nope, look at the picture with red alert...takara's inferno is definitely smaller or shorter than this guy. basically ironhide height....so it it comes out that it'll cos only say 80-90 bucks....mmc is in a bit of a rciing pickle.

personally i like backdraft better....kind of still feel obligated to get the takara one though

 

I think I'm going to cancel my preorder on this guy. While overall I like the look of Backdraft, I like the look of the official a bit more and the amount of accessories he includes is pretty awesome. While I would love to have both for different reasons (I think Backdraft's alt mode looks a bit better), there is just too much out there to double on on characters and my display doesn't really lend itself to alt modes. While I'm sure it's an amazing figure (I have Sphinx, Jaguar and Liger), I think the official announcement really took wind out of its sails.

 

Do you think TT is just trying to keep up with the competition? (or beat it?) ... some of my thoughts are getting lost in translation, but what I'm trying to say (/translate) is that it's almost a race. TT wants/feels-the-need-to be ahead of the competition, it's like they feel like they're losing ground, or something. So they're churning out more and more products per year to keep up with the various 3P companies...or something...

argh, still don't feel I phrased it as well as I want to  

 

TT is pushing out more product because MP is a huge success, simple as that.

Takara likely doesn't even see 3P as a threat or a dent on their bottom line at the least.

 

you don't think they see the popularity with the adult-fanbase at all? I mean, it's still a niche hobby, right? And those interested in MP's know about 3P, I reckon. Not that I really know for certain about anything, I can just imagine that the target audience of official MP's is very well aware about 3P offerings. The Inferno-'war' going on AND TT releasing a MP Inferno looks less-than-coincidental...

TT and, more so, Hasbro are global corporations, but in the highly-collectable-market, 3P companies offer a fair competition, I think. Just look at TFW2005 and how much animo/requests there is for 3P figures. the community wants a MP Jazz and 3P companies are jumping in, whereas HasTak isn't, really.

 

I'm not sure Jazz is the best example. Until there's a Jazz war with MT, FT Badcube and MMC in the fight, that is...
Maybe then TT would get off their ass and give us MP Jazz!

 

What did they do for you that you feel obligated? Please don't take this wrong way, but thats bonkers thinking. You don't owe them anything.

 

takara lost any good will i had towards them with their ridiculous mp-11 prices.

 

Cancelled pre-orders aren't going to affect MMC in the slightest. They've already sold their production run to the retailers, and it's much too late for retailers to cancel their orders.

It's the retailers who will be taking a bath now, as they'll likely have a much harder time selling their stock.

 

Wow, I'm surprised at how cool the Takara one looks, that disappearing ladder is pretty tricky! I might have to get the Artfire version. Backdraft is too close for me to cancel my preorder, I know it's going to be a quality Figure that will remind me of what was probably my favorite Transformer growing up. As far as I'm concerned, MMC has had the better quality and consistency compared to Takara as of late. Sphinx tops all of the Takara car bots I own, and Jaguar makes the MP tapebots feel like happy meal toys. Everybody dropping this for the official one can have your accessories that came from that one moment that one time in that poorly drawn series, I'm sticking with the little penguin on skis.

 

Yea pretty much. Not to mention that's a outdated tired ass mold.

 

My collection has slowly become more 3rd party centric as its become more focused on design and artistic elements of the transformation and artist's story. Picked up a grail in the form of a Jizai Cyclonus a few months ago.

I ordered both MakeToys Hellfire and MMC Backdraft. MakeToys's donating the value of a figure for each one purchased through their site was an amazing gesture. I wanted to be a part of that. My figures arrived crashed and I'm in the process of getting them replaced. Even damaged, a Hellfire is an impressive piece, especially compared to classics Inferno.

I'm also a MMC fan, tracking down everything including test shots. Owning a figure that turns into an electric chair sickens me a bit, but it's a damn good transformer. Backdraft looks better than Hellfire.

The gradual change TT has made to a cartoon style has turned me off from the MP line, but the possible transformation just looks so cool. I don't want to end up with 3 versions of Inferno, and if TT keeps up the amazing designs, I may have to change my collecting focus again.

 

Please show me Grapple!!! MMC or TT!!!!

 

That's pretty much my thinking. Older MPs struck a nice balance between cartoon accuracy and a level of detail that made them seem "real". When you look at Ironhide, Ratchet, and Inferno, though, Takara seems to be trying to recreate the Sunbow models. But the Sunbow models were super simplified for animation- I don't want toys that look like that. I definitely think Backdraft is looking like the best Inferno, but I'd take Maketoys Hellfire before I'd go with what Takara's offering.

 

I think super toon accurate worked for a couple of figures. Ratchet and Ironhide's G1 toys were a joke, so I was glad Takara went full toon on those. Shockwave's design as a whole incorporates a lot of curves and smooth surfaces, so the greebly look is never going to work for him.

But for the most part, a toy/toon hybrid is preferred  

By the way, I'm going to make my own custom "splooge" effect for Inferno with a hot glue gun  

 

I know that, "Hate", is a strong word, but I hate how TT is going away from the toy/toon look and moving towards strictly toon. Just a little bit of that toy detailing on the legs and feet, and their Inferno would be over the top! I wish Ironhide had been given the toy detailing on his legs, too. Nothing over the top, just a little something! Anything!
I guess it's a good thing that it's on some of the bigger bots, so at least the normal sized car bots can stand in front to hide the lack of any leg detail.

 

What do you think about Voodoo Robots Animus (Ironhide)? Additional detailing on legs, backpack cleans up well, feels light in comparison to similar sized bots.

 

Nope. Not even close to that size!!

Pretty much this. Check out the Sunbow chart.
And remember how small Shockwave felt in hand? Takara's will be even shorter than that.

Takara's nails every thing for me except the size which is a killer. MMC is just a bit too lanky in bot mode. Maketoys is... well its the usual Maketoys Chugsterpiece abomination. I may have to wait for XTB.

 

Doesn't do it for me. Neither Voodoo or Takara completely nails Ironhide but to me Takara get's closer. The glossy paint makes a huge difference and it just looks more quality. Voodoo looks a little ...cheap I guess? (subjective I know but that's just me) Also I can't stand Voodoo's feet.
I actually like the blocky red legs on Ironhide. He's a stodgy old sergeant. He don't need none of that flashy detailing!
I think the 3P hip kit will make Takara's damn near perfect for me. I can even cope with the bumper in Bot mode.

 

Hard to say, since it's being redone, and we haven't seen a real test shot review, but it looks good so far. What stopped me from going in on their Ratchet was the face and the price. They've updated the face on their Ironhide, so now I'm waiting to see where they land on price. I have MP Ratchet, and they did so many things right on him, and I know people love him, all with good reason. I just really loved the old mix of toon and toy. I guess that's also why I love Maketoys' Hound, and as much as I love MMC's Mirage, I wished he had his wheels on his back and an optional toy face (love the Diaclone version they did). I know Reprolabels will solve the lack of leg detail on the TT versions, but sometimes their sets go a little overboard, and all I'd want is just a little molded toy detailing thrown in. Pretty stupid of me, huh?