Superplastic has always been about mixing vinyl, pop art, and music. So the release of The Legend Of Malone really doesn't come as a huge surprise.  They've worked with the Gorillaz in the past, so why not an "8x diamond-certified GRAMMY® Award-nominated icon". Co-created with Post Malone, the 12-inch tall art toy is currently available to order for $170.00.

This stylized piece includes a handful of accessories, including a sword, a gold interchangeable arm, a bouquet, and an interchangeable eagle head. Also, 300 lucky fans will randomly receive a custom, rare, all-gold interchangeable eagle head. While collecting vinyl from musicians used to mean picking up an album at your local record store, it will be interesting to see if Superplastic and Post Malone build upon this release.

Full disclosure: I currently volunteer as a moderator on NBA 2K's Discord server. I'm not an employee of and am not paid by 2K or Take-Two.

I've been playing NBA 2K since the original. I was always a Sega kid - Master System, Genesis, Dreamcast - and loved (still do) sports game. I'll still purchase the yearly iteration of the four major sports games even if they're nothing more than a roster update, which is oftentimes exactly what they are. Back in 1999, the basketball landscape was still being ruled by EA Sports...unless you were a Sega kid. Then, it was Sega Sports NBA 2K, developed by Visual Concepts, which was purchased by Take-Two in 2005 and now lives under the 2K label. I spent way too many hours in college trying to put precisely enough tension on those triggers to hit a free throw. Fast forward 25 years and 2K is the only game in town in what has become a sports game landscape that's controlled by game monopolies.

While back in the late 90s and early aughts the main mode for gamers was season mode, or if you were lucky - franchise mode, today's gaming experience revolves around (in EA's nomenclature) "Ultimate" teams. Essentially, in-game and/or real-life currency affords you the ability to purchase packs which contain the possibility of pulling a current or historical player cards based on "reported" pack odds. Somehow, companies get away with publishing something such as "<2%" which could mean a 1.9% chance or a .00000000001% chance of pulling a specific card. It's a mystery how this hasn't been government regulated in the US, but it's fitting if you consider our recent slide into accepting and promoting gambling. It's best to start them out young, no?

It had appeared that 2K in their NBA 2K24 release would buck the industry trend of an auction house, where users could list their cards to acquire more in-game currency in order to buy players/packs they wanted. Sometimes this strategy put certain popular cards out of reach of your regular 2K MyTeam player. So 2K announced the Player Market, which would allow users to purchase the cards they wanted directly from 2K for a set amount. It nearly eliminated the need to spend actual money on ripping packs, because why gamble when you can just buy the card you want using either in-game or real-life currency. But then the caveats began.

You want that Pink Diamond (the highest available gem level) Kobe Bryant card? Enter into the mix: lock-in cards. Well, you'll need to collect all 10 players to get that lock-in card. And you'll need to do that multiple times. There's no way to directly purchase that card you want without purchasing dozens of cards you don't want. Then there was the case of the Pink Diamond Michael Beasley card. A lower tier version of his card was popular with the no-money-spent crowd, so 2K put his higher gem card behind a Virtual Currency (real-money) paywall. This was part of the same set that gave us a lock-in for what many folks thought would be a top-tier Yao Ming card.

The Pink Diamond Yao Ming card. How does one explain it without using the phrase "2K trolled users"? This was a lock-in card everyone had been waiting for, yet, it was worse than almost every card that you needed to collect to get it. People still collected the set, thinking it was simply an error by 2K and they would eventually update the card to be good (they didn't). Then what was possibly the latest in a litany of last straws was the release of 2K's NBA All-Star 2024 series (with 2K24's first Galaxy Opal level cards) and their first ever 100 overall card. Somehow, all of these cards evaded/avoided the Player Market. And there was no mechanism to purchase the specific player you wanted. Gone is the auction house, and without them being in the Player Market or even a Michael Beasley-esque direct purchase, players are left to gamble with pack odds that aren't entirely clear (<2%).

