The Energon Pub

[CADimusPrimus]

Yeah, pick up the Asia exclusive Hot Spot rather than trying to repaint this guy. Heh.

Just got to find a retailer who will have him. I prefer getting Hot Spot, but if all else fails, get another artfire if it is still in stock

[PaxCybertron82]

What exactly is covered in "Generations 2012" ? Like it is it anything similar to Hobby Japan, but covering Transformers figures?

Because if so, I'd like to get my hands on that as well.

But yes, Artfire is all sorts of Awesomeness.

[Blurrz]

I like how the blue accentuates his features. I find the joy over two Targetmasters as a huge baffle..Albeit it's a G1 homage, it's another Nightstick. Pinpoint isn't the greatest PCC micron either. Having two targetmasters leaves Artfire's powered up alternate mode as looking rather horrendous. Artfire's meant to be a sniper... if a Micron was made to enhance Nightstick then that would be cool, but Artfire ain't much of a sniper if he has a rifle and a double barreled pistol.

Although that Targetmaster picture is tres bon.

What exactly is covered in "Generations 2012" ? Like it is it anything similar to Hobby Japan, but covering Transformers figures?

Because if so, I'd like to get my hands on that as well.

But yes, Artfire is all sorts of Awesomeness.

Generations is an annual book full of goodies.

[gothsaurus]

The Targetmasters can just hang out NEAR him, if riding on him look odd. Heh.

Yeah, I've been getting the Generations books. They're a nice hodgepodge of really rare vintage photos of prototypes and unreleased stuff, along with G1 Japan history, rare comics (from Masterpiece rarities) AND a big smattering of current stuff that's released in the current year.

Of course, wouldn't we all like that rare G1 stuff compiled in a big book instead of squeezed out a little bit at a time?? Yeah. Wishful thinking.

Still, I've enjoyed it enough... even without being a fan of the current line movie toys AT ALL. It's well put together, well photographed, and... oh yeah, sadly, entirely in Japanese. Suppose you'd like to know that, right?

[bionic_radical]

Annnnnnd they're already sold out of an item that isn't even for sale yet? Or who's total production numbers have't been established??


I think thats kind of funny in a sad way.

[DISCHARGE]

I like how the blue accentuates his features. I find the joy over two Targetmasters as a huge baffle..Albeit it's a G1 homage, it's another Nightstick. Pinpoint isn't the greatest PCC micron either. Having two targetmasters leaves Artfire's powered up alternate mode as looking rather horrendous. Artfire's meant to be a sniper... if a Micron was made to enhance Nightstick then that would be cool, but Artfire ain't much of a sniper if he has a rifle and a double barreled pistol.

Although that Targetmaster picture is tres bon.

I thought the Backwind min-con would have been a better addition
when I first viewed this, it's got a good rifle mode. Backwind also has flood lights and a hook, all things that would compliment a rescue vehicle like a firetruck. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought the mini-con pairing could have been better.

All-in-all he looks ok. Not really the best looking version of the Inferno mold, but if you're looking for an update to Artfire, here he is.

I get why he is so costly, but it's not a dire figure and doesn't really deserve the high price considering Grapple was available when he could be found for $10. I think milking the fandom is getting out of control.
I do think Million Publishing does a great job in picking characters to offer as exclusives, though I wish they would offer them outside of Japan so they could be more economical. They'd probably sell more books too(instead of people just ordering the toy through BBTS or other retailers)

[Mkall]

Annnnnnd they're already sold out of an item that isn't even for sale yet? Or who's total production numbers have't been established??


I think thats kind of funny in a sad way.

Like the previous Million Publishing exclusives, the quantity of figures are made to match the number of orders.

[bionic_radical]

Yeah I think thats a great way to release an exclusive, but I was speaking about how BBTS is already sold out, when Millions hasn't even tallied up a final number of total exclusives. Im expecting BBTS to take on a second wave, with a second wave price tag.

Thank God for Robot Kingdom.

[Prime Evil]

Annnnnnd they're already sold out of an item that isn't even for sale yet? Or who's total production numbers have't been established??


I think thats kind of funny in a sad way.

Like the previous Million Publishing exclusives, the quantity of figures are made to match the number of orders.

Yeah, I wouldn't panic yet. I'm sure pre-orders will be opened up again.

[Relic Dinobot]

And that's another 150$ I'm loosing because of this horrible, horrible plastic toy addiction of mine.

Although I'm must say that I'm more than intrigued as to how Artfire got a second Targetmaster in Sparks...

[Stormrider]

He's now sold out on BBTS. That pre-order lasted 4 days.

[Gauntlet101010]

Damn that went quickly!

It was too pricey considering I have no connection at all to Artfire or know anything about him other than "crazy expencive, exclucive G1 toy" ... but if the preorder lasted a little while longer, I might have caved anyway since I'm a sucker like that.

[alexison]

I'm happy I got in a preorder at BBTS before he sold out. Artfire looks great & I hope one day he'll receive his proper TargetMaster, hint hint Perfect Effect.

