United UN-32 Artfire from TFsource:

http://tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/4693/

It's a separate listing from the Million Publishing one:

http://tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/4225/

So wait, what?

Mistake perhaps?

i'm gonna wait for more info before freaking out over my million publishing preorder

At first I thought it might be an Arms Micron repaint of Ultra Magnus, but with the United designation I'm baffled.

Man at that price I would jump at it. Its less than half the price!!! How can that be is it maybe a toned down version?

Also interesting to note UN-32 is 59.95 vs. 139.95 for the Million Publishing version. I have to think this is a mistake of some kind, I mean Takara wouldn't directly compete with on of their partners like this. Maybe it is refering to one of the PCC sets.

I was trying to make it a United EX release of Smolder or Stakeout. But the number is wrong, price is wrong, and there's no "Master" in the name.

Unless he's supposed to be... Art Master?

Maybe the Million version comes with the PCC Mini-Con Targetmaster extra and the United version only has a Nightstick and maybe minor deco differences?

This is crazy. I wonder what it is.

Unless it's Encore Artfire or something...

Randy

It's Beast Wars Inferno painted in Artfire colors.

I... might buy that.

Maybe this Artfire?

I would lick it.

Random speculation!!!!

It's priced as a Voyager, but United has already given us Deluxe molds at the Voyager price tag. Although, what did these releases have in common? They were all Cybertron Deluxe molds that were not released in Japan.

Alright then. Which Cybertron Deluxe was not released in Japan, and would fit a robot named "Artfire"? Any fire trucks? No. A car? Actually yes. Downshift.

An odd choice, yeah. But wait a minute. There was something else that those United Deluxe-as-Voyagers had in common. They each used the existing paint masks that the US releases had.

Well, then... Downshift didn't have any flames. I guess that rules him ou--

Oh wait. Hasbro released him as Big Daddy! Hello flames! They're not on the hood, but the ones on the side of the car are a fair enough match for the ones on the side of the Spychanger. Hmmm...

Still weird, but I suppose if you squint Downshift's head looks sort of like the CR character...

So in conclusion, random speculation says that it's Downshift in black and white with Big Daddy's flames and other paint masks.

Yeah. That's it.

I'd buy that for a dollar.

I might buy that for sixty.

It's not United EX.

Oh, this could be good.

So, basically, you're suggesting they flip the white & orange from BD for something like this? Can't as say I much like the result, but I wouldn't be buying it anyway, so *shrugs*...

The price point definitely says bigger than Deluxe.

This is really confusing.

Randy

I guess they figured they've dumped a lot of info on us over the past week. They figured we needed something to speculate about again.

It's Takaras' new way to develope toys. Throw a name out and at the end of a month the thing people wanted it to be most is what it becomes.

Right, but United has already done Deluxes at a Voyager pricepoint.

Good (and horrible) point.

Randy

http://www.facebook.com/TFsource/posts/431889706841981



Interesting. The Million Publishing one is very slavish to the original deco (and likely loaded with paint - all that white and red can't be plastic).

I wonder what the normal United one will be like in deco and accessories, why he's the only release it seems, and if this is intended for the Asian market or not (ie is this getting a release in Japan or just in Asia by TakaraTomy ala the Buster Optimus & Jetfire two pack or the Black Jetwing Optimus)?

Randy

I didn't get Inferno. I will have to consider this one.

If it is going to be another Artfire, I wish Takara would remold a ladder to replace the crane arm.
One can only dream...

I don't. A hydraulic ladder like people want looks ridiculous on a pumper.

So does a crane arm.

I hope I get a chance to see the mass-release version before the exclusive comes out. One Mini-Con isn't enough to make it worth twice the cost to me.

Because NO transformer has ever looked ridiculous in alt mode for some reason.

Hopefully considering they're due out the same month.

Unless it's one of those TakaraTomy releases we don't see until it's practically out. As there are times we just don't get much material shared with us regarding their releases (mainly because there are no scans of said material or what not).

It still amazes me that we have two sizable Transformers collector groups that don't interact all that much (English speaking and Japanese speaking). Well besides the obvious language barrier.

Randy

I've always found that quite strange as well. I am thankful for the few fans we have in Japan that do communicate what they know from time to time.

Yes thankfully. There are a few here and there.

Randy

Well, considering what most Japanese-exclusive Mini-Cons tend to go for, the price difference might not be that shocking I guess. Would be nice to know what all the differences are though. If I'm going to pay import prices to begin with, I think I'd just as soon have the best version, unless it's totally not worth it.

It's not a realistic truck, so putting a ladder on it isn't a huge jump. Besides, in that universe that truck with a crane is realistic, so who's to say whether a ladder on it belongs on it or not.

Barring some shocking revelation, I'll be going for the one that costs $80 less than the other one (on BBTS, anyway). I'm completest enough to want an Artfire, but not completest enough to want the best Artfire.




I have no opinion on the issue, but I don't see how that's an argument in favor of doing something.

I'm imagining that the regular United Artfire will be an Inferno repaint rather than a mix and match of parts. For no other reason than the crane idea was a bit out there to begin with.

I'm not really sure how they'll muck around with the colors though. Maybe they'll just settle for a mostly white fire truck rather than slather it with as much paint as the Million Publishing toy is likely to have?

I don't know who decided that the supposed regular release of Artfire would only have one Targetmaster, but there is no regular release of Artfire coming. Million posted it on their Twitter account on the 21st, calling it out as a false rumor. I heard the same thing directly from TT staff, so you can safely assume that there is no normal version of Artfire on the way.

-Hydra

Well that settles that.

...feel bad for all the online stores who let people "switch" orders who are now going to have a MASSIVE headache to deal with though

Well that's very good news! The Million Publishing one was too cool to have an inferior version of.


The only one taking preorders for it was TFSource.

Randy

TakaraTomy tweeted it too apparently.
https://twitter.com/TF_pr/status/217190430079582208

"There's no domestic/foreign release of UN Artfire except TF Generations 2012 book exclusive, I heard"

So, if this isn't real, how did TFSource get duped?

And BBTS, evidently.

Unless this is something else altogether?

I'm glad that TakaraTomy knows how to use social media to dispel rumors like this (particularly if it's damaging to one of their partners).

I don't see Hasbro ever doing something like this (unfortunately). Though I guess one could argue their e-mail about Fun Pub and the credit card problems is just that.

Randy

Well now.... good thing I didn't Switch my order last night then,

Thanks goodness for BBTS's policies. I've got 'em both on preorder, so I don't even have to do anything but wait for the cancellation email.

I'm not sure what you mean, PC. I would rather both versions be available for people with different budgets; if I were going to get an Artfire after breakng the bank for Stepper, this inferior version would have been the only option feasible. The news doesn't surprise me, mind, as it was too good to be true anyhow, but I'm not sure how to take such a reaction.

I see your point, but it would render the exclusive version redundant even with some extras.

The whole notion of taking away a Mini-Con, and maybe a couple of paint applications, in order to save people $80 - $100 seemed kind of far-fetched anyway. Multiple versions of something like that would have been kind of unprecedented.

Especially for such an obscure character. I mean he's Inferno's honky cousin.

Randy