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Talk:Autoceptor

2025-07-31T03:52:33Z

RavenG: Created page with "After finally being able to see a scan of the Autoceptor in Transformers First Series Complete, it's quite clear that it was just a photodegraded blue version.~~~~"

After finally being able to see a scan of the Autoceptor in Transformers First Series Complete, it's quite clear that it was just a photodegraded blue version.[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] ([[User talk:RavenG|talk]]) 23:52, 30 July 2025 (EDT)

Autoceptor

2025-07-31T03:49:59Z

RavenG:

{{factions|autobot}}
:''Autoceptor is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] and [[Unicron Trilogy|Unicron Trilogy]] [[Continuity family|continuity families]] (via the [[Kronoform]] toyline).''

[[File:Autoceptor-boxart.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|So ''that's'' what autocepting looks like.]]
'''Autoceptor''' is one of several [[Transformer]]s who turn into wristwatches. As an Intelligence Officer, he uses his unassuming wristwatch mode to secretly gather intel for the Autobots. He prefers to maintain his cover as a timepiece, but when the stakes are high he will join the fray in either his [[robot mode|robot]] or [[alternate mode|supercar mode]].<ref>1985 Takara mail-away flyer</ref>

He has been described as a "time machine",<ref>Packaging description ("An incredible robot car time machine!")</ref> but his specific abilities in that regard remain unknown.

==Fiction==
[[File:HtF-AutoceptorandIronhidefightpirates.jpg|thumb|left]]
===''TransTech''===
Autoceptor somehow ended up at [[Axiom Nexus]] and was "processed". {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 1}}

===''Wings Universe''===
Autoceptor was hanging out at the [[Galadria Space Bridge Outpost]] in the [[Delta Prysmos Sector]] when a [[Tidal Wave (G1)|pirate ship]] appeared overhead and dropped a [[Intramoment Instabilizer|bomb]] on him and several other passersby. {{storylink|Hoist the Flag}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
Autoceptor was a member of [[Vector Prime]]'s [[Time Warrior (AVP)|Time Warriors]] from [[Aurex 404.11 Kappa]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/12}}

===Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
{{charstubfiction}}

{{--}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:G1-toy Autoceptor.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Better name: "Rush Hour".]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Autoceptor''' (''Kronoform'', 1984)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Watchband

: ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|The Transformers]]'' Autoceptor is a functional "5-Function" digital wristwatch (month, day, hour, minutes, seconds... hell of a range there, huh?) from Takara’s ''[[Kronoform]]'' line, revived as ''Transformers'' merchandise. He transforms from a robot to a car of undetermined model (possibly a Trans Am or Camaro), and has a third watch mode for when he was attached to the plastic watch-band. He came in at least four different colors; gray, black, blue, and red.

: In Japan, Autoceptor was available as a mail-away item, listed as part of the "Watchbot" subgroup (a subgroup of one, apparently). He cost 6 [[Robot Point]]s and 2500 yen. It is unknown what range of colors he was made in for this release; the order booklet shows both blue and black.
{{--}}

===''Chrono Label''===
[[File:Chrono Label mold.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Autoceptor''' (2010)}}</ul>

:Autoceptor's second toy was to be a working, transformable digital watch planned for release by [[TakaraTomy]] in cooperation with Japanese watch company [http://www.seahope.com/ Seahope]. He and his fellow ''[[Chrono Label]]'' watch [[Time Limit]] would have used the same mold, but their release was delayed indefinitely and was eventually cancelled. They would have displayed various emotions on their LED screens when the button to check the time was pressed, such as an annoyed face when used too often or a sleeping face when used at night. Autoceptor's LED color would have been red.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:Autoceptor pack.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.8]]
* The original toy's packaging and instructions spell the name as both "Autoceptor" and "Auto Ceptor" in varying places. "Autoceptor" looks slightly less weird.
* The ''Kronoform'' version packaging shows (almost) the entire ''Kronoform'' line for the United States in 1984. It appears that only three toys in this assortment were sold as ''Transformers'': Autoceptor, [[Deceptor]] (who is missing from the cross-sell) and [[Kaltor]]. ''Kronoform'' also released the "[[Scorpia (G2)|Scorpia]]" and "[[Autobot (G2)|Robot Time Machine]]" watches in 1984, two items that would finally see ''Transformers''-branded release almost a decade later during ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]''.
* The ''Kronoform'' packaging claims that Autoceptor "Transforms to hundreds of different vehicle and robotic forms." Riiiiiight.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Autoceptor''' (オートセプター ''Ōtoseputā'')

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Armada Autobots]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 toy Autobots]]
[[Category:Kronoform]]
[[Category:Mail order exclusives]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:TransTech Autobots]]
[[Category:Watches]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]

Talk:Windcharger (G1)

2025-07-31T03:37:48Z

RavenG: /* "Green-and-yellow" Lynsa Windcharger */

[http://www.tfarchive.com/creative/artwork/mk_windcharger.jpg This] must be Windcharger's art. But it's not official! Oh, the harshness of reality. I think we need to either get it published somewhere or ask Aaron Archer to approve it. Yeah.

I'm not obsessed. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 07:03, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

Jackpot's "Return to Sender"; very cool. That picture and WC's UK team-up with Ravage(toy-based model and all) make him a measurable 175% better than the average Minibot. I still remember the 'Windcharger gets crushed by sliding doors' ending from one of the Find Your Fate books...--[[User:Autobus Prime|Autobus Prime]] 17:08, 12 May 2006 (UTC)

ICP reference FTW!—[[User:TOM|TOM]] 21:34, 27 November 2010 (EST)
==Crasher==

Did Windcharger have a girlfriend named Crasher?

:Unless it was something that Dreamwave did, no. Plus, she's a Renegade. It'd never work out. --[[User:Monzo|Monzo]] 02:08, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

== Dodge Charger LX? ==

Seriously? Windcharger looks ''nothing'' like [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Charger_(LX) this]. If anything, he's a genericized muscle car with a bit of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Mustang Ford Mustang] and some [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Challenger Dodge Challenger] thrown in. The rear window, of course, is taken straight from G1 Windcharger.--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] 05:07, 2 March 2011 (EST)
:Change it then. --[[User:FFN|FFN]] 05:14, 2 March 2011 (EST)
::Okay, apparently I was wrong on one account - the vent in the hood resembles that of a Dodge Charger SRT-8. That's where the similarities end, however.--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] 07:46, 3 March 2011 (EST)

== 2010 toy ==

This description sure is a giant clusterfuck. Just say "muscle car" and be done with it, man. If you have to smush four cars together to get it, it doesn't look like any of them.

(And there's a picture of Windcharger's legs RIGHT THERE.)

-[[User:LV|LV]] 13:56, 16 March 2011 (EDT)

== Transformers 2010 toy ==

Anyone care to add how he wasn't ''really'' released? I mean, do a few dozen being sold in the UK really count? Were any actually seen in US stores? I think the fact that a "normal release" scout class costs BotCon exclusive prices because of how ill distributed it was warrants some mention.
:[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/414860-windcharger-rts-ross-5-bucks.html He was purchased at US retail]. And he wasn't just released in the UK either. I picked up about two dozen at German stores and shipped them to people in the US. In fact, the ones I found more recently showed that he was a shelfwarmer in my neck of the woods.--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] 12:54, 15 November 2011 (EST)
::Far as I know he was only ever confirmed at Ross. "such as" is a little generous. --[[Special:Contributions/76.28.76.206|76.28.76.206]] 15:43, 15 November 2011 (EST)
:::Also at [http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/reveal-the-shield-windcharger-sighted-at-cvs/22849/ CVS] --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 15:57, 15 November 2011 (EST)
::::Yeah, I think the US is the only place that had problems with its release, up in Canada he was available at regular retail and grocery stores. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 17:58, 15 November 2011 (EST)
:::::[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=83455 And now apparently at Five Below].--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] 11:29, 17 November 2011 (EST)

== Windcharger's death in TF:TM ==

I was looking at the [https://www.tfraw.com/p/sequence-08.html storyboard sequence for the end of the Battle of Autobot City], and noticed that it twice (at 8:11 and 8:15) refers to Windcharger as 'wounded' rather than dead; 8:17 shows Arcee reacting with grief to his death. This makes more sense than Arcee wasting time lugging his corpse around, and contextualises her reaction in the finished movie. Also, in the movie, Windcharger's eyes are still lit up while she's dragging him, but have gone dead when he's shown alongside Wheeljack. A minor detail, but it's kind of cool to still be noticing new things 35 years after first watching it! [[User:Tribimat|Tribimat]] ([[User talk:Tribimat|talk]]) 08:55, 9 October 2021 (EDT)

==Find Your Fate Desert Flight==

That's not Windcharger in that picture -it's Tracks. Windcharger is a Trans Am, and that is clearly a Corvette.

=="Green-and-yellow" Lynsa Windcharger==
So I found [https://www.lostlight.net/toy/aej/ this site] with images of the presumed green / yellow Lynsa version of Windcharger that's mentioned in this article... Except, I'm pretty sure that this is literally just the regular blue / grey version of Lynsa Windcharger after undergoing extensive [[photodegradation]], it is very common for blue plastic to degrade into green and the grey-to-yellow is pretty damn typical. Am I wrong and is this, in fact, a genuine retail variant? Or am I right and, given how these seem to be the only images of a "green and yellow" Windcharger in existence, the whole claim of such a variant existing might be 100% wrong? If anyone with more expertise could chime in then I'd appreciate it. ([[User:FortressMaxxing|FortressMaxxing]] ([[User talk:FortressMaxxing|talk]]) 05:40, 26 July 2025 (EDT))
:Since there hasn't been an update on this, I have added to the article that the existence of the yellow / green version is, as of now, more conjectural than anything. ([[User:FortressMaxxing|FortressMaxxing]] ([[User talk:FortressMaxxing|talk]]) 01:14, 30 July 2025 (EDT))
::Unfortunately, I'd say your either right about the photodegradation or it's been customised. If you take a good look at the arms, especially the parts that slide into the torso, you can see they're still grey there. While in the bird's-eye view photo of the car mode, there's a few spots (e.g. right in front of the front windscreen and on the lower front wheel arch) where it almost looks like paint has chipped off and the grey plastic is showing through. [[User:RavenG|RavenG]] ([[User talk:RavenG|talk]]) 23:37, 30 July 2025 (EDT)

Talk:Brawn (G1)/toys

2020-02-04T09:14:35Z

RavenG: Created page with "I noticed that the user Malcontent has edited the pages for Brawn, Jipe and Outback to say the vehicle mode is based ..."

I noticed that the user Malcontent has edited the pages for [[Brawn (G1)/toys| Brawn]], [[Jipe_(Malignus)|Jipe]] and [[Outback_(G1)|Outback]] to say the vehicle mode is based on a Suzuki Jimny SJ20. Is this right? I've never seen anything about it before and google leads me to the wiki pages and a couple of mentions that probably came from people reading said pages. Looking at the users other [[Special:Contributions/Malcontent|contributions]], I've noticed some others might be suspect too. Such as the model of [[Sandstorm_(G1)|Sandstorm's]] helicopter mode or pointless speculation of [[Cutthroat_(G1)|Cutthroat's]] monster mode.
Does someone need to go through and check every edit made by this user?[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] ([[User talk:RavenG|talk]]) 04:14, 4 February 2020 (EST)

Talk:The Change In Your Nature Part One

2019-11-02T15:40:02Z

RavenG: /* Frenzy's drill affinity refrence. */ new section

== Frenzy's drill affinity refrence. ==

The way this reference entry is written, it makes it seem like Frenzy having an affinity for drills is an obscure and rarely used trait dating back to original material like the Budiansky bio/tech spec/production bible. As far as I can tell though, Frenzy being associated with drills only began in All Hail Megatron and was created by McCarthy and/or Guidi as a counterpart to Rumble's pildrivers. It was probably done to help distinguish the two as well. Am I missing something here? [[User:RavenG|RavenG]] ([[User talk:RavenG|talk]]) 11:40, 2 November 2019 (EDT)

Talk:Screech (Generations)

2019-11-02T14:32:30Z

RavenG: /* Toy oddities. */ new section

Well [http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=66160&view=findpost&p=1440234 fuck]. How do we deal with this? --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 23:20, 21 January 2010 (EST)
:So the green Skids toy is from the cartoon dimension and Screech is from the Marvel dimension? A cartoon/comic crossover? Cool. If that's right, I think they should go on the same page. How about have green Skids's bio listed on the tail end of the cartoon continuity section and Screech's bio on the end of the Marvel section. - [[User:Starfield|Starfield]] 23:34, 21 January 2010 (EST)
:: In short, no. We split up Galvatron from Megatron because the two spent time coexisting. It's just too... complicated. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 23:41, 21 January 2010 (EST)
:So... Orange Screech is ROTF Skids who dimension-travelled and came to the G1 universe? --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 23:48, 21 January 2010 (EST)
[[Image:Skidssurvivors.jpg|thumb|]]
:::...no. He's a variant G1 Skids that references a Marvel UK story. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 00:19, 22 January 2010 (EST)
::::Marvel UK story? How so? --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 00:44, 22 January 2010 (EST)
:::::The post I linked to links to this wiki. In the UK, Skids got stuck in [[limbo]] for forever. When he finally got out 100 issues later, he had Screech's head because of an art mishap. I figgered you woulda at least read the link I gave! --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 00:46, 22 January 2010 (EST)
::::::I did, but I'm not finding the same link you are. Near I can tell from the rather mediocre translation, Screech ended up in the Generation One dimension because of the Generation One Skids' experimentations. Nothing specifies he's from the UK or from the Limbo Dimension, he could very well be the Movieverse Skids referenced in Reign of Starscream, from Energon or even from the Big Looker storybooks. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 00:53, 22 January 2010 (EST)
:::::::Just because my fist doesn't look like a duck doesn't mean it's a dog. Where are you getting that he's from the movieverse? It's not like he's decoed like Movie Skids. He's decoed like Movie Mudflap! And he's definitely in a G1-style body! The simplest solution is that he's a variant G1 Skids, particularly since G1 Skids ''has had that head before.'' --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 01:02, 22 January 2010 (EST)
::::::::I said the [[Skids (Movie)|Skids referenced in Reign of Starscream]]. My point is nothing says he's necessarily the Marvel UK Skids. We've got alternate pages for some dimension/time-hopping Galvatrons, don't we? Screech can keep his own page, since he's a dramatic enough deviation from the original Skids (what with the deliberate name change and all). --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 01:21, 22 January 2010 (EST)
:::::::::Yeah, I have to say, I don't really think it's particularly explicit that he's supposed to be from the UK universe. He ''might'' be, but all we're really basing that on is the fact that this one time, the UK comics accidentally drew Skids with the wrong head. (Me, I'm more curious as to whether or not "Skids's experiments" is a reference to his investiation into the manipulation of time and space from the ''Binatech'' story). - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 07:23, 22 January 2010 (EST)
::::::::::I never said he was FROM the UK universe. I was merely saying that this was a reference to that UK story. And I see no reason to be obtuse about it in the writeup. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 12:28, 22 January 2010 (EST)
:::::::::::OK, he isn't necessarily from Marvel UK, but have we decided he is from a G1 alternate universe, and not the movie or some unnamed unrelated universe? - [[User:Starfield|Starfield]] 16:54, 22 January 2010 (EST)
::That would make ROTF Skids an alternate-dimension version of G1 Skids. If ROTF was the mirror-verse of Generation 1 that would actually make sense. - [[User:Starfield|Starfield]] 00:10, 22 January 2010 (EST)

== Toy oddities. ==

Does anyone know what the odd holes on Screech's bonnet are? As far as I can tell, they're not present on any other Honda City mold release.
Also, anyone know why the toy has the City Turbo grill sticker instead of the City R one? Has the design been lost or were Takara just lazy? [[User:RavenG|RavenG]] ([[User talk:RavenG|talk]]) 10:32, 2 November 2019 (EDT)

Bludgeon (G1)

2015-02-08T03:16:03Z

RavenG: Removed a link to what was basically a fanmade Bludgeon shrine.

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|unicron}}
{{disambig3|Bludgeon}}
{{featured}}
:''Bludgeon is a [[Decepticon]] [[Pretender]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:MarvelUK-282.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|This is pretty much the most metal cover in TF history.]]
'''Bludgeon''' is a ferocious warrior, skilled in the ancient Cybertronian martial art of [[Metallikato]]. He and his blade can cut through the battlefield as if everyone else is operating at a minimal speed setting. Bludgeon's feats in battle seem nearly supernatural, which is probably the effect he's going for, if he doesn't believe his own hype. Utterly vicious and aloof, Bludgeon is also highly religious, adhering to an arcane code of honor. Though his beliefs fuel his single-minded bloodthirstiness with dogmatic precision, they also cause him to be rather superstitious.

Bludgeon's confidence, skill, and grand words have often catapulted him to the upper ranks of the Decepticons. Who wouldn't fall in line behind him? He's charismatic! The [[Mayhem Attack Squad]] is his usual host of cronies, but he's also been known to fill in as [[Decepticon leader]] if a power vacuum presents itself.

Bludgeon is (obviously) a [[Pretender]] who has adopted a shell which takes the appearance of a skeletal samurai. His signature weapon is an [[Energo weapon|energo-sword]], though he also carries a shield and a [[high-voltage electric cannon]]. In accordance with his martial arts motif, generators in his shell's legs can create disorienting clouds of smoke, and he can generate electric fireballs from the torso of either his body or his shell.<ref>Bludgeon's ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' profile says the electric fireballs are fired from either of his torsos. His original toy bio said they're fired from between his shell's antennas.</ref> It is unknown whether Bludgeon is any less agile or capable in his blocky robot mode, but it wouldn't be surprising.

{{quote|Prattling fool! Your warrior heart is tainted by an idiot's tongue! Perhaps I shall remove '''both''' for you!|Bludgeon takes on [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]|"[[The Primal Scream]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Bludgeonasavageplace.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|The shoulder is a well-known [[Transformer]] instant-death spot.]]
''When Decepticons [[Catilla (G1)|Catilla]] and [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]] defected to the [[Autobot]]s, a new Mayhem Attack Squad was formed which included Bludgeon, his Pretender cohorts Stranglehold and Octopunch, [[Needlenose]], [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]], and [[Snarler]]. After a [[solid light simulation]] of a mission in [[Slaughter City]], their prey was authorized—they would hunt down and kill Catilla, Carnivac, and their new [[Wrecker]] friends. ''{{storylink|The Hunting Party (Marvel)|The Hunting Party}}'' They found Carnivac outside [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], and Bludgeon, promising him a warrior's death, led the charge.'' {{storylink|Way of the Warrior}}'' However, Carnivac escaped Bludgeon and the other Mayhems,'' {{storylink|Survival Run}} ''but they tracked him down to [[Los Gravos]], [[Mexico]]. Bludgeon fought Carnivac, and [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] was about to deal the killing blow, when Catilla rescued him. However, Bludgeon threw his [[sword]] into Catilla, killing Carnivac's savior. As the rest of the Autobots arrived, Bludgeon ordered a withdrawal. Carnivac swore that Bludgeon and the other Mayhems would pay.'' {{storylink|A Savage Place!}}

[[File:Bludgeonstrangleholdoctopunchmodelsheet.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|The [[Nelson Yomtov|colorist]] made me look hunchbacked.]]
He later took on the leadership of [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s new [[Mayhem Attack Squad]], sent to slay the newly resurrected [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]], and [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]. Alongside the [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]], the [[Classic Pretender]]s were due to be teleported to [[Earth]], an operation Bludgeon attempted to interrupt by shoving his blade through the transportation machine. Instead, he and the Mayhems were transported with the Autobots to the center of Cybertron. {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}} Here, the Mayhems were foiled, although they inadvertently awakened the slumbering [[Primus]] in the process. Ultimately, the transportation was completed, and they were sent to Earth along with the Autobots, {{storylink|The Primal Scream}} where they told [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] of Unicron's coming and joined his Decepticons on Earth. When [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] surrendered his Autobots to Scorponok in order to facilitate an alliance against Unicron, Bludgeon helped the other Decepticons imprison the surrendered Autobots. {{storylink|Surrender!}}

Bludgeon was seen fighting on Scorponok's side during the subsequent Decepticon Civil War {{storylink|...All This and Civil War 2}} and was transported with all of them to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] by [[Primus]]. Primus (speaking through the body of [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]]) told them of the history between himself and Unicron, while Bludgeon cleaned his sword. He was there also to quell the sudden [[Unicron cultist]] uprising, remarking that to a master of [[Metallikato]], their moves were like slow motion. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}} When Unicron himself arrived, though, the superstitious Bludgeon ran like hell. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} Thankfully, Optimus Prime's sacrifice saved them all, and Bludgeon was there standing over Prime's body with a few others as he died. The Autobot/Decepticon alliance that emerged was shaky and the Decepticons leaderless, so Bludgeon and [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] discussed a plan of their own. {{storylink|Still Life!}}

[[File:Bludgeonlastautobot.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|It's a good thing the Battlechargers were dead then, or Bludgeon's shell would've been totally ganked.]]
Tensions came to a head when [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] discovered that Cybertron was tearing itself apart in the aftermath of the Transformers' victory against Unicron. While Bludgeon openly kept the peace (like keeping [[Fangry]] in line at meetings), he and Krok began to worry that some of the Decepticons were in ''favour'' of peaceful alliance and plotted to break it up. New Autobot leader Grimlock almost gave them an opening by beating the tar out of Fangry, until [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] stopped the fight; Bludgeon quickly exploited the situation anyway, demanding the full details of the Autobots' plans.

Now knowing they intended to start anew on another planet and live in peace, he sabotaged the Autobot ships and assumed command of the Decepticons. He gave the troops a rousing speech, condemning the Autobot plan as weak and advocating a return to conquest as was the Decepticon way. Having risen from the ranks to light their darkest hour, he was cheered on by the Decepticons. {{storylink|Exodus!}}

[[File:Bludgeon-youlie1.jpg|thumb|Look at him go. What a skeleton!]]
With his Decepticons eager for conquest, Bludgeon randomly selected the planet of [[Klo]] as their first target. {{storylink|A Savage Circle}} The peaceful inhabitants of Klo were easily (and violently) subdued, and Bludgeon thought this planet did not meet the challenges befitting their warrior race. In turn, Krok pleased him with news that their ships were bugged and that they should be expecting the Autobots to be arriving soon. {{storylink|The Last Autobot?}}

Indeed, when the Autobots arrived, Bludgeon's Decepticons were ready for them, luring them into an ambush—only five Autobots escaped their purge, and Bludgeon sent a small hunting party after them. Ultimate victory was snatched from Bludgeon only by divine intervention. The [[Last Autobot]] arrived with a resurrected Optimus Prime and the [[Neo-Knights]]. Bludgeon rejected this development on religious grounds; the Last Autobot, according to his beliefs, was the Ultimate Warrior, who was bent on conquest. He ordered his troops to attack the "unbelievers". Ultimately, the Decepticons were defeated. The Last Autobot was able to revive the fallen Autobots at will, and Bludgeon was forced to admit defeat and withdraw. As he and the Decepticons retreated, he promised a "solitary exile" to the Autobots—while saying something else to his subordinates. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}
{{-}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:Aspects of evil bludgeon.jpg|left|75px|thumb|GIVE ME YOUR THROAT.]]
In an alternate [[1990]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] was captured by the Decepticons and freed by an agent placed within the Decepticons. [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] accused Bludgeon of being the culprit, and Bludgeon demanded the chance to prove himself through trial by combat. He was released and chased by [[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]], [[Stranglehold]] and [[Warmonger]]. Bludgeon easily dispatched the former two but was caught from behind by Warmonger, who couldn't bring himself to kill in cold blood. Realizing who the infiltrator was, Megatron destroyed Warmonger, then reflected that it would have simply been easier to kill all four of them. {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}
{{-}}

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[File:UKBludgeonEarthForce.jpg|thumb|There wolf!]]
Following Catilla's death, the Mayhems set up a base on a deserted island, where Needlenose decided to test their response time in an emergency. Enraged, Bludgeon threatened to tear him apart, but was stopped by Snarler. As Needlenose returned to his quarters, he was ambushed by Carnivac, who had snuck in during the chaos caused by his "drill". His calls for help were ignored by Snarler and Bludgeon. {{storylink|Cry Wolf!}} Carnivac decided to pick off Bludgeon next, finding him meditating. Bludgeon sensed him coming and took him on, and the other Mayhems responded to the commotion. Bludgeon wanted to finish this traitor with his blade as well, but Spinister decided to end it summarily by slagging Carnivac with his blaster instead. {{storylink|Wolf in the Fold!}} Angry at losing his kill, Bludgeon was pleased to find [[Earthforce]] attacking them, in an attempt to rescue Carnivac. He and his fellow Pretenders were defeated, outnumbered by the Autobots. But before they could be executed, a shell-less Carnivac appeared and told the Autobots to spare them, denying them a warrior's death. {{storylink|Where Wolf?}}

Captives of Earthforce, Bludgeon and his Pretender partners were held in a cell together. To get free, Bludgeon arranged a most subtle escape attempt with his cell mates. At first, they all remained completely silent for an extended period of time, partly to unnerve their guard, [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], but also to give Bludgeon time to make mental contact with his katana, locked away in the property vault. Once he found the weapon and began summoning it back to him through the hallways, Bludgeon signaled Stranglehold to begin pounding frantically on the floor. This sudden activity spooked Inferno into opening the cell door to pacify the prisoner, only to wind up with a floating sword in his backside. The Pretenders then simply walked out over his leaking body. {{storylink|Shut Up!}}

Afterwards, Bludgeon and the others hooked up with Megatron and Shockwave, the deposed leaders of the Decepticons, and took on a bounty to assassinate their betrayers, Starscream and Soundwave. {{storylink|External Forces!}} The assassins outnumbered their prey, but they hadn't counted on the Autobots intervening on Starscream's behalf. It seemed the Dinobot [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] was dying, and could only be saved by a systems boost from a compatible Transformer, namely Starscream. [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] joined the fight on Starscream's side, and the Mayhems were defeated. {{storylink|The Lesser Evil!}}

=====Another Time & Place=====
[[File:BludgeonStrangleholdOctopunch-AnotherTimeAndPlace.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85|Bludgeon: All skeleton, no spine.]]
After the defeat on Klo, Bludgeon decided the Decepticons needed some "old blood" back in charge. He traveled to Earth and retrieved the deactivated body of [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] from the wreckage of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. Then, he seized upon an opportunity to follow Grimlock and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] to [[Hydrus Four]], the source of the miraculous energy known as [[Nucleon]] which had supercharged the Dinobot commander. Slipping ahead of the Dinobots as they made their way to the medical facility, Bludgeon and his Decepticons set up a [[Holocaust Trigger]] to trap the Dinobots, disabling them without firing a shot. Unfortunately for Bludgeon, he ignored [[Fangry]]'s cries of "Let's just kill them already!" and gave in to his inner Bond villain, keeping Grimlock and the Dinobots alive long enough for them to witness the triumphant resurrection of Megatron. That didn't mean, however, that he kept his fellow Decepticons from aggressively torturing their fallen captives.

In a matter of hours, a full scale Autobot strike force had tracked the Dinobots down to Hydrus Four and assaulted Bludgeon's position. Fearing his rag-tag team of Decepticons wouldn't be enough, Bludgeon accelerated Megatron's revival, sending the half-mad, half-living monstrosity at Optimus Prime. He had no time to gloat, though—the heavily-injured Dinobot known as [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] had dragged himself to the control module for one of the medical machines in the area, setting its spidery arms to work on Bludgeon, disassembling him in seconds down to his core components.

Bludgeon didn't even have time to scream. {{storylink|Another Time & Place}}
{{-}}

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
{{note|The ''Generation 2'' stories take place after the end of the original Marvel Comic, but in a [[splinter timeline]] that does not include the events of "Another Time & Place".}}
[[File:Bludgeontalesofearth.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|G2, home of New Extreme Weapons.]]
By "solitary exile", what Bludgeon had actually meant was "build a slag-off big planet-like spacecraft called the [[Warworld]] and attack vessels for their cargo across the galaxy". {{storylink|Primal Fear!|Old Evils}} He also battled Optimus Prime and the Autobots over a store of ancient alien weapons, but an [[Guardian (G2)|alien entity]] drove him off. {{storylink|Ghosts}} After that, he went back to stealing resources—and finished the construction of a [[Bludgeon's new army|new generation of Decepticon warriors]], who just needed the Matrix to come back to life. That meant luring Prime to him... {{storylink|Primal Fear!|Old Evils}}

[[File:Bludgeon-PowerAndTheGlory.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Also, so very much less.]]
To lure Prime out, Bludgeon launched a full-scale attack on Earth and did succeed in drawing Optimus Prime to Earth's defense, but not before Bludgeon was confronted by the newly-rebuilt [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], who wanted command of the Decepticons for himself once more. {{storylink|Devices and Desires! (Marvel)|Devices and Desires!}} Bludgeon destroyed Megatron's gun with one swipe of his blade, but neglected to realize how enhanced the new Megatron was—the former Decepticon leader ripped Bludgeon's Pretender skull off with one hand. Undaunted, Bludgeon proclaimed himself an agent of chaos and transformed into his little-used tank mode to confront Megatron on his own terms. He briefly drove back Megatron, but ultimately the Decepticons' founder proved to be too much for their current leader, and his new railgun destroyed Bludgeon utterly. {{storylink|The Power and the Glory}}

The victorious Decepticon leader subsequently displayed Bludgeon's severed head in the Warworld, though he did muse that he might have spared Bludgeon's life if he'd known how much the guy had achieved and envisioned with limited time and resources. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}} Later on, the Decepticons would try not to say the word "bludgeon" around Megatron (even with the "to hit things" meaning) just in case it annoyed him. {{storylink|New Dawn}}
{{-}}

====Fleetway ''Generation 2'' comic====
[[File:Bludgeon-WarWithoutEndUK.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|thumb|[[Robin Smith]], copying a [[character model]] pose??? [[Ravage (G1)|Never!]]]]
Intending to draw out Autobots to Earth and steal the Matrix to bring a new generation of Decepticons to life, Bludgeon attacked Earth in force—specifically [[London]]. Unfortunately for him, the Autobots were already there, and attacked just as his troops were low on fuel. Bludgeon fought Optimus in direct combat and lost. {{storylink|War Without End (issue)|War Without End}} When Megatron turned up afterwards to fight Optimus, Bludgeon's men actually ''attacked'' Megatron just in case it was Bludgeon he was stomping: [[Rage (G1)|Rage]] bluntly said that the Pretender was their boss, not the old guy.

Bludgeon sneaked away {{storylink|War Zone}} to try exactly the same tactic again—and learned if at first you don't succeed, Try #2 will get you killed by Megatron. {{storylink|The Power and the Glory}}
{{-}}

====''Classics''====
{{noteclassics}}
[[File:Bludgeon Piranacon AtFightsEnd.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Is that you, Brainiac?]]
Optimus Prime was reluctant to prolong the war by following Bludgeon and his followers across the galaxy, but [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] was more than happy to. Grimlock, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], and a crew of others searched and fought Bludgeon's Decepticons in the fringes of known space, but to no known resolution. At some point the mysterious Decepticon, [[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]], joined Bludgeon's Decepticons, and Bludgeon put him in charge of his own subgroup. {{storylink|Games of Deception}}

As Bludgeon became aware of Megatron's re-emergence, he began to prepare his forces to repel an attempted coup by the former Decepticon leader. Bludgeon and his Sub-Commander [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]] were readying their battleplans when [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] brought to his attention their plans may have been compromised from within. They apparently identified the traitor working for Megatron, [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gurrr]] of the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcon]]s, and so Bludgeon confronted him with the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]]s. A fight broke out between [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] and [[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]] as a result, but Bludgeon's loyal gestalt won, and so they returned to battle preparation. In the war room, Bludgeon became so intent on watching for Megatron's next move on the monitors that he failed to notice Seawing removing his sword. Only after the Seacons had formed Piranacon again did Bludgeon finally realize he had miscalculated. Piranacon's mass compression cannon destroyed the Pretender completely, leaving room for Megatron to swoop in and claim full leadership of the Decepticons. {{storylink|At Fight's End}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{noterg1}}
Twenty years after the defeat at Klo, the Autobots unaware of his location, Bludgeon was finally ready to take his revenge. He contacted Soundwave at the secret [[Fort Scyk]] base, revealing he had agents on Cybertron and even in the Neo-Decepticons, and requested Soundwave retrieve a valuable resource for him in exchange for aid against the Autobots. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 1}}
{{charstubfiction}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:WarWithin Escalation Bludgeons vision.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|EPIC FORESHADOWING.]]
During the so-called [[Dark Ages]] of the Autobot-Decepticon conflict, Bludgeon, alongside [[Bugly (G1)|Bugly]] and [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], formed the [[Chaos Trinity]], a group that sought to harness the dark forces of the universe and use them to their advantage. During one of their ceremonies in the [[Polities of Cybertron|Orbital Torus State]] of [[Kalis]], they were interrupted by the mysterious being known as [[The Fallen]], who applauded their amateur theatrics while mocking the lack of substance behind their words. He offered them [[Furmanism|power beyond measure]] in exchange for their servitude, a proposal that Bludgeon at first boldly refused, then agreed to once The Fallen changed the term for which they would be referred to. The Fallen tasked his new "disciples" with capturing a number of Transformers in order to perform a bizarre ceremony called The [[Unbinding]] in [[Well of All Sparks|Cybertron's core]]. {{storylink|Fragmentation (G1)|Fragmentation}} Soon, Bludgeon began to chafe at being ordered around without any tangible reward, so The Fallen gave him a glimpse of the dark power, ensuring the Decepticon's loyalty. While the [[Wrecker]]s and [[Ultracon]]s busied themselves with their civil war, unaware of the events unfolding, Bludgeon formulated a strategy to capture two of their targets: the Trinity would exploit [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'s twisted sense of justice and have him deliver himself and [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] into their trap. {{storylink|Escalation}}

When Jetfire met with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] in the [[Neutral Territories]] to discuss their suspicions about an outside force influencing the current conflict, the Trinity sprung their trap, attacking the Decepticon Commander. Bludgeon declared that once he would have never dared face Shockwave in battle, but he had been given new insights into the [[dark science]] and his ability to see the bigger picture, the latter no longer stood a chance. Once Shockwave was taken care of, the Trinity captured Jetfire, but noticed that Grimlock hadn't taken the bait of Jetfire's supposed treachery. As they prepared to leave, Grimlock jumped them, forcing The Fallen to step in. {{storylink|Revelation (The Dark Ages)|Revelation}}

[[File:WarWithin Confrontation BludgeonBlades.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|And you call yourself 'Blades'? You don't even have a blade!]]
With two of the targets secured, The Fallen ordered the Trinity to capture [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]], leader of the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]], while he would take care of the fourth target personally. In the ruins of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], while the Protectobots were discussing their problems with maintaining their control while combined as [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], Bludgeon and the Trinity attacked, taking down the other Protectobots and capturing Hot Spot. {{storylink|Confrontation (issue)|Confrontation}}

While The Fallen used the four prisoners to unlock the [[Seal of Primus]], Bludgeon and the others were forced to defend the access shaft to the underground chamber against the Decepticons. Though Bludgeon stood resolute, ordering his comrades to fight on, with the faith that they would be rewarded for their loyal service, his resolve soon crumbled when the Autobots and the [[Lightning Strike Coalition]] joined forces with Shockwave and eliminated Bugly and Mindwipe. Bludgeon escaped underground to seek his master, only to be gunned down by a teleporting [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. {{storylink|Conflagration}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic===
[[File:DWDropshot sliced.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Silent but deadly.]]
A version of Bludgeon from an unspecified alternate reality was part of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s unit of Heralds, along with [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], sent to prepare Cybertron for the coming of [[Unicron]]. He was stationed as guard of the [[Decepticon Command Headquarters]] when [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire's]] unit arrived. While he put up a formidable assault (as [[Dropshot (Armada)|Dropshot]] could attest), the Autobots eventually realized the secret to his technique and forced him to retreat, leaving behind his Pretender shell. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 3 of 4}} He returned when Jetfire attempted to use the space-bridge portal, but like the rest of the Heralds was shortly blown up. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}}
{{-}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' continuity===
[[File:Bludgeon Robot GIJoe.jpg|upright=0.8|thumb|Bludgeon always secretly dreamed of being a [[Visionaries|Visionary]].]]
Eons ago, when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] was given the [[Matrix of Leadership]], Bludgeon attempted to kill him, but failed.

Along with the [[Pretender Monster]]s, Bludgeon traveled to Earth, seeking to be present at the planet's destruction by Unicron. The group was shot down by the [[China|Chinese]] Air Force, however, and damaged in the process. An alliance with the underground kingdom of [[Cobra-La]] provided them with life-sustaining [[Pretender]] shells in exchange for protecting the kingdom. He was responsible for the death of [[Atomic Man]] in 1978, when the [[Adventure Team (G.I. Joe)|Adventure Team]] came snooping too close to Cobra-La's hidden lair in the caves beneath [[Tibet]]. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2}}

Decades later, Bludgeon engaged Optimus Prime in battle as the Autobot attempted to infiltrate Cobra-La's caves. After being burned by Bludgeon, Optimus ripped the chest from Bludgeon's Pretender shell. In his anger, Bludgeon lost his edge and fell off a cliff. Although Optimus had caught him, Bludgeon chose to fall, standing by his philosophy of "merciless death and destruction." {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
[[File:Bludgeon Thundercracker SLOrionPax.jpg|upright=1.55|thumb|left]]
In the earliest days of the war, Bludgeon was ordered by [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] to capture [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] so that the Decepticons could use him to find [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. To this end, he kidnapped [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] and organized a hostage exchange in the [[Rust Spot]], knowing that the Autobots would have to use Alpha Trion to find their way through the area. The plan worked up until that point, but Alpha Trion escaped his clutches thanks to the efforts of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]], one of the hostage exchangers. As payback, Bludgeon had him strapped to a shuttle programmed crash into the nearest settlement, and though Orion tried to stall for time by telling him he'd go far in life only to overreach and become a symbol of failure, Bludgeon didn't really care and launched his captive into the sky. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}}
[[File:Bludgeon altmode TheHuntingParty.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Ancient Metallikato secret...the flying tank.]]
Following Metroplex's departure from Cybertron, Bludgeon continued his hunt for the [[Metrotitan (body-type)|titan]] using the starship ''[[Empirion]]''. One of his subordinates, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], tracked their prey to a desolate planetoid inhabitated by some pesky [[Urtuskian|aliens]], so Bludgeon commenced planetary bombardment to get them out of the way. The assault attracted the attention of a group of Autobots who rammed and crippled the ''Empirion'', forcing Bludgeon to abandon ship and fight them until Thundercracker reported that Metroplex was nowhere to be found. As the Decepticons retreated to continue their hunt elsewhere, Bludgeon had Thundercracker transferred out of his unit for seemingly having led them into an Autobot trap. {{storylink|The Hunting Party (IDW)|The Hunting Party}}

During the war, Bludgeon formed an army of "deviants and half-forms" in event that would be remembered as one of the most horrible things the Decepticons did. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}}

[[File:SpotlightSoundwave Bludgeon defeatsLaserbeakRavage.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Wait, does this mean that Piranacon [[Bludgeon (G1)#Classics|is stealthier]] than ''Ravage''?]]
Bludgeon was the leader of a team of Decepticons (including [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]], [[Finback]], [[Skullgrin]], and [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]]) who were assigned by Megatron to look into what [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]]'s various projects were when he disappeared. {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}} Megatron also sent [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] to spy on them. During this time, Bludgeon discovered Shockwave's work on [[Regenesis]]. Eventually, however, they discovered the remains of [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], the Decepticon scientist who became the cause of the Cybertronian cataclysm. Bludgeon came to believe that Thunderwing was an avatar of the apocalypse, and became bent on restoring the wasted Cybertron to its former glory by resurrecting him. He and his team of Decepticons believed that in reawakening Thunderwing and turning him loose, the mass sacrifice of worlds would allow the rebirth of Cybertron. They also delved into the outlawed [[Pretender|polydermal grafting]] experiments pioneered by Thunderwing, in an attempt to create super-shells of their own.

In [[1984]] they went to [[Earth]] to extract a load of [[Ore 13|Ultra-Energon]], establishing a base within Mt. St. Helens. Soundwave naturally followed them. He eventually came to them asking for a cut of their profits, believing that they meant to sell the energon, but when he realized that they meant to resurrect Thunderwing he tried to stop them. They used one of Shockwave's devices to lock him in his alt-mode, then caused a volcanic eruption and returned to Cybertron via an [[orbital jump|orbital bounce]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

[[File:IDWBludgeonShell.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Yes... I feel it, the power... fills me. Yes, I feel the universe within me! I am... I am a part of the cosmos! Its energy flows... flows through me! Of what consequence are you now?]]
Twenty-three years later, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]], detecting the Ultra-Energon from orbit, went to investigate, and were taken by the cult, planning to use them as raw materials for their shells. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}} Bludgeon wanted Jetfire to witness Thunderwing's awakening, to make him see that Thunderwing had been right to experiment, but Jetfire eventually annoyed him too much. Connecting his mind to an [[axis cradle]] that controlled Thunderwing's blank neuroscape, Bludgeon sent Thunderwing to destroy [[Nebulos]], then engaged the auto-drive to inspect his own shell's progress. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 2|Stormbringer #2}} When [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Wreckers attacked Bludgeon's base on Cybertron by surprise, Iguanus escaped to the bio-graft chamber to find Bludgeon—only to find the cult leader having donned full polydermal armor. However, in Bludgeon's rush, the shell was not mentally aligned, causing a psychic backlash that took down the Decepticon before the Wreckers even found him. It is unclear whether Bludgeon's mind survived, but if it did, it is apparently trapped in torment. Prime felt that he got off lightly for having unleashed Thunderwing. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}}

[[File:SpotlightSideswipe Bludgeon attacks.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.95|"I can tell you're happy to see me, Craig...IN YOUR PANTS!"]]
After the defeat of Thunderwing, Bludgeon was transferred to [[Garrus-9]], where [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] stored his extracted [[spark]] in the Rig. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}}

However, during [[Nova Prime|Nemesis Prime]]'s attempt to bring forth the [[Expansion]], Bludgeon (his shell at least) was reactivated inside his cell by [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] to stop Jetfire from attempting to take control of Thunderwing. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}

The remote-controlled Bludgeon sliced its way into Jetfire's lab and Jhiaxus planned to have it kill the Autobot. However, multiple fronts of Autobot resistance at each [[Nega-Core]] kept Jhiaxus from focusing his full attention on controlling Bludgeon, and he was forced to abandon his effort to kill Jetfire. [[Cloudraker (G1)|Cloudraker]] and [[Fastlane]] arrived and quickly disarmed the now-inert Bludgeon, and Jetfire borrowed the Pretender's [[sword]] to go aid Optimus Prime in his fight against Nemesis Prime. Bludgeon's body was presumably returned to confinement afterwards. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

[[File:AHM bludgeoniseeevill.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Another inconsistency [[John Barber]] has to fix.]]
Somehow freed from Garrus-9 and again in possession of his full faculties (such as they were), Bludgeon was given command of the ''[[Torment]]'', a Decepticon warship crewed by the [[Pretender Monster|Monstructor Six]]. Still displaying cultish fanaticism and a cruel streak a mile wide, he urged his crew onward in pursuit of the maverick Autobot [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hot Rod]]. Downing the Autobot's shuttlecraft, Bludgeon had his ship land and crew disembark to sacrifice Hot Rod for the greater purpose of restoring Cybertron. With the untimely arrival of the crew of the battleship ''[[Trion]]'', Bludgeon ordered his acolytes to form Monstructor and crush the Autobots. However, his forces were put to rout by a precise shot from [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s sniper rifle, which hit the vulnerable connecting joint of the large combiner. Appearing to realize what he was up against, Bludgeon sounded the retreat. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Lost & Found}} In actuality, he was leading the pursuing ''Trion'' to Cybertron, where several Decepticon battlecruisers staged an ambush, sending the Autobot craft plummeting to the planet below. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

[[File:Bludgeon Wheelie Syndromica1.jpg|left|100px|thumb|Annnnnd ''fixed''. Thanks, John!]]
Several years later, learning that Jhiaxus had returned and was the captive of [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|his]] [[Garnak|crew]], Bludgeon, following the orders of Shockwave, put into motion a plan to liberate him. Taking Monstructor to the planet [[Arduria]], he sent out a phony distress call that lured Hardhead's crew—joined now by Orion Pax, formerly Optimus Prime—to the frozen world. While Monstructor kept Hardhead and Orion busy, Bludgeon penetrated their ship, easily cutting his way through [[Garnak]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and liberating Jhiaxus. Together, the villains set off to track down the other planets that had been targeted by the Regenesis program crafted by Shockwave, who had been Jhiaxus's greatest student. {{storylink|Syndromica (1)}}

[[File:Syndromica2 pax vs bludgeon.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|Weak sword or sturdy gun?]]
Bludgeon arrived on planet [[LV-117]], which thanks to the Regenesis missile that had landed there, existed in a constant state of chronal flux. After they both separately came in contact with the time machine aboard [[Turmoil]]'s stolen ship, Bludgeon and Orion Pax were sent adrift across different eras of the planet, moving in opposite directions through time in relation to each other. Bludgeon managed to steal the device that allowed LV-117's inhabitants to control their planet's journey through time and slew Wheelie's friend [[Varta]] in the process, before he and Jhiaxus escaped aboard Turmoil's ship. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}}

The villains tracked down [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], one of Bludgeon's old [[Titan Hunters|Titan Hunter]] subordinates, who had once managed to control a Metrotitan. After duping Orion Pax into raising a deactivated [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitan]] on [[Gorlam Prime]], they used Waspinator to seize control of it. The Metrotitan's [[space bridge]] was used to teleport it back to Cybertron, and Jhiaxus' group followed in their own ship. {{storylink|Homecoming (IDW)|Homecoming}} They arrived on Cybertron to join with Shockwave shortly thereafter. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Bludgeon watched silently as Jhiaxus prepared to undertake Shockwave's master plan. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} The completion of the chronal drive came just in time for the invasion of Cybertron by Shockwave's allies, the [[Ammonite]]s. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}}

Bludgeon began expressing some small doubts of the plan, as he came to realize that his master, Jhiaxus, was actually subservient to Shockwave. Still, he remained at their side, striking out against the Autobots and Decepticons who invaded Crystal City to stop Shockwave's plot. He struck down [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and laughed at [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and his copied Metallikato moves. As he prepared to execute [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]], however, Bludgeon was blasted by Optimus Prime, as the Autobot leader and his team re-emerged from the Dead Universe. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} Bludgeon was last seen as Ultra Magnus checked the fallen warrior for signs of life, but his final fate remains unknown. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}
{{-}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Shockpoint}}}}

===''Transformers Generations 2012''===
With other Decepticon Pretenders, Bludgeon was active in ancient [[Japan]]. One day, they came across three [[human]] siblings and threatened them. The oldest managed to escape and both [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]] and [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]] pursued the remaining two while the other Decepticons followed. Bludgeon found the entire thing beneath their notice, but was rebuked by [[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]], who desired to play with the humans. Octopunch was about to step on the two when [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] leapt to the rescue. Impressed by this apparent human, Bludgeon challenged him to a duel, but he ultimately proved lacking. Despite the rescuees trying to defend Metalhawk, Bludgeon was about to go in for the kill when other Autobot Pretenders appeared and fought off the Decepticons. Bludgeon and Metalhawk continued their duel, which Metalhawk managed to end by sending Bludgeon falling into a lava pit. {{storylink|A Tale of the Pretenders}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
[[File:TFLegends-Bludgeon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Surely everyone waited for ''official'' permission to [[repurposing|repurpose]] this design, right?]]
Early in the war, Bludgeon was to meet with the Autobots Orion Pax, Alpha Trion and Nightbeat to perform a prisoner exchange for the safe return of Rack'n'Ruin. This turned out to be a Decepticon ploy, however, and the Decepticons ambushed the group, capturing Alpha Trion in the process. {{storylink|Orion's Gambit}} Bludgeon and [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] attempted to revive [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], but when Thunderwing proved uncontrollable, the pair had to cooperate with the Wreckers to defeat him. {{storylink|Stormbringer (Legends)|Stormbringer}}

Bludgeon was later part of Thunderwing's squad of Decepticons. They attacked a [[Sun-Farming facility]] run by [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], only to discover that the Autobots were more formidable than they had counted on. Bludgeon headed for the main building, fending off [[Fastlane]] and cleaving guards with his [[Energo weapon|Energo-Sword]], until he was able to secure the [[Energon]] stored inside. The Autobots subsequently retreated. {{storylink|Revelation (Legends)|Revalation}} Bludgeon was among a group of Decepticons who joined a time-displaced [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] in attacking the fused-together [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], but were fought off by some Autobots. {{storylink|Savage Circle}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[File:G1Bludgeon toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|He's an electric warrior. He is not, however, a Jeepster for your love.]]
*'''Bludgeon''' (Pretender, [[1989]])
:*''Accessories'': Pretender shell, large "Laser Rifle" gun, tank turret/shield, small "[[high-voltage electric cannon|electric cannon]]", helmet

:Bludgeon's inner robot transforms into a green and lilac tank of undetermined origin. Oddly, compared to most ''Transformers'' tanks, he has no wheels inside the static tank tracks for any sort of rolling movement; however, as the treads are arranged in two pairs, he is also one of the very few tank Transformers whose treads do not split apart during transformation. Transformation to robot mode is very similar to many tank-vehicle Micromaster figures, except one must remove the rotating turret piece to do so, with the removable main gun as his weapon, mounted in a hole in his wrist (rather than his hand).

:Bludgeon's Pretender shell, continuing the Decepticon trend of monstrous or war-like shells, is an orange and maroon humanoid samurai with a human skull for a head. Removing the helmet reveals great attention to detail to the skull, with cranium fusion seams and well-defined teeth, among other sculpting. The shell is armed with a white rifle and the inner robot's tank turret mounted on his arm as a sort of shield.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1989/Decepticon/Bludgeon/bludgeon.htm More info on Bludgeon at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen''===
[[File:ROTFtoy-BludgeonVoyager.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Decepticon Bludgeon''' (Voyager, [[2009]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RD-20'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Wikipedia:Katana|katana]], [[Wikipedia:Tantō|tantō]]

{{note|''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]] was officially [[repurposing|repurposed]] as ''Generation 1'' Bludgeon via the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]'' game (albeit with an [[#IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW-based]] head).}}
:[[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]] transforms from a green and orange Japanese [[Wikipedia:Type 90 Kyū-maru|Type 90]] tank into a skeletal samurai robot mode which homages his original [[Pretender]] shell, in colors that homage both the shell and the original inner robot. Bludgeon features a flexible plastic sword which is made out of a portion of the barrel of the tank's main gun as well as a smaller dagger. The dagger can be stored in a sheath which is revealed from inside the tank turret, and both blades can be slotted in holes provided on the robot mode's left hip guard. Additionally, the dagger's handle can fit in the base of the sword's handle, forming a double-bladed weapon. He has [[Mech Alive]] [[gimmick]]s in his thighs and turret: Sculpted cylinders in his thighs rotate whenever his lower legs are rotated, and that pulling his turret open makes a gray sculpted "disc" at the center rotate while a scabbard for the tantō hinges over to the side and props itself up for use.

:The vehicle mode is one of the very few Transformer tank toys with rubber components to its treads. Portions of the tread links can unlock, allowing them to hang from the robot mode, while the wheels of the treads are integrated separately into the robot mode form itself. The treads still do not function realistically; small plastic wheels on the underside of the treads help the tank mode roll, as is standard with nearly all Transformer tank toys.

[[File:ROTFBludgeon japanese instructions.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66]]
:There is a paint application error on Bludgeon's rear wheels/thighs, wherein the black [[paint operation]]s, which were meant to help blend his rear wheels in with the black center wheels, are placed on the ''wrong side'', keeping them out of sight in vehicle mode, and behind his thighs in robot mode. The ratcheting hip joint is also flipped 180 degrees from what it should be, with two further ratchet divots on top of the hip than inside of it, meaning the mechanism in the upper leg is trying to click into a smooth surface. The toy seems to have been originally designed to feature light-piping in the head, though this feature is rendered useless with it being cast in the same solid gray plastic used for his arms, weapons, shoulders and Mech Alive features.

:The Japanese [[TakaraTomy]] release of Bludgeon has a different [[instructions|instruction sheet]] that actually labels the weapons as a [[wikipedia:katana|katana]] and [[wikipedia:tantō|tantō]], whereas the Hasbro release doesn't label them at all.

