Hot (And Heavy) Wheels - Virtually

I (once, long ago) used the words “virtual” and “virtually” to indicate that something or some task was getting close to being effectively whole. Like:“We virtually had the job done when it started to rain…” or “I’d like my reality virtual, please."

It’s a state of being that’s in some sort of subjective phase of existence.  It is, by nature, existential.  In need of a degree of emotion like belief as opposed to being solid fact.

So what’s that have to do with the little toy cars (Mattel Hot Wheels©) that can be a real pain in the ass if stepped on when barefoot in darkened hallway.

On the face of it, it means that those creative types down near LAX, have signed-on to ride the now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t craze that’s currently taken over from pyramid schemes as THE hot date of choice for stupid money. Strangely enough (and quite down market to boot) it looks like the El Segundo firm will not be accepting crypto currency from virtual money acolytes who feel compelled to purchase these (virtual) wares.

“Non-fungible” is a funny word on its face.  It almost sounds gross, “fungible” what the hell is that?  Is it something about those (sort of scary) talking toes on TV or exotic mushrooms from the high country in Guatemala?

Nope, it simply means that the item is, in and of itself, unique and not directly one-for-one exchangeable for any other thing or object.  The net says this: “a non-fungible token is a unique digital identifier that cannot be copied, substituted, or subdivided, that is recorded in a blockchain, and that is used to certify authenticity and ownership (as of a specific digital asset and specific rights relating to it.

I think that I get it but I still can’t figure out how buyers are going to play with their cool little model cars.

Here, for your edification and potential amazement, in their own words, is what what the Mattel peeps have to say about this taffy pull:

What Is The Hot Wheels NFT Garage?

They’re unique virtual collectibles, created by the same designers who produce the die-cast models that get your pulse pounding. We’re thrilled by this latest series, which includes real-world rides from Aston Martin, GM, Honda, McLaren, Pagani, and Porsche.

A 3rd-party wallet is NOT needed. Just sign in and purchase your virtual collectible packs. Afterward, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a link to claim them. Once claimed, open your packs and your virtual collectibles will be minted into a new Mattel Creations wallet or your existing Mattel Creations wallet.

Luck Of The Draw

Series 5 cards are released in packs, with 7 virtual collectibles included in each pack. Some collectors may get a “Premium” or “NFTH” card in their pack, which allows them to collect a physical die-cast car. These castings will be among the rarest we’ll ever produce. The percentage of packs containing one of these cards is shown below:

PREMIUM (28.74%)
‘55 Chevy Panel, '17 Pagani Huayra Roadster, Aston Martin Vulcan, McLaren F1

NFTH (3.59%)
Porsche 911 GT3 RS

What's In A Pack?

There are six different rarities in Series 5. Within each pack, the distribution of rarities is shown below. (Please note: Premium cards are Super Rare, and NFTH cards are Ultra Rare.)

Final Note

I’ve got one more question here: where and when does this merry-go-round pull up to the curb?

Only announced to the public on 04/18/23 the entire first NFT offering was already marked on the Mattel site as sold out today (04/22).

Virtually yours, - Doug