InArt - Black Myth: Wukong (Video Game) 1/6 Scale Figures

[JorjeCroft]

He's available on BBTS for 439.99$

 

[BrooklynWolf X]

Finally have the time to share a thought about InArt’s WuKong stream:

https://www.youtube.com/live/amVRNJN5_Ks?si=29KDKcuAVanw7VLh

Now THIS is now you promote your figure, not with the stupid ‘influencer’ batch.

I’m so glad they’re moving away from that.

 

[HyperDrive]

Finally have the time to share a thought about InArt’s WuKong stream:

https://www.youtube.com/live/amVRNJN5_Ks?si=29KDKcuAVanw7VLh

Now THIS is now you promote your figure, not with the stupid ‘influencer’ batch.

I’m so glad they’re moving away from that.

And they did pretty well I thought. I liked the laidback vibe and insight to the figure.

 

[McHaleyArt]

Broke down and ordered. Don’t play the game, but have always been a fan of Sun Wukong. This’ll be my first Inart. Hope QC is stellar for this.

 

[McHaleyArt]

 

[DioramaMaker]

Honestly dig the look without the armor.

 

[lordnastrond]

View attachment 754092View attachment 754093View attachment 754094

Damn, wish Inart did a deluxe that came with an extra head and a body without the armor so you can showcase the stunning undergarments.

 

[lordnastrond]

Look like the new Haoyutoys Wukong has been released!
Interesting to see how these two compete and look compared to one another - very different takes on the character.



I will say that I prefer the character design from the game and therefore the Inart figure, the face is more apeish and less uncanny valley - likewise I prefer their inclusion of a tail and monkey feet.
I also prefer the far more detailed and ornate armor of the Inart/game design.

But I do think this one has quite a bit to recommend it, the base and banner are STUNNING.
The colouration of the armor and the choice to use an almost Golden Marmoset colouring for Wukong is super cool and interesting.
I know its a bit of a YMMV thing, but I always love when the armor is diecast and they use real silks, fabrics, leathers etc for armor and costume like they have here.

The "Dark version" of this figure more closely matches the colouration of the fur of Wukong in the game and Inart figure,
It could well be possible to get hold of the meditating head from that sculpt, which seems to be inspired from the game unlike the other head sculpts. and use it to to display the Inart restraining band and maybe the underrobes of the Inart figure if you could find some suitable robes to put on the Inart knowing it will be mostly hidden under the armor.

 

[Wontons]

It looked pretty great, I’m happy for those who preordered one.

The upcoming Sun Xingzhe version is faithful to the appearance from the show, I’m not sure why the other one is SO orange

I just hope they continue this 1/6 line past Wukong... the old Inflames figures are way too expensive now, as great as they are

 

[BrooklynWolf X]

@R_R_X after willfoxification’s stream/Q&A…jon said something that didn’t sit quite well with me with regards to 1/6 figures based off of video game properties.

Jon and Ivan work for Queen and InArt, so clearly they and their team have unique insight to the needs and wants from collectors the world over. And they said without any hesitation that ‘gamers don’t collect toys etc etc’.

I don’t agree with their ‘math’ on that. Often times game companies produce limited editions that have scaled statues or the occasional articulated figure. The key word being ‘limited’ and usually with an edition size of 5 to 10,000…depending on popularity of IP and exclusivity with the brick and mortar store I.e GameStop, Best Buy yada yada.

So clearly there IS a market no?

Limtoys has made figures from video game IPs such as metal gear, resident evil-albeit 1/12- red dead, last of us and last but not least, uncharted.

Is it safe to assume these sold VERY well?

If you can reveal numbers, just how well? Also, had these been ‘licensed products’, could sales have been even greater because now you can sell through shops like BBTS and SSC?

So…the question i would’ve asked Jon and Ivan: are you sure gamers aren’t collecting not because of lack of interest, but more because they have a lack of exposure or choices? And the follow up question would be: not all game IPs translate well into 1/6, so maybe try and acquire the ones that do?