:This mold was [[redeco]]ed into ''[[Transformers (2010 toyline)|Transformers]]'' [[Banzaitron]], and [[retool]]ed into [[BotCon 2012]] [[Overlord (Masterforce)#Timelines|Gigatron]] and ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Generations|Megatron]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2010/Decepticon/Bludgeon/bludgeon.htm More information on ''Voyager''-class Bludgeon at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''G.I. Joe and the Transformers''===
*'''''The Epic Conclusion!'' box set''' ([[2013]])
[[File:SDCC2013Bludgeon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"To a master of Metallikato, your kung-fu grip is slow-motion!"]]
:*''Accessories'': helmet, short sword, long sword, chest armor, cloak

:An [[exclusive]] release for [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2013, this is a 3.75" figure depicting Bludgeon in his Pretender shell. It is a [[retool]] of the ''G.I. Joe Retaliation'' Budo action figure, sporting a new head representing Bludgeon's skeletal visage. The set also comes with a G.I. Joe [[VAMP]] redecoed into [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], a retooled [[Skystriker]] representing [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], a new [[Snake-Eyes]] figure bearing an Autobot symbol, a [[Baroness]] figure with [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] on a leash, and a [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] boombox with cassette pieces representing [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]], [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]], and [[Eject (G1)|Eject]]. Both of Bludgeon's swords feature the same detailing on the front of the blade as Bludgeon's original character model did.

:The box set was announced via a ''USA Today'' [http://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/life/2013/06/05/hasbro-2013-comic-con-exclusives/2392295/ article] on June 5, 2013, along with Hasbro's other Comic-Con exclusives.
{{-}}

==Notes==
*Like [[Stranglehold]] and [[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]], Bludgeon's [[character model]] portrays him with a specialized melee weapon. Bludgeon is consistently drawn with the character model's sword, which has become a trademark, despite his toy lacking one. The character model also seems to include a scabbard for the sword, though that is not included nearly as often. Why all three of these characters are given weapons that don't exist is unknown.
*The only time we see his character model is when it's copied faithfully by [[José Delbo]] in "[[Yesterday's Heroes!]]". (However, [[Robin Smith]] takes another crack at it in [[Fleetway]]'s ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Fleetway)|Generation 2]]'' series, but a tiny few liberties were taken, style-wise.)
*The sword in his character model has unique detailing at the base of the front of the blade. In Delbo's rendition, it looks kind of like a dong. Elsewhere, not so much. Thankfully.
*Bludgeon's outer shell is a "Warrior-Grade Pretender Shell" equipped with an ambient stealth field.<ref>''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'', by [[Simon Furman]]</ref>
*Bludgeon came close to having a new toy on two separate occasions. The first was a planned 6" Titaniums toy, supposedly based on his ''War Within'' design.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/titanium-13/cancelled-titanium-bludgeon-revealed-in-tfw2005-toy-database-164105/ Cancelled Titanium Bludgeon Revealed in TFW2005 Toy Database]</ref> Artist [[Don Figueroa]] then submitted a concept for a [[Unicron Trilogy]] Bludgeon toy way back during the development of the ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' or ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' toylines. Obviously, the concept wasn't put into production as a toy at the time, so Figueroa used it as inspiration for his [[IDW Publishing]] ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' [[Bludgeon (G1)#IDW Generation 1 continuity|rendition of Generation 1 Bludgeon]]. Hasbro considered releasing Bludgeon in the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' line, but put it on hold because of the large number of tank and tank-like vehicles released recently.<ref>[[Bill Rawley]] in an interview for the Transformers Collector's Club magazine: ''"One that comes to mind right away is Bludgeon. We even started early design sketches for him but the fact that he would transform into a tank, in a line that had a lot of tank-like vehicles in it, meant that he would have to be put on hold... for now."''</ref> This design was evidently [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|resurrected]] for the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' line. Figueroa notes that his contribution on this toy is very small, as his work on it ended when he submitted the concept to Hasbro way back when.

===Foreign names===
*''French:'' '''Gourdin''' (Canada, "Club", as in the beat-you-up-with kind)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Husáng''' ("Stick", as in the beat-you-up-with kind)
*''Italian:'' '''Teskior'''

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Armada Decepticons]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Martial artists]]
[[Category:Mayhem Attack Squad]]
[[Category:Pretenders]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Decepticons]]
[[Category:Repurposed toys]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce Decepticons]]
[[Category:Unicron-related characters]]

Talk:Seeker (body-type)

2015-02-08T03:11:29Z

RavenG: /* "Red Wing" character model */ new section

==Additional Pic==

Full catalog page scan.

[[Image:Seekers_ad.jpg|thumb]]
:Does anyone have the page that ran OPPOSITE this one? (It had a GoBots ad, IIRC.) -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 20:20, 4 April 2007 (UTC)
{{-}}

==Older Stuff==
In my opinion, both "Seeker" and "Skyraider" should be capitalized, since both are the formal names of subgroups. In fact, the article itself mentions that "Seeker" is capitalized in the JCPenney catalog, which is the only primary source for the term in which capitalization is even distincted (as opposed to the all-capitals use in TWW). -[[User:LV|LV]] 00:44, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, you're right. I got carried away with my de-capitalizing things thing. --[[User:Steve-o|Steve-o]] 01:05, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

Starscream-types in Armada are known as Seekers too, according to page 13 of the DK Reader 'The Awakening,' ISBN 0-78-94-9741-7

What about something about how the coneheads have radicly different character modles becuse they were desinged by Floro Deary, and not by the takara guys that did the Season 1 designs? --X-BoB

I wouldn't call the coneheads "radically" different, but, sure. I'll toss that in. Also, about the paragraph you inserted:

I'm not sure what "according to 3H" is supposed to mean. Are you referring to a statement that Glen or Tengu or somebody made, or do you just mean that the Seeker characters who appeared in 3H's comics happened to have the same design as BM Jetstorm and his drones?

--[[User:Steve-o|Steve-o]] 04:49, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

I remember Glen or Dan saying that Wreckers Skywarp's body is a common bodytype to the Beast Era, but 1) I'm not sure they said anything about it belonging to the remaining Seekers, 2) I'm not sure it has any relevance to the entry, and 3) the toy Jetstorm looks NOTHING like the show Jetstorm, so I have no idea how one would be based on the other. I'm removing it for now, with the additional note to whomever is consistently misspelling "based" to cut it out. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 05:11, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

If the Jetstorm toy ''is'' the Beast Era Seeker body then that means that within fiction it came before the Aerodrones.[[User:X-BoB58|X-BoB58]] 19:10, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

Oh cool, I didn't know that. I just assumed he' was one of the smaller-drones who was gonna be associated with the Vehicon General body Megatron made for Cyclonus. (That is right, right?) -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 11:48, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

Didn't Cryotek make Cyclonus' body? -XBob
:IIRC, Cyclonus' bio says that he was a botched plan of Megatron's to make him one of his Generals, but his boxart depicts Cryotek. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 19:29, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

I'm not sure I agree with the bits about Seeker "going back to being a fan-term" when DW folded. Especially since it is followed by a remark that it HAS been used officially since.
Once something IS an official term, it can't return to being a fan term. Official is official and "Seeker" is now such.

could they be clones
:Dreamwave's Summer Special explicitly referenced "Air Warrior Clones" who were generic Seekers. So ''some'' Seekers are clones. It's unclear whether they ''all'' are, though it's strongly implied in MTMTE #8 that at least some redeco characters are clones. --[[User:Andrusi|Andrusi]] 21:17, 4 April 2007 (UTC)
::Yes. Sunstorm and ricochet are both clones... in Dreamwave continuity. In non-Dreamwave continuities they're NOT clones. (We even got an explicit origin for one of the TDU incarnations of Sunstorm that mentioned his powers coming from a manufacturing error.) Dreamwave was clone-happy. -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 21:21, 4 April 2007 (UTC)
:::Actually, I was referring to the Summer Special story, where Megatron goes to Beest to find the Predacons and takes a bunch of purple Seekers with him. The title page for that story lists them as "Air Warrior Clones." (Either that, or I'm losing my mind.) --[[User:Andrusi|Andrusi]] 21:24, 4 April 2007 (UTC)
::::Right, that's the Air Cavalry set- the 3 purple PVC's we got as botcon exclusives. But AFAIK, they're supposed to represent 3 survivors (or at least zombie-like salvages) from the hordes of seeker clones in The Age of Wrath. -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 21:28, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

==Strike Planes==
I remembered Seekers being called 'Strike Planes' in catalogues when they first came out in the UK, and finally found something that backs up my memory - see http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/content.php?/transformers-image/toysheets/g1/uksheet01/1.jpg/image.html . Is this worth a mention in the article?

:Interesting! I'll stick it in the article. --[[User:Steve-o|Steve-o]] 05:01, 11 December 2007 (UTC)

::I've just found some old clipping of several 1985 UK store catalogues from 1985 that call the Seeker toys 'Strike Planes' so presumably this was in the Hasbro marketing blurb. Would these be of use or is there enough evidence already? [[User:J'mie|J'mie]] 14:08, 28 August 2010 (EDT)

Another one is the extremely descriptive "Jet Plane" which can be seen in [http://www.flickr.com/photos/38301877@N05/3592674735/in/photostream/ the 1985 Argos catalogue] (also look out for a Conehead Skywarp). As some of the other names/omissions are seen in other early UK adverts (e.g. Soundwave being nameless) there's almost certainly a Hasbro influence in the descriptions. Note also the use of "Trans-Formers". [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] 14:10, 11 April 2011 (EDT)

==Move==
I do think that this should be moved to an article title with SOME form of parenthetical disambiguation. Since there IS another "Seeker" that is a separate concept that DOES have a PD. I'm not wild about "group", but lacking a better term... --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 23:03, 12 January 2008 (UTC)
:I dunno, I think this would be the primary term people would think about when you give the term "Seeker". The minicon is definitely less well known, so I think it could just be noted at the top of this page "for the minicon named Seeker, please see..." --[[User:MistaTee|MistaTee]] 15:09, 15 January 2008 (UTC)
::Except that's inconsistent with everything else that requires a disambig on this wiki. Most people think of G1 Prime when you say "Optimus Prime", but he still has the (G1) tag. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 15:15, 15 January 2008 (UTC)
::I don't think that G1 Prime is comparable, as many other Optimus Primes have plenty of history and backstory. Energon Seeker is a easily forgotten toy that I think should actually be at the bottom of the main Seeker page, as it doesn't have a lot of info on its own. That being said, if the G1 seekers need disambiguation, how about "Seeker (subgroup)" --[[User:MistaTee|MistaTee]] 15:42, 15 January 2008 (UTC)
:::I agree this should sit in a Disambig (and because there are only two of them, let [[Seeker]] direct to this one.) But the Seekers aren't a 'group,' they're a classification. I'd say "Seeker (jets)", but the mini-con ''is'' a jet already. "Seeker (type)"? It looks kinda weird, but it's... really clear. -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 15:33, 15 January 2008 (UTC)
:The page should be moved to be consistent with our revised disambig rules, and plain old "Seeker" should redirect to it. Picking a parenthetical for the page is not trivial, though. The Seekers aren't really an official subgroup (unless they've been declared that recently in some random ad copy someplace) so we shouldn't use that (and I'm going to take that category away). "Group" and "type" are a little vague, but, something clear like "common body type" is too awkward. As soon as somebody as a good idea, I'll be happy to move the article and update all the links with my bot. --[[User:Steve-o|Steve-o]] 22:09, 15 January 2008 (UTC)
::"classification"? "body-type"?
::Also... "''Energon Seeker is a easily forgotten toy that I think should actually be at the bottom of the main Seeker page, as it doesn't have a lot of info on its own.''"... that is a profoundly bad idea. Joe-Stalker isn't on the Predator-Stalker page, and all three Flashes are separated. He's not ''a'' Seeker. He's not even a Decepticon. And as an individual character, no matter how little he does, he should get his own page. Stuffing him on a page ''completely unrelated'' to him makes no sense whatsoever, and would make the categories the page appears in REALLY screwed up. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 22:19, 15 January 2008 (UTC)

== Animated ==

Would it be appropriate now to start a section on the Animated Seekers, or do we have to wait for "Fistful of Energon"?[[User:KrytenKoro|KrytenKoro]] 05:38, 14 May 2008 (UTC)
:We're probably going to wait until they are actually CALLED Seekers. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 06:40, 14 May 2008 (UTC)
::Well, we at least know that there are going to be characters along the same concept. Even if they don't end up being called Seeker's, I think it would be correct to add that a similar group exists in Animated.[[User:KrytenKoro|KrytenKoro]] 21:19, 15 May 2008 (UTC)
'''''SPOILERS, GODDAMMIT.''''' --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 22:05, 15 May 2008 (UTC)
:::...err, no. The actual episodes which introduce the Seekers may have yet to air, but that Starscream clones/twins will appear in the series was announced a while ago. Besides, we have a "Spoilers" tag anyway.[[User:KrytenKoro|KrytenKoro]] 16:54, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

==Movieverse Seekers==
In [[The Reign of Starscream issue 2]], Starscream refers to himself as having "Seeker attributes" on page 7, and refers to Thundercracker as a Seeker on page 20. Although the synopsis has yet to be written for the comic, since it has been released, should this info be added to this page? Just wanted to make sure, since there's been such a freak-out over spoilers lately. --[[User:Nightshade83|Nightshade83]] 00:53, 5 June 2008 (UTC)
: [[Defiance issue 4]] also uses the term Seekers to describe the folks sent to blah blah blah way way back at the dawn of time. Seems to include Jetfire. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 22:57, 19 April 2009 (EDT)

== Questions about the toy section: ==

Are we only counting molds that were redecoed into multiple characters during a franchise or are we including molds that have been in multiple toylines as different characters? For example: the Armada Thrust mold was released as Universe Sunstorm, but this is nowhere mentioned on the page. Also, Cybertron Thundercracker was redecoed as Movie Divebomb.

Movie Dreadwing and Overcast share a mold, but neither is a name that was previously identified as a "Seeker"; do they belong here or not? They are a "family" of jet-mode Decepticons, after all. [[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 14:03, 22 April 2009 (EDT)
Adding on another question: What about the 3" Titanium Starscream and Thundercracker? They DEFINITELY should be here, but I'm not sure if they would go under Toys or Merchandise. [[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 14:12, 22 April 2009 (EDT)

== A second '84-era use of "Seeker" ==
<nowiki>http://pleasesavemerobots.com/vstp/tf84/84_k25nov_zayre.jpg</nowiki> Courtesy crazysteve, here's a November 1984 Zayre circular listing "Decepticon Seekers" for $11.99 a pop. This definitely supports the theory that "Seeker" was used at some early stage, and if the JC Penney catalog and a fairly large regional department store chain both used the term in their advertising, it makes sense that other retailers did too; it's just a matter of finding the evidence. (crazysteve, being crazy, finds these by spending hours in a public library on microfiche readers. i do not have the time for that sort of thing.) [[User:Hooper X|Hooper_X]] 07:47, 19 May 2009 (EDT)
:I can't seem to get the darn thing to load.... --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 02:31, 20 May 2009 (EDT)
::I added a question mark to the end of the URL and well... an image loaded alright, but it wasn't a Zayre circular listing. It appears to be a three-way Beast Wars sex act. -- [[User:Semysane|Semysane]] 04:28, 20 May 2009 (EDT)
:::I can see it, but then I've got an anti-''anti-''hotlink filter. Copy and paste the link. *tells MediaWiki not to render text as a clickable link* - [[User:SanityOrMadness|SanityOrMadness]] 10:08, 20 May 2009 (EDT)
::::Is that 2 YELLOW Cliffjumpers in that picture? Or is the robot mode one actually Bumper? Either way it's an interesting use of non standard toys in the ad.[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 15:21, 8 August 2009 (EDT)
:::::[http://pleasesavemerobots.com/vstp/vstptf84.html This should work]. Text is reproduced on the page, which should help to find it easily.--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] 19:28, 1 December 2009 (EST)
::::::Interesting. Perhaps Seeker was an assortment name? It's the only reason I can think of that different stores would use the same uncommon and specialized terminology. --[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]] 22:57, 1 December 2009 (EST)

== (G1)? ==
Why has this been moved to Seeker (G1) when it contains non-G1 stuff? Is the article going to be split? Is that really necessary? --[[User:KilMichaelMcC|KilMichaelMcC]] 22:19, 23 May 2009 (EDT)
:I agree that the choice of parenthetical doesn't make sense, and came here to the same point as you on that - but the plot of ROTF involves "Seekers" that have no connection to Starscream & co, so it needs '''a''' parenthetical.
:But (G1) isn't it. - [[User:SanityOrMadness|SanityOrMadness]] 19:49, 24 May 2009 (EDT)
::"(G1)" is correct by the standards. It is the first franchise appearance. See [[Sideways (RID)]] and [[Cryotek (RID)]] - [[User:Starfield|Starfield]] 17:21, 26 May 2009 (EDT)
:::Sideways and Cryotek are the exact same character in the multiple continuities, so it makes sense to label them with the first continuity they showed up in.
:::However, this is just a similar concept in multiple continuities. The Movie Seekers may have a similar ''concept'' to G1 Seekers, but the Movie Seekers as a ''specific group'' showed up first in the Movies, not G1.
:::But I guess the operative question is, do we have any other non-character multiple-continuity-spanning articles with parentheticals to study as a precedent? Energon (G1) got moved to Energon (fuel), and that's the only one I know of right off the top of my head. --[[User:Jeysie|Jeysie]] 17:36, 26 May 2009 (EDT)
::::The ROTF "Seekers" have a very specific ''function'' which is unrelated to body types. Not the same thing as Starscream/Thundercracker/Skywarp/etc at all.
::::And a concept should have a parenthetical after the concept, even if it's something basic like "Seeker (jets)". Not after a franchise. - [[User:SanityOrMadness|SanityOrMadness]] 17:47, 26 May 2009 (EDT)
:::::You say it should, but I fail to see why the system that works for characters doesn't work here. The Movie and ROTF Seekers are to be split out because they are not the same thing as the G1 Seekers at all. Ditto for Shattered Glass Seekers. That leaves almost completely G1 material, with one Armada reference. [[User:Interrobang|—Interrobang]] 19:57, 26 May 2009 (EDT)
::::::The modern use of Movie seekers (the elite unit including Starscream and Thundercracker) could probably stay here. - [[User:Starfield|Starfield]] 20:01, 26 May 2009 (EDT)
:::::::Well, that's not going to be the MAIN use of "Seeker" in the Movie continuity family, but it's a valid use and should probably stay on this page if it's referring to "Starscream clones".
:::::::And that's the main use of this page, to refer to reuses of the Starscream [[body-type]] in various continuities and continuity families. Given that this page includes at least four continuity families (G1, UT, Animated and Movie), I fail to see how [[Seeker (body-type)]] would be less vague and open to confusion, since it explicitly ties in to an existing article. Especially since it very clearly disambiguates from the ROTF use of "Seeker".
:::::::I certainly don't believe that disambiguating by franchise always works for characters as well as Interrobang alleges, especially for franchise-jumpers like Sideways (whose whole claim to be an "RID" character is based on a case the article admits is "not airtight" involving an obscure Wal-Mart-exclusive toy with the same name and some Japanese-exclusive publicity material - hell, on that score, given the Japanese Car Robots retcons, it should probably be Sideways (G1)...) - [[User:SanityOrMadness|SanityOrMadness]] 21:39, 26 May 2009 (EDT)

"Seeker (body-type)" seems a bit vague, since there are multiple body-types. How about "Seeker (classification)"? That sorta straddles a border between body class and function, which seem to be how Seekers are used. -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 21:45, 26 May 2009 (EDT)
:Movie Seekers could be a "body-type" that can cross interstellar space. They could also be a "classification." How about "Seeker (J.C. Penny wishbook)"? - [[User:Starfield|Starfield]] 22:20, 26 May 2009 (EDT)

== Merge or delete ==
Is it really necessary to have separate articles for [[Seeker (SG)]], [[Seeker (Movie)]], and [[Seeker (ROTF)]] in addition to the coverage given those uses of the term here? Two of the three are only stubs, and even the ROTF article is fairly short. It would seem that either the relevant material should be removed from this article or those articles should be deleted. [[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 11:33, 12 August 2009 (EDT)
:The answer is in the discussion right above you. Namely, it was decided that this and the other Seeker types are all completely different concepts rather than minor variations on the same concept. The amount of info available has no relevance on the question. --[[User:Jeysie|Jeysie]] 11:38, 12 August 2009 (EDT)
::Addendum: Plus that reminds me that the SG Seeker page really should be on my list of SG articles to update. *adds* --[[User:Jeysie|Jeysie]] 11:42, 12 August 2009 (EDT)
:::Then why retain so much about the Unicron Trilogy and Movieverse seekers on this page? If they are separate enough to warrant their own articles, they are separate enough NOT to be in this article. The disambiguation link would be enough.[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 12:01, 12 August 2009 (EDT)

Is it really necessary to have a page for Optimus Prime for each continuity? YES! The word "Seeker" has different
definitions to SG, Movie and ROTF.

== Propose renaming this article to Seeker (G1) ==

Given that there are now articles for [Seeker (SG)], [Seeker (Movie)], and [Seeker (ROTF)] as well as [Starscream clone] and a section on "hunter-seeker skyships" at [Ferak]; I propose that this page be renamed (and slightly redone) as Seeker (G1). Much information here would remain as is. However; sections 3 (Unicron trilogy), 4 (Live-action movie), 5 (Shattered Glass) and some parts of section 8 (toys, specifically 8.3, 8.10, 8.11) would be transferred to the appropriate pages. This would necessitate the creation of 1 new page: Seeker (Unicron trilogy). Toy section 8.7 would be modified to mention that the Legends of Cybertron mold was used for [Ramjet (G1)] despite being used primarily for characters from other franchises. Toy section 8.6 is somewhat unclear as to whether the characters mentioned are all G1, all other franchises, or a mixture of the two. The note in the first paragraph (and also the Decepticons in later franchises such as Armada where similar "families" of jets appear) would be changed to a simple statement that the G1 group inspired similar groups in later franchises, with the disambiguation page serving to lead readers to these other pages. Much of the information is already in place on the other pages, this process would simply insure that nothing was lost. The disambiguation page already seems to effectively treat this page as Seeker (G1). Changing the name would serve to clarify the distinctions between the similar groups. Also, this would prevent "drift" as data relevant to other lines would be placed on those pages entirely and not haphazardly here or there or both randomly. Opinions? [[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 23:03, 23 August 2009 (EDT)
:NO.--[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]][[User Talk:Rosicrucian|Talk]] 23:06, 23 August 2009 (EDT)
::Haven't we already covered this twice on this very page? --[[User:Jeysie|Jeysie]] 23:31, 23 August 2009 (EDT)
:::THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM I GUESS. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 23:41, 23 August 2009 (EDT)
::::It just seems strange that this page contains information on similar groups from multiple continuities including some with their own pages already. It seemed to me that that was what disambiguation pages were for. I had made this proposal because I felt that Jeysie had misunderstood my previous one. That happens to me fairly often. If no one else seems confused, I will not press further. [[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 23:56, 23 August 2009 (EDT)

That said, shouldn't [[Seeker (Movie)]] (not to be confused with the ROTF Seekers) be merged into here, while the stuff about the SG Seekers should be removed from this page entirely? A touch of cleanup couldn't hurt. - [[User:SanityOrMadness|SanityOrMadness]] 21:12, 24 August 2009 (EDT)
:For consistency, I think you're right. Khajidha has a valid point, that right now the situation between all the various "Seeker" pages is confused. In fact, between this page's description of the Movie Seekers and the [[Seeker (Movie)]] description, I can't tell if that "Seeker" is really a body-type designation or just indicating membership of a team. Does anyone have that issue of the comic and can give us some hard quotes?
:But while I'm basically in agreement with you in terms of status-quo maintenance, I'm not sure what the ideal content and title of this page ought to be. For one thing, I'm leaning towards the "(G1)" side because this article only talks about other franchises ''in relation to G1.'' The "Unicron Trilogy" section openly ''brushes aside'' that universe's definition of "Seeker" just to talk about how the toy designers made some G1 homages. The SG stuff, as you say, has no place here. And the Movie Seekers, while officially Seekers in the traditional way, don't really add anything of substance to the concept. They seem to be just another parroting of the G1 idea, albeit with more in-fiction backup than their UT equivalent.
:So, if it's correct to say that this article is essentially G1-focused, then the question arises of what non-G1 stuff actually belongs here. I'm.... not ready to say [[Seeker (Movie)]] really doesn't deserve its own page. I think it depends on how much meat can be found in that comic issue. My instinct is to prune the hell out of the non-G1 content until it's just a few sentences and a bunch of "See this other article for more info" notes. But that's more an idle thought than an actual proposal.
:Overall, I agree with those above who have said that "(body type)" is an awkward, possibly-inaccurate parenthetical. But it's an awkward article, and I feel like streamlining it will help settle the titling question.
:- [[User:Jackpot|Jackpot]] 23:54, 24 August 2009 (EDT)

You don't need to read anything above. Just read this: Naming this page Seeker (G1) is a ridiculous idea, considering that it describes the Seeker body-type in all continuities, not just G1.

==The 'Lady in Purple'==
What or who is it? I've never heard of a possibly female Seeker in g1--[[Special:Contributions/91.113.121.205|91.113.121.205]] 19:10, 4 March 2010 (EST)
:There wasn't any female Seekers in G1. The "Lady in Purple" was apparently from some fan fiction. - [[User:Starfield|Starfield]] 19:19, 4 March 2010 (EST)
:There's a vaguely female-looking seeker in one shot of MTMTE part 3, which fanon has retconned into being female. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 19:30, 4 March 2010 (EST)
::I know which "character" it is, but that's only because I accidentally found that information on another site long ago. Perhaps someone more in the know could write a short article for the character/add the remaining information to this article? Because as it is now, I find the mention of something that's supposedly "infamous" yet seemingly surprisingly obscure confusing. [[User:Geewunling|Geewunling]] 01:42, 5 March 2010 (EST)
:::There is no "character" for an article to be written for. We don't have articles for single generics who don't do anything but fill out group shots. --[[User:KilMichaelMcC|KilMichaelMcC]] 12:18, 5 March 2010 (EST)
::::She's a "Raksha-creation", right? A trivia note on Raksha's page to link to would be all needed. That, or the info on LiP should be outright deleted since it's only confusing like this. [[User:Geewunling|Geewunling]] 12:33, 5 March 2010 (EST)

''Slipstream is not fan fiction. She is in Generation 1 video games. This wiki is not just about the cartoons and movies.''
:This is from 3 frickin years ago, they're talking about someone else. Sign your posts. [[User:Escargon|Escargon]] 18:39, 18 September 2013 (EDT)

=="Origin of term "Seeker""==
I don't think it's that odd that the JC Penny catalogs could've started the trend among a whole legion of Transfans. I remember those catologs being in heavy rotation. You were mailed them quite often. I also remember the "seeker" term from far back even before the internet. I definitely picked it up before then so it was probably from the book [[User:Riddlerj|Riddlerj]] 13:58, 27 April 2010 (EDT)
::Also, those of us not rich enough to afford the toys often held on to the catalog pages for long periods of time. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 14:05, 27 April 2010 (EDT)

==The Section on G1 Seekers==
I notice that the G1 section is essentially a list of the different categories (Coneheads, Skyraiders etc), whereas the sections on other continuities go into what being a seeker actually is. AHM and then the Ongoing (esp. Issue 4) gave us a more detailed look at the meaning of this term (in the IDW G1 continuity anyway), with why they all look the same, what their purpose is among the Decepticon army and other various intricacies explored. Should we have a section on this? It seems quite pertinent and I feel that the G1 seeker section is lacking in information (it seems like more of a list if I'm being honest). --[[User:SharkyMcShark|SharkyMcShark]] 01:10, 12 July 2010 (EDT)

I've added a section under the G1 seekers heading for the IDW comics continuity. --[[User:SharkyMcShark|SharkyMcShark]] 23:53, 12 July 2010 (EDT)

==Toys==
Should we maybe add Armada Thrust, since he was redecoed into a Sunstorm? Also maybe G2 Skyquake/Machine Wars Starscream since Botcon 2009 has Skyquake as a seeker. And fore that matter Energon Starscream got redecoed twice for Botcon 2009, with both Skyquake and Leozack being seekers there for sure--[[User:BlackStarscream|BlackStarscream]] 19:50, 15 July 2011 (EDT)

=="Classic Pretender" Seekers==
Do [[:Image:PretenderClassicsBoxArt.jpg|these guys]] count? Was flicking through some old comics the other day and the green Starscream leapt out at me. --[[User:Emvee|Emvee]] 17:40, 12 August 2011 (EDT)

:Wow. I've looked at that pic plenty of times and it never occurred to me that we were seeing a squad of alt-colored Pretender Starscream there. I'd vote for counting them.--[[Special:Contributions/76.28.76.206|76.28.76.206]] 19:12, 12 August 2011 (EDT)

== Where is the "Go" image for this page from? ==
[[Image:GB-SeekerGroup.jpg|thumb]]

The Seeker in the image doesn't look like it's listed on this page. Just to make it easier for people to answer me, here is the image. {{unsigned|RavenG}}
:Is that Dirge?[[Special:Contributions/192.249.47.196|192.249.47.196]] 12:07, 12 December 2011 (EST)
::I'm curious about this too. [[User:Antimatter|Antimatter]] 23:39, 27 December 2011 (EST)
{{--}}
:::I thought it might be from Sticker Adventures, but apparently not. Just a really close clone: [http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~sstoneb/tf/books/sticker/return/return.html] --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 23:55, 27 December 2011 (EST)
::::It's from a punch-out book. I have big scans of it somewhere... --[[User:Monzo|Monzo]] 08:42, 28 December 2011 (EST)
:::::I've got scans I downloaded from somewhere (quite possibly from your site, Monzo). There's also a grey bodied jet with red wings. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 13:38, 28 December 2011 (EST)

== Comic-Magazin Seeker. ==

I added the the Seeker from the German comics. This is my very first contribution to the wiki so I hope everything is acceptable.
--[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] 05:23, 12 December 2011 (EST)

== Classics mold ==

I've just gone through and redid the section on the Classics Seeker mold. If no one objects, I plan on removing the never ending list of redecoes and retools from the individual pages and simply inserting a link to the Classics section on this page. This should help keep the various pages from getting out of date to varying degrees. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 16:51, 14 March 2012 (EDT)

==Another 1984 use of "Seeker" ==
Interestingly enough, it's also in the earliest known newspaper ad for TF products - [http://newspaperarchive.com/panama-city-news-herald/1984-04-29/page-155 April 29, 1984]. It's SO early that the ad copy has to explain THESE ARE THE GOOD GUYS AND THESE ARE THE BAD GUYS. This is REALLY early ad copy, so someone, somewhere, had this "Seeker" thing very very early on. Crazysteve (who knows these things) says this actually predates Hasbro employees' recollections of when the toys hit shelves (the general consensus was "sometime in May.) Interesting! [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 09:02, 1 August 2012 (EDT)
:And the mini-cars are described as "drones". Weird. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 09:15, 1 August 2012 (EDT)

== Chrome Seekers on Spacebridge Facebook Page ==
"The Spacebridge" just revealed samples of 4 unreleased shiny repaints of the Diaclone mold, one of which was the Takara 'book-reissue' Starscream with Megatron gun. They were potential retailer-exclusive contest prizes...I didn't quite understand it myself. This naturally means new entries to Screamer, Thundercracker, and Sunstorm's toy sections, plus the the 1984 toy section for this page, but the all silver one I'm not sure about. Is there a precedent for that? Unless/until they find documents confirming he was supposed to be an established character, should he have his own page: "Silver Chome Seeker" + unofficial-name tag? Or does he just become a footnote here? [[User:Bumblevivisector|Bumblevivisector]] 20:38, 9 July 2013 (EDT)

== Aligned continuity Seekers ==

This page should be concentrating on the Seeker body-type. The Aligned continuity section of this page contains all the members of the Energon Seekers, a team of jet-based Transformers. Not all members of this Seeker team are of the Seeker body-type. We should be spending time to determine which ones are Seekers and which ones are just in the Seeker team. -- Dreadwing has never been of the Seeker-body type in previous continuities. In the Prime cartoon, he is a part of the Seeker TEAM but if he were truly of the Seeker BODY-TYPE, why isn't his TWIN a Seeker too? -- Jetfire has never been of the Seeker body-type in other continuities and in Aligned, he does not resemble any of the other Seekers. -- Nacelle and Contrail have never existed in other continuities, and Contrail does not appear to be of the Seeker-body type. -- The Ace Vehicons (silver Jet Vehicons) are considered Seekers by Starscream. It is not sure whether they are called Seekers under a different definition. If Ace Vehicons are of the Seeker body-type, why aren't the standard purple Jet Vehicons also Seekers? -- All other Seekers in the Seeker team are definitely of the Seeker body-type. {{unsigned|Leo1452}}
:A) Sign your posts, and B) Aligned Continuity Seekers are basically "any flying Decepticon who has a jet-like altmode." Or at least, that's how it was both during and before the Great War. By the time of TF: Prime, though, the term has apparently become more selective (with only specific individuals having belonged to the Seekers since the group no longer officially exists in the present day), but still not tied to any specific body design. --[[User:Sabrblade|Sabrblade]] 18:36, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
::Nnnooo. If it's called a seeker, it's a seeker. [[User:Escargon|Escargon]] 18:37, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
:::This page is for the BODY-TYPE. The word "Seeker" can refer to many things, some of which are not the BODY-TYPE. Which Seeker from the Energon Seekers are of the Seeker BODY-TYPE? I know that the Energon Seekers is not tied to specific body-types. I'm just saying that we should determine which characters of the Aligned continuity are of the BODY-TYPE. [[User:Leo1452|King Kid]] 18:45, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
::::Look, the body type diambiguation really only applies to the G1 and Animated versions. [[User:Escargon|Escargon]] 18:47, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
:::::Since the movies, it's been less a "body type" and more a subgroup, I guess. Seekers don't even need to fly, since some of the movie seekers turn into cars. Maybe this article just needs to have a new parenthetical? --[[User:Abates|abates]] 18:48, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
::::::Or maybe it needs to be split as I've suggested before. There is a need for a page about the ''term'' Seeker which this page is sort of trying to fill but it is buried in what Seekers are in each continuity family. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 19:28, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
:::::::Movie has 3 definitions for Seekers, ONE of which is a team of Decepticons of the same body-type. [[User:Leo1452|King Kid]] 18:49, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
::::::::I understand that body-type in Seekers has become less important over the years. The Unicron Trilogy definition for Seekers is any jet-based Decepticon, but there were still come Seekers of the same design (Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker). It has been said that Aligned Seekers often, but not always, have similar designs. Can't we spend some time to determine which ones in Aligned are of similar design? [[User:Leo1452|King Kid]] 18:53, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
:::::::::That's easy, but still, not going to change the facts. [[User:Escargon|Escargon]] 19:03, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
::::::::::What facts? [[User:Leo1452|King Kid]] 19:11, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
:::::::::::That the Seekers of the Aligned Continuity do not all share the exact same general body design despite their all still being Seekers.
:::::::::::Also, this term "Energon Seekers" you keep tossing around is nothing special. Starscream's claim of having been the leader of them just refers to the entire Seeker Air Command itself. Any claims of "Energon Seekers" being anything different from just "Seekers" in general (strictly regarding the Aligned Continuity that is) are fanon. --[[User:Sabrblade|Sabrblade]] 19:50, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
:::::::::::::Not fanon. He refers to them as Energon Seekers. Even though that isn't the principal name for it, I'm using it to help differentiate. Anyways, although the term Seeker is becoming less of a body-type and more of a team, almost in every continuity Starscream has followers identical or similar in body-type to him. G1 has the Seekers who are of the same body-type as him. Beast Wars Terrorsaur(who provides a similar effect as G1 Starscream on the series)'s Cybertron mode is identical to Waspinator's Cybertron mode. BWII Starscream has his fellow Jet Warriors Dirge and Thrust. Armada Starscream has Skywarp and Thundercracker with identical body-types to him. Movie Starscream has his team of nearly identical Seekers. Animated Starscream has his clones. What does Aligned Starscream have? I remember that he once had a squad of clones but that was only in 1 episode of Prime. That can't be it. Are the Ace Vehicons meant to give the same effect as the Seekers he leads in G1? --[[User:Leo1452|King Kid]] 21:41, 18 September 2-13 (EDT)
::::::::::::::The silver Vehicons are referred to in multiple episodes as seekers, ISTR. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 21:50, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
:::::::::::::::Thank you. Are they meant to give the same effect as the Seekers that G1 Starscream leads? And do these Ace Vehicons have a similar design to Starscream? I understand that they also transform into jets and they have a similar paint job but is the body-type the same? --[[User:Leo1452|King Kid]] 21:57, 18 September 2-13 (EDT)
::::::::::::::::They transform into the same alt-mode as the regular jet vehicons (essentially a car with wings) so they're not Earth jets like Starscream is, no. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 22:18, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
:::::::::::::::::Do the Ace Vehicons appear in Prime season 1? Also, are they lead by Starscream? Is the name "Ace Vehicon" the official term? Was the term ever used in the Prime cartoon? --[[User:Leo1452|King Kid]] 22:47, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
::::::::::::::::::The term "Ace Vehicon" is from the toy; they were referred to exclusively as "seekers" in the cartoon. They only appear in season 3. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 23:15, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
::::::::::::::::::::The Seekers of Aligned continuity, excluding Starscream, include the Ace Vehicons, Blitstream, Contrail, Dreadwing, Hotlink, Jetfire, Nacelle, Skywarp, Slipstream and Thundercracker. Out of these Seekers, only Blitstream, Hotlink, Skywarp, Slipstream and Thundercracker can be confirmed as of the same body-type of Starscream (if no one disagrees with this then it should be noted in the article). No direct indication is needed to know that. They bear the same names as their G1 counterparts, whom they are influenced by. -- Dreadwing has never been of the same design as Starscream in other continuities (unless you consider the Movie continuity Dreadwing a Seeker, though that is still under questioning), and even though he transforms in a similar way to Starscream, he doesn't resemble him at all in Prime. He probably isn't of the same body-type as Starscream. -- Jetfire has never been of the same design as Starscream in other continuities. He doesn't resemble Starscream so he probably isn't of Starscream's design. -- Nacelle and Contrail do not exist in any other continuities. I've seen Contrail and he looks nothing like Starscream, and he definitely doesn't transform in a similar way. He probably isn't of the same design. Nacelle, I've never seen. -- The Ace Vehicons have the same paint job but definitely not the same body-type as Starscream. -- Am I right to assume that in the Aligned continuity, Dreadwing, Jetfire, Contrail and the Ace Vehicons are not of the same design as Starscream? [[User:Leo1452|King Kid]] 23:45, 18 September 2013 (EDT)
Out of curiosity, have you even watched the show, or played any of the games, or read any of the books or comics? What makes one a Seeker in the Aligned Continuity is their having been called a Seeker. All of the individuals listed under the aligned continuity section of this page are Seekers because they have been said to be Seekers, regardless of whether they look like Starscream or not. --[[User:Sabrblade|Sabrblade]] 09:21, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
:That appears to be the entire point of the discussion: This article is titled Seeker '''(BODY TYPE)''', so why is a section of it listing non-body-type-sharing Seekers? Something probably needs to change, either the title or the content. --[[User:KilMichaelMcC|KilMichaelMcC]] 10:14, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
::I think this article suffers by trying to be a grab-bag of every instance of "Seeker". Wouldn't it be better to split it up by continuity family? (Have the UT characters even been called Seekers?) [[User:Mimi|Mimi]] 10:40, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
:::Sabrblade, are you having trouble understanding what I am saying? I only asked who is of the same body-type. I have stopped asking a loooooooooooooong time ago which of the Aligned Seekers are of the Seeker body-type because now I know that Aligned has no body-type called "Seeker." I am watching the Prime cartoon as it is airing. I have done my research and what I ask in this discussion is what I cannot find through this research. The reason that it seems that I am asking stupid questions is that my initial question that started this discussion may have appeared stupid to YOU, so affecting the way you look at any words I say. You have been nothing but condescending. You have shown disrespect to me only for asking what others' opinions are on various subjects. I have not stated any false information while you have. (Not ANY jet-based Aligned DECEPTICONS are Seekers. The Energon Seekers have existed long before the formation of the Decepticons. Not all Seekers joined the Decepticons; some are Autobots. Also, there are MANY non-Seeker jet-based Decepticons who aren't Seekers. -- ALSO, you called something that you didn't know "fanon.") The "hugeness" of your interest for Transformers does not determine the credibility of your information, nor does it justify judgement of "lesser" fans. I am sorry for pointing this out. I only want this discussion to be a friendly debate, not a chance for you to hit down a fellow fan's ideas. I understand that discussion pages are not for personal subjects but this is an exception that needed to be make this talk a more insightful one. --[[User:Leo1452|King Kid]] 17:03, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
::::KilMichaelMcC, I understand what you mean. Even though the body-type of Aligned Starscream isn't called "Seeker," we should try to only list Transformers of the same body-type as Starscream in the Aligned section. Then, maybe, we could have a separate page for the Energon Seekers (team) composed of those jet-based Transformers who look for Energon. --[[User:Leo1452|King Kid]] 17:11, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
:::::Look, Energon Seekers are the exact same thing as regular Seekers. If it's called a seeker, then it's a goddamn seeker. Also, Sabrblade is just showing that what the fiction is saying. We don't go agaisnt the fiction. And he's not exactly hitting you're ideas. Just pointing out the facts. [[User:Escargon|Escargon]] 17:36, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
::::::I think if Starscream's bodytype is not what makes him a seeker, then we should not be listing it as a seeker bodytype. IMHO that only increases the argument to rename this "Seeker (subgroup)". I don't know if I agree with splitting it by continuity family, but that's another option. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 17:40, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
:::::::Yes, subgroup does sound a lot better. [[User:Escargon|Escargon]] 19:23, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
::::::::Escargon, Sabrblade was not pointing out facts. If you paid attention and research what he said as well as pay attention to DETAIL in the articles of multiple wikis and guides, you'd know that he has only said ONE fact: that the Energon Seekers are currently non-existent. You are not showing what the fiction is. You are assuming and creating your own fiction. I am only asking questions for things that the fiction has not been clear enough about. The Energon Seekers are NOT THE SAME THING as the Seekers you incorrectly called "regular." Time and time again, you have either ignored or misunderstood that THE TERM SEEKER HAS MULTIPLE DEFINITIONS. A character can be called a Seeker and not be of the body-type. Once again I say that THIS PAGE IS SUPPOSED TO FOCUS ON THE BODY-TYPE AND ONLY THE BODY TYPE. Please do not argue further with this. Know the facts. Know the fiction. -- Now, we can already be sure that Skywarp, Thundercracker, Slipstream, Bitstream and Hotlink are of the same body-type as Starscream. The Ace Vehicons, Dreadwing, Jetfire, Nacelle and Contrail are still under questioning. We'd need to turn to more reliable sources outside of this wiki to determine if they are of the same body-type as Starscream. Also, WFC on DS features Dirge and Thrust. Why were they not listed? --[[User:Leo1452|King Kid]] 18:29, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
:::::::::Dirge and Thrust are not listed because they we're never called seekers. It's fanon if you think they we're. Plus, we don't know if what holds true for a G1 universe (Hotlink and Bitstream sharing Seeker body types) even means they look like Starscream in Alinged.
::::::::::Also, I'd support a move to Group, over Body type. [[User:Escargon|Escargon]] 18:35, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
:::::::::::There are hundreds of Air Warriors in the background of comics and cartoons without names. They were never referred to as Seekers. It is implied. If Dirge and Thrust truly are not Seekers in Aligned, which I am not saying is impossible, we need to prove it. If we cannot prove it, we'll need to at least mention them. For example: "Dirge and Thrust were featured in both Autobot and Decepticon versions of War For Cybertron on Nintendo DS, though they have never been directly referred to as Seekers." Or something like that. And yes, I am only assuming that Bitstream and Hotlink are Seekers. We'd need to prove that they are of the same body-type as Starscream. --[[User:Leo1452|King Kid]] 18:47, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
:::::::::::::This is starting to sound a lot like fanon. We only use what we see in fiction, and for now, that means Dirge and Ramjet (not Thrust.) are not Seekers. I say we just move this thing to Group already.
::::::::::::::You have to understand that isn't fanon to mention that certain characters who perfectly fit under the category of Seekers, but have never been referred to as Seekers, isn't fanon. It's simply noting something to DECREASE assumptions. For example, on disambiguation pages, there is often a "not to be confused with" section of the page. --[[User:Leo1452|King Kid]]
:::::::::::::::Why do you keep saying Bitstream and Hotlink are the same body-type as Starscream? Also, why do you think there is any body-type called a Seeker in the Aligned continuity besides the WFC "Energon Seeker" that we only know three people had once millions of years ago? -[[User:LV|LV]] 19:39, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
::::::::::::::::Are you serious? Are you freaking kidding me? I only said that Bitstream and Hotlink were of the same design as Starscream ONCE, and was corrected. I said that we need to prove that they AREN'T the same body-type as Starscream. And I did NOT say that there is a body type called "Seeker" in Aligned. I said that there ISN'T and that the term "Seeker" in Aligned refers to the team, NOT a body-type. And Energon Seekers isn't a body type and it is clear that there are far more than 3 NAMED Energon Seekers from years ago. I don't know what you were on when you read what I wrote and your sources for your "facts" are probably ComicVine and Fanfiction.net. Know the facts. Know the fiction. We have already established the things you are bringing back up long ago. --[[User:Leo1452|King Kid]] 21:31, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
:::::::::::::::::The day we have to prove that characters we've never seen aren't the same body-type as other characters is the day cretins like you overrun the wiki. -[[User:LV|LV]] 21:49, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
:Can we please keep the discussion a bit more civil? --[[User:Abates|abates]] 21:51, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
::This whole argument was unnecessary. In the Aligned continuity, the term "seeker" does not refer to a body-type, but a group. Although the term is very ambiguous in this reality, it is definetly not a body-type. Aligned continuity seekers should have a page separate from this body-type page. [[User:Leo1452|King Kid]] 10:31, 23 April 2014 (EDT)
:::Personally I'd tend towards renaming this article to "(subgroup)" since that seems to be the most common way "Seeker" is used. Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp don't even share a bodytype in IDW any more, but ISTR they're still referred to as "Seekers". --[[User:Abates|abates]] ([[User talk:Abates|talk]]) 22:41, 23 April 2014 (EDT)

== Seeker (group) ==
So I'm thinking that we really need to rename this page Seeker (group). Given the discussion right above this one, as well as a few others on this page, it's abundantly clear that outside of G1 the Seekers don't necessarily share a body type as the page would suggest. Additionally, the concept of a Seeker body type would not be lost, as the identifying factor of being a member of the Seekers within G1 is their body anyway, so this page innately represents both the group and the body type. This would also legitimize the mention of the SG Seekers since they are the mirror universe equivalent of the usual jets, and more odd groups like the movie and Alligned Seekers.--[[User:BlackStarscream|BlackStarscream]] ([[User talk:BlackStarscream|talk]]) 04:20, 31 January 2014 (EST)
:"(subgroup)" might fit more in line with the typical TF terms, but yeah this title might fit better than it currently is. --[[User:Sabrblade|Sabrblade]] ([[User talk:Sabrblade|talk]]) 08:23, 31 January 2014 (EST)
:: I should note that the parenthetical doesn't have to include every iteration listed on the page. Parentheticals are more about the original usage than the inevitable drift. We *can* massage the page title to be more inclusive, but it is definitely not necessary by wiki law or anything. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] ([[User talk:ItsWalky|talk]]) 12:46, 31 January 2014 (EST)

== "Red Wing" character model ==

I don't think this should be here. For starters it isn't actually Red Wing, it's one of the models Derik made made for his "squinting at blown up pixelated background characters" Roadblocking Rainmakers articles (which can be found here http://deriksmith.livejournal.com/).
Now I'm not sure if those seekers should be added to this page or not, but the red guy should definitely not be here labeled as Red Wing.[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] ([[User talk:RavenG|talk]]) 22:11, 7 February 2015 (EST)

Divide and Conquer

2014-08-06T10:25:47Z

RavenG: Undo revision 890428 by Supernova222 (talk) Highly doubtful and useless speculation.

{{disambig2|the Generation 1 cartoon episode|the Marvel UK comic|Divide and Conquer!}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=6
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=6
|prev2=Roll for It
|next2=S.O.S. Dinobots
|image=FHE-DivideAndConquer.jpg
|caption="And I, Starscream, am now leader of the Autobots!"
|title="Divide and Conquer"
|production code=#700-03
|airdate=[[October 20]], 1984
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Autobots must journey to Cybertron to retrieve a vital piece of technology to save the life of the critically wounded Optimus Prime.'''

{{TOCclear}}
==Synopsis==
[[Image:DivideandConquer MegatronENEMY poster.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Join the guys we shoot at, now!]]

[[Earth]] factories are busily preparing weaponry for use against the [[Decepticon]] menace. [[Chip Chase]] is inspecting one such facility, where the administrators hope he can develop new methods to improve the efficiency of weapons production. The Decepticon [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] suddenly attack the factory, breaching its walls and landing inside. They begin draining the factory of its energy, but have not noticed Chip, who sends out a distress signal to the [[Autobot]]s.

[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] are on a search mission, fruitlessly looking for any trace of the Decepticon [[space bridge]]. Prime intercepts Chip's call for help, and orders the Autobots at the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to meet him at the munitions plant. Prime arrives at the scene first, and is outnumbered three-to-one. A stray shot hits one of the massive computer banks, which begins a critical meltdown and overload. Prime attempts to shield the humans from the inevitable explosion with his own body. The blast tears through Prime, and the Decepticons take advantage of his weakened state to nail him. Prime collapses under fire.

[[Image:Divide and conquer.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Ohhh, that's REALLY gonna leave a mark on the Matrix.]]

The Seekers hear the approach of the other Autobots, and following [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s orders, retreat with the [[energon cube]]s. The Autobots find Prime's badly damaged form and take it back to base. Prime’s power relays are fused. His mobility limited. His speech… slow… and labored. Part replacement… essential….

Wanting to confirm Prime's condition, Megatron dispatches [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] to the Ark to spy on [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s efforts to repair Prime. Optimus's [[electropulse]] is fading. At Megatron’s command, Laserbeak attacks the incredibly vulnerable Prime, tearing into his exposed chest cavity and causing a tremendous explosion.

[[Image:DivideandConquer shutupHuffer.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Shut up, Rattrap.]]

It's more smoke and sparks than fiery blast, and Prime survives the explosion, though his energy is fading fast. His very [[laser core]] is at risk of snuffing out, and Ratchet needs a [[cosmitron]] to keep his Prime's energy levels from draining. Wheeljack only knows of one in existence, but it’s in his shop back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], which the Decepticons had placed under a computerized lock. The Autobots need to get back to their homeworld and pick this lock. Naturally, Chip Chase is the only one of them familiar enough with Cybertronian computers to make this possible.

[[Image:DivideandConquer Farewellwarrior.jpg|right|150px|thumb|If I tell you go, then you GO!]]

Chip uses [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to do what Optimus could not: triangulate the likely coordinates for the Space Bridge’s next appearance. Following Chip’s detective work, the Autobots drive into the woods and discover the Space Bridge site. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] oversee the transport of a shuttle module filled with Energon cubes, with a hapless [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]]-type soldier sent to pilot it across the gulf of interstellar space. With the Autobots' arrival, a fray breaks out–and so does a sudden thunderstorm.

[[Image:DivideandConquer Rainmakerclouds.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Red clouds in morning, Autobots take warning]]

Surprisingly, Megatron (who has been monitoring the battle) orders the Decepticons to let the Autobots win. The thunderstorm has given him an idea, but he does not elaborate. The Autobots—[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]—drive into the Space Bridge and are teleported to [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Shockwave’s base]]. They blast their way past a shocked Shockwave and into Cybertron’s streets. Megatron orders the [[Rainmaker]]s to destroy the Autobot infiltrators with [[acid rain]].

At [[Wheeljack's workshop]], Chip works his way past the locking mechanism, and Ironhide instantly finds the cosmitron. Outside, a trio of Seekers somehow seed the clouds over the workshop so they produce incredibly debilitating acid rain.

[[Image:DivideandConquer Starscreampowerfist.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"SHIIIINING FINGEEEEER!"]]

The acid rain shorts the circuitry of the Autobots, who collapse at the touch of the deadly downpour. Chip is immune to the rain’s effects, and implores the Autobots to continue. Trailbreaker musters up the energy to project his force-field, sheltering the Autobots from the rain, giving their automatic repair systems time to kick in. Bluestreak fires some blasts into the clouds overhead, dispersing the rainmaking seekers and the toxic clouds. Rejuvenated, the Autobots return to Shockwave’s tower and ride the Space Bridge back to Earth.

