Alternate mode

2012-03-12T01:44:32Z

67.181.16.77: /* Fiction */

An '''alternate mode''' (commonly shortened to "'''altmode'''," "'''alt mode'''," or "'''alt-mode'''," also known as a '''"trans-form"''', a '''"transform"''' or a '''"changeform"''') is a term used to describe a Transformer's non-robot form, whether it be vehicle, animal, or otherwise. Various, more specific, terms are also sometimes used—vehicle mode, gun mode, tank mode, etc.

Some Transformers don't have a humanoid form, so in those special cases, the altmode is perceived to be the mode which is more geared towards utility or disguise while their [[robot mode]] is the one geared more towards interaction with other Transformers. For example, for the G1 characters [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], their animal forms are their primary mode, and the cassettes their alternate modes. Even [[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]], who transform from cassettes to vehicles, would be thought of as having a cassette alternate mode, as their vehicle forms—while not humanoid or animalistic—are at least self-mobile.

Transformers with more than two modes are usually considered to have multiple altmodes. ([[Punch (G1)|Punch/Counterpunch]] on the other hand has one altmode and two robot modes.)

In the cartoon episode "[[The Killing Jar]]," the Quintesson scientist refers to the Quintesson guard's transformation as his alternate mode, the first such use of this term in the official fiction.

The earliest recorded use in the fandom of the shortened term "alt mode" is an [[alt.toys.transformers]] post from March 1994.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/dcddbf79b470731c alt.toys.transformers, Fanfic: GoTP Plot Blurb!]</ref> From the context, it appears that the term was already understood by fans at that time, as the post's author does not explain what he means.

==Beast mode==
{{main|Beast mode}}

==Fiction==
When a Transformer takes on an alternate mode for the purpose of disguise, they are ''mimicking'' that form, they don't actually ''become'' what that form represents. They are "robots in disguise". To accomplish this, they physically alter their forms, and when necessary, use [[hologram]]s to help maintain the disguise illusion, especially when battle damage or lack of a driver might otherwise give them away.<ref>This is true across all [[continuities]]. [[Hasbro Q&A/August 2009: Answers]].</ref>
===Generation 1 cartoon===
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] reversed the polarity of his windshield to clear his vision during a bad thunderstorm, indicating he sees out of his windows. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 2}}
===Marvel comics continuity===
[[Getaway]] lost complete vision in his right headlights and partial vision in his left headlights during the [[Armornecking Incident]]. {{storylink|Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Getaway's ''Universe'' profile}}
===''Prime'' cartoon===
Neither [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] nor [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] had alternate modes when they first appeared on Earth. [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]], meanwhile, retained his Cybertronian alternate mode. In [[Crisscross]], [[Airachnid]] scanned [[Agent Fowler]]'s helicopter and escaped into the night.

==References==
<references/>

==See also==
*[[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes]]
*[[Popular beast alternate modes]]
*[[Non-vehicle non-beast alternate modes]]
*[[Licensed vehicle alternate modes]]

[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Toys]]
[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]

Break (BW)

2012-01-26T07:06:09Z

67.181.16.77:

{{factions|maximal}}
:''Break is a [[Maximal]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:Break.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Penguin Power!]]

For a little guy, '''Break''' (ブレイク ''Bureiku'') is full of endless and infective enthusiasm. Eager to prove himself and loving to fight, when he first heard that [[Big Convoy]] was selected to lead him and his teammates, his first action was to test Big Convoy’s power. He found out the hard way. Though a little rowdy, most of the time his heart is in the right place and he tends to be a big morale booster for his comrades. Break cares about his fellow [[Maximal|Maximals]] and will risk his own existence to keep them safe. He fights with an intense drive for victory as well as a competitive drive against fellow teammate, [[Cohrada]]. The two Maximals argue constantly over who’s the stronger soldier.

Break functions best in cold "arctic" environments. He has a secondary [[Targetmaster]] gun mode that can be used by other Maximals.

