MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front

2011-03-15T21:12:34Z

129.89.158.187: /* External Links */

{{disambig2|the unfinished Dreamwave crossover set in 1984|other stories with G.I. Joe|G.I. Joe crossovers}}

A six-part miniseries written by [[James McDonough]] and [[Adam Patyk]], '''''Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front''''' takes place almost fifty years after ''[[Transformers/G.I. Joe]]''. Only one issue was published before publisher [[Dreamwave Productions]] went bankrupt, leaving it uncompleted.

{|style="margin:0 auto;padding:0 auto" align=center id=toc
!align=center bgcolor=#6699CC|'''''Divided Front'' issues:'''
|-align=center
|| [[Targets of Opportunity|#1]]
|}

==Unreleased Issues==
<gallery>
Image:DW GIJoev2i2-cover.jpg|Issue #2
Image:DW GIJoev2i3-cover.jpg|Issue #3
Image:DW GIJoev2i4-cover.jpg|Issue #4
Image:DW GIJoev2i5-cover.jpg|Issue #5
</gallery>

[[Chris Sarracini]] was listed as the writer for issues #2-5, due to Patyk and McDonough walking over not getting paid.

Though 5 of the 6 issue were at least solicited prior to Dreamwave's bankruptcy, providing a broad outline of the series plot, the final issue was not. The solicitations are as follows:

"The secrets of G.I. Joe and Cobra's pasts are revealed as the greatest arms race in history intensifies, blazing a path across the world. Desperate for an equalizer, the Joes raid a top-secret Cobra bunker located in the Everglades. But when Cobra's newly hired Dreadnok biker gang intervenes, will the Joes be too late to gain the advantage and, more importantly, save their Autobot allies?!"

"FAN-FAVE [[Firefly|FIREFLY]] DEBUTS! Snake Eyes is a hard ninja to kill -- which is why COBRA Commander has called in one of his biggest guns to do the job: the assassin Firefly! What is the history behind this COBRA'S rivalry with Snake Eyes? And can the Joes' ninja overcome this deadly saboteur in time to help his teammates retrieve the stolen Transformer technology from COBRA'S secret Arctic base? It's chaos on the ice as the Autobots face off against Destro's deadly COBRA/Decepticon hybrid warriors, with Starscream waiting to pick up the pieces!"

"AUTOBOT vs. AUTOBOT! It's a robot riot as the new Cold War over the Transformers really starts to heat up! The G.I. Joes and their Autobot allies try to reconcile their opposing views and unite against COBRA -- but can they? They're not the only ones whose tempers are flaring, as members of COBRA prepare to foil their increasingly deranged leader's top-secret project -- if the mutineers can make it past Firefly and the elite Crimson Guard, that is!"

"What is the terrible secret buried beneath Cobra Island? Whatever it is, Starscream and Soundwave want it bad -- bad enough to destroy Cobra Commander if he doesn't give it to them! Flint and the Autobots must prepare an all-out assault of the island themselves to prevent the villains' evil plans, but can the G.I. Joes count on Snake Eyes to help them -- or will his vendetta against Firefly doom them all?"

{{note|They probably weren't going to be doomed.}}

==External Links==
[http://www.seibertron.com/comics/series/transformersgi-joe-vol-2-divided-front/33/ Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front summaries] — Seibertron.com

{{stub}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:G.I. Joe: Divided Front, Transformers/}}
[[Category:Dreamwave titles]]
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]

Transformers/G.I. Joe

2011-03-15T21:12:08Z

129.89.158.187: /* Creative Team */

{{disambig2|the gravitas-soaked World War 2 crossover by Dreamwave|other stories with G.I. Joe|G.I. Joe crossovers}}
[[Image:Tfjoe01 2003 gatefold.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Guys, Optimus is ''behind you''. Now start digging him out, I think he's trapped.]]

'''''Transformers/G.I. Joe''''' is a six-part miniseries published by [[Dreamwave Productions]] in 2004. The book is set in its own [[micro-continuity]], placing ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' and ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' characters in a World-War-II-like setting, with [[alternate mode]]s based on the period.

{|style="margin:0 auto;padding:0 auto" align=center id=toc
!align=center bgcolor=#6699CC|'''''Transformers/G.I. Joe'' issues:'''
|-align=center
|| [[The Line|#1]] | [[Transformed|#2]] | [[Trial by Fire (issue)|#3]] | [[Wolves|#4]] | [[Trenches|#5]] | [[The Iron Fist|#6]]
|}

==Overview==
The story opens on late-1930s [[Earth]], which teeters on the brink of global war. The forces of [[Cobra]] uncover the Matrix and use it to rouse the dormant Decepticons, using them to ravage Europe. America deploys a new rag-tag special operations team to stop them—[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]].

New alternate forms were designed for many characters by [[Don Figueroa]], with the [[Autobot]]s assuming the forms of Allied vehicles and the [[Decepticon]]s taking Axis forms. Sadly, most of these new forms were largely obscured by the art of the finished series.

The series has been heavily criticized by some fans for being difficult to follow. The heavily stylized art could be described as gritty, evocative, and beautiful... and to an equal extent, murky, underlit, and incomprehensible. The art makes the entire story seem to happen at dusk or night, in a world filled with clouds, fog, dust, smoke and shadow. The art appears stylized to emulate World War II propaganda posters, an interesting choice but one that hurts the telling of the story.

Narrative compression and expansion likewise adds both drama and obscurity to the story. Important events such as [[Major Bludd]] actually seizing the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], or the downing in battle of [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], are vaguely implied between panels or mentioned only in dialogue, while splash pages (such as an entire two-page spread sans dialog in issue #5) do almost nothing to advance the plot. While this series is hardly alone in making such choices, combined with the heavily inked art, the end result is a story that is difficult to comprehend at times.

The series was followed by a second miniseries set in the present day, and drawn in a contemporary style. However, ''[[Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front]]'' only had one issue produced before cancellation due to Dreamwave's bankruptcy.

==Creative Team==
The series was written by [[John Ney Rieber]], with (very dark and murky) art by [[Jae Lee]].

{{DEFAULTSORT:G.I. Joe, Transformers/}}
[[Category:Dreamwave titles]]
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]

The Transformers: Headmasters

2011-03-15T21:09:28Z

129.89.158.187:

{{disambig3|Headmaster}}
[[Image:MarvelHeadmasters-1.jpg|right|175px|thumb|No Fort Max, head on! HEAD ON!]]
'''''Headmasters''''' ('''''The Transformers: Headmasters''''' for the first issue) is a four-part mini-series published in 1987 by Marvel Comics, and set in [[Marvel Comics continuity|the same continuity]] as the regular [[The Transformers (Marvel Comics)#Marvel U.S.|US Marvel comic]]. It tells the story of two groups of Transformers led by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], and their adventures on the planet [[Nebulos]]; in the process, it introduces the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] and [[Targetmaster]] [[Gimmick|gimmicks]] to the storyline. In the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' series it was run as a [[Back-up strips|back-up strip]] alongside the regular stories.

The ''Headmasters'' plot merged with the ongoing Marvel storyline in [[Trial by Fire!|Transformers issue #38]].

{|style="margin:0 auto;padding:0 auto" align=center id=toc
!align=center bgcolor=#6699CC|'''''Headmasters'' issues:'''
|- align="center"
|| [[Ring of Hate!|#1]] | [[Broken Glass!|#2]] | [[Love and Steel!|#3]] | [[Brothers in Armor!!|#4]]
|}

==Overview==
A group of Autobots, led by Fortress Maximus, leaves [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] for the planet [[Nebulos]] hoping to forge a new, peaceful existence for themselves. But their arch foes, under the command of Scorponok, follow them, forcing the Autobots to join forces with the natives of that world in the most literal of ways. Soon Nebulos is being devastated by the Transformers' war, the Decepticons have found their own team of native allies, and the Autobots must leave the planet to keep from destroying it completely.

The mini-series was used [[To sell toys|to introduce the bulk of the 1987 toyline]] to the comics continuity. Many of those toys did not have Earthen [[Alternate mode|altmodes]], and thus required a different origin than the predominantly Earth-centric forms of the previous three years. The series also introduced the year's primary toy gimmicks of Headmasters and Targetmasters, whose heads and weapons transformed to armored humanoids.

==Notes==
* Series artist [[Frank Springer]] had the unenviable task of drawing 62 new characters in this series. With 74 character models between them. Factoring in transformations that's 132 pieces of reference art to juggle. There were <strike>occasional</strike>; frequent times when a character was accidentally illustrated looking like someone else. Perfectly understandable! Slightly ''less'' understandable was why [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], the starring character, would change head designs ''between panels on the same page.'' The recreational use of [[wikipedia:Benadryl|Benadryl]] has not been ruled out.
* Series colorist [[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]] experienced <strike>a similar</strike> an identical problem. The two problems combined can make Headmasters a ''mildly'' confusing read ... but it's really not that bad.
* This shows [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] becoming Targetmasters, even though by [[Rhythms of Darkness!|some accounts]] they don't exist until [[The Transformers: The Movie|2005]]. The [[The Transformers (Marvel Comics)#Marvel UK|Marvel UK]] series would explain this away, but not the US series.
* This limited series was published bi-monthly.

==Creative Team==
[[Bob Budiansky]], writer for the main Transformers book, also penned ''Headmasters.'' [[Frank Springer]], the artist of the 4-issue miniseries that began ''Transformers'', did pencils.

==Collections==
* [[Titan Books|Titan Books's Trial by Fire]] (2004)
* [[Classic Transformers Volume 6|IDW Classic Transformers Volume 6]] (2010)

[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]

Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)

2011-03-15T21:07:10Z

129.89.158.187: /* Collections */

{{disambig3|Transformers: The Movie}}
{{picsneeded}}
'''''Transformers: The Movie''''' ('''''The Transformers: The Movie''''' for the first issue) is a three-part mini-series adaptation of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', published by [[Marvel Comics]] in 1986.

{|style="margin:0 auto;padding:0 auto" align=center id=toc
!align=center bgcolor=#6699CC|'''''Transformers: The Movie'' issues:'''
|-align=center
|| [[The Planet-Eater!|#1]] | [[Judgment Day!|#2]] | [[The Final Battle!|#3]]
|}

==Overview==
It's the movie. There's a huge fight, all your favorite characters die, [[Unicron]] eats moons, the [[Autobot|Autobots]] have some adventures, then blow up Unicron. You've seen it.

Although the essentials of the movie's story remain intact, quite a few details vary between comic and screen; there is very little that isn't different in some way. Though the first issue was released at the same time as the movie with issues [[Judgment Day!|#2]] and [[The Final Battle!|#3]] being released after the film disappeared from theaters, it is uncertain just how much time and access the comic creators had to view the finished film when writing the adaptation, if any—the comic appears to have been written using a not-quite-final draft of the script.

There are many places where the comic incorporates elements from the original script that didn't make it to the finished film. Characters' dialog is much more exposition-heavy, partly a necessary evil due to the truncation that accompanies the transition of mediums, and partly due to the general eccentricities of writer Ralph Macchio, whose comic work regularly featured this sort of "self-narrating" dialog long after it had passed out of widespread use. A good deal of material has been removed simply due to the space restraints of fitting the movie into three issues. Finally some things seem clearly added due to the comic creators’ own initiative.

==Creative team==
The series was written by [[Ralph Macchio]], adapted from the movie script. Breakdowns (pencils) were provided by [[Don Perlin]], with finishes (inks) by [[Ian Akin]] and [[Brian Garvey]].

==UK printing==
[[Image:Tftmadaptukspec.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Someone clearly didn't like Daniel. Will the suspects please form an orderly queue...]]
The entire three-part series was printed in a seventy-six page Winter Special with a card cover. This was the largest single-story ''Transformers'' comic released by Marvel UK. The cover used was a cropped version of the cover to [[The Planet Eater!|issue #1]].

To maintain continuity with the story "[[Target: 2006]]" the date in the adaptation was changed to 2006.
{{-}}
==Collections==
* [[Classic Transformers Volume 6|IDW Classic Transformers Volume 6]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Movie (Marvel Comics), Transformers: The}}
[[Category:Adaptations]]
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]

Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front

2011-03-15T21:06:36Z

129.89.158.187: /* External Links */

{{disambig2|the unfinished Dreamwave crossover set in 1984|other stories with G.I. Joe|G.I. Joe crossovers}}

A six-part miniseries written by [[James McDonough]] and [[Adam Patyk]], '''''Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front''''' takes place almost fifty years after ''[[Transformers/G.I. Joe]]''. Only one issue was published before publisher [[Dreamwave Productions]] went bankrupt, leaving it uncompleted.