On Earth, Megatron recognizes that without Prime, the conquest of the Autobots is a foregone conclusion. He leads an attack on the Ark. The Autobots recognize the hopeless battle up ahead, but Spike musters up his courage, grabs [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]]'s rifle, and rallies the troops. He even manages to inspire perpetual downer [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] to take charge.

[[Image:DivideandConquer Bring It.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"You talking to me? You talking to me? I don't see no one else here!"]]

An enormous battle breaks out in front of the Ark, just as the Autobot mission returns from Cybertron. Chip and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] race the cosmitron to Prime. Optimus emerges in time to personally challenge Megatron and soundly beats him, forcing the Decepticon leader to yield. With Megatron down, a self-satisfied Starscream orders the Decepticons to retreat.

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (7)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (8)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (9)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (10)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (11)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (12)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (13)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (14)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (18)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (19)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (20)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (21)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (22)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (23)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (24)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (31)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (32)

|c2=
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (3)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (4)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (5)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (6)
* [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (15)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (16)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (17)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (25)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (26)
* "Warrior" (27)
* [[Rainmaker]]s (28-30)
** [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]] (28)
** Blue Rainmaker (29)
** Yellow Rainmaker (30)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (33)

|c3=
* [[Chip Chase]] (1)
* Weapons factory manager (2)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (13)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (14)
}}

==Quotes==
"Heh, I wonder if I'll ever get used to that."
:—'''Sparkplug''' witnessing the Autobots transform

"He's doomed. I know it. I can feel it in my [[databank]]."
:—'''Huffer''', hoping the best for a dying Prime.

"They sure don't build 'em like that anymore."
:—'''Sparkplug''', commenting on the fact Optimus Prime is still alive after ''his chest explodes''.

"Just like [[Sherlock Holmes]] with [[floppy disk]]s!"
:—'''Spike''', hopelessly over his head when it comes to computer talk.

"No one's ever really disabled as long as he has courage."
:—'''Chip Chase''', and that’s one to grow on.

"My talents are wasted on this project. I should be in sole command of everything!"
:—'''Starscream''', not giving up on his dreams.

"I'm sorry, Spike. Sometimes nothing you do makes any difference."
:—'''Sparkplug''' to Spike, which, if you don't read as the general you, is actually kind of mean and funny.

"We can't go down without ''trying!'' Prime would want us to go for it, no matter what the odds! Well, are you with me, or do I fight this battle alone?"
:—'''Spike''' gives an inspirational battle rally to the Autobots after taking Jazz's gun.

"Is there anyone in the universe who will challenge the might of Megatron?" 
"There is one, Megatron! I, Optimus Prime, challenge you!"
:—'''Megatron''' is scared to death by a now healthy '''Optimus Prime'''.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[Image:Ironhideinblack.jpg|right|200px|thumb|So ''that's'' why [[Ironhide (Movie)|Movie Ironhide]] is black.]]
* Coloring errors:
** Starscream's air intakes are gray instead of red as he and the other two jets dive at the factory.
** A teleporting Skywarp is mistakenly colored with Starscream's colors, and then Thundercracker's colors.
** As Ironhide repeats his order to transform, Wheeljack's missing all his orange and much of his green; Trailbreaker's upper cheeks are colored as his eyes (it's his reading glasses look!)
** Starscream's cheeks are dark gray instead of light gray as he calls in to Megatron.
** Laserbeak's beak is the same dark gray as the rest of his head as he refuses Megatron's order. It should be light gray.
** In the shot of him still holding the tree after Megatron tells him to let the Autobots win, Starscream is colored like Thundercracker.
** Rumble's face is purple instead of light gray as he waves goodbye to "warrior".
** As Shockwave and a Reflector soldier unload the Space Bridge's shipment of Energon cubes, the Energon is not filled with an illumination effect, and appears as solid black bars.
** When the Autobot away team races back to Shockwave’s tower, Ironhide is painted with Trailbreaker's colors, making him resemble a Diaclone incarnation of his toy.
** As he scans for the Decepticons, Hound's left cheekguard is white instead of green.
** After returning to Earth, Bluestreak emerges from the Space Bridge painted as Prowl.
** In a pan across the defeated Autobots, a prone form of Ironhide is colored with Ratchet's white and red hue (Ratchet's inside Autobot Headquarters at this point) and Sideswipe has Shockwave's colors.
[[Image:DivideandConquer Factoryguardworkers.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Note the standard issue army hardhats]]
* Due to a mix-up in animation models, the green-uniformed human soldiers protecting the weapons factory in one shot turn into [[hard hat]]-wearing factory workers in another shot.
* Between the first and second shots of their robot modes inside the factory, Skywarp and Thundercracker have switched places.
* Skywarp's voice is off throughout the episode. In the factory, it's more nasal than usual. When he accuses Laserbeak of being "chicken", it sounds like he's channeling Thundercracker (he also has an unusually fat head.)
* Starscream and Soundwave are both missing their insignias as Soundwave transforms.
* Optimus is supposed to be in the same dry canyon where the space bridge first showed up in "[[Transport to Oblivion]]"... but the canyon is now about ten feet deep, rather than the 50 or so it was before.
* Wrong transformation noise:
** Prime gets the ascending pitch noise as he transforms to vehicle mode.
** Trailbreaker, Wheeljack & co. get the decending pitch version as they convert to robot mode at the factory.
[[Image:DivideandConquer slopedPrime.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Prime in his seldom-used "aerodynamic" alternate mode.]]
* Improbable viewpoints:
** The Autobots get a full-torso view of Optimus as he stands in the middle of empty desert.
** Megatron likewise gets a full-torso view of Starscream, even though Starscream isn't talking into any kind of communicator.
** Megatron then gets a tracking shot of Prime running through the factory!
** Megatron manages to have a camera, with audio, right next to where the Cybertron team happens to fall as the acid rain disables them.
[[Image:DivideandConquer LaserbeakonBrawns shoulder.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Laserbeak disguised as Brawn's dandruff]]
* A peculiar design has Optimus Prime's cab face sport a 45-degree slope as he drives into the factory.
* Starscream's voice is not electronically enhanced when he reacts to Optimus Prime barreling into the factory.
* Prime's trailer recedes into a cloud of dust as he transforms inside the factory. As he flies up into the air, the dust cloud flies up with him, and so does the shrinking trailer!
* After Megatron tells Starscream and the others to "gang up" on Optimus Prime, Starscream turns to fire on Optimus Prime running down a room with no doors or other entry points.
* Skywarp mouths Thundercracker's "I'm with you!" line.
* Just for this one scene, Brawn has conveniently gigantic shoulders for Laserbeak to land on.
* Before Brawn enters the room where Optimus Prime is being worked on, he is shown standing inside.
* Wheeljack's missing some of his dark gray as he asks Ratchet for a diagnosis.
* Wheeljack's ears don't flash as he asks how long until Prime's energy drains completely, nor as he examines the cosmitron.
* As Wheejack pontificates about the Cosmitron, his right "ear" phases through his missile.
* There's a big nasty S-shaped hair in the center of the screen as Wheeljack describes the lock on his workshop on Cybertron.
* The part of Huffers' shoulders that are inside his hood are colored orange instead of purple as he moans about how hopeless it is.
[[File:Divideandconquer wheeljack cosmotron.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
* Prime's damage constantly changes as he lays on the repair table:
** First shot: his window glass is missing.
** Second shot: his window frames and grille are neatly removed.
** Third shot: his grille is missing, and one window is broken.
** As Laserbeak attacks: the left window has no glass.
** As Laserbeak fires: the left window is intact, and the right window broken.
** Prior to exploding: both windows have no glass.
** After the attack, both cab window frames have been neatly removed.
** As Ironhide proposes heading to Cybertron, he's back to a broken right window and intact left window, with a damaged grille.
* GAH! Chip has no pupils as he accepts the mission to pick the lock on Wheeljack's lab.
* No insignia on Soundwave as Megatron lectures his troops about the loss of Prime. The same shot has two Starscreams.
* The layering of Rumble's cubes is all messed up as he walks up behind Starscream; part of the cube stack phases through Starscream, and part of it loses its glow.
* Starscream reacts to Rumble dropping his cubes before he's actually dropped them.
* Recycled animation repeats the strange animation error of the space bridge transport vehicle rising, then falling and disappearing.
* As the Autobots come to a halt at the Space Bridge site, the camera pans across the scenery, but a painted foreground tree travels with the move, making it look like the tree is mobile.


[[File:Bluestreakpotatovehicle.jpg|thumb|right|200px|When he transforms to drive into the space bridge, Bluestreak turns into this.]]
* The ramp leading to the space bridge has turned a light blue as the Autobots drive into the receiver ring.
* The nitrogen pack that Ironhide uses in Shockwave's control center is labeled "NITRGEN". In English, sorta. And Ironhide shouldn't have to use a pack anyway, since he has a built in liquid nitrogen projector.
* When the Decepticons exit their base to attack the Autobots, a fourth Decepticon jet is shown.
* Shockwave's eye-glow doesn't move with his eye as he sets "warrior" free.
* Wheeljack's ears don't start flashing until half-way through his reaction to the security alarm.
* Teletraan's screen shows ''twenty-six'' Decepticons. There should be about a dozen at most. About fifteen are shown retreating at the end of the episode.
* Reflector's mouths don't move for his "earth germ" line.
* As Bluestreak drives over the horizon to join the battle, his car form floats above the ground.
* Starscream steals Megatron's fusion cannon sound effect as he attacks Ironhide's team.
* Optimus Prime's mouthplate moves when Megatron concedes defeat.
* Starscream's missing his wing stripes as he order a retreat... but for once, they remembered his wing insignia, which have been repeatedly omitted through the episode.

===Continuity errors===
* Soundwave kind of transforms out of nowhere in the factory.
* It is unclear how Chip knows Skywarp's missile is of the heat-seeking variety before it does anything to suggest such.
* Optimus Prime somehow deflects the heat-seeking missile by hitting its ''warhead'' with his arm.
* Thundercracker and Skywarp don't seem to know what "gang up" means. In spite of Thundercracker claiming to comply with Megatron's directions instead of his own preference for "one-on-one", both he and Skywarp launch individual one-on-one attacks on Optimus Prime.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** Sunstreaker is shown transforming to leave for the factory; however, when the team arrives, Bumblebee has taken his place.
* It sure woulda made a lot more sense for Prime to cover the two humans, rather than throwing himself right in front of the explosive computer.
* Are computers really that explosive?
* Soundwave is shown flying off with the jets, but he's nowhere to be seen during the battle.
* Megatron orders Starscream to throw the fight, to allow the Autobots to travel to Cybertron so he can destroy them with acid rain. It sure seems like he didn't let Shockwave in on the plan though, since the cyclops seems surprised at their arrival and determined to stop them.
[[File:Divandconq liquid nitrogen.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Good thing there just happens to be a random thing in Decepticon HQ which does exactly what I can do all on my own!]]
* Ironhide grabs some sort of tank off the wall and uses it to spray some liquid, facilitating their escape. This probably was meant to be from his own internal "[[water gun]]".
* Ironhide pointedly comments that they can't let the acid rain hit their circuits... so why not just duck back into the shelter of Wheeljack's workshop, which is still right behind them?
[[File:Divideandconquer spike grabs gun.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
* Superhuman Spike:
** Spike rather effortlessly hefts Jazz's six-foot-long metal gun around.
** Spike survives being tackled by Ravage, the first of his [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1|many]] [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2|clashes]] [[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|with]] him.
* Superhuman <s>Spike</s> Chip:
** Chip somehow knows how to find the Space Bridge better than Optimus can, since Chip thinks to use Teletraan I, a tactic that somehow escaped Prime.
** Chase can crack a Cybertronian lock (apparently by just punching in every possible four-digit code combination until he stumbles on the right one.)
** Chip is immune to Cybertronian acid rain. And so is his wheelchair.
* Megatron's order to let the Autobots win really makes no logical sense. If his soldiers had beaten them, they'd have been just as out of the way, and if they didn't he could still try his acid rain plan.

===Rhino DVD release===
* The chapter stops on the Rhino DVD version of this episode are Opening / Weapon Factories / Off to Cybertron / New Age of Decepticons / Fight For Optimus / Optimus Saved!

===Continuity notes===
* The episode opens with a short narration by Victor Caroli, describing the humans' efforts to build anti-Decepticon weapons.
[[File:ReflectorCartoon1.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
[[File:DivideandConquer Ratchet at work.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** Jet-mode Starscream fires lasers right out of his air intakes!
** Laserbeak deploys yet another video camera. This one's a huge telescoping camera that comes out of one of his air vents.
** Ratchet once again uses his welding tip arm while fixing Optimus Prime.
** Reflector can emit a light that shorts out optic sensors.
** Reflector displays an odd ability in this episode: he can absorb his fellow units into his body.
** Shockwave is once again shown with two hands in this episode. In one scene, he reaches off-screen with a hand, and when his arm returns to the shot, his blaster-arm has taken its place.
** Ironhide's wrists can emit liquid glop launchers that trap the Decepticons to the surface with a thick adhesive.
** Trailbreaker's force field is fired like a stream from his shoulder cannon the first time he uses it; the second time, it just drifts out from behind his back.
** Autobots have built-in repair systems.
** Sideswipe is capable of emitting a smokescreen from his chest ... for little effect.
** Optimus Prime displays the unusual ability to fire energy beams out of his optics... right into Megatron's face.
* This is the third consecutive episode to feature the Space Bridge.
* There's quite a bit of fuss over Optimus Prime's [[laser core]], apparently a critical component of Transformer life.
* Cybertron has an atmosphere breathable by humans. And this is ''before'' it [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1|steals a chunk of Earth's atmosphere]].
* The tetrahedral seeker jets return; they first appeared in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|More Than Meets The Eye, Part 1]]."
* The Transformers have a personal battle code where customs dictate personal challenges be settled in personal combat.
* This is the only episode where Laserbeak displays any cowardice, a trait described in his original tech spec bio and usually associated with the character.
* The Autobot Matrix of Leadership is nowhere to be found in Prime's chest when Wheeljack and Ratchet are repairing him.

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] diving whine: as the jets land and transform inside the factory.
** A waving [[lightsaber]] provides the necessary noise for Bumblebee's headlights.

===Trivia===
[[Image:DivideandConquer SympatheticDecepticon.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Poor guy.]]
* Brawn really is a dumbass to not notice Laserbeak sitting on his shoulder.
* The Reflector-type Decepticon warrior that Starscream forces to pilot the Space Bridge transport has an oddly sympathetic and very human-sounding voice.

===Foreign localization===
'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Un ricambio per Commander'''" ("A Spare Piece for Optimus Prime")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Dividi e conquista'''" ("Divide and Conquer")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Hebrew'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Anti Hómmer'''" (אנטי חומר, "Antimatter")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''SOS! Cybertron'''" (SOS! サイバトロン)
:*Original airdate: [[August 10]], [[1985]]
:**In the scene where Skywarp teleports and is mistakenly colored as Starscream, he is dubbed in Japanese with ''Starscream's'' voice, meaning that ''he'' is the one teleporting in this version, not Skywarp. Considering ''Thundercracker'' was mistakenly dubbed teleporting in the Japanese version of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]" as well, it would seem that teleportation is a natural trait of the Seekers in the Japanese version of the show. Either that, or they just did a real shoddy job on the dub.
:**'''Cut:''' After Chip orders the Autobots to "Transform and roll for his life", the scene is cut short with the removal of the transitional wipe across the screen. The following scene of Shockwave freeing Reflector, the Autobots barging in, his firing at them and their escaping over the Space Bridge have also been cut. The sequence resumes at the pan across space followed by the shot of the Earth Space Bridge receiving the Autobots.
:**In true anime fashion, when Reflector fights the Autobots at the Space Bridge, he yells out the name of his special attack: "Flash Beam!"

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Rasdelyai i vlastvuy'''" (Разделяй и властвуй, "Divide and Conquer")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Zavadi i vladaj'''" (Завади и владај, "Divide and Conquer")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
[[Image:DivideAndConquerBetamax.jpg|right|200px|thumb|More or less antiquated than the TF storybooks that came with records? You decide!]]
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 5: "Divide and Conquer" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1995 — ''The Transformers'' — The Autobots vs. The Decepticons ([[Malofilm]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1995 — ''Transformers'' — Autobots vs. Decepticons (Malofilm) — French audio only.

;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.

;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Two ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Two (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/divide_and_conquer.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Talk:The Wreckers: Finale Part 1

2014-07-08T04:56:03Z

RavenG: /* Link to script is dead. */ new section

==End of the story==
Okay, so, wanted to clear this with people before tacking it onto the page.
 1) The first 4 finished pages of this issue were published by FP for the Transformers Club.
 2) A script for the issue was released on Allspark.com. http://www.allspark.com/content/wreckers4/W4.pdf
 (Was that the whole issue? Was there going to be a fifth issue, or what? It leaves the story hanging.)
 3) A concluding text story was published by FP for the Transformers club, which will be wiki'd up eventually, once some time limit has expired.

The FP stuff is obviously official, but what about the script? Is it officially part of the story? Was it released anywhere else? -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 08:28, 3 December 2007 (UTC)
:The script, as far as I can tell, is not ''actually'' official. I think. I'm not sure if it ever actually got Hasbro OK before 3H got the can. It's... ''part'' of the story, though. Finale II was written in a (clunky) way to incorporate the events, there are character placements and other things from the script (who's present for Sentmax's creation, the Battle Unicorn hordes), but... It's confusing. I'm not sure how we'd handle it. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 16:41, 3 December 2007 (UTC)
::Something that's been bugging me; is it normal that artists start drawing pages for scripts that have yet to be approved? What would be the logic behind that? [[User:Geewunling|Geewunling]] 11:53, 6 July 2011 (EDT)

== Link to script is dead. ==

The Allspark link to script is dead. As far as I can tell the script can't be found anywhere online now.
Does anybody have it? It should probably be uploaded to the wiki.[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] ([[User talk:RavenG|talk]]) 00:56, 8 July 2014 (EDT)

Talk:The Battle for Autobot City

2014-01-10T05:12:42Z

RavenG:

Are we sure about the "green Prime" on the Megatron card? I've looked at it and due to the lighting it's very hard to tell what colour it is. Plus the bit you see is so small it's hard to actually identify it as Prime.[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] ([[User talk:RavenG|talk]]) 21:23, 9 January 2014 (EST)
:[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/97089-new-legends-event-beast-wars/page-8#entry2459158 It looks pretty definitive to me]. It's clearly a homage to the moment in the movie where Megatron's standing over Prime with a gun, and the arm has Prime's smokestack on it. --[[User:Abates|abates]] ([[User talk:Abates|talk]]) 21:42, 9 January 2014 (EST)
Ah! You're right. The image I was looking at was the cropped in game card. Also another little interesting tidbit, the two seekers in the card with the red Soundwave appear to be generics. [[User:RavenG|RavenG]] ([[User talk:RavenG|talk]]) 00:01, 10 January 2014 (EST)

Talk:The Battle for Autobot City

2014-01-10T05:01:18Z

RavenG:

Are we sure about the "green Prime" on the Megatron card? I've looked at it and due to the lighting it's very hard to tell what colour it is. Plus the bit you see is so small it's hard to actually identify it as Prime.[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] ([[User talk:RavenG|talk]]) 21:23, 9 January 2014 (EST)
:[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/97089-new-legends-event-beast-wars/page-8#entry2459158 It looks pretty definitive to me]. It's clearly a homage to the moment in the movie where Megatron's standing over Prime with a gun, and the arm has Prime's smokestack on it. --[[User:Abates|abates]] ([[User talk:Abates|talk]]) 21:42, 9 January 2014 (EST)
Ah! You're right. The image I was looking at was the cropped in game card.[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] ([[User talk:RavenG|talk]]) 00:01, 10 January 2014 (EST)

Talk:The Battle for Autobot City

2014-01-10T02:23:51Z

RavenG: Created page with "Are we sure about the "green Prime" on the Megatron card? I've looked at it and due to the lighting it's very hard to tell what colour it is. Plus the bit you see is so small ..."

Divide and Conquer

2013-06-30T09:05:59Z

RavenG: /* Animation or technical glitches */

{{disambig2|the Generation 1 cartoon episode|the Marvel UK comic|Divide and Conquer!}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=6
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=6
|prev2=Roll for It
|next2=S.O.S. Dinobots
|image=FHE-DivideAndConquer.jpg
|caption="And I, Starscream, am now leader of the Autobots!"
|title="Divide and Conquer"
|production code=#700-03
|airdate=[[October 20]], 1984
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Autobots must journey to Cybertron to retrieve a vital piece of technology to save the life of the critically wounded Optimus Prime.'''

{{TOCclear}}
==Synopsis==
[[Image:DivideandConquer MegatronENEMY poster.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Join the guys we shoot at, now!]]

[[Earth]] factories are busily preparing weaponry for use against the [[Decepticon]] menace. [[Chip Chase]] is inspecting one such facility, where the administrators hope he can develop new methods to improve the efficiency of weapons production. The Decepticon [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] suddenly attack the factory, breaching its walls and landing inside. They begin draining the factory of its energy, but have not noticed Chip, who sends out a distress signal to the [[Autobot]]s.

[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] are on a search mission, fruitlessly looking for any trace of the Decepticon [[Space Bridge]]. Prime intercepts Chip's call for help, and orders the Autobots at the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to meet him at the munitions plant. Prime arrives at the scene first, and is outnumbered three-to-one. A stray shot hits one of the massive computer banks, which begins a critical meltdown and overload. Prime attempts to shield the humans from the inevitable explosion with his own body. The blast tears through Prime, and the Decepticons take advantage of his weakened state to nail him. Prime collapses under fire.

[[Image:Divide and conquer.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Ohhh, that's REALLY gonna leave a mark on the Matrix.]]

The Seekers hear the approach of the other Autobots, and following [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s orders, retreat with the [[energon cube]]s. The Autobots find Prime's badly damaged form and take it back to base. Prime’s power relays are fused. His mobility limited. His speech… slow… and labored. Part replacement… essential….

Wanting to confirm Prime's condition, Megatron dispatches [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] to the Ark to spy on [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s efforts to repair Prime. Optimus's [[electropulse]] is fading. At Megatron’s command, Laserbeak attacks the incredibly vulnerable Prime, tearing into his exposed chest cavity and causing a tremendous explosion.

[[Image:DivideandConquer shutupHuffer.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Shut up, Rattrap.]]

It's more smoke and sparks than fiery blast, and Prime survives the explosion, though his energy is fading fast. His very [[laser core]] is at risk of snuffing out, and Ratchet needs a [[cosmitron]] to keep his Prime's energy levels from draining. Wheeljack only knows of one in existence, but it’s in his shop back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], which the Decepticons had placed under a computerized lock. The Autobots need to get back to their homeworld and pick this lock. Naturally, Chip Chase is the only one of them familiar enough with Cybertronian computers to make this possible.

[[Image:DivideandConquer Farewellwarrior.jpg|right|150px|thumb|If I tell you go, then you GO!]]

Chip uses [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to do what Optimus could not: triangulate the likely coordinates for the Space Bridge’s next appearance. Following Chip’s detective work, the Autobots drive into the woods and discover the Space Bridge site. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] oversee the transport of a shuttle module filled with Energon cubes, with a hapless [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]]-type soldier sent to pilot it across the gulf of interstellar space. With the Autobots' arrival, a fray breaks out–and so does a sudden thunderstorm.

[[Image:DivideandConquer Rainmakerclouds.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Red clouds in morning, Autobots take warning]]

Surprisingly, Megatron (who has been monitoring the battle) orders the Decepticons to let the Autobots win. The thunderstorm has given him an idea, but he does not elaborate. The Autobots—[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]—drive into the Space Bridge and are teleported to [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Shockwave’s base]]. They blast their way past a shocked Shockwave and into Cybertron’s streets. Megatron orders the [[Rainmaker]]s to destroy the Autobot infiltrators with [[acid rain]].

At [[Wheeljack's workshop]], Chip works his way past the locking mechanism, and Ironhide instantly finds the cosmitron. Outside, a trio of Seekers somehow seed the clouds over the workshop so they produce incredibly debilitating acid rain.

[[Image:DivideandConquer Starscreampowerfist.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"SHIIIINING FINGEEEEER!"]]

The acid rain shorts the circuitry of the Autobots, who collapse at the touch of the deadly downpour. Chip is immune to the rain’s effects, and implores the Autobots to continue. Trailbreaker musters up the energy to project his force-field, sheltering the Autobots from the rain, giving their automatic repair systems time to kick in. Bluestreak fires some blasts into the clouds overhead, dispersing the rainmaking seekers and the toxic clouds. Rejuvenated, the Autobots return to Shockwave’s tower and ride the Space Bridge back to Earth.

On Earth, Megatron recognizes that without Prime, the conquest of the Autobots is a foregone conclusion. He leads an attack on the Ark. The Autobots recognize the hopeless battle up ahead, but Spike musters up his courage, grabs [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]]'s rifle, and rallies the troops. He even manages to inspire perpetual downer [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] to take charge.

[[Image:DivideandConquer Bring It.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"You talking to me? You talking to me? I don't see no one else here!"]]

An enormous battle breaks out in front of the Ark, just as the Autobot mission returns from Cybertron. Chip and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] race the cosmitron to Prime. Optimus emerges in time to personally challenge Megatron and soundly beats him, forcing the Decepticon leader to yield. With Megatron down, a self-satisfied Starscream orders the Decepticons to retreat.

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (7)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (8)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (9)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (10)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (11)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (12)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (13)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (14)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (18)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (19)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (20)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (21)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (22)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (23)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (24)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (31)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (32)

|c2=
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (3)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (4)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (5)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (6)
* [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (15)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (16)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (17)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (25)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (26)
* "Warrior" (27)
* [[Rainmaker]]s (28-30)
** [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]] (28)
** Blue Rainmaker (29)
** Yellow Rainmaker (30)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (33)

|c3=
* [[Chip Chase]] (1)
* Weapons factory manager (2)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (13)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (14)
}}

==Quotes==
"Heh, I wonder if I'll ever get used to that."
:—'''Sparkplug''' witnessing the Autobots transform

"He's doomed. I know it. I can feel it in my [[databank]]."
:—'''Huffer''', hoping the best for a dying Prime.

"They sure don't build 'em like that anymore."
:—'''Sparkplug''', commenting on the fact Optimus Prime is still alive after ''his chest explodes''.

"Just like [[Sherlock Holmes]] with floppy disks!"
:—'''Spike''', hopelessly over his head when it comes to computer talk.

"No one's ever really disabled as long as he has courage."
:—'''Chip Chase''', and that’s one to grow on.

"My talents are wasted on this project. I should be in sole command of everything!"
:—'''Starscream''', not giving up on his dreams.

"I'm sorry, Spike. Sometimes nothing you do makes any difference."
:—'''Sparkplug''' to Spike, which, if you don't read as the general you, is actually kind of mean and funny.

"We can't go down without ''trying!'' Prime would want us to go for it, no matter what the odds! Well, are you with me, or do I fight this battle alone?"
:—'''Spike''' gives an inspirational battle rally to the Autobots after taking Jazz's gun.

"Is there anyone in the universe who will challenge the might of Megatron?" 
"There is one, Megatron! I, Optimus Prime, challenge you!"
:—'''Megatron''' is scared to death by a now healthy '''Optimus Prime'''.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[Image:DivideandConquer Factoryguardworkers.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Note the standard issue army hardhats]]
* Starscream's air intakes are gray instead of red as he and the other two jets dive at the factory.
* Due to a mix-up in animation models, the green-uniformed human soldiers protecting the weapons factory in one shot turn into [[hardhat]] wearing factory workers in another shot.
* Between the first and second shots of their robot modes inside the factory, Skywarp and Thundercracker have switched places.
* Skywarp's voice is off throughout the episode. In the factory, it's more nasal than usual. When he accuses Laserbeak of being "chicken", it sounds like he's channeling Thundercracker (he also has an unusually fat head.)
* A teleporting Skywarp is mistakenly colored with Starscream's colors, and then Thundercracker's colors.
* Starscream and Soundwave are both missing their insignias as Soundwave transforms.
* Optimus is supposed to be in the same dry canyon where the space bridge first showed up in "[[Transport to Oblivion]]"... but the canyon is now about ten feet deep, rather than the 50 or so it was before.
* Wrong transformation noise:
** Prime gets the ascending pitch noise as he transforms to vehicle mode.
** Trailbreaker, Wheeljack & co. get the decending pitch version as they convert to robot mode at the factory.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** The Autobots get a full-torso view of Optimus as he stands in the middle of empty desert.
** Megatron likewise gets a full-torso view of Starscream, even though Starscream isn't talking into any kind of communicator.
** Megatron then gets a tracking shot of Prime running through the factory!
** Megatron manages to have a camera, with audio, right next to where the Cybertron team happens to fall as the acid rain disables them.

* As Ironhide repeats his order to transform, Wheeljack's missing all his orange and much of his green; Trailbreaker's upper cheeks are colored as his eyes (it's his reading glasses look!)
* Starscream's cheeks are dark gray instead of light gray as he calls in to Megatron.
[[Image:DivideandConquer slopedPrime.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Prime in his seldom-used "aerodynamic" alternate mode.]]
* A peculiar design in one shot has Optimus Prime's cab face sport a 45-degree slope.
* Starscream's voice is not electronically enhanced when he reacts to Optimus Prime barreling into the factory.
* Prime's trailer recedes into a cloud of dust as he transforms inside the factory. As he flies up into the air, the dust cloud flies up with him, and so does the shrinking trailer!
* After Megatron tells Starscream and the others to "gang up" on Optimus Prime, Starscream turns to fire on Optimus Prime running down a room with no doors or other entry points.
* Skywarp mouths Thundercracker's "I'm with you!" line.
* Laserbeak's beak is the same dark gray as the rest of his head as he refuses Megatron's order. It should be light gray.
[[Image:DivideandConquer LaserbeakonBrawns shoulder.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Laserbeak disguised as Brawn's dandruff]]
* Just for this one scene, Brawn has conveniently gigantic shoulders for Laserbeak to land on.
* Before Brawn enters the room where Optimus Prime is being worked on, he is shown standing inside.
* Wheeljack's missing some of his dark gray as he asks Ratchet for a diagnosis.
* Wheeljack's ears don't flash as he asks how long until Prime's energy drains completely, nor as he examines the cosmitron.
* As Wheejack pontificates about the Cosmitron, his right "ear" phases through his missile.
* There's a big nasty S-shaped hair in the center of the screen as Wheeljack describes the lock on his workshop on Cybertron.
* The part of Huffers' shoulders that are inside his hood are colored orange instead of purple as he moans about how hopeless it is.
* Prime's damage constantly changes as he lays on the repair table:
** First shot: his window glass is missing.
** Second shot: his window frames and grille are neatly removed.
** Third shot: his grille is missing, and one window is broken.
** As Laserbeak attacks: the left window has no glass.
** As Laserbeak fires: the left window is intact, and the right window broken.
** Prior to exploding: both windows have no glass.
** After the attack, both cab window frames have been neatly removed.
** As Ironhide proposes heading to Cybertron, he's back to a broken right window and intact left window, with a damaged grille.
* GAH! Chip has no pupils as he accepts the mission to pick the lock on Wheeljack's lab.
* No insignia on Soundwave as Megatron lectures his troops about the loss of Prime. The same shot has two Starscreams.
* The layering of Rumble's cubes is all messed up as he walks up behind Starscream; part of the cube stack phases through Starscream, and part of it loses its glow.
* Starscream reacts to Rumble dropping his cubes before he's actually dropped them.
* Rumble's face is purple instead of light gray as he waves goodbye to "warrior".
* Recycled animation repeats the strange animation error of the space bridge transport vehicle rising, then falling and disappearing.
* As the Autobots come to a halt at the Space Bridge site, the camera pans across the scenery, but a painted foreground tree travels with the move, making it look like the tree is mobile.

* In the shot of him still holding the tree after Megatron tells him to let the Autobots win, Starscream is colored like Thundercracker.
* The ramp leading to the space bridge has turned a light blue as the Autobots drive into the receiver ring.
* As Shockwave and a Reflector soldier unload the Space Bridge's shipment of Energon cubes, the Energon is not filled with an illumination effect, and appears as solid black bars.
* The nitrogen pack that Ironhide uses in Shockwave's control center is labeled "NITRGEN". In English, sorta. And Ironhide shouldn't have to use a pack anyway, since he has a built in liquid nitrogen projector.
* When the Decepticons exit their base to attack the Autobots, a fourth Decepticon jet is shown.
* Shockwave's eye-glow doesn't move with his eye as he sets "warrior" free.
[[Image:Ironhideinblack.jpg|right|200px|thumb|So ''that's'' why [[Ironhide (Movie)|Movie Ironhide]] is black.]]
* When the Autobot away team races back to Shockwave’s tower, Ironhide is painted with Trailbreaker's colors, making him resemble a Diaclone incarnation of his toy.
* After returning to Earth, Bluestreak emerges from the Space Bridge painted as Prowl.
* Wheeljack's ears don't start flashing until half-way through his reaction to the security alarm.
* Teletraan's screen shows ''twenty-six'' Decepticons. There should be about a dozen at most. About fifteen are shown retreating at the end of the episode.
* As he scans for the Decepticons, Hound's left cheekguard is white instead of green.
* Reflector's mouths don't move for his "earth germ" line.
* As Bluestreak drives over the horizon to join the battle, his car form floats above the ground.
* Starscream steals Megatron's fusion cannon sound effect as he attacks Ironhide's team.
* In a pan across the defeated Autobots, a prone form of Ironhide is colored with Ratchet's white and red hue (Ratchet's inside Autobot Headquarters at this point) and Sideswipe has Shockwave's colors.
* Optimus Prime's mouthplate moves when Megatron concedes defeat.
* Starscream's missing his wing stripes as he order a retreat... but for once, they remembered his wing insignia, which have been repeatedly omitted through the episode.

===Continuity errors===
* Soundwave kind of transforms out of nowhere in the factory.
* It is unclear how Chip knows Skywarp's missile is of the heat-seeking variety before it does anything to suggest such.
* Optimus Prime somehow deflects the heat-seeking missile by hitting its ''warhead'' with his arm.
* Thundercracker and Skywarp don't seem to know what "gang up" means. In spite of Thundercracker claiming to comply with Megatron's directions instead of his own preference for "one-on-one", both he and Skywarp launch individual one-on-one attacks on Optimus Prime.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** Sunstreaker is shown transforming to leave for the factory; however, when the team arrives, Bumblebee has taken his place.
* It sure woulda made a lot more sense for Prime to cover the two humans, rather than throwing himself right in front of the explosive computer.
* Are computers really that explosive?
* Soundwave is shown flying off with the jets, but he's nowhere to be seen during the battle.
* Megatron orders Starscream to throw the fight, to allow the Autobots to travel to Cybertron so he can destroy them with acid rain. It sure seems like he didn't let Shockwave in on the plan though, since the cyclops seems surprised at their arrival and determined to stop them.
* Ironhide pointedly comments that they can't let the acid rain hit their circuits... so why not just duck back into the shelter of Wheeljack's workshop, which is still right behind them?
* Superhuman Spike:
** Spike rather effortlessly hefts Jazz's six-foot-long metal gun around.
** Spike survives being tackled by Ravage, the first of his [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1|many]] [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2|clashes]] [[Fire on the Mountain|with]] him.
* Superhuman <s>Spike</s> Chip:
** Chip somehow knows how to find the Space Bridge better than Optimus can, since Chip thinks to use Teletraan I, a tactic that somehow escaped Prime.
** Chase can crack a Cybertronian lock (apparently by just punching in every possible four-digit code combination until he stumbles on the right one.)
** Chip is immune to Cybertronian acid rain. And so is his wheelchair.
* Megatron's order to let the Autobots win really makes no logical sense. If his soldiers had beaten them, they'd have been just as out of the way, and if they didn't he could still try his acid rain plan.

===Continuity notes===
* The episode opens with a short narration by Victor Caroli, describing the humans' efforts to build anti-Decepticon weapons.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Jet-mode Starscream fires lasers right out of his air intakes!
** Laserbeak deploys yet another video camera. This one's a huge telescoping camera that comes out of one of his air vents.
** Ratchet once again uses his welding tip arm while fixing Optimus Prime.
** Reflector can emit a light that shorts out optic sensors.
** Reflector displays an odd ability in this episode: he can absorb his fellow units into his body.
** Shockwave is once again shown with two hands in this episode. In one scene, he reaches off-screen with a hand, and when his arm returns to the shot, his blaster-arm has taken its place.
** Ironhide's wrists can emit liquid glop launchers that trap the Decepticons to the surface with a thick adhesive.
** Trailbreaker's force field is fired like a stream from his shoulder cannon the first time he uses it; the second time, it just drifts out from behind his back.
** Autobots have built-in repair systems.
** Sideswipe is capable of emitting a smokescreen from his chest ... for little effect.
** Optimus Prime displays the unusual ability to fire energy beams out of his optics... right into Megatron's face.
* This is the third consecutive episode to feature the Space Bridge.
* There's quite a bit of fuss over Optimus Prime's [[laser core]], apparently a critical component of Transformer life.
* Cybertron has an atmosphere breathable by humans. And this is ''before'' it [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1|steals a chunk of Earth's atmosphere]].
* The tetrahedron seeker jets return; they first appeared in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|More Than Meets The Eye, Part 1]]."
* The Transformers have a personal battle code where customs dictate personal challenges be settled in personal combat.
* This is the only episode where Laserbeak displays any cowardice, a trait described in his original tech spec bio and usually associated with the character.
* The Autobot Matrix of Leadership is nowhere to be found on Prime's chest when Wheeljack and Ratchet are repairing him.

===Real-world references===
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] diving whine: as the jets land and transform inside the factory.
** A waving [[lightsaber]] provides the necessary noise for Bumblebee's headlights.

===Foreign localization===
'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Un ricambio per Commander'''" ("A Spare Piece for Optimus Prime")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Dividi e conquista'''" ("Divide and Conquer")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Hebrew'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Anti Hómmer'''" (אנטי חומר, "Antimatter")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''SOS! Cybertron'''" (SOS! サイバトロン)
:*Original airdate: [[August 10]], [[1985]]
:**In the scene where Skywarp teleports and is mistakenly colored as Starscream, he is dubbed in Japanese with ''Starscream's'' voice, meaning that ''he'' is the one teleporting in this version, not Skywarp. Considering ''Thundercracker'' was mistakenly dubbed teleporting in the Japanese version of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]" as well, it would seem that teleportation is a natural trait of the Seekers in the Japanese version of the show. Either that, or they just did a real shoddy job on the dub.
:**'''Cut:''' After Chip orders the Autobots to "Transform and roll for his life", the scene is cut short with the removal of the transitional wipe across the screen. The following scene of Shockwave freeing Reflector, the Autobots barging in, his firing at them and their escaping over the Space Bridge have also been cut. The sequence resumes at the pan across space followed by the shot of the Earth Space Bridge receiving the Autobots.
:**Additional narration describing the scene of the Autobots returning to Earth via the Space Bridge has been added.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Rasdelyai i vlastvuy'''" (Разделяй и властвуй, "Divide and Conquer")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Rasdelyai i vlastvuy'''" (Завади и владај, "Divide and Conquer")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Notes===
[[Image:DivideandConquer SympatheticDecepticon.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Poor guy.]]
* Brawn really is a dumbass to not notice Laserbeak sitting on his shoulder.
* The Reflector-type Decepticon warrior that Starscream forces to pilot the Space Bridge transport has an oddly sympathetic and very human-sounding voice.
* The chapter stops on the Rhino DVD version of this episode are Opening / Weapon Factories / Off to Cybertron / New Age of Decepticons / Fight For Optimus / Optimus Saved!

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
[[Image:DivideAndConquerBetamax.jpg|right|200px|thumb|More or less antiquated than the TF storybooks that came with records? You decide!]]
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 5: "Divide and Conquer" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1995 — ''The Transformers'' — The Autobots vs. The Decepticons ([[Malofilm]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1995 — ''Transformers'' — Autobots vs. Decepticons (Malofilm) — French audio only.

;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.

;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Two ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Two (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/divide_and_conquer.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Talk:Micro Change

2013-06-20T07:26:07Z

RavenG: Created page with "I possibly went into more detail on the Meteor Robos than some people would like but this info is hard to find and can be quite contradictory and confusing.~~~~"

I possibly went into more detail on the Meteor Robos than some people would like but this info is hard to find and can be quite contradictory and confusing.[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] 03:26, 20 June 2013 (EDT)

Micro Change

2013-06-20T07:21:44Z

RavenG: /* 1984 */

[[Image:MicromanMicroChange.jpg|right|250px|thumb|<s>Micromasters</s> <s>Micro Machines</s> Micromen!]]
The '''''Micro Change''''' series was one of the two major [[Pre-Transformer|sources of molds]] for the original ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Transformers]]'' line.

''Micro Change'' was a subline of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s successful ''[[Microman|New Microman]]'' line of the early '80s, which consisted of 3.75" action figures that were super-posable and vehicles and robots for use by them. The Microman figures, unlike all subsequent 3.75" action figures (except their Western counterpart the Micronauts, made by [[Wikipedia:Mego Corporation|Mego]] using licensed Microman molds) were on a 1:1 scale rather than representing full-sized [[human]]s/[[alien]]s/robots, so the transforming robots and vehicles they created had ordinary household objects (such as, um, handguns) as disguise modes. Many of the Micro Change figures came in multiple color schemes, many of which were eventually used for the Transformer line.

==Fiction==
By the time the Micro Change theme was introduced in [[1983]], the Microman story was told exclusively through text and manga pages in the toys' pack-in catalogues, with no tie-in fiction. This was no doubt part of the reason why Takara were willing to cancel the Microman line in favor of Transformers when [[Hasbro]] financed an [[The Transformers (cartoon)|animated series]] to [[To sell toys|promote]] their versions of the toys.

==Toys==
===1983===
[[Image:Enemymicrochange.jpg|right|150px|thumb|]]
* '''MC-01 Micross'''

:The first version was the blue cassette used for [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]. A red version, used for [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], came with Cassette Man. Towards the end of the line, a [[Enemy (G1)|red and blue version]] was released.

* '''MC-02 Jaguar'''

:The first version was used for [[Ravage (G1)/toys|Ravage]]. A blue version was released at the end of the line, and was used for the [[e-HOBBY]] figure [[Howlback (G1)|Howlback]]. In [[2007]], Jaguar was redecoed into [[Glit (KP)|Glit]].

* '''MC-03 Condor'''

:The first version was used for [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]. The blue second version was used for the e-HOBBY figure [[Garboil (G1)|Garboil]]. [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]'s and [[Sundor]]'s decos were created for the Transformers line.

*'''MC-04 Mini Car Robo'''

:These all transformed into [[super deformed]] toy cars in the style of Takara's own [[Choro-Q]] line (imported to English-speaking markets as ''Penny Racers''). 01 - 03 were released in red, yellow, and blue and had license plate stickers on the back of the head panel. The other four were released in only one color scheme each, the same as their subsequent Transformers releases.
:*'''01 Porsche Turbo 924''', Pre-[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]
:*'''02 Familia 1500 XG''', Pre-[[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]]
:*'''03 Volkswagen Beetle''', Pre-[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]]
:*'''04 4WD''', Pre-[[Gears (G1)|Gears]]
:*'''05 Jeep''', Pre-[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]
:*'''06 Transam''', Pre-[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]
:*'''07 Truck''', Pre-[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]

*'''MC-05 Camera Robo Microx'''

:Pre-[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]]

*'''MC-06 Watch Robo'''

:This figure transformed from a robot to a watch. It came in black, blue, chrome, and gold versions. The figure wasn't released in the Transformers line until ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' in [[1993]] as [[Autobot (G2)|Autobot]], but Takara had previously released it in North America in the ''[[Kronoform]]'' line.

* '''MC-07 Gun Robo 1910 Browning'''

:Browning came with either red or blue robot parts, in addition to a gold chromed contest piece. The blue version was released as the Japanese exclusive [[Browning]].

* '''MC-08 Cassette Machine Battlebike'''

:The Battlebike transforms from a full-sized audio cassette into a motorbike vehicle for the included Microman figure. A [[redeco]] of this toy was released in the [[1999]] Microman line.

* '''MC-09 Cassette Machine Jetheli'''

:The Jetheli transforms from a full-sized audio cassette into a helicopter for the included Microman figure. A redeco of this toy was re-released in the 1999 Microman line.

* '''MC-10 Cassette Man'''

:Pre-TF [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]] with "Cassette Man" molded on the cassette door. He came with fake earphones and microphone that were also included in Soundwave's Japanese release, and Pre-[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]. Likewise, the Japanese Soundwave came with Rumble instead of [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]].

* '''MC-11 Gun Robo S&W Magnum 44'''

:This figure had a revolving chamber, and came with either a brown or gold hilt.

* '''MC-12 Gun Robo Walther P-38'''.

:Pre-Japanese [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]]. This toy did not include any gun attachments, but had a gun, sword and plastic pellets. It came with blue inner arms and legs, and was either black with a brown grip, or grey with a black grip in gun mode. The grey version was used for all vintage Japanese Megatrons (The Goodbye Megatron set came with the U.N.C.L.E. scope). The toy's grey deco was used for the e-Hobby Megaplex figure.

* '''MC-13 Gun Robo Walther P-38 U.N.C.L.E.'''

:This figure came with all of MC-12's parts, as well as the gun extensions. Only one color scheme, silver with black handle in gun mode with red inner arms and legs, was released. This color scheme was used for all Hasbro releases of the original Megatron and the Japanese reissues. This toy was also released in both MC-12 colors as e-Hobby exclusives.

===1984===
* '''MC-14 Metal Man'''

:This figure transforms from a robot into a metallic ball. It came with two guns that could either be wielded in robot mode or attached to the sides in ball mode and a circular base upon which the ball mode could sit.
:Two versions were available, the more common silver chrome with black plastic accessories and robot parts or the considerably rarer bluish-silver chrome with red plastic accessories and robot parts. This mould (minus accessories) didn't see release in Transformers until [[Transformers: Beast Wars (Japanese toyline)|Beast Wars]] [[Eggbot]] and [[Dark Eggbot]] where it was [[retool]]ed to include a keychain. This keychain retool was later (again without accessories) used for [[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)| Kiss Players]] [[Star Dust]].

* '''MC-15 Metal Leo'''

:This figure transforms from a lion into a metallic ball. It came with two guns that could either be wielded in lion mode or attached to the sides in ball mode and a circular base upon which the ball mode could sit.
:Two versions were available, the more common gold chrome with black plastic accessories or the considerably rarer silver chrome with red plastic accessories. This mould (minus accessories) didn't see release in Transformers until Beast Wars [[Eggleo]] and [[Dark Eggleo]] where it was retooled to include a keychain. This keychain retool was later (again without accessories) used for Kiss Players [[Angela]].

* '''MC-16 Metal Hawk'''

:This figure transforms from a hawk into a metallic ball. It came with two guns that could either be wielded in hawk mode or attached to the sides in ball mode and a circular base upon which the ball mode could sit.
:Two versions were available, the more common gold chrome with black plastic accessories or the considerably rarer silver chrome with red plastic accessories. This mould (minus accessories) didn't see release in Transformers until Beast Wars [[Eggbird]] and [[Dark Eggbird]] where it was retooled to include a keychain. This keychain retool was later (again without accessories) used for Kiss Players [[Zangetsu]].

* '''MC-17 Lock Robo Dial Man'''

:This figure transforms from a working dial lock to a robot.

* '''MC-18 Lock Robo Magneman'''

:This figure transforms from a working key lock to a robot.

* '''MC-19 Binocular Robo Scope Man'''

: This figure transforms from a pair of working binoculars into a robot. The toy was never released in any ''Transformers'' line, but a version in a yellow deco did make a [[Easter egg|cameo]] in the [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave comics]] as a [[Binocular Transformer|background generic]].

* '''MC-20 Micro Scope'''

: Released in a primarily black deco, MC-20 was recolored into [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]. The third tank mode could be used as a vehicle for a Microman figure. The toy's Micro Change deco was used for the e-Hobby [[Magnificus (G1)|Magnificus]].

* '''MC-21 Radi-Cassette Robo'''

:This figure came with an AM radio in the form of a fake Micro cassette, and an earphone. One could listen to the radio through the earphone, or put the radio in the main toy's cassette deck. After moving the switch above the left speaker "on" and pressing "play", a pair of batteries in the toy's right leg would amplify the signal from the cassette. A knob to the right of the tape door could change the station, and a volume knob and a plug for headphones were located on the toy's left leg. Due to the speaker plug, the transforming micro cassettes could not fit in the tape door. They could, however, fit in a compartment in the toy's back. The earphone plug could also fit in the small hole on the stock of the toys gun, and the speaker could fit in the large hole at the gun's center. The toy came in either blue or red. The red deco was used for [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]].

===Unreleased===
* '''MC-22 Beam Robo'''

:This figure transforms from a working flashlight into a robot.

* '''Planet-Robot'''

:A transforming planet that only ever reached the design art stage. The design [[Unicron|did not go to waste]], however.

==External links==
*[http://www.microforever.com/1983microchange.htm Micro Change at Microman Forever.]
*[http://1501bc.com/pretf/microman.html Microman at The Pre-Transformer Page.]

[[Category:Japanese franchises]]
[[Category:Non-Transformers toylines]]
[[Category:Other TakaraTomy properties]]

MediaWiki talk:Community Portal

2013-06-05T05:51:50Z

RavenG: /* Holy grails and Want list need to be more visible. */

Talk:Eggleo

2013-06-05T05:40:40Z

RavenG: /* Yellow or orange? */

== Yellow or orange? ==

I've added in the colours for the other eggbeasts to their toy sections but this guy is a bit of a problem. Depending on what site you look up photos of Eggleo, he either looks orange or yellow. It's the exact same problem with descriptions of the toy too.

Anybody own this little beastie and can say for certain what colour it is?[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] 09:27, 2 June 2013 (EDT)
:He is a yellow-orange color any two people are likely to disagree about the proper name for, but closer to yellow to my eye. -[[User:LV|LV]] 12:55, 2 June 2013 (EDT)
:: Thanks. I went ahead and added it to the page.[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] 01:40, 5 June 2013 (EDT)

Eggleo

2013-06-05T05:37:56Z

RavenG: Just added toy colour

{{factions|maximal}}
{{mainpic|14 June 2008 }}
:''Eggleo is a [[Maximal]] [[Egg Beast]] from the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

'''Eggleo''' (エッグレオ ''Eggureo'') is a strange little critter with a bizarre altmode and among the oldest known Maximals. Despite his small size, he exudes bravery and excels in quick combat.

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
* '''Eggleo''' (Egg Beast, 1998)
** ''Japanese ID number:'' '''EC-1'''

:Eggleo transforms from a mechanical sphere (ostensibly an "egg" mode) into a robotic lion. He is cast in yellow-orange translucent plastic except for a handful of chromed and die-cast parts. He has a non-removable keychain attached to his robot-mode back.

:This mold was also used to make [[Dark Eggleo]] and ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' [[Angela]].
::* ''[http://tfu.info/1998/Cybertron/EggLeo/eggleo.htm More information on Eggleo at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
* The molds used for the Egg Beasts originated as toys from the pre-Transformers [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'' line, where they were called "Meteor Robo". The keychains were added for their ''Beast Wars'' release, and were retained for the molds' use in ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]''.

[[Category:Beast Wars Maximals]]
[[Category:Japanese-original Transformers]]
[[Category:Toy-only characters]]

Talk:Zangetsu

2013-06-05T05:25:01Z

RavenG: /* Zangetsu's colours. */

== Zangetsu's colours. ==

Is there a reason why Zangetsu is purple in the Kiss Players Postion art but the toy is white? Also which deco was it that Yui Kano created?
[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] 09:57, 2 June 2013 (EDT)
:Zangetsu himself is white in the images. He has a purple glow, or whatever reason, and so purple was used for his shading. But he isn't purple. -[[User:LV|LV]] 12:50, 2 June 2013 (EDT)
::Interesting. Thanks for the answer.[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] 01:25, 5 June 2013 (EDT)

Talk:Zangetsu

2013-06-02T13:57:33Z

RavenG: Zangetsu's colours.

Talk:Eggleo

2013-06-02T13:27:42Z

RavenG: Yellow or orange?