I actually have way more to say and ask…but I don’t want to overwhelm you

 

[BrooklynWolf X]

Their statements on demographics don’t make sense to me as well:

They’re doing The Walking Dead, a popular show no doubt…but did studies show that their core audience wants 1/6 figures??

They’ve expressed interest in Breaking Bad. Another popular show…but popular enough for the typical SW/DC/Marvel 1/6 collector to go out and purchase?

That’s what’s breaking my brain.

PO’s for WuKong, by all accounts has done phenomenally. Jon said PO’s for western countries were “slightly” behind. “Slightly”…behind “China’s” PO numbers.

That to me sounds awesome.

So are we sure Jon and Ivan, QS&IA aren’t looking at the right places and or IP’s to acquire?

 

[FatCatSings]

@R_R_X after willfoxification’s stream/Q&A…jon said something that didn’t sit quite well with me with regards to 1/6 figures based off of video game properties.

Jon and Ivan work for Queen and InArt, so clearly they and their team have unique insight to the needs and wants from collectors the world over. And they said without any hesitation that ‘gamers don’t collect toys etc etc’.

I don’t agree with their ‘math’ on that. Often times game companies produce limited editions that have scaled statues or the occasional articulated figure. The key word being ‘limited’ and usually with an edition size of 5 to 10,000…depending on popularity of IP and exclusivity with the brick and mortar store I.e GameStop, Best Buy yada yada.

So clearly there IS a market no?

Limtoys has made figures from video game IPs such as metal gear, resident evil-albeit 1/12- red dead, last of us and last but not least, uncharted.

Is it safe to assume these sold VERY well?

If you can reveal numbers, just how well? Also, had these been ‘licensed products’, could sales have been even greater because now you can sell through shops like BBTS and SSC?

So…the question i would’ve asked Jon and Ivan: are you sure gamers aren’t collecting not because of lack of interest, but more because they have a lack of exposure or choices? And the follow up question would be: not all game IPs translate well into 1/6, so maybe try and acquire the ones that do?

I actually have way more to say and ask…but I don’t want to overwhelm you

I think the issue comes down to the licensing cost itself, as well as how challenging it can be to work with game publishers. There is a niche market, yes, but is it big enough to sustain the cost of an expensive license, as well as the R&D and production of 1/6 scale figures?

I think their market research has probably told them that it’s not very economically viable, but the lower cost to produce 1/12 Morfig makes it a more attractive line to do video game IPs.

Not speaking for LIMTOYS and maybe he can provide more insight, but I assume there’s a limit to how much any company can produce at a time and sell. Does that number end up producing a worthy enough profit after the cost of licensing? Given how few licensed 1/6 game figures there are, I’m going to assume it doesn’t otherwise Hot Toys probably would have jumped on it years ago.

That said, I WISH all my favorite games got high quality 1/6 figures and I’d be first in line to buy them. It is an interesting phenomenon that anecdotally, I know more than a few casual gamers that collect resin statues and 1/12 figures and not 1/6 figures.

 

[BrooklynWolf X]

I think the issue comes down to the licensing cost itself, as well as how challenging it can be to work with game publishers. There is a niche market, yes, but is it big enough to sustain the cost of an expensive license, as well as the R&D and production of 1/6 scale figures?

I think their market research has probably told them that it’s not very economically viable, but the lower cost to produce 1/12 Morfig makes it a more attractive line to do video game IPs.

Not speaking for LIMTOYS and maybe he can provide more insight, but I assume there’s a limit to how much any company can produce at a time and sell. Does that number end up producing a worthy enough profit after the cost of licensing? Given how few licensed 1/6 game figures there are, I’m going to assume it doesn’t otherwise Hot Toys probably would have jumped on it years ago.

That said, I WISH all my favorite games got high quality 1/6 figures and I’d be first in line to buy them. It is an interesting phenomenon that anecdotally, I know more than a few casual gamers that collect resin statues and 1/12 figures and not 1/6 figures.

No doubt in my mind licensing cost plays a huge factor. Look over at Damtoys RE line. $300+ give or take per figure. Right there CAPCOM had eliminated a sizeable portion of potential buyers.