{|style="margin:0 auto;padding:0 auto" align=center id=toc
!align=center bgcolor=#6699CC|'''''Divided Front'' issues:'''
|-align=center
|| [[Targets of Opportunity|#1]]
|}

==Unreleased Issues==
<gallery>
Image:DW GIJoev2i2-cover.jpg|Issue #2
Image:DW GIJoev2i3-cover.jpg|Issue #3
Image:DW GIJoev2i4-cover.jpg|Issue #4
Image:DW GIJoev2i5-cover.jpg|Issue #5
</gallery>

[[Chris Sarracini]] was listed as the writer for issues #2-5, due to Patyk and McDonough walking over not getting paid.

Though 5 of the 6 issue were at least solicited prior to Dreamwave's bankruptcy, providing a broad outline of the series plot, the final issue was not. The solicitations are as follows:

"The secrets of G.I. Joe and Cobra's pasts are revealed as the greatest arms race in history intensifies, blazing a path across the world. Desperate for an equalizer, the Joes raid a top-secret Cobra bunker located in the Everglades. But when Cobra's newly hired Dreadnok biker gang intervenes, will the Joes be too late to gain the advantage and, more importantly, save their Autobot allies?!"

"FAN-FAVE [[Firefly|FIREFLY]] DEBUTS! Snake Eyes is a hard ninja to kill -- which is why COBRA Commander has called in one of his biggest guns to do the job: the assassin Firefly! What is the history behind this COBRA'S rivalry with Snake Eyes? And can the Joes' ninja overcome this deadly saboteur in time to help his teammates retrieve the stolen Transformer technology from COBRA'S secret Arctic base? It's chaos on the ice as the Autobots face off against Destro's deadly COBRA/Decepticon hybrid warriors, with Starscream waiting to pick up the pieces!"

"AUTOBOT vs. AUTOBOT! It's a robot riot as the new Cold War over the Transformers really starts to heat up! The G.I. Joes and their Autobot allies try to reconcile their opposing views and unite against COBRA -- but can they? They're not the only ones whose tempers are flaring, as members of COBRA prepare to foil their increasingly deranged leader's top-secret project -- if the mutineers can make it past Firefly and the elite Crimson Guard, that is!"

"What is the terrible secret buried beneath Cobra Island? Whatever it is, Starscream and Soundwave want it bad -- bad enough to destroy Cobra Commander if he doesn't give it to them! Flint and the Autobots must prepare an all-out assault of the island themselves to prevent the villains' evil plans, but can the G.I. Joes count on Snake Eyes to help them -- or will his vendetta against Firefly doom them all?"

{{note|They probably weren't going to be doomed.}}

==External Links==
[http://www.seibertron.com/comics/series/transformersgi-joe-vol-2-divided-front/33/ Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front summaries] — Seibertron.com

{{stub}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:G.I. Joe: Divided Front}}
[[Category:Dreamwave titles]]
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]

Transformers/G.I. Joe

2011-03-15T21:06:11Z

129.89.158.187: /* Creative Team */

{{disambig2|the gravitas-soaked World War 2 crossover by Dreamwave|other stories with G.I. Joe|G.I. Joe crossovers}}
[[Image:Tfjoe01 2003 gatefold.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Guys, Optimus is ''behind you''. Now start digging him out, I think he's trapped.]]

'''''Transformers/G.I. Joe''''' is a six-part miniseries published by [[Dreamwave Productions]] in 2004. The book is set in its own [[micro-continuity]], placing ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' and ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' characters in a World-War-II-like setting, with [[alternate mode]]s based on the period.

{|style="margin:0 auto;padding:0 auto" align=center id=toc
!align=center bgcolor=#6699CC|'''''Transformers/G.I. Joe'' issues:'''
|-align=center
|| [[The Line|#1]] | [[Transformed|#2]] | [[Trial by Fire (issue)|#3]] | [[Wolves|#4]] | [[Trenches|#5]] | [[The Iron Fist|#6]]
|}

==Overview==
The story opens on late-1930s [[Earth]], which teeters on the brink of global war. The forces of [[Cobra]] uncover the Matrix and use it to rouse the dormant Decepticons, using them to ravage Europe. America deploys a new rag-tag special operations team to stop them—[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]].

New alternate forms were designed for many characters by [[Don Figueroa]], with the [[Autobot]]s assuming the forms of Allied vehicles and the [[Decepticon]]s taking Axis forms. Sadly, most of these new forms were largely obscured by the art of the finished series.

The series has been heavily criticized by some fans for being difficult to follow. The heavily stylized art could be described as gritty, evocative, and beautiful... and to an equal extent, murky, underlit, and incomprehensible. The art makes the entire story seem to happen at dusk or night, in a world filled with clouds, fog, dust, smoke and shadow. The art appears stylized to emulate World War II propaganda posters, an interesting choice but one that hurts the telling of the story.

Narrative compression and expansion likewise adds both drama and obscurity to the story. Important events such as [[Major Bludd]] actually seizing the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], or the downing in battle of [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], are vaguely implied between panels or mentioned only in dialogue, while splash pages (such as an entire two-page spread sans dialog in issue #5) do almost nothing to advance the plot. While this series is hardly alone in making such choices, combined with the heavily inked art, the end result is a story that is difficult to comprehend at times.

The series was followed by a second miniseries set in the present day, and drawn in a contemporary style. However, ''[[Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front]]'' only had one issue produced before cancellation due to Dreamwave's bankruptcy.

==Creative Team==
The series was written by [[John Ney Rieber]], with (very dark and murky) art by [[Jae Lee]].

{{DEFAULTSORT:G.I. Joe}}
[[Category:Dreamwave titles]]
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]

Transformers in 3-D

2011-03-15T21:05:13Z

129.89.158.187:

{{nav-G1|logo=TheTransformers_Logo.jpg}}

'''''Transformers in 3-D''''' (alternately '''''The Transformers 3-D''''' or '''''The Transformers in 3-D''''') was a short-lived comic book series published by [[Blackthorne Publishing]] in 1987. They are notable for their ''bizarre'' continuity (indeed, it's possible that every issue occupies a separate continuity) and because the first issue is '''frickin' hilarious'''.

{|style="margin:0 auto;padding:0 auto" align="center" id="toc"
!align="center" bgcolor="#6699CC"|'''(The) Transformers (in) 3-D issues::'''
|-align="center"
|[[The Test (issue)|#1]] | [[Transformers in 3-D issue 2|#2]] | [[The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3|#3]]
|}

==Overview==
The books are not explicitly set in any particular continuity, and in fact don't follow very smoothly from each other.

In our first story, both the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s detect energy readings on an asteroid. When they investigate separately, they find identical [[Observer|alien creatures]] which produce [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]] through unorthodox biological processes. Before they can put this knowledge to use, the two factions discover each other and a battle erupts, during which the two alien creatures return to their [[Quintesson]] master to report that they've learned...

The second tale begins with a Decepticon attack on a scientific research outpost with the aim of gathering slave workers. Five children, with the help of [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], quest for the [[Prism of Power]], the only thing capable of disrupting the Decepticons' paralysing ray.

Finally, the [[Destructon]]s and their leader [[Lord Imperious Delirious]] are freed from a centuries long imprisonment to once again bring destruction to the galaxy. Meanwhile [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] destroys [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s Energon supply, but the beacon which once warned of the Destructon threat also points to the location of [[Metascan Alpha]], where the Autobots will find all of the energy they need. Search parties are sent out, but [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s team encounters resistance in the form of both the Decepticons and the Destructons. With doom fast approaching, Ultra Magnus makes a pact with [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] to unite against this new threat.

The series ended abruptly there, with part one of a three part story.

==Creative team==
A different crew of writers and artists produced each issue, perhaps accounting for the wild story variability.

{{stub}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:3-D}}
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]

The Transformers Universe (Marvel)

2011-03-15T21:04:31Z

129.89.158.187: /* 1987–1988 Omissions */

{{disambig3|Universe}}
[[Image:TFUMarvel1.jpg|right|180px|thumb|YELLOW POWER!]]
'''''Transformers Universe''''' is a four-issue limited series published by [[Marvel Comics]] in 1986 featuring expanded [[Bio|bios]] for the Transformers that had appeared thus far in the comic and toy lines. The entries were organized alphabetically, with the exception that characters who first appeared in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' were held until Issue 4. Each character had inked and colored versions of the [[character model]]s and lengthy write-up, divided into three sections: Profile, Abilities, and Weaknesses. A header section gave the character's name, allegiance, function, and the issue number of their first Marvel Comics appearance, for those who had appeared in the book (which included the bulk of the entries).

Entries for characters from Transformers: The Movie differ greatly in style from the rest, sometimes omitting sections entirely. The writing style for these characters suggests that their profiles are actually pre-production notes from very early in the characters' development, before their character models had actually been designed; [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], for example, is described as a "multi-engine, and perhaps multi-wing" spacecraft, with weapons such as "an incendiary bomb rack" which are clearly not present on his character model.

==Issue #1==
[[Image:TFUMarvel1-full.JPG|right|180px|thumb|"Beginning a 4-issue guide to all the Autobots and Decepticons." Well... except Barrage and Camshaft. And Chop Shop and Downshift. And that's just ''this'' issue!]]
* Cover: red background; Bumblebee on the front; Bruticus on the back. "1st Collector's Item Issue! Beginning a ''4''-issue guide to all the Autobots and Decepticons-- their powers and weaknesses -- and ''more!''"

{{collist|4|
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]]
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]]
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]]
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]
* [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]]
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]]
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]]
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]]
* [[Eject]]
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]]
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]
* [[Grapple]]
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]
}}

==Issue #2==
[[Image:TFUMarvel2-full.JPG|right|180px|thumb|Both leaders are terrible shots.]]
* Cover: yellow background; Optimus Prime on the front, firing at Megatron on the back cover, who returns fire. "''2nd'' sensational issue! Continuing a ''4''-issue guide to everything ''you'' ever wanted to know about the Autobots and Decepticons!"

{{collist|4|
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]]
* [[Headstrong]]
* [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]]
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]]
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (includes art of his "Cybertron mode" from the cartoon)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]]
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]
* [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]]
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]
* [[Octane]]
* [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]
* [[Outback]]
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]
* [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]
* [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]]
* [[Predaking]]
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]
* [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]]
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
}}

==Issue #3==
[[Image:TFUMarvel3-full.JPG|right|180px|thumb|]]
* Cover: blue background; dino-mode Sludge, Snarl and Slag on the front; Shockwave on the back (perhaps a nod to their clashes in [[Repeat Performance!|issue #8]].) "''3rd'' tantalizing issue! Continuing a ''4''-issue guide to the biggest stars of ''TV, MOVIES,'' and ''COMICS!''"

{{collist|4|
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]]
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]]
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]
* [[Rewind]]
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]
* [[Runabout]]
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]]
* [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]]
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]]
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]]
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]]
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]
* [[Slingshot]]
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]]
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
}}

==Issue #4==
[[Image:TFUMarvel4-full.JPG|right|180px|thumb|]]
* Cover: black background; Arcee and Ultra Magnus on the front; Unicron on the back. "''4th'' final issue! Concluding a ''4''-part guide to all the Autobots and Decepticons! ''BONUS!'' All the new Transformers from the hit movie included in this issue!"

{{collist|4|
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]
* [[Tailgate]]
* [[Tantrum]]
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]
* [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]]
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]
* [[Twin Twist]]
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]]
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]]
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]
* [[Arblus]]
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]]
* [[Kranix]]
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]
* [[Quintesson|Quintessons]], with artwork of a Judge, a "Gatekeeper", and a guard.
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]
* [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]]
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]
* [[Unicron]]
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], including robot-mode art for "[[Junkyard (G1)|Junkion 1]]" and "Junkion 2"
}}

==Omissions==
* Divebomb's eagle mode is not shown at all.
* Metroplex's entry includes no individual art for Scamper, Six Gun and Slammer.
* Perceptor's third "artillery piece" mode is mentioned but not shown.
* Sky Lynx's combined bird-lynx mode is omitted.
* Tracks' flying car mode is omitted.
* Like Metroplex, Trypticon's entry contains no artwork for Brunt and Full-Tilt (or even [[Wipe-Out]]).
* The "base" modes for the four Scramble City combiner team leaders are neither mentioned nor portrayed.
* Characters entirely missing include the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibots]], the two [[Deluxe Vehicle|Deluxe Vehicles]] ([[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]), the four [[Insecticon (G1)|Deluxe Insecticons]] ([[Barrage (Insecticon)|Barrage]], [[Chop Shop]], [[Ransack (G1)|Ransack]] and [[Venom (G1)|Venom]]), [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] and... [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]. This despite Budiansky actually ''writing'' bios for all of these guys with the possible exception of Reflector. Many of them not having character models played a role in this omission.
** Budiansky's unused bios went on the [http://boltax.blogspot.com/ ''Disciples of Boltax'' blog] in two posts in [http://boltax.blogspot.com/2010/12/extended-bios.html late 2010] and [http://boltax.blogspot.com/2011/01/extended-bio-whirl.html early 2011].