MediaWiki talk:Community Portal

2013-06-02T12:58:08Z

RavenG: /* Holy grails and Want list need to be more visible. */

Dark Eggbird

2013-05-29T12:49:18Z

RavenG: Just added toy colour

{{faction|predacon}}
{{mainpic|10:47, 24 April 2009 (EDT)}}
:''Dark Eggbird is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] from the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

'''Dark Eggbird''' (ダークエッグバード ''Dāku Eggubādo'') is the airborne Predacon [[Egg Beast]], able to transform from a stealthy and lethal hawk mode into, uh, a ball. Presumably he has found this worthwhile as part of his role as one of [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s top saboteurs. Like his fellow Egg Beasts, he is among the oldest of the Predacons.

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
* '''Dark Eggbird''' (Egg Beast, 1998)
** ''Japanese ID number:'' '''ED-2'''

: Dark Eggbird transforms from a mechanical sphere (ostensibly an "egg" mode) into a robotic hawk. He is cast in purple translucent plastic except for a handful of chromed and die-cast parts. He has a non-removable keychain attached to his robot-mode back.

: This mold was also used to make [[Eggbird]] and ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' [[Zangetsu]].
::*''[http://tfu.info/1998/Destron/DarkEggBird/darkeggbird.htm More information on Dark Eggbird at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
* The molds used for the Egg Beasts originated as toys from the pre-Transformers [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''[[Micro Change]]'' line, where they were called "Meteor Robo". The keychains were added for their ''Beast Wars'' release, and were retained for the molds' use in ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]''.

[[Category:Beast Wars Predacons]]
[[Category:Japanese-original Transformers]]
[[Category: Toy-only characters]]

Dark Eggbot

2013-05-29T12:26:26Z

RavenG: Just added toy colour

{{factions|predacon}}
:''Dark Eggbot is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Egg Beast]] from the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
{{mainpic|10:10, 24 April 2009 (EDT)}}
Unlike his fellow [[Egg Beast|Egg Beasts]], '''Dark Eggbot''' (ダークエッグボット ''Dāku Eggubotto'') does not possess a beast mode. He does, however, have a fiendishly complex and calculating processing center which he uses to devise evil plots and nefarious acts of espionage against the [[Maximal|Maximals]]. How his transformation into a ball helps him carry them out is unknown, but if it's good enough for [[Samus Aran]]... Like his fellow Egg Beasts, he is among the oldest operational Predacons.

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
* '''Dark Eggbot''' (Egg Beast, 1998)
** ''Japanese ID number:'' '''ED-3'''

: Dark Eggbot transforms from a mechanical sphere (ostensibly an "egg" mode) into a robot. He is cast in black translucent plastic except for a handful of chromed and die-cast parts. He has a non-removable keychain attached to his robot-mode back.

: This mold was also used to make [[Eggbot]] and ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' [[Star Dust]].
::*''[http://tfu.info/1998/Destron/DarkEggRobo/darkeggrobo.htm More information on Dark Eggbot at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
* The molds used for the Egg Beasts originated as toys from the pre-Transformers [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'' line, where they were called "Meteor Robo". The keychains were added for their ''Beast Wars'' release, and were retained for the molds' use in ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]''.

[[Category:Beast Wars Predacons]]
[[Category:Japanese-original Transformers]]
[[Category:Toy-only characters]]

Dark Eggleo

2013-05-29T12:24:40Z

RavenG: Just added toy colour

{{factions|predacon}}
:''Dark Eggleo is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Egg Beast]] from the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:BW-toy DarkEggleo.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Hush my darling, be still my darling, the lion keeps your keys.]]

'''Dark Eggleo''' (ダークエッグレオ ''Dāku Eggureo'') is a strange little critter with a bizarre altmode and a set of very evil teeth, with which he supports the Predacons through biting. Like [[Ravage (G1)|many evil Cybertronic cats]], he is an expert saboteur and among the oldest known Predacons.

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
* '''Dark Eggleo''' (Egg Beast, 1998)
** ''Japanese ID number:'' '''ED-1'''

:Dark Eggleo transforms from a mechanical sphere (ostensibly an "egg" mode) into a robotic lion. He is cast in dark green translucent plastic except for a handful of chromed and die-cast parts. He has a keychain attached to his robot-mode back that can only be removed by prying the metal ring open.

:This mold was also used to make [[Eggleo]] and ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' [[Angela]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/1998/Destron/DarkEggLeo/darkeggleo.htm More information on Dark Eggleo at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
* The molds used for the Egg Beasts originated as toys from the pre-''Transformers'' [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'' line, where they were called "Meteor Robo". The keychains were added for their ''Beast Wars'' release, and were retained for the molds' use in ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]''.

[[Category:Beast Wars Predacons]]
[[Category:Japanese-original Transformers]]
[[Category:Toy-only characters]]

Eggbird

2013-05-29T12:22:15Z

RavenG: Just added toy colour

{{factions|maximal}}
{{mainpic|14 June 2008}}
:''Eggbird is a [[Maximal]] [[Egg Beast]] from the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

'''Eggbird''' (エッグバード ''Eggubādo'') is the airborne Maximal [[Egg Beast]], able to transform from a hawk mode into, uh, a ball. Like his fellow Egg Beasts, he is among the oldest of the Maximals. His small stature belies his bravery and experience in aerial combat.

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
* '''Eggbird''' (Egg Beast, 1998)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''EC-2'''

: Eggbird transforms from a mechanical sphere (ostensibly an "egg" mode) into a robotic hawk. He is cast in red translucent plastic except for a handful of chromed and die-cast parts. He has a non-removable keychain attached to his robot-mode back.

: This mold was also used to make [[Dark Eggbird]] and ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' [[Zangetsu]].
::* ''[http://tfu.info/1998/Cybertron/EggBird/eggbird.htm More information on Eggbird at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
* The molds used for the Egg Beasts originated as toys from the pre-Transformers [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'' line, where they were called "Meteor Robo". The keychains were added for their ''Beast Wars'' release, and were retained for the molds' use in ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]''.

[[Category:Beast Wars Maximals]]
[[Category:Japanese-original Transformers]]
[[Category:Toy-only characters]]

Eggbot (BW)

2013-05-28T05:48:48Z

RavenG: Just added toy colour

{{factions|maximal}}
{{mainpic|14 June 2008}}
:''Eggbot is a [[Maximal]] from the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

Unlike his fellow [[Egg Beast|Egg Beasts]], '''Eggbot''' (エッグボット ''Eggubotto'') does not possess a beast mode. Regardless, he is remarkably brave for his small size and excels in hand-to-hand combat. Like his fellow Egg Beasts, Eggbot is among the oldest operational Maximals.

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
* '''Eggbot''' (Egg Beast, 1998)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''EC-3'''

: Eggbot transforms from a mechanical sphere (ostensibly an "egg" mode) into a robot. He is cast in translucent blue plastic except for a handful of chromed and die-cast parts. He has a non-removable keychain attached to his robot-mode back.

: This mold was also used to make [[Dark Eggbot]] and ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' [[Star Dust]].
::* ''[http://tfu.info/1998/Cybertron/EggRobo/eggrobo.htm More information on Eggbot at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
* The molds used for the Egg Beasts originated as toys from the pre-Transformers [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'' line, where they were called "Meteor Robo". The keychains were added for their ''Beast Wars'' release, and were retained for the molds' use in ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]''.

[[Category:Beast Wars Maximals]]
[[Category:Japanese-original Transformers]]
[[Category:Toy-only characters]]

MediaWiki talk:Community Portal

2013-05-14T06:40:18Z

RavenG: /* Holy grails and Want list need to be more visible. */ new section

__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]]
 <div class="list-header">'''Wiki Technical Information:'''</div>
* [[Transformers_Wiki:Tech|A Not So Brief Summary of the Horrible Things That McFly and Co. Have Done To Keep This Wiki From Melting Down]]
}} 

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


== G.I. Joe wiki - a little help? ==

Hello, all. I just wanted to add a request for some help for what should really by this wiki's sister site, Joepedia, the G.I. Joe Wiki. Now, I posted a similar request on some other sci-fi themed wiki, but the only answer I got was being told that the rules forbid a request from another wiki to be made. Well, I think that was kind of stupid, considering the communal attitude the whole wiki concept represents. BUT, ANYWAY, the Joepedia has been growing over the years, but it's mostly frequented by a small dedicated group of contributors. Since Transformers and G.I. Joe are so closely linked, I hoped some folks on here would like to help.

I will add that I have no authority over on that site, and I don't really contribute much, mostly because of the time spent my own website. I'm just a concerned geeky citizen drumming up some support. --[[User:JMM|JMM]] 10:26, 7 September 2012 (EDT)
:Well, I would, but I really don't know jack shit about G.I. Joe. And when I think about it, I'm not sure this post belongs here. -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]] 17:36, 7 September 2012 (EDT)
::Just looking around for a little help. This seemed like the closest thing to a G.I. Joe wiki out there, and I figured it was worth a try. --[[User:JMM|JMM]] 13:23, 13 September 2012 (EDT)
::I don't see a problem with a polite request for assistance or notification that a Joe wiki exists, since there IS some crossover interest. I just don't know how much ''useful'' crossover interest for the Joe wiki there is from this end outside of what we've already done. I mean, we've got extensive coverage of the parts of Joe directly involving TFs... I'd say that's probably going to be the most useful thing we have for you. But, if others wanna try it out... 
::...unless you're on Wikia.... --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 13:27, 13 September 2012 (EDT)
:::Yeah, it was just a quick heads up so people who may be interested are aware. I know a number of people who are equally obsessed with TF and Joe. :) Oh, and yes, it is on Wikia! --[[User:JMM|JMM]] 14:22, 13 September 2012 (EDT)
::::We did at one point approach a partnership with Joepedia, and even had a template that cross-linked articles we shared. It was just a little premature at the time (which was years ago) as Joepedia was just starting out and often our articles were more complete than theirs, or theirs were just stubs. It looks like they've gotten off the ground a bit more now.--[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]][[User Talk:Rosicrucian|Talk]] 15:30, 13 September 2012 (EDT)
:::::Yes, their wiki got started later than this one. They have a small group of dedicated contributers, but the site's yet to attract the kind of interest this one does. --[[User:JMM|JMM]] 16:34, 13 September 2012 (EDT)

== New stub templates ==
=== Video game stub template ===
Does anybody have any objections to a video game stub template? It would look something like this:
 {{messagebox
|header=This article is still in beta stage.
|message_text=''This video game article is a [[:Category:Video game stubs|stub]] and is missing information. You can help '''{{SITENAME}}''' by [{{SERVER}}{{localurl:{{NAMESPACE}}:{{PAGENAME}}|action=edit}} expanding it].''
|image_name=ProwlTFU.JPG
|image_width=40px
|width = 90%
}}<includeonly>[[Category:Video game stubs]]</includeonly>
If anybody knows of a better picture that would go well with this, please upload it so it can be put in. Thanks! -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 15:52, 2 October 2012 (EDT)

:How about a pic from the story where Prime dies in a video game? Heh if only Beta had ever been in a game, that'd be perfect. --[[Special:Contributions/76.28.76.206|76.28.76.206]] 16:03, 2 October 2012 (EDT)
::What story was that? And yeah, that woulda been great. -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 19:53, 2 October 2012 (EDT)
:::That would be [[Afterdeath!]]. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 21:56, 2 October 2012 (EDT)
::::Well if people really want a picture from that, someone else will have to upload it, as I don't have access to it. -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 21:59, 2 October 2012 (EDT)
:::::[[:Image:Afterdeath-gameoverman.jpg|Right here, dude.]]--[[User:Detour|Detour]] 22:34, 2 October 2012 (EDT)
::::::Thanks, man. It's on the ''[[Transformers: Prime - The Game|Prime: The Game]]'' page if you want to see it. -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 22:50, 2 October 2012 (EDT)

In addition to the video game stub, I'd like to suggest adding several templates, such as "section stub" and "fiction stub". Right now, we only have "characer stub fiction" for pages only missing fiction section, but no templates for non-character page missing fiction appearance. While "section stub" can use for articles only missing one or two sections. --'''[[User:TX55|TX55]]'''''[[User talk:TX55|TALK]]'' 22:05, 2 October 2012 (EDT)
:Ok, so I'm gonna go ahead and make the video game one, and TX, if I get around to it later, maybe the others. If not, well, someone else will. Oh, and if I miss an article that the video game one should go on, put it here. -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 22:31, 2 October 2012 (EDT)

=== Novel stub template ===
Ok, who has an idea for a picture for a novel stub template? I'm not good with coming up with pictures for these templates. -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 22:11, 20 October 2012 (EDT)

It would look like this like this:
 {{messagebox
|header=This manuscript still needs work.
|message_text=''This novel article is a [[:Category:Novel stubs|stub]] and is missing information. You can help '''{{SITENAME}}''' by [{{SERVER}}{{localurl:{{NAMESPACE}}:{{PAGENAME}}|action=edit}} expanding it].''
|image_name=DOTM Code-Name Hero.jpg
|image_width=70px
|width = 90%
}}<includeonly>[[Category:Novel stubs]]</includeonly>
-- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 10:23, 21 October 2012 (EDT)

== Megatron Barcode Battler Card ==

Hi, I was wondering if anyone here had come across this Megatron card for the Barcode Battler, or knows where in the Wiki it should go:
{|
|-
|[[Image:Barcode Battler Megatron Card Front.jpg|200px]]
|[[Image:Barcode Battler Megatron Card Back.jpg|200px]]
|}
It seems to have been released by Toys R Us in 1992 as a promo for the Barcode Battler (which they were trying to sell in store), and was (as far as is known) the only such Transformers card, probably given away with two [http://barcodebattler.co.uk/scans/UK/ToysRUsF.jpg blank] [http://barcodebattler.co.uk/scans/UK/ToysRUsB.jpg cards] (the bottom scan - the middle is from the Barcode Battler box) to add your own barcodes to, and a card wallet.

The text ("Clad in steel, armed to the teeth, nobody toys with us good guys when this moody cool deadly-dudey is around.") is probably enough to make you want to forget this was ever made (is it really calling Megatron a good guy?), but it's cropped up in enough eBay sales (occasionally found in Barcode Battler lots with the seller unaware that they've got something rare) to make it likely to be genuine.

So does anyone else have any information on it, and whereabouts should this go? [[User:Xensyria|xensyria]] 12:26, 16 October 2012 (EDT) EDIT: 13:10, 16 October 2012 (EDT)
:I definitely don't know anything about it, besides that it's awesome, but if it's from 1992, then the only Megatron it could be is Megatron (G1), and so it should probably be on his toys/merchandise page.
:It's also plausible that someone who knows something about Barcode Battlers should make a short article on them for the wiki, since we have a lot of those "this broader thing had a TF thing released under it" pages. -[[User:LV|LV]] 12:31, 16 October 2012 (EDT)
::Or...this isn't anything to do with a licensed Transformers thing? I sort of blindly assumed Hasbro was the entity selling the Barcode Battler in the UK, but the packaging doesn't seem to support that. It's hard to believe it's not intended to be TF Megatron, but I'm also not sure it's an official product. Especially since this Megatron guy seems to be the boxfront "main character" for the UK Barcode Battler release. -[[User:LV|LV]] 12:37, 16 October 2012 (EDT)
:::Ah, that's a possibility, but Barcode Battler was being distributed in most of Europe by Tomy, so they probably gave Toys R Us rights to use Megatron. Perhaps they couldn't get the rights to use his picture though (as you say, it's Tomy's Barcode Battler cover on the card, so anyone who used the card probably wouldn't think it was supposed to be Megatron). I should also say that 1992 is more of an educated guess than fact, but it's bound to be somewhere around that.
:::If it's offical I don't mind making a Barcode Battler article (though I'll have to check out some of the other examples you mention first). [[User:Xensyria|xensyria]] 13:02, 16 October 2012 (EDT)
::::Wait, I just re-read Wikipedia, and Tomy was rivals with Takara who owned Transformers at the time. Still, I wonder if such big companies would risk a lawsuit over using Megatron, when they had all sorts of other franchises they could use instead; more likely Toys R Us arranged the deal with Hasbro, who they no doubt were one of the biggest retailers for at the time. [[User:Xensyria|xensyria]] 13:04, 16 October 2012 (EDT) EDIT: 13:12, 16 October 2012 (EDT)
:::::Unlikely to be a Hasbro/TF related thing. In 1992 TFs weren't even being made in the US and the UK line didn't have a Megatron, the Decepticons were led by Skyquake at that time. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 13:14, 16 October 2012 (EDT)
:::::Well, this is sort of like with Yu-Gi-Oh's Space Megatron, Hasbro's trademark just didn't apply to things like gaming cards, so Tomy, just like Konami later, was in a safe zone. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 14:20, 16 October 2012 (EDT)
::::::Ah, that would explain the "good guys" text as well. It seems to be a U.K. only thing, and though there may not have been Megatron toys there (is there a reference to them not being released in the U.K. on this on the wiki?) the name would have been familiar from the the film. Is there anywhere for similarly unofficial merchandice here, or should it be cast back into the purgatory of its makers' device? [[User:Xensyria|xensyria]] 15:11, 16 October 2012 (EDT)
:::::::While I never played it, I distinctively remember Barcode Battlers as well, so it's not a UK-only thing. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 15:15, 16 October 2012 (EDT)
::::::::My bad, I mean the Megatron card, which uses the Tomy box art (the U.S. version was by Irwin, and Japan by the developer, Epoch). [[User:Xensyria|xensyria]] 15:22, 16 October 2012 (EDT)
:::::::::See [[The Transformers (toyline)]] and [[Generation 1 (European toyline)]] for lists of what was released in the US and Europe each year of the original toyline. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 15:37, 16 October 2012 (EDT)
::::::::::Also, in answer to your question about unofficial merchandise, we only cover official products from Hasbro, Takara and their license holders. About the only place that this could really go on this site is the [[trademark]] page, in a similar use as the "Space Megatron" card from Yu-Gi-Oh! --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 07:53, 18 October 2012 (EDT)
:::::::::::Thanks to all of you for the info. I've added it to the [[Talk:Trademark#Old example: .22Megatron.22 Barcode Battler promo card|trademark talk page]], but will leave it up to you whether it's a notable enough example to be added to the article or not. [[User:Xensyria|xensyria]] 15:55, 19 October 2012 (EDT)

==Recent spamming==
Granted, I haven't been here all that often, but the recent spamming has me wondering if the perpetrator(s) are using some form of IP hopping. It's feeling rather hydra-ish at the moment. --[[User:Lonegamer78|Lonegamer78]] 07:22, 18 October 2012 (EDT)
:I still suggest you add a recaptcha for edits that add external links, at least for new accounts.[[Special:Contributions/192.249.47.177|192.249.47.177]] 14:09, 18 October 2012 (EDT)
::If that's possible, I like that idea. -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 18:34, 18 October 2012 (EDT)
:::What IP guy said. Also, if we disabled all "Talk:/Talk" pages, that'd help a bit. Either way, the latest spambot assault is obliterating the recent changes page. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 08:21, 24 October 2012 (EDT)
::::The "Talk:/Talk" thing has been mentioned numerous times in the past, I was actually surprised to see these still popping up. I'm guessing some other wikis have already implemented this, as there seems no other reason for the several "Talk:T/alk" (note order of characters) pages that have popped up recently. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 10:03, 24 October 2012 (EDT)
:::::I don't care what we do, but we need to do something, and we need to do it now. - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 10:09, 24 October 2012 (EDT)
::::::What McFeely said. This crap needs to stop. -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 08:47, 25 October 2012 (EDT)
:::::::Looking at the recent changes, this is getting worse. -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 18:20, 25 October 2012 (EDT)

According to McFly, anon editing has been eliminated. This kills a lot of it, plus a chunk of human-born vandalism. The next step is that new accounts will get an automated confirmation email with a link that will unlock the new account, which should hopefully take out the other major spambot problems. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 18:30, 25 October 2012 (EDT)
:Leaving those that make accounts just to spam. Well, one step at a time. --[[User:Lonegamer78|Lonegamer78]] 00:29, 26 October 2012 (EDT)
::Well, there's not much we can do with dedicated human antagonists. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 00:43, 26 October 2012 (EDT)
:::And, the worst problem was the spambots anyway. -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 06:45, 26 October 2012 (EDT)
::::Rather than blocking all IP editing, did you guys ever try out recaptcha for new accounts or articles?[[User:KrytenKoro|KrytenKoro]] 20:27, 9 November 2012 (EST)

== Universe/UT Micromaster combiners ==

There isn't any general page for these, so I'm putting this here.

Given our treatment of the ROTF/Universe (2008) Bruticus Maximus and Superion sets, I wonder if the Universe (2003) Micromaster combiners whose European releases were branded as Energon ([[Defensor (Universe)|Defensor]], [[Constructicon Devastator (Micromaster)|Constructicon Devastator]]) or Cybertron ([[Superion (Universe)|Superion]], [[Rail Racer (Universe)|Rail Racer]]) should be considered Unicron Trilogy characters. It's the same basic situation, except that the nature of Universe (2003) means that just because the European versions are Energon/Cybertron doesn't mean they're different guys. --[[User:Andrusi|Andrusi]] 11:00, 18 October 2012 (EDT)
:Aren't they already listed that way? Defensor and Constructicon Devastator have "Energon Autobot" and "Energon Decepticon" categories and Superion and Rail Racer are in the category "Cybertron Autobots". I haven't checked the individual team members yet. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 12:59, 18 October 2012 (EDT)
:Just checked the team members and found only one that was not categorized as Energon or Cybertron characters (Long Haul), I added the appropriate category. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 13:04, 18 October 2012 (EDT)
::I guess he's talking about the continuity identifier at the top? [[Special:Contributions/24.211.29.87|24.211.29.87]] 13:24, 18 October 2012 (EDT)
:::Ah, that makes sense. I could see something like the one used for [[King Atlas]]. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 13:49, 18 October 2012 (EDT)
::::Yeah, I meant the continuity identifiers (and in the case of some components, like [[Red Alert (Universe)|Red Alert]], the "relation unknown" bio notes). The categories honestly never occurred to me. --[[User:Andrusi|Andrusi]] 12:36, 19 October 2012 (EDT)

== Election Day ==

Perhaps the [[President of the United States]] should be the featured article... just for today.--[[User:Jimsorenson|Jimsorenson]] 10:41, 6 November 2012 (EST)
:Much as I like the idea, it doesn't have much of an intro paragraph, which makes it hard to front-page it.--[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]][[User Talk:Rosicrucian|Talk]] 12:20, 6 November 2012 (EST)
::Transtech Optimus and Megatron might also be good choices.[[User:KrytenKoro|KrytenKoro]] 13:02, 6 November 2012 (EST)
:::[[Democracy]]? --[[User:Emvee|Emvee]] 13:06, 6 November 2012 (EST)
::::Yeah, that's got a proper intro paragraph and is actually a fairly nice article. [[User:Jalaguy|Jalaguy]] 13:08, 6 November 2012 (EST)
:::::We've used it on Election Day before, s'why. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 13:23, 6 November 2012 (EST)

== Aligned ==

Can we... can we just disambiguate WFC/FOC/Prime stuff like we do everything else on this wiki, please? --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 14:51, 11 November 2012 (EST)

:I am still not clear as to why WFC and FOC are treated as franchises of their own rather than specific iterations of the Prime franchise. I would support changing all the disambigs of WFC/FOC/Prime to Prime. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 15:03, 11 November 2012 (EST)

::WFC and FOC have their own franchise branding. For example, the Fall of Cybertron comic is branded as Fall of Cybertron, not as Prime. When you have a series of related properties with "Transformers: ________" as a shared title with its own logo, that's a more often than not a franchise. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 01:26, 12 November 2012 (EST)

:::And for that matter, WFC and FOC encompass even our most strict definition of franchise, as each of them is at minimum a game, a comic, and a toyline.--[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]][[User Talk:Rosicrucian|Talk]] 03:54, 12 November 2012 (EST)

:So what are you asking for, here, Walky? For [[Optimus Prime (Prime)]] to be at "Optimus Prime (WFC)"? - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 05:05, 12 November 2012 (EST)
::::Yes. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 15:15, 12 November 2012 (EST)

::Frankly, I'd love to see Optimus Prime (WFC), Optimus Prime (Prime) and Optimus Prime (RB). --'''[[User:TX55|TX55]]'''''[[User talk:TX55|TALK]]'' 12:31, 12 November 2012 (EST)
:::Why would we part out a character's page by separate franchises within the same continuity family? --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 13:00, 12 November 2012 (EST)

:I agree that some of the disambig'ing is getting pretty mad. Like Aligned Bruticus being at (Prime) due to a piece of concept art for a foreign-market MMO that isn't even used on the page, for instance. Given that the original reason for overriding (WFC) disambigs was to avoid confusion, it seems pretty ridiculous. I understand the original intention was to help people looking for the show characters, but the same could be said of, say, [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], who is disambig'd based on a less well known first appearance rather than a starring cartoon role, and we haven't changed him. My opinion's that we should either, as Walky says, abandon the 'Prime takes precedence for disambigs' thing, or come up with a more concrete set of guidelines than 'the moment they appear in anything the tiniest bit ''Prime''-y, change the disambig'. [[User:Jalaguy|Jalaguy]] 13:36, 12 November 2012 (EST)
::As someone who initially advocated for our current methodology, I'd really only intended it for show characters or characters in the Prime toyline. That's my only real hang-up here, that if a new user comes here after watching the show or picking up a toy, they shouldn't get tangled up by the fact that we're insisting on putting (WFC) on the end of something because it debuted in the game. Parentheticals are for ease of use, not dogmatic technicality.--[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]][[User Talk:Rosicrucian|Talk]] 14:59, 12 November 2012 (EST)

For what it's worth, I still think that we should do our disambiguations by continuity families. We still have one article per character per continuity family, so it seems the most logical to me to call that the disambiguation and only go deeper when we have two different characters from the same continuity family with the same name. After all, when you go to the current disambiguation pages, that's how we describe the character in text.
It would avoid this entire mess. Basically, the principal I think we should employ is to use the highest possible level when disambiguating characters. If a character is unique, no disambiguation necessary. If only one guy named 'Optimus Prime' shows up in Aligned, then call him Optimus Prime (Aligned). I realized that that means that the Unicron Trilogy and movie franchises, with their rampant name reuse, will tend to go one level deeper... but since that's what we're doing today, it shouldn't be too big of an issue.
As we've seen, the lines between franchises are only getting blurrier, and we have every reason to believe this trend will continue. In maybe 95% of cases, we really will have only one character per name per continuity family, and then we (and our readers) won't have to try to figure out where Aligned Prime first popped his head up. --[[User:Jimsorenson|Jimsorenson]] 18:33, 12 November 2012 (EST)
:I find myself agreeing with this. As someone who was not to long ago just a reader, I can say that disambiguating by continuity family would probably help ''a lot'' of people. -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 20:00, 12 November 2012 (EST)
::If you do that, may I suggest you take the opportunity to come up with a less confusing name for the G1 continuity family that isn't the same as the franchise. That way there won't be a bunch of Beast Wars characters with (G1). How about the "inaugural continuity family"? Optimus Prime (Inaugural)
::Cons
::*Continuity family names are unofficial for the most part.
::*Fiction-only dimension hoppers are a bit of a problem. Do they go in their "home" continuity family or the continuity family of the piece of fiction they originated in?
::*Pros
::*I would personally feel better about the IDW original characters if they were disambiguated by the G1 continuity family (or the inaugural continuity family) instead of the G1 franchise. - [[User:Starfield|Starfield]] 20:17, 12 November 2012 (EST)
:If it's a choice between having (WFC) disambigs on Prime characters or radically changing how we organize the wiki and having to move thousands of articles (who's going to have time to even do that?), I prefer the former as a solution. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 20:36, 12 November 2012 (EST)
::In full agreement there. But I do think redirects with other franchise disambigs would be helpful to newcomers. Like someone who may have watched Cybertron but not be aware of the Armada toy who might try to search for "Thundercracker (Cybertron)", for example. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 20:49, 12 November 2012 (EST)
:''For what it's worth, I still think that we should do our disambiguations by continuity families.''
:Agree. The only reason we don't for the Unicron Trilogy is because of the absolutely rampant name reuse, but Prime hasn't seen that problem. I think that (in principle) everyone should be disambig'd (Aligned).
:That or you have to more Breakdown (Prime) to Breakdown (WFC).
:...also Rescue Bots. Aligned they are. -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 00:45, 13 November 2012 (EST)
::I strongly feel we should stick to using official terms and abbreviations thereof in our disambiguation, and "aligned" is not really official (it was from a Hasbro guy describing their aim as a "new aligned continuity" ISTR). Unless we renamed it to the "Prime continuity family", but that way possibly lies madness. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 22:33, 13 November 2012 (EST)
:::I bet you anything that if we looked around we could find someone official referring to it as Aligned. (If only because we do.) -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 22:36, 13 November 2012 (EST)
::::Not that I want to do everything by continuity family, because I absolutely do not, but even "Generation 1" started out as a fan term, and "Unicron Trilogy" was based on something Aaron Archer said once but became widespread because the Wiki used it. "Aligned," another thing said once by Hasbro, is no different. But again, argh, no, disambiging by continuity family raises more headaches than it solves. UT isn't the only continuity family where name reuse is rampant. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 01:08, 14 November 2012 (EST)
:::::Yeah, ''colossal'' headaches if we tried to smoosh the various comic and toy characters from each movie's ancillary franchise together.--[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]][[User Talk:Rosicrucian|Talk]] 01:22, 14 November 2012 (EST)
::::::Would it be? If they're different characters, they're different characters. So, Sentinel Prime would go from Sentienl Prime (ROTF) to Sentinel Prime (Movie). He's a good example of a confusing disambiuation. He's the villain in movie 3, but is at movie 2 because of an unnamed montage sequence. Someone like movie Devastator, who is two separate characters, would remain exactly as they are.--[[User:Joefan|Joefan]] 12:06, 14 November 2012 (EST)
:::::::Except if it's by continuity family, he'd be at "Sentinel Prime (LAMS)". I think changing our entire way of naming articles and moving thousands of articles just to fix the "(Prime)" issue is like using a nuclear bomb to hammer in a nail. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 14:12, 14 November 2012 (EST)
::::::::My view on this topic has changed, and I now agree with this. -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 15:44, 14 November 2012 (EST)
:::::::::My understanding was that we HAD been disambig-ing by Continuity family, and chose NOT to for the Unicron Trilogy and LAMS because the rampant name reuse would make this horribly confusing. But for Aligned... so far we've already gotten three franchises and virtually no overlap.
:::::::::I'm going to cite [[Help:Ignore all standards]], which states that ''Standards are good; TFWiki.net likes standards. We're just not under the illusion that standards are perfect.'' and more importantly '''"In situations where the standards intended to prevent confusion would instead contribute to it, common sense should rule."'''
:::::::::Actually... wasn't disambiging the UT series by franchise a case of H:IAS? We decided to do that because the way rampant name reuse rendered other approaches impractical. -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 14:05, 16 November 2012 (EST)
::::::::::We don't disambig by franchise because of the UT. We disambig by franchise because of EVERYTHING. UT was never ever ever the straw that broke the camel's back. The back came pre-broken. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 14:22, 16 November 2012 (EST)
:::::::::::Whatever. Can I move Breakdown (Prime) to Breakdown (WFC) or not? -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 15:35, 16 November 2012 (EST)
::::::::::::That's what I'd like to do eventually, but I don't think we've reached a firm enough consensus to do something that big and sprawling. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 16:16, 16 November 2012 (EST)
:::::::::::::...he's got the wrong disambig. We disambig by the franchise he first appeared in. His WFC appearance was 6 months prior to his Prime appearance. Why does that require some sort of confab?
:::::::::::::: You are preaching to the choir on this point, but previously a consensus was made that Prime stuff operates differently from everything else on the wiki. I want to overturn that, but until I do, the previous consensus stands. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 16:58, 16 November 2012 (EST)
:::::::::::::Of course the answer is "because we're already in an <tt>Ignore all standards</tt> situation; we want to disambig them with (Prime) even though that's against our standard treatment, but we haven't properly dealt-with/processed/mourned that."
:::::::::::::If we give in to a rigid standard and move him (and everyone else) to (WFC), ''I'' think it's almost inevitable that there will be a pushback against the anti-intuitive mess that makes the disambigs, which will itself lead to either returning them to (Prime) or switching everything to (Aligned) I just do not see (WFC) for the main characters 'standing.'
:::::::::::::Which would mean that we aren't facing a choice between standard-vs-nonstandard, but between nonstandard-vs-nonstandard. And given that choice I think (Aligned) is the better nonstandard.
:::::::::::::(You may feel free to disagree with my assessment of the outcome of a (WFC) move. I recognize that my beliefs about "what would probably happen after" are just a hypothesis and should not be treated as fact.) -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 16:56, 16 November 2012 (EST)

If we do go to strict franchise of origin on Aligned continuity family characters, we are going to have to be ''super'' diligent on redirects for anyone that appears in the Prime show or toyline.--[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]][[User Talk:Rosicrucian|Talk]] 17:55, 16 November 2012 (EST)
: I half-agree, if only because we won't have to be TOO diligent on the pages that exist already, because that would involve merely not deleting the redirects from the old locations once we move the pages. It'd be a kind of reverse-diligence, since it would really mean one less step than usual. Otherwise, yes, if a character is in Prime, there should be a redirect from there. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 19:13, 16 November 2012 (EST)

So have people have a chance to mull this over some? I'm leaning towards going back to the "by franchise" rule and having "Breakdown (WFC)" because it's both simpler than any of the alternatives, and it's consistent with what we do everywhere else. So long as "Breakdown (Prime)" redirects there, and I don't see any reason for it not to, people will still be able to find it. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 18:56, 27 November 2012 (EST)

== Fun fact ==

According to my calculations we had around about 6876 articles when we left Wikia, so we've added over 10000 more in the four and a bit years since we left. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 03:27, 19 November 2012 (EST)

:While wikia has added... 929 articles.--[[User:Carrion|Carrion]] 12:09, 19 November 2012 (EST)

::929, really? No offense but I thought it was less. --'''[[User:TX55|TX55]]'''''[[User talk:TX55|TALK]]'' 13:47, 19 November 2012 (EST) <13:57, 19 November 2012 (EST) edit>

:::Hey, be fair, they've also added a blog. GUH. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 13:49, 19 November 2012 (EST)
::::And a video library! Because people go to wikis to watch movie trailers! --[[User:Abates|abates]] 14:43, 19 November 2012 (EST)
:::I was just there the other day... their article for Animated Bulkhead still has an "ongoing" tag... --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 19:06, 19 November 2012 (EST)

== Split Pages ==

We have several characters on the list of [[Special:Longpages|Long pages]]–such as [[Kup (G1)]], ‎[[Prowl (G1)]], [[Megatron (G1)]], [[Ratchet (G1)]], and [[Hot Rod (G1)]]. So I suggest to split their G1 cartoon, Marvel comics, and IDW comics section into new pages. – [[User:Thunderweb|Thunderweb]] 01:40, 20 November 2012 (EST)
:That's cool and all, but please don't split off pages if you're not going to write proper intros/summaries for them and include appropriate categories on the sub pages. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 17:12, 24 November 2012 (EST)

== Aligned section breakup is warping canon ==

Currently{{now|21:19, 26 November 2012 (EST)}} our [[Breakdown (Prime)]] page lists all his Prime appearances then ghettotizes out his Fall of Cybertron appearances into a subsequent section as a separate continuity, and thus less important than the cartoon despite coming first.

[[Bulkhead (Prime)]] and [[Knock Out (Prime)]] are a little better, but the Prime wii game (by the series writers, intended to fit in season 2 albeit without a specific "after this episode and before this episode" date) is broken out as a '''seperate continuity'''

Traditionally this has been our way of dealing with games because they are a secondary media; being sorta warped reflections of some core media with (for the most part) minimal contribution to continuity. But, you know, Aligned is different. The War for Cybertron / Fall of Cybertron games are part of the same continuity, occurring before the cartoon. We sort of rolled our eyes when Hasbro first insisted on this (mostly because the [[Transformers: Exodus]] novel doesn't fit well with the game ''or'' the cartoon.) But the reality increasingly is that they '''are''' one continuity. Hell, this is a quote from an interview w/ John Barber, writer of [[Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots|Rage of the Dinobots]].

{{quote|JB: The Transformers story has been going on continuously for a very long time, and I think it’s fair to say the Prime universe is working to take the best elements of every expression and build a world. What’s really exciting is that what we’re doing in the comic is going to impact this world across various mediums. So, it isn’t a case where we’re doing a book that’s subservient to the TV show—we’re doing an all-new story set in that same universe, and the stories we tell are going to be reflected in the shows and the novels and everything else. It’s “canon.” Which is cool, and sort of rare and unique.

RS: The book is a truly cross-media venture tying in with the upcoming game Fall of Cybertron as well as the Transformers Prime series, how much of a 'juggling act' is it to coordinate the story between the different outlets?

JB: Fortunately I get to work with some of the best people in the business. Michael Kelly, who’s Hasbro’s Director of Global Publishing, is a great friend and somebody I get to work with very closely. He coordinates with the Transformers brand team at Hasbro—which contains some really good friends of mine, too. Plus I’ll talk to the folks at Random House, and we’re constantly emailing with everybody at High Moon, who produce FALL OF CYBERTRON, so while there are a lot of moving parts, we’re all talking. And we’re all building toward the same goals of good storytelling and a cohesive worldview.

Also—the new Prime comic is being written by Mike Johnson and Mairghread Scott, both of whom—in addition to being comics writers, both write for thePrime TV show. So they know what’s what.|John Barber|[http://www.aintitcool.com/node/58236 AICN COMICS Q&@: Russ Sheath talks to IDW's John Barber about TRANSFORMERS PRIME: RAGE OF THE DINOBOTS!]}}

Messy as it was for the rollout, the people producing the stuff '''intend for it to be one universe and are writing it at such'''. And the various franchises '''are''' slowly converging as a result.

We need to consolidate these sections under a single "Aligned continuity" header. Because the way we're doing it right now is fucking things up.

(And no we can't have WFC/Prime subsection headers for the same reason we can't separate the Movieverse prequel minis, they interleve. The games don't deal with Prime and Megatron's pre-war history bot the novels and TV shows do mention it.) -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 21:19, 26 November 2012 (EST)
: Yeah, I think the way we do it now is better-organized. Video game stuff, no matter how high-profile it is, tends to be overwritten by the "real" stories that later adapt it. I'd rather keep stuff separated by medium. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 22:28, 26 November 2012 (EST)
::Agreed. There's no way to kludge it all together under one heading without either ignoring some details or presenting them in a vague, unhelpful manner, given the contradictions that exist. You cite the Prime game, but at no point in season 2 do the Decepticons EVER consist of Megatron, Starscream, Airachnid and Dreadwing at the same time. It can't fit. And your other example - it's all well and good to quote that Barber quote, Derik, but the preview for "Rage of the Dinobots" alone has shown Grimlock present on Cybertron, Sludge being alive and Blast Off dying at a point when in the games, Grimlock has vanished, Sludge has died and Blast Off needs to be alive. (Not to say that the comic might not address these points, it's just the example foremost in my brain as it's been discussed recently.) - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 05:16, 27 November 2012 (EST)
:::Chris, the only contradiction we've seen in the Rage of the Dinobots comic preview thus far is Sludge being alive. It's set after the Ark left, during which Grimlock ''was'' still on Cybertron. And Blast Off being there ties in with Jazz and Jetfire having knocked Bruticus off the Ark before it went through the space bridge. He was last seen plummeting, seemingly, back to Cybertron; and judging by this comic, it looks like he made it.
:::Now, as for my thoughts on the reorganization of the Aligned fiction sections, I offer a counterproposal. Keep each section separate as they are, but I'd feel more confortable with the WFC and FOC sections place above the Prime sections to coincide with their chronological placement in the timeline. Perhaps put the Exodus section first, then the WFC sections, then the FOC comic section, the FOC the game, then Exiles or Rage of the Dinobots (depending on how that comic with play out will determent if it's better set before or after Exiles), then the Prime comic, then the Prime cartoon, then the Prime game, and then the Rescue Bots cartoon. Each keeps its own section, but arranged in as close to chronological order as possible. --[[User:Sabrblade|Sabrblade]] 12:20, 27 November 2012 (EST)
::::I don't understand how putting some of the video game stuff outside of the video game section is intuitive, because presumably we'd be keeping the Prime game stuff down below. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 12:23, 27 November 2012 (EST)
:::::I'm saying to treat the games as fiction themselves instead of a second tier category, since, unlike previous continuities, they're of a greater importance to their master continuity than any past games have ever been. --[[User:Sabrblade|Sabrblade]] 12:39, 27 November 2012 (EST)
::::::The [[Breakdown (Prime)]] article separates along '''Fiction''' and '''Games''', placing the WFC/FOC games in the latter when they are part of the same body of fiction. Even if you don't want to place them in the same continuity, they should both be in the '''Fiction''' header.
::::::The separate header for games system has its origins in the traditional relationship of games to other fiction, where they present a wildly divergent or exclusive or alternate version of another existing franchise or story. These are primary story material which have no 'primary story' they present an alternate version of because they ''are'' the primary story. You can't ghettoize them as "something other than fiction." -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 17:28, 27 November 2012 (EST)
:::::::That's what I'm saying. Putting the individual video game subsections into the main fiction section instead of putting them in a separate video game section since the games aren't a second tier of the main story this time. --[[User:Sabrblade|Sabrblade]] 17:37, 27 November 2012 (EST)
::::I realize this isn't the time or place for this, but regarding those points, I'll say that the clear implication at the end of FoC is that Grimlock has vanished through the spacebridge (he doesn't get out before the explosion and the Dinobots watch as something shoots up the beam into the portal), and as the Ark is the ''last'' of the vessels to leave in the game, it can't fit with what we're seeing here with Blast Off's timeline. - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 12:26, 27 November 2012 (EST)
:::::I never got the impression that Grimlock got sent through the space bridge. His fate was rather amibiguous to the nth degree, leaving plenty open room for him to still be on Cybertron after the game. He's running away, there's a blinding light, and then the scene cuts away. for all we know, he could have fallen off the platform he was on and plummeted far to the ground below, away from the space bridge's reach (though he'd be in for some serious repairs after a fall form that height). As for the other ships, we know that the planet was completely abandoned by the present day, so the Dinobots and Wreckers would have had to have gotten off the planet somehow and at some point. Just because the Ark was the last vessel to leave during the Great Exodus doesn't mean there weren't more ships set aside in reserve for or built later by those who stayed behind so they could eventually leave when the time would come for them to do so ''after'' the Great Exodus. --[[User:Sabrblade|Sabrblade]] 12:39, 27 November 2012 (EST)
::::::And thus, we see the the hand-wringing necessary to align everything. - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 12:50, 27 November 2012 (EST)
:::::::Pun not intended. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 13:39, 27 November 2012 (EST)
:::::::Yeah, and until we get canonical answers to things like where the Prime game or Optimus/Bumblebee's appearances in Rescue Bots fit, sticking everything under one header is just not possible. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 14:59, 27 November 2012 (EST)

I think my main qualm here is that every time someone tries to make the case that Aligned is somehow ''different'' and thus deserves us altering the way we treat it relative to other continuity families, we end up with ''even more'' examples of how Aligned is pretty much a branching, loosely-connected thing ''just like every other continuity family''. I mean sure, it'll never get quite to the point of how spread out the G1 continuity family is. Regardless, this is no different from how obvious it was that Bay's writers didn't give a damn about the movie comics, and so forth.--[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]][[User Talk:Rosicrucian|Talk]] 12:49, 27 November 2012 (EST)

:It's very easy to say "this doesn't seem to fit" but Barber says he's coordinating his story with High Moon Studios so there aren't any conflicts.
:The people writing these things are ''trying'' to make them one continuity, damnit! Do we have to fight them this hard? -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 13:22, 27 November 2012 (EST)
::And IDW ''tried'' to make the comics jive with the live-action movies, and Barber himself is the one that had to get the mop whenever that didn't work out. Heck, Barber had early drafts of the movie scripts in many cases, and ended up drawing off of concepts that ultimately weren't even used in the movies.--[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]][[User Talk:Rosicrucian|Talk]] 20:07, 27 November 2012 (EST)
:::I cant' tell if you're saying IDW succeeded or not, there's a lot of handwaving in the IDW timeline but it mostly works, largely thanks to Barber bending over backwards to explain how the DotM conspiracy could possibly be present during the 2007 movie and somehow miss Megatron. ;) -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 00:05, 28 November 2012 (EST)
::::I'm not faulting the man's efforts, and certainly he must have won a No-Prize back in the day from the Merry Marvel Marching Squad, but all I'm really saying is ''this is nothing new''.--[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]][[User Talk:Rosicrucian|Talk]] 01:43, 28 November 2012 (EST)
:::::What are you saying? The Movieverse comics and the films are in the same continuity. Just read the [[Movie continuity]] page. I don't care so much how the fiction is listed in character pages, but I'd like to see the [[Aligned continuity family]] page moved to "Aligned continuity" and the appropriate changes made to reflect the fact that the Aligned stuff is all ''officially'' the same continuity. Officially! Nobody in G1 tried to say "all this stuff is in the same continuity." - [[User:Starfield|Starfield]] 11:10, 28 November 2012 (EST)

== James Roberts notes ==

As self-referencial as Roberts' work gets, most of the notes sections on MTMTE pages are getting ridiculously long. Some of them have become big blocks of text that cover an entire screen. Is there any way we can break these down into smaller subsections? ''"Roberts referencing Roberts"'' vs. ''"Roberts referencing other stories"''? ''"Story notes"'' vs. ''"Easter eggs"''?--[[User:Xaaron|Xaaron]] 09:52, 13 December 2012 (EST)
: I don't think any of the notes sections for Roberts stories are "ridiculously long." --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 10:41, 13 December 2012 (EST)
:: Four of the last five regular issues have Notes sections that cover my entire monitor. One big screen of bullet points. It's aesthetically unpleasing, my eyes glaze over just looking at it, and I can't be the only one. We discourage big blocks of text in the History sections, and this isn't much different.
:: I'm not saying the Notes themselves aren't "note-worthy". It just...doesn't look good. I think an effort could be made to make it easier on the eyes. More images in that section, or some sub-sections to break up the bullet points is not unreasonable to suggest. --[[User:Xaaron|Xaaron]] 11:12, 13 December 2012 (EST)

== "Things that don't exist" category ==

FYI, readers that don't have accounts can't access this category through articles because they're blocked from the editing page, which the red link automatically takes them to. [[User:Mimi|Mimi]] 02:52, 18 December 2012 (EST)
:Hmm, we could possibly use javascript to amend links to it to point to http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Category:Things_that_don%27t_exist instead, which does work for logged out users. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 03:06, 18 December 2012 (EST)
::It looks like this was resolved in MediaWiki 1.15 which automatically redirects logged-out users to the working Category page. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 20:01, 23 April 2013 (EDT)

==Batchtaster?==

Really? --[[User:Xaaron|Xaaron]] 18:19, 1 January 2013 (EST)

== Captions ==

I have often found myself simply reading this website for entertainment because it just appeals to my sense of humor that much. I have often found myself wanting to somehow upvote or like a caption because it was just that good. Is there a way to do this? If not, can there be? [[User:Tourny|Tourny]] 20:59, 5 January 2013 (EST)
:I don't think that'd ever happen, because at the end of the day, this a Transformers wiki, not a 'post your Transformers jokes here' website. The jokes aren't and never should be the main focus, they're just a fun side effect. If anything, such a system would kind of legitimise the people who show up and do just want to use this place as a place to post their 'hilarious' Transformers jokes without contributing anything useful, and god knows we don't want that... [[User:Jalaguy|Jalaguy]] 04:52, 6 January 2013 (EST)
::A most welcome way of doing it would be to point out the captions you like by posting to your facebook or twitter or what have you, especially with a link to the TFWiki page in question. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 05:18, 6 January 2013 (EST)

== Aligned character page main images ==

Since we've finally beun to treat the Aligned characters like we do characters of other continuities by disambiguating them by franchise, does anyone else feel that a bunch of characters with (WFC) disambigs having their Prime designs as their main image feels a little off? I mean, [[Thundercracker (Armada)]] uses his Armada design as his main image despite his Cybertron depiction being his most prominent one. Wouldn't it make more sense to have the WFC designs be the main images for those characters who bear the (WFC) disambig and such? Especially since our policy says, "the main image [of a character's page] should be their original 'real world' form". --[[User:Sabrblade|Sabrblade]] 00:34, 7 January 2013 (EST)
:Not sure why it's there for Thundercracker, but characters like [[Sideways (RID)]] and [[The Fallen]] use their later body designs for their mainpics. It's the most prominent way they've appeared, same as Sideways and Fallen. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 00:40, 7 January 2013 (EST)
::The only reason Sideways has his Armada body at the top of the page is that there is no art of the RID body. His packaging image was a photo of his toy and he hasn't appeared in that body anywhere in fiction. The Fallen has his movie body because, well, it was our most popular page for a year or two, because of the movies, and so he was a special case. Regardless, a part of me is pretty okay with the Aligned guys having their Prime bodies at the top, ignoring all standards. That feels a lot different to me than the disambiguation parenthetical, which is there for organization, not for looks or presentation like the main image is. But my feelings are not super strong. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 01:31, 7 January 2013 (EST)
:::I think we should stick with the Prime images. I'm basically okay with the disambig change at this point after not being on board at first, but I think keeping their Prime main images will help mitigate the potential confusion or blurring of the lines that Aligned seems to always foster. - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 05:09, 7 January 2013 (EST)
::::I think for the time being, Prime images make the most sense. ''Going into the future'', I think additional different-looking cartoons in the Aligned continuity would be a decent argument for returning to WFC bodies, because at that point they're simply one of many looks, instead of the less prominent of two. -[[User:LV|LV]] 11:49, 7 January 2013 (EST)

==Continuing spam==
With the spam continuing, even with captchas and email activation turned on, are we to assume that it's some actual poor bastards sitting there copypasting nonsense about handbags into pages? Would a possible solution be trivia-style verification questions? Something most TF fans would know, or could otherwise find out easily, but that a bored spammer would lack the initiative to find out? Like 'who is the Combaticon leader?' or 'what faction does Hound belong to?' and so on. [[User:Jalaguy|Jalaguy]] 14:57, 8 January 2013 (EST)
:''Are'' Captchas and email activation turned on? I'm not sure how they could be. These are obviously bots, and last I heard we'd only turned on the requirement to register before you can edit.--[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]][[User Talk:Rosicrucian|Talk]] 15:05, 8 January 2013 (EST)
::Yeah, log out and check the account creation page, there's a reCAPTCHA thingmabob on there now. Sipher mentioned activation emails being turned on in the spam discusson further up the page, but looking at the sign-up page again, email isn't required, so I guess it can't be... [[User:Jalaguy|Jalaguy]] 15:14, 8 January 2013 (EST)

::There are [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Anti-spam_features several simple steps] that would improve matters immediately and immensely - [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:TitleBlacklist TitleBlacklist] to block the likes of <nowiki>[[Talk:Something/]] and [[Talk:/Something]]</nowiki>, preventing users from creating User: pages with their first edit by requiring the Autoconfirmed permission to do so, adding a [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:$wgSpamRegex $wgSpamRegex] to LocalSettings.php to prevent pages from being saved if they contain obvious trigger words like "viagra", "cialis", "online casino", "ugg boots" and so forth. They just aren't being used. - [[User:SanityOrMadness|SanityOrMadness]] 19:20, 8 January 2013 (EST)

::reCaptcha is a piece of poop, security-wise. I'm also reluctant to add more extensions at the moment, due to performance issues, BUT. Find something simple and lightweight to REPLACE reCaptcha, and we can talk. --[[User:McFly|McFly]] 05:38, 15 January 2013 (UTC)
:::$wgSpamRegex isn't an extension, it's a line of code you can add various banned words to (i.e., if "viagra" is in the list and someone tries to save a page that includes it, the page wouldn't save and they'd get a error message telling them why it wouldn't save. - [[User:SanityOrMadness|SanityOrMadness]] 07:29, 15 January 2013 (UTC)
::::You know what WASN'T on? wgEmailConfirmToEdit. That may make a LOT more sense, as I'd wager that spambots aren't actually including legit emails. Email authentication is NOT the same thing. --[[User:McFly|McFly]] 16:50, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

:I still don't think reCaptcha is helping, as noticed, and it doesn't have anything like, say, a lockout policy, so I've bit the bullet and added a modified version of the SpamBlacklist extension, adding in RBL support and some basic language filters in one go. It's reasonably light on DB traffic, too. Will it slow the flood? That remains to be seen, but they're still getting around it right now. I also think I've resolved the IP blocking issue, so we might (might!) be okay now. Turns out that adding a load balancer in front of the Squid caches hurts Mediawiki's IP detection logic. --[[User:McFly|McFly]] 20:21, 16 January 2013 (EST)
::Alternate suggestion: could the system be modded to block an editor from creating an article until one of their edits is marked as patrolled (and thus approved as legitimate)?[[User:KrytenKoro|KrytenKoro]] 00:53, 24 March 2013 (EDT)

== We are moving very very soon. ==

That means at some point within the next few hours to few days the wiki will go to Read Only mode while McFly moves stuff around. Then we won't be hemorrhaging cash and things will run smoothly and we'll all have boners, even the ladies. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 17:12, 9 January 2013 (EST)
:I've got one right now! - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 17:23, 9 January 2013 (EST)

Okay, so, uh, what the hell happened? -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 00:43, 15 January 2013 (UTC)
:We have moved. Some things are still being tweaked. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 00:46, 15 January 2013 (UTC)
::Well, I knew we moved, just I thought nothing would look different. Oh, well. -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 00:52, 15 January 2013 (UTC)
:::New Mediawiki software version. Some things got a little mixed up in the move, and newer versions decided to put the hammer down on bad practices. Other things are just... being refactored from a distinct lack of notes. --[[User:McFly|McFly]] 01:43, 15 January 2013 (UTC)
::::Most of what's left is going to be us rejiggering some templates to more efficient code, and documenting the snot out of things so McFly doesn't name his first ulcer after us.--[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]][[User Talk:Rosicrucian|Talk]] 02:02, 15 January 2013 (UTC)
::::: http://science.education.nih.gov/home2.nsf/Educational+ResourcesResource+FormatsOnline+Resources+High+School/928BAB9A176A71B585256CCD00634489 :p - [[User:SanityOrMadness|SanityOrMadness]] 07:25, 15 January 2013 (UTC)
:::::: Pedantry aside, I CAN name my migraines after you. Stress exacerbates THOSE. --[[User:McFly|McFly]] 20:05, 15 January 2013 (UTC)
::::::: Which migraine's stronger then? Madness or little Sanity? :p - [[User:SanityOrMadness|SanityOrMadness]] 10:36, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

===Stuffs what have gone wrong(er)===
User CSS files aren't being called post-move. Basically, the stuff [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:Configuration_settings#CSS.2FJs here] was previously all set true, now it's set false. [Is [[MediaWiki:Common.css]] even working?] - [[User:SanityOrMadness|SanityOrMadness]] 07:25, 15 January 2013 (UTC)
: Compared old LocalSettings.php to new, wgUseSiteJs/wgUseSiteCss were NOT set over there. If you're not just making blanket assumptions, please point my not-MediaWiki-understanding ass to the right place. Remember, I built the house, but others (Scout? Derik?) actually laid out the rooms and installed the appliances. My understanding of Mediawiki extends out to "Ooh, shiny mediawiki package in apt repositories..." Anything else is a '''Wild. Ass. Guess.''' --[[User:McFly|McFly]] 20:05, 15 January 2013 (UTC)
::I'm not an expert ('''And I can't see the Wiki's LocalSettings.php myself to be sure!'''), but I have played around with MediaWiki a fair bit, so I'm beyond the "oh, shiny" stage and I know where to look at in http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:Contents .
::For instance, I don't know what $wgAutoConfirmAge and $wgAutoConfirmCount are currrently set to. If the createpage and upload ''have'' been set, but those two variables are ''not'' set, a fairly minimal barrier would be two days & four edits before you can create pages and upload files - certainly, very few spambots will hang around for two whole days before editing!

