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Cyber Key

2011-05-01T05:46:06Z

75.36.170.198: /* Types and Powers */

{{disambig2|personal power-up energy storage devices|the four mystical objects|Cyber Planet Key}}
{{Disambig2|the items that are referred to in Japan as "Force Chips"|the US fiction item|Force Chip}}

:''Cyber Keys are personal devices from the [[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]] portion of the [[Unicron Trilogy]].''
'''Cyber Keys''' are devices that give Transformers power-up abilities. Each one contains a fragment of the power of a [[Cyber Planet Key]]. A Transformer can use one to boost their abilities for a duration of time before the Cyber Key is used up.

It may look like the Transformers have just the one Key per person, but there are actually ''countless'' Cyber Keys throughout space and the Transformers summon a different one each time: their awesome power burns bright for just a short while, and is then used up. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime}}

:''Japanese name:'' '''Force Chip'''

==Fiction==
===''Cybertron'' animated series===

{{bigquote|Is that going to happen ''every'' time we need extra power?|[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], ''[[Hidden]]''}}

The Cyber Keys are a small piece of the divine power of [[Primus]] {{storylink|Haven}} and are even capable of turning up if you invoke Primus' name. {{storylink|Invasion}} That said, even ''Primus himself'' has used Cyber Keys to boost his power. {{storylink|Titans}}

The Cyber Keys first turned up when [[Vector Prime]] used '''CYBER KEY POWER!!''' to drive back [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]; he then gave the Autobot team the power to summon Keys of their own (both [[Earth]] Keys and [[Autobrand]] Cybertron Keys, depending on the bot). The Autobots had not seen or heard of the Cyber Keys before. {{storylink|Haven}} Soon after, the Keys showed the ability (much to Vector Prime's surprise) to turn up ''before'' the Transformers called them forth. The Autobots considered that this might happen any time they needed extra power. {{storylink|Hidden}}

Soon, the Decepticons gained some from [[To sell toys|somewhere]]. [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] had an Earth Key, [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] had Decepticon-branded Cybertron ones. {{storylink|Landmine (episode)|Landmine}}

The descendents of the ancient Transformer colonists have easy access to Cyber Keys: several of the Earth-based Transformers like[[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]] wielded Earth Cyber Keys {{storylink|Trap}}, while almost ''everyone'' on [[Velocitron]] {{storylink|Space}}, [[Jungle Planet]] {{storylink|Search}}, and [[Gigantion]] {{storylink|Giant}} seemed to have access to them. Why the ancients had Cyber Keys but the modern-day Cybertronians didn't (and had no record of them) is unknown.

As first noted by [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] {{storylink|Space}}, different Cyber Keys on different worlds have different colours. Due to the effect of the Prime's Matrix and [[Rhisling|sword]], the original Autobot team had different coloured Keys. Velocitron, Jungle Planet, and Gigantion, by comparison, all had red, green, and mauve (respectively) Keys. Red Alert also theorised that different Keys would produce different results, and that they could [[reformat]] Autobots. {{storylink|Savage (episode)|Savage}}

Hot Shot was somehow able to summon a Velocitron Cyber Key through his [[Burning Justice|desire to go even faster]], though he initially couldn't handle the power. {{storylink|Speed}} On [[Jungle Planet]], [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] could upgrade his beast mode into a three-headed form with his Key power, and used it to (successfully) intimidate Megatron. Contact with the Keys would also reformat vehicular Transformers into beast-mode ones; feats of extreme bravery and courage, such as [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Overhaul's]], could cause a foreign robot to contact the [[Cyber Planet Key]] and be granted access to this world's Keys. {{storylink|Detour (episode)|Detour}} When Starscream was wielding the Omega Lock's power, Megatron's sheer rage was able to tap into it and Earth's Cyber Planet Key, giving him a new Cyber Key that unlocked a hideously powerful firearm. {{storylink|Revelation (episode)|Revelation}}

Once revived by the combined powers of the [[Omega Lock]], [[burning justice]], and some energy... wave... ''thing'' from Cybertron, Red Alert, [[Scattorshot]] and Hot Shot were given new bodies; with these came new ''Cybertron'' Planet Keys, marked with a prominent Autobot insignia. {{storylink|Critical}} This same Key is used by Primus himself {{storylink|Titans}}, so if you're a Decepticon I guess God hates you.