You add that debacle to an All-Star weekend where 2K showed in-game that earning a ring in their Unlimited mode would give you a free Pink Diamond Doc Rivers coach card (people actually wanted this, unlike having Doc Rivers coach your actual favorite team) only to change it to an "Unsellable" (unsellable is a misnomer that basically means you can sell it at an extremely discounted rate) pack from last season. There was also no Locker Codes or grindable All-Star content, all of which has been a 2K tradition. Then you have 2K tweeting out an incorrect graphic showing that those newly released Galaxy Opal cards everyone was angry about were now available in the Player Market (they weren't). And what might have been the most entertaining 2K apologist burner account that has ever popped up on (and subsequently quit) Twitter.

The proverbial "any publicity is good publicity" isn't always the case. In their Q3 2024 earnings release (February 8th 2024), Take-Two specifically mentioned "some softness in mobile advertising and sales for NBA 2K24" as a reason for lowering their full-year financial outlook. As an example, to date, NBA 2K24 has sold in the neighborhood of 7 million copies. To compare, NBA 2K20 sold around 14 million copies (thank you pandemic!). They also blamed the lower outlook as being "largely due to the effect of lower unit sales on its (NBA 2K24) in-game monetization". This is while "average revenue per user gr(e)w 30% year-over-year". Since the earnings announcement, Take-Two's stock price has decreased nearly 11% (February 8th - 20th 2024).

So how will the folks behind NBA 2K24 react to such playerbase unrest? There's always the (in gambling terms) double down. It seems like that's what the 2024 All-Star release was. Maybe we can increase that revenue per user by enough that we can offset the weak game sales. But the problem is, in economic terms, that videogame demand is fairly elastic. You keep raising prices, and/or demanding more money to be on a level playing field with other users, and a portion of your userbase will flee - whether it's to a different game, a different activity, or maybe they'll freely go out and touch grass.

The problem isn't players not spending enough. The problem is not enough players are playing the game. So listen to your community. Do what Madden has done and create a VIP group of hardcore fans whose opinions can help direct the franchise. The community wants a reason to play. They want free, grindable content. Even if the rewards aren't the greatest, everyone loves getting something for free. This will have people speaking positively about the MyTeam game mode, which has had positive moments this year. That positive word of mouth should lead to more people purchasing the game (or at least downloading once it inevitably is free), which should lead to greater revenue for Take-Two. We all live happily ever after.

It kinda feels like the ball is now in 2K's court...

Here's one of those series that I've been excited about collecting recently - the Heels and Faces line from Zombie Sailor Toys. They've released a number of great old-school wrestlers in that similarly old-school 4.5-inch tall scale line. Recently, they've added classic names like Bastian Booger and One Man Gang to the lineup. But this one is a little bigger. They've teamed up with CM Punk to announce the pre-order for the CM Punk with Larry (Punk's dog) bonus figure.

Slated to begin shipping in late-Summer/early-Fall of 2024, you can pre-order one now for $40.00. According to ZST: "This is a made-to-order collectible and will be available for approximately two weeks and we will never offer this CM Punk figure again."

It's been almost 15 months since I posted anything on PlasticandPlush.com, and while it's been fairly liberating, I've wanted to post about a few things that have interested me over that span of time. And when I say liberating, I mean that I had always put this false expectation of "I need to post 5 news stories a day" on myself. It made sense when I was making money on the site, but those days are long, long gone. It's a big old net negative nowadays (how I enjoyed those days of making money).

But I've been getting back in to collecting - hopefully also into selling off a bunch of my collection, since I recently moved and am trying to declutter. But keep an eye on the site as I'm going to be posting about some of the things that currently interest me. And they won't always be toys or collecting. Sometimes it will just be me posting an AI generated image of "a creepy looking dog with a pineapple on its head playing a ukelele at a Bee Gees concert".

