User talk:Banpei the Mini-Con

On Transformer appearances in other media

I thought I'd pose this question here, as I couldn't think of anywhere better to put it, but I was wondering if a policy exists for usages of Transformers characters (save appearances of toys for another day) in non-Transformers branded media. After all, we have (brief) entries for Marvel characters, Star Wars characters, Animorphs and others who's showed up in the TF multiverse in some way or other. And while it would be tedious to list every "changed the names" satire, if someone expressly uses one of our guys in their non-fanfiction story, is that not noteworthy?

To clarify with examples, I don't think we should feel obligated to include "Prius Maximus" (An Autobot from a Youtube animation I saw a while back, whose face was modeled after Al Gore's and is obsessed with energy conservation a la Marvel's Ratbat), as he isn't quite a fan character but he's definitely not official. On the other hand, named Transformers characters making one-shot apperances in Family Guy have happened a few times now, and while nothing said there is necessarily worth spamming the intro bio with (Even if you take the statements at face value, that's still only one unoffical and apocryphal micro-continuity in which Soundwave(G1) is married to a human woman), I have noticed that Wookieepedia and Memory Alpha often do take into account apocryphal, satirical or alternate media apperances with their properties of interest. As a wise man often wrote, can we do less? Banpei the Mini-Con 12:21, 24 January 2011 (EST)

Yes, we do have a policy on this, and the policy is that we don't do it. We only deal in official stuff, and including unofficial depictions of the characters opens the floodgates for incorporating ALL unofficial uses of the Transformers likenesses. - Chris McFeely 12:32, 24 January 2011 (EST)

I'm not entirely convinced the "flood" would be necessarily as big as feared, even with all the "I watched TV in the 80s!" stuff that's been going on in the past few years. That said, while a few bits of apocrypha might get orphaned (and I notice that the wiki has been a lot more tolerant lately of clearly-marked-as-such apocryphal material), I must concede that it would make a lot more sense for (to continue my comparison) a Family Guy Wiki to have stubs for their TF appearances than for us to add stub-class articles like "Megatron(Family Guy)" (which we would presumably have to do if we believe in continuity families and an omniverse), or graft "In other media" sections onto what are no doubt some pretty full G1 character pages (because other than the Movieverse, what else would there be to casually invoke for these other writers? Armada? Whazzat? There weren't Transformers after 1990, were there? Trukk not Munky! I cried when Sideswipe died in the animated movie! etc. etc.). So... all right, then. Banpei the Mini-Con 15:51, 25 January 2011 (EST), who really needs to make sure he's logged in. 15:50, 25 January 2011 (EST)

We believe in continuity families and an omniverse that are Hasbro- or Takara-approved. Everything else is essentially "fanfiction". Their brand, their rules. The apocryphal material on this wiki is always an extention of approved fiction/canon, which Fmaily Guy is not. Geewunling 02:32, 26 January 2011 (EST)

I'm thinking maybe guidelines about this stuff should be added to our help pages. --Detour 02:53, 26 January 2011 (EST)

Not to open that can of worms again, but my pedantry kicked in, and so I must point out that the usual definition of "omniverse", as I understand it, would include all continuities regardless of who wrote or approved them. That said, I can readily get behind the notion of this wiki keeping its focus squarely on the TakaraTomy/Hasbro licensed Megaverse, and keeping the fanfic, parodies, unlicensed appearances in other media, etc. out of the circle so drawn. Thanks for the clarification, if I haven't done so already. Banpei the Mini-Con 23:05, 29 January 2011 (EST)

Omniverse does not include fanfiction. Which is basically what crap like Family Guy, Robot Chicken, etc. is. --Detour 23:54, 29 January 2011 (EST)

I'm compelled to quibble over terminology, but I'll try not to split that hair more than I already have above. Whatever we call the "crap" in question (and what I call "fanfiction" or draw a circle called "Omniverse" around are apparently different from how you use the terms) isn't relevant, as I think we're now all agreed on the main point now: This wiki is dealing with the Hasbro/Takara licensed megaverse, and everything outside the circle drawn by that stays outside. And knowing is a whole other Hasbro toyline(albeit one that's crossed over a few times)! Banpei the Mini-Con 18:45, 2 February 2011 (EST)

The idea of adding Family Guy to this wiki makes my bile rise. --M Sipher 10:34, 26 January 2011 (EST)

Sorry about that, it was the first example I could think of, not necessarily a specific endorsement. Banpei the Mini-Con 23:05, 29 January 2011 (EST), who would have endorsed Megatron's character page, but only because they got Welker for the line. No mean feat....