Agents of [[Planet X]], such as [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], wield orange Cyber Keys with prominent Decepticon insignias on them. As they're not actually Decepticons (though they started hanging with them), it's not clear why the insignia is there. {{storylink|Ship}}

===''Timelines''===
{{stub}}
{{storylink|Force of Habit}}

===Types and Powers===

Each Cyber Key derives its power from the [[Cyber Planet Key]] of its respective world (in the case of Cybertron's keys, their power comes from Primus himself). A Transformer does not have to be a planetary native to tap into the power of that world's Cyber Planet Key, nor do they have to be on-planet to call upon its power. Although visually distinct, the individual types of keys do have any kind of theme in the powers and abilities they bestow upon the Transformers who summon them; they all simply unlock a hidden weapon or supply a power boost for an existing one. These weapons are mostly fairly ordinary (if powerful) lasers, projectile launchers and melee weapons, but some Transformers have more esoteric accoutrements unlocked, like forcefields, high-power wind-fans or speed-enhancing "accele-wings".

*Cybertron's Cyber Keys are clear with silver detailing, with either an Autobot or Decepticon symbol in the middle. activates massive firepower
*The Cyber Keys of [[Velocitron]] are red with silver accents and decorated with the symbol of a speedometer needle. In addition to the inhabitants of Velocitron, [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] also uses a Velocitron key. activates somthing to clear debris, arrow dynamacy, or a simple power exhilaration.
*[[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]]'s Cyber Keys are green with a silver border, marked with a clawed paw print. After transforming into Leobreaker, Overhaul gained a new Jungle Planet Cyber Key. unleashes a perk that the beast mode has ie. lion=claw or wolf=fangs.
*[[Earth]]'s Cyber Keys are blue with silver edging and bear the image of a sunrise. Several of the Autobots and Decepticons from Cybertron used Earth Cyber Keys, including Landmine, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]], [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] and [[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]], as did the ancient Autobots and Decepticons who came to the planet ages ago. activates a hidden weapon ie. [[Landmine (Cybertron)|gust blade from a tire]].
*[[Gigantion]]'s Keys are purple with silver detailing, bearing a gear symbol. enhances equipment.
*The keys employed by the inhabitants of [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]] are orange in color with silver accents and bearing a Decepticon symbol (despite the unaligned nature of these Transformers). These keys presumably derive from the power of Unicron, the secret benefactor of the Planet X survivors, given that the planet was not a colony world. activates some sort of mini combination.
[[image:Combatron Cyber Key.jpg|right|100px|thumb|A Combatron key.]]
*The planet [[Combatron (planet)|Combatron]] has red keys with silver metal frames that resemble a grenade (complete with pull ring) and a symbol resembling a mushroom cloud. unknown effect.

Red Alert was the first to notice the different color-coding of the Cyber Keys and further speculated that the unique keys employed by Optimus Prime and Vector Prime were created due to a normal Cyber Key being affected by the objects of power the two wielded, namely Optimus Prime's [[Matrix of Leadership]] and [[Rhisling]], Vector Prime's sword. Although Red Alert did not comment on the unique key wielded by Megatron, presumably his is created through the power of the [[Armor of Unicron]] that he wears.

==Toys==
===Cybertron===
[[Image:JunglePlanet_CyberKey.JPG|thumb|right|300px|A Cyber Key of [[Jungle Planet]].]]
Just about every single toy came with at least one key, the only real exceptions being the Mini-Cons. In the US, the keys had [[Cyber Key Codes|codes printed on the back]] for an interactive feature on Hasbro’s Transformers toy website. Takara’s website did not incorporate this feature however, leaving the Japanese ''Galaxy Force'' keys (referred to in ''Galaxy Force'' as "Force Chips" along with the greater "Planet Force") without the code tampo. The toy packaging refers to all keys as [[Cyber Planet Key|Cyber Planet Keys]]. This differs from the cartoon which only refers to the four colony keys as Cyber Planet Keys, and the other, everyday keys as simply [[Cyber Key]]s.

===Other toylines===
Cyber Planet Keys (most often simply called "Keys") were included in later toylines with toys that were [[Redeco|redecos]] from the Cybertron line. There is presumably no cosmic technology underlying them. Examples include the [[BotCon 2006]] exclusive ''[[Timelines (fiction)|Timelines]]'' promo toys, which came with [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] keys, and several [[Transformers (2007)|Movie]] toys that featured [[Sector Seven]] keys.