<pre>
$wgAutoConfirmAge = 86400 * 2; # Two days times 86400 seconds/day
$wgAutoConfirmCount = 4;
</pre>

::If they HAVEN'T been set, you can add them with:
<pre>
# Only users with accounts in autoconfirmed group
# (registered accounts at least as old as $wgAutoConfirmAge and having at least as many edits as $wgAutoConfirmCount)
# can create pages:
$wgGroupPermissions['*' ]['createpage'] = false;
$wgGroupPermissions['user' ]['createpage'] = false;
$wgGroupPermissions['autoconfirmed']['createpage'] = true;

# Only users with accounts in autoconfirmed group
# (registered accounts at least as old as $wgAutoConfirmAge and having at least as many edits as $wgAutoConfirmCount)
# can upload files:
$wgGroupPermissions['*' ]['upload'] = false;
$wgGroupPermissions['user' ]['upload'] = false;
$wgGroupPermissions['autoconfirmed']['upload'] = true;
</pre>
::-[[User:SanityOrMadness|SanityOrMadness]] 10:36, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

===Broken templates===
{{tl|cal-date}} is broken, but I'm not template savvy enough to fix it. Anyone want to have a go? --[[User:Abates|abates]] 07:17, 16 January 2013 (UTC)
:Ja, I will fix it. -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 00:15, 17 January 2013 (EST)
::$%^&* I'm getting ''closer'' to fixing it. -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 15:02, 17 January 2013 (EST)
:::''*cries piteously*'' -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 15:43, 17 January 2013 (EST)
::::I've just had a go and I think that's sorted it! Not sure if there are any other broken templates lurking out there... --[[User:Abates|abates]] 05:58, 20 January 2013 (EST)
===Storylink===
Are the storylinks looking odd for anyone else? They appear as full size text without the surrounding box from before for me. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 12:29, 20 January 2013 (EST)
:Yeah, storylinks, note boxes, disambig boxes, organisation templates (eg. listing comics issues) and episode/issue/etc. infoboxes are all not displaying correctly. I assume that the folks who know what they're doing with this kind of stuff are working on getting them fixed.. [[User:Jalaguy|Jalaguy]] 12:42, 20 January 2013 (EST)
::I think that's done it - or at least it's displaying normally for me now. Well done to all involved, much appreciated. --[[User:Emvee|Emvee]] 17:04, 22 January 2013 (EST)

== Still Confused About All This ==

I just got registered so that I can always find this site.

When I search for Transformers Wiki, all I get is Teletraan 1 and I don't like that site as well. Heck, their information on BotShots is woefully unsatisfactory.

Did this site used to be that site or the other way around? Much of the information in articles looks copied from one site or the other.

Apologies if this is the wrong place to ask these questions. I was looking for an e-mail address or something and couldn't find it. {{unsigned|Haven13}}
:No worries! We were originally at Wikia, but split with them in September 2008 and went independent. Wikia are still operating the old version, but it doesn't get updated in a lot of areas.
:Where is it you're searching for Transformers Wiki? We come up first on Google when I search on there. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 18:16, 23 January 2013 (EST)
::Ooh! Ooh! Let me guess! BING. (Who are blocked for '''hammering''' our wee servers.) --[[User:McFly|McFly]] 23:52, 23 January 2013 (EST)
:::Well, I just searched for "transformers wiki" on bing.com and we were the first result. Followed by the wikia site, wikipedia's main Transformers page, and wikipedia's Transformers (film) page. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 07:01, 24 January 2013 (EST)

== Key things missing from toy sections on character pages ==

There are a couple of things most toy sections don't have that would probably be useful:
* a link to the page about the toyline - some articles have it, but they don't seem to be the majority.
* for characters who've been more than one faction in fiction, knowing what faction their toy was sold as would be useful, especially if the toyline's page isn't split into Autobots and Decepticons.
Just a couple of ideas. --[[User:Flicky1991|Flicky1991]] 16:45, 2 February 2013 (EST)
:More than once I have thought a link to the toyline would be handy. - [[User:Starfield|Starfield]] 21:31, 2 February 2013 (EST)

== New Theme ==

So, according to Hasbro, basically the entire new theme of the Transformers brand is now Beast Hunters. So why not change the wiki theme from Animated to Beast Hunters? Just a suggestion,if people don't like it, whatever. -- [[User:Spydersix|spyder]][[User Talk:Spydersix|Use this!]] 12:15, 10 February 2013 (EST)
:That's a good idea. Even if not Beast Hunters specifically, a Prime-related theme would make more sense than Animated now, considering it's been a couple of years. --[[User:Flicky1991|Flicky1991]] 12:43, 10 February 2013 (EST)

== Trivia/notes sections ==

While I have nothing against a "trivia" or "notes" section (we are not Wikipedia, after all), it is my opinion that such a section should really only contain general notes about the article's subject that are either really trivial, or too general to fit into any specific paragraph. In particular, a noteworthy two-line bit regarding a specific toy in an article about a character with multiple toys might better fit into the specific toy's entry. For example, if the toy had a prototype that was very different from the final toy, the toy's entry isn't very long and the info about the prototype doesn't fill the page either, it could better be added to the toy's entry (since it's actual information about the toy, and its design process), rather than treating it as marginal trivia that is ostracized from the main portion of the article. Likewise, informative notes about fictional appearances of a character and after-the-fact retcons that affect the general perception of said character are better added as notes to the specific fiction writeup, rather than shoving it into the "notes" ghetto. So simply put: Short notes that are directly related to a specific part of the article might better be placed in that very part, rather than in an inflated catch-all "notes" section. Thoughts?--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] 15:45, 16 February 2013 (EST)

== Proposal to rename an article. ==

Hi, I'm proposing that the article "Brick Springhorn" be renamed to "Brick Springstern". Because of an error in the original comic, the character was given both names at various points during the story. A radio announcer called him "Springstern" and an editorial caption said he was "Springhorn". Usually, I'd agree with calling him "Springhorn". We can rationalise the mistake by saying the announcer was mistaken or drunk or something, and of course "Springhorn" is just a damn funny name. Except...

In the recent IDW reprint (which I was re-reading today), they have corrected the error, and he's now called "Springstern" throughout the comic. (Similar to how the IDW reprints corrected the Sherman Dam / Boulder Dam mistake).

Given that "Springstern" is now his name throughout the most recent printing, I'd suggest that most readers trying to look up the character will type "Springstern" into the search box. I know the redirect is in place, but I feel that maybe it should now be the other way round, with 'Horn' redirecing to a main article located at 'Stern'.

Advice and opinion welcome! --[[User:Ryan Frost|Ryan Frost]] 17:55, 14 March 2013 (EDT)
:This is terrible news, because you're probably right, and I hate it. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 18:01, 14 March 2013 (EDT)

== Database dump ==

Hello! In my region I have a bit of an internet connection issue so I'm using WikiTaxi for offline wikia browsing. Since tfwiki is based on wikimedia system I was wondering if a database dump of current pages could possibly be generated for download? I see that it currently doesn't exist on your special: statistics page. I'd rather avoid any mirroring software as it would no doubt cause issues with the site so I hope someone can help with this.

Thank you in advance,

[[User:NocteDraconis|NocteDraconis]]
:I can't help personally, but it might be worth also posting this over in the [http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=83287 TFWiki discussion thread] on the Allspark board, it's frequented by several of the sysops/technical-know-how guys from here. [[User:Jalaguy|Jalaguy]] 09:05, 27 March 2013 (EDT)

:Thank you for pointing me in the right direction :)Though, I do hope someone will take notice of the question here as well. [[User:NocteDraconis|NocteDraconis]] 15:12, 27 March 2013 (EDIT)

== Proposing New Continuity Term for Multipath Books ==

Hi, I've been working on the first six Find Your Fate Junior books since I joined about a month ago, and just finished a summary for [[Dinobots Strike Back]]. While I'm still revising it, I just began editing relevant info into character pages, and starting with Starscream's, I found I needed a new term to explain how paths within the same book relate to each other without using the word "book". I didn't see anything that applies to this in the Continuities page, so I began referring to each individual book as its own "micro-continuity nexus". I think this is necessary to clarify that each book has its own tangle of paths which don't carry over to other books in the series, even though the books in that particular series are numbered by Ballantine.

For example, when moving from that first book onto Starscream's actions in [[Battle Drive]], I'd begin the first paragraph with: "In the next adjacent micro-continuity nexus, Starscream and Blitzwing were on a strafing-run to torch farmland, when..." since "later" isn't true with no possible book-to-book continuity, but I need to indicate that the summaries are moving on to the next book beyond just the storylinks in that section of the character page.

Please let me know if there's a better, established term I should be using for this phenomenon. Perhaps some term applied to video games with alternate endings? I don't know jack about TFVGs, and haven't studied those pages yet. I intend to add all relevant content from Dinobots Strike Back to the character pages soon, while it's still fresh in my mind, so please let me know if I'm at risk of muddying them up with a nonsensical term. [[User:Bumblevivisector|Bumblevivisector]] 23:49, 4 May 2013 (EDT)

== Holy grails and Want list need to be more visible. ==

Judging by just how long Jake/Stingray has been on the want list, these two things need to be more visible. Many people visiting the wiki probably don't even visit the home page let alone scroll down far enough to read those two little boxes.
Would it be possible to do something like the Go! boxes for them? [[User:RavenG|RavenG]] 02:40, 14 May 2013 (EDT)

Seeker (body-type)

2012-12-29T04:36:19Z

RavenG: /* And all the rest */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{featured}}
{{disambig3|Seeker}}

[[Image:Seekers.png|right|300px|thumb|Well, they keep the toy-repainting fans off the streets, at least. (Generic Seekers from, clockwise: 1) MtMtE Part 3, 2) sticker sheet, 3-6) Five Faces of Darkness)]]

The term '''Seeker''' refers to [[Decepticon]] jet troopers who share [[Starscream (disambiguation)|Starscream]]'s [[body-type]] but with different colors or minor variations in wing and head shapes. This is most clearly and commonly known from ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'', but any franchise with a Starscream is almost [[To sell toys|inevitably]] going to feature a similar "family" of [[redeco]]ed jet-formers.

The word "Seeker" hovered a long time in a strange gray area between official and fan-coined terms. It seems to have originated in ''extremely'' obscure official or semi-official writing, but somehow became widely used among fans. ''(See [[#Origin of the term|below]].)'' In 2002, the term appeared in dialog from the first issue of ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' from [[Dreamwave Productions]], [[Canonizing|making it truly official]] after years of controversy. It has subsequently appeared in many other places such as on toy packaging, books, and in other stories.

==Generation 1 Seekers==
===Originals===
[[Image:MainSeekers.gif|300px|thumb|right|The original Seekers]]
In Generation 1, there were six Seekers originally given names and characterization: [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]. The first three, the season one Seekers, had animation designs done primarily by [[Shōhei Kohara]].
{{-}}

===Coneheads===
[[Image:ConeheadsGenerations1.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The Coneheads.]]
The last three Generation 1 Seekers are usually designated as "[[Conehead]]" Seekers by fans for their distinctive transformation that leaves the jet nosecone pointing up. The animation models for the Conehead Seekers were designed by [[Floro Dery]].
{{--}}

===And all the rest===
[[Image:MTMTEGenerics-OilField.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Aw, not "[[When Continents Collide]]" again...]]
In the Generation 1 cartoon there were large numbers of [[generic]], unnamed Seekers in addition to the named characters. They came in a wide variety of colors, from extra duplicates of Starscream or one of the other named guys, to original and distinct looks all their own. They seem to have formed the bulk of the Decepticon forces on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], as well as among [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s initial troops on [[Earth]]. They gradually became less common, perhaps as a result of casualties... or the cartoon's production team becoming more careful, or more-likely having more "actual" Decepticons to work with as the toy line expanded. (Extra [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] units and alternate color cassettes were also used along with these Seekers, early on, to fill out the comparatively thin Decepticon ranks.)

These unsung Seekers would be recognized years later in ''[[Heroes of Cybertron]]'' toy form as the [[Air Warrior]]s (all using the common lavender/white color scheme). Soon afterward, the [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] ''Generation One'' comic series introduced an army of similarly-colored Seeker drones.

[[Image:AirWarriors MTMtE.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You talking to me? Or him? Or the other one?]]

Around the same time, another background Seeker was also given a new life through toys and Dreamwave comics: [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]. This yellow-orange Seeker was a nameless background character in the first episode of the ''Transformers'' cartoon, until [[e-HOBBY]] turned him into an [[exclusive]] toy (available with an [[Autobot]] also based on a [[Hauler|first-episode cameo]]). Now [[Hasbro]] [[Sunstorm (disambiguation)|can't get enough of him]]. Another generic Seeker was given attention: [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]]. Like Sunstorm before him, he was based on one of the background Seekers from the original cartoon, in this case the episode "Divide and Conquer" (see below).
{{-}}
Unnamed Seekers with their own distinct color schemes appear in the following episodes as noted below:

[[Image:Sunstorm Cartoon.jpg|250px|thumb|One for all, and all for one. Sunstorm and co. attack.]]
* "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"
:In the "return to [[Great Dome|Iacon]]" scene on Cybertron, five to seven Seekers appear (wide shots depict a group of five, but the close-ups give us seven distinct color schemes.) The first three are (as far as colors are concerned) Skywarp, Starscream (with a deeper voice), and Thundercracker. In a following shot, we see a lavender Seeker with a flamethrower pack, a medium-blue Seeker with white trim, holding his arm gun like a rifle, a yellow/orange Seeker who would become Sunstorm... and lurking in the back, a very dark-blue Seeker with white trim barely visible, but there if you look.

{{-}}
[[Image:MmteSeekers2.gif|250px|thumb|Lots of generic Seekers from this one.]]
* "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]" and "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|Part 3]]"
:The mother lode of unnamed Seekers. Especially if you like variations of blue and lavender. Crowds of them appear at the start of the final battle. At least six different Seekers of various shades and decos of blue and at least four of various shades and decos of lavender (two with black tail fins in jet mode, two with white). Also, a blue variant (seen in the picture above) missing his wings and shoulder vents appears in "Part 3".

{{-}}
[[Image:DivideandCon.gif|300px|thumb|Divide and Conquer Seekers]]
* "[[Divide and Conquer]]"
: Avert your eyes! One deep blue, one eye-burning bright green, and one garishly bright yellow. This trio is often referred to by fans as "the [[Rainmaker]]s" because they started an [[acid rain]] shower to irritate a group of [[Autobot]]s. The green jet in this grouping was made into the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]] character, whose name was initially supposed to be "Rainmaker", then "Acid Rain".

{{-}}
[[Image:UltimateDoom.gif|300px|thumb|Ultimate Doom Seekers]]
* "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]"
: Two blue variants and one really nice looking pine-green Seeker appear as part of Shockwave's forces trying to prevent the rescue of [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

{{-}}
* "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]"
: One all-gray Seeker, one with [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]'s coloration, and one with [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]'s. There's also an interesting Conehead variant. (All of which appear in the main image above.)

{{-}}
[[Image:NotDirge.gif|200px|thumb|Dark Awakening Seeker]]
* "[[The Transformers: The Movie]]" & "[[Dark Awakening]]"
: One season 1-style [[:Image:DirgeseekerTFMovie.jpg|Seeker]] with Dirge's colors appears in jet mode in the attack on Autobot City in the movie, and next to the actual Dirge in the episode.

{{-}}
* Puffy stickers
: A sheet of Transformer puffy stickers featured a rare generic with a Starscream-based color scheme. He is pictured above as well.

{{-}}
* [[Transformers: Punch-Out Book]]
: In addition to Starscream, Skywarp and numerous identical copies of both of them, this construct-it-yourself battle scene features two distinct color schemes. Each features a solid grey body with solid color wings and tail wings: one red, one yellow.

{{-}}
* [[Project Brain Drain]]
: While Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge are named and Skywarp is identifiable, there are numerous unnamed Seekers including a second individual with Thrust-style wings.

{{-}}
[[Image:Returntocybertron-seeker.jpg|200px|thumb|Return to Cybertron Seeker.]]
* "[[Return to Cybertron]]"
: This relatively obscure [[Sticker Adventures]] tale gives us a brief glimpse of a Seeker with a Thundercracker/Skywarp mix; blue body, purple tailfins and wing stripes. You can't tell much more about him, given that he is A: partially obscured and B: exploding.

{{-}}
[[Image:PretenderClassicsBoxArt.jpg|150px|thumb|"Classic Pretender" Seekers.]]
* [[Classic Pretender]] [[Package art|box art]]
: The box art (also used for adverts in the Marvel UK comic) for this line of toys shows Starscream attacking his Autobot counterparts alongside three others sharing his body-type. All have a silver front half in jet mode, while one has green rear fins, one has red and one is in shadow.
{{-}}
[[Image:TFcommagdivebombvsjhi.jpg|right|100px|thumb|]]
* [[Transformers Comic-Magazin]] [[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 18|Issue 18]]
: The German comic, well known for its often wacky coloring, contained a Seeker with a color scheme [[Jhiaxus (G2)|suspiciously familiar]].

{{-}}
[[Image:The Ultimate Guide Maccadam's Old Oil House scene.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
* [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]
: A green seeker can be seen to the left of frame, behind the [[Maccadam's bartender|bartender]], in the image of [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]].
{{-}}

===Fun Publications comics===
[[Image:WingsofHonor-Skyraiders.jpg|right|thumb|250px|New guys, same ol' body-type.]]
The term "Skyraiders" (see [[#Alternate terms|alternate terms]]) was assigned to the prototype Starscream-like air warriors that [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]] developed at the very beginning of the war. The ranks of the Skyraiders did not seem to include any of the usual Seekers, but instead comprised other flying Decepticon characters. In addition to Skyquake himself, the Skyraiders were [[Leozack]], [[Hellbat (Victory)|Hellbat]], [[Hooligan (G2)|Hooligan]], and [[Guyhawk]].
{{-}}

===IDW comics continuity===

Seekers are elite officers in the Decepticon army, and are expected to fulfill a leadership role on the battlefield in commanding other Decepticon troops. Seekers are expected to show absolute loyalty to the Decepticon cause. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|Seasons in Flight}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

The Seekers all take on the same body type out of respect to their commander, Starscream, and hold a position of prestige within the Decepticon ranks {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] are Seekers, although they may be using a different definition of the term. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 14|All Hail Megatron #14}}

{{note|Confusingly, the human organisation [[Skywatch]] referred to [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] as "Seekers".}}

==UK Generation 2 comic==
[[Image:G2UKWarWithoutEndJetGuy.jpg|thumb|]]
An unnamed Seeker with a light blue body with white face, light red helmet and thighs, and yellow cockpit cover was hanging around when Megatron boarded the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. {{storylink|War Without End (issue)|War Without End}}

{{-}}

==Unicron Trilogy Seekers==
According to one minor source in ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'', when any Transformer converts to a jet, he is called a "seeker"<ref>''[[Transformers Armada: The Awakening]]'' DK Readers book.</ref>. But the closest specific characters to the Generation 1 Seekers are this universe's own [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]/[[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]]/[[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]] trio. All three even used the same toy mold in their first release, although Skywarp was heavily [[Retool|retooled]] from the others (including getting an entirely new-mold [[Mini-Con]] partner). While new Decepticon-allied jet characters named [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] and [[Ramjet (Armada)|Ramjet]] were released in ''Armada'', they each had their own unique molds. However, whereas Ramjet was simply the Mini-Con partner of [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], Thrust was a [[bulk]] who even had a VTOL engine in jet mode, a conehead and vertically-oriented wings in robot mode. Although Thrust's original toy was green, redecos looked a bit more like his G1 incarnation. It was also redecoed into ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Sunstorm (Universe)|Sunstorm]].

Though only Starscream appeared in the follow-up franchise, ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'', several Seekers appeared in the final portion of the Unicron Trilogy, ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]''. Starscream was back in a form heavily inspired by ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' Starscream design (itself based on the "tetrajet" (see below)), while Thundercracker received a completely different body. A Skywarp was also released as a redeco of Thundercracker.

Further, the ''[[Legends Class|Legends of Cybertron]]'' Starscream toy, a tiny, simplified version of his main toy, was redecoed three more times: [[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]] as a giveaway at [[San Diego Comic-Con#2005|Comic Con 2005]], [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] as a giveaway at [[BotCon 2005]], and [[Sunstorm (LOC)|Sunstorm]] as part of the last wave of the LOC line at retail.

==Live-action movie franchise Seekers==

In the letters page for [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's tie-in comic]], the movie versions of [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]], and [[Ramjet (Movie)|Ramjet]] were first referred to as Seekers—by Starscream himself, no less. [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] was noticeably absent from Starscream's list, despite also being a jet and Thundercracker also being the name/body for a line of drones. This left it unclear what a Seeker ''is''. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 9|#9's Star Screams}}

The term was used twice in IDW movie comics, meaning different things—[[Seeker (Movie)|Starscream's crack unit]], and [[Seeker (ROTF)|ancient spacefaring Transformers]].

In the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|movie sequel]], Jetfire describes himself as a Seeker. One of the early categories of Transformers, they were created to seek out stars which could be harvested for energon. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

{{--}}

==Shattered Glass==
The term is taken to refer to [[Seeker (SG)|a group of evil Autobots with car alternate modes who share the same color of black]].

==Animated continuity==
{{Main|Starscream clone (Animated)}}

==Aligned continuity==
The Seekers were a pre-existing group long before the formation of the Decepticons. There is some indication that the Seekers are an elite group of the best of the best fliers, although what (if anything) distinguishes a Seeker from any other flying Transformer is open to question. They tend to mostly, though not always, share a common design.

In an effort to placate the eternally fueding cities of [[Vos]] and [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]] each was given something of value. Vos thus became the home of the [[Air Commander|Cybertronian Air Command]] home base of the Seekers. [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] was one of their leaders before the war, and [[Autobot High Council|High Councilor]] [[Contrail]] seems to have been another. The Seekers were employed in ancient times to guard the secret of [[Dark Energon]] hidden aboard [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon Station]]. They kept this charge even when Starscream allied with the Decepticons, though for the most part they remained largely independent in the civil war.

[[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]], apparently upset at being pulled away from the [[Crystal City]], manuvered Vos and Tarn into destroying each other, wiping out most of the Air Commanders that formed the basis of Starscream's power and bolstering his own position as Second-in-command.

In the aftermath of this betrayal, many of the surviving Seekers from Vos joined the Autobots, becoming the [[Aerialbot (WFC)|Aerialbot]]s. [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]] was one notable Seeker who defected from the Decepticons to the Autobots, helping them exploit their own flight skills further.

As part of his power play with Starscream, Megatron sent gladiators to kill many of the Air Command's scientists to finally take control of Trypticon away from the Seekers. ''{{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}''

'''Known Seekers:'''
*Starscream
*[[Skywarp (Prime)|Skywarp]]
*[[Thundercracker (Prime)|Thundercracker]]
*Jetfire
*Contrail
*[[Bitstream]]
*[[Hotlink]]
*[[Nacelle]]
*[[Slipstream (Prime)|Slipstream]]
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]

==Origin of the term==
Although "Seeker" is the most well-known name for these Decepticons, the reason for its wide use is a bit of a mystery.

[[Image:Seekers ad text.jpg|left|197px|thumb|No, you fool, we're following orders: We were told to scour the countryside, so we're scouring it.]]

There are only two known official uses of the term in 20th century, both of them in department-store advertisements from the [[1984]] holiday season. The J.C. Penney catalog (sometimes called a "wishbook") featured a page dedicated to ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' that included this statement in its description of Starscream: "Airplane with sensational F-15 styling scours the countryside searching for Autobots. When they're found, the Seekers set out to destroy them." It also said [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] "sends out messages to the Seekers and other Decepticons".<ref>J.C. Penney 1984 wishbook [[:Image:Seekers ad.jpg|(full-page scan)]]</ref> Additionally, the now-defunct discount retail chain Zayre put out an ad in November 1984 listing Starscream and either Thundercracker or Skywarp as "Decepticon Seeker".<ref name="savead">Zayre 1984 ad [http://pleasesavemerobots.com/vstp/vstptf84.html (scan at The Vintage Space Toaster Palace)]</ref>

Some fans interpret those two seemingly-unrelated instances to mean that the capitalized term "Seeker" was handed down by [[Hasbro]] in promotional materials, and those retailers happened to run with it. It's impossible to know one way or the other with any certainty, but the most curious aspect is that the online ''Transformers'' fan community was already using the word in the early '90s, when the [[fandom]] was just getting on its feet. Were those obscure toy ads strong enough in the fandom's collective memory to determine common parlance almost ten years after the fact? Or were there more official usages that have since disappeared?

Even the '90s-era fandom didn't know where the term had come from, as evidenced by confused conversations from that time on [[alt.toys.transformers]].<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/e885ffdf4355e933/13eeeeae7e2483b7?tvc=17 alt.toys.transformers thread from 1996 about the origin of "Seeker"]</ref> While no one cited those toy ads, there were plenty of ''wrong'' answers, which may explain the term's staying power. The strongest of those erroneous explanations was that it had come from the phrase "[[Ferak|hunter-seeker skyship]]" used in [[The Smelting Pool!|issue 17]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel US comic]]. However, the Decepticons it is applied to are shown only in their flight modes, which look nothing like the jets in question. In fact, the Coneheads make their first appearance in the same issue, and their Cybertronian flight modes appear very similar to their [[Earth]] jet forms (if not completely identical), and completely ''different'' from the craft which are referred to as hunter-seekers. The only real connection between the hunter-seekers we were shown and the "Seekers" is that there's more than one of them and they fly.

During this phase of questionable canonicity, fans flirted with other terms such as "Skyraider" ''(see [[#Alternate terms|below]])'', but in 2002 [[Simon Furman]] used "Seeker" in a Dreamwave comic script, which sealed the deal of officiality and set the tone not just for the fandom, but for the ''Transformers'' fiction that came afterwards as well.

==Alternate terms==
[[Image:86Planes.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I don't know what to call you, [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], but I know "plane" isn't it.]]

The most obvious alternate name for these Transformers—and the one generally used by toy [[Pack-in material|pack-in]] [[catalog]]s—is '''[[Decepticon Planes]]'''. While usually clear enough from context, this term has the weakness that there are many Decepticon planes who do not share this body-type. Also, the term is rarely, if ever, used outside of toy-specific contexts. The first [[United Kingdom|UK]] toy pack-in catalog referred to the group as '''strike planes'''.<ref>First UK toy catalog [http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/img/toysheets/g1/uksheet01/1.jpg (scan at Transformers @ The Moon)]</ref> In Japan, they were called '''Jetrons'''.

Within the fiction, the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]] episode "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]" features [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] calling Thundercracker a '''Deceptijet'''. And the 1985 audio book "[[Sun Raid]]" has Megatron ordering the '''Deceptiplanes''' (Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker) to break off an attack. The audio book "[[Jaws of Terror]]" referred to them as "Decepticon superjets."

[[Image:Tetrajet seekers.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Did you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter...]]

For a long time, it has been common among fans to refer to the Seekers' cartoon Cybertronian forms (from the episode "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" among others) as '''tetrajets''' because their shape resembles a [[wikipedia:tetrahedron|tetrahedron]], a pyramid with a triangular base.

If there was ever an official term that could've given "Seeker" a run for its money, it was the one used on the [[Europe]]an ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' packaging of Starscream and Ramjet: '''Skyraiders'''.<ref>Starscream and Ramjet's European ''Generation 2'' packaging [http://www.cobraislandtoys.com/tf/1992/starscreamg2boxfront.jpg (photo at Cobra Island Toys)]</ref> That term also appeared in those characters' profiles in the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Fleetway)|UK ''Generation 2'' comic]]. When the modern fandom dug this information up, "Seeker" was still considered a fan-generated term, so there was a push to supplant it with "Skyraider". But Furman's use of "Seeker" in the then-current Dreamwave comics, coupled with the rediscovery of the J.C. Penney wishbook, put a damper on that movement. Some years later, the term "Skyraider" was officially resurrected to describe the jet warriors in the [[BotCon 2009]] set "[[Wings of Honor]]" (based on the [[Starscream_(Armada)#Energon|''Energon'' Starscream mold]]). [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]] was indicated as the body-type's developer.

==Games==
===''Transformers: Mystery of Convoy''===
{{storylink|Transformers: Mystery of Convoy}}
{{charstubfiction}}

===Transformers: Cybertron Adventures===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Cybertron Adventures}}

==Toys==
{{note|Because of the bodytype-sharing nature of the Seekers, this section includes only molds that have been decorated as two or more Seeker characters, omitting a large number of molds unique to a single character.}}
===Generation 1===
[[Image:Redeco.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The original Seekers.]]
* '''[[Decepticon Planes]]''' (1984)
{{collist|3|
:* [[Skywarp (G1)/toys|Skywarp]]
:* [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]]
:* [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys|Thundercracker]]
}}

* '''Decepticon Planes''' (1985)
{{collist|3|
:* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]
:* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
:* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
}}

:The original Seeker mold was the [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#F-15 Eagle|F-15]] ''[[Diaclone]]'' design, noted for its detailed jet mode, extremely limited robot-mode articulation, and the need to remove/add many parts during transformation.

:The mold was initially decorated as Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker. In 1985, Ramjet, Dirge and Thrust were created out of this mold, each with unique new wing toolings and color schemes. Redecorated [[retool]]s of the mold also appeared in ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' as Starscream and Ramjet, featuring new accessory [[soundbox]]es.

:This mold subsequently has been extensively reissued and redecorated; see [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream (G1) toys]] for a ridiculously long list of examples. The reissues have included the original six characters as well as the retro-Generation-1 character [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]].

* '''[[Action Master]]s''' (1990)

:This non-transforming action figure mold was sold as Starscream, and later redecorated as Thundercracker for the European market.

===''Machine Wars''===
[[Image:MWSkywarp.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Machine Wars'' Skywarp]]
* '''Basic''' (1997)

:A small [[Flipchanger|flipchanger]] mold, originally intended for ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'', was issued as Thundercracker and Skywarp.

===''Armada''===
* '''Max-Con''' (2002)

:An all-new mold sold at the $20 price point was originally issued as ''Armada'' [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], redecorated as ''Armada'' [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]], and retooled as ''Armada'' [[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]]. The retooled version was later issued as the new character [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] in the first ''Universe'' toy line.

===''Smallest Transforming Transformers''===
[[Image:STFStarscream toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Smallest Transforming Transformers'' Starscream]]
:The ''Smallest'' line, issued in Japan in 2003, featured a reduced-scale version of the original Generation 1 Seeker mold.

:It was issued as Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker, and retooled as Thrust.

===''Robot Masters''===
:A new Seeker mold was created for Japan's ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' subline. It is based on the original toy, but redesigned at a smaller size and with enhanced articulation.

:It was issued as Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker.

===''Titanium''===
[[Image:TitaniumHeroesWWThundercracker.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Titanium'' Thundercracker]]
:A new Seeker mold created for the ''[[Titanium Series]]'' subline features a Cybertronian-based alternate mode, derived from the characters' appearance in ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' (itself loosely based on the original pyramid jets seen in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".) This mold has been issued as Thundercracker, Starscream, Skywarp (a convention exclusive), Sunstorm, and Thrust (a Target Exclusive).

===''Cybertron''===
* '''Legends of Cybertron''' (2006)

:A tiny version of the Voyager mold, issued as ''Armada'' Starscream, and redecorated as ''Universe'' [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]], ''Armada'' [[Skywarp (Armada)#LOC|Skywarp]] and [[Sunstorm (LOC)|Sunstorm]], and Generation 1 [[Ramjet (G1)#Universe_.282008.29|Ramjet]] and [[Thrust (G1)#Universe_.282008.29|Thrust]].
:A small version of the Deluxe mold was available as [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] and was redecoed as [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Starscream]] for the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' toyline.

* '''Deluxe''' (2006)

: Though Thundercracker wasn't the same mold as Starscream in this series, his deluxe toy was redecoed as Skywarp.

* '''Voyager''' (2006)

:This mold, based on G1 Starscream's ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' appearance, was issued as ''Armada'' Starscream, and later redecorated as Generation 1 Dirge.

===''Classics''===
[[Image:Henkei Thundercracker toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Henkei! Henkei!'' Thundercracker]]
* '''Deluxe''' (2006)

:An all-new mold at the $10 price point, the ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Seeker design retains the F-15 alternate mode, but with a new transformation scheme and modern articulation.

:Like the original, this mold has been redecorated and retooled numerous times. In addition to the original six Seekers, it has also been issued as the character, [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]]. In addition to its original release in ''Classics'', the various uses of this mold have occurred in the ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei!]]'', ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'', ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'', ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'', ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (toyline)|Shattered Glass]]'', and ''[[Transformers United|United]]'' toylines. Versions of this mold have been mass retail releases, store exclusives, specialty exclusives, convention exclusives, and fan club exclusives.

{{collist|3|
:* [[Ramjet (G1)#Classics 2|''Classics'' Ramjet]]
:* [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Classics (2006)|''Classics'' Skywarp]]
:* [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Classics (2006)|''Classics'' Starscream]]
:* [[Dirge (G1)#Timelines|''Timelines'' Dirge]]
:* [[Thrust (G1)#Timelines|''Timelines'' Thrust]]
:* [[Ramjet (G1)#Timelines|''Timelines'' Ramjet (G2)]]
:* [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Timelines|''Timelines'' Thundercracker]]
:* [[Thundercracker (SG)|''Timelines/Shattered Glass'' Thundercracker]]
:* [[Dirge (G1)#Gentei! Gentei!|''Gentei! Gentei!'' Dirge]]
:* [[Ramjet (G1)#Henkei! Henkei!|''Henkei! Henkei!'' Ramjet]]
:* [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Henkei! Henkei!|''Henkei! Henkei!'' Skywarp]]
:* [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Henkei! Henkei!|''Henkei! Henkei!'' Starscream]]
:* [[Starscream (G1)/toys#HenkeiGhost|''Henkei! Henkei!'' Ghost Starscream]]
:* [[Thrust (G1)#Gentei! Gentei!|''Gentei! Gentei!'' Thrust]]
:* [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Henkei! Henkei!|''Henkei! Henkei!'' Thundercracker]]
:* [[Acid Storm (G1)|''Universe'' Acid Storm]]
:* [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Generation 1 Series|''Universe'' Starscream]]
:* [[Dirge (G1)#Generations|''Generations'' Dirge]]
:* [[Thrust (G1)#Generations|''Generations'' Thrust]]
:* [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Generations|''Generations'' Thundercracker]]
:* [[Starscream (G1)/toys#United|''United'' Starscream]]
:* [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#United|''United'' Thundercracker]]
:* [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#United|''United'' Skywarp]]
:* [[Dirge (G1)#United|''United'' Dirge]]
:* [[Thrust (G1)#United|''United'' Thrust]]
:* [[Ramjet (G1)#United|''United'' Ramjet]]
}}

===''Masterpiece''===
:A larger-scaled, highly complex mold. Issued as Starscream in 2005, with later retools as Skywarp, Thundercracker and most recently Ghost Starscream, with transparent parts.

===Movie (2007)===
* '''Legends'''

[[Image:Movie Legends Starscream.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]
:This Legends-class mold is a highly simplified, low-cost version of Starscream in his F-22 Raptor body. As such, he has a greatly compromised transformation sequence due to the smaller parts count, with limited articulation and detailing. In addition to numerous redecoes sold as Starscream, it was also used to make ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]].
{{-}}

* '''Voyager'''

[[Image:Movie Voyager Starscream toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|''2007 Live Action Movie'' Starscream]]
:The mold used for the [[Transformers (film)|''Transformers'' live-action movie]] [[Size class|Voyager]] class [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] figure was retooled and redecoed into [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] (as well as a G1 recolor of Starscream.) For the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' line of toys, the original mold and the retool were recolored again as [[Ramjet (Movie)|Ramjet]] and [[Skywarp (ROTF)|Skywarp]] respectively.

* '''Fast Action Battler'''

:The [[Fast Action Battlers]] version of Starscream was recolored into Ramjet in 2007.
{{-}}

===''Animated''===
* '''Legends'''

: The tiny [[Legends Class]] Starscream mold was recolored into clear versions of Thundercracker, Skywarp, Sunstorm, Ramjet and [[Starscream Clone Black Version|a black clone]].

* '''Voyager'''

[[Image:Animated Skywarp Voyager.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Animated'' Skywarp]]
:The Voyager class [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] from [[Transformers Animated (toyline)|Animated]] was recolored into two of his [[Starscream clone (Animated)|clones]], [[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] and [[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]], with a third one, [[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]], going unreleased.

* '''Activators'''

: Starscream's [[Activators]] mold, a smaller, auto-transforming design based on the larger toy, was recolored into Thundercracker, [[Dirge (Animated)|Dirge]], Skywarp and [[Ramjet (Animated)|Ramjet]], also based on the clones from the cartoon.

===''Revenge of the Fallen''===
[[Image:ROTF Voyager Starscream.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
* '''Voyager'''

:''Revenge of the Fallen'' Voyager class Starscream is far more accurate to the movie model in both modes than the previous movie's Voyager mold, with a more dramatic transformation scheme to boot. He was only redecoed as himself.

===''Transformers (2010)''===
[[Image:Chronicletoy ez thundercracker.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
* '''Legends'''

:[[Legends Class]] Starscream is a new sculpt based on his Generation 1 jet appearance with many fuselage details borrowed from the [[#Masterpiece|Masterpiece version]]. This sculpt was also used to make ''[[Transformers Chronicle|Chronicle]]'' [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Chronicle|Thundercracker]], Starscream, and [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Chronicle|Skywarp]].
{{-}}

[[Image:ROTF-toy leader Starscream.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''Transformers 2010'' Starscream]]
* '''Leader'''

:Like the various figures released earlier, Leader-class Starscream transforms into an officially licensed Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor fighter jet. He possesses electronic lights and sounds. He was later redecoed into his Movie [[The Transformers: Masterpiece| Masterpiece]] version.

===''Dark of the Moon''===
* '''Deluxe'''

:This all-new sculpt transforms into a surprisingly accurate F-22 Raptor while hiding the robot mode parts much better than previous molds. It was later redecoed into [[Thundercracker (Movie)#Dark of the Moon|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (ROTF)#Dark of the Moon|Skywarp]].
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
[[Image:HoC 3H Seeker Set.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[Starscream (G1)|I]] am [[Thundercracker (G1)|he]] as [[Skywarp (G1)|you]] are he as you are me and [[Air Warrior|we]] are all together.]]
===''Super Collection Figure''===
:A small, PVC plastic figure based on the Seekers' animation model design. It was imported from Takara in the 2002 ''Heroes of Cybertron'' line.

:It was issued as Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Sunstorm, and as a six-pack of the three original seekers and three generic light purple [[Air Warrior|Air Warriors]]. It was retooled and redecorated as Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge.

{{-}}

===''Titanium Series''===
[[Image:TitaniumRM Starscream.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Stop, in the name of love...]]

: A small, non-transforming die-cast metal figurine, based upon the Generation 1 cartoon appearance of the Seekers was available decoed as either Starscream or Thundercracker.
{{-}}

===''MyClone''===
[[Image:MyCloneRamjet.jpg|right|100px|thumb|''Myclone'' Ramjet]]
:A super-adorable figurine mold of Starscream was issued for this line, and redecorated as the [[chase figure]] Thundercracker. A Coneheads mold was also available, issued as Ramjet and chase figure Dirge, and retooled as Thrust.
{{-}}

===Palisades===
[[Image:PalisadesStarscream.jpg|thumb|]]
:Issued in 2005, this six-inch-tall polystone statue with articulated head and arms was sculpted by [[3L Creation Group]] from a design by [[George Tremarco]]. It was later redecoed as Skywarp, Sunstorm, Thundercracker, and the Ghost of Starscream.
{{-}}

===''Robot Heroes''===
[[Image:Robot Hero Skywarp.jpg|right|120px|thumb|Robot Heroes Skywarp]]
:Another super-adorable figurine of Starscream, this time launching himself into the air. Redecorated as Skywarp and Thundercracker. A Thrust mold from the same line has yet to be redecorated.
{{-}}

===''3D Battle-Card Game''===
[[Image:3DBattleCard_Thundercracker.jpg|thumb|right|250px|]]
:This release is a 38-point "Uncommon" piece from the [[3D Battle-Card Game]] composed of punch-out parts from two different cards that can be reconfigured to make a robot or a fighter jet. The parts layout was used to produce Movie versions of [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] (as well as non-Seeker characters [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] and [[Jetfire (Movie)|Jetfire]]) in the initial release and Generation 1 [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] in the "Energon Wars" expansion set.
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:BC05InfiltrationCoverSeekette.jpg|thumb|250px|VOGUE!]]
*''Generation 2'' concept art revealed in the ''[[Transformers Vault]]'' book shows an unreleased desert camo variant on the Ramjet toy (previously seen in toy mock-up form) that would have been named [[Sandstorm (G2)|Sandstorm]].

*A mostly black and grey mock-up of ''Generation 2'' Starscream was also seen from the same source as the Sandstorm mock-up. This toy has "[[:Image:G2BlackDeathStarscreamMockup.jpg|Black Death]]" written on the nosecone and may perhaps have also been intended as a new character of that name. In 2012, a production colors [[:Image:G2BlackDeathStarscreamProductionColor.jpg|test shot]] of this figure concept was found.

*Another mock-up deco variant of the Starscream toy in [[:Image:G2SSJungleprotojet.jpg|jungle colors]] is also known to exist. As with "Black Death" Starscream and previously mentioned desert camo Ramjet, this may have been intended to be a new character.

*Lastly, ''another'' mock-up deco variant of the Ramjet toy in [[:Image:WhizBangNavyRamjetRedeco.jpg|cloud camo]] is also known to exist. As with all the above mock-up decoes, this may have been intended to be a new character.

* The Transformers [[fandom]] has long mused upon the possibility of female Seekers (and produced countless [[Wikipedia:Mary Sue|self-insertion characters]] that are variants on the theme). A piece of [[Hasbro]] concept art of what appeared to be a female Seeker design appeared on the [[BotCon 2005]]-exclusive cover of [[Infiltration issue 0|Infiltration #0]], but the idea didn't fully see fruition until ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]], the first '''[[canon]]ical''' female character to share a body template with a Starscream. This development is either great or horrible, depending on your perspective.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Jetron''' (ジェットロン ''Jettoron'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Sōu-Sǒu-jě''' (Taiwan, 搜索者, "Seeker") / '''Yóuií''' （China, 游击, "Guerilla"）

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Seekers| Seeker (body-type)]]
[[Category:Mass-produced Transformers]]
[[Category:Wings Universe subgroups]]

Seeker (body-type)

2012-12-29T04:35:29Z

RavenG: /* And all the rest */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{featured}}
{{disambig3|Seeker}}

[[Image:Seekers.png|right|300px|thumb|Well, they keep the toy-repainting fans off the streets, at least. (Generic Seekers from, clockwise: 1) MtMtE Part 3, 2) sticker sheet, 3-6) Five Faces of Darkness)]]

The term '''Seeker''' refers to [[Decepticon]] jet troopers who share [[Starscream (disambiguation)|Starscream]]'s [[body-type]] but with different colors or minor variations in wing and head shapes. This is most clearly and commonly known from ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'', but any franchise with a Starscream is almost [[To sell toys|inevitably]] going to feature a similar "family" of [[redeco]]ed jet-formers.

The word "Seeker" hovered a long time in a strange gray area between official and fan-coined terms. It seems to have originated in ''extremely'' obscure official or semi-official writing, but somehow became widely used among fans. ''(See [[#Origin of the term|below]].)'' In 2002, the term appeared in dialog from the first issue of ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' from [[Dreamwave Productions]], [[Canonizing|making it truly official]] after years of controversy. It has subsequently appeared in many other places such as on toy packaging, books, and in other stories.

==Generation 1 Seekers==
===Originals===
[[Image:MainSeekers.gif|300px|thumb|right|The original Seekers]]
In Generation 1, there were six Seekers originally given names and characterization: [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]. The first three, the season one Seekers, had animation designs done primarily by [[Shōhei Kohara]].
{{-}}

===Coneheads===
[[Image:ConeheadsGenerations1.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The Coneheads.]]
The last three Generation 1 Seekers are usually designated as "[[Conehead]]" Seekers by fans for their distinctive transformation that leaves the jet nosecone pointing up. The animation models for the Conehead Seekers were designed by [[Floro Dery]].
{{--}}

===And all the rest===
[[Image:MTMTEGenerics-OilField.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Aw, not "[[When Continents Collide]]" again...]]
In the Generation 1 cartoon there were large numbers of [[generic]], unnamed Seekers in addition to the named characters. They came in a wide variety of colors, from extra duplicates of Starscream or one of the other named guys, to original and distinct looks all their own. They seem to have formed the bulk of the Decepticon forces on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], as well as among [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s initial troops on [[Earth]]. They gradually became less common, perhaps as a result of casualties... or the cartoon's production team becoming more careful, or more-likely having more "actual" Decepticons to work with as the toy line expanded. (Extra [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] units and alternate color cassettes were also used along with these Seekers, early on, to fill out the comparatively thin Decepticon ranks.)

These unsung Seekers would be recognized years later in ''[[Heroes of Cybertron]]'' toy form as the [[Air Warrior]]s (all using the common lavender/white color scheme). Soon afterward, the [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] ''Generation One'' comic series introduced an army of similarly-colored Seeker drones.

[[Image:AirWarriors MTMtE.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You talking to me? Or him? Or the other one?]]

Around the same time, another background Seeker was also given a new life through toys and Dreamwave comics: [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]. This yellow-orange Seeker was a nameless background character in the first episode of the ''Transformers'' cartoon, until [[e-HOBBY]] turned him into an [[exclusive]] toy (available with an [[Autobot]] also based on a [[Hauler|first-episode cameo]]). Now [[Hasbro]] [[Sunstorm (disambiguation)|can't get enough of him]]. Another generic Seeker was given attention: [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]]. Like Sunstorm before him, he was based on one of the background Seekers from the original cartoon, in this case the episode "Divide and Conquer" (see below).
{{-}}
Unnamed Seekers with their own distinct color schemes appear in the following episodes as noted below:

[[Image:Sunstorm Cartoon.jpg|250px|thumb|One for all, and all for one. Sunstorm and co. attack.]]
* "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"
:In the "return to [[Great Dome|Iacon]]" scene on Cybertron, five to seven Seekers appear (wide shots depict a group of five, but the close-ups give us seven distinct color schemes.) The first three are (as far as colors are concerned) Skywarp, Starscream (with a deeper voice), and Thundercracker. In a following shot, we see a lavender Seeker with a flamethrower pack, a medium-blue Seeker with white trim, holding his arm gun like a rifle, a yellow/orange Seeker who would become Sunstorm... and lurking in the back, a very dark-blue Seeker with white trim barely visible, but there if you look.

{{-}}
[[Image:MmteSeekers2.gif|250px|thumb|Lots of generic Seekers from this one.]]
* "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]" and "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|Part 3]]"
:The mother lode of unnamed Seekers. Especially if you like variations of blue and lavender. Crowds of them appear at the start of the final battle. At least six different Seekers of various shades and decos of blue and at least four of various shades and decos of lavender (two with black tail fins in jet mode, two with white). Also, a blue variant (seen in the picture above) missing his wings and shoulder vents appears in "Part 3".

{{-}}
[[Image:DivideandCon.gif|300px|thumb|Divide and Conquer Seekers]]
* "[[Divide and Conquer]]"
: Avert your eyes! One deep blue, one eye-burning bright green, and one garishly bright yellow. This trio is often referred to by fans as "the [[Rainmaker]]s" because they started an [[acid rain]] shower to irritate a group of [[Autobot]]s. The green jet in this grouping was made into the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]] character, whose name was initially supposed to be "Rainmaker", then "Acid Rain".

{{-}}
[[Image:UltimateDoom.gif|300px|thumb|Ultimate Doom Seekers]]
* "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]"
: Two blue variants and one really nice looking pine-green Seeker appear as part of Shockwave's forces trying to prevent the rescue of [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

{{-}}
* "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]"
: One all-gray Seeker, one with [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]'s coloration, and one with [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]'s. There's also an interesting Conehead variant. (All of which appear in the main image above.)

{{-}}
[[Image:NotDirge.gif|200px|thumb|Dark Awakening Seeker]]
* "[[The Transformers: The Movie]]" & "[[Dark Awakening]]"
: One season 1-style [[:Image:DirgeseekerTFMovie.jpg|Seeker]] with Dirge's colors appears in jet mode in the attack on Autobot City in the movie, and next to the actual Dirge in the episode.

{{-}}
* Puffy stickers
: A sheet of Transformer puffy stickers featured a rare generic with a Starscream-based color scheme. He is pictured above as well.

{{-}}
* [[Transformers: Punch-Out Book]]
: In addition to Starscream, Skywarp and numerous identical copies of both of them, this construct-it-yourself battle scene features two distinct color schemes. Each features a solid grey body with solid color wings and tail wings: one red, one yellow.

{{-}}
* [[Project Brain Drain]]
: While Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge are named and Skywarp is identifiable, there are numerous unnamed Seekers including a second individual with Thrust-style wings.

{{-}}
[[Image:Returntocybertron-seeker.jpg|200px|thumb|Return to Cybertron Seeker.]]
* "[[Return to Cybertron]]"
: This relatively obscure [[Sticker Adventures]] tale gives us a brief glimpse of a Seeker with a Thundercracker/Skywarp mix; blue body, purple tailfins and wing stripes. You can't tell much more about him, given that he is A: partially obscured and B: exploding.

