The first wave of Espector Studios merchandise hit the shelves in December 2011, just in time for the holiday shopping season. Supermalls across the Philippines were the first to showcase the toys and apparel featuring their beloved characters from Furious Birds and FlapFlap Hero.
James Pascual couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as he walked through the aisles of the SM Department Store in Cubao. The shelves were lined with plush toys, action figures, keychains, T-shirts, and even hats, all emblazoned with characters that had started as little pixels on a screen in his cramped apartment. Now they were grinning up at him in full color, packaged for eager shoppers.
He couldn't resist. He picked up a plush version of Red, the iconic bird from Furious Birds, and cradled it in his hands, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"First time I've seen these up close," he said to himself as he examined the stitching, the soft fabric, the embroidered eyes. Everything was perfect, down to the tiny details on the wings.
He paid for the plush and snapped a picture of it in his hands, ready to post it on the studio's social media channels. It was a moment worth celebrating. The characters he'd brought to life with FlapFlap Hero and Furious Birds were no longer just digital icons. They were becoming part of people's lives, filling shelves, wardrobes, and even the hearts of fans around the world.
James snapped the picture, added a quick caption: "It's official. Furious Birds and FlapFlap Hero are now in stores near you. Get your favorite plushies and apparel today! #EspectorStudios #FuriousBirds #FlapFlapHero #MerchandiseDrop" and clicked "post."
Espector Studios Social Media Post — December 1, 2011
"Our characters are officially in the real world! Available now at major Supermalls across the Philippines, Asia, and Europe. Collectibles, T-shirts, plushies, and more—your favorite Espector Studios characters are ready to join you! Head to your nearest store and grab your piece of the Furious Birds and FlapFlap Hero collection today!"
The post was live for less than an hour before the engagement flooded in. Comments from fans in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and as far away as Spain and Italy began to pour in. Fans were ecstatic. Pictures of the plush toys with happy children holding them in malls flooded the social media threads. James watched as the numbers climbed—likes, shares, comments. His heart raced as he scrolled through the posts, reading how people couldn't believe that their favorite game characters were now in their hands.
Fan Comments (On Espector Studios' Social Media):
*"I bought two of the plushies today. My kids are going to go crazy! Thank you, Espector!" — Hannah M. (Manila)
*"Furious Birds is everything! Took me forever to find this plushie. Worth every cent!" — Marco T. (Spain)
*"I can't believe I'm holding Red in my hands! This is a dream come true." — Lina R. (Italy)
James leaned back in his chair, letting out a breath of satisfaction. It was working. They were going global. The games were popular, sure, but the merchandise? That was the next level. He glanced over at Yuri, who had been monitoring their social media engagement from her desk.
"We're blowing up, huh?" James said with a smile.
Yuri, ever composed, didn't take her eyes off her screen. "This is just the beginning. The toys are flying off the shelves. Now we need to keep the momentum going. Next step: apparel drop. K-Trax is going to help us distribute, but it's still up to us to push it."
James nodded. "Yeah. Apparel. I don't think we've even scratched the surface yet."
He glanced back at his phone, seeing that the number of orders coming in from online stores and retail chains was climbing rapidly. The global spread was reaching the key markets: Europe and Asia. Their merchandise was becoming a household name.
December 5, 2011 – SM Megamall, Manila
James couldn't resist a visit to one of the larger malls where Espector merchandise was featured in a dedicated section. The sight of the Furious Birds and FlapFlap Hero branded shelves, stacked high with toys and apparel, made his heart swell with pride. Parents were walking past, checking out plush toys and grabbing T-shirts, while teenagers were crowding around the FlapFlap Hero keychains.
He couldn't help but feel like a small part of him was still holding onto that old, broken life he once had. He remembered how hopeless things had felt in his previous world. But now? He had a whole new world in his hands, and it was filled with possibilities.
His eyes scanned the crowd. The energy was infectious.
"James!" a familiar voice called out from behind him.
He turned to see Yuri walking towards him, holding a coffee in her hand.
"Just couldn't resist a quick visit to see our 'empire' in the making, huh?" Yuri said with a grin. "I have to say, I'm impressed. The merchandise is flying off the shelves."
"Yeah, it's surreal," James replied, chuckling. "I'm just a game developer, but now, it feels like I'm watching the world I created come to life in the real world."
Though that was a lie, he was a game developer in the past, and this moment also happened to him. It was a nostalgic feeling.
Yuri smiled. "You're not just a game developer anymore. You're a business mogul. We're everywhere now. And it's all thanks to you."
James glanced around, watching kids hug their plush toys, their faces alight with joy. "It's more than just the money or the games. It's knowing that people love it. They're invested. These characters—they're not just digital assets. They're part of people's lives now. They matter."
"Exactly," Yuri said, looking around the store. "It's not just about a product. It's a movement. And you're the one who started it."
James gave her a sidelong glance. "Didn't expect all this to happen when I sat down and coded FlapFlap Hero in my apartment."
Yuri laughed. "Who would have thought that the broken game developer would become the king of the mobile gaming world?"
Espector Studios Social Media Post — December 6, 2011
"We're officially taking over your holiday shopping list! Head over to the nearest Supermall or department store and grab your official Furious Birds and FlapFlap Hero merchandise! Toys, apparel, keychains, and more! #FuriousBirds #FlapFlapHero #EspectorStudios"
The post went live, and within hours, it was being shared all over social media. Espector's fans were vocal—sharing photos of themselves wearing the branded T-shirts, holding plush toys, and posting their excitement about finally getting their hands on official Espector merchandise.
The online store was overwhelmed with orders, and the retail partners were asking for more stock. The press was picking up on it too. Major news outlets were writing about the cultural phenomenon of Furious Birds and FlapFlap Hero, comparing the global success to that of earlier mobile games like Angry Birds—but with a twist.
Espector wasn't just a game studio; it was now a brand. And a very powerful one.
December 10, 2011 – Espector Studios HQ
The office was buzzing with excitement. The team had just wrapped up the end-of-year meeting, and everyone was still riding the high of the recent success.
James stood before the whiteboard, addressing his team. "Alright, guys, here's where we are. Over 210 million downloads for Furious Birds. FlapFlap Hero just crossed 80 million. Other titles also crossed 120 million And now we're officially in retail. The holidays are only getting started, but we're on track to hit the 500 million mark across all games by next year. As for our total earnings according to Yuri's latest report—we're sitting just over ₱5.8 billion in gross revenue this quarter alone."
A round of cheers erupted across the room.
James smiled as he looked around at the team that had become his second family—some still seated on beanbags, others leaning against desks, all of them beaming.
That was a huge number, totally. And it was from two games alone, Furious Birds and FlapFlap Heroes, of course the other titles. What more if he were to introduce more games that would make his company a billion dollar worth? After all, 5.8 billion pesos is around over a hundred million dollars.
"Let's think of another game."