People are speculating that Ekuaz (a 3rd party faction of Damtoys) are making their RE damnation Leon figure because of how difficult Capcom are. It’s like “screw you capcom and your ridiculous fees and limitations”.

I wouldn’t be surprised if R_R_X’s reply is similar to yours.

 

[chrisstbh]

It's funny because the even admitted that Harry Potter collectibles don't sell well before they released their Harry Potter figures. Yet they still went forward with acquiring the license and producing the figures.

They seem utterly stubborn about making video game figures in 1/12 instead of 1/6.

I don't want 1/12 figures so they wont be getting my money for those.

 

[vaanrose]

@R_R_X after willfoxification’s stream/Q&A…jon said something that didn’t sit quite well with me with regards to 1/6 figures based off of video game properties.

Jon and Ivan work for Queen and InArt, so clearly they and their team have unique insight to the needs and wants from collectors the world over. And they said without any hesitation that ‘gamers don’t collect toys etc etc’.

I don’t agree with their ‘math’ on that. Often times game companies produce limited editions that have scaled statues or the occasional articulated figure. The key word being ‘limited’ and usually with an edition size of 5 to 10,000…depending on popularity of IP and exclusivity with the brick and mortar store I.e GameStop, Best Buy yada yada.

So clearly there IS a market no?

Limtoys has made figures from video game IPs such as metal gear, resident evil-albeit 1/12- red dead, last of us and last but not least, uncharted.

Is it safe to assume these sold VERY well?

If you can reveal numbers, just how well? Also, had these been ‘licensed products’, could sales have been even greater because now you can sell through shops like BBTS and SSC?

So…the question i would’ve asked Jon and Ivan: are you sure gamers aren’t collecting not because of lack of interest, but more because they have a lack of exposure or choices? And the follow up question would be: not all game IPs translate well into 1/6, so maybe try and acquire the ones that do?

I actually have way more to say and ask…but I don’t want to overwhelm you

I very much suspect this is a catch-22 situation where InArt is just looking at the existing, proven markets and concluding that only movie figures sell because only movie figures are put on sale.

But it seems plainly obvious to me that the reason movie figures have been successful for so many years where video game figures languished for a while is due to age demographics and income. A kid who grew up on Indiana Jones would have been in a much better place to buy the Hot Toy in 2011 than a kid who grew up on Uncharted would've been when Sideshow released their Drake in 2014.

But ten years later, everybody wants the new Drake figure and it isn't just because it looks so much better. It's because most of us weren't even in the hobby when the other one released.

But just in the short time I've been in the hobby I feel like I've seen the winds shift. There's so much more video game stuff in the third party market now and it has dominated my collecting choices. Over 50% of my collection is video game stuff (almost all of it third party) and an even higher percentage of my pre-orders. I don't think companies will be able to keep ignoring the reputation LimToys or GameToys or MTToys keep building.

 

[Klornamafern]

I will never buy a 1/12 figure, many 1/6 collectors are the same, no need for that or multiple scales in my collection, it truly makes no sense, for example they said that the Wukong figure sold amazing, okay, there was a question of other looks for Wukong and they said We'll do other armors in our 1/12 line, like wtf? If they already have the license and it sells so amazing, why make other beautiful armors in 1/12? Hello? Make some in 1/6 like wtf, please?

They even said they are friends with the game creator if I'm not mistaken and my memory is bad ( in Will's stream ) so why not make more wukong figures in 1/6? I would definitely buy each version, absolute no brainer.

And isn't production cost for a 1/12 figure very close in price as 1/6? **** off with morfig ass figures

 

[FatCatSings]

I very much suspect this is a catch-22 situation where InArt is just looking at the existing, proven markets and concluding that only movie figures sell because only movie figures are put on sale.

But it seems plainly obvious to me that the reason movie figures have been successful for so many years where video game figures languished for a while is due to age demographics and income. A kid who grew up on Indiana Jones would have been in a much better place to buy the Hot Toy in 2011 than a kid who grew up on Uncharted would've been when Sideshow released their Drake in 2014.