==Notes==
* In "[[The Dark Heart of Sandokan]]" and "[[Force of Habit]]", the Cyber Keys are treated somewhat differently than they were in the ''Cybertron'' cartoon. Here, they are depicted as tangible objects that must be manufactured from crystals, while they are portrayed as energy-ish manifestations of a Transformer's [[Burning Justice|burning heart of justice]] in the cartoon.
*[[Brushguard]] is of the opinion that Cyber Keys are more powerful than [[Energon star|Energon chip]]s. {{storylink|Force of Habit}}

==External link==
*[http://snakas.web.infoseek.co.jp/cybertron/forcechip.htm Force Chip catalog] (Japanese)

[[Category:Cybertron]]
[[Category:Technology]]

Size changing

2011-05-01T05:33:26Z

75.36.170.198: /* Note */

[[Image:Soundwave_shrinks.gif|right|thumb|250px|A little known fact, but [[Wikipedia:Wasp (comics)|Wasp]] is Soundwave's cousin.]]

Although [[Scale|scale has never exactly been a deep concern]] when it comes to Transformers, given that the series has featured F-15 jets not much larger than sports cars, it is not uncommon for certain Transformers to clearly and deliberately '''change size''' when transforming from one mode to the next. The methods employed for this startling alteration in physicality have differed from timeline to timeline, and have long been a heavily debated aspect of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] technology.

==Examples==
Note that many of the Transformers named here have also transformed at certain times ''without'' shrinking or enlarging, retaining an alternate mode to scale with their robot mode. It doesn't help mass-shifting logic though. If anything it only results in ''more'' questions.

===Shrinking===
[[Image:DarknessRising3-Arceesizechange.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Where does she ''keep'' it all?]]
The most famous examples of size-changing Transformers are [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], who becomes a pistol, and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], who both become stereo cassette players. These Transformers visibly shrink as they transform, assuming one of two sizes — one that allows another Transformer to wield or operate them, and another, even smaller size that allows them to be transported in car-alts or used by humans.

Other shrinking Transformers include [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and the [[Mini-Cassette]]s.

[[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]]'s ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers Universe]]'' bio notes that he has a defect in his transformation circuitry, which often results in him not being able to complete his transformation by not growing back to his [[robot mode]]'s full size.

One of [[Deep Cover]]'s [[ability|abilities]] is being able to shrink to 1/40th his size for brief periods of time.

Shrinking into altmode is a property also shared by [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|''Animated'']] [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] and [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Prime'']] [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]]. They both transform from motorcycles, which are about the size of a human, into full-sized Autobot warriors. In Prowl's case, he grows to be bigger than [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], who's a car.

===Enlarging===
Conversely, Transformers have been known to grow in size when assuming their [[Alternate mode|altmodes]] — the most prominent example is surely [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], whose space shuttle mode could become large enough to convey a whole contingent of Decepticon warriors, and even allow [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] to form inside him. Similarly, [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] transforms from a robot of roughly average size (occasionally depicted as somewhat tall, but never ''huge'') into a jet and then into an entire aircraft carrier, of the type used to transport '''dozens''' of jets. Other Transformers that enlarge in such a manner also generally do so for the purposes of transporting others; they include [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]]. [[Combiner|Combiners]] are often larger in their combined form than their robot modes would otherwise indicate - in fact, in the episode "[[Chaos (episode)|Chaos]]", [[Predaking]] is explicitly shown to enlarge after his combination is complete. In the original animated series many of the Transformers arguably enlarged or shrank in vehicle mode to a lesser extent, this is most notable among groups such as the [[Seeker (body-type)|Decepticon]] [[Conehead|jets]] and [[Mini Vehicle|minibots]], whose altmodes [[Scale|could not possibly turn into robots that are the size they are depicted otherwise]]. Whether this was truly intended to indicate actual size changes, was merely "lazy animation", or was simply a stylistic choice designed to emphasise the awesome stature of robot-mode Cybertronians, is a matter of individual opinion.

[[Magnificus (G1)|Magnificus]] has a matter-enlarging scope, which he used to make [[Ga'mede]] fit in in the macroverse.

===Implicit size changing===
[[Image:MakeHoistHuffer.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Mass displacement my boron compressor.]]
Transformers that act as transport for other Transformers often implicitly change size to do so. However, size changing is rarely explicitly depicted in these cases. Instead, the following method is used: A character such as [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] transforms in-frame from robot to shuttle with no visible expansion of size relative to his surroundings. Cut. In the following shot his fellow Decepticons are shown running into frame, suddenly relatively tiny in stature so that they can board the shuttle. Although Astrotrain has not been shown to actually grow, one has to infer that this is more likely than that all his confederates have individually shrunk.