Exclusive #1 *Pre-order available
Flat Bonnie (Rose Colored Glasses Edition)
11” tall - Handmade limited edition art plush with accessories (Signed).
$45.00 each

Exclusive #2 *Pre-order available
Flat Otter (Luv Sux Edition)
10” tall - Handmade limited edition art plush with a magnetic cassette tape accessory (Signed).
$55.00 each

Exclusive #3 *Pre-order available
Flat Knuckle Bear (Dcon 2022 Edition) - collaboration with Touma.
11” tall - Handmade SUPER Limited Edition vinyl art plush with a numbered sewn-in tag.
$70.00 each
*Made of vinyl pleather (Animal friendly materials).

Available at Knocks on Wood (K.O.W.) (booth 2505)
Wooden Flat Bonnie
Materials - Walnut (body), Onyx stone (eyes)
Size - 6 inches tall, 3/4 inch thick
CnC Machined and Hand sanded and finished.
Made in house at Knocks On Wood in Anaheim CA.
*comes with a mini satchel accessory (vinyl).

Available at Gary Baseman (booth 3010)
Manny Moa (Pose-able Art Plush)
This is one of my favorite/special collaborations with Gary.
Please visit Moas at Gary Baseman’s booth and let them tell you their amazing stories.

Available at “Out of Order” Art Show (booth 3017)
Title: Space Bunny Invader
10”x10” Vinyl Wall Art (on canvas)
$160

With Designer Con running November 18th through 20th, we're seeing a number of exclusives that will be available at the show. One of those is the Satoshi Nakamoto "OG" & “Masked” Action Figures by TIMEBANDITS.

Available in two versions ("OG" and “Masked”), the 3.75-inch figure is hand-cast, hand-painted resin action figures with 3 points of articulation. The accessories include Bitcoin (coin) and Bitcoin White Paper. The blister is resealable so you can display loose or carded.

The figures are limited to 50 units for each version. They will debut at Designer Con Booth #2828 for $99.21 each. Online sales will take place several days after DCon via https://www.timebanditswatches.com/. Each purchase includes a complementary Satoshi Nakamoto "OG" or “Masked” BTC NFT upon request. There is no additional cost for the NFT. [Minting will occur via Counterparty, which utilizes the Bitcoin blockchain, with a limited edition of 50 units for each version. To receive your Satoshi BTC NFT, you will need a Counterparty compatible wallet. We recommend using FreeWallet.io. It's easy to set up and it's free.]

Sculpt & Illustration by John Treanor. Paint App by ToddAction. Casting by James Hakola. Designed by TIMEBANDITS/Jonathan Stephens.

Go Hero has returned to the designer vinyl scene with the announcement of the Zappy pre-order. Teaming up with Executive Replicas, the 9-inch tall vinyl is currently available to pre-order for $129.99. The figure includes a handful of accessories, including: Dr. Moleculon’s Oblit-O-Ray (Ray gun accessory); Sky Marshal 3000 Rocket Pack (Jet pack accessory); Radiation Resistant Atomitech Onesie; Cosmic-Cranial Containment Unit; Xeno-Detector Z-Ray Visor; Auto-Fusion Power Holster.

Way back in 2004(?), I handed out my first ever Toy of the Year to Go Hero's Mechabot. So I am thrilled to see them return to original work. And from the image below, it appears that Zappy will likely be the first in a line of vinyl collectibles.

What happens when a boy is brain-blasted by a Martian Mind-Master, cursing him with cosmic secrets beyond human comprehension? Zappy – Mysterious Laser Boy of Space© is born!

Zappy© uses his alien abilities and trusty Atomitech© to take on Moon Goons©, Mechanibals©, Monsteroids© in the Forgotten Future©!

Every November 3rd is also know as Godzilla Day. Since the kaiju's debut that date in 1954, folks have been celebrating the longest running film franchise ever. In addition to posters and album releases, Mondo has dropped a pre-order for their next premium scale statue.