==Fiction==
===''Beast Wars Neo'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Junko Takeuchi]] (Japanese)

Break, along with [[Star Upper (BWII)|Star Upper]], was one of many beast-mode Maximals waiting to receive their mission assignments while Big Convoy was being chewed out by the upper brass. {{storylink|Big Convoy, Move Out}} Break and the rest of the Maximals later located an Angolmois capsule on the planet [[Solid]]. NAVI described the planet as warm and tropical, but much to Break's pleasure, it turned out instead to be a cold, frozen wasteland. He was sent out to scout alone and encountered a large creature named [[Gōmya]], who had an Angolmois capsule stuck to his tail. During a fight between Break and [[Dead End (BWN)|Dead End]] over possession of the capsule, Gōmya was knocked into the water, and Break had to choose between saving his friend or the capsule. He chose Gōmya, who had not only learned to swim, but had opened up his cold heart. With this change in attitude and Gōmya's separation from the capsule, the planet thawed out, freeing the creature's brother [[Dōmya]]. It also freed up the rest of the Maximals, who recaptured the capsule from a fleeing Dead End before sending him flying. Back on the ''[[Gung Ho]]'', [[Longrack (BWN)|Longrack]] berated Break for nearly letting the capsule go, but [[Vector Sigma]], speaking through Big Convoy, assured that Break did the right thing. {{storylink|Burning Heart Below Freezing}}

{{charstubfiction}}

===''Beast Wars Neo'' comic===
===IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics===
Break was part of the ''Gung Ho'' crew under [[Big Convoy]]'s leadership that defeated [[Magmatron]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook 1}}

Break serves as a member of the elite Maximal unit known as the [[Pack]]. After [[Razorbeast]] had prevented Magmatron from raising an army of Predacons using the protoforms of Earth's past The Pack were able to pick up his transwarp distress signal and [[Lio Convoy]] ordered them to man the ship and find Razorbeast. It appears Break is the navigator of the ship, and also enjoys trading verbal barbs with fellow Pack member [[Apache]]. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 2|The Ascending #2}}

[[Image:Break and Stampy.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Real helpful there, guys.]]
Upon arriving on prehistoric Earth, the rest of the Pack engaged the Predacons while Break apparently landed the ship. He later was seen, along with [[Stampy (BWN)|Stampy]], to be heckling the Maximals that were trying to restrain the [[Angolmois]]-infected Razorbeast. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 3|The Ascending #3}}

In the battle with [[Shokaract]], Break engaged his gun mode to give [[Mach Kick]] some extra firepower. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 4|The Ascending #4}}

{{-}}

==Toys==
===Beast Wars Neo===
[[Image:BWN-toy Break.jpg|right|300px|thumb|March of the Shellformers. Narrated by Morgan Freeman.]]
*'''Break''' (Basic, 1999)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-32'''
**''Accessories'': Missile

: Break transforms into an emperor penguin, and is probably the ultimate [[shellformer]]; you can remove every piece of penguin from him (the parts on his arms require a screwdriver, admittedly) and still have a fully-functional, four-limbed robot. He has a spring-loaded missile launcher attached to his right arm. He also his a third (highly questionable) "Buster Mode" cannon-form that can be held by larger Transformers, though it tends to fall apart due to mere gravity. Some fans have affectionately called this the "super-mega-poop-attack!", as the missile fires from the penguin's rear.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1999/Cybertron/Break/break.htm More information on Break at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|VsPack}}
[[Image:BWN-toy VS-32-toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Duel of the Shellformers]]
*'''Showdown in the Ocean: Break VS Dead End''' (Basic vs pack, 1999)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''VS-32'''
**''Accessories'': Missile

: Break was available both as an individual and in a versus-pack with [[Dead End (BWN)|Dead End]], another shellformer. The toys are identical to their individual-box releases.
{{--}}

==Notes==
* Break sounds exactly like [[wikipedia:Naruto Uzumaki|Naruto]]. While some similarity is to be expected since [[Junko Takeuchi]] provides the voice for both characters, Break's intonation, accent, and attitude are notably identical to the later character.

* The IDW comics depict Break's penguin mode as a rockhopper penguin, not an emperor. This is not an error ''per se'', since in-continuity this is Break's second beast mode. His teammate [[Stampy (BWN)|Stampy]] mentions that his new beast mode is "revamped", having held a vehicle mode between the events of IDW's version of ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' and the IDW comics.

* Break has a [[spark crystal]] in his gun.

[[Category:Beast Wars Neo Maximals]]
[[Category:Japanese-original Transformers]]
[[Category:Pack]]
[[Category:Targetmasters]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]

MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Alternate mode

Break (BW)