{{-}}
[[Image:PretenderClassicsBoxArt.jpg|150px|thumb|"Classic Pretender" Seekers.]]
* [[Classic Pretender]] [[Package art|box art]]
: The box art (also used for adverts in the Marvel UK comic) for this line of toys shows Starscream attacking his Autobot counterparts alongside three others sharing his body-type. All have a silver front half in jet mode, while one has green rear fins, one has red and one is in shadow.
{{-}}
[[Image:TFcommagdivebombvsjhi.jpg|right|100px|thumb|]]
* [[Transformers Comic-Magazin]] [[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 18|Issue 18]]
: The German comic, well known for its often wacky coloring, contained a Seeker with a color scheme [[Jhiaxus (G2)|suspiciously familiar]].

{{-}}
[[Image:The Ultimate Guide Maccadam's Old Oil House scene.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
* [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]
: A green seeker can be seen to the left of frame, behind the [[Maccadam's bartender|bartender]], in the image of [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]].

===Fun Publications comics===
[[Image:WingsofHonor-Skyraiders.jpg|right|thumb|250px|New guys, same ol' body-type.]]
The term "Skyraiders" (see [[#Alternate terms|alternate terms]]) was assigned to the prototype Starscream-like air warriors that [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]] developed at the very beginning of the war. The ranks of the Skyraiders did not seem to include any of the usual Seekers, but instead comprised other flying Decepticon characters. In addition to Skyquake himself, the Skyraiders were [[Leozack]], [[Hellbat (Victory)|Hellbat]], [[Hooligan (G2)|Hooligan]], and [[Guyhawk]].
{{-}}

===IDW comics continuity===

Seekers are elite officers in the Decepticon army, and are expected to fulfill a leadership role on the battlefield in commanding other Decepticon troops. Seekers are expected to show absolute loyalty to the Decepticon cause. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|Seasons in Flight}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

The Seekers all take on the same body type out of respect to their commander, Starscream, and hold a position of prestige within the Decepticon ranks {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] are Seekers, although they may be using a different definition of the term. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 14|All Hail Megatron #14}}

{{note|Confusingly, the human organisation [[Skywatch]] referred to [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] as "Seekers".}}

==UK Generation 2 comic==
[[Image:G2UKWarWithoutEndJetGuy.jpg|thumb|]]
An unnamed Seeker with a light blue body with white face, light red helmet and thighs, and yellow cockpit cover was hanging around when Megatron boarded the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. {{storylink|War Without End (issue)|War Without End}}

{{-}}

==Unicron Trilogy Seekers==
According to one minor source in ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'', when any Transformer converts to a jet, he is called a "seeker"<ref>''[[Transformers Armada: The Awakening]]'' DK Readers book.</ref>. But the closest specific characters to the Generation 1 Seekers are this universe's own [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]/[[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]]/[[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]] trio. All three even used the same toy mold in their first release, although Skywarp was heavily [[Retool|retooled]] from the others (including getting an entirely new-mold [[Mini-Con]] partner). While new Decepticon-allied jet characters named [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] and [[Ramjet (Armada)|Ramjet]] were released in ''Armada'', they each had their own unique molds. However, whereas Ramjet was simply the Mini-Con partner of [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], Thrust was a [[bulk]] who even had a VTOL engine in jet mode, a conehead and vertically-oriented wings in robot mode. Although Thrust's original toy was green, redecos looked a bit more like his G1 incarnation. It was also redecoed into ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Sunstorm (Universe)|Sunstorm]].

Though only Starscream appeared in the follow-up franchise, ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'', several Seekers appeared in the final portion of the Unicron Trilogy, ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]''. Starscream was back in a form heavily inspired by ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' Starscream design (itself based on the "tetrajet" (see below)), while Thundercracker received a completely different body. A Skywarp was also released as a redeco of Thundercracker.

Further, the ''[[Legends Class|Legends of Cybertron]]'' Starscream toy, a tiny, simplified version of his main toy, was redecoed three more times: [[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]] as a giveaway at [[San Diego Comic-Con#2005|Comic Con 2005]], [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] as a giveaway at [[BotCon 2005]], and [[Sunstorm (LOC)|Sunstorm]] as part of the last wave of the LOC line at retail.

==Live-action movie franchise Seekers==

In the letters page for [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's tie-in comic]], the movie versions of [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]], and [[Ramjet (Movie)|Ramjet]] were first referred to as Seekers—by Starscream himself, no less. [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] was noticeably absent from Starscream's list, despite also being a jet and Thundercracker also being the name/body for a line of drones. This left it unclear what a Seeker ''is''. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 9|#9's Star Screams}}

The term was used twice in IDW movie comics, meaning different things—[[Seeker (Movie)|Starscream's crack unit]], and [[Seeker (ROTF)|ancient spacefaring Transformers]].

In the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|movie sequel]], Jetfire describes himself as a Seeker. One of the early categories of Transformers, they were created to seek out stars which could be harvested for energon. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

{{--}}

==Shattered Glass==
The term is taken to refer to [[Seeker (SG)|a group of evil Autobots with car alternate modes who share the same color of black]].

==Animated continuity==
{{Main|Starscream clone (Animated)}}

==Aligned continuity==
The Seekers were a pre-existing group long before the formation of the Decepticons. There is some indication that the Seekers are an elite group of the best of the best fliers, although what (if anything) distinguishes a Seeker from any other flying Transformer is open to question. They tend to mostly, though not always, share a common design.

In an effort to placate the eternally fueding cities of [[Vos]] and [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]] each was given something of value. Vos thus became the home of the [[Air Commander|Cybertronian Air Command]] home base of the Seekers. [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] was one of their leaders before the war, and [[Autobot High Council|High Councilor]] [[Contrail]] seems to have been another. The Seekers were employed in ancient times to guard the secret of [[Dark Energon]] hidden aboard [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon Station]]. They kept this charge even when Starscream allied with the Decepticons, though for the most part they remained largely independent in the civil war.

[[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]], apparently upset at being pulled away from the [[Crystal City]], manuvered Vos and Tarn into destroying each other, wiping out most of the Air Commanders that formed the basis of Starscream's power and bolstering his own position as Second-in-command.

In the aftermath of this betrayal, many of the surviving Seekers from Vos joined the Autobots, becoming the [[Aerialbot (WFC)|Aerialbot]]s. [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]] was one notable Seeker who defected from the Decepticons to the Autobots, helping them exploit their own flight skills further.

As part of his power play with Starscream, Megatron sent gladiators to kill many of the Air Command's scientists to finally take control of Trypticon away from the Seekers. ''{{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}''

'''Known Seekers:'''
*Starscream
*[[Skywarp (Prime)|Skywarp]]
*[[Thundercracker (Prime)|Thundercracker]]
*Jetfire
*Contrail
*[[Bitstream]]
*[[Hotlink]]
*[[Nacelle]]
*[[Slipstream (Prime)|Slipstream]]
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]

==Origin of the term==
Although "Seeker" is the most well-known name for these Decepticons, the reason for its wide use is a bit of a mystery.

[[Image:Seekers ad text.jpg|left|197px|thumb|No, you fool, we're following orders: We were told to scour the countryside, so we're scouring it.]]

There are only two known official uses of the term in 20th century, both of them in department-store advertisements from the [[1984]] holiday season. The J.C. Penney catalog (sometimes called a "wishbook") featured a page dedicated to ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' that included this statement in its description of Starscream: "Airplane with sensational F-15 styling scours the countryside searching for Autobots. When they're found, the Seekers set out to destroy them." It also said [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] "sends out messages to the Seekers and other Decepticons".<ref>J.C. Penney 1984 wishbook [[:Image:Seekers ad.jpg|(full-page scan)]]</ref> Additionally, the now-defunct discount retail chain Zayre put out an ad in November 1984 listing Starscream and either Thundercracker or Skywarp as "Decepticon Seeker".<ref name="savead">Zayre 1984 ad [http://pleasesavemerobots.com/vstp/vstptf84.html (scan at The Vintage Space Toaster Palace)]</ref>

Some fans interpret those two seemingly-unrelated instances to mean that the capitalized term "Seeker" was handed down by [[Hasbro]] in promotional materials, and those retailers happened to run with it. It's impossible to know one way or the other with any certainty, but the most curious aspect is that the online ''Transformers'' fan community was already using the word in the early '90s, when the [[fandom]] was just getting on its feet. Were those obscure toy ads strong enough in the fandom's collective memory to determine common parlance almost ten years after the fact? Or were there more official usages that have since disappeared?

Even the '90s-era fandom didn't know where the term had come from, as evidenced by confused conversations from that time on [[alt.toys.transformers]].<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/e885ffdf4355e933/13eeeeae7e2483b7?tvc=17 alt.toys.transformers thread from 1996 about the origin of "Seeker"]</ref> While no one cited those toy ads, there were plenty of ''wrong'' answers, which may explain the term's staying power. The strongest of those erroneous explanations was that it had come from the phrase "[[Ferak|hunter-seeker skyship]]" used in [[The Smelting Pool!|issue 17]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel US comic]]. However, the Decepticons it is applied to are shown only in their flight modes, which look nothing like the jets in question. In fact, the Coneheads make their first appearance in the same issue, and their Cybertronian flight modes appear very similar to their [[Earth]] jet forms (if not completely identical), and completely ''different'' from the craft which are referred to as hunter-seekers. The only real connection between the hunter-seekers we were shown and the "Seekers" is that there's more than one of them and they fly.

During this phase of questionable canonicity, fans flirted with other terms such as "Skyraider" ''(see [[#Alternate terms|below]])'', but in 2002 [[Simon Furman]] used "Seeker" in a Dreamwave comic script, which sealed the deal of officiality and set the tone not just for the fandom, but for the ''Transformers'' fiction that came afterwards as well.

==Alternate terms==
[[Image:86Planes.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I don't know what to call you, [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], but I know "plane" isn't it.]]

The most obvious alternate name for these Transformers—and the one generally used by toy [[Pack-in material|pack-in]] [[catalog]]s—is '''[[Decepticon Planes]]'''. While usually clear enough from context, this term has the weakness that there are many Decepticon planes who do not share this body-type. Also, the term is rarely, if ever, used outside of toy-specific contexts. The first [[United Kingdom|UK]] toy pack-in catalog referred to the group as '''strike planes'''.<ref>First UK toy catalog [http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/img/toysheets/g1/uksheet01/1.jpg (scan at Transformers @ The Moon)]</ref> In Japan, they were called '''Jetrons'''.

Within the fiction, the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]] episode "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]" features [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] calling Thundercracker a '''Deceptijet'''. And the 1985 audio book "[[Sun Raid]]" has Megatron ordering the '''Deceptiplanes''' (Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker) to break off an attack. The audio book "[[Jaws of Terror]]" referred to them as "Decepticon superjets."

[[Image:Tetrajet seekers.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Did you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter...]]

For a long time, it has been common among fans to refer to the Seekers' cartoon Cybertronian forms (from the episode "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" among others) as '''tetrajets''' because their shape resembles a [[wikipedia:tetrahedron|tetrahedron]], a pyramid with a triangular base.

If there was ever an official term that could've given "Seeker" a run for its money, it was the one used on the [[Europe]]an ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' packaging of Starscream and Ramjet: '''Skyraiders'''.<ref>Starscream and Ramjet's European ''Generation 2'' packaging [http://www.cobraislandtoys.com/tf/1992/starscreamg2boxfront.jpg (photo at Cobra Island Toys)]</ref> That term also appeared in those characters' profiles in the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Fleetway)|UK ''Generation 2'' comic]]. When the modern fandom dug this information up, "Seeker" was still considered a fan-generated term, so there was a push to supplant it with "Skyraider". But Furman's use of "Seeker" in the then-current Dreamwave comics, coupled with the rediscovery of the J.C. Penney wishbook, put a damper on that movement. Some years later, the term "Skyraider" was officially resurrected to describe the jet warriors in the [[BotCon 2009]] set "[[Wings of Honor]]" (based on the [[Starscream_(Armada)#Energon|''Energon'' Starscream mold]]). [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]] was indicated as the body-type's developer.

==Games==
===''Transformers: Mystery of Convoy''===
{{storylink|Transformers: Mystery of Convoy}}
{{charstubfiction}}

===Transformers: Cybertron Adventures===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Cybertron Adventures}}

==Toys==
{{note|Because of the bodytype-sharing nature of the Seekers, this section includes only molds that have been decorated as two or more Seeker characters, omitting a large number of molds unique to a single character.}}
===Generation 1===
[[Image:Redeco.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The original Seekers.]]
* '''[[Decepticon Planes]]''' (1984)
{{collist|3|
:* [[Skywarp (G1)/toys|Skywarp]]
:* [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]]
:* [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys|Thundercracker]]
}}

* '''Decepticon Planes''' (1985)
{{collist|3|
:* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]
:* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
:* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
}}

:The original Seeker mold was the [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#F-15 Eagle|F-15]] ''[[Diaclone]]'' design, noted for its detailed jet mode, extremely limited robot-mode articulation, and the need to remove/add many parts during transformation.

:The mold was initially decorated as Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker. In 1985, Ramjet, Dirge and Thrust were created out of this mold, each with unique new wing toolings and color schemes. Redecorated [[retool]]s of the mold also appeared in ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' as Starscream and Ramjet, featuring new accessory [[soundbox]]es.

:This mold subsequently has been extensively reissued and redecorated; see [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream (G1) toys]] for a ridiculously long list of examples. The reissues have included the original six characters as well as the retro-Generation-1 character [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]].

* '''[[Action Master]]s''' (1990)

:This non-transforming action figure mold was sold as Starscream, and later redecorated as Thundercracker for the European market.

===''Machine Wars''===
[[Image:MWSkywarp.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Machine Wars'' Skywarp]]
* '''Basic''' (1997)

:A small [[Flipchanger|flipchanger]] mold, originally intended for ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'', was issued as Thundercracker and Skywarp.

===''Armada''===
* '''Max-Con''' (2002)

:An all-new mold sold at the $20 price point was originally issued as ''Armada'' [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], redecorated as ''Armada'' [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]], and retooled as ''Armada'' [[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]]. The retooled version was later issued as the new character [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] in the first ''Universe'' toy line.

===''Smallest Transforming Transformers''===
[[Image:STFStarscream toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Smallest Transforming Transformers'' Starscream]]
:The ''Smallest'' line, issued in Japan in 2003, featured a reduced-scale version of the original Generation 1 Seeker mold.

:It was issued as Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker, and retooled as Thrust.

===''Robot Masters''===
:A new Seeker mold was created for Japan's ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' subline. It is based on the original toy, but redesigned at a smaller size and with enhanced articulation.

:It was issued as Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker.

===''Titanium''===
[[Image:TitaniumHeroesWWThundercracker.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Titanium'' Thundercracker]]
:A new Seeker mold created for the ''[[Titanium Series]]'' subline features a Cybertronian-based alternate mode, derived from the characters' appearance in ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' (itself loosely based on the original pyramid jets seen in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".) This mold has been issued as Thundercracker, Starscream, Skywarp (a convention exclusive), Sunstorm, and Thrust (a Target Exclusive).

===''Cybertron''===
* '''Legends of Cybertron''' (2006)

:A tiny version of the Voyager mold, issued as ''Armada'' Starscream, and redecorated as ''Universe'' [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]], ''Armada'' [[Skywarp (Armada)#LOC|Skywarp]] and [[Sunstorm (LOC)|Sunstorm]], and Generation 1 [[Ramjet (G1)#Universe_.282008.29|Ramjet]] and [[Thrust (G1)#Universe_.282008.29|Thrust]].
:A small version of the Deluxe mold was available as [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] and was redecoed as [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Starscream]] for the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' toyline.

* '''Deluxe''' (2006)

: Though Thundercracker wasn't the same mold as Starscream in this series, his deluxe toy was redecoed as Skywarp.

* '''Voyager''' (2006)

:This mold, based on G1 Starscream's ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' appearance, was issued as ''Armada'' Starscream, and later redecorated as Generation 1 Dirge.

===''Classics''===
[[Image:Henkei Thundercracker toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Henkei! Henkei!'' Thundercracker]]
* '''Deluxe''' (2006)

:An all-new mold at the $10 price point, the ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Seeker design retains the F-15 alternate mode, but with a new transformation scheme and modern articulation.

:Like the original, this mold has been redecorated and retooled numerous times. In addition to the original six Seekers, it has also been issued as the character, [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]]. In addition to its original release in ''Classics'', the various uses of this mold have occurred in the ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei!]]'', ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'', ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'', ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'', ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (toyline)|Shattered Glass]]'', and ''[[Transformers United|United]]'' toylines. Versions of this mold have been mass retail releases, store exclusives, specialty exclusives, convention exclusives, and fan club exclusives.

{{collist|3|
:* [[Ramjet (G1)#Classics 2|''Classics'' Ramjet]]
:* [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Classics (2006)|''Classics'' Skywarp]]
:* [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Classics (2006)|''Classics'' Starscream]]
:* [[Dirge (G1)#Timelines|''Timelines'' Dirge]]
:* [[Thrust (G1)#Timelines|''Timelines'' Thrust]]
:* [[Ramjet (G1)#Timelines|''Timelines'' Ramjet (G2)]]
:* [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Timelines|''Timelines'' Thundercracker]]
:* [[Thundercracker (SG)|''Timelines/Shattered Glass'' Thundercracker]]
:* [[Dirge (G1)#Gentei! Gentei!|''Gentei! Gentei!'' Dirge]]
:* [[Ramjet (G1)#Henkei! Henkei!|''Henkei! Henkei!'' Ramjet]]
:* [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Henkei! Henkei!|''Henkei! Henkei!'' Skywarp]]
:* [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Henkei! Henkei!|''Henkei! Henkei!'' Starscream]]
:* [[Starscream (G1)/toys#HenkeiGhost|''Henkei! Henkei!'' Ghost Starscream]]
:* [[Thrust (G1)#Gentei! Gentei!|''Gentei! Gentei!'' Thrust]]
:* [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Henkei! Henkei!|''Henkei! Henkei!'' Thundercracker]]
:* [[Acid Storm (G1)|''Universe'' Acid Storm]]
:* [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Generation 1 Series|''Universe'' Starscream]]
:* [[Dirge (G1)#Generations|''Generations'' Dirge]]
:* [[Thrust (G1)#Generations|''Generations'' Thrust]]
:* [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Generations|''Generations'' Thundercracker]]
:* [[Starscream (G1)/toys#United|''United'' Starscream]]
:* [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#United|''United'' Thundercracker]]
:* [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#United|''United'' Skywarp]]
:* [[Dirge (G1)#United|''United'' Dirge]]
:* [[Thrust (G1)#United|''United'' Thrust]]
:* [[Ramjet (G1)#United|''United'' Ramjet]]
}}

===''Masterpiece''===
:A larger-scaled, highly complex mold. Issued as Starscream in 2005, with later retools as Skywarp, Thundercracker and most recently Ghost Starscream, with transparent parts.

===Movie (2007)===
* '''Legends'''

[[Image:Movie Legends Starscream.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]
:This Legends-class mold is a highly simplified, low-cost version of Starscream in his F-22 Raptor body. As such, he has a greatly compromised transformation sequence due to the smaller parts count, with limited articulation and detailing. In addition to numerous redecoes sold as Starscream, it was also used to make ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]].
{{-}}

* '''Voyager'''

[[Image:Movie Voyager Starscream toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|''2007 Live Action Movie'' Starscream]]
:The mold used for the [[Transformers (film)|''Transformers'' live-action movie]] [[Size class|Voyager]] class [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] figure was retooled and redecoed into [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] (as well as a G1 recolor of Starscream.) For the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' line of toys, the original mold and the retool were recolored again as [[Ramjet (Movie)|Ramjet]] and [[Skywarp (ROTF)|Skywarp]] respectively.

* '''Fast Action Battler'''

:The [[Fast Action Battlers]] version of Starscream was recolored into Ramjet in 2007.
{{-}}

===''Animated''===
* '''Legends'''

: The tiny [[Legends Class]] Starscream mold was recolored into clear versions of Thundercracker, Skywarp, Sunstorm, Ramjet and [[Starscream Clone Black Version|a black clone]].

* '''Voyager'''

[[Image:Animated Skywarp Voyager.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Animated'' Skywarp]]
:The Voyager class [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] from [[Transformers Animated (toyline)|Animated]] was recolored into two of his [[Starscream clone (Animated)|clones]], [[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] and [[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]], with a third one, [[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]], going unreleased.

* '''Activators'''

: Starscream's [[Activators]] mold, a smaller, auto-transforming design based on the larger toy, was recolored into Thundercracker, [[Dirge (Animated)|Dirge]], Skywarp and [[Ramjet (Animated)|Ramjet]], also based on the clones from the cartoon.

===''Revenge of the Fallen''===
[[Image:ROTF Voyager Starscream.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
* '''Voyager'''

:''Revenge of the Fallen'' Voyager class Starscream is far more accurate to the movie model in both modes than the previous movie's Voyager mold, with a more dramatic transformation scheme to boot. He was only redecoed as himself.

===''Transformers (2010)''===
[[Image:Chronicletoy ez thundercracker.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
* '''Legends'''

:[[Legends Class]] Starscream is a new sculpt based on his Generation 1 jet appearance with many fuselage details borrowed from the [[#Masterpiece|Masterpiece version]]. This sculpt was also used to make ''[[Transformers Chronicle|Chronicle]]'' [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Chronicle|Thundercracker]], Starscream, and [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Chronicle|Skywarp]].
{{-}}

[[Image:ROTF-toy leader Starscream.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''Transformers 2010'' Starscream]]
* '''Leader'''

:Like the various figures released earlier, Leader-class Starscream transforms into an officially licensed Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor fighter jet. He possesses electronic lights and sounds. He was later redecoed into his Movie [[The Transformers: Masterpiece| Masterpiece]] version.

===''Dark of the Moon''===
* '''Deluxe'''

:This all-new sculpt transforms into a surprisingly accurate F-22 Raptor while hiding the robot mode parts much better than previous molds. It was later redecoed into [[Thundercracker (Movie)#Dark of the Moon|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (ROTF)#Dark of the Moon|Skywarp]].
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
[[Image:HoC 3H Seeker Set.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[Starscream (G1)|I]] am [[Thundercracker (G1)|he]] as [[Skywarp (G1)|you]] are he as you are me and [[Air Warrior|we]] are all together.]]
===''Super Collection Figure''===
:A small, PVC plastic figure based on the Seekers' animation model design. It was imported from Takara in the 2002 ''Heroes of Cybertron'' line.

:It was issued as Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Sunstorm, and as a six-pack of the three original seekers and three generic light purple [[Air Warrior|Air Warriors]]. It was retooled and redecorated as Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge.

{{-}}

===''Titanium Series''===
[[Image:TitaniumRM Starscream.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Stop, in the name of love...]]

: A small, non-transforming die-cast metal figurine, based upon the Generation 1 cartoon appearance of the Seekers was available decoed as either Starscream or Thundercracker.
{{-}}

===''MyClone''===
[[Image:MyCloneRamjet.jpg|right|100px|thumb|''Myclone'' Ramjet]]
:A super-adorable figurine mold of Starscream was issued for this line, and redecorated as the [[chase figure]] Thundercracker. A Coneheads mold was also available, issued as Ramjet and chase figure Dirge, and retooled as Thrust.
{{-}}

===Palisades===
[[Image:PalisadesStarscream.jpg|thumb|]]
:Issued in 2005, this six-inch-tall polystone statue with articulated head and arms was sculpted by [[3L Creation Group]] from a design by [[George Tremarco]]. It was later redecoed as Skywarp, Sunstorm, Thundercracker, and the Ghost of Starscream.
{{-}}

===''Robot Heroes''===
[[Image:Robot Hero Skywarp.jpg|right|120px|thumb|Robot Heroes Skywarp]]
:Another super-adorable figurine of Starscream, this time launching himself into the air. Redecorated as Skywarp and Thundercracker. A Thrust mold from the same line has yet to be redecorated.
{{-}}

===''3D Battle-Card Game''===
[[Image:3DBattleCard_Thundercracker.jpg|thumb|right|250px|]]
:This release is a 38-point "Uncommon" piece from the [[3D Battle-Card Game]] composed of punch-out parts from two different cards that can be reconfigured to make a robot or a fighter jet. The parts layout was used to produce Movie versions of [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] (as well as non-Seeker characters [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] and [[Jetfire (Movie)|Jetfire]]) in the initial release and Generation 1 [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] in the "Energon Wars" expansion set.
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:BC05InfiltrationCoverSeekette.jpg|thumb|250px|VOGUE!]]
*''Generation 2'' concept art revealed in the ''[[Transformers Vault]]'' book shows an unreleased desert camo variant on the Ramjet toy (previously seen in toy mock-up form) that would have been named [[Sandstorm (G2)|Sandstorm]].

*A mostly black and grey mock-up of ''Generation 2'' Starscream was also seen from the same source as the Sandstorm mock-up. This toy has "[[:Image:G2BlackDeathStarscreamMockup.jpg|Black Death]]" written on the nosecone and may perhaps have also been intended as a new character of that name. In 2012, a production colors [[:Image:G2BlackDeathStarscreamProductionColor.jpg|test shot]] of this figure concept was found.

*Another mock-up deco variant of the Starscream toy in [[:Image:G2SSJungleprotojet.jpg|jungle colors]] is also known to exist. As with "Black Death" Starscream and previously mentioned desert camo Ramjet, this may have been intended to be a new character.

*Lastly, ''another'' mock-up deco variant of the Ramjet toy in [[:Image:WhizBangNavyRamjetRedeco.jpg|cloud camo]] is also known to exist. As with all the above mock-up decoes, this may have been intended to be a new character.

* The Transformers [[fandom]] has long mused upon the possibility of female Seekers (and produced countless [[Wikipedia:Mary Sue|self-insertion characters]] that are variants on the theme). A piece of [[Hasbro]] concept art of what appeared to be a female Seeker design appeared on the [[BotCon 2005]]-exclusive cover of [[Infiltration issue 0|Infiltration #0]], but the idea didn't fully see fruition until ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]], the first '''[[canon]]ical''' female character to share a body template with a Starscream. This development is either great or horrible, depending on your perspective.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Jetron''' (ジェットロン ''Jettoron'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Sōu-Sǒu-jě''' (Taiwan, 搜索者, "Seeker") / '''Yóuií''' （China, 游击, "Guerilla"）

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Seekers| Seeker (body-type)]]
[[Category:Mass-produced Transformers]]
[[Category:Wings Universe subgroups]]

Talk:Unreleased toy

2012-10-10T05:47:00Z

RavenG: /* Transforming CD Toys? */ new section

OK I have to stop making this, I have to sleep you know :P
Well as you can see this is far from being finished and I will attend to this tomorrow, of course you can edit it, cous I have found a few probs of which I have no idea how to fix em!
Thanks for your help.[[User:Dead Metal|Dead Metal]] 20:18, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

==What Counts?==
I'm almost not sure we should even include concept art here, because there's a shitton of stuff that never got off the drawing board - I'm thinking of the movie monster TFs, that dinosaur Scramble City combiner, and all that other stuff in the back of Generations. On the other hand, the G2 Gobots WERE unreleased until they came out during RiD, and the same is more-or-less true of the Universe Seacons. I dunno. [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 21:37, 27 May 2008 (UTC)
:yyyyyyeah, concept art is questionable... --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 21:41, 27 May 2008 (UTC)
::Split the page. Give it an 'unproduced concepts' section. If that gorws big enough, split it off into it's own page.
::The subject is broad enough... it's probably best to let it evolve organically. -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 22:06, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

==Since this never went anywhere on Black Rodimus' page...==
We really, really need to devise a consistent way of dealing with unreleased product on characters' individual pages. I would ideally like to see it either integrated into the normal toy/merchandise lists with some kind of obtrusive "THIS NAME CAME OUT" indicator or have a separate "unreleased toys" section otherwise constructed just like the normal toy section. Opinions? -[[User:LV|LV]] 22:02, 27 May 2008 (UTC)
:Subcategory at the end of "toys" but before "merchandise." [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 22:45, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

== Two more Gobots?? ==
This is the first I hear of unreleased jeeps and sports cars in the Gobots line. Anyone have pics?? --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 22:23, 27 May 2008 (UTC)
:...[http://rapido-online.net/g2archive/] ''did'', you can search through archive.org I guess... When did this site do down? Did it move? Steve-o's links page doesn't have a more recent address for it. -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 22:40, 27 May 2008 (UTC)
::[http://web.archive.org/web/20060720144441/www.rapido-online.net/g2archive/misc/unreleased/index.shtml] all I see here are the four that were released in the RID line... --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 22:58, 27 May 2008 (UTC)
:::I wish I had saved it, but they were part of the massive ton of shit that the Hartmans auctioned off way back when. [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 23:31, 27 May 2008 (UTC)
::::FortMax to the rescue! [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/FortMax05/Gobots/Gobots2bot.jpg pic 1] [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/FortMax05/Gobots/Gobots2alt.jpg 2] [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/FortMax05/Gobots/Gobots1bot.jpg 3] [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/FortMax05/Gobots/Gobots1alt.jpg 4] And pics from an older auction: [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/FortMax05/ToyPics/Hummeralt.jpg 1] [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/FortMax05/ToyPics/Hummerrobot.jpg 2] [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/FortMax05/ToyPics/Carrobot.jpg 3] [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/FortMax05/ToyPics/Caralt.jpg 4] --[[User:FortMax|FortMax]] 00:13, 28 May 2008 (UTC)
:::::So, what, you just have a big ol' 'misc_tf' folder you save stuff to? "Shit, I bet I'll want that later, enough so that I'll be willing to sort through everything in here to find it." -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 01:28, 28 May 2008 (UTC)
::::::Kind of. It's mostly pics of unreleased toys I come across, so it's mostly G2 prototypes from ebay auctions. --[[User:FortMax|FortMax]] 04:26, 28 May 2008 (UTC)
::::::Impressive. This is the first I've heard of the jeep and sports car. Wonder why Hasbro didn't bother to release them in RID... --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 05:01, 28 May 2008 (UTC)
:::::::You'd think they would have - if you look at the pics of all six together, I'm pretty sure they share molds just like the original six Spychangers do... Parts of the molds might have gotten damaged over the years, though. Who can say? [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 10:56, 28 May 2008 (UTC)
::::::::According to the Hartmans, the jeep and sports car couldn't hold their guns correctly. That may have had something to do with it. --[[User:FortMax|FortMax]] 15:06, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

:::Derik, I've talked to Rapido. He's been in the process of rebuilding the site, but hasn't had much time to do it. He says it will be back up eventually. --[[User:FortMax|FortMax]] 15:12, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

==Unreleased toys that eventually got released==
Do we list these? I'm thinking specifically about "molds that were meant for one line, canceled, then reused later but not necessarily as the same character" like RiD Bruticus, the Flipchangers, four of the Spychangers, etc. I would almost say they don't count, since they saw release in SOME form. I dunno. What do you guys think? [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 21:14, 28 May 2008 (UTC)
I don't know, i feal it's like with redecos, the toy itself was released, but that particular character/recolour never hit shelves...--[[User:Grand-majin|Grand-majin]] 21:22, 28 May 2008 (UTC)
:This could be tricky. How do we define "Released"? In the strictest of terms, the cancelled color scheme being used on the mold, we'd have a short list (Air Attack Primal, RID Megahead, possibly the Target Universe Voyarers, TWW Grimlock and Prowl, Alt Rumble and Ravage, and not much else. BWII BB & Starscream, Botcon Sideswipe and the upcoming Seacon redecoes are close to ATB Megatron, Uni Drench and the cancelled Energon set, and Astrotrain is Spacewarp with a new head, so those could count as well. However, the BWII Autorollers don't look a thing like their cancelled G2 releases, nor do the RID releases of the secend Gobots set, and we don't even know what colors the Flipchangers would be if they had been released in G2 (same goes for the Mutants).
:So we have three definitions for "released" unreleased toys: new mold toys ended up not being used for whatever reason but were later dusted off and used in a line they weren't designed for (Autojetter, Autolauncher, Gobots set 2, G2 Flipchangers, RID Bruticus, BW Mutants), Redecoes of toys that were later released in (close to) the cancelled planned deco (ATB Megatron, Uni Spacewarp, Energon Seacons, BIAB Drench), and ones that were simply picked up as a store exclusive, released in the succeeding main line, or both (BM Air Attack Primal in RID at TRU, BM Grand Mal Megatron in RID at KB, Universe Wave 4 Ultras at Target, Alt Rumble and Ravage at Walmart, Reissue Astrotrain at HTS, and Titanium Grimlock and Prowl at TRU). --[[User:FortMax|FortMax]] 22:21, 28 May 2008 (UTC)
::I would say they stay, since the versions that get released eventually are a little different then what the original releases would have been like, best example Spacewarp, different head, different tone of colors, different Mini-Cons and something else.[[User:Dead Metal|Dead Metal]] 19:43, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
:::I understand the individual words, but when you put them together they make no sense. --[[User:FortMax|FortMax]] 15:37, 30 May 2008 (UTC)
::::What I mean twas that, there have been changes made to the toys, meaning they no longer represent the original concept. Like Spacewarp and Astrotrain, although Astrotrain was made so they could use the Spacewarp toy, they changed the head, gave him new Minicons and the colors are slightly changed, at least that's what I read in this wiki.

Does it make more sense now? [[User:Dead Metal|Dead Metal]] 16:01, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

== Soundwave pic? ==
Were did the Classics Soundwave concept go?
[[User:Dead Metal|Dead Metal]] 14:48, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
: Apparently, it was deleted because it was fan-colored. --[[User:Professor Icepick|Professor Icepick]] 15:18, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
: yea I know it was fan-colored, i found it on DA and the poster even said so himself, but the ink was defiantly Don Fig, what's so bad about it being fan colored? I mean this wiki uses images that are edited from there original form, like the characters being cut out from the rest of the piece.[[User:Dead Metal|Dead Metal]] 15:49, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
:It's considered speculative. When the gray prototype pics of Armada Overload came out- there were dozens of photo-bashes of him in various shades of G1 colors. NONE of them reflected the reality that came to pass. Fan-colors on an unreleased toy make it look different than it actually would have been. -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 16:05, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
::I don't recall what the image looked like, but would it have been possible to reduce it back to line art only? Or would that still not have given results allowable by the wiki?--[[User:Apcog|Apcog]] 16:23, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
:::Who cares I found the inks, upped them, and did the same shit as before. I hope it's allowable now. --[[User:Dead Metal|Dead Metal]]
::::Anyway, to answer your question about what's so bad about it being fan coloured, there is a difference between us cropping an officially published (or otherwise officially approved) picture to some guy colouring it himself. Now, the concept art belongs to Hasbro, but the colours, as Derik explained, were made up. --[[User:FFN|FFN]] 16:44, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
:::::So how come the straight line art's been removed from the article and the image has been marked for deletion? Is it not acceptable now under wiki policy?--[[User:Apcog|Apcog]] 16:45, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
::::::Never mind, I found FFN's comment, and I disagree. It's a Don F. concept sketch of Soundwave; "DonceptSwave" compresses that nicely and still gets the idea across. Sure, the title could be extended a bit, but I don't think it's necessary.--[[User:Apcog|Apcog]] 16:49, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
:::::::I am ultra-pandantic about people on this wiki using easily readable filenames, so could be something really simple like Classics_Soundwaveconcept.jpg, no need to say Don in there, as he would already be credited on the file's page itself. Also, was this concept art officially unvieled by Hasbro or published in an official publication? If not, are we allowed to use it? --[[User:FFN|FFN]] 16:52, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
::::::::i didn't care about the changing the name, so I just went with what unicron.com named it, yea I'm THAT lazy. [[User:Dead Metal|Dead Metal]] 17:52, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

Wait WHY has it been removed from the article-again?[[User:Dead Metal|Dead Metal]] 18:00, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
:Hey. Just because Don drew something, are we necessarily sure it was an officially commissioned piece of concept art? I mean, if I say HEY DON HERE'S SOME CASH DRAW A TOY VERSION OF MY FAN CHARACTER, next thing you know the entire internet will be wanting to know who this crazy dude Hasbro's making is supposed to be. (that's actually a great idea for a troll, too bad Kyde beat me to it) [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 11:06, 30 May 2008 (UTC)
::Except Don said he submitted it to Hasbro.
:{{quote|Also check out this concept sketch of SOUNDWAVE! Although he submitted this "years ago, I think for Classics or Alternators" it sure seems to be what they based the design of TF: Animated Soundwave upon to me.}}
::So it's unused concept art. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 11:55, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

==Unused concepts==
After reading about the Soundwave mentioned above, and checking out the unused headmaster designs in [[Transformers: The Ark II|The Ark II]], I was wondering where the line is drawn between unused toy concept and unreleased toy. To me an unreleased toy is one that made it to prototype phase, like Transtech Cheetor, but never came to fruition. Should there be a split between unreleased, and unused? Or do we just have faith that if they had a design for it, it was going to be a toy, but didn't make it far enough in the process to be unreleased?--[[User:Carrion|Carrion]] 17:05, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

== Soundwave Mini-Cons? ==
Does anyone have any pictures of the Cybertron Soundwave Mini-Con prototypes?[[User:Compy-Rex|Compy-Rex]] 15:47, 20 August 2008 (UTC)

==Classics Soundwave==
Should it be mentioned that it's possible that Classics Soundwave may have ended up as Animated Soundwave? --[[User:Blackdrop|Blackdrop]] 00:27, 26 September 2008 (UTC)
:No, that would be speculative in some ways, unless there is any official information confirming it. --'''[[User:TX55|TX55]]'''''[[User talk:TX55|TALK]]'' 01:07, 26 September 2008 (EDT)

== Henkei Black Convoy ==
OK I added it as the prototypes seemed very legit to me but if you feel we should not keep it here give me good reasons to take it down.[[User:Dead Metal|Dead Metal]] 12:21, 6 January 2009 (EST)

== Good enough? ==
Well I did a clean up what do you think of it now? Is is it good enough to be considered cleaned and we can remove the caption on the top of the page?[[User:Dead Metal|Dead Metal]] 11:09, 19 January 2009 (EST)
:I did some more cleanup, including removing the extraneous semicolons from the ends of subtitles. What's left to clean? --[[User:Loudstone|Loudstone]] 16:32, 20 April 2009 (EDT)
==Missing Gallery==
Currently, the "Gallery of Unreleased Universe Piranahcons" gallery is gone (or the link is pointing to the wrong place). Do we just want to remove the link, or create a new gallery? I noticed that at least some of the pics are on the [[Seacon (G1)]] page. --[[User:Loudstone|Loudstone]] 16:32, 20 April 2009 (EDT)

==Transtech Starscream==
Did we ever find out what the deal was with [[http://obsequiosity.home.mchsi.com/tt/tt2.jpg| this]] thing? Does it belong here? 21:39, 17 September 2009 (EDT) {{unsigned|70.194.162.151}}
:First of all, check your links next time. Secondly, sign your posts. THIRDLY, it's covered under [[Starscream (TransTech)]]. -- [[User:Semysane|Semysane]] 21:50, 17 September 2009 (EDT)

:: FOURTHLY, that friendly demeanor really makes me want to help the wiki out SO MUCH. I knew there was a reason I quit contributing. [[User:YourMom|YourMom]] 22:07, 17 September 2009 (EDT)

==Cleanup==
I'm removing a lot of unsourced claims from this page. Some of them sound like plausible things that should be added back in when -- and only when -- we have details to post. Some of them are just crap. I'll list everything I remove here, in case someone has information on them.

*A [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] figure with a strange design and transformation. It is believed that the Target exclusive transforming [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] gift card is based on this figure, as it is similar in design and transformation.

Beast Machines
;Prototypes
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]

*[[Seacon (G1)|Piranhacons]] (I pulled this one because it did see release)

;Prototypes
*More Minicon partners for [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]]
*A [[Scrapmetal (race)|Scrapmetal]] repaint.

Wonder Festival
;Packaged Samples
*A black [[Redeco]] of the Classics [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime mold]], but as a black version of the heroic Convoy character with [[Autobot]] [[Insignia|faction symbols]], not a [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime/Black Convoy]] character.

;Prototypes
*[[Megatron (Armada)|Target Exclusive Energon Megatron]]/[[Soundwave (G1)|WST Soundwave]] twopack.
*A [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] repaint and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|WST Optimus Prime]] twopack.
:I've heard this is that crazy awesome black/neon green Megatron and the "Santa Claus Prime" that were floating around for a while. Those DEFINITELY exist. IIRC, the rumor part is that the WSTs were going to come with them. [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 23:34, 2 February 2011 (EST)

Miscellaneous
;Concepts
*A supposed [[Hooligan (G2)|Hooligan]]
*A supposed [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]
*A supposed [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]
*A supposed [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]

[[User:Chip|Chip]] 23:06, 2 February 2011 (EST)
Those are all legit, I can't however remember what the BM Megatron was. The Rodimus one was shown in a Japanese book showing the history of TF toys, the Wonderfest Black Convoy was huge in the news at the time and his test samples go for a huge amount on ebay we even had Takara giving out an official statement that he was delayed before they just forgot about him. The Energon Prime and Megatron are those crazy redecos and we even had a gallery of both.
The "Miscellaneous" ones where shown off as concept drawings at Dairycon. Next time you remove something, check the external links and cross-check with the linked articles. [[User:Dead Metal|Dead Metal]] 12:36, 10 June 2011 (EDT)
:We saw a prototype of WST Prime that was claimed to be Hasbro's, and the weird checklist on Hasbro's website that accidentally included unreleased toys featured "Megatron/Soundwave" and "Optimus Prime w/ Mini Optimus Prime" (not sure on the exact wording).--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] 09:43, 24 December 2011 (EST)

== Deluxe Classics Optimus Prime ==

I assume the prototype has something to do with [http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/classics-11/possible-transformers-classic-line-up-4336/ this].--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] 09:43, 24 December 2011 (EST)
:Update: Followed up by [http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/classics-11/cybertron-crosswise-redeco-and-transformers-classics-info-4683/ this].--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] 10:02, 24 December 2011 (EST)

== Animated ==

At this point, is it safe to say the ''Animated'' toys not released by Hasbro yet are to be considered canceled?--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] 17:18, 24 December 2011 (EST)

== Anything else that should be included ==
Shouldn't Toxitron be on there seeing as Botcon Toxitron was specifically based on the unreleased toy?--[[User:BlackStarscream|BlackStarscream]] 17:16, 12 June 2012 (EDT)

== Transforming CD Toys? ==

I was going through some old files and found that at the 2006 TransformersCon [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/98648-don-murphy-panel-canadian-transformerscon.html] Don Murphy mentions Aaron Archer showing him some articulated and good looking transforming cd toys.
Anybody heard/seen more info on these? [[User:RavenG|RavenG]] 01:47, 10 October 2012 (EDT)

Action Master

2012-08-23T09:37:36Z

RavenG: /* Transformers Comic-Magazin */

:''Action Masters are a [[subgroup]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[Image:Neutro-fusiontank.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Alive! Alive! Alive!]]
Transformers who use [[Nucleon]] as a fuel source lose their [[transformation]] ability due to the fact that their figure alteration [[systems]] get converted into energy storage reactors. However, through this process, '''Action Masters''' become harder, better, faster, stronger and more alive. They have equipped themselves with transformable [[Action Master partner|partners]] and [[:Category:Action Master vehicles|vehicles]] to aid them in battle.

A few Action Masters managed to retain (or possibly regain) the ability to transform; they are known as [[Action Master Elite]]s.

Action Masters are among the few Transformers to feature [[Power Plans]] on the packaging, in addition to the more traditional [[Tech Spec]] and [[bio]].

{{quote|Alt-modes are for '''wimps'''!|[[Kick-Off (G1)|Kick-Off]]|[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #1]]}}

==Fiction==
===Toy packaging blurb===
[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] went searching for new energy sources and, within the heart of a [[black hole]] discovered Nucleon: a miracle fuel that made Transformers stronger, faster, and more alive, but cost them the ability to transform. Soon the Decepticons stole the technology and created Action Masters of their own.

{{note|This story was later referenced with the Japanese release of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Nucleon Quest Super Convoy]], a black repaint of Powermaster Optimus Prime who was given the backstory of being Prime specially outfitted for this trip into the black hole.}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{noteukonly}}
[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] heard about a risky new miracle fuel on the planet [[Hydrus Four]]. Against orders he stole the non-functioning bodies of his fellow [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] and headed there to find out. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm}} What he discovered was a ruined world filled with [[Nucleon guardian|creepy, obsessive, rotting zombie-like beings]] warning him that it was all because of Nucleon. Being Grimlock, he then went ahead and used the fuel anyway, first on himself and then to revive his fallen teammates. {{storylink|The Pri¢e of Life!}}

Grimlock soon found parts of his body inexplicably seizing up, and began to fear that he should have listened to the creepy dying robots after all. {{storylink|...All This and Civil War 2}} After returning to the Ark Grimlock used the Nucleon to repair all the damaged Autobots in the ship's medical bay (as well as [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], whom he didn't know was there). {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}} Following the Transformers' battle with [[Unicron]], Grimlock froze up entirely. It was then that [[Hi-Q]] (in the process of merging with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]) saw with "[[Powermaster]] eyes" that Grimlock wasn't malfunctioning, but changing. He used his Powermaster abilities to speed up the process and Grimlock burst forth in his new, more-powerful Action Master form. {{storylink|Still Life!}}

Meanwhile, Hi-Q's own mental merger with Prime was also accelerated by his contact with Nucleon. Soon afterward, the [[Last Autobot]] re-created Hi-Q as Optimus Prime in a new body. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

{{note|Other Action Master toys were represented in the comics, but not having been changed by Nucleon, they are likely not actual Action Masters.}}

''As time progressed more and more Autobots, including Prime, [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]], [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]], also succumbed to mode-lock. [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and Slag were among the few that could still transform, but they had doubts that this would remain much longer. Hearing rumours of further developments on Hydrus Four, Grimlock led the Dinobots there to see if a cure could be found. Amidst a Decepticon ambush, he discovered a new version of Nucleon that lacked the side effects of the original and restored the ability to transform. {{storylink|Another Time & Place}} ''

{{note|The events of ''Another Time and Place'' are hard to reconcile with the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]'' comic. However, in the latter, Grimlock's ability to transform has also been restored.}}

===Transformers Comic-Magazin===

The Decepticons on Earth had a team of Action Masters. These sinister types had the power to combine into ground stations, super-heavy vehicles and air units! {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 16|Transforming Robots in Action: The Case of Optimus Prime}}

{{note|Comic-Magazin presented all "[x]Masters" as being ranks rather than sub-factions - Megatron was a Powermaster, for example. It's likely that the Action Masters were intended as such as well.}}

===''Timelines Classics'' comic===
As in [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|other fiction]], neither Grimlock nor Prime kept their Action Master bodies for long. However, [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] ''is'' seen as an Action Master (and his partner [[Tyrannitron]] sort of sticks his nose into a panel). Given Snarl's hatred of his own dinosaur mode, his remaining an Action Master was likely a matter of taste.

===Japanese continuity===
Optimus and Megatron's pre-G2 bodies share a striking similarity to their Action Master toys. Likewise Optimus Prime has been documented as searching out a New Energy source called Nucleon that's located within a black hole. Finally, Optimus Prime's Action Master was sold with New Years Convoy, and described as the intermediate form between Prime's various G2 Bodies. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|G-2 (story page)}}

==Fandom reception==
{{quote|I DEFINITELY like my transformers to transform. Down with the action masters.|Josh Freeman Frankel, 02-25-1994|[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/4ed4b0a1a761bcd7 alt.toys.transformers]}}

The Action Master toyline, depicting the obvious oxymoron of "Transformers who don't transform," generated initial ire ("BLASPHEMY!") from some fans. This was magnified as Action Masters were released in the final year of the original Transformers toy line in the US. When Transformers was summarily canceled in North America, some fans blamed the gimmick for the [[Ruined FOREVER|death of the franchise]] (despite the wide variety of other factors that doubtlessly were involved).

One aspect Action Masters is notable for, however, is the mass reintroduction of "classic" characters. New toys for old characters was not a theme the original toy line visited very often–in fact, 1988's [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]], [[Bumblebee_(G1)|Bumblebee's]] re-imaged [[Throttlebot]] form [[Bumblebee_(G1)|Goldbug]], and the [[Classic Pretender]]s from 1989 were the only notable exceptions. In other words, to have a single sub-line with so many recurring favorites was, at the time, a novelty. In addition, the classic characters were designed to [[show-accuracy|resemble their cartoon counterparts more closely]]. For much of the Season 1 and 2 cast, the original figures having been designed years before they were stylized and simplified for the cartoon, these Action Masters were the closest likenesses of their fiction representations ever. Notably the first television commercial for the Action Masters featured a segment where the animated character models dissolved into film of the actual toys, suggesting that "show accuracy" was Hasbro's intended marketing strategy for the line.

As with many other changes to the Transformers brand, initial hostility towards Action Masters from the fandom eventually became less intense and diversified into a broad range of opinion. Some of the most in-demand vintage (and therefore expensive) ''Transformers'' toys are Action Masters, and new characters from this subgroup are still hearkened back to in newer toy lines. For example, [[Axer (G1)|Axer]] showed up in the ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' toyline; ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]] has design elements based on [[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] (with his [[Mini-Con]] companion actually ''named'' [[Rollout (Armada)|Rollout]]); ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Smokescreen (Cybertron)|Smokescreen]]'s colors are a partial homage to [[Rad]]; and a new version of [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzai-Tron]] was an [[exclusive]] at [[BotCon 2009]]. New versions of both Axer (as [[Axor]]) and Banzai-Tron (as [[Banzaitron]]) were released in 2010 in the [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|''Transformers'' 2010]] toyline.

==Toys==
===1990 (US)===
====Autobots====
[[Image:G1-toy Mainframe.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Mainframe]]
'''Autobot [[Action Master]] Figures'''
{{columnlist|2|
* [[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]] with [[Anti-tank cannon]]
* [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]] with [[Turbo Board]]
* [[Rad]] with [[Lionizer]]
* [[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] with [[Glitch]]
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]] with [[Heli-pack]]
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] with [[Flight Pack]]
* [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] with [[Sights]]
* [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] with [[Push-Button]]
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] with [[Hydro-Pack]]
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] with [[Tyrannitron]]
* [[Skyfall (G1)|Skyfall]] with [[Top-Heavy]]
* [[Kick-Off (G1)|Kick-Off]] with [[Turbo-Pack]]}}

'''Autobot Action Master Action Blasters'''
{{columnlist|2|
* [[Turbo Cycle (G1)|Turbo Cycle]] with [[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]]
* [[Attack Copter]] with [[Over-Run (G1)|Over-Run]]}}

'''Action Master Autobot Vehicles'''
{{columnlist|2|
* [[Turbo Racer]] with [[Wheeljack (G1)/toys|Wheeljack]]
* [[Attack Cruiser]] with [[Sprocket (G1)|Sprocket]]}}

'''Action Master Autobot Armored Convoy'''
* [[Armored Convoy]] with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]]

====Decepticons====
'''Decepticon [[Action Master]] Figures'''
{{columnlist|2|
* [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]] with [[Wingthing (G1)|Wingthing]]
* [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]] with [[Catgut]]
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] with [[Scorpulator]]
* [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] with [[Gatoraider]]
* [[Shockwave (G1)/toys|Shockwave]] with [[Fistfight (G1)|Fistfight]]
* [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzai-Tron]] with [[Razor-Sharp]]}}

'''Decepticon Action Master Action Blasters'''
{{columnlist|2|
* [[Off-Road Cycle]] with [[Axer (G1)|Axer]]
* [[Turbo Jet]] with [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]]}}

'''Action Master Decepticon Attack Vehicles'''
{{columnlist|2|
*[[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]]'s [[Neutro-Fusion Tank]]
*[[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]]'s [[Stratotronic Jet]]}}

===1991 (Europe)===
'''Action Master figures'''
{{columnlist|2|
* [[Powerflash]] with [[Road Rocket (G1)|Road Rocket]]
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] with [[Vanguard]]
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] with [[Basher]]
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] with [[Needler]]
* [[Charger]] with [[Fire Beast]]
* [[Take-Off]] with [[Screech (Action Master)|Screech]]
}}
'''[[Action Master Exo-suit]]s'''
{{columnlist|2|
* [[Circuit (G1)|Circuit]] with Supersonic Racing Car
* [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys|Thundercracker]] with Solo Mission Jet Plane
}}
'''Motorized Exo-Suit Action Masters'''
{{columnlist|2|
* [[Rumbler (G1)|Rumbler]] with 4WD All-Terrain Vehicle
* [[Slicer]] with 4WD Assault Vehicle
}}
'''[[Action Master Elite]]s'''
{{columnlist|2|
* [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Spreem]]
* [[Windmill (G1)|Windmill]]
* [[Double Punch]]
* [[Turbo Master]]
}}

==Notes==
* While the other -Master toys in the 1990 vendor catalog are referred to appropriately, the Action Masters are consistently called simply [http://botriot.jemmagic.com/transformershasbro1990s.html "Action Figures"] with no mention of the term "Action Master". It also makes mention of a different back story wherein the Transformers give up the ability to transform to transfer these powers to their weapons and vehicles.
* In an interview with [[Transformers Collectors' Club]], Simon Furman said that had the comic not ended at issue 80, Optimus Prime's return would not have come when it did.<ref>[[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 2]]</ref> Additionally, Furman said that he hated the idea of using Action Master Prime at the time, and hoped that by the time Prime came back, this Action Master plot would be [[Furmanism|over—finished]]!<ref>[[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 1]]</ref> Conclusion—the use of Optimus Prime in his Action Master version may very well have not occurred had the comic not ended when it did.
* Bob Budiansky's treatment for the Action Masters was printed in a [[Titan Books]] trade.{{fact|Name of the trade?}} Bob can't remember writing it.<ref>[http://www.metalmachine.net/blog/2009/11/21/todds-take-with-bob-budiansky-the-architect-of-the-transformers/ Bob Budiansky interview]</ref>
* The Action Masters' weapon-handle pegs, being approximately 3mm thick, are compatible with the "[[c joint]]" weapon mounting system used on many modern toys, such as [[Cyberverse]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Action Masters| ]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]

MediaWiki talk:Community Portal

2012-06-16T06:27:16Z

RavenG: /* Rare/Unkown vintage G1 Walkie Talkie toys? */ new section

Diaclone

2012-04-19T06:51:29Z

RavenG: /* Insecter Robo */

[[Image:Diaclone-GRB logo.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Di...a...cloooooooone!!!]]
'''''Diaclone''''' (ダイアクロン, ''daikuron'') was one of two [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] toy lines (the other being ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'') from which the earliest [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] ''Transformers'' toys came.

