cash.

I think these different mediums definitely elevate the figures to art versus designer toy or whatever people wanna call them these days. However, knowing that how they are ultimately produced leaves me with a slightly sour taste in my mouth. What I mean is none of them are carved or made by hand. They are still produced by machines run by computers. I'm sure the wood is initially layered by hand, but then it just gets dumped into a computerized lathe type machine and probably cut in a matter of minutes, if not seconds. Does it matter with the end product, no. But the price... that's where it sort of bugs me. Eh, tomato / tamato

Two new 400% designs that Medicom just sent us a solicitation for;


Neighborhood


Kyary Pamyu Pamyu


Both 100% from the recent series 24

Just thought people might like to know there's a new Bearbrick forum: www.bricktribe.com. Still tiny, but who knows...

Anyone knows of Japanese BB forums by any chance?

Looks like series 28 is hitting in some places. This series looks pretty strong. I am personally digging the secret Pushead. Appears as though no two are the same. I snagged some pics from Instinct Toy;





http://instinctoy.blog73.fc2.com/blog-entry-1153.html

Very unusual for a legitimate Be@rbrick release. Even secret figures are usually of 1 same design applied to each piece. Very cool.

I like it, but as the Booska a few months ago, I'm sure it will be 1/192...

^^^^^

Oh, I'm sure of that. I'm still trying to track down that Booska (and Devilman for that matter) at a reasonable price...

Speaking of Bearbricks (ah!), I'm trying to track down a Layered or Horizon Karimoku at a non-completely flippery price. If anyone has tips, I'd appreciate!

The new pushead is really unique. I wonder if the plastic is marbled or if it is a marbled paint app? Very innovative of Medicom to do that.

Dipped water transfer print . . every one turning out different was just an added bonus of the process

Thats pretty interesting. These I think look the best out of all of the pushead bearbricks yet. So simple yet so good.

Don't forget about the Godzilla & Kappa bears that are part of the basic set!

Hmmyeah. As always though, I find myself only liking the Jellybean and Pattern ones. And then the Pushead. I can imagine their planning meetings going something like this:
"Hey, this one has a pretty cool design"
"True, let's make it 1/192 so people buy cases and cases of the padding junk!"

I see what you are saying but surely that's the fundamental principle of Be@rbrick?

Internally Medicom do everything to ensure a fair ratio and even distribution of all variants. The fact that shady dealers and resellers go to the trouble of opening up hundreds of boxes and sealed foil bags to flip is way beyond their control.

All part of the game!

I probably wasn't clear. My beef is with them not making the BBs I like more common. They always seem to be chases. But that's my beef with this hobby in general. Why not offer pre-orders on -everything- and then produce accordingly? All the hype created on artificial scarcity would go away and companies with toys that people actually like would thrive.

Futile beef! What if I don't like the BB's you like and I want completely different 'commons'. It's impossible to satisfy everyone! It would be way easier to just start liking the 'easy to get' sucky versions . . . problem solved!


I used to think this way too, but now believe that pre-orders just kill kudos. Invariably collectors want at least a piece of the hot rare shit and that's what stimulates interest. Limited edition toys ARE made artificially scarce, but it's that very fact that makes them desirable. Catch 22!

I got no idea how 3A make it work, unless the turnover of new collectors is exceeding those that get bored (it took about 18 months in my case).

It's sounding like someone's suffering from burnout and the realization that collecting toys is just one big pissing contest!

I should have added a wink emoticon or something. I was trying to jokingly whine. That being said, does anyone really like the Horror or Cute ones? (But the Jellys remain my favourite!)



Oh I know why things are the way they are, but I would be really curious to see if any of it is justified in any way. Are the sales you are losing short-term by limiting the runs and creating these articifial shortages sustained by enough people with the drive to tiem after time try to buy your toys? At what point is there a burn-out of people giving up because they realize they will never be "complete"?

I'd look at KR, mid-'90s comics, the sports cards boom and bust... and argue that mid/long-term, it's a recipe for disaster.



Haha, nah, old thoughts really. But they've been sharpened recently when I see my son show some collector tendencies... Collecting for the reasons you mentioned above, for the thrill of the chase, for the joy of owning something rare... I understand. But I can't help but feel these are petty, unworthy reasons.

Rant rant rant. Thanks for reading.

Bearbricks and threeA at the top of the Japan Toys section... times have changed!

I like to view most of these "collectible toys" as being something like prints, albeit 3D versions. If you made prints unlimited and an open pre-order you would most likely kill that market and make it less collectible. But of course, you don't make 10 colorways of the same print so I think that toy makers need to know how to be a bit more careful in terms of production and distribution. I think a lot of the issues we have are manufacturers wanting the high dollars paid for "collectibles" but at the same time wanting to milk them like regular mainstream products. Can't have them both ways.

id love that bear brick.

I've had no complaints, but I'm only half way through the world, so we'll see. 3.5 billion people and going

Well, prints or whatever limited, that was the point I was making above about collectibles in general: they cater to people who value "rarity" (in this case artificially created vs, for example, vintage or antiques) over the aesthetic resonance of the item. Some of my favourite prints were open runs. They're also some visitors to my house like the most.

I understand toy makers need to use their molds as much as they can, but... your point stands.

Love the new Pus Be@r! What's the meaning of the tampo?