==Errors==
* Bluestreak's name is parsed as two words: Blue Streak.
* Bluestreak is missing his shoulder-mounted missile launchers.
* Cassette-mode Buzzsaw is colored almost entirely red.
* Cliffjumper's "Weaknesses" are written as if he still has his preliminary nomenclature of 'Blow-Out'.
* Hot Spot's name is parsed as "Hotspot".
* Huffer's art features a rounded hood behind his head, out of keeping with his toy, alternate mode, and usual [[character model]].
* The lower half of Kickback's face is colored the same blue-black as his body, as if he had a faceplate instead of a standard mouth.
* Megatron's art is based on his pre-animation model, including the differently-shaped head and a trigger on his fusion cannon. His pistol mode is mostly colored blue-black.
* Marvel had misplaced the model sheet for the front of Optimus Prime's vehicle mode, explaining why it is shown from behind.
* Ramhorn has a Decepticon symbol on both his rhino mode and his cassette mode.
* Roller and the Combat Deck are likewise not shown in Optimus Prime's entry.
* Perceptor's face gets the same colored-lower-half treatment as Kickback.
* The faces of Shrapnel, Sideswipe, Skywarp, Snarl and Slag are colored the same blue-black as their heads. Most should be white or light gray.
* Sideswipe is missing his shoulder missile launcher.
* Soundwave is drawn as though he has a mouth. He's colored purple instead of blue, but this is consistent with his appearance in the Marvel comics.
* Sunstreaker's entry notes his disdain for his brother Sideswipe's rear-mounted engine... even though ''Sunstreaker'' is the one with said engine.
* Steeljaw's entry is placed out of alphabetical order.
* Trailbreaker's forcefield projector is missing.
* Scourge's alternate mode is shown in the earlier (less toy-like) version which features his head poking out of the top, though his eyes have been replaced with some kind of scanner reading panel.
* The Movie characters' write-ups are incomplete. Arblus, Arcee, the Quintessons, and the Sharkticon are missing the "Abilities" section; Blurr, Cyclonus, Galvatron, Kup, Springer, Ultra Magnus, Wheelie and Wreck-Gar have no "Weaknesses" section.

==Notes==
[[Image:Universe01.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Eject? You're not even in this magazine. Let's put you on the cover and on the back. Arcee? Bottom of the back page for you!]]
* The series was later republished in a single volume although a handful of character profiles, such as [[Eject]], [[Rewind]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]], [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]], [[Tailgate]], [[Topspin (G1)|Top Spin]], [[Twin Twist]] and [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] were left out (although their pictures appeared on the cover).
* Although cleaned up by artists [[Ian Akin]] and [[Brian Garvey]], all the character artwork was based upon [[Character model|character models]] for the animated series.
* Characters such as Cyclonus who had two different character models generally use the earlier version, showcasing the divide between models used for the cartoon and models used for the comic.
* Issue 4 includes ''The Transformers: The Movie'' characters, including several non-toy characters.
* The profiles were also used as part of the UK comic’s "Transformers A-Z" feature.
* Scans of the series frequently appear on the Internet.
* Although the title on the cover is ''Transformers Universe,'' the title in the indicia is ''The Transformers Universe.''
* ''Transformers Universe'' has essentially been supplanted by the ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' guide books, which include profiles for every toy-based G1 Transformer, including the Micromasters.

==Addenda==
A second series was mentioned in the Marvel Comic's letter column but it never appeared. Instead starting with issue [[Club Con!|#47]] of the Marvel Comic, new post-1986 character entries under the ''Transformers Universe'' heading began appearing on a semi-regular basis featuring artwork that was based upon the character models used in the US toy commercials. Although this process continued for the rest of the series, ending in issue [[The Last Autobot?|#79]], many 1987 and 1988 characters were ultimately denied a profile of their own.

'''Issue [[Club Con!|#47]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Apeface]]
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]
*[[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]
}}
'''Issue [[The Flames of Boltax!|#48]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Brainstorm]]
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]
*[[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]]
*[[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]]
*[[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]]
}}
'''Issue [[Cold War!|#49]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Chase (G1)|Chase]]
*[[Freeway (G1)|Freeway]]
}}
'''Issue [[Back from the Dead|#56]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Battletrap]]
*[[Blot (G1)|Blot]]
*[[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]]
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]]
*[[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]]
*[[Wide Load]]
}}
'''Issue [[The Resurrection Gambit!|#57]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Cloudraker (G1)|Cloudraker]]
*[[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]]
*[[Slugfest (G1)|Slugfest]]
}}
'''Issue [[All the Familiar Faces!|#58]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]]
*[[Computron (G1)|Computron]]
*[[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]]
*[[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]]
*[[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]]
*[[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]]
}}
'''Issue [[Skin Deep|#59]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Nautilator]]
*[[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]]
*[[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]]
*[[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]]
*[[Skalor]]
*[[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]]
*[[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]]
}}
'''Issue [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Misfire]]
*[[Pointblank]]
*[[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]]
*[[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]]
}}
'''Issue [[Primal Scream (issue)|#61]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Landfill (G1)|Landfill]]
*[[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]]
*[[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]]
*[[Triggerhappy]]
}}
'''Issue [[Bird of Prey!|#62]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Backstreet (G1)|Backstreet]]
*[[Hosehead]]
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]
*[[Siren]]
}}
'''Issue [[Kings of the Wild Frontier.|#63]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Dogfight]]
*[[Override (G1)|Override]]
}}
'''Issue [[Deadly Obsession|#64]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]]
*[[Needlenose]]
}}
'''Issue [[Dark Creation|#65]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]]
*[[Windsweeper]]
}}
'''Issue [[All Fall Down (issue)|#66]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Quake (G1)|Quake]]
*[[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]]
}}
'''Issue [[Rhythms of Darkness!|#67]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Getaway]]
*[[Joyride (Autobot)|Joyride]]
}}
'''Issue [[The Human Factor!|#68]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]]
}}
'''Issue [[Eye of the Storm|#69]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Fastlane]]
*[[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]]
}}
'''Issue [[The Pri¢e of Life!|#70]]'''
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Powermaster Optimus Prime]]
'''Issue [[Surrender!|#71]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Punch (G1)|Punch]]
*Counterpunch
}}
'''Issue [[...All This and Civil War 2|#72]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]]
*[[Skullgrin]]
}}
'''Issue [[The Void! (US)|#74]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Darkwing]]
*[[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]]
}}
'''Issue [[On the Edge of Extinction!|#75]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Fangry]]
*[[Squeezeplay]]
}}
'''Issue [[Still Life!|#76]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Grotusque]]
*[[Horri-Bull]]
}}
'''Issue [[Exodus!|#77]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Skullcruncher]]
*[[Weirdwolf]]
}}
'''Issue [[A Savage Circle|#78]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Pounce]]
*[[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]]
}}
'''Issue [[The Last Autobot?|#79]]'''
{{collist|4|
*[[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]
}}

===1987–1988 Omissions===
{{collist|4|
*[[Doublecross]]
*[[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]]
*[[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]]
*[[Hun-Gurrr]]
*[[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]
*[[Flywheels]]
*[[Wingspan]]
*[[Sixshot]]
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]
*[[Fizzle]]
*[[Sizzle (G1)|Sizzle]]
*[[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]]
*[[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]]
*[[Raindance]]
*[[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]]
*[[Quickswitch]]
*[[Cloudburst]]
*[[Waverider]]
*[[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]]
*[[Splashdown]]
*[[Chainclaw (G1)|Chainclaw]]
*[[Catilla]]
*[[Gunrunner (G1)|Gunrunner]]
*[[Cindersaur]]
*[[Flamefeather]]
*[[Sparkstalker]]
*[[Squawktalk]]
*[[Beastbox (G1)|Beastbox]]
*[[Squawkbox]]
*[[Doubledealer]]
*[[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]]
*[[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]]
*[[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]]
*[[Bugly]]
*[[Finback]]
*[[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]]
*[[Snarler]]
*[[Roadgrabber]]
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Universe}}
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]
[[Category:Profile books]]

The Transformers: Heart of Darkness

2011-03-15T21:02:12Z

129.89.158.187: -Interrobang

{{mainpic}}
'''''The Transformers: Heart of Darkness''''' is a 4-issue limited series published by [[IDW Publishing]] in [[2011]] set in the main [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]].

It follows the follows [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s mission after the events of ''[[Infestation (IDW)|Infestation]]''.

{{chapters |style=3 |prev=Infestation (IDW)|next=The Transformers (IDW)|title=''The Transformers: Heart of Darkness'' issues:|content=
* [[Heart of Darkness issue 1|#1]]
* [[Heart of Darkness issue 2|#2]]
* [[Heart of Darkness issue 3|#3]]
* [[Heart of Darkness issue 4|#4]]
}}

==Overview==
TBD

==Creative team==
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, fresh off the ''[[Infestation (IDW)|Infestation]]'' series, teamed up once again to pen ''Heart of Darkness''.

===Items of note===
* TBD

==Collections==
* TBD

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* TBD

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heart of Darkness}}
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]
[[Category:IDW titles]]

Talk:Transformers: Beast Wars Diorama Story

2011-03-02T22:01:28Z

129.89.158.187:

Is [http://www.allspark.com/content/view/2325/37/ this] related to this story in any way? -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 16:00, 2 March 2011 (EST)
:Probably. I have the toys and the DVDs, but they're in another city right now and my saved files went down with my old computer. (The video segments on the TM-SP DVDs weren't labeled "Diorama Story", as I recall.) --Interrobang

Talk:Transformers: Beast Wars Diorama Story

2011-03-02T22:01:02Z

129.89.158.187:

Is [http://www.allspark.com/content/view/2325/37/ this] related to this story in any way? -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 16:00, 2 March 2011 (EST)
:Probably. I have the toys and the DVDs, but they're in another city right now and my saved files went down with my old computer. (The videos segments weren't labeled "Diorama Story", as I recall.) --Interrobang

Ai (CR)

2011-02-23T22:43:17Z

129.89.158.187:

{{disambig2|the insurance salesperson from ''Animated''|the hologram from ''Robots in Disguise''|T-AI}}
:''Ai is... someone from somewhere.''

{{merge|T-AI|ALTernity Today is a multiversal publication.}}

[[Image:Ai_Almanac2.jpg|thumb|150px|]]

'''Ai''' is the owner of an insurance company called [[Aisurance]], which she advertises in [[ALTernity Today]].

==Notes==
*Ai made her first appearance in ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II]]''. She is clearly based on [[T-AI]] from ''[[Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', and goes by T-AI's ''Car Robots'' name.
*According to designer [[Bill Forster]], she is a play on Erin Esurance, a character used for marketing by real-life auto insurance company [http://www.esurance.com/ Esurance Inc.] <ref>[http://billforster.deviantart.com/art/Ai-173651660 http://billforster.deviantart.com/art/Ai-173651660]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Almanac-only characters]]
[[Category:Animated characters]]

T-AI

2011-02-23T22:40:17Z

129.89.158.187: Well, technically...

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig2|the Robots in Disguise computer system|the Binaltech Asterisk policewoman|Ai Kuruma}}
:''T-AI is an [[Autobot]] computer from the [[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:T-AI-colorsheet.jpg|right|250px|thumb|I, am, your sing-ing tele-gram! *BANG!*]]
'''T-AI''' (pronounced "tie", short for '''Tactical Artificial Intelligence''') is the Autobots' main computer system. She keeps tabs on events across Earth, coordinates Autobot forces across the globe, maintains the elaborate [[Global Space Bridge]] network, and generally keeps things running smoothly at the base... or as smoothly as possible considering the variety of odd personalities that make up the Autobot ranks. She is an incredibly advanced computer that displays distinct emotions, self-awareness, a sense of humor, and—perhaps most notably—the ability to lose her patience. She is quick to berate verbally any Autobot found [[Side Burn (RID)|slacking off or doing something dumb]].

T-AI manifests herself with a holographic avatar, taking the form of a young [[human]] girl in a maroon uniform similar to a Japanese policewoman's. It's possible she chose this form to better acclimate the Autobots to dealing with humans, as well as to help their human ally [[Koji Onishi|Koji]] better deal with being surrounded by giant alien robots.