The ''Diaclone'' toyline was first introduced in [[1980]], but it was not until March [[1982]] that toys with [[Alternate mode|alt modes]] based on realistic, present-day vehicles began to appear as part of the "Car Robots" sub-line. The first one was the ''Diaclone'' predecessor of [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], whom [[Hasbro]] now considers the first fully-fledged transforming car-to-robot toy ever designed.<ref name="hof2010">[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/movie-news/TRANSFORMERS-HALL-OF-FAME-INAUGURAL-MEMBERS.cfm Hasbro press release for the 2010 Transformers Hall of Fame inductees]</ref> Its vehicle form was based on an older Takara toy, the "Cosmo Countach" from the ''[[Microman]]'' "Micro Command" sub-line released in 1978, which transformed into a half-robot, half-car hybrid.<ref name="command">[http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~mikuro/sub1-6.htm "Micro Command" toys, including the Cosmo Countach]</ref>

Before the [[Transformers brand]] was introduced, Takara directly exported some ''Diaclone'' toys to North America under the brand names ''[[Diakron]]'' and ''[[Kronoform]]'', but those lines met with very little success.

In [[1983]], [[Hasbro]] representatives discovered ''Diaclone'' and ''Microchange'' toys at the Tokyo Toy Show, and soon struck a deal to create the ''Transformers'' brand.

The [[1984]] and [[1985]] [[Autobot Cars]], 1984 [[Decepticon Planes]], 1985 [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s, 1985 [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, [[Trainbot]]s, [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibot]]s, [[Powerdasher]]s, [[Jumpstarter]]s, [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], 1984 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation_1|Optimus Prime]] and [[1986]] [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Generation_1|Ultra Magnus]] toys all originated from ''Diaclone''.

When ''Transformers'' proved an unqualified success, plans for a 1985 ''Diaclone'' line were scrapped, and ''Transformers'' was imported to Japan in its place. These aborted toys, which would have been part of a sub-line called ''Jizai Gattai'' ("Free Combination") were then incorporated into the ''Transformers'' toyline in 1986 as the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]].

{{picsneeded|Catalog scans}}

==Toy range (incomplete)==
The following list covers all Diaclone releases that were later rereleased as Transformers, Diaclone molds with no Transformer releases are generally not listed as they fall outside the purview of this site.
===Baku-Ten Attack Robo===
Released in the ''Transformers'' line as the [[Jumpstarter]]s.

* Drill Tank Type — Available in two decos. Dark blue limbs with grey chest or dark blue limbs with red chest.(Transformers releases [[Twin Twist]]/[[Salt-Man Z]]/[[Robot-Man Z]] all utilized completely new decos)
* Jet Type - Available in two decos. Dark blue chest with red limbs or dark blue chest with grey limbs. (Transformers releases [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]]/[[Salt-Man X]]/[[Robot-Man X]] all utilized completely new decos)

===Car Robots===
[[Image:Sunstreaker-diaclone.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Maybe they died when the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' crashed?]]

*No. 1 Countach LP500S — The Diaclone red deco was changed to yellow for release as [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. 
*No. 2 Onebox Cherry Vanette — The Diaclone black deco was changed to red for release as [[Ironhide (G1)/toys|Ironhide]]. 
*No. 3 Countach Patrol Car Type — Not released as a Transformer. 
*No. 4 Onebox Ambulance Type — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]. 
*No. 5 4WD Hi-luxe — The Diaclone black deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]. The Diaclone version was also available in blue and yellow decos. 
*No. 6 Honda City R — The Diaclone silver deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]]. The Diaclone version was also available in red. This mold was later redecoed as [[Screech (Generations)|Screech]]. 
*No. 7 Fairlady Z — The Diaclone blue deco was changed to silver for release as [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]. The Diaclone version was also available in silver with a black hood. 
*No. 8 4WD Wrecker Type — The Diaclone red deco was changed to green for release as [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]. The Diaclone version was also available in blue. 
*No. 9 Honda City Turbo — The Diaclone blue deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]. The Diaclone version was also available in black and red decos. 
*No.10 Fire Engine — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Artfire (Headmasters)|Artfire]]. 
*No.11 Fairlady Z Racing Type — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]. 
*No.12 J59 Jeep — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Detritus]]. 
*No.13 Police Car Fairlady Z — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]]. 
*No.14 Porsche 935 Turbo — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]]. 
*No.15 New Countach LP500S — The Diaclone red deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]. The Diaclone version was also available in black and yellow decos, which were later used for [[Deep Cover]] and [[Tigertrack]] . 
*No.16 F-1 Ligier JS11 — The Diaclone blue deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]. A red version was also available as a Diaclone. 
*No.17 Battle Convoy — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged, except for some decals on the trailer, for release as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]]. 
*No.18 Lancia Stratos Turbo — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Wheeljack (G1)/toys|Wheeljack]]. A remolded version served as the inspiration for [[Marlboor Wheeljack]]. 
*No.19 New Countach Police Car — The Diaclone police deco was changed to a fire chief deco for release as [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. The original deco was later used for [[Clamp Down]]. 
[[Image:TrasformerSuperBuggy.jpg|thumb|250px|What, no TF love for Powered Buggy?]]
*No.20 Crane — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Grapple]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Hauler]]. 
*No.21 Corvette Stingray — The Diaclone red deco was changed to blue for release as [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]. The Diaclone red deco was released as Tracks in Europe and later as [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]]. 
*Powered Convoy — The Diaclone deco was reversed for release as [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]]. The Diaclone version was also available in a chrome deco. The Powered Buggy accessory was excised from all Transformers releases.

===Construction Vehicle Robo===

There were two Diaclone releases available. There were many coloring differences between the two but only the most obvious are listed below.
*No. 1 Bulldozer - Orange in both versions. (Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]])
*No. 2 Power Shovel - Orange in both versions. (Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]])
*No. 3 Shovel-dozer - Orange in both versions. (Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]])
*No. 4 Truck Crane - Red in version one. Blue in version two. (Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Hook (G1)|Hook]])
*No. 5 Dump Truck - Red in both versions. (Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]])
*No. 6 Concrete Mixer - Red in version one. Blue in version two. (Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]])

The [[Combiner]] pieces were predominately blue in version one and red in version two.

===Dashers===
The Dashers were released in ''Transformers'' as the [[Powerdasher]]s. They were only available via mail-order and [[Robot Point]]s, and never even got individual names!

*Sky Dasher
*Drill Dasher
*F-1 Dasher

===Dinosaur Robo===
[[Image:DiacloneSwoop.jpg|thumb|200px|Ohh, so [[Show-accuracy|that's]] where his color scheme came from.]]
The Dinosaur Robo molds became the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] in ''Transformers''. Duh. All of the TF releases had softer plastic in certain places. There were also several differences in decos between the Diaclone and Transformers versions, mostly the replacement of blue paint with red.

*Tyrannosaurus ([[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]])
*Triceratops ([[Slag (G1)|Slag]])
*Brontosaurus ([[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]])
*Stegosaurus ([[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]])
*Pteranodon ([[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]])

===Double Changers===
The Double Changers were released as the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibots]], and like the Powerdashers, were only available via mail-order and Robot Points.

*Ferrari BB ([[Overdrive]])
*Savannah RX-7 ([[Camshaft (G1)|Camshaft]])
*Selica XX ([[Downshift (G1)|Downshift]])

===F-15 Robo===
The F-15 Robo mold was the source for the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. The black and purple deco used for [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] was created for the ''Transformers'' line, and was never available as a Diaclone. The decos and remolded wings for the [[Conehead]]s were also original to Transformers.

*Acrobat type ([[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]])
*Super-high-speed fighter type ([[Thundercracker (G1)/toys|Thundercracker]])

===Insecter Robo===
In Diaclone, these were mechs used by the Waruder, the "bad guys" of that universe. In ''Transformers'' they were released as the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] with new purple, black and yellow decos. Much later, the Diaclone decos were released as the [[e-Hobby]] exclusive [[Insecticon clone | Insecticon Clones]].

*Kabutoron ([[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]/[[Salvo]])
*Battas ([[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]/[[Shothole]])
*Kuwagatler ([[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]/[[Zaptrap]])

===Train Robo===
The Train Robo molds were only released as Transformers in Japan during the ''[[The Headmasters (franchise)|Headmasters]]'' franchise as [[Raiden]] and his individual components, the [[Trainbot]]s.

*No. 1 Tôkaidô Bullet Train ([[Shōki]])
*No. 2 EF65 Blue Train ([[Getsuei]])
*No. 3 Tôhoku Jôetsu Bullet Train ([[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]])
*No. 4 Tôkai-type Express Train ([[Suiken]])
*No. 5 L-Special-Express-485 ([[Seizan]])
*No. 6 DE10 Diesel Locomotive ([[Kaen]])

===Triplechangers===
[[Image:DBlitzFace.jpg|right|150px|thumb|No feet, no face, no service.]]
Only the Jet Fighter Type [[Triple Changer]] was ever released in the ''Transformers'' line, but the Helicopter Type made a cameo in a [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] comic. [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] may have been in development when the change to the Transformers brand occurred.

*No. 1 Jet Fighter Type ([[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], purple and beige deco/[[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]], original Diaclone dark green and white deco)
*[[Jet-helicopter Decepticon|No. 2 Helicopter Type]]

{{-}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Wyatt Toys]] advertised Diaclone and [[Microman]] toys for sale in the [[Detroit Powell Press]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac|The AllSpark Almanac}}

==Notes==
*Designs from Diaclone were plagiarized for the Korean animated movie ''Diatron 5'' (다이아트론5), which is currently haunting Walmart dollar bins as [http://www.amazon.com/SPACE-TRANSFORMERS/dp/B000FHDNZW Space Transformers].
*Like ''Transformers'' after it, ''Diaclone'' was also released in other countries, in some cases licensed to other companies:
**Takara themselves had a short run on the US market under the name ''[[Diakron]]'', featuring three toys that were later released as ''Transformers'' in different colors.
**Italian company [[GiG]] initially released toys under the name ''Diaclone'', but soon changed it to ''[[Trasformer]]'' {{sic}} in a blatant attempt of cashing in on Hasbro's success with ''Transformers'' without obtaining a second license, featuring a blend of ''Diaclone'' toys and elements original to Hasbro's ''Transformers'' line.
**French company [[Joustra]] released the toys under the name ''Diaclone'' in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, featuring a blend of [[Micro Change]] and Diaclone toys with unique packaging designs and origin stories, but eventually sporting factory-applied [[Autobot]] or [[Decepticon]] [[insignia|stickers]] due to production reasons.
**Takara themselves released toys in Finland under the name ''Diaclone'', sharing elements of the packaging design with GiG's ''Trasformer'' line. This release is notable for a unique black version of the Corvette Stingray (pre-[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]).

==See also==
* [[Pre-Transformer|Pre-Transformers]]
* [[Diakron]]
* [[Kronoform]]
* [[Micro Change]]

==External links==
* [http://www.diaclone.net Diaclone.Net]
* [http://1501bc.com/pretf/ Diaclone] at the Pre-Transformers Page

==Footnotes==
<references/>

{{stub}}
[[Category:Japanese franchises]]
[[Category:Non-Transformers toylines]]

Diaclone

2012-04-17T06:19:33Z

RavenG: /* Construction Vehicle Robo */

[[Image:Diaclone-GRB logo.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Di...a...cloooooooone!!!]]
'''''Diaclone''''' (ダイアクロン, ''daikuron'') was one of two [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] toy lines (the other being ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'') from which the earliest [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] ''Transformers'' toys came.

The ''Diaclone'' toyline was first introduced in [[1980]], but it was not until March [[1982]] that toys with [[Alternate mode|alt modes]] based on realistic, present-day vehicles began to appear as part of the "Car Robots" sub-line. The first one was the ''Diaclone'' predecessor of [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], whom [[Hasbro]] now considers the first fully-fledged transforming car-to-robot toy ever designed.<ref name="hof2010">[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/movie-news/TRANSFORMERS-HALL-OF-FAME-INAUGURAL-MEMBERS.cfm Hasbro press release for the 2010 Transformers Hall of Fame inductees]</ref> Its vehicle form was based on an older Takara toy, the "Cosmo Countach" from the ''[[Microman]]'' "Micro Command" sub-line released in 1978, which transformed into a half-robot, half-car hybrid.<ref name="command">[http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~mikuro/sub1-6.htm "Micro Command" toys, including the Cosmo Countach]</ref>

Before the [[Transformers brand]] was introduced, Takara directly exported some ''Diaclone'' toys to North America under the brand names ''[[Diakron]]'' and ''[[Kronoform]]'', but those lines met with very little success.

In [[1983]], [[Hasbro]] representatives discovered ''Diaclone'' and ''Microchange'' toys at the Tokyo Toy Show, and soon struck a deal to create the ''Transformers'' brand.

The [[1984]] and [[1985]] [[Autobot Cars]], 1984 [[Decepticon Planes]], 1985 [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s, 1985 [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, [[Trainbot]]s, [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibot]]s, [[Powerdasher]]s, [[Jumpstarter]]s, [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], 1984 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation_1|Optimus Prime]] and [[1986]] [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Generation_1|Ultra Magnus]] toys all originated from ''Diaclone''.

When ''Transformers'' proved an unqualified success, plans for a 1985 ''Diaclone'' line were scrapped, and ''Transformers'' was imported to Japan in its place. These aborted toys, which would have been part of a sub-line called ''Jizai Gattai'' ("Free Combination") were then incorporated into the ''Transformers'' toyline in 1986 as the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]].

{{picsneeded|Catalog scans}}

==Toy range (incomplete)==
The following list covers all Diaclone releases that were later rereleased as Transformers, Diaclone molds with no Transformer releases are generally not listed as they fall outside the purview of this site.
===Baku-Ten Attack Robo===
Released in the ''Transformers'' line as the [[Jumpstarter]]s.

* Drill Tank Type — Available in two decos. Dark blue limbs with grey chest or dark blue limbs with red chest.(Transformers releases [[Twin Twist]]/[[Salt-Man Z]]/[[Robot-Man Z]] all utilized completely new decos)
* Jet Type - Available in two decos. Dark blue chest with red limbs or dark blue chest with grey limbs. (Transformers releases [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]]/[[Salt-Man X]]/[[Robot-Man X]] all utilized completely new decos)

===Car Robots===
[[Image:Sunstreaker-diaclone.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Maybe they died when the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' crashed?]]

*No. 1 Countach LP500S — The Diaclone red deco was changed to yellow for release as [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. 
*No. 2 Onebox Cherry Vanette — The Diaclone black deco was changed to red for release as [[Ironhide (G1)/toys|Ironhide]]. 
*No. 3 Countach Patrol Car Type — Not released as a Transformer. 
*No. 4 Onebox Ambulance Type — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]. 
*No. 5 4WD Hi-luxe — The Diaclone black deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]. The Diaclone version was also available in blue and yellow decos. 
*No. 6 Honda City R — The Diaclone silver deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]]. The Diaclone version was also available in red. This mold was later redecoed as [[Screech (Generations)|Screech]]. 
*No. 7 Fairlady Z — The Diaclone blue deco was changed to silver for release as [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]. The Diaclone version was also available in silver with a black hood. 
*No. 8 4WD Wrecker Type — The Diaclone red deco was changed to green for release as [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]. The Diaclone version was also available in blue. 
*No. 9 Honda City Turbo — The Diaclone blue deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]. The Diaclone version was also available in black and red decos. 
*No.10 Fire Engine — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Artfire (Headmasters)|Artfire]]. 
*No.11 Fairlady Z Racing Type — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]. 
*No.12 J59 Jeep — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Detritus]]. 
*No.13 Police Car Fairlady Z — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]]. 
*No.14 Porsche 935 Turbo — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]]. 
*No.15 New Countach LP500S — The Diaclone red deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]. The Diaclone version was also available in black and yellow decos, which were later used for [[Deep Cover]] and [[Tigertrack]] . 
*No.16 F-1 Ligier JS11 — The Diaclone blue deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]. A red version was also available as a Diaclone. 
*No.17 Battle Convoy — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged, except for some decals on the trailer, for release as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]]. 
*No.18 Lancia Stratos Turbo — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Wheeljack (G1)/toys|Wheeljack]]. A remolded version served as the inspiration for [[Marlboor Wheeljack]]. 
*No.19 New Countach Police Car — The Diaclone police deco was changed to a fire chief deco for release as [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. The original deco was later used for [[Clamp Down]]. 
[[Image:TrasformerSuperBuggy.jpg|thumb|250px|What, no TF love for Powered Buggy?]]
*No.20 Crane — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Grapple]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Hauler]]. 
*No.21 Corvette Stingray — The Diaclone red deco was changed to blue for release as [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]. The Diaclone red deco was released as Tracks in Europe and later as [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]]. 
*Powered Convoy — The Diaclone deco was reversed for release as [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]]. The Diaclone version was also available in a chrome deco. The Powered Buggy accessory was excised from all Transformers releases.

===Construction Vehicle Robo===

There were two Diaclone releases available. There were many coloring differences between the two but only the most obvious are listed below.
*No. 1 Bulldozer - Orange in both versions. (Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]])
*No. 2 Power Shovel - Orange in both versions. (Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]])
*No. 3 Shovel-dozer - Orange in both version. Version one has purple chest. Version two has red chest. (Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]])
*No. 4 Truck Crane - Red in version one. Blue in version two. (Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Hook (G1)|Hook]])
*No. 5 Dump Truck - Red in both versions. (Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]])
*No. 6 Concrete Mixer - Red in version one. Blue in version two. (Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]])

The [[Combiner]] pieces were predominately blue in version one and red in version two.

===Dashers===
The Dashers were released in ''Transformers'' as the [[Powerdasher]]s. They were only available via mail-order and [[Robot Point]]s, and never even got individual names!

*Sky Dasher
*Drill Dasher
*F-1 Dasher

===Dinosaur Robo===
[[Image:DiacloneSwoop.jpg|thumb|200px|Ohh, so [[Show-accuracy|that's]] where his color scheme came from.]]
The Dinosaur Robo molds became the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] in ''Transformers''. Duh. All of the TF releases had softer plastic in certain places. There were also several differences in decos between the Diaclone and Transformers versions, mostly the replacement of blue paint with red.

*Tyrannosaurus ([[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]])
*Triceratops ([[Slag (G1)|Slag]])
*Brontosaurus ([[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]])
*Stegosaurus ([[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]])
*Pteranodon ([[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]])

===Double Changers===
The Double Changers were released as the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibots]], and like the Powerdashers, were only available via mail-order and Robot Points.

*Ferrari BB ([[Overdrive]])
*Savannah RX-7 ([[Camshaft (G1)|Camshaft]])
*Selica XX ([[Downshift (G1)|Downshift]])

===F-15 Robo===
The F-15 Robo mold was the source for the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. The black and purple deco used for [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] was created for the ''Transformers'' line, and was never available as a Diaclone. The decos and remolded wings for the [[Conehead]]s were also original to Transformers.

*Acrobat type ([[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]])
*Super-high-speed fighter type ([[Thundercracker (G1)/toys|Thundercracker]])

===Insecter Robo===
In Diaclone, these were mechs used by the Waruder, the "bad guys" of that universe. In ''Transformers'' they were released as the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] with purple, black and yellow deco. Much later, they were released in their original decos as [[e-Hobby]] exclusives.

*Kabutoron ([[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]/[[Salvo]], original Diaclone deco)
*Battas ([[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]/[[Shothole]], original Diaclone deco)
*Kuwagatler ([[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]/[[Zaptrap]], original Diaclone deco)

===Train Robo===
The Train Robo molds were only released as Transformers in Japan during the ''[[The Headmasters (franchise)|Headmasters]]'' franchise as [[Raiden]] and his individual components, the [[Trainbot]]s.

*No. 1 Tôkaidô Bullet Train ([[Shōki]])
*No. 2 EF65 Blue Train ([[Getsuei]])
*No. 3 Tôhoku Jôetsu Bullet Train ([[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]])
*No. 4 Tôkai-type Express Train ([[Suiken]])
*No. 5 L-Special-Express-485 ([[Seizan]])
*No. 6 DE10 Diesel Locomotive ([[Kaen]])

===Triplechangers===
[[Image:DBlitzFace.jpg|right|150px|thumb|No feet, no face, no service.]]
Only the Jet Fighter Type [[Triple Changer]] was ever released in the ''Transformers'' line, but the Helicopter Type made a cameo in a [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] comic. [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] may have been in development when the change to the Transformers brand occurred.

*No. 1 Jet Fighter Type ([[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], purple and beige deco/[[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]], original Diaclone dark green and white deco)
*[[Jet-helicopter Decepticon|No. 2 Helicopter Type]]

{{-}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Wyatt Toys]] advertised Diaclone and [[Microman]] toys for sale in the [[Detroit Powell Press]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac|The AllSpark Almanac}}

==Notes==
*Designs from Diaclone were plagiarized for the Korean animated movie ''Diatron 5'' (다이아트론5), which is currently haunting Walmart dollar bins as [http://www.amazon.com/SPACE-TRANSFORMERS/dp/B000FHDNZW Space Transformers].
*Like ''Transformers'' after it, ''Diaclone'' was also released in other countries, in some cases licensed to other companies:
**Takara themselves had a short run on the US market under the name ''[[Diakron]]'', featuring three toys that were later released as ''Transformers'' in different colors.
**Italian company [[GiG]] initially released toys under the name ''Diaclone'', but soon changed it to ''[[Trasformer]]'' {{sic}} in a blatant attempt of cashing in on Hasbro's success with ''Transformers'' without obtaining a second license, featuring a blend of ''Diaclone'' toys and elements original to Hasbro's ''Transformers'' line.
**French company [[Joustra]] released the toys under the name ''Diaclone'' in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, featuring a blend of [[Micro Change]] and Diaclone toys with unique packaging designs and origin stories, but eventually sporting factory-applied [[Autobot]] or [[Decepticon]] [[insignia|stickers]] due to production reasons.
**Takara themselves released toys in Finland under the name ''Diaclone'', sharing elements of the packaging design with GiG's ''Trasformer'' line. This release is notable for a unique black version of the Corvette Stingray (pre-[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]).

==See also==
* [[Pre-Transformer|Pre-Transformers]]
* [[Diakron]]
* [[Kronoform]]
* [[Micro Change]]

==External links==
* [http://www.diaclone.net Diaclone.Net]
* [http://1501bc.com/pretf/ Diaclone] at the Pre-Transformers Page

==Footnotes==
<references/>

{{stub}}
[[Category:Japanese franchises]]
[[Category:Non-Transformers toylines]]

Talk:Diaclone

2012-04-17T06:17:21Z

RavenG: /* Toy listings */

So, how much of the Diaclone line was actually used for Transformers? Was it all of it? Only some it? --[[User:Gouki|Gouki]] 11:31, 7 August 2007 (UTC)

:Almost the entirety of the 1982, '83, and '84 molds were turned into Transformers. Specifically, starting with d37 (Countach Super Tuning) through d96 (Triple Changer jet/tank) along with w(aruder, the villains)7 through w10 (which became the Insecticons). Oddly, the last toy released for each faction, the helicopter/jet Triple Changer and Machine Dragon respectively, never became Transformers. Also left out were d63 through d65, the three Change Attackers. These were presumably shunned because they transformed from real civilian vehicles to combat vehicles instead of robots (ala the slightly later Kenner MASK), which would have gone against the ban on drivers in Transformers. You can see all the toys from their Super Robot beginnings in 1980 to the end here: http://diaclone.net/orid/list.html -[[User:Rotty|Rotty]] 17:01, 7 August 2007 (UTC)

::Ah, cool, thanks for that. So... since you know far more about it than I, should we actually put this sort of information in the actual page? --[[User:Gouki|Gouki]] 03:16, 8 August 2007 (UTC)

== About the catalogs. ==

I found some catalogs pics [http://1501bc.com/pretf/diaclone_catalogs.html here], it would be valid if I take some of those for the article? [[User:MESIAS ROCKET|MESIAS_ROCKET]] 22:12, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

== Toy listings ==

Should we have ALL Diaclone toys or only those that were later made into TFs? Should the toy listings be linked to the appropriate TF? [[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 11:50, 2 October 2009 (EDT)
: Added toys that became TFs. Still considering adding links to those TFs. Looking for more input on how best to handle that (differences in decos between Countach and Sunstreaker, etc).[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 17:14, 3 October 2009 (EDT)
::Yeah, I was thinking something like [User:Mazenoise/Diaclone|this]]. -[[User:Mazenoise|Mazenoise]] 05:55, 4 October 2009 (EDT)
:::How about [User:Khajidha/sandbox/diaclone|this]]? I still need to add spacing and I haven't mentioned most later releases (Road Rage, Hauler, Artfire, etc.). I also haven't done anything with the other subgroups.[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 13:15, 4 October 2009 (EDT)
::::It's good, but I'd say it would be good to see which Diaclone toys became which Transformers at a quick glance, rather than having to put your cursor over the links. -[[User:Mazenoise|Mazenoise]] 13:29, 4 October 2009 (EDT)
:::::Good point, I'll work on it some more later. [[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 13:42, 4 October 2009 (EDT)
::::::[User:Khajidha/sandbox/diaclone|Check it out now]]. [[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 16:57, 4 October 2009 (EDT)
:::::::I'll say, with a few little tweaks that's just about ready to be put into this real article. -[[User:Mazenoise|Mazenoise]] 13:49, 5 October 2009 (EDT)

== How much info is too much? ==
I cleaned up/fixed/added info on the pre-Jumpstarters and pre-Constructicons.
While writing up the Constructicon stuff, I realized that adding in which vehicles had grey roofs in version 2 and other smaller bits of info was maybe becoming too much, so I scaled it back to just listing the most obvious differences. I hope that's ok.[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] 02:14, 17 April 2012 (EDT)

Talk:Diaclone

2012-04-17T06:14:44Z

RavenG:

So, how much of the Diaclone line was actually used for Transformers? Was it all of it? Only some it? --[[User:Gouki|Gouki]] 11:31, 7 August 2007 (UTC)

:Almost the entirety of the 1982, '83, and '84 molds were turned into Transformers. Specifically, starting with d37 (Countach Super Tuning) through d96 (Triple Changer jet/tank) along with w(aruder, the villains)7 through w10 (which became the Insecticons). Oddly, the last toy released for each faction, the helicopter/jet Triple Changer and Machine Dragon respectively, never became Transformers. Also left out were d63 through d65, the three Change Attackers. These were presumably shunned because they transformed from real civilian vehicles to combat vehicles instead of robots (ala the slightly later Kenner MASK), which would have gone against the ban on drivers in Transformers. You can see all the toys from their Super Robot beginnings in 1980 to the end here: http://diaclone.net/orid/list.html -[[User:Rotty|Rotty]] 17:01, 7 August 2007 (UTC)

::Ah, cool, thanks for that. So... since you know far more about it than I, should we actually put this sort of information in the actual page? --[[User:Gouki|Gouki]] 03:16, 8 August 2007 (UTC)

== About the catalogs. ==

I found some catalogs pics [http://1501bc.com/pretf/diaclone_catalogs.html here], it would be valid if I take some of those for the article? [[User:MESIAS ROCKET|MESIAS_ROCKET]] 22:12, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

== Toy listings ==

Should we have ALL Diaclone toys or only those that were later made into TFs? Should the toy listings be linked to the appropriate TF? [[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 11:50, 2 October 2009 (EDT)
: Added toys that became TFs. Still considering adding links to those TFs. Looking for more input on how best to handle that (differences in decos between Countach and Sunstreaker, etc).[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 17:14, 3 October 2009 (EDT)
::Yeah, I was thinking something like [User:Mazenoise/Diaclone|this]]. -[[User:Mazenoise|Mazenoise]] 05:55, 4 October 2009 (EDT)
:::How about [User:Khajidha/sandbox/diaclone|this]]? I still need to add spacing and I haven't mentioned most later releases (Road Rage, Hauler, Artfire, etc.). I also haven't done anything with the other subgroups.[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 13:15, 4 October 2009 (EDT)
::::It's good, but I'd say it would be good to see which Diaclone toys became which Transformers at a quick glance, rather than having to put your cursor over the links. -[[User:Mazenoise|Mazenoise]] 13:29, 4 October 2009 (EDT)
:::::Good point, I'll work on it some more later. [[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 13:42, 4 October 2009 (EDT)
::::::[User:Khajidha/sandbox/diaclone|Check it out now]]. [[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 16:57, 4 October 2009 (EDT)
:::::::I'll say, with a few little tweaks that's just about ready to be put into this real article. -[[User:Mazenoise|Mazenoise]] 13:49, 5 October 2009 (EDT)

I cleaned up/fixed/added info on the pre-Jumpstarters and pre-Constructicons.
While writing up the Constructicon stuff, I realized that adding in which vehicles had grey roofs in version 2 and other smaller bits of info was just becoming too much so I scaled it back to just listing the most obvious differences. I hope that's ok.[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] 02:14, 17 April 2012 (EDT)

Diaclone

2012-04-17T06:07:29Z

RavenG: /* Construction Vehicle Robo */

[[Image:Diaclone-GRB logo.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Di...a...cloooooooone!!!]]
'''''Diaclone''''' (ダイアクロン, ''daikuron'') was one of two [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] toy lines (the other being ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'') from which the earliest [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] ''Transformers'' toys came.

The ''Diaclone'' toyline was first introduced in [[1980]], but it was not until March [[1982]] that toys with [[Alternate mode|alt modes]] based on realistic, present-day vehicles began to appear as part of the "Car Robots" sub-line. The first one was the ''Diaclone'' predecessor of [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], whom [[Hasbro]] now considers the first fully-fledged transforming car-to-robot toy ever designed.<ref name="hof2010">[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/movie-news/TRANSFORMERS-HALL-OF-FAME-INAUGURAL-MEMBERS.cfm Hasbro press release for the 2010 Transformers Hall of Fame inductees]</ref> Its vehicle form was based on an older Takara toy, the "Cosmo Countach" from the ''[[Microman]]'' "Micro Command" sub-line released in 1978, which transformed into a half-robot, half-car hybrid.<ref name="command">[http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~mikuro/sub1-6.htm "Micro Command" toys, including the Cosmo Countach]</ref>

Before the [[Transformers brand]] was introduced, Takara directly exported some ''Diaclone'' toys to North America under the brand names ''[[Diakron]]'' and ''[[Kronoform]]'', but those lines met with very little success.

In [[1983]], [[Hasbro]] representatives discovered ''Diaclone'' and ''Microchange'' toys at the Tokyo Toy Show, and soon struck a deal to create the ''Transformers'' brand.

The [[1984]] and [[1985]] [[Autobot Cars]], 1984 [[Decepticon Planes]], 1985 [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s, 1985 [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, [[Trainbot]]s, [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibot]]s, [[Powerdasher]]s, [[Jumpstarter]]s, [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], 1984 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation_1|Optimus Prime]] and [[1986]] [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Generation_1|Ultra Magnus]] toys all originated from ''Diaclone''.

When ''Transformers'' proved an unqualified success, plans for a 1985 ''Diaclone'' line were scrapped, and ''Transformers'' was imported to Japan in its place. These aborted toys, which would have been part of a sub-line called ''Jizai Gattai'' ("Free Combination") were then incorporated into the ''Transformers'' toyline in 1986 as the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]].

{{picsneeded|Catalog scans}}

==Toy range (incomplete)==
The following list covers all Diaclone releases that were later rereleased as Transformers, Diaclone molds with no Transformer releases are generally not listed as they fall outside the purview of this site.
===Baku-Ten Attack Robo===
Released in the ''Transformers'' line as the [[Jumpstarter]]s.

* Drill Tank Type — Available in two decos. Dark blue limbs with grey chest or dark blue limbs with red chest.(Transformers releases [[Twin Twist]]/[[Salt-Man Z]]/[[Robot-Man Z]] all utilized completely new decos)
* Jet Type - Available in two decos. Dark blue chest with red limbs or dark blue chest with grey limbs. (Transformers releases [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]]/[[Salt-Man X]]/[[Robot-Man X]] all utilized completely new decos)

===Car Robots===
[[Image:Sunstreaker-diaclone.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Maybe they died when the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' crashed?]]

*No. 1 Countach LP500S — The Diaclone red deco was changed to yellow for release as [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. 
*No. 2 Onebox Cherry Vanette — The Diaclone black deco was changed to red for release as [[Ironhide (G1)/toys|Ironhide]]. 
*No. 3 Countach Patrol Car Type — Not released as a Transformer. 
*No. 4 Onebox Ambulance Type — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]. 
*No. 5 4WD Hi-luxe — The Diaclone black deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]. The Diaclone version was also available in blue and yellow decos. 
*No. 6 Honda City R — The Diaclone silver deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]]. The Diaclone version was also available in red. This mold was later redecoed as [[Screech (Generations)|Screech]]. 
*No. 7 Fairlady Z — The Diaclone blue deco was changed to silver for release as [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]. The Diaclone version was also available in silver with a black hood. 
*No. 8 4WD Wrecker Type — The Diaclone red deco was changed to green for release as [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]. The Diaclone version was also available in blue. 
*No. 9 Honda City Turbo — The Diaclone blue deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]. The Diaclone version was also available in black and red decos. 
*No.10 Fire Engine — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Artfire (Headmasters)|Artfire]]. 
*No.11 Fairlady Z Racing Type — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]. 
*No.12 J59 Jeep — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Detritus]]. 
*No.13 Police Car Fairlady Z — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]]. 
*No.14 Porsche 935 Turbo — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]]. 
*No.15 New Countach LP500S — The Diaclone red deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]. The Diaclone version was also available in black and yellow decos, which were later used for [[Deep Cover]] and [[Tigertrack]] . 
*No.16 F-1 Ligier JS11 — The Diaclone blue deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]. A red version was also available as a Diaclone. 
*No.17 Battle Convoy — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged, except for some decals on the trailer, for release as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]]. 
*No.18 Lancia Stratos Turbo — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Wheeljack (G1)/toys|Wheeljack]]. A remolded version served as the inspiration for [[Marlboor Wheeljack]]. 
*No.19 New Countach Police Car — The Diaclone police deco was changed to a fire chief deco for release as [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. The original deco was later used for [[Clamp Down]]. 
[[Image:TrasformerSuperBuggy.jpg|thumb|250px|What, no TF love for Powered Buggy?]]
*No.20 Crane — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Grapple]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Hauler]]. 
*No.21 Corvette Stingray — The Diaclone red deco was changed to blue for release as [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]. The Diaclone red deco was released as Tracks in Europe and later as [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]]. 
*Powered Convoy — The Diaclone deco was reversed for release as [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]]. The Diaclone version was also available in a chrome deco. The Powered Buggy accessory was excised from all Transformers releases.

===Construction Vehicle Robo===

There were two Diaclone releases available. There were many coloring differences between the two but only the most obvious are listed below.
*No. 1 Bulldozer - Orange in both versions. Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]]
*No. 2 Power Shovel - Orange in both versions. Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]]
*No. 3 Shovel-dozer - Orange in both version. Version one has purple chest. Version two has red chest. Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]]
*No. 4 Truck Crane - Red in version one. Blue in version two. Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Hook (G1)|Hook]]
*No. 5 Dump Truck - Red in both versions. Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]]
*No. 6 Concrete Mixer - Red in version one. Blue in version two. Given new green deco for release in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]]

The [[Combiner]] pieces were predominately blue in version one and red in version two.

===Dashers===
The Dashers were released in ''Transformers'' as the [[Powerdasher]]s. They were only available via mail-order and [[Robot Point]]s, and never even got individual names!

*Sky Dasher
*Drill Dasher
*F-1 Dasher

===Dinosaur Robo===
[[Image:DiacloneSwoop.jpg|thumb|200px|Ohh, so [[Show-accuracy|that's]] where his color scheme came from.]]
The Dinosaur Robo molds became the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] in ''Transformers''. Duh. All of the TF releases had softer plastic in certain places. There were also several differences in decos between the Diaclone and Transformers versions, mostly the replacement of blue paint with red.

*Tyrannosaurus ([[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]])
*Triceratops ([[Slag (G1)|Slag]])
*Brontosaurus ([[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]])
*Stegosaurus ([[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]])
*Pteranodon ([[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]])

===Double Changers===
The Double Changers were released as the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibots]], and like the Powerdashers, were only available via mail-order and Robot Points.

*Ferrari BB ([[Overdrive]])
*Savannah RX-7 ([[Camshaft (G1)|Camshaft]])
*Selica XX ([[Downshift (G1)|Downshift]])

===F-15 Robo===
The F-15 Robo mold was the source for the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. The black and purple deco used for [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] was created for the ''Transformers'' line, and was never available as a Diaclone. The decos and remolded wings for the [[Conehead]]s were also original to Transformers.

*Acrobat type ([[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]])
*Super-high-speed fighter type ([[Thundercracker (G1)/toys|Thundercracker]])

===Insecter Robo===
In Diaclone, these were mechs used by the Waruder, the "bad guys" of that universe. In ''Transformers'' they were released as the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] with purple, black and yellow deco. Much later, they were released in their original decos as [[e-Hobby]] exclusives.

*Kabutoron ([[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]/[[Salvo]], original Diaclone deco)
*Battas ([[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]/[[Shothole]], original Diaclone deco)
*Kuwagatler ([[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]/[[Zaptrap]], original Diaclone deco)

===Train Robo===
The Train Robo molds were only released as Transformers in Japan during the ''[[The Headmasters (franchise)|Headmasters]]'' franchise as [[Raiden]] and his individual components, the [[Trainbot]]s.

*No. 1 Tôkaidô Bullet Train ([[Shōki]])
*No. 2 EF65 Blue Train ([[Getsuei]])
*No. 3 Tôhoku Jôetsu Bullet Train ([[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]])
*No. 4 Tôkai-type Express Train ([[Suiken]])
*No. 5 L-Special-Express-485 ([[Seizan]])
*No. 6 DE10 Diesel Locomotive ([[Kaen]])

===Triplechangers===
[[Image:DBlitzFace.jpg|right|150px|thumb|No feet, no face, no service.]]
Only the Jet Fighter Type [[Triple Changer]] was ever released in the ''Transformers'' line, but the Helicopter Type made a cameo in a [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] comic. [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] may have been in development when the change to the Transformers brand occurred.

*No. 1 Jet Fighter Type ([[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], purple and beige deco/[[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]], original Diaclone dark green and white deco)
*[[Jet-helicopter Decepticon|No. 2 Helicopter Type]]

{{-}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Wyatt Toys]] advertised Diaclone and [[Microman]] toys for sale in the [[Detroit Powell Press]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac|The AllSpark Almanac}}

==Notes==
*Designs from Diaclone were plagiarized for the Korean animated movie ''Diatron 5'' (다이아트론5), which is currently haunting Walmart dollar bins as [http://www.amazon.com/SPACE-TRANSFORMERS/dp/B000FHDNZW Space Transformers].
*Like ''Transformers'' after it, ''Diaclone'' was also released in other countries, in some cases licensed to other companies:
**Takara themselves had a short run on the US market under the name ''[[Diakron]]'', featuring three toys that were later released as ''Transformers'' in different colors.
**Italian company [[GiG]] initially released toys under the name ''Diaclone'', but soon changed it to ''[[Trasformer]]'' {{sic}} in a blatant attempt of cashing in on Hasbro's success with ''Transformers'' without obtaining a second license, featuring a blend of ''Diaclone'' toys and elements original to Hasbro's ''Transformers'' line.
**French company [[Joustra]] released the toys under the name ''Diaclone'' in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, featuring a blend of [[Micro Change]] and Diaclone toys with unique packaging designs and origin stories, but eventually sporting factory-applied [[Autobot]] or [[Decepticon]] [[insignia|stickers]] due to production reasons.
**Takara themselves released toys in Finland under the name ''Diaclone'', sharing elements of the packaging design with GiG's ''Trasformer'' line. This release is notable for a unique black version of the Corvette Stingray (pre-[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]).

==See also==
* [[Pre-Transformer|Pre-Transformers]]
* [[Diakron]]
* [[Kronoform]]
* [[Micro Change]]

==External links==
* [http://www.diaclone.net Diaclone.Net]
* [http://1501bc.com/pretf/ Diaclone] at the Pre-Transformers Page

==Footnotes==
<references/>

{{stub}}
[[Category:Japanese franchises]]
[[Category:Non-Transformers toylines]]

Diaclone

2012-04-17T04:39:43Z

RavenG: /* Baku-Ten Attack Robo */

[[Image:Diaclone-GRB logo.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Di...a...cloooooooone!!!]]
'''''Diaclone''''' (ダイアクロン, ''daikuron'') was one of two [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] toy lines (the other being ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'') from which the earliest [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] ''Transformers'' toys came.

The ''Diaclone'' toyline was first introduced in [[1980]], but it was not until March [[1982]] that toys with [[Alternate mode|alt modes]] based on realistic, present-day vehicles began to appear as part of the "Car Robots" sub-line. The first one was the ''Diaclone'' predecessor of [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], whom [[Hasbro]] now considers the first fully-fledged transforming car-to-robot toy ever designed.<ref name="hof2010">[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/movie-news/TRANSFORMERS-HALL-OF-FAME-INAUGURAL-MEMBERS.cfm Hasbro press release for the 2010 Transformers Hall of Fame inductees]</ref> Its vehicle form was based on an older Takara toy, the "Cosmo Countach" from the ''[[Microman]]'' "Micro Command" sub-line released in 1978, which transformed into a half-robot, half-car hybrid.<ref name="command">[http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~mikuro/sub1-6.htm "Micro Command" toys, including the Cosmo Countach]</ref>

Before the [[Transformers brand]] was introduced, Takara directly exported some ''Diaclone'' toys to North America under the brand names ''[[Diakron]]'' and ''[[Kronoform]]'', but those lines met with very little success.

In [[1983]], [[Hasbro]] representatives discovered ''Diaclone'' and ''Microchange'' toys at the Tokyo Toy Show, and soon struck a deal to create the ''Transformers'' brand.

The [[1984]] and [[1985]] [[Autobot Cars]], 1984 [[Decepticon Planes]], 1985 [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s, 1985 [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, [[Trainbot]]s, [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibot]]s, [[Powerdasher]]s, [[Jumpstarter]]s, [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], 1984 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation_1|Optimus Prime]] and [[1986]] [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Generation_1|Ultra Magnus]] toys all originated from ''Diaclone''.

When ''Transformers'' proved an unqualified success, plans for a 1985 ''Diaclone'' line were scrapped, and ''Transformers'' was imported to Japan in its place. These aborted toys, which would have been part of a sub-line called ''Jizai Gattai'' ("Free Combination") were then incorporated into the ''Transformers'' toyline in 1986 as the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]].

{{picsneeded|Catalog scans}}

==Toy range (incomplete)==
The following list covers all Diaclone releases that were later rereleased as Transformers, Diaclone molds with no Transformer releases are generally not listed as they fall outside the purview of this site.
===Baku-Ten Attack Robo===
Released in the ''Transformers'' line as the [[Jumpstarter]]s.

* Drill Tank Type — Available in two decos. Dark blue limbs with grey chest or dark blue limbs with red chest.(Transformers releases [[Twin Twist]]/[[Salt-Man Z]]/[[Robot-Man Z]] all utilized completely new decos)
* Jet Type - Available in two decos. Dark blue chest with red limbs or dark blue chest with grey limbs. (Transformers releases [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]]/[[Salt-Man X]]/[[Robot-Man X]] all utilized completely new decos)

===Car Robots===
[[Image:Sunstreaker-diaclone.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Maybe they died when the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' crashed?]]

*No. 1 Countach LP500S — The Diaclone red deco was changed to yellow for release as [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. 
*No. 2 Onebox Cherry Vanette — The Diaclone black deco was changed to red for release as [[Ironhide (G1)/toys|Ironhide]]. 
*No. 3 Countach Patrol Car Type — Not released as a Transformer. 
*No. 4 Onebox Ambulance Type — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]. 
*No. 5 4WD Hi-luxe — The Diaclone black deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]. The Diaclone version was also available in blue and yellow decos. 
*No. 6 Honda City R — The Diaclone silver deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]]. The Diaclone version was also available in red. This mold was later redecoed as [[Screech (Generations)|Screech]]. 
*No. 7 Fairlady Z — The Diaclone blue deco was changed to silver for release as [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]. The Diaclone version was also available in silver with a black hood. 
*No. 8 4WD Wrecker Type — The Diaclone red deco was changed to green for release as [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]. The Diaclone version was also available in blue. 
*No. 9 Honda City Turbo — The Diaclone blue deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]. The Diaclone version was also available in black and red decos. 
*No.10 Fire Engine — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Artfire (Headmasters)|Artfire]]. 
*No.11 Fairlady Z Racing Type — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]. 
*No.12 J59 Jeep — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Detritus]]. 
*No.13 Police Car Fairlady Z — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]]. 
*No.14 Porsche 935 Turbo — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]]. 
*No.15 New Countach LP500S — The Diaclone red deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]. The Diaclone version was also available in black and yellow decos, which were later used for [[Deep Cover]] and [[Tigertrack]] . 
*No.16 F-1 Ligier JS11 — The Diaclone blue deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]. A red version was also available as a Diaclone. 
*No.17 Battle Convoy — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged, except for some decals on the trailer, for release as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]]. 
*No.18 Lancia Stratos Turbo — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Wheeljack (G1)/toys|Wheeljack]]. A remolded version served as the inspiration for [[Marlboor Wheeljack]]. 
*No.19 New Countach Police Car — The Diaclone police deco was changed to a fire chief deco for release as [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. The original deco was later used for [[Clamp Down]]. 
[[Image:TrasformerSuperBuggy.jpg|thumb|250px|What, no TF love for Powered Buggy?]]
*No.20 Crane — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Grapple]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Hauler]]. 
*No.21 Corvette Stingray — The Diaclone red deco was changed to blue for release as [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]. The Diaclone red deco was released as Tracks in Europe and later as [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]]. 
*Powered Convoy — The Diaclone deco was reversed for release as [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]]. The Diaclone version was also available in a chrome deco. The Powered Buggy accessory was excised from all Transformers releases.

===Construction Vehicle Robo===
These were, obviously, released in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and his separate parts, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. All of them had their yellow/orange deco changed to green.

*No. 1 Bulldozer ([[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]])
*No. 2 Power Shovel ([[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]])
*No. 3 Shovel-dozer ([[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]])
*No. 4 Truck Crane ([[Hook (G1)|Hook]])
*No. 5 Dump Truck ([[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]])
*No. 6 Concrete Mixer ([[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]])

===Dashers===
The Dashers were released in ''Transformers'' as the [[Powerdasher]]s. They were only available via mail-order and [[Robot Point]]s, and never even got individual names!

*Sky Dasher
*Drill Dasher
*F-1 Dasher

===Dinosaur Robo===
[[Image:DiacloneSwoop.jpg|thumb|200px|Ohh, so [[Show-accuracy|that's]] where his color scheme came from.]]
The Dinosaur Robo molds became the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] in ''Transformers''. Duh. All of the TF releases had softer plastic in certain places. There were also several differences in decos between the Diaclone and Transformers versions, mostly the replacement of blue paint with red.

*Tyrannosaurus ([[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]])
*Triceratops ([[Slag (G1)|Slag]])
*Brontosaurus ([[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]])
*Stegosaurus ([[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]])
*Pteranodon ([[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]])

===Double Changers===
The Double Changers were released as the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibots]], and like the Powerdashers, were only available via mail-order and Robot Points.

*Ferrari BB ([[Overdrive]])
*Savannah RX-7 ([[Camshaft (G1)|Camshaft]])
*Selica XX ([[Downshift (G1)|Downshift]])

===F-15 Robo===
The F-15 Robo mold was the source for the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. The black and purple deco used for [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] was created for the ''Transformers'' line, and was never available as a Diaclone. The decos and remolded wings for the [[Conehead]]s were also original to Transformers.

*Acrobat type ([[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]])
*Super-high-speed fighter type ([[Thundercracker (G1)/toys|Thundercracker]])

===Insecter Robo===
In Diaclone, these were mechs used by the Waruder, the "bad guys" of that universe. In ''Transformers'' they were released as the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] with purple, black and yellow deco. Much later, they were released in their original decos as [[e-Hobby]] exclusives.

*Kabutoron ([[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]/[[Salvo]], original Diaclone deco)
*Battas ([[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]/[[Shothole]], original Diaclone deco)
*Kuwagatler ([[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]/[[Zaptrap]], original Diaclone deco)

===Train Robo===
The Train Robo molds were only released as Transformers in Japan during the ''[[The Headmasters (franchise)|Headmasters]]'' franchise as [[Raiden]] and his individual components, the [[Trainbot]]s.

*No. 1 Tôkaidô Bullet Train ([[Shōki]])
*No. 2 EF65 Blue Train ([[Getsuei]])
*No. 3 Tôhoku Jôetsu Bullet Train ([[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]])
*No. 4 Tôkai-type Express Train ([[Suiken]])
*No. 5 L-Special-Express-485 ([[Seizan]])
*No. 6 DE10 Diesel Locomotive ([[Kaen]])

===Triplechangers===
[[Image:DBlitzFace.jpg|right|150px|thumb|No feet, no face, no service.]]
Only the Jet Fighter Type [[Triple Changer]] was ever released in the ''Transformers'' line, but the Helicopter Type made a cameo in a [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] comic. [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] may have been in development when the change to the Transformers brand occurred.

*No. 1 Jet Fighter Type ([[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], purple and beige deco/[[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]], original Diaclone dark green and white deco)
*[[Jet-helicopter Decepticon|No. 2 Helicopter Type]]

{{-}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Wyatt Toys]] advertised Diaclone and [[Microman]] toys for sale in the [[Detroit Powell Press]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac|The AllSpark Almanac}}

==Notes==
*Designs from Diaclone were plagiarized for the Korean animated movie ''Diatron 5'' (다이아트론5), which is currently haunting Walmart dollar bins as [http://www.amazon.com/SPACE-TRANSFORMERS/dp/B000FHDNZW Space Transformers].
*Like ''Transformers'' after it, ''Diaclone'' was also released in other countries, in some cases licensed to other companies:
**Takara themselves had a short run on the US market under the name ''[[Diakron]]'', featuring three toys that were later released as ''Transformers'' in different colors.
**Italian company [[GiG]] initially released toys under the name ''Diaclone'', but soon changed it to ''[[Trasformer]]'' {{sic}} in a blatant attempt of cashing in on Hasbro's success with ''Transformers'' without obtaining a second license, featuring a blend of ''Diaclone'' toys and elements original to Hasbro's ''Transformers'' line.
**French company [[Joustra]] released the toys under the name ''Diaclone'' in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, featuring a blend of [[Micro Change]] and Diaclone toys with unique packaging designs and origin stories, but eventually sporting factory-applied [[Autobot]] or [[Decepticon]] [[insignia|stickers]] due to production reasons.
**Takara themselves released toys in Finland under the name ''Diaclone'', sharing elements of the packaging design with GiG's ''Trasformer'' line. This release is notable for a unique black version of the Corvette Stingray (pre-[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]).

