Ditto, my plan as well. If there’s no sign if the EX’s then I’ll get Artfire before he’s gone so that I get at least one of them.

 

Really tho, where's those EX pics? I needed it.

 

No, not screwed. You saw pictures of what you'd get and you decided that it was worth your money. If an improved version didn't come out, would you still consider yourself screwed? If so, you never should have bought it in the first place and, if not, then the mere fact that a better one exists doesn't mean the one you bought is suddenly worse than when you, again, decided it was worth your money.

 

You've said this before, the last time NA released a later version of a figure that had some feature that folks wanted in an earlier version), and while I agree that your philosophy is a better and healthier outlook that would lead a person to have fewer negative feelings, I don't think it's an accurate description of what happened.

I saw pictures of what I'd get, and decided that *absent other choices* it was worth my money. If you had offered me the transparent frog-face windshield Backdraft and opaque windshield Backdraft side-by-side, I would have chosen the opaque windshield, but this choice was not available. Only the one with the transparent windshield was, and so - as this was the best of available options - it was the one I spent money on. Five minutes after I spent that money, NewAge says "Oh, no worries, we'll make one the opaque windshield later".

It's like seeing something on sale the day after you bought it for full price. I think most people would prefer to spend less money if possible, even if they're willing to spend full price on something.

I was willing to buy Backdraft because it was the best available option, and there was no indication that a preferred alternative would be available later on. The fact that they *already* seem to have this alternative planned, so soon after the initial release, is especially galling. I mean, assuming this person is correct; they're not an official NA rep, so they may well be wrong.

 

I'm surprised that NewAge have not announced that they would give it free to all earlier buyers.

 

This is spot on. I think we've been trained too much to "assume" this is the only option of whatever version we are after and will never be changed later or the possibility it will before final production. Sometimes, buying the first version is better than waiting too. DX9 Powerglide is the one that always comes to mind. Reissue later was improved but came with its own set of issues. I bought Grapple sight unseen with the black windshield and NA did show us that was what we would get with no expectation of it changing.

I just don't want the situation, I think XTB or FT did it, where at the very last hour, they changed the color to metallic or something on one of their figures and we had no real warning. It may have not even been known until someone got theirs in hand.

 

Heh, yeah, I've probably said it a handful of times. It's one of those hills I'll die on, I suppose. I get that it can be frustrating and in the side by side scenario I would've chosen the improved version as well. I just don't care for the entitlement that comes with the frustration - the notion that they owe early buyers new copies or they owe it to us to wait some indeterminate amount of time before making improvements.

Yeah, I remember there was a lot of hullabaloo about Blurr coming out much more purple than expected (I made a mini-comic about it at the time) and I very much agree that that was a problem - they need to do the best they can to accurately represent what you're going to get when you buy their product and I too hope Newage doesn't run into this issue.

 

I didn't see posted this preview from Hobbymizer:

 

I'd imagine you could purchase on of either (or both) but keep them unopened until finding out whether they'll be an EX version or not. If no EX is to be had then you have them but if they do release them you can turnaound and sell the toon variants.

 

Oh for sure, they don't owe us free upgrades to figures, they don't owe us the figures in the first place, they don't owe us making the figures affordable, etc etc, none of that. But, some of their behavior is more favorable towards consumers and some is less favorable, and - as a consumer - I get frustrated at the less favorable behavior. Just like how the atmosphere doesn't own me good weather, but I still get frustrated if I was planning on going for a walk and then it starts raining.

I think most people don't like feeling like they are being beta-testers when they weren't expecting to be beta-testers (and especially when they're paying for the privilege). NewAge has actually been incredibly pro-consumer in the past: they've redesigned some figures based on consumer feedback on first reveals; they've redesigned certain parts of figures even post-release (it's almost always legs, man, they just can't seen to perfect legs); and in an ultra-consumer-friendly move, they've even made these redesigned parts available to consumers, usually free (but honestly, I'd be OK even if they were at a nominal fee). That's why the redesigned Optimus Prime shoulders/arms were such an unexpected thing - but, heck, at least those were done way after the first Optimus Prime came out. Here, Backdraft has been out for what, a month? And they might already be planning a second run with consumer-requested changes? That stings.

To be clear, my life will go on, and I will keep buying NewAge products, because I think they are good even when they have flaws. And, it's possible that this reviewer (who is not a NewAge rep) is incorrect. And, it's possible that NewAge will send out the opaque windshield to everyone who bought Backdraft, along with a bouquet of roses and a puppy. But right now, based on the information I have available to me, I'm a little annoyed.

 

Where is that NA quote from? Are they seriously fixing the windshield already with a reissue? I just received NA Inferno and the windshield really bugs me. I was considering painting it myself, but if there’s a fixed version instead I may trade up. Obviously it would be way better if NA offered a replacement windshield part option.

 

They got it from here: 微博
I'm pretty sure the post is just speculative. They're saying that the windshield has been fixed on grapple, and probably will be fixed when they reissue Inferno.

 

Thank you! We shall see I guess.

 

A bit out of topic, but I just remember that this Inferno was revealed at Shanghai SGC convention at this time of last year (along with Beachcomber, Mirage, Cyclonus, Hound & Ironhide)
Does anyone know if SGC will happen this year? If yes, it is likely this weekend.

Newage seems to reveal a lot of new figures at SGC convention in the last few years. So hopefully there will be some surprises.
I'm expecting Stunticons, H49 and probably some real samples of SG Inferno, Hound and Ironhide/Ratchet.
MS has their Menasor being reprinted, and Newage doesn't reveal anything of their version after that. It makes me believe either they save it for SGC or there will be no hope for their set in a near future.

 

I don’t remember what thread it was written in, but someone said that SGC was cancelled this year due to the pandemic.

 

Oh, thanks. What a pity, so no more daydreaming  

 

Probably why we've had several legends companies showing off updated stuff, like MS with all their reissues, Cang with MiniRhino, Zeta aerialbot reissue, etc. That Newage has been so quiet with no new figures recently is interesting, they're usually so prolific. But they do still have a good pile of repaints to get through before their pre-order well is dry.

 

Pretty awesome Inferno... top quality, Masterpiece engineering, fun transformation, great quality... really.. one of the best  

Got mine from @SirToys right here, get it while supplies last  : Newage NA H46 Backdraft - 3rd Party - SirToys.com

 

Gosh… I am really liking this guy. Not much more to report on this guy other than I do appreciate them tinting the window on Grapple and adding the stripes on the head casing. I did loosen the screw on the upper (head and arms) part that you have to rotate to prevent breakage. Just in case.  



Edit: Side windows are not tinted.  

 

Just got Grapple in today and I love these two! They're both really good. Not perfect by any means and I do have my complaints but I'm overall very satisfied with them both!