Based on a concept by Francesco Francavilla, the GODZILLA: TOKYO SOS Premium Scale Statue is limited edition of just 600 pieces. This 16-inch statue captures the brutal battle between Godzilla, Mothra and Kiryu. It features a Godzilla statue, 2 Mothra Larva, a base diorama, (Swappable) Closed lower jaw, (Swappable) "Chomping on Mothra's legs" lower jaw, (Swappable) Semi-transparent Heat Ray Attack - with head, and (Swappable) Tail tip, used to display with or without attached Mothra Larva.

The piece is expected to ship in Spring / Summer 2023 to the U.S. and Canada. It can be pre-ordered for $585.00.

Tenacious Toys is teaming up with Breadwig (artist Bryan Ballinger) on a new line of resin collectibles based on his Faulty Dogs illustrations and artwork.

Bryan and Benny ran a poll to determine the community's choices for the first dogs to start with, and the results are in: the first two figures will be Playing Dog (a dachshund) and Trash Can Dog. Each collectible will be approximately 6 inches long or tall, and both Bryan and Benny hope to round out the series by eventually turning many more of the Faulty Dog designs into resin collectibles.

The first Kickstarter to help fund the project will launch this week, and interested collectors are encouraged to sign up for notifications either via the Breadwig email list signup form, or the Kickstarter Preview Page.

Prototypes of some of the Faulty Dogs will be on display at New York Comic Con Booth #1673 from October 6 - 9. 

Are destroying your PS5 controllers while raging at NBA 2K23 costing you too much money? Well, now you can target that rage towards the man who everyone blames for their missed shots or server disconnects. Teaming up with FOCO, the 8-inch tall Ronnie 2K bobblehead is currently available to pre-order for $50.00. It portrays Ronnie 2K - with his dog Sophie - posing with a basketball and video game controller. This one is limited to an edition size of 2,222 pieces.

Clutter has announced that the 3oz Canbot - Boooom! GID variant, from Nicky Davis and Czee13, is now available to purchase. Nicky Davis' 3oz design for Canbot Series 1 was one of the most loved and sought-after, and this new 3oz Canbot takes it up a level. The 3-inch tall glow-in-the-dark figure is limited to a run of 200 pieces. You can only grab this one from Nicky Davis' Shop for $35.00.

With New York Comic Con 2022 starting later this week, Gerald Okamura has announced a new, limited edition, TIKUMO Super Tiki Sumo. This NYCC exclusive - the 12th colorway - will be limited to only 20 pieces. It will be available to pick up at the Tenacious Island Booth # 1673 from October 6th through 9th. Pricing on it will be $99.00. And each signed and numbered Japanese sofubi figure will include a sticker, button, dohyo, header card, and bag.

Back in 1988, Kenner launched their Starting Lineup series of collectible figures. If you were a kid who was a sports fan back in the late 80's and early 90's,  you probably had a boatload of these sitting on your toy shelves. Fast forward 34 years and Hasbro has announced that Starting Lineup is returning in a slightly larger and definitely more articulated series.

The first new Starting Lineup series will include 8 current NBA superstars: Jayson Tatum; Trae Young; Ja Morant; Giannis Antetokounmpo; Joel Embiid; Luka Doncic; Steph Curry; LeBron James. Each figure is available to pre-order from Hasbro Pulse for $49.99 each.

The figures no measure 6 inches in height (up from 4 inches tall). They include accessories, such as 2 pairs of extra hands, a flight stand, and an exclusive Panini basketball trading card that can only be found with Starting Lineup 6-inch figures. Also, each Series 1 Starting Lineup 6-inch figure will also come with an exclusive digital Panini NFT trading card. They're anticipated to begin shipping around Mid-December 2022.

Erick Scarecrow and ESC-Toy has listed a single limited edition Femake "Kage" colorway figure that is now available to bid on Ebay. The piece is a mixture of clear resin/ABS and stands at 6.75 inches in height. It comes signed and numbered by the artist. Bidding starts at $100.00 and the auction runs until Thursday September 1st 2022 at 6PM ET.