She is reportedly the "daughter" of [[Teletraan I (RID)|Teletraan I]].<ref>"I'm T-AI, Tactical Artifical Intelligence system. Daughter of the Teletraan I computer program." {{storylink|An Explosive Situation}}</ref>

==Fiction==
===''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Sandy Fox]] (English), [[Chieko Higuchi]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Battle Protocol Tai.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Wait till you hear this, ha ha! I just saw Megatron! He kidnapped your father, ha ha! We're in a lot of trouble!]]
T-AI's first major action on Earth was to initiate [[Battle Protocol]] and send the [[Autobot Brothers]] to [[New York City]]. {{storylink|Battle Protocol!}} A short time later, [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] brought [[Koji Onishi]] to visit the base—Koji's [[Kenneth Onishi|father]] had been kidnapped by [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]]. On being introduced to T-AI, Koji attempted to shake hands with her and fell through the holographic projection. The boy stuck around with T-AI to monitor the currently-developing situation—the Predacons were trying to steal an explosive device from a car. {{storylink|An Explosive Situation}}

[[Image:Hunt for Black Pyramid Taipoint.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Prepare to fast-forward!]]
T-AI would continue to monitor odd goings-on, such as a series of suspicious train wrecks which turned out to have been caused by the Predacons. {{storylink|Bullet Train to the Rescue}} The only Autobot she tended to have problems with was [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]], a notorious slacker who would often be out chasing red sports cars rather than go to the assignments given to him. On one occasion Side Burn turned out to be actually doing something useful—exploring some ruins with Koji. As a result of this adventure, a computer microchip owned by Doctor Onishi was discovered, and T-AI set about extracting information from it. {{storylink|The Secret of the Ruins}}

It wasn't unusual for Side Burn to cut off contact altogether, which is probably why T-AI didn't immediately panic when he was captured by the Predacons. Once [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] and [[X-Brawn]] alerted her to the situation, T-AI dispatched the [[Spy Changer]]s to assist in rescuing both Side Burn and Optimus. {{storylink|Sideburn's Obsession}} On another occasion one of the Spy Changers, [[Mirage (RID)|Mirage]] appeared to have left the Autobot ranks but in reality had pretended to defect and had located Megatron's "[[Mega-Laser Cannon]]". T-AI was able to extend the [[Global Space Bridge]], allowing the Spy Changers to use the sphere formation to destroy the laser. {{storylink|Mirage's Betrayal}}

When new Autobot arrival [[Skid-Z (RID)|Skid-Z]] went missing, T-AI was able to download his scanner log and determine that, as suspected, the Autobot had become contaminated with [[Auggie Cahnay (RID)|Auggie Cahnay]]'s psychotropic energy, giving him the urge to compete in races. She warned the other Autobots that they needed to get Skid-Z back to headquarters for decontamination or he would burn out his circuits. {{storylink|Skid Z's Choice}} [[Tow-Line (RID)|Tow-Line]]'s introduction didn't go much better. Shortly after his arrival, T-AI lost contact with Side Burn, X-Brawn and [[Rapid Run (RID)|Rapid Run]]—Tow-Line had gone renegade and abducted the trio. She coordinated with Optimus and Prowl to track down the rogue Autobot. {{storylink|Tow-Line Goes Haywire}}

[[Image:Tai-projector.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Snotty beamed me twice last night. It was wonderful.]]
Puzzled by the Predacons' interest in statues, T-AI dispatched the Autobot Brothers to the [[Cave of the Dragon]], which Koji had a hunch was involved. There Side Burn encountered a giant moving statue, which T-AI was able to reveal was a special effect created by a film crew working there. As it turned out the cave had another secret, the first of seven Cybertronian artefacts called [[O-Part]]s. {{storylink|The Ultimate Robot Warrior}} Shortly after the discovery, T-AI called all of the Autobots back to base to review footage of their past missions and attempt to work out where the Predacon base was hidden. {{storylink|Hope for the Future}}

T-AI was able to unlock more information from Dr Onishi's microchip, pointing the Autobots to [[Castle Peak]], where they discovered the wreck of an Autobot spacecraft. After Megatron stole the six protoforms from inside it, T-AI was able to track him to McKinley Army Base and alert Optimus, though ultimately Megatron was able to reformat the protoforms into Decepticons. {{storylink|The Decepticons}}

After the destruction of a dam by the Decepticons, T-AI sent the Autobot Brothers to patrol [[Sherman Dam]] and soon lost contact with them. Once Optimus arrived at the dam, T-AI alerted him to the fact that the Decepticons had mined it with [[pulsar bomb]]s. Fortunately disaster was averted once again with the help of [[Team Bullet Train]]. {{storylink|Commandos}}

[[Image:Attack from Outer Space Tai.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Movor's gone to plaid!]]
T-AI continued to monitor Predacon activity, dispatching Optimus and the Spy Changers to [[Montrose Island]] where the Predacons were causing trouble. {{storylink|Volcano}} After a shuttle was launched by the [[human]]s, she attempted to access the signal from it and, to her puzzlement, received images of [[X-Brawn]] from the data stream. It wasn't long before the space agency revealed that the shuttle which was launched had been a fake—the Decepticon [[Movor]]. As the Decepticons were tracking Side Burn, T-AI contacted him and X-Brawn was able to send his brother to a location where the Decepticons could be ambushed. {{storylink|Attack from Outer Space}}

Side Burn, of course, continued to cause trouble and T-AI caught him using the computer to do online fish tests. Opining that it didn't make sense, as Side Burn was a sports car, not a fish, she nagged him about going out on patrol. Eventually he did, but he and the other two brothers ended up going to the wrong locations anyway. {{storylink|The Fish Test}}

When [[Build Team]] requested that they be allowed to go on a mission, they insisted that T-AI use the member select program just to make it all official. And then bickered amongst themselves until T-AI told them to knock it off and get moving. {{storylink|Wedge's Short Fuse}} Some time later, strange glitches began occurring in the Global Space Bridge, with Autobots failing to arrive at the destinations T-AI had programmed, and she soon discovered that someone had been tampering with the computer link. Build Team was dispatched to fix the problem, and T-AI also detected that Megatron was attacking the north energy research facility, so the next destination was set. {{storylink|Landfill (episode)|Landfill}}

When the Predacons attacked the new [[CGA Tower]] and took the people inside hostage, [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] demanded something from Optimus. Something he wasn't terribly clear on. T-AI suggested Sky-Byte might mean the O-Parts, which probably wasn't the most clever thing considering he didn't seem to know about them. {{storylink|Sky-Byte Saves the Day}}

After an attempted energy theft, the Decepticons began attacking construction sites and fleeing every time T-AI sent the Autobots to stop them. Eventually the Build Team found out, and T-AI detected [[Landfill (RID)|Landfill]] fighting Ruination. She sent the Autobot Brothers to help, but Build Team had sabotaged the Global Space Bridge, and they ended up in the middle of nowhere. {{storylink|A Test of Metal}}

[[Image:Forced Fusion Tai Koji.jpg|left|200px|thumb|It's not just a truck wreck...it's a Transformer!]]
T-AI intercepted a transmission indicating that Sky-Byte was searching for O-Parts. She and Optimus suspected it was a trap, so they sent the Autobot Brothers in. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus (episode)|Ultra Magnus}} With Optimus under attack from Decepticons on an island, T-AI monitored the situation with Koji, and was amazed when Optimus merged with the newly arrived Autobot [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|Ultra Magnus]] into [[Omega Prime]]. She reported reading a massive amount of energy. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus: Forced Fusion!}}

While out looking for Ultra Magnus, the Autobot Brothers failed to check in and T-AI was unable to contact them. She sent Team Bullet Train to look for the brothers and coordinated the search from base. {{storylink|The Two Faces of Ultra Magnus}} Puzzling over the way the three Autobot Brothers managed to power up during the fight against the Decepticons, T-AI theorised that the power came from the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], somehow channelled through Ultra Magnus. She contacted Side Burn and Prowl to search for Magnus, and sent X-Brawn in as backup when the two brothers found themselves fighting the Decepticons. {{storylink|Power to Burn!}}

[[Image:Fortress Maximus Koji Tai.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Skidplates! I'm surrounded by skidplates!]]
T-AI was able to extract more information from Doctor Onishi's microchip, pointing to a dig which the doctor was working on before he was kidnapped. The Build Team were dispatched, and when the Decepticons were sighted in the area, T-AI sent the Spy Changers, Autobot Brothers and Team Bullet Train for protection. {{storylink|Fortress Maximus (episode)|Fortress Maximus}} She reassured Koji that his father must still be alive as the Predacons were still extracting information from him. She was proved right a few hours later when Sky-Byte inadvertently set Doctor Onishi free. {{storylink|Koji Gets His Wish}}

With the release of Doctor Onishi, T-AI worked with him to create a detector to locate the rest of the O-Parts. The Autobot Brothers and Build Team managed to locate and retrieve the five remaining O-Parts and, back at base, T-AI wondered whether finding them was a blessing or a curse. {{storylink|A Friendly Contest}} T-AI was able to detect a data stream coming from the activated O-Parts and, despite Optimus' concerns, merged with them to get more information. Although she was able to find out the location of the [[Orb of Sigma]], she became trapped in the globe created by the O-Parts.

Optimus and the brothers took the O-Parts globe to the [[Sahara|Sahara Desert]] where, in a pyramid beneath the desert sands, they found the Orb of Sigma. The O-Parts globe merged with it, cutting off their communication with T-AI completely. The Autobots managed to keep the Orb away from the Decepticons and return it to Autobot base, where T-AI was successfully extracted. She reported that she had gained from the Orb the knowledge of where to find [[Cerebros (RID)|Cerebros]], the key to [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Fortress Maximus]]. {{storylink|Peril from the Past}}

[[Image:Maximus Emerges Tai.jpg|left|200px|thumb|It's very fascinating. But I'm afraid I'm going to have to hurt you.]]
The Autobot Brothers and Build Team attempted to retrieve Cerebros, but the 'bot was snatched from their grasp by the Decepticons. T-AI was very annoyed and chewed out X-Brawn over it. She sent the Autobot Brothers to guard Fortress Maximus' hiding place, getting Tow-Line to tow Side Burn there to prevent him from being "distracted". The Decepticons managed to use Cerebros to activate Maximus and T-AI monitored the battle from base with Koji. The young boy was subsequently able to help by commanding the giant robot to stop. {{storylink|Maximus Emerges}}

T-AI and Doctor Onishi worked on the puzzle of why Maximus obeyed Koji's command, but were unable to draw a firm conclusion. When [[Scourge (RID)|Scourge]] again attempted to control Maximus out in the desert, Doctor Onishi realised that Maximus would only control humans, and T-AI had Team Bullet Train and the Build Team take a thousand children to the battlefield. {{storylink|The Human Element}} She continued to scan for Fortress Maximus' location, but was hampered by the Autobot's shielding. Finally, after Koji's friend [[Karl]] was kidnapped by the Predacons, she was able to locate the titan in a forest. {{storylink|Mistaken Identity}}

[[Image:Final Battle Tai.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Go past this part. In fact, never play this scene again.]]
Finally the Decepticons located the Autobot base and began to attack. T-AI alerted all of the Autobots to go to designated co-ordinates so that Optimus could lead the Decepticons into a trap. {{storylink|Surprise Attack!}} She monitored the battle from base, contacting Omega Prime when Galvatron used his [[Cyber-bat|cyber-bats]] to seize control of the Earth's children. She activated the Global Space Bridge so the Autobots could retreat, but was too late to warn them when Galvatron ruptured the tunnel wall to flood it with molten rock. {{storylink|Galvatron's Revenge}} At Omega Prime's command, she opened space bridge portals to the Earth's core and sealed them after he had led Galvatron through for a last confrontation. Fortunately Koji was able to mobilise Earth's children via the Internet and send a massive amount of power to Prime, enabling him to win the fight, though T-AI told him that Prime was still trapped.

Fortunately the energy from Galvatron's defeat had reopened the Global Space Bridge, allowing Omega Prime to escape the Earth's core. The Autobots began enjoying a look around, though T-AI had to tell Skid-Z to slow down. {{storylink|The Final Battle (RID)|The Final Battle}}

===Ultra Magnus...to the Rescue?===
[[Image:T-AI Dreamwavesummerspecial.jpg|left|180px|thumb|My hair! What happened to my hair?!]]
When [[Scourge (RID)|Scourge]] and [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] attempted to steal an experimental nuclear generator from a plant in Arizona, T-AI tried to find any Autobots who were available to respond to the situation. Ultimately, [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] was the only one not currently occupied by some other emergency. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus...to the Rescue?}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
* '''Ai-chan''' (KT Figure Collection, 2004)

[[Image:AI PVC.jpg|right|200px|thumb|What the hell in the name of God is THIS?!!]]
: This figurine was produced by [[KT Figure Collection]], and included in a set of four others. It is notable in that not only is this the only non-[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] PVC in the entire set, but Ai-chan is portrayed bathing in a hot spring, and is thus completely nude, aside from her hat. A [[super deformed]] [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Super Fire Convoy]] is seen peeking over the side, and a miniature [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Gelshark]] bath toy is in Ai-chan's hands.

