The Energon Pub

[Dead Metal]

Fellow fansite tfw2005's member "Sidecutter" has posted this interesting message he's been sent via e-mail from one of his suppliers:

Some additional news regarding the MP Bumblebee that
we would like to pass on:

There will be three versions globally of this figure. The Japan
release will be painted in yellow to match the movie character.
The Hong Kong release will be painted in a metallic yellow.
The North America release will be unpainted, but the outer parts
are molded in yellow.

So there will be two versions produced by TakaraTomy, a mate version for the Japanese market and a metallic Hong Kong exclusive, This explains why the images we've seen of this toy keep varying in respect to shininess.
The North American release mentioned in this message is the already released Battle Ops Bumblebee.

Stay tuned to seibertron.com for all your Transformers related news!

[Forgotten]

Depending on cost, I may import the HK version. If the metallica yellow paint they're going to use is more akin to automotive paint & not Takara Animated paint. I'm definitely not buying the US release of it, it just doesn't appeal to me, but make it shiny, or better yet use some gold flakes in the paint & i'm all over it.

[Tigertrack]

Variant collectors must buy all three! I, however, do not need to buy any of them.

[Joetx]

Movie Bumblebee = Pass for me.

[craggy]

Moooooooo! or They're really milking this ain't they?

Masterpiece Cliffjumper too difficult to conceptualise? I'm not bothered about the toy in any incarnation, but unlike some MPs (Megatron, Grimlock, Hot Rodimus) the mold can work for at least one other character really easily, so why not do that instead of varying editions of the same guy?

[Solrac333]

There will be three versions globally of this figure.

The Japan release will be painted in yellow to match the movie character.
The Hong Kong release will be painted in a metallic yellow.
The North America release will be poopy.

[NIVINCo]

I was under the impression that Transformers released in Hong Kong were Hasbro products.

[Sky-Quake]

another Bumblebee this is crap is getting old

[Prime Riblet]

There will be three versions globally of this figure.

The Japan release will be painted in yellow to match the movie character.
The Hong Kong release will be painted in a metallic yellow.
The North America release will be poopy.

Very good summary.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Moooooooo! or They're really milking this ain't they?

Masterpiece Cliffjumper too difficult to conceptualise? I'm not bothered about the toy in any incarnation, but unlike some MPs (Megatron, Grimlock, Hot Rodimus) the mold can work for at least one other character really easily, so why not do that instead of varying editions of the same guy?

Cliffjumper never appeared in the movie. 'Nuff said.