U.B. FUNKEYS
ROLE: ART DIRECTION, GAME DESIGN, ANIMATION, ILLUSTRATION, UI
UB Funkeys was a series of action figures that could be plugged into your computer via USB. Different characters could be switched in and out to unlock different games and areas of a vast virtual world. It won the Toy Industry Association’s “Electronic Toy of the Year” in 2009. It was made by a toy company named Radica which was a subsidiary of Mattel.
I was the art director for the software aspect of the toy as well as making the UI and most of the games and interiors.
There is still a very passionate community of players that are keeping the funkey dream alive. You can join them here at their discord.
Many thanks to Mr. Chris Neuman and Mr. Simon Kono who were integral parts of the design of this game as well.
Maps
These are just a few of the maps of the rich worlds that the players could explore with their Funkeys.
This is a part of a cut scene that would show you travelling in between worlds.
Game Rooms
Each character had their own building on the map and interior that you could explore if you had the physical action figure. Each character’s game was accessible from their game room as well as a marketplace to buy items exclusive to that character.
This isn’t a Game Room it is a room full of mysterious buttons.
Games
Each character had their own associated game. There were a lot of characters and a lot of games…
Funkeys was successful enough to spawn a Speed Racer-based addition to the universe complete with Speed racer Funkeys.
This is actually one of a bunch of mini-games that you might encounter wandering around the world.