: Yes, it's creepy. And you may find her face is familiar, BECAUSE the figure is designed by [[Yūki Ōshima]], who did the [[Kiss Players (franchise)|creepiest thing]] in the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]] ever.

{{--}}

==Notes==
* Whenever T-AI makes radio contact with any off-base Autobots, she initiates it by pressing a sequence of buttons on a keypad. Considering that these elements are all a part of the same computer, T-AI is in fact projecting and controlling the holographic representation of herself and making it use the keypad that controls T-AI, herself. She is effectively telling herself to tell herself what to do. If you also factor in the fact that the hologram is totally incorporeal, and therefore cannot actually make contact with the keypad, then the assorted beeps and lights that seemingly indicate when the buttons are being pressed are actually being controlled from within T-AI like a [[wikipedia:player_piano|player piano]], and therefore don't need to be pressed even if the hologram ''could'' press them. This gives me a headache.

* In the ''Car Robots'' continuity, Ai-chan is a "Spherical Computer", akin to [[Vector Sigma]] of [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]], and [[NAVI]] of ''[[Beast Wars II (franchise)|Beast Wars II]]''.

* T-AI is clearly the inspiration for the [[Ai Kuruma]] character in the ''[[Binaltech Asterisk]]'' line.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Ai''' (アイ)
** In ''Car Robots'', [[Side Burn (RID)|Speedbreaker]] and [[Koji Onishi|Yūki]] usually call her '''Ai-chan''' (アイちゃん), the "chan" being a form of endearment.

==References==
<references />

== External link ==
* [http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/kt_figure/transformers/005/index.html Ai-chan at KT Figure Collection official site]

[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise Autobots]]

MediaWiki talk:Community Portal

2011-02-23T21:23:10Z

129.89.158.187: /* When to omit "Transformers" from an article title */

__NEWSECTIONLINK__

This is the place for discussion of topics that affect the entire wiki. Some topics that would ordinarily be here have merited their own pages:

{{chapters|title=Specific Discussion Subjects|align=left|content=
<div class="list-header">'''Moving From Wikia:'''</div>
* [[Transformers Wiki talk:Community Portal/Arriving|Arriving]]
* [[Transformers Wiki talk:Community Portal/Leaving|Leaving]]
* [[Transformers Wiki:Community Portal/Complaints|Complaints]]
 <div class="list-header">'''New Ad Policy:'''</div>
* [[Transformers Wiki:Ads|Ads]]
 <div class="list-header">'''Bookworm Database-Crash:'''</div>
* [[Transformers Wiki talk:Community Portal/Damage Control Central|Damage Control Central]]
* [[Project:Bookworm Crash]]
* [[Transformers Wiki talk:Community Portal/Leaving2|Leaving Take 2]]
 <div class="list-header">'''Server Move:'''</div>
* [[Transformers Wiki talk:Community Portal/Arriving2|Arriving Take 2]]
 <div class="list-header">'''Relicensing:'''</div>
* [[Transformers Wiki talk:Community Portal/Relicensing|Relicensing]]
 <div class="list-header">'''Dealing With Vandalism:'''</div>
* [[Transformers Wiki talk:Community Portal/Vandalism|Vandalism]]
 <div class="list-header">'''GoBots Sister Wiki:'''</div>
* [[Transformers Wiki talk:Community Portal/GoBots|Discussion on the place of GoBots in this wiki]]
}} 

{{:{{FULLPAGENAMEE}}/Archive}}


==Didn't we have a Transformers Appearances/References in Other Media page?==
I could have sworn we did, mentioning stuff like Family guy etc. If we don't have such a page, would it be allowed to be created? [[User:Drmick|Drmick]] 11:53, 18 December 2010 (EST)
:Unless it's officially sanctioned by Hasbro, no, we do not mention Transformer appearances in other media. --[[User:NCZ|NCZ]] 11:54, 18 December 2010 (EST)
:: If it ever existed, it would have been destroyed with fire in about 30 seconds. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 12:46, 18 December 2010 (EST)
::: Of course, if we did have such a page, we could use it as a lighting rod, keep anons from adding something to Soundwave's page every time Seth Green says the word "transformers." -- [[User:Semysane|Semysane]] 16:28, 18 December 2010 (EST)
::::Of course, NO. Discussion over. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 16:45, 18 December 2010 (EST)
::::Discussion not quite over. If the unofficial nature of the topic is the reason why it is not allowed, then there are several articles that already exist that are pushing boundaries on the wiki. I would have thought that the biggest problem would be it's size.[[User:Drmick|Drmick]] 09:26, 20 December 2010 (EST)
:::::Yeah, that'd be the other big reason. There's so many such references it would be impossible to keep track of them all. It would also involve making sure what's added there is actually a TF reference. And given all the Toms, Dicks and Harrys that'll come out of the woodwork to add such stuff, that's going to be more trouble than not having a page. Best not to get a larger headache for the sake of reducing a smaller one. --[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]] 12:44, 20 December 2010 (EST)

=="Knockoff warning" for toy sections?==
Just something that occurred to me... as I skimmed this page http://www.highendtfs.com/?q=node/17 and looked at alllllll the "could be mistaken for real and paid stupid money for" knockoffs... is there any objection to some form of link to this in the relevant toy sections? Sadly, the page lacks a "jump to" feature of any kind, but alerting people to the potential danger of dropping several hundred on what they think is a genuine Defensor box set... --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 02:50, 19 December 2010 (EST)

:I think it skirts the line with our "we don't really discuss knockoffs" policy, but on the other hand, yeah, it's a useful bit of information, almost to the point where we could stand to have a special page about ''these specific knockoffs''. I am not opposed to adding a link to that site, no, as long as it's got a massive and specific caveat attached to it (maybe even with a special template box thing ("A Prime Problem"-themed perhaps?)). Hell, maybe the highendtfs people would be willing to throw up navigation in exchange for the inevitable deluge of hits - anyone got contact info for the owner? [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 09:11, 19 December 2010 (EST)

::It's worth noting that there are some very well-done Henkei seekers knockoffs now, too. The really expensive ones even, like Thundercracker. Their sections could use warnings as well. -- [[User:Semysane|Semysane]] 17:56, 19 December 2010 (EST)

:::Are they in knockoff PACKAGING that is meant to look like the real thing? That's the really tricky part. G1 MIB shit is much, much more expensive. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 20:27, 19 December 2010 (EST)
::::Yes, they are: http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/buyer-beware-update-on-ko-henkei-seekers/20380/ -- [[User:Semysane|Semysane]] 23:03, 19 December 2010 (EST)

::I am not sure I want to attach more template boxes to pages as is. Especially over something like knockoffs. [[User:Interrobang|—Interrobang]] 20:55, 19 December 2010 (EST)

:::I'd ''thought'' about a template, but... ehn. I think a simple link under the TFU.info (or whatever), perhaps with a bolded "'''Knockoff alert'''" text. Like...

::::*''[http://www.highendtfs.com/?q=node/17 '''Knockoff alert''': More information on packaged imitations of this toy at HighendTFs.com]''

:::Thoughts? This would ONLY cover stuff that is in packaging meant to deceive you by looking as real as they can get it. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 21:05, 19 December 2010 (EST)

::::I could agree with that. This is a step beyond your standard knock off crap, some notice might be appropriate.--[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 21:44, 19 December 2010 (EST)

:::::I think it is a good idea to have it, since it is useful. This is different from putting info of some KO or unlicensed products on the page. --'''[[User:TX55|TX55]]'''''[[User talk:TX55|TALK]]'' 21:49, 19 December 2010 (EST)

== Extension:Oversight ==

Quite a few times I've seen admins delete and undelete pages to clean out bad revisions. Why they do this I have no idea, since we have [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Oversight the Oversight extension] installed.

Perhaps we should look into granting some people "oversighter" access? --[[User:-Blackout-|-Blackout-]] 05:09, 25 December 2010 (EST)
:I've just noticed that deleting and then restoring pages in the manner mentioned above has the side effect of resetting a page's page views stats, so that's another point in favour of the Oversight extension. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 18:40, 11 January 2011 (EST)

== Wikipedia, revisited ==

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators%27_noticeboard/Incidents#The_.22Campaign_of_Deletion.22_against_the_Transformers_Wiki_Project_by_NotARealWord_and_TFWiki.net]

Just in case anyone's interested. --[[Special:Contributions/84.193.193.10|84.193.193.10]] 10:54, 5 January 2011 (EST) (-Blackout-, can't be bothered to log back in)
:NEWSFLASH: Nobody cares. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 16:21, 5 January 2011 (EST)

== Captcha to prevent spambots? ==

Is there any way we could implement captcha to account creation to prevent the spambot problem we're having now? I've seen other wikis use that measure. Maybe also disable new page creation by anons? [[User:Interrobang|—Interrobang]] 12:56, 6 January 2011 (EST)
:We already have CAPTCHA implemented on the account creation service. --[[Special:Contributions/84.193.193.10|84.193.193.10]] 13:09, 6 January 2011 (EST) (-Blackout-, can't be bothered to log in)
::Never mind, then! [[User:Interrobang|—Interrobang]] 13:30, 6 January 2011 (EST)

== Real world events by day Category ==

These of course comprise every date of the year. However, I notice recently people have been adding fictional events to these dates. That basically invalidates the Category, since it's no longer comprised of only real-world events. The fictional events should be moved out into another section, or the category name should be changed to "Events by day". Thoughts? --[[User:MistaTee|MistaTee]] 22:01, 9 January 2011 (EST)
:I agree with changing to "Events by day". I would also support having separate fictional and real world sections on the pages. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 22:38, 9 January 2011 (EST)

== Project Wonderful ads ==

Um, guys, I found there [http://www.projectwonderful.com/img/uploads/pics/53018-1293943633.gif Non-official products] in the ads of CapturedPrey. I know the small ads are showing up randomly (and may not be controllable since we can't regulate them), but I think it is still need to be reported here. --'''[[User:TX55|TX55]]'''''[[User talk:TX55|TALK]]'' 01:04, 16 January 2011 (EST)
: I don't mind them in the non-permanent ads. TFSource used them all the time in their ads before we made them permanent sponsors. It was only when we made them a permanent sponsor did we ask to make them free of third-party product. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 01:57, 16 January 2011 (EST)

== Games <strike>fiction</strike> ==

Okay, now that [[User:Ascendron|Ascendron]] has flooded the character pages with stubs for 30 years worth of crappy Transformers games, can we reconsider how the Games sections are treated? I really don't think in-universe fiction descriptions are the way to handle it. [[War for Cybertron]] may've had a plot, but the majority of TF games are more in the vein of "hit things until they stop coming". A fiction section makes even less sense for games where the character selection is variable. ''"[[Hardhead (G1)#Transformers:_The_Headmasters|Hardhead]] may (or may not) have been present at this battle. Or this one. Or this..."'' Ditto for generic drone soldiers. Isn't there a way to address the games without trying to craft a sensical fiction for them? --[[User:Xaaron|Xaaron]] 08:46, 25 January 2011 (EST)
:I agree. The games should appear as merchandise on all relevant characters pages, but there is no need for a fiction write up for most games on those same pages. A generic write up on the game page should suffice. Something like "An Autobot warrior participated in a battle...", with a character box listing all potential "Autobot warriors" (aka playable characters). --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 09:21, 25 January 2011 (EST)
::Moving games to merchandise sounds awful. It would result in amazing amounts of lost information. I have no idea what doing that would solve. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 09:44, 25 January 2011 (EST)
::I think it depends on the game - for example in the ROTF console game, while you CAN play as multiple characters, the game provides a suggested one for you. IMO, that's who "actually" did the stuff depicted in the game (and the opposing side's campaign generally suggests it as well). When you can just pick from a half-dozen dudes and it doesn't matter, then maybe a brief summary of the game's plot and a note. "Jerkwagon was one of many Autobots involved in blah blah plot synopsis bluh. NOTE: Such-and-such game allowed players to choose multiple protagonists, including Jerkwagon." [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 13:19, 25 January 2011 (EST)
I agree that Games should be their own section -- there's certainly enough of them, and they should be treated differently than keychains and what-not. But I think an out-of-universe description of the games would be better in most cases. Instead of having to write vague text like ''"As Ultra Magnus searched for the truth behind Optimus Prime's death, he battled Trypticon in a game of death and suffering."'', which is about all the plot I could wrangle out of [[Transformers: Mystery of Convoy|Convoy no Nazo]] and tells you virtually nothing, we could write something more informative, like ''"Trypticon is the boss of Stage 10."'', and describe what actually happens in the game instead of trying to make it sound like believable fiction. --[[User:Xaaron|Xaaron]] 11:29, 25 January 2011 (EST)
:::My personal view on the matter is, from a character's page, I should be able to find EVERY place that character has appeared. And when we do list guys having an appearance when they're most likely an animation error in the far-background of an episode, I don't think there's any excuse to NOT list an appearance of a character wherever he might appear, including board and video games. Is that a lot of work? Yeah. But beneath all the jokes that make this place so great, this is still an encyclopedia, and purposely leaving out information out of an encyclopedia is wrong. Though I think Hooper X has the right idea... I doesn't have to be the most super-extensive write up. Heck, I was even going to suggest just having a link saying "See Return of Convoy article" or something like that. Also: I apologize if I had started getting very sloppy last night, but looking back, it was like 5 in the morning by the time I finished up. Yikes. --[[User:Ascendron|Ascendron]] 14:10, 25 January 2011 (EST)
::::I totally agree that the games should be dealt with on the character pages. I'm just looking for an option other than a completely in-fiction description. --[[User:Xaaron|Xaaron]] 15:14, 25 January 2011 (EST)
::::: The first idea that comes to mind is having a subsection called "Gameplay" or something like that for each game write-up, something that would be similar to a note? Though really, my main solution for stuff like that has been, up to this point, to just stick a couple of notes in the game write-up, like on [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s page. I'll keep on trying to think up other solutions though... --[[User:Ascendron|Ascendron]] 15:26, 25 January 2011 (EST)
::::Storylinks already serve as that, so what's the point of another link? [[User:Interrobang|—Interrobang]] 15:47, 25 January 2011 (EST)