The same change-in-scale-via-implicit-size-changing is used with [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and other characters used as transport. For example, in the episode "[[Make Tracks]]", [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], who is depicted as one of the larger Autobots in robot mode, is shown riding inside [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], a Minibot whose truck mode is usually depicted as being smaller than Optimus Prime's. So either Huffer is extremely large in that scene, or Hoist is suddenly the size of a human.

(The other explanation is that the animators simply hoped no one would notice the sudden change in scale. Since ''Transformers'' is usually targeted at kids, there's probably some truth to this.)

===Pretenders===
Although the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original American cartoon]] did not feature any [[Pretender|Pretenders]], the Japanese-only continuity did, in their series ''[[Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]''. Here the Pretenders did not have outer shells so much as ill-defined holistic transformations which explicitly involved size-changing, allowing the Autobots to convincingly pass themselves off as humans. Also, Autobot Pretenders' shells are able to perform size changing in the ''[[Super-God Masterforce (manga)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' manga. The Decepticons, by comparison, chose to retain their gigantic proportions when in Pretender-mode.

Although never depicted in any of their actual fiction, [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' encyclopedia stated that Pretender shells use shrinking technology to achieve the ''[[Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|Masterforce]]''-like capacity to pass the wearer off as a real human (or other small lifeform of choice). (Intriguingly, the profile also obliquely implies that Pretender technology would later lead to the development of the faux-organic beast modes of the [[Beast Era]].)

==Explanations==
Although size-changing has been evident in Transformers from the very beginning, the original animated series and comic books never address the topic, and it was regarded as simply being the way of things. Fandom debate on the topic has seemingly inspired later fiction to offer varying explanations on how it functions.

===Dreamwave===
[[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] offered two explanations for size-changing within its continuity.

The first, to explain enlarging, was '''parts compression''' – the notion that the Transformers in question, such as Astrotrain and [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], had many dense layers of armor in robot mode, which then slid out, expanding to create a much larger, but less-strongly-armored vehicle mode. Fans have referred to this as the "origami Transformers" explanation, and it appeared in their ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' encyclopedia.

The second explanation, to justify shrinking, was '''mass conversion'''. This method put it that Transformers like Soundwave were genetically endowed with the ability to transform not simply their bodies, but their entire molecular structure. This ability, not under their conscious control, only activates when they transform, shifting their atoms according to a pre-determined schematic.

===IDW===
[[Image:Massdisplacement.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Shrinky-dink.]]
[[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[Escalation (IDW)|Escalation]]'' sees Megatron employ a '''mass-displacement sequence''', physically discarding a portion of his bodily mass to allow himself to shrink to a human-scaled pistol of appropriate weight and density. What with E equalling mc², the loss of this amount of mass (shunted to an undisclosed location in space and time) results in a volatile energy discharge, requiring bystanders to step away lest they be injured by the forces released - not that Megatron would care.

Due to the energy shortage (and seeming near-total depletion of Transformers' primary fuel source, [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]]) caused by their war, mass displacement hasn't been commonplace for a very long time. Since it requires a huge amount of energy, the technology had practically vanished until the discovery of [[Ore-13]] on [[Earth]].

===2007 movie===
The creators of the [[Transformers (2007)|2007 live-action movie]] explicitly avoided including any Transformers who could change size, wishing to avoid the necessary suspension of disbelief. Therefore, any observed [[scale]] problems are genuine scale problems. (And there are a few, most notably human-sized [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]]'s head turning into a tiny cell phone.) That said, size-changing technology clearly exists in ''some'' form in the movie continuity, as [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] somehow shrinks the [[AllSpark]] down to a manageable size and mass. Thus far, there's no evidence this trick can be applied to anything except the AllSpark.

===Fandom explanations===
[[Image:No mass shifting here.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Just when you thought you had it all figured out...]]
The issue of shrinking and enlarging was, in the early days of the online Transformers fandom, a frequently debated subject. The Transformers were clearly displacing their mass, to allow their shrunken forms to be operable – so where was that mass going? The postulated answer to this question was the invention of "[[subspace]]", the void of extradimensional space between realities. Subspace proved a handy answer to various other questions as well - see the concept's own article for details. IDW's "mass displacement" rationale essentially ''is'' the subspace explanation, without actually using the term.

And hey, if any of that doesn't grab you, a [[Beorht|wizard]] did it.

==Note==
When you see a character's size is [[:Image:Tinybluestreak.jpg|smaller]] [[:Image:Huge Ironhide and Small Ratchet.jpg|than]] [[:Image:CarnageMiniBlaster.jpg|usual]], well, it's just [[Animation error|a technical issue]].

[[Category:Technology]]

another theory is that it is Cybertronian technology.