[President-prime]

Don't understand what all the fusses are about. Granted the color looks exceptionally good with this character, but I owned solar flare (storm??) grapple and inferno and the actual toy is made poorly. The plastic seems cheap and the figure themselves are very loose. For a repaint of a mold that, in my opinnion, made with such poor quality to command $150 is beyond 'me'. Of course, you also get the book, but personally, I'd rather spend it on a new masterpiece figure. At least I know I won't be disappointed. Hell. I'll buy a masterpiece I'd already have over a $150 voyager class.

[Mykltron]

$150?

[LOST Cybertronian]

Of course, you also get the book, but personally, I'd rather spend it on a new masterpiece figure.

Actually, the $150 is for the figure alone. Book sold seperately.

[phase]

Ah, the manga. I know more than most about the Japanese series' and characters but those manga and magazine only characters are just a huge black hole! I think the only manga I ever read is Kiss Players and even that was just random pages with no real order. I deleted it from my hard drive afterwards!

I'm not sure whether to applaud your bravery or shoot you and burn down everything you've touched.

[Rijie]

So stoked for this one. The mold itself still reigns supreme as a favorite Voyager. Add the TargetMaster dyad, obscure characterization, and overall obtuse badassery...SOLD.

Preordered before pics were even released. He'll act as a workplace desktop avatar until he's in hand.

Bravo Million Publishing!

(As discussed with fellow plastic lovers, a Stepper/Artfire TRU Exclusive set would reduce fan froth-mouth, Hasbro! Keep it in mind when rolling out the next incarnation of Classics/Universe/Generations/etc...free idea for the taking.)

[President-prime]

150 just for the toy and no book. Easy pass for 'me', thank you

[RhA]

Hasbro! Do Stepper and Artfire, you've got the touch! You've got the power! We've got the money!

[Gauntlet101010]

BBTS has mor eup for preorder .... nad I got one. Screw it, who am i kidding? I'm a sucker for well done exclucive TFs.

Time to bone up on just who Artfire is ...

I'll get Stepper too in all likelyhood. But with so many still up it seems like it can still wait, while the sell out on Artfire makes me want to put a preorder down now.

Amazing business move on the part of BBTS? If it was, I guess it worke don me.

[Breakdown 2099]

$150?

You're really only paying for the exclusivity of the item. Lets not pretend otherwise. Ask the casual fan who Artfire was and they'll stare at you blankly. What's the cost of repainting 3 existing molds? they could easily mass release the figure, but then the basic marketing concept of increasing the value of any item by creating the sense of urgency (limited numbers etc) would be diminished.

50/50 for me. I like the figure, nice colours, another repaint of Nightstick (joy) and some crappy micro-dude. Vehicle mode's Weapons combined looks, well, for lack of a better term, s**t. But i won't be paying $150. I could leave it in the box and eBay it 5 years later for $1000, who knows, I just might.

[Counterpunch]

$150?

You're really only paying for the exclusivity of the item. Lets not pretend otherwise.

Not in this instance.

Here you are paying $50 for a Japanese voyager sized figure, plus $15 or so for them to purchase the book, and then the rest of the cost is having someone in Japan order the figure. These must be delivered to a Japanese address. Then the figure is shipped to the US.

That's the cost of the figure.

Ask the casual fan who Artfire was and they'll stare at you blankly.

So what?

There's "casual" fans out there who still think that anything after the 86' movie is considered to be G2.

But i won't be paying $150. I could leave it in the box and eBay it 5 years later for $1000, who knows, I just might.

A 600% increase on a 5 year investment would make my bond purchases look outright stupid...

[Breakdown 2099]

$150?

You're really only paying for the exclusivity of the item. Lets not pretend otherwise.

Not in this instance.

It's an "exclusive" figure. You've obviously missed the whole point of what I meant. If that fails, read my post again.

Here you are paying $50 for a Japanese voyager sized figure, plus $15 or so for them to purchase the book, and then the rest of the cost is having someone in Japan order the figure. These must be delivered to a Japanese address. Then the figure is shipped to the US. That's the cost of the figure.
Not an ounce of chrome on this puppy like Henkei's. So the figure you really want to compare it to is this one:
http://www.robotkingdom.com/services/es ... =us&CatID=
$30 for figure + $15 for book. $105 to order a figure? That's not ripping people off, nooooo.... because it's really difficult for them to mass produce it. Oh, wait, then you've got to pay to have it shipped to your US address. You're on to a winner!

Ask the casual fan who Artfire was and they'll stare at you blankly.

So what?
There's "casual" fans out there who still think that anything after the 86' movie is considered to be G2.
Forgive me, my mind was blown by Artfire's awesomeness, I completely forgot who he was. Apparently, he has this affect on a lot of people...

But i won't be paying $150. I could leave it in the box and eBay it 5 years later for $1000, who knows, I just might.

A 600% increase on a 5 year investment would make my bond purchases look outright stupid...

Henkei Wildrider, I'll sell it to you for $600 with free shipping! Not quite 600% but 200% isn't chump change either can your Bonds do that?

[gavinfuzzy]

Inferno himself is real expensive now... Bah, i'll just have to wait for the Hotspot repaint late this year, and get a 2nd one to paint as inferno.