== Fiction order guide? ==

I've been over the Style guides a few times trying to find if a page like this already exists, but it doesn't look like it. I'll be the first to admit that when adding in new fiction/game subsections to a character's article, I sometimes confuse and probably put them out of order. So I've been wondering if a page that lists every fictional work and game in the proper order of each other would be a good idea? On one hand, it seems like an ABSURD amount of work for a style guide, one that would have to be CONSTANTLY updated as new things come out. On the other hand, it would be very handy to have a list to reference for character pages. Especially because it can get VERY frustrating trying to hunt down which book/cartoon/whatever came first in the same year. For those who don't understand what I'm talking about, here's an example I quickly put together, using the [[Cheetor (BW)]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)]] pages as reference.

When listing a character's media appearances, use this sorting order:
*Fiction
**Generation 1 Marvel Comics continuity
**Generation 1 S.T.A.R.S. pack-in flyers
**Generation 1 cartoon continuity
**Generation 1 Kid Stuff Talking Story Books
**Generation 1 Big Looker Story Books
**Generation 1 Ladybird Books continuity
**''Transformers in 3-D''
**''Transformers PD Type'' comic
**''Comic Bom Bom G-2'' comic
**Beast Wars First wave toy bios
**Beast Wars Cartoon continuity
***Dawn of Future's Past
***''Beast Wars'' cartoon
***Fast Action Battlers toyline
***3H ''Tales from the Beast Wars'' comics
***IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics
***''Transformers Legends'' anthology
***''Beast Machines'' cartoon
***''Beast Machines'' toy bio
***''Universe'' comic
***''Beast Wars Metals'' comic
***Beast Wars ''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in comic
**Generation 1 Dreamwave comics continuity
**''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''
**''Transformers/G.I. Joe''
**Generation 1 IDW comics continuity
**''Hearts of Steel''
**''Music Label''
**''Henkei! Henkei!'' (pack-in comic)
**''Henkei! Henkei!'' Bun Bun manga
**Alternity
**''Robot Heroes'' comic
**''Universe'' cartoon
**Wings of Honor

Is this a good idea? Would anyone actually like to see this kind of thing, or would I just be putting a whole bunch of work into something we don't need? --[[User:Ascendron|Ascendron]] 16:28, 25 January 2011 (EST)
:We do need standardization of section names. The section order, however, depends on order in which the character appeared in those continuities in the real world. Then the subsections are ordered by the fictional chronology. [[User:Interrobang|—Interrobang]] 16:35, 25 January 2011 (EST)
::No wonder I get confused by this fiction order thing. @_@ I guess I might just be one of those people that will never get the hang of some of these things. And yeah, the section names was definitely something else I wanted to tackle, since I've seen at times no less than four different ways to refer to a certain media. I sometimes have to check the storylinks at the end to be sure it's all part of the same story! --[[User:Ascendron|Ascendron]] 16:45, 25 January 2011 (EST)
::Note that, within a continuity, flashbacks and time travel can mean that experiential fictional chronology for one character requires a different order of headings than for another. [[User:JW|JW]] 20:16, 25 January 2011 (EST)
:::In regards to standardization, I have an idea. What if we create a list of headers (kept on this page perhaps) used on Optimus Prime (G1)'s page (probably has the greatest number of different headers), use that as our initial standards list, then update it as we find other headers or decide to change the existing standards? Once we think we've covered the majority of possibilities, we could move it to a help page and make it official policy. --[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]] 17:49, 6 February 2011 (EST)
::::I put together [[User:Jackpot/Sandbox/Sections|a sandbox along these lines]] a couple of years ago. It hasn't been updated in quite a while, and I'm not sure it was ever actually complete, and it was the subject of [[User_talk:Jackpot/Sandbox/Sections|a bit of debate]]... but there it is, for what it's worth. (Also, I support standardization of headers, but I've run into [[Talk:Ricochet_(Headmasters)#Header|some]] [[Transformers_Wiki_talk:Community_Portal/Archive22#Section_naming_conventions|opposition]] over the nitty-gritty before, so best of luck.) - [[User:Jackpot|Jackpot]] 06:11, 8 February 2011 (EST)

== Foreign name reorganization ==

Is there any chance we could consider moving the foreign names somewhere else in the article other than at the top? We've already established a new standard for episodes, but characters could stand to have their names moved to their own dedicated section, likely under "Notes". There, we could add things like kana and Cyrillic forms of names not different from the English version. Opinions? [[User:Interrobang|—Interrobang]] 15:56, 4 February 2011 (EST)
:I'm in favor of it. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 16:33, 4 February 2011 (EST)

::All things considered, since this is (mostly) an english-centric wiki when it comes to stuff, the foreign names do come off as being interesting trivia more than anything else. I'm in favour of this too. --[[User:Ascendron|Ascendron]] 16:37, 4 February 2011 (EST)

:I'm fine with where they are now, personally. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 16:39, 4 February 2011 (EST)

:I can see the logic in them being moved down to notes. You've got an in-universe profile, then a bunch of out-of-universe names, then the in-universe fiction section. The only argument I have against it is that I'm used to seeing the foreign names at the top. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 17:05, 4 February 2011 (EST)

::If it can be moved downward (to the first entry of the notes section or a new section after the notes section) instead of being on the top, MOVE it. Originally, I'm fine withe where they are {{m-}} but that would be a character with fewer foreign names. --'''[[User:TX55|TX55]]'''''[[User talk:TX55|TALK]]'' 19:55, 4 February 2011 (EST)
Any further opinions on this? [[User:Interrobang|—Interrobang]] 00:36, 21 February 2011 (EST)
:What about cases where some of the extra names at the top are English, e.g. Omni Productions names, or preliminary or nicknames? Would they remain at the top or become notes too? --[[User:Abates|abates]] 01:29, 21 February 2011 (EST)
::The Malay dub still technically counts as foreign in my mind. Nicknames should be integrated in the introduction (or notes section), and preliminary names should have been in notes in the first place, since they aren't the characters' "real names" in any sense. Further elaboration of the preliminary names better suits the notes section, anyway. [[User:Interrobang|—Interrobang]] 01:43, 21 February 2011 (EST)
Japanese names are often for a character in a slightly different continuity. Like "Fire Convoy" is a Car Robots character and "Optimus Prime" is an RID character, but they share the same page. Or "Flame Convoy" is a Galaxy Force character but "Scourge" is a Cybertron character. In that case they should have the Japanese name up top. The names that are just different language versions of the English character can go on bottom. - [[User:Starfield|Starfield]] 13:18, 23 February 2011 (EST)
:... no. ''Cybertron'' and ''Galaxy Force'' are NOT different stories (Takara officially put GF back in the same timeline as the prior two series), and the ''RID/CR'' split is a unique case. In neither case should the names go up top. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 13:44, 23 February 2011 (EST)

== Commercial Appearances section ==

Alright, so I plan later on to start going through characters' pages and add in a "Commercial Appearances" section where it applies (sorry, I can't this weekend... homework to do!). Several characters already have this section and a lot of these commercials have nice short animations or other interesting characterizations and tidbits that I think they bear to be included in the characters' pages. Although, much like the Games sections, I'll only be able to marginally help by adding in the section itself to let people know that there's work to be done on a character's page... MY computer is so incredibly shitty that I can't even play videos off youtube. D:

But anyways, the reason I'm bringing this up here is because before I get started, I'd like to discuss what kind of format we want for this section, so it can be done right the first time around. Obviously, where it applies, stuff like indicating who the voice actor for the character makes sense, but should the write-up be in-universe or not? Since commercials fluctuate between using a short animation telling a mini-story and just being a straight-up commercial saying "buy this toy!" should a combination of both in-universe and out-of-universe description be used? And should we count the parts where the kids brandish their action figures and talk for the character as dialog spoken by the character? That's all the questions on the subject I can really think of for now... --[[User:Ascendron|Ascendron]] 15:12, 6 February 2011 (EST)
:I would write up the animation segments in-universe so long as they're unique to the commercial (i.e. not just recycled footage from one of the cartoons). Anything else that's notable enough could qualify for an out of universe note. But I wouldn't bother with recycled animation or the kids talking for the figures. That doesn't qualify as fiction to me.
:In regards to your inability to view the commercials, would it help if you could download them in some fashion and then watch them offline? Maybe burn the videos to a DVD disc? --[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]] 17:43, 6 February 2011 (EST)
::Yeah, any clips taken from pre-existing mediums would be redundant from those scenes being already covered in other sections on that character's page. Personally though, I'm still on the fence about the kids talking for the figures... I find it comparable to botcon script readings in a way... People just talking out loud for a character without any accompanying animation... I'm prone to be swayed either way. As for me viewing the commercials themselves, my spring break is a week from now. I might have access to a better computer then, but otherwise I'll just be putting in information already available on the wiki to the appropriate pages throughout the week, I guess. --[[User:Ascendron|Ascendron]] 17:53, 6 February 2011 (EST)

==How to resolve monster debates?==
[[User:-Blackout-]]'s recent meltdown over being prevented from editing [[Goldbug (IDW)]] has made me think again about how policy/content discussions tend to go on this wiki. It's a big part of why I haven't been around since last summer: I found myself perpetuating these miles-long debates that few cared to read, everyone was irritated by, and most importantly ''were impossible to resolve.''

That Goldbug article is a sterling example. Right now, people are talking about it as if the [[Talk:Goldbug (IDW)/Archive1|giant]] [[Talk:Goldbug (IDW)/Archive2|debate]] had resolved in favor of the current setup, so changing the article at this point is taboo because it "was dealt with already." But that's not how it went at all. Blackout's dickishly unilateral edit-war was definitely the Wrong Way to reopen this, but it's also wrong to pretend that we had achieved consensus or closure on the issue.

At [[Talk:Goldbug (IDW)/Archive2#Breaking down the problem|the end of the debate]], I had restated the case for [[User:Jackpot/Sandbox/Goldbug (G1)|my "Goldbug (G1)" sandbox]], which is definitely different from the current setup, and 6 other people declared support for it while 2 objected at length. But the objectors were also against the current setup: Jeysie wanted the toy gone, and Derik wanted... something inscrutable and Deriky. Combining those numbers with the [[Talk:Goldbug (IDW)/Archive1#Vote Tally|premature vote]] that had been taken earlier (and adjusting for the voters who changed their minds by the end), I count:

Sandbox: 8 
Sandbox with modifications: 3 
Current page: 7 
Current page without the toy: 2

That's not consensus. That's deadlock. In fact, there were fewer votes to keep the page as-is than there were to change it in some fashion. The current setup didn't win out in terms of votes, logic, precedent, or any other measure: It won out because it was what happened to be there when the debate died of exhaustion.

So we're stuck with an awkward page that most people want to be different, encased in concrete forevermore. I don't see any way out of this situation, and I've watched the same principle play out with other debates too many times. At the very least, I wonder if it would be helpful to have a Template:Deadlock that we could slap on inconclusive debates (with a picture of [[Drift (G1)|Deadlock]], natch) so people know the true state of things.

Taking that idea further, maybe it could come with a period of enforced moratorium – say, two weeks – followed by a revote and/or a formalized "final statements" opportunity? The most extreme option I can think of is to create a "council of elders" that has the community-bestowed power to resolve intractable debates and declare relevant policy principles. Basically, a Supreme Court. I do worry that creating an authoritative heirarchy might produce even more problems, but I figured I'd throw it out there.

Thoughts? Other ideas?