==See also==
* [[Pre-Transformer|Pre-Transformers]]
* [[Diakron]]
* [[Kronoform]]
* [[Micro Change]]

==External links==
* [http://www.diaclone.net Diaclone.Net]
* [http://1501bc.com/pretf/ Diaclone] at the Pre-Transformers Page

==Footnotes==
<references/>

{{stub}}
[[Category:Japanese franchises]]
[[Category:Non-Transformers toylines]]

Diaclone

2012-04-17T04:39:15Z

RavenG: /* Baku-Ten Attack Robo */

[[Image:Diaclone-GRB logo.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Di...a...cloooooooone!!!]]
'''''Diaclone''''' (ダイアクロン, ''daikuron'') was one of two [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] toy lines (the other being ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'') from which the earliest [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] ''Transformers'' toys came.

The ''Diaclone'' toyline was first introduced in [[1980]], but it was not until March [[1982]] that toys with [[Alternate mode|alt modes]] based on realistic, present-day vehicles began to appear as part of the "Car Robots" sub-line. The first one was the ''Diaclone'' predecessor of [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], whom [[Hasbro]] now considers the first fully-fledged transforming car-to-robot toy ever designed.<ref name="hof2010">[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/movie-news/TRANSFORMERS-HALL-OF-FAME-INAUGURAL-MEMBERS.cfm Hasbro press release for the 2010 Transformers Hall of Fame inductees]</ref> Its vehicle form was based on an older Takara toy, the "Cosmo Countach" from the ''[[Microman]]'' "Micro Command" sub-line released in 1978, which transformed into a half-robot, half-car hybrid.<ref name="command">[http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~mikuro/sub1-6.htm "Micro Command" toys, including the Cosmo Countach]</ref>

Before the [[Transformers brand]] was introduced, Takara directly exported some ''Diaclone'' toys to North America under the brand names ''[[Diakron]]'' and ''[[Kronoform]]'', but those lines met with very little success.

In [[1983]], [[Hasbro]] representatives discovered ''Diaclone'' and ''Microchange'' toys at the Tokyo Toy Show, and soon struck a deal to create the ''Transformers'' brand.

The [[1984]] and [[1985]] [[Autobot Cars]], 1984 [[Decepticon Planes]], 1985 [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s, 1985 [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, [[Trainbot]]s, [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibot]]s, [[Powerdasher]]s, [[Jumpstarter]]s, [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], 1984 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation_1|Optimus Prime]] and [[1986]] [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Generation_1|Ultra Magnus]] toys all originated from ''Diaclone''.

When ''Transformers'' proved an unqualified success, plans for a 1985 ''Diaclone'' line were scrapped, and ''Transformers'' was imported to Japan in its place. These aborted toys, which would have been part of a sub-line called ''Jizai Gattai'' ("Free Combination") were then incorporated into the ''Transformers'' toyline in 1986 as the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]].

{{picsneeded|Catalog scans}}

==Toy range (incomplete)==
The following list covers all Diaclone releases that were later rereleased as Transformers, Diaclone molds with no Transformer releases are generally not listed as they fall outside the purview of this site.
===Baku-Ten Attack Robo===
Released in the ''Transformers'' line as the [[Jumpstarter]]s.

* Drill Tank Type — Available in two decos. Dark blue limbs with grey chest or dark blue limbs with red chest.(Transformers releases [[Twin Twist]]/[[Salt-Man Z]]/[[Robot-Man Z]] all utilized completely new decos)
* Jet Type - Available in two decos. Dark blue chest with red limbs or dark blue chest with grey limbs. (Transformers releases [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]]/[[Salt-Man X]] [[Robot-Man X]] all utilized completely new decos)

===Car Robots===
[[Image:Sunstreaker-diaclone.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Maybe they died when the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' crashed?]]

*No. 1 Countach LP500S — The Diaclone red deco was changed to yellow for release as [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. 
*No. 2 Onebox Cherry Vanette — The Diaclone black deco was changed to red for release as [[Ironhide (G1)/toys|Ironhide]]. 
*No. 3 Countach Patrol Car Type — Not released as a Transformer. 
*No. 4 Onebox Ambulance Type — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]. 
*No. 5 4WD Hi-luxe — The Diaclone black deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]. The Diaclone version was also available in blue and yellow decos. 
*No. 6 Honda City R — The Diaclone silver deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]]. The Diaclone version was also available in red. This mold was later redecoed as [[Screech (Generations)|Screech]]. 
*No. 7 Fairlady Z — The Diaclone blue deco was changed to silver for release as [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]. The Diaclone version was also available in silver with a black hood. 
*No. 8 4WD Wrecker Type — The Diaclone red deco was changed to green for release as [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]. The Diaclone version was also available in blue. 
*No. 9 Honda City Turbo — The Diaclone blue deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]. The Diaclone version was also available in black and red decos. 
*No.10 Fire Engine — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Artfire (Headmasters)|Artfire]]. 
*No.11 Fairlady Z Racing Type — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]. 
*No.12 J59 Jeep — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Detritus]]. 
*No.13 Police Car Fairlady Z — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]]. 
*No.14 Porsche 935 Turbo — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]]. 
*No.15 New Countach LP500S — The Diaclone red deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]. The Diaclone version was also available in black and yellow decos, which were later used for [[Deep Cover]] and [[Tigertrack]] . 
*No.16 F-1 Ligier JS11 — The Diaclone blue deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]. A red version was also available as a Diaclone. 
*No.17 Battle Convoy — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged, except for some decals on the trailer, for release as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]]. 
*No.18 Lancia Stratos Turbo — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Wheeljack (G1)/toys|Wheeljack]]. A remolded version served as the inspiration for [[Marlboor Wheeljack]]. 
*No.19 New Countach Police Car — The Diaclone police deco was changed to a fire chief deco for release as [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. The original deco was later used for [[Clamp Down]]. 
[[Image:TrasformerSuperBuggy.jpg|thumb|250px|What, no TF love for Powered Buggy?]]
*No.20 Crane — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Grapple]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Hauler]]. 
*No.21 Corvette Stingray — The Diaclone red deco was changed to blue for release as [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]. The Diaclone red deco was released as Tracks in Europe and later as [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]]. 
*Powered Convoy — The Diaclone deco was reversed for release as [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]]. The Diaclone version was also available in a chrome deco. The Powered Buggy accessory was excised from all Transformers releases.

===Construction Vehicle Robo===
These were, obviously, released in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and his separate parts, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. All of them had their yellow/orange deco changed to green.

*No. 1 Bulldozer ([[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]])
*No. 2 Power Shovel ([[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]])
*No. 3 Shovel-dozer ([[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]])
*No. 4 Truck Crane ([[Hook (G1)|Hook]])
*No. 5 Dump Truck ([[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]])
*No. 6 Concrete Mixer ([[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]])

===Dashers===
The Dashers were released in ''Transformers'' as the [[Powerdasher]]s. They were only available via mail-order and [[Robot Point]]s, and never even got individual names!

*Sky Dasher
*Drill Dasher
*F-1 Dasher

===Dinosaur Robo===
[[Image:DiacloneSwoop.jpg|thumb|200px|Ohh, so [[Show-accuracy|that's]] where his color scheme came from.]]
The Dinosaur Robo molds became the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] in ''Transformers''. Duh. All of the TF releases had softer plastic in certain places. There were also several differences in decos between the Diaclone and Transformers versions, mostly the replacement of blue paint with red.

*Tyrannosaurus ([[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]])
*Triceratops ([[Slag (G1)|Slag]])
*Brontosaurus ([[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]])
*Stegosaurus ([[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]])
*Pteranodon ([[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]])

===Double Changers===
The Double Changers were released as the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibots]], and like the Powerdashers, were only available via mail-order and Robot Points.

*Ferrari BB ([[Overdrive]])
*Savannah RX-7 ([[Camshaft (G1)|Camshaft]])
*Selica XX ([[Downshift (G1)|Downshift]])

===F-15 Robo===
The F-15 Robo mold was the source for the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. The black and purple deco used for [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] was created for the ''Transformers'' line, and was never available as a Diaclone. The decos and remolded wings for the [[Conehead]]s were also original to Transformers.

*Acrobat type ([[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]])
*Super-high-speed fighter type ([[Thundercracker (G1)/toys|Thundercracker]])

===Insecter Robo===
In Diaclone, these were mechs used by the Waruder, the "bad guys" of that universe. In ''Transformers'' they were released as the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] with purple, black and yellow deco. Much later, they were released in their original decos as [[e-Hobby]] exclusives.

*Kabutoron ([[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]/[[Salvo]], original Diaclone deco)
*Battas ([[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]/[[Shothole]], original Diaclone deco)
*Kuwagatler ([[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]/[[Zaptrap]], original Diaclone deco)

===Train Robo===
The Train Robo molds were only released as Transformers in Japan during the ''[[The Headmasters (franchise)|Headmasters]]'' franchise as [[Raiden]] and his individual components, the [[Trainbot]]s.

*No. 1 Tôkaidô Bullet Train ([[Shōki]])
*No. 2 EF65 Blue Train ([[Getsuei]])
*No. 3 Tôhoku Jôetsu Bullet Train ([[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]])
*No. 4 Tôkai-type Express Train ([[Suiken]])
*No. 5 L-Special-Express-485 ([[Seizan]])
*No. 6 DE10 Diesel Locomotive ([[Kaen]])

===Triplechangers===
[[Image:DBlitzFace.jpg|right|150px|thumb|No feet, no face, no service.]]
Only the Jet Fighter Type [[Triple Changer]] was ever released in the ''Transformers'' line, but the Helicopter Type made a cameo in a [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] comic. [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] may have been in development when the change to the Transformers brand occurred.

*No. 1 Jet Fighter Type ([[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], purple and beige deco/[[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]], original Diaclone dark green and white deco)
*[[Jet-helicopter Decepticon|No. 2 Helicopter Type]]

{{-}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Wyatt Toys]] advertised Diaclone and [[Microman]] toys for sale in the [[Detroit Powell Press]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac|The AllSpark Almanac}}

==Notes==
*Designs from Diaclone were plagiarized for the Korean animated movie ''Diatron 5'' (다이아트론5), which is currently haunting Walmart dollar bins as [http://www.amazon.com/SPACE-TRANSFORMERS/dp/B000FHDNZW Space Transformers].
*Like ''Transformers'' after it, ''Diaclone'' was also released in other countries, in some cases licensed to other companies:
**Takara themselves had a short run on the US market under the name ''[[Diakron]]'', featuring three toys that were later released as ''Transformers'' in different colors.
**Italian company [[GiG]] initially released toys under the name ''Diaclone'', but soon changed it to ''[[Trasformer]]'' {{sic}} in a blatant attempt of cashing in on Hasbro's success with ''Transformers'' without obtaining a second license, featuring a blend of ''Diaclone'' toys and elements original to Hasbro's ''Transformers'' line.
**French company [[Joustra]] released the toys under the name ''Diaclone'' in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, featuring a blend of [[Micro Change]] and Diaclone toys with unique packaging designs and origin stories, but eventually sporting factory-applied [[Autobot]] or [[Decepticon]] [[insignia|stickers]] due to production reasons.
**Takara themselves released toys in Finland under the name ''Diaclone'', sharing elements of the packaging design with GiG's ''Trasformer'' line. This release is notable for a unique black version of the Corvette Stingray (pre-[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]).

==See also==
* [[Pre-Transformer|Pre-Transformers]]
* [[Diakron]]
* [[Kronoform]]
* [[Micro Change]]

==External links==
* [http://www.diaclone.net Diaclone.Net]
* [http://1501bc.com/pretf/ Diaclone] at the Pre-Transformers Page

==Footnotes==
<references/>

{{stub}}
[[Category:Japanese franchises]]
[[Category:Non-Transformers toylines]]

Diaclone

2012-04-17T04:36:44Z

RavenG: /* Baku-Ten Attack Robo */

[[Image:Diaclone-GRB logo.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Di...a...cloooooooone!!!]]
'''''Diaclone''''' (ダイアクロン, ''daikuron'') was one of two [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] toy lines (the other being ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'') from which the earliest [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] ''Transformers'' toys came.

The ''Diaclone'' toyline was first introduced in [[1980]], but it was not until March [[1982]] that toys with [[Alternate mode|alt modes]] based on realistic, present-day vehicles began to appear as part of the "Car Robots" sub-line. The first one was the ''Diaclone'' predecessor of [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], whom [[Hasbro]] now considers the first fully-fledged transforming car-to-robot toy ever designed.<ref name="hof2010">[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/movie-news/TRANSFORMERS-HALL-OF-FAME-INAUGURAL-MEMBERS.cfm Hasbro press release for the 2010 Transformers Hall of Fame inductees]</ref> Its vehicle form was based on an older Takara toy, the "Cosmo Countach" from the ''[[Microman]]'' "Micro Command" sub-line released in 1978, which transformed into a half-robot, half-car hybrid.<ref name="command">[http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~mikuro/sub1-6.htm "Micro Command" toys, including the Cosmo Countach]</ref>

Before the [[Transformers brand]] was introduced, Takara directly exported some ''Diaclone'' toys to North America under the brand names ''[[Diakron]]'' and ''[[Kronoform]]'', but those lines met with very little success.

In [[1983]], [[Hasbro]] representatives discovered ''Diaclone'' and ''Microchange'' toys at the Tokyo Toy Show, and soon struck a deal to create the ''Transformers'' brand.

The [[1984]] and [[1985]] [[Autobot Cars]], 1984 [[Decepticon Planes]], 1985 [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s, 1985 [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, [[Trainbot]]s, [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibot]]s, [[Powerdasher]]s, [[Jumpstarter]]s, [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], 1984 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation_1|Optimus Prime]] and [[1986]] [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Generation_1|Ultra Magnus]] toys all originated from ''Diaclone''.

When ''Transformers'' proved an unqualified success, plans for a 1985 ''Diaclone'' line were scrapped, and ''Transformers'' was imported to Japan in its place. These aborted toys, which would have been part of a sub-line called ''Jizai Gattai'' ("Free Combination") were then incorporated into the ''Transformers'' toyline in 1986 as the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]].

{{picsneeded|Catalog scans}}

==Toy range (incomplete)==
The following list covers all Diaclone releases that were later rereleased as Transformers, Diaclone molds with no Transformer releases are generally not listed as they fall outside the purview of this site.
===Baku-Ten Attack Robo===
Released in the ''Transformers'' line as the [[Jumpstarter]]s.

* Drill Tank Type — Available in two decos. Dark blue limbs with grey chest or dark blue limbs with red chest.(Transformers releases[[Twin Twist]]/[[Salt-Man Z]]/[[Robot-Man Z]] all utilized completely new decos)
* Jet Type - Available in two decos. Dark blue chest with red limbs or dark blue chest with grey limbs. (Transformers releases [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]]/[[Salt-Man X]] [[Robot-Man X]] all utilized completely new decos)

===Car Robots===
[[Image:Sunstreaker-diaclone.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Maybe they died when the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' crashed?]]

*No. 1 Countach LP500S — The Diaclone red deco was changed to yellow for release as [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. 
*No. 2 Onebox Cherry Vanette — The Diaclone black deco was changed to red for release as [[Ironhide (G1)/toys|Ironhide]]. 
*No. 3 Countach Patrol Car Type — Not released as a Transformer. 
*No. 4 Onebox Ambulance Type — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]. 
*No. 5 4WD Hi-luxe — The Diaclone black deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]. The Diaclone version was also available in blue and yellow decos. 
*No. 6 Honda City R — The Diaclone silver deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]]. The Diaclone version was also available in red. This mold was later redecoed as [[Screech (Generations)|Screech]]. 
*No. 7 Fairlady Z — The Diaclone blue deco was changed to silver for release as [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]. The Diaclone version was also available in silver with a black hood. 
*No. 8 4WD Wrecker Type — The Diaclone red deco was changed to green for release as [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]. The Diaclone version was also available in blue. 
*No. 9 Honda City Turbo — The Diaclone blue deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]. The Diaclone version was also available in black and red decos. 
*No.10 Fire Engine — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Artfire (Headmasters)|Artfire]]. 
*No.11 Fairlady Z Racing Type — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]. 
*No.12 J59 Jeep — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Detritus]]. 
*No.13 Police Car Fairlady Z — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]]. 
*No.14 Porsche 935 Turbo — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]]. 
*No.15 New Countach LP500S — The Diaclone red deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]. The Diaclone version was also available in black and yellow decos, which were later used for [[Deep Cover]] and [[Tigertrack]] . 
*No.16 F-1 Ligier JS11 — The Diaclone blue deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]. A red version was also available as a Diaclone. 
*No.17 Battle Convoy — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged, except for some decals on the trailer, for release as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]]. 
*No.18 Lancia Stratos Turbo — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Wheeljack (G1)/toys|Wheeljack]]. A remolded version served as the inspiration for [[Marlboor Wheeljack]]. 
*No.19 New Countach Police Car — The Diaclone police deco was changed to a fire chief deco for release as [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. The original deco was later used for [[Clamp Down]]. 
[[Image:TrasformerSuperBuggy.jpg|thumb|250px|What, no TF love for Powered Buggy?]]
*No.20 Crane — The Diaclone deco was virtually unchanged for release as [[Grapple]]. This mold was later redecoed as [[Hauler]]. 
*No.21 Corvette Stingray — The Diaclone red deco was changed to blue for release as [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]. The Diaclone red deco was released as Tracks in Europe and later as [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]]. 
*Powered Convoy — The Diaclone deco was reversed for release as [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]]. The Diaclone version was also available in a chrome deco. The Powered Buggy accessory was excised from all Transformers releases.

===Construction Vehicle Robo===
These were, obviously, released in the ''Transformers'' line as [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and his separate parts, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. All of them had their yellow/orange deco changed to green.

*No. 1 Bulldozer ([[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]])
*No. 2 Power Shovel ([[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]])
*No. 3 Shovel-dozer ([[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]])
*No. 4 Truck Crane ([[Hook (G1)|Hook]])
*No. 5 Dump Truck ([[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]])
*No. 6 Concrete Mixer ([[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]])

===Dashers===
The Dashers were released in ''Transformers'' as the [[Powerdasher]]s. They were only available via mail-order and [[Robot Point]]s, and never even got individual names!

*Sky Dasher
*Drill Dasher
*F-1 Dasher

===Dinosaur Robo===
[[Image:DiacloneSwoop.jpg|thumb|200px|Ohh, so [[Show-accuracy|that's]] where his color scheme came from.]]
The Dinosaur Robo molds became the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] in ''Transformers''. Duh. All of the TF releases had softer plastic in certain places. There were also several differences in decos between the Diaclone and Transformers versions, mostly the replacement of blue paint with red.

*Tyrannosaurus ([[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]])
*Triceratops ([[Slag (G1)|Slag]])
*Brontosaurus ([[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]])
*Stegosaurus ([[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]])
*Pteranodon ([[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]])

===Double Changers===
The Double Changers were released as the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibots]], and like the Powerdashers, were only available via mail-order and Robot Points.

*Ferrari BB ([[Overdrive]])
*Savannah RX-7 ([[Camshaft (G1)|Camshaft]])
*Selica XX ([[Downshift (G1)|Downshift]])

===F-15 Robo===
The F-15 Robo mold was the source for the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. The black and purple deco used for [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] was created for the ''Transformers'' line, and was never available as a Diaclone. The decos and remolded wings for the [[Conehead]]s were also original to Transformers.

*Acrobat type ([[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]])
*Super-high-speed fighter type ([[Thundercracker (G1)/toys|Thundercracker]])

===Insecter Robo===
In Diaclone, these were mechs used by the Waruder, the "bad guys" of that universe. In ''Transformers'' they were released as the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] with purple, black and yellow deco. Much later, they were released in their original decos as [[e-Hobby]] exclusives.

*Kabutoron ([[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]/[[Salvo]], original Diaclone deco)
*Battas ([[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]/[[Shothole]], original Diaclone deco)
*Kuwagatler ([[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]/[[Zaptrap]], original Diaclone deco)

===Train Robo===
The Train Robo molds were only released as Transformers in Japan during the ''[[The Headmasters (franchise)|Headmasters]]'' franchise as [[Raiden]] and his individual components, the [[Trainbot]]s.

*No. 1 Tôkaidô Bullet Train ([[Shōki]])
*No. 2 EF65 Blue Train ([[Getsuei]])
*No. 3 Tôhoku Jôetsu Bullet Train ([[Yukikaze (Headmasters)|Yukikaze]])
*No. 4 Tôkai-type Express Train ([[Suiken]])
*No. 5 L-Special-Express-485 ([[Seizan]])
*No. 6 DE10 Diesel Locomotive ([[Kaen]])

===Triplechangers===
[[Image:DBlitzFace.jpg|right|150px|thumb|No feet, no face, no service.]]
Only the Jet Fighter Type [[Triple Changer]] was ever released in the ''Transformers'' line, but the Helicopter Type made a cameo in a [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] comic. [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] may have been in development when the change to the Transformers brand occurred.

*No. 1 Jet Fighter Type ([[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], purple and beige deco/[[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]], original Diaclone dark green and white deco)
*[[Jet-helicopter Decepticon|No. 2 Helicopter Type]]

{{-}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Wyatt Toys]] advertised Diaclone and [[Microman]] toys for sale in the [[Detroit Powell Press]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac|The AllSpark Almanac}}

==Notes==
*Designs from Diaclone were plagiarized for the Korean animated movie ''Diatron 5'' (다이아트론5), which is currently haunting Walmart dollar bins as [http://www.amazon.com/SPACE-TRANSFORMERS/dp/B000FHDNZW Space Transformers].
*Like ''Transformers'' after it, ''Diaclone'' was also released in other countries, in some cases licensed to other companies:
**Takara themselves had a short run on the US market under the name ''[[Diakron]]'', featuring three toys that were later released as ''Transformers'' in different colors.
**Italian company [[GiG]] initially released toys under the name ''Diaclone'', but soon changed it to ''[[Trasformer]]'' {{sic}} in a blatant attempt of cashing in on Hasbro's success with ''Transformers'' without obtaining a second license, featuring a blend of ''Diaclone'' toys and elements original to Hasbro's ''Transformers'' line.
**French company [[Joustra]] released the toys under the name ''Diaclone'' in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, featuring a blend of [[Micro Change]] and Diaclone toys with unique packaging designs and origin stories, but eventually sporting factory-applied [[Autobot]] or [[Decepticon]] [[insignia|stickers]] due to production reasons.
**Takara themselves released toys in Finland under the name ''Diaclone'', sharing elements of the packaging design with GiG's ''Trasformer'' line. This release is notable for a unique black version of the Corvette Stingray (pre-[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]).

==See also==
* [[Pre-Transformer|Pre-Transformers]]
* [[Diakron]]
* [[Kronoform]]
* [[Micro Change]]

==External links==
* [http://www.diaclone.net Diaclone.Net]
* [http://1501bc.com/pretf/ Diaclone] at the Pre-Transformers Page

==Footnotes==
<references/>

{{stub}}
[[Category:Japanese franchises]]
[[Category:Non-Transformers toylines]]

Talk:Makoto Ono

2012-03-28T08:44:03Z

RavenG: /* DeviantArt link is dead. */

== What? ==

[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/comic-books-graphic-novels/300747-pat-lee-needs-new-porsche-4.html#post4756972] Brilliant.--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] 12:43, 24 April 2010 (EDT)

== DeviantArt link is dead. ==

Looks like he deleted his DA account. Does he have any galleries elsewhere?
--[[User:RavenG|RavenG]] 04:44, 28 March 2012 (EDT)

Talk:Makoto Ono

2012-03-28T08:20:16Z

RavenG: /* DeviantArt link is dead. */ new section

Talk:Seeker (body-type)

2011-12-12T10:26:02Z

RavenG: /* Where is the "Go" image for this page from? */

Talk:Seeker (body-type)

2011-12-12T10:25:21Z

RavenG: /* Where is the "Go" image for this page from? */

Talk:Seeker (body-type)

2011-12-12T10:23:56Z

RavenG: /* Comic-Magazin Seeker. */ new section

Seeker (body-type)

2011-12-12T10:17:56Z

RavenG:

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{featured}}
{{disambig3|Seeker}}

[[Image:Seekers.png|right|300px|thumb|Well, they keep the toy-repainting fans off the streets, at least. (Generic Seekers from, clockwise: 1) MtMtE Part 3, 2) sticker sheet, 3-6) Five Faces of Darkness)]]

The term '''Seeker''' refers to [[Decepticon]] jet troopers who share [[Starscream (disambiguation)|Starscream]]'s [[body-type]] but with different colors or minor variations in wing and head shapes. This is most clearly and commonly known from ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'', but any franchise with a Starscream is almost [[To sell toys|inevitably]] going to feature a similar "family" of [[redeco]]ed jet-formers.

The word "Seeker" hovered a long time in a strange gray area between official and fan-coined terms. It seems to have originated in ''extremely'' obscure official or semi-official writing, but somehow became widely used among fans. ''(See [[#Origin of the term|below]].)'' In 2002, the term appeared in dialog from the first issue of ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' from [[Dreamwave Productions]], [[Canonizing|making it truly official]] after years of controversy. It has subsequently appeared in many other places such as on toy packaging, books, and in other stories.

==Generation 1 Seekers==
===Originals===
[[Image:MainSeekers.gif|300px|thumb|right|The original Seekers]]
In Generation 1, there were six Seekers originally given names and characterization: [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]. The first three, the season one Seekers, had animation designs done primarily by [[Shōhei Kohara]].
{{-}}

===Coneheads===
[[Image:ConeheadsGenerations1.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The Coneheads.]]
The last three Generation 1 Seekers are usually designated as "[[Conehead]]" Seekers by fans for their distinctive transformation that leaves the jet nosecone pointing up. The animation models for the Conehead Seekers were designed by [[Floro Dery]].
{{-}}

===Skyraiders===
[[Image:WingsofHonor-Skyraiders.jpg|right|thumb|250px|New guys, same ol' body-type.]]
The term "Skyraiders" (see [[#Alternate terms|alternate terms]]) was assigned to the prototypical Starscream-like air warriors that [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]] developed at the very beginning of the war. The ranks of the Skyraiders did not seem to include any of the usual Seekers, but instead comprised other flying Decepticon characters. In addition to Skyquake himself, the Skyraiders were [[Leozack]], [[Hellbat (Victory)|Hellbat]], [[Hooligan (G2)|Hooligan]], and [[Guyhawk]].
{{-}}

===And all the rest===
[[Image:MTMTEGenerics-OilField.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Aw, not "[[When Continents Collide]]" again...]]
In the Generation 1 cartoon there were large numbers of [[generic]], unnamed Seekers in addition to the named characters. They came in a wide variety of colors, from extra duplicates of Starscream or one of the other named guys, to original and distinct looks all their own. They seem to have formed the bulk of the Decepticon forces on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], as well as among [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s initial troops on [[Earth]]. They gradually became less common, perhaps as a result of casualties... or the cartoon's production team becoming more careful, or more-likely having more "actual" Decepticons to work with as the toy line expanded. (Extra [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] units and alternate color cassettes were also used along with these Seekers, early on, to fill out the comparatively thin Decepticon ranks.)

These unsung Seekers would be recognized years later in ''[[Heroes of Cybertron]]'' toy form as the [[Air Warrior]]s (all using the common lavender/white color scheme). Soon afterward, the [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] ''Generation One'' comic series introduced an army of similarly-colored Seeker drones.

[[Image:AirWarriors MTMtE.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You talking to me? Or him? Or the other one?]]

Around the same time, another background Seeker was also given a new life through toys and Dreamwave comics: [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]. This yellow-orange Seeker was a nameless background character in the first episode of the ''Transformers'' cartoon, until [[e-Hobby]] turned him into an [[exclusive]] toy (available with an [[Autobot]] also based on a [[Hauler|first-episode cameo]]). Now [[Hasbro]] [[Sunstorm (disambiguation)|can't get enough of him]]. Another generic Seeker was given attention: [[Acid Storm]]. Like Sunstorm before him, he was based on one of the background Seekers from the original cartoon, in this case the episode "Divide and Conquer" (see below).
{{-}}
Unnamed Seekers with their own distinct color schemes appear in the following episodes as noted below:

[[Image:Sunstorm Cartoon.jpg|250px|thumb|One for all, and all for one. Sunstorm and co. attack.]]
* "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"
:In the "return to [[Great Dome|Iacon]]" scene on Cybertron, five to seven Seekers appear (wide shots depict a group of five, but the close-ups give us seven distinct color schemes.) The first three are (as far as colors are concerned) Skywarp, Starscream (with a deeper voice), and Thundercracker. In a following shot, we see a lavender Seeker with a flamethrower pack, a medium-blue Seeker with white trim, holding his arm gun like a rifle, a yellow/orange Seeker who would become Sunstorm... and lurking in the back, a very dark-blue Seeker with white trim barely visible, but there if you look.

{{-}}
[[Image:MmteSeekers2.gif|250px|thumb|Lots of generic Seekers from this one.]]
* "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]" and "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|Part 3]]"
:The mother lode of unnamed Seekers. Especially if you like variations of blue and lavender. Crowds of them appear at the start of the final battle. At least six different Seekers of various shades and decos of blue and at least four of various shades and decos of lavender (two with black tail fins in jet mode, two with white). Also, a blue variant (seen in the picture above) missing his wings and shoulder vents appears in "Part 3".

{{-}}
[[Image:DivideandCon.gif|300px|thumb|Divide and Conquer Seekers]]
* "[[Divide and Conquer]]"
: Avert your eyes! One deep blue, one eye-burning bright green, and one garishly bright yellow. This trio is often referred to by fans as "the [[Rainmaker]]s" because they started an [[acid rain]] shower to irritate a group of [[Autobot]]s. The green jet in this grouping was made into the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Acid Storm]] character, whose name was initially supposed to be "Rainmaker", then "Acid Rain".

{{-}}
[[Image:UltimateDoom.gif|300px|thumb|Ultimate Doom Seekers]]
* "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]"
: Two blue variants and one really nice looking pine-green Seeker appear as part of Shockwave's forces trying to prevent the rescue of [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

{{-}}
* "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]"
: One all-gray Seeker, one with [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]'s coloration, and one with [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]'s. There's also an interesting Conehead variant. (All of which appear in the main image above.)

{{-}}
[[Image:NotDirge.gif|200px|thumb|Dark Awakening Seeker]]
* "[[The Transformers: The Movie]]" & "[[Dark Awakening]]"
: One season 1-style [[:Image:DirgeseekerTFMovie.jpg|Seeker]] with Dirge's colors appears in jet mode in the attack on Autobot City in the movie, and next to the actual Dirge in the episode.

{{-}}
* Puffy stickers
: A sheet of Transformer puffy stickers featured a rare generic with a Starscream-based color scheme. He is pictured above as well.

{{-}}
[[Image:Returntocybertron-seeker.jpg|200px|thumb|Return to Cybertron Seeker.]]
* "[[Return to Cybertron]]"
: This relatively obscure [[Sticker Adventures]] tale gives us a brief glimpse of a Seeker with a Thundercracker/Skywarp mix; blue body, purple tailfins and wing stripes. You can't tell much more about him, given that he is A: partially obscured and B: exploding.

{{-}}
[[Image:PretenderClassicsBoxArt.jpg|150px|thumb|"Classic Pretender" Seekers.]]
* [[Classic Pretender]] [[Package art|box art]]
: The box art (also used for adverts in the Marvel UK comic) for this line of toys shows Starscream attacking his Autobot counterparts alongside three others sharing his body-type. All have a silver front half in jet mode, while one has green rear fins, one has red and one is in shadow.
{{-}}
[[Image:TFcommagdivebombvsjhi.jpg|right|100px|thumb|]]
* [[Transformers Comic-Magazin]] [[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 18|Issue 18]]
: The German comic, well known for its often wacky coloring, contained a Seeker with a color scheme [[Jhiaxus|suspiciously familiar]].

{{-}}
===IDW comics continuity===

Seekers are elite officers in the Decepticon army, and are expected to fulfill a leadership role on the battlefield in commanding other Decepticon troops. Seekers are expected to show absolute loyalty to the Decepticon cause. {{storylink|Seasons in Flight}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

The seekers all take on the same body type out of respect to their commander, Starscream, and hold a position of prestige within the Decepticon ranks {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] are Seekers, although they may be using a different definition of the term. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 14|All Hail Megatron #14}}

{{note|Confusingly, the human organisation [[Skywatch]] referred to [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] as "Seekers".}}

==UK Generation 2 comic==
An unnamed seeker with a light blue body with white face, light red helmet and thighs, and yellow cockpit cover was hanging around when Megatron boarded the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. {{storylink|War Without End (issue)|War Without End}}

==Unicron Trilogy Seekers==
According to one minor source in ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'', when any Transformer converts to a jet, he is called a "seeker"<ref>''[[Transformers Armada: The Awakening]]'' DK Readers book.</ref>. But the closest specific characters to the Generation 1 Seekers are this universe's own [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]/[[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]]/[[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]] trio. All three even used the same toy mold in their first release, although Skywarp was heavily [[Retool|retooled]] from the others (including getting an entirely new-mold [[Mini-Con]] partner). While new Decepticon-allied jet characters named [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] and [[Ramjet (Armada)|Ramjet]] were released in ''Armada'', they each had their own unique molds. However, whereas Ramjet was simply the Mini-Con partner of [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], Thrust was a [[bulk]] who even had a VTOL engine in jet mode, a conehead and vertically-oriented wings in robot mode. Although Thrust's original toy was green, redecos looked a bit more like his G1 incarnation. It was also redecoed into ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Sunstorm (Universe)|Sunstorm]].

Though only Starscream appeared in the follow-up franchise, ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'', several Seekers appeared in the final portion of the Unicron Trilogy, ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]''. Starscream was back in a form heavily inspired by ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' Starscream design (itself based on the "tetrajet" (see below)), while Thundercracker received a completely different body. A Skywarp was also released as a redeco of Thundercracker.

Further, the ''[[Legends Class|Legends of Cybertron]]'' Starscream toy, a tiny, simplified version of his main toy, was redecoed three more times: [[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]] as a giveaway at [[ComicCon 2005]], [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] as a giveaway at [[BotCon 2005]], and [[Sunstorm (LOC)|Sunstorm]] as part of the last wave of the LOC line at retail.

==Live-action movie franchise Seekers==

In the letters page for [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's tie-in comic]], the movie versions of [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]], and [[Ramjet (Movie)|Ramjet]] were first referred to as Seekers—by Starscream himself, no less. [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] was noticeably absent from Starscream's list, despite also being a jet and Thundercracker also being the name/body for a line of drones. This left it unclear what a Seeker ''is''. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 9|#9's Star Screams}}

The term was used twice in IDW movie comics, meaning different things—[[Seeker (Movie)|Starscream's crack unit]], and [[Seeker (ROTF)|ancient spacefaring Transformers]].

In the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|movie sequel]], Jetfire describes himself as a Seeker. One of the early categories of Transformers, they were created to seek out stars which could be harvested for energon. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

{{--}}

==Shattered Glass==
The term is taken to refer to [[Seeker (SG)|a group of evil Autobots with car alternate modes who share the same color of black]].

==Aligned continuity==
The Seekers were a pre-existing group long before the formation of the Decepticons. There is some indication that the Seekers are an elite group of the best of the best fliers, although what (if anything) distinguishes a Seeker from any other flying Transformer is open to question. They tend to mostly, though not always, share a common design.

In an effort to placate the eternally fueding cities of [[Vos]] and [[Tarn]] each was given something of value. Vos thus became the home of the [[Air Commander|Cybertronian Air Command]] home base of the Seekers. [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] was one of their leaders before the war, and [[Autobot High Council|High Councilor]] [[Contrail]] seems to have been another. The Seekers were employed in ancient times to guard the secret of [[Dark Energon]] hidden aboard [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon Station]]. They kept this charge even when Starscream allied with the Decepticons, though for the most part they remained largely independent in the civil war.

[[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]], apparently upset at being pulled away from the [[Crystal City]], manuvered Vos and Tarn into destroying each other, wiping out most of the Air Commanders that formed the basis of Starscream's power and bolstering his own position as Second-in-command.

In the aftermath of this betrayal, many of the surviving Seekers from Vos joined the Autobots, becoming the [[Aerialbot (WFC)|Aerialbot]]s. [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]] was one notable Seeker who defected from the Decepticons to the Autobots, helping them exploit their own flight skills further.

As part of his power play with Starscream, Megatron sent gladiators to kill many of the Air Command's scientists to finally take control of Trypticon away from the Seekers. ''{{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}''

'''Known Seekers:'''
*Starscream
*[[Skywarp (WFC)|Skywarp]]
*[[Thundercracker (WFC)|Thundercracker]]
*Jetfire
*Contrail
*[[Bitstream]]
*[[Hotlink]]
*[[Nacelle]]
*[[Slipstream (WFC)|Slipstream]]

==Origin of the term==
Although "Seeker" is the most well-known name for these Decepticons, the reason for its wide use is a bit of a mystery.

[[Image:Seekers ad text.jpg|left|197px|thumb|No, you fool, we're following orders: We were told to scour the countryside, so we're scouring it.]]

There are only two known official uses of the term in 20th century, both of them in department-store advertisements from the [[1984]] holiday season. The J.C. Penney catalog (sometimes called a "wishbook") featured a page dedicated to ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' that included this statement in its description of Starscream: "Airplane with sensational F-15 styling scours the countryside searching for Autobots. When they're found, the Seekers set out to destroy them." It also said [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] "sends out messages to the Seekers and other Decepticons".<ref>J.C. Penney 1984 wishbook [[:Image:Seekers ad.jpg|(full-page scan)]]</ref> Additionally, the now-defunct discount retail chain Zayre put out an ad in November 1984 listing Starscream and either Thundercracker or Skywarp as "Decepticon Seeker".<ref name="savead">Zayre 1984 ad [http://pleasesavemerobots.com/vstp/vstptf84.html (scan at The Vintage Space Toaster Palace)]</ref>

Some fans interpret those two seemingly-unrelated instances to mean that the capitalized term "Seeker" was handed down by [[Hasbro]] in promotional materials, and those retailers happened to run with it. It's impossible to know one way or the other with any certainty, but the most curious aspect is that the online ''Transformers'' fan community was already using the word in the early '90s, when the [[fandom]] was just getting on its feet. Were those obscure toy ads strong enough in the fandom's collective memory to determine common parlance almost ten years after the fact? Or were there more official usages that have since disappeared?

Even the '90s-era fandom didn't know where the term had come from, as evidenced by confused conversations from that time on [[alt.toys.transformers]].<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/e885ffdf4355e933/13eeeeae7e2483b7?tvc=17 alt.toys.transformers thread from 1996 about the origin of "Seeker"]</ref> While no one cited those toy ads, there were plenty of ''wrong'' answers, which may explain the term's staying power. The strongest of those erroneous explanations was that it had come from the phrase "[[Ferak|hunter-seeker skyship]]" used in [[The Smelting Pool!|issue 17]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel US comic]]. However, the Decepticons it is applied to are shown only in their flight modes, which look nothing like the jets in question. In fact, the Coneheads make their first appearance in the same issue, and their Cybertronian flight modes appear very similar to their [[Earth]] jet forms (if not completely identical), and completely ''different'' from the craft which are referred to as hunter-seekers. The only real connection between the hunter-seekers we were shown and the "Seekers" is that there's more than one of them and they fly.

During this phase of questionable canonicity, fans flirted with other terms such as "Skyraider" ''(see [[#Alternate terms|below]])'', but in 2002 [[Simon Furman]] used "Seeker" in a Dreamwave comic script, which sealed the deal of officiality and set the tone not just for the fandom, but for the ''Transformers'' fiction that came afterwards as well.

==Alternate terms==
[[Image:86Planes.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I don't know what to call you, [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], but I know "plane" isn't it.]]

The most obvious alternate name for these Transformers—and the one generally used by toy [[Pack-in material|pack-in]] [[catalog]]s—is '''[[Decepticon Planes]]'''. While usually clear enough from context, this term has the weakness that there are many Decepticon planes who do not share this body-type. Also, the term is rarely, if ever, used outside of toy-specific contexts. The first [[United Kingdom|UK]] toy pack-in catalog referred to the group as '''strike planes'''.<ref>First UK toy catalog [http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/img/toysheets/g1/uksheet01/1.jpg (scan at Transformers @ The Moon)]</ref> In Japan, they were called '''Jetrons'''.

Within the fiction, the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]] episode "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]" features [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] calling Thundercracker a '''Deceptijet'''. And the 1985 audio book "[[Sun Raid]]" has Megatron ordering the '''Deceptiplanes''' (Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker) to break off an attack. The audio book "[[Jaws of Terror]]" referred to them as "Decepticon superjets."

[[Image:Tetrajet seekers.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Did you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter...]]

For a long time, it has been common among fans to refer to the Seekers' cartoon Cybertronian forms (from the episode "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" among others) as '''tetrajets''' because their shape resembles a [[wikipedia:tetrahedron|tetrahedron]], a pyramid with a triangular base.

If there was ever an official term that could've given "Seeker" a run for its money, it was the one used on the [[Europe]]an ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' packaging of Starscream and Ramjet: '''Skyraiders'''.<ref>Starscream and Ramjet's European ''Generation 2'' packaging [http://www.cobraislandtoys.com/tf/1992/starscreamg2boxfront.jpg (photo at Cobra Island Toys)]</ref> That term also appeared in those characters' profiles in the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Fleetway)|UK ''Generation 2'' comic]]. When the modern fandom dug this information up, "Seeker" was still considered a fan-generated term, so there was a push to supplant it with "Skyraider". But Furman's use of "Seeker" in the then-current Dreamwave comics, coupled with the rediscovery of the J.C. Penney wishbook, put a damper on that movement. Some years later, the term "Skyraider" was officially resurrected to describe the jet warriors in the [[BotCon 2009]] set "[[Wings of Honor]]" (based on the [[Starscream_(Armada)#Energon|''Energon'' Starscream mold]]). [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]] was indicated as the body-type's developer.

==Games==
===''Transformers: Mystery of Convoy''===
{{storylink|Transformers: Mystery of Convoy}}
{{charstubfiction}}

===Transformers: Cybertron Adventures===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Cybertron Adventures}}

==Toys==
{{note|Because of the bodytype-sharing nature of the Seekers, this section includes only molds that have been decorated as two or more Seeker characters, omitting a large number of molds unique to a single character.}}
===Generation 1===
[[Image:Redeco.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The original Seekers.]]
* '''[[Decepticon Planes]]''' (1984)
{{collist|3|
:* [[Skywarp (G1)/toys|Skywarp]]
:* [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]]
:* [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys|Thundercracker]]
}}

* '''Decepticon Planes''' (1985)
{{collist|3|
:* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]
:* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
:* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
}}

:The original Seeker mold was the [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#F-15 Eagle|F-15]] ''[[Diaclone]]'' design, noted for its detailed jet mode, extremely limited robot-mode articulation, and the need to remove/add many parts during transformation.

:The mold was initially decorated as Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker. In 1985, Ramjet, Dirge and Thrust were created out of this mold, each with unique new wing toolings and color schemes. Redecorated [[retool]]s of the mold also appeared in ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' as Starscream and Ramjet, featuring new accessory [[soundbox]]es.

:This mold subsequently has been extensively reissued and redecorated; see [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream (G1) toys]] for a ridiculously long list of examples. The reissues have included the original six characters as well as the retro-Generation-1 character [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]].

* '''[[Action Master]]s''' (1990)

:This non-transforming action figure mold was sold as Starscream, and later redecorated as Thundercracker for the European market.

===''Machine Wars''===
[[Image:MWSkywarp.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Machine Wars'' Skywarp]]
* '''Basic''' (1997)

:A small [[Flipchanger|flipchanger]] mold, originally intended for ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'', was issued as Thundercracker and Skywarp.

===''Armada''===
* '''Max-Con''' (2002)

:An all-new mold sold at the $20 price point was originally issued as ''Armada'' [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], redecorated as ''Armada'' [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]], and retooled as ''Armada'' [[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]]. The retooled version was later issued as the new character [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] in the first ''Universe'' toy line.

===''Smallest Transforming Transformers''===
[[Image:STFStarscream toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Smallest Transforming Transformers'' Starscream]]
:The ''Smallest'' line, issued in Japan in 2003, featured a reduced-scale version of the original Generation 1 Seeker mold.

:It was issued as Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker, and retooled as Thrust.

===''Robot Masters''===
:A new Seeker mold was created for Japan's ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' subline. It is based on the original toy, but redesigned at a smaller size and with enhanced articulation.

:It was issued as Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker.

===''Titanium''===
[[Image:TitaniumHeroesWWThundercracker.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Titanium'' Thundercracker]]
:A new Seeker mold created for the ''[[Titanium Series]]'' subline features a Cybertronian-based alternate mode, derived from the characters' appearance in ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' (itself loosely based on the original pyramid jets seen in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".) This mold has been issued as Thundercracker, Starscream, Skywarp (a convention exclusive), Sunstorm, and Thrust (a Target Exclusive).

===''Cybertron''===
* '''Legends of Cybertron''' (2006)

:A tiny version of the Voyager mold, issued as ''Armada'' Starscream, and redecorated as ''Universe'' [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]], ''Armada'' [[Skywarp (Armada)#LOC|Skywarp]] and [[Sunstorm (LOC)|Sunstorm]], and Generation 1 [[Ramjet (G1)#Universe_.282008.29|Ramjet]] and [[Thrust (G1)#Universe_.282008.29|Thrust]].
:A small version of the Deluxe mold was available as [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] and was redecoed as [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Starscream]] for the ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' toyline.

* '''Deluxe''' (2006)

: Though Thundercracker wasn't the same mold as Starscream in this series, his deluxe toy was redecoed as Skywarp.

* '''Voyager''' (2006)

:This mold, based on G1 Starscream's ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' appearance, was issued as ''Armada'' Starscream, and later redecorated as Generation 1 Dirge.

===''Classics''===
[[Image:Henkei Thundercracker toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Henkei! Henkei!'' Thundercracker]]
* '''Deluxe''' (2006)

:An all-new mold at the $10 price point, the ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' Seeker design retains the F-15 alternate mode, but with a new transformation scheme and modern articulation.

:Like the original, this mold has been redecorated numerous times. In addition to the original six Seekers, it has also been issued as the character [[Acid Storm]]. The various uses of this mold have occurred in the ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei!]]'', ''[[Universe (2008)|Universe]]'', ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'', ''[[Transformers United|United]]'' and ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' toylines in addition to its original release in ''Classics''. Versions of this mold have been mass retail releases, store exclusives, specialty exclusives, convention exclusives and fan club exclusives.

===''Masterpiece''===
:A larger-scaled, highly complex mold. Issued as Starscream in 2005, with later retools as Skywarp, Thundercracker and most recently Ghost Starscream, with transparent parts.

===Movie (2007)===
* '''Legends'''

[[Image:Movie Legends Starscream.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]
:This Legends-class mold is a highly simplified, low-cost version of Starscream in his F-22 Raptor body. As such, he has a greatly compromised transformation sequence due to the smaller parts count, with limited articulation and detailing. In addition to numerous redecoes sold as Starscream, it was also used to make ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]].
{{-}}

* '''Voyager'''

[[Image:Movie Voyager Starscream toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|''2007 Live Action Movie'' Starscream]]
:The mold used for the [[Transformers (2007)|''Transformers'' live-action movie]] [[Size class|Voyager]] class [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] figure was remolded and repainted into [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] (as well as a G1 recolor of Starscream.) For the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' line of toys, the original mold and the retool were recolored again as [[Skywarp (ROTF)|Skywarp]] and [[Ramjet (Movie)|Ramjet]] respectively.

* '''Fast Action Battler'''

:The [[Fast Action Battlers]] version of Starscream was recolored into Ramjet in 2007.
{{-}}

===''Animated''===
* '''Legends'''

: The tiny [[Legends Class]] Starscream mold was recolored into clear versions of Thundercracker, Skywarp, Sunstorm, Ramjet and [[Starscream Clone Black Version|a black clone]].

* '''Voyager'''

[[Image:Animated Skywarp Voyager.jpg|right|200px|thumb|''Animated'' Skywarp]]
:The Voyager class [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] from [[Transformers Animated (toyline)|Animated]] was recolored into two of his [[Starscream clone (Animated)|clones]], [[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] and [[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]], with a third one, [[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]], going unreleased.

* '''Activators'''

: Starscream's [[Activators]] mold, a smaller, auto-transforming design based on the larger toy, was recolored into Thundercracker, [[Dirge (Animated)|Dirge]], Skywarp and [[Ramjet (Animated)|Ramjet]], also based on the clones from the cartoon.

===''Dark of the Moon''===
[[Image:DOTMtoy-StarscreamDeluxe.jpg|right|thumb|250px|]]
* '''Deluxe'''

:This all-new sculpt transforms into a surprisingly accurate F-22 Raptor while hiding the robot mode parts much better than previous molds. It was later redecoed into [[Thundercracker (Movie)#Dark of the Moon|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (ROTF)|Skywarp]].
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
[[Image:HoC 3H Seeker Set.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[Starscream (G1)|I]] am [[Thundercracker (G1)|he]] as [[Skywarp (G1)|you]] are he as you are me and [[Air Warrior|we]] are all together.]]
===''Super Collection Figure''===
:A small, PVC plastic figure based on the Seekers' animation model design. It was imported from Takara in the 2002 ''Heroes of Cybertron'' line.

:It was issued as Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Sunstorm, and as a six-pack of the three original seekers and three generic light purple [[Air Warrior|Air Warriors]]. It was retooled and redecorated as Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge.

{{-}}

===''Titanium Series''===
[[Image:TitaniumRM Starscream.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Stop, in the name of love...]]

: A small, non-transforming die-cast metal figurine, based upon the Generation 1 cartoon appearance of the Seekers was available decoed as either Starscream or Thundercracker.
{{-}}

===''MyClone''===
[[Image:MyCloneRamjet.jpg|right|100px|thumb|''Myclone'' Ramjet]]
:A super-adorable figurine mold of Starscream was issued for this line, and redecorated as the [[chase figure]] Thundercracker. A Coneheads mold was also available, issued as Ramjet and chase figure Dirge, and retooled as Thrust.
{{-}}

===Palisades===
[[Image:PalisadesStarscream.jpg|thumb|]]
:Issued in 2005, this six-inch-tall polystone statue with articulated head and arms was sculpted by [[3L Creation Group]] from a design by [[George Tremarco]]. It was later redecoed as Skywarp, Sunstorm, Thundercracker, and the Ghost of Starscream.
{{-}}

===''Robot Heroes''===
[[Image:Robot Hero Skywarp.jpg|right|120px|thumb|Robot Heroes Skywarp]]
:Another super-adorable figurine of Starscream, this time launching himself into the air. Redecorated as Skywarp and Thundercracker. A Thrust mold from the same line has yet to be redecorated.
{{-}}

===''3D Battle-Card Game''===
[[Image:3DBattleCard_Thundercracker.jpg|thumb|right|250px|]]
:This release is a 38-point "Uncommon" piece from the [[3D Battle-Card Game]] composed of punch-out parts from two different cards that can be reconfigured to make a robot or a fighter jet. The parts layout was used to produce Movie versions of [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] (as well as non-Seeker characters [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] and [[Jetfire (Movie)|Jetfire]]) in the initial release and Generation 1 [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] in the "Energon Wars" expansion set.
{{-}}

==Notes==
*''Generation 2'' concept art revealed in the ''[[Transformers Vault]]'' book shows an unreleased tanish variant on the Ramjet toy (previously seen in toy mock-up form) that would have been named [[Sandstorm (G2)|Sandstorm]].

*A mostly black and grey mock-up of ''Generation 2'' Starscream was also seen from the same source as the Sandstorm mock-up. This toy has "Black Death" written on the nosecone and may perhaps have also been intended as a new character of that name.

*Another mock-up deco variant of the Starscream toy in jungle colors is also known to exist. As with "Black Death" Starscream and previously mentioned desert camo Ramjet, this may have been intended to be a new character.

*Lastly, ''another'' mock-up deco variant of the Ramjet toy in sky colors is also known to exist. As with all the above mock-up decoes, this may have been intended to be a new character.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Jetron''' (ジェットロン ''Jettoron'')

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Seekers| Seeker (body-type)]]
[[Category:Mass-produced Transformers]]
[[Category:Wings Universe subgroups]]

Talk:Seeker (body-type)

2011-12-12T09:24:32Z

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Talk:Seeker (body-type)

2011-12-12T09:22:56Z

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