But ten years later, everybody wants the new Drake figure and it isn't just because it looks so much better. It's because most of us weren't even in the hobby when the other one released.

But just in the short time I've been in the hobby I feel like I've seen the winds shift. There's so much more video game stuff in the third party market now and it has dominated my collecting choices. Over 50% of my collection is video game stuff (almost all of it third party) and an even higher percentage of my pre-orders. I don't think companies will be able to keep ignoring the reputation LimToys or GameToys or MTToys keep building.

My collection is also almost exclusively video game figures as well so I’m hopeful the tide will start to turn with these licensed companies.

The problem is that we’re all willing to pay $240-$275 for an amazing quality Nathan Drake from LimToys, but would you be willing to pay $500+ for the exact same figure, only licensed?

The only thing that will change that is if video game publishers ask for more reasonable license fees. I think they’re making an exception for Wukong because 1) it’ll literally print money for them in China and 2) they already have a close friendship with the leadership at Game Science so they probably have a good license deal in place.

Those collector edition figures were almost sold at a loss in China, they were so inexpensive for the quality. The price was inflated for international markets and the after market.

I’m also not into 1/12 so I do hope more companies step up.

 

[Wontons]

Video game merch seems to have a culture of having either random cheap merch (see Square Enix selling Cactuar ice cube trays...), which makes sense since companies can produce them quick and cheap, or else super expensive statues with seemingly no in between haha

Either way, my assumptions are

1. Existing culture of 1/6 figure industry specifically casting doubt on product lines. Our niche average consumer wants to see completed lines, but having to wait 1-2 years for each figure makes people initially hesitant to commit, not buy in due to fear the figure will be a one-off release, and cause companies chicken out and stop making lines after just a few figures. A catch 22 like vaanrose says, since this is a self-fulfilling cycle
2. Gaming businesses that can afford this, likely mostly AAA studios, are already in crazy financial situations with shareholders dictating every move. Maybe product re-releases (not all these "2.0s" being hyped) would help sales in the long run to appeal to 1/6 market, so people who missed out the first time can complete as lines get fleshed out, but none of the gaming companies (their shareholders...) are gonna risk that kind of money with no guaranteed, short-term returns

 

[BrooklynWolf X]

It's funny because the even admitted that Harry Potter collectibles don't sell well before they released their Harry Potter figures. Yet they still went forward with acquiring the license and producing the figures.

They seem utterly stubborn about making video game figures in 1/12 instead of 1/6.

I don't want 1/12 figures so they wont be getting my money for those.

Honestly, I think InArt getting the HP license was just to fill their slate.

DC superheroes can only go so far before the well runs dry, and TV shows like TWD have a really low ceiling. GoT…eh, I’m personally not excited because of the last season, so I can’t say one way or the other about it’s staying power. Ivan did say he was hoping GOT can be their Star Wars….which is wild to say.

So what other recognizable, HUGE IP can they get to help fill out their portfolio? Harry Potter.

But merch like action figures, especially 1/6…an IP like HP just doesn’t lend itself well to that market…IMO at least.

Wands, books, witches gowns, wizards robes, stuffed dolls…PERFECT for the world of HP.

I think they should take another look at VG IPs…

 

[chrisstbh]

Honestly, I think InArt getting the HP license was just to fill their slate.

DC superheroes can only go so far before the well runs dry, and TV shows like TWD have a really low ceiling. GoT…eh, I’m personally not excited because of the last season, so I can’t say one way or the other about it’s staying power. Ivan did say he was hoping GOT can be their Star Wars….which is wild to say.

So what other recognizable, HUGE IP can they get to help fill out their portfolio? Harry Potter.

But merch like action figures, especially 1/6…an IP like HP just doesn’t lend itself well to that market…IMO at least.

Wands, books, witches gowns, wizards robes, stuffed dolls…PERFECT for the world of HP.

I think they should take another look at VG IPs…

For real. HT has already pumped out dozens of Snyderverse figures, and is STILL making them as we speak. Why do we need InArt making them too?

They should do something different, and video games are different.