- [[User:Jackpot|Jackpot]] 18:20, 9 February 2011 (EST)
: This whole argument goes to the heart of what we mean when we say two characters are "the same". The Bumblebee toy was produced and fiction was made to promote that toy, thus all of those fictions (which differ from each other) are about "the same" character. The Goldbug toy was produced with a tech spec that stated that it was "the same" character as Bumblebee. Fiction was produced to promote that toy, thus all those varying depictions of Goldbug are "the same" character as Bumblebee. The same argument applies to the differing backstories of Optimus Prime; Orion Pax and Optronix are "the same" character because they both are earlier forms of the character that was used to promote the sale of the Optimus Prime toy. The problem comes in with later stories that are not produced to promote those original toys. How do we decide what is the same? When is a character "the same character under different circumstances/in a different universe" and when is it simply an homage character? I really can't see how others see the IDW Goldbug as "the same" character as the original toy and not (as I see him) as a simple homage character. Under their viewpoint the toy belongs, under mine it doesn't. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 10:15, 10 February 2011 (EST)

: I NOMINATE MYSELF AS FINAL ARBITER AND SUPREME OVERLORD. all decisions will be made based on what amuses me the most. (seriously, we probably ought to have some kind of "no consensus" tag for articles like that.) [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 12:58, 10 February 2011 (EST)

Mmm...probably best not to restart the Goldbug debate itself here, Khajidha -- that would quickly distract from what Jackpot's actually asking here, which is how debates should be resolved ''in general''.

Some of the basic rules we already follow should remain. No "edit-warring"...leave it up to the Talk Pages to hash out the problem. I don't think a mere two weeks is enough to give people time to change their minds, though, especially in this crowd. One thing I notice is that despite dozens of regular contributors and hundreds overall, most Talk Page or Community Portal votes I've seen have less than 20 votes at the end. Many of these debates fly right under the radar. I'm relatively active here, but the Goldbug (IDW) chaos completely passed me by.

What about, when a Talk Page debate has clearly reached an impasse between <strike>obstinant</strike> strong-willed parties, a Vote is taken on the ''Main Page''? Some sort of easy-to-see box temporarily added to the Main Page, "above the fold" so that its visible to all visitors when they enter? It would be more noticeable than if the vote is hidden away on a single Talk Page people may or may not see. Something like ''"A [[Deadlock]] has arisen! Choose from the following choices: Should [[Goldbug (IDW)]] have the G1 toy on his page? Yes or No? (See the Goldbug (IDW) Talk Page for the full debate.)"''

I realize many debates won't be as simple as Yes or No, but if the debating parties agree in advance how to phrase the Voting Box, it could be a useful tool. --[[User:Xaaron|Xaaron]] 13:07, 10 February 2011 (EST)

:Yeah, wasn't really trying to restart that debate. Was bringing up questions about general character debates, as they seem to occur quite often. But other debates also bog down, so I recognize that my questions don't apply to those debates.--[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 13:35, 10 February 2011 (EST)

:I like the idea of keeping a debate in the regulars' faces until a decision has been reached by enough people (at least 20? 25?). Many debates I keep away from because I think they'll disappear anyway and my vote doesn't really matter <s>and I also can't deal all that well with the aggressive nature of most debates, making it actively a lose-only situation if I'd enter</s>. I'm not sure if others feel that way, but I imagine this would be a boost for all to participate. [[User:Geewunling|Geewunling]] 13:23, 10 February 2011 (EST)
::I absolutely disagree with the premise that people who don't care enough to read the argument should have it shoved in their face until they vote. AT MOST, we should mention it somewhere prominent, like the community portal. --[[User:Jimsorenson|Jimsorenson]] 18:53, 10 February 2011 (EST)
:::I agree that essentially putting a ballot on the front page is asking for trouble. You might get the dozens of votes you're looking for, but they'll all be uninformed gut reactions. One of the reasons these debates happen is that issues can be much more complicated and subtle than they seem at first glance. Plus one would hope that the reasoning behind the winning option would help develop our policies, but if the decisions are made by the majority of an explicitly uninformed mob, it's hard to glean any substantial precedent out of that.
:::But I think an approach like that ''could'' be combined with my "final statements" suggestion. Thinking out loud here: After a cooling-off period has been declared and a set amount of time has passed, anyone who wants to present a case can write up a defense of his or her preferred option. Those are all submitted to a neutral volunteer, who then posts them simultaneously on the relevant Talk page, and those become the voting choices. No replies are allowed, only votes. We put a notice up at least on the Community Portal, possibly on the Main Page, for another set time period, then close voting and go with the majority.
:::How does that sound? Like I said, thinking out loud, so suggestions are more than welcome.
:::- [[User:Jackpot|Jackpot]] 19:18, 10 February 2011 (EST)
::::Sounds pretty good to me. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 10:19, 11 February 2011 (EST)

==How featured articles are chosen==
On a side note, would a box like that also be useful to start a voting system for featured pages? Because I'm fine with Drift and Wreck-Gar and all others before, but I am absolutely clueless as to who chose them to become featured for what reasons. I'd like to see a better system for that. [[User:Geewunling|Geewunling]] 13:23, 10 February 2011 (EST)
: If there was a recently-completed article that's of respectable length, I choose it. The pool for featured articles is pretty damn small. Not many articles are finished, and the ones that are finished have usually already been Featured Articles already. Finished articles don't happen very frequently, so sometimes we find one that's close to completion near the end of a month and then push to finish it before the month is over. Sometimes we think a subject or a character is timely (like around BotCon, or before an episode or movie premiere) and push for that. If you want a heads up, Chris McFeely's [[Matrix of Leadership]] article is so totally March's. (I think Chris has the record for number of articles he's completed which have become featured.) --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 13:31, 10 February 2011 (EST)
: Long story short, if you want an article to be featured, finish it. That means photos for every toy and known merchandise, and storylinks (with summaries) to every piece of fiction they've appeared in. Behind the scenes information helps. The longer and more involved the article, the more appealing it is. Meaning, finishing an article for a Mini-Con who showed up in the background somewhere, or finishing an article for someone who doesn't have any illutrated appearances... these are probably not going to be featured. But people like Perceptor (G1) or Side Burn (RID) or High Wire (Armada) have enough about them to say to make an interesting featured article. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 13:36, 10 February 2011 (EST)
: "Long story short," my ass. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 13:37, 10 February 2011 (EST)
:: Have we done any episodes as Featured yet? I know the over-arching "Target 2006" article was chosen once. You'd think we could get, say [[Code of Hero]] up to that standard pretty quickly. [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 07:42, 11 February 2011 (EST)
:::I really think we need to get [[BotCon]] up to that standard. We're pretty close! --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 15:22, 11 February 2011 (EST)
:::[[B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.]] is a Featured article about an episode. [[User:Excise|Excise]] 00:00, 16 February 2011 (EST)

== Letterers ==
On images of comic pages, do we credit the ''letterers'' by placing the image in an "Image by Letterer Name" category? We've got a few contradictory examples around. [[User:JW|JW]] 15:32, 12 February 2011 (EST)
:Okay, three options: For images currently in categories like "Images by Mike Scott" (where Mike Scott is a letterer), we can:
:# Create the category and treat letterers just like artists, inkers, and colorists.
:# Instead place them in a "Images ''lettered'' by Mike Scott" category.
:# Remove the category, and not attempt to categorize images by letterer.
:I'm probably going to go with option 3 barring dissent. [[User:JW|JW]] 17:25, 16 February 2011 (EST)
::I added galleries to a few of the pages for letterers (eg [[Bill Oakley]], [[Peri Godbold]]) on the basis that lettering can make or [[:Image:Cryotekmrrghmraghmrugghagh.jpg|break]] a comic. As well as adding the text, the letterer has to pick where the balloons will go and place, them, so they do have a large degree of control over how the comic turns out. That said, I don't know that we need to categorise images by letterer. The original intention was [[:Category talk:Images by artist|not to]], but it looks like we ended up doing it anyway, and at least one template is set up to put images into category by letterer. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 18:44, 16 February 2011 (EST)

:I'd vote for option 3 as well.--[[User:MistaTee|MistaTee]] 22:02, 16 February 2011 (EST)
::I'm leaning towards option 3 myself. My reasoning is that even though letterers can have a large effect on a comic, I don't see too many people wanting to find every image lettered by a given letterer. The galleries, on the other hand, are useful for demonstrating the quality of an individual's work. So those should be used. While the obsessive in me thinks we should categorize images by every applicable characteristic, it's not realistic. I don't think it benefits us enough to go through all that work for categories that only a few people might find useful. --[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]] 01:09, 17 February 2011 (EST)
'Kay, I'm going to go with option 3. This may involve editing a template or two. [[User:JW|JW]] 10:35, 17 February 2011 (EST)

== Categories by toy size class? ==
Do we ''want'' the following categories?
 Leader class toy images
 Deluxe class toy images
 Voyager class toy images
 Scout class toy images
 They currently have a very few things in them (and could obviously have many more), but the cat' pages themselves have not been created. [[User:JW|JW]] 15:43, 12 February 2011 (EST)

:No. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 16:13, 12 February 2011 (EST)

::No. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 21:06, 15 February 2011 (EST)

:::As long as it's only the images and not the articles, I couldn't care less. [[User:Interrobang|—Interrobang]] 21:09, 15 February 2011 (EST)

:There's also a "Legends class toy images" category which has 90 images in it. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 21:21, 15 February 2011 (EST)

::Legends are kind of an exception because they're a different scale/play pattern, as evidenced by the upcoming Cyberverse stuff. Scouts-on-up are ''generally'' meant to intermingle, Legends aren't. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 07:41, 16 February 2011 (EST)

:I could go either way on this one. It's a lot of work to fill these categories out, but the ability to find all the Deluxe figures easily intrigues me. If we did institute this I would also think that this would be the proper place to put the "exclusive figure" categories and such. Basically, any category that pertains to a particular toy and not to the character could be tagged to the image of that toy. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 23:08, 15 February 2011 (EST)

:I've been doing them because I saw other people do them. I don't mind either way. --[[User:FFN|FFN]] 05:51, 16 February 2011 (EST)
So, counting me as "no", that's three "no"s, an "I don't care", an "I don't mind either way", and an "either way/intrigues me". I think we're leaning toward "no". Final comments? [[User:JW|JW]] 07:08, 16 February 2011 (EST)

::I guess it's "no" or at least "not the time"? (Though I'm "I'm not sure".) --'''[[User:TX55|TX55]]'''''[[User talk:TX55|TALK]]'' 11:21, 16 February 2011 (EST)
:::I've gone with "no", and added a note to that effect to [[Transformers_Wiki:Images]]. [[User:JW|JW]] 14:27, 16 February 2011 (EST)

Ha ha, none of the no's have actually said why they've said no. Such super debating skills that. [[Special:Contributions/213.105.226.130|213.105.226.130]] 17:44, 22 February 2011 (EST)

== Undo Redone? ==

I just undid an edit, but instead of getting the automatic "Reverting edit ##### by User1 to last version by User2" summary, that box was blank. In addition, above the edit window were the captions "Current revision" and "Your text", side by side, as if there's meant to be one editable text window under each. Instead, there was only one such text window beneath them, stretching across under both captions. The page is protected so only registered users can edit it, so that MIGHT have something to do with the problem, though I doubt it.--[[User:Apcog|Apcog]] 20:28, 19 February 2011 (EST)
:It doesn't automatically create an edit summary if you're doing an undo on multiple revisions, so that might be it. Not sure about the other part - it's always shown me a diff at the top of the screen when I've done an undo. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 20:54, 19 February 2011 (EST)
::Okay, blank edit summary's explained, because it was indeed a group of 3-4 edits being undone all at once. Still inexplicable is the fact that I just checked the page history; it didn't even accept my Undo! LoneGamer78 ended up doing it instead. I've noticed some sluggish response from the site over the past fifteen minutes or so, perhaps whatever caused that was a factor? It may never be known...--[[User:Apcog|Apcog]] 21:02, 19 February 2011 (EST)
:::Is it possible she just beat you to it by a few moments and thus there was an edit conflict? I've had that happen sometimes, and so there's no diff shown because now the page already matches what you were going to change it to. (Uh, does that make sense?) --[[Special:Contributions/67.252.49.31|67.252.49.31]] 22:17, 19 February 2011 (EST)
::::Can't rule it out entirely, but edit conflicts usually announce themselves as such, and they DO have two distinct editable text windows: one showing the text as it stands after someone edited while you were typing, the other as it would have been if you'd edited without interference.--[[User:Apcog|Apcog]] 22:24, 19 February 2011 (EST)
:::::A few times I've "undone" an edit, but someone else beat me to it. It doesn't seem to show an edit conflict if that happens, probably because the change is identical to the previous one. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 23:06, 19 February 2011 (EST)

== Banner ad question. ==
The small side box ad (the one that's still a free-floater) currently has an ad for some webcomic. Which is fine, but one of the panels has GIANT ERECT LADY NIPPLES ALL OVER THE PLACE. I'm not offended by it, but it's, uh, something. [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 06:39, 21 February 2011 (EST)
:Ah, yeah. That'd be because it's an NSFW comic called DarkBrain which is read aloud by "adult film star Tabitha Stevens." -- [[User:Semysane|Semysane]] 16:50, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:: If people don't like it, I can yank it. I didn't think its THO was that objectionable, apparently, when I okayed it. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 17:27, 22 February 2011 (EST)

== help ==

I cant find the latest talk please help([[User:Manmcmanman|Manmcmanman]] 15:44, 21 February 2011 (EST))
:What do you mean by the latest talk? -- [[User:SFH|SFH]] 15:54, 21 February 2011 (EST)

== Revenge of the Fallen Online Games ==

So, I figured I might as well finish up the online game write-ups for Revenge of the Fallen online games, in case they go offline once Dark of the Moon comes out. But, hot damn, do I ever suck. Which means I'm not very likely to get pics of later levels in some of these games. I'll be trying to add in whatever I can to these sections, but some help would be much appreciated! --[[User:Ascendron|Ascendron]] 14:57, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:I can have a go at getting some screencaps tonight if no one else does. Which games in particular? I noticed some of them are already gone a couple of weeks ago, as Hasbro has redirected most of the monkeybar site they were on to the Hub site, which doesn't have them. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 17:58, 22 February 2011 (EST)
::Well, personally I'm having difficulty getting pics of every character's sprite from Battle for the Matrix. I'm currently working on The RPMs Devastator game. --[[User:Ascendron|Ascendron]] 18:41, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:::I got caps of everyone except the Fallen, haven't uploaded them yet though. I couldn't get the [[flying drone]]s to transform either. They just seem to fly around wildly in robot mode. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 04:56, 23 February 2011 (EST)
::::Dang! The Fallen is the only one I can't get to either! And yeah, the flying drones are near-impossible to get a screencap of. I got a couple mid-transformation, but that's it. If any of your pics are better than mine, feel free to replace them. --[[User:Ascendron|Ascendron]] 13:55, 23 February 2011 (EST)
:::::I went and got pics from Flight of the Bumblebee and Allspark Highway. Unfortunately I can't get pics of Ratchet from the later since robovision isn't up anymore! Darn! I'll upload them later. --[[User:Ascendron|Ascendron]] 14:45, 23 February 2011 (EST)

== Countdown? ==

Sorry if this isn't the right place to put this, but a while back ago, there was a countdown to ROTF on the Main Page. Perhaps a countdown to DOTM would now be appropriate as it's so close?

Also, I'd appreciate it if someone could tell me how to program/insert/design/<insert verb here> a countdown on a wiki page (it's for another wiki). What template or whatever does that use? I'd be very grateful if someone could tell me.

Again, terribly sorry if this is the wrong place to say this...
 - [[User:Queso|¡Usa El Queso!]] 4:02 PM, 22 February 2011 A.D.
:Dark of the Moon countdown based on Derik's ROTF code: {{#expr: ({{ #time: U |July 1, 2011}} - {{ #time: U }})/86400 round 0}} days until [[Dark of the Moon (film)|TF: Dark of the Moon]]! --[[User:Abates|abates]] 19:05, 22 February 2011 (EST)

==When to omit "Transformers" from an article title==
So I got a hankering to remove the "Transformers" from [[Transformers: War for Cybertron]] and [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)]] and all of their related pages, since unlike [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]], there's just no good reason to break policy for them. There are [[Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|other video games that we drop the "TF" from]], and if "Prime" is too common a term, then what about "[[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]" or "[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]"?

But then I decided to check out [http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Special:Search?ns0=1&search=Transformers&searchx=Search&limit=500 which pages use "Transformers" in their titles,] and holyyyyyyyy crap. I copy-pasted here all the ones I found that I thought could lose the "Transformers" without negating their meaning, destroying a phrase, or otherwise severely damaging the title. (I added an "(etc.)" to each one that represents a series of identically-worded pages):

[[Transformers: War for Cybertron]] (etc.) 
[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)]] (etc.) 
[[Transformers Animated (franchise)]] (etc.) 
[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)]] 
[[1-2-3 Transformers]] 
[[Transformers: Mystery of Convoy]] 
[[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)]] (etc.) 
[[Transformers Legends]] 
[[Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)]] (etc.) 
[[Transformers: The Headmasters (video game)]] 
[[The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth]] 
[[Transformers Armada: The Energon Within]] 
[[The Transformers Collection]] 
[[Transformers Quest]] 
[[Transformers Key Recovery: The Game]] 
[[Transformers Power Up: The Game]] 
[[Transformers Cybertron: Primus Unleashed]] 
[[Transformers PD Type]] 
[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]] 
[[Transformers Generations]] 
[[Transformers: Rise of the Chevy Autobots]] 
[[Transformers Annual 1990]] (etc.) 
[[The Transformers Sticker Book (1986)]] 
[[Beast Wars: Transformers (video game)]] 
[[Transformers: The Junior Novel]] 
[[Look and Find Transformers]] 
[[Transformers Coloring and Activity Book and Crayons]] 
[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]] 
[[Transformers: Learn to Count Activity Tablet]] 
[[Transformers The Reusable Sticker Book]] 
[[Transformers: The Movie Storybook]] 
[[Transformers: The Movie Guide]] 
[[Transformers Prime Time]] 
[[Transformers Mix & Match]] 
[[Transformers Comic issue 1]] (etc.) 
[[Transformers The Game (console)]] (etc.) 
[[Transformers Autobots/Decepticons]] 
[[Transformers History of Music 1984-1990]] 
[[Transformers: Mosaic]] 
[[Transformers Name Generator]] 
[[Transformers Battle Universe]] 
[[The Transformers: Binaltech & TF Collection Complete Guide]] 
[[The Transformers Comic Magazine]] 
[[Transformers Pop-Up Book]] 
[[Transformers Visualworks]] 
[[Transformers Tooth Tunes]] 
[[Transformers Tapestry]] 
[[Transformers Song Universe]] 
[[Transformers G1: Awakening]] 
[[Transformers Armada Annual 2004]] 
[[Transformers: Beginnings]] 
[[Transformers the Movie water]] 
[[Transformers: The Score]] 
[[Transformers: The Thirteen]] 
[[Transformers: War Within Omnibus]] 
[[Transformers: The Ride]] 
[[Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game]] 
[[Beast Wars Transformers Jigsaw Puzzle]] 
[[Transformers: Kōtetsu no Yūki]] 
[[The Transformers Continuum: The Definitive Chronology]] 
[[The Transformers: Bumblebee]] 
[[Transformers Adventures]] (etc.) 
[[Top Trumps: Transformers]] 
[[Transformers Armada: Race For The Mini-con Robots]] 
[[Transformers Armada: The Battle Begins]] 
[[Transformers Armada: Secret of the Star Saber]] 
[[Transformers Armada: The Autobots Strike Back]] 
[[Transformers Galaxy Force: Sound Pack 1]] 
[[Transformers Galaxy Force: Sound Pack 2]] 
[[Transformers Theme Song Collection]] 
[[The Transformers: Drift]] 
[[Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Annual 2010]] 
[[Transformers CyberToy]] 
[[Transformers Hall of Fame]] 
[[The Transformers: Ironhide]] 
[[Transformers Evo.]] 
[[The Transformers Legends of the Microns: Sound of Evolution Vol. 1]] (etc.) 
[[Transformers Music Matrix]] 
[[Transformers Ultimate Guide]] 
[[Transformers Ultimate Guide: Revenge]] 
[[Transformers: Battle for the Matrix]] 
[[Transformers: Coloring and Activity Book and Stickers]] 
[[Transformers: Activity Book and Gel Pen]] 
[[Transformers: Sector 7]] 
[[Transformers: Cybertron Adventures]] 
[[Transformers Cards]] 
[[Transformers RPMs: Devastator's Demise]] 
[[Cadbury's Transformers Card Game]] 
[[Ridiculous Legend Transformers]] 
[[Famicom How-to Manga: Transformers: Mystery of Convoy]] 
[[Transformers Caramel]] 
[[Transformers Comic-Magazin]] (etc.) 
[[Transformers Extra Comic-Sonderheft]] (etc.) 
[[Transformers Super-Auswahlband]] (etc.) 
[[Transformers: Energon Valentine's cards]] 
[[The Transformers: Infestation issue 1]] 
[[The Transformers: Infestation issue 2]]

For many of them, the choice to keep or drop the "TF" seems intuitive, and many others are in a grey area... but I'll be damned if I can put into words any kind of coherent rationale. I'm seriously thinking that we've outgrown the "drop extraneous 'TF's" rule. Back when we only had a few hundred pages, it made a certain kind of sense: Why bother writing out stuff like "Transformers: Generation 2" when just "Generation 2" is equally meaningful to everyone here? Besides, isn't every page about Transformers by default? But in the past five years, both the wiki and the subject matter have exploded, and with both so many fine-grain, obscure topics being covered and so much not-strictly-TF content we've added, I don't think the policy serves us anymore. It doesn't make things simple; it makes things arbitrary and unpredictable.

So unless someone can sum up our policy in a way that makes a lick of sense, I propose: '''If a topic has an official title, then that should be used in full as the title of the relevant articles.''' Period. So [[Transformers: War for Cybertron]] and [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)]] would stay right where they are, and yes, [[Generation 2 (franchise)]] would become "Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)", [[Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)]] would become "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)", etc. I don't think we'd need to make that change happen instantly, but we could slowly propagate it as people feel inclined to. I also think we can keep the parenthetical abbreviations and in-sentence references as short as they currently are; this is only about the titles.

Thoughts?

- [[User:Jackpot|Jackpot]] 18:43, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:What are these "Transformers"? -[[Special:Contributions/75.185.113.106|75.185.113.106]] 18:58, 22 February 2011 (EST)
::I've always been for having the full name as article titles. (Maybe also drop the "(franchise)" disambigs, because durr, but that's other topic.) Not only do we keep the full name of the subject, it aids us in disambiguation (it's easier to have smaller sets of "Transformers: Cybertron" and "Cybertron" than a large set of just "Cybertron"). [[User:Interrobang|—Interrobang]] 19:22, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:::I don't have an opinion on adding or removing "Transformers:" from articles (other than that adding it would perhaps make articles and reading unnecessarily longer - right now, I hate having to type out "Transformers Animated" before "The AllSpark Almanac"), but I do oppose removing (franchise). If there's one thing I hate, it's when there's one 'most important' page that goes undisamb'ed (like Spark) and you'll have to go through a lot of trouble to ensure it all is meant to link there. When I cleaned up the Lithone links for planet and species, nearly every single one link directed the wrong way. Same for D-HQ, AllSpark vs Allspark, Junkion, Black Friday, etc. So, keep (franchise). [[User:Geewunling|Geewunling]] 01:49, 23 February 2011 (EST)
::::I don't mind losing Transformers when it the prefix in a title that's the form of Transformers: <subtitle>, as in that case the subtitle itself is more the actual official name and "Transformers" is just tacked on as an extra identifier.
::::But in some of those things, Transformers is, well, a vital part of the thing's actual name. I mean, for instance, the Club's full official name ''is'' "Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club", so removing "Transformers" from it would be incorrect. --[[Special:Contributions/67.252.49.31|67.252.49.31]] 03:00, 23 February 2011 (EST)
:::::I don't think that distinction is clear enough to be workable anymore. Looking at that list, tons of them I have no idea which side of the divide they'd fall on. For instance, "[[Transformers Legends]]" is the proper title of the book; that's how it would be listed in any store or library, but for ''our'' purposes the "TF" is as extraneous as the one that we omit from [[Energon (comic)]] or [[Dinobots Strike Back]]. The "for our purposes" thing is so often so questionable... like, what would that dictate for [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]? It's definitely a subtitle situation like you described, but there are lots of non-TF "Ultimate Guide"s published by the same company... but we would never cover them, so for our purposes is the "TF" still redundant?
:::::I agree with Geewunling that it would be annoying to have to type out longer titles (though readability should be unchanged, since I think we could still truncate in-sentence references). But right NOW it's annoying that our lack of a coherent policy is making everything increasingly unpredictable. We're seeing a lot of creep in the form of stuff like [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)]] and for some reason video games. So I don't even know what should be "corrected" anymore or how to decide the matter when creating a new article.
:::::- [[User:Jackpot|Jackpot]] 13:58, 23 February 2011 (EST)
::::::The annoyance of editors doesn't really enter into my consideration; the wiki is ultimately for the readers, not our convenience. If we have to do some more work for the best presentation, so be it. —Interrobang, not logged in