Editing Machine Wars: Transformers

{{disambig2|the real-world franchise|the historical event within the fiction|Machine Wars (event)}}
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'''''Machine Wars: Transformers''''' was a line of Transformers toys released in 1997 as a [[KB Toys|Kay-Bee]] Toy Works [[exclusive]]. Apparently, the line was an early attempt to bring vehicular characters and popular names back into ''Transformers'' after the success of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' revived the brand. Only one wave of figures was produced, and memory of the line has mostly faded. It is a rare example of a [[micro-continuity]] which nevertheless had a full (albeit very small) toyline of its own.


==Fiction==
[[File:StarscreamMW Genesis.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"I've got a hint for you too."]]
''Machine Wars''<nowiki>'</nowiki> placement within the larger fiction is an open-ended question. There is no form of accompanying fiction, nor even a story-establishing packaging blurb to set the stage. The on-package [[bio]]s establish that ten of the twelve toys are blatantly returning [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]] characters in new bodies. (The errant two are [[Megaplex]] and [[Hubcap (MW)|Hubcap]], the latter of whom shares a name with but is otherwise nothing like the Generation 1 [[Hubcap (G1)|robot of that name]].) As such, many fans have taken to thinking that ''Machine Wars'' is part of the Generation 1 universe after ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]],'' since this was its characters' first appearance as toys since then, and the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' franchise]] had not yet explicitly rebooted continuity nor established the concept of a [[Continuity|multiverse]].

This placement is supported somewhat by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s bio, which refers to him taking to the skies "again", likely a reference to the [[Megatron (G1)/toys#ATB|unreleased ''Generation 2'' "ATB Megatron" toy]]. Years later, the idea would find more traction in [[TakaraTomy]]'s "[http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/table.html official timeline]", where ''Machine Wars'' indeed follows ''Generation 2'' in a grand conglomeration of all ''Transformers'' continuities. Although that timeline makes ''Machine Wars'' a dead-end branch, the [[e-HOBBY]]-exclusive black [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] bio refers to his ''Machine Wars'' form in the past tense.

Within ''Machine Wars'' itself, the only remaining element of story progression is found in [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]'s bio. Where his Generation 1 bio had established him as being unsure of the Decepticon cause but willing to follow orders, his ''Machine Wars'' function is "Rebel Warrior", and he's described as believing in the Decepticon cause, yet "rebellious among his own ranks".

The [[Genesis: The Art of Transformers|''Genesis'']] art book contains one more suggestion of continuity in a portrait of ''Machine Wars'' Starscream. [[Matt Kuphaldt|The artist]] embedded story information into the scene, placing [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] on the days where [[The Transformers: The Movie|he was once crowned]] and adorning him with the same purple cape. But the setting glows golden, a reference to the post-[[The Rebirth, Part 3|Rebirth]] [[Golden Age]], and Starscream brandishes the presumably-defeated [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]'s torn-off [[particle cannon]]. The picture was intended to be a sequel to [http://www.spektakle.com/portfolio/tf/tf_fan_starscream.html a piece of the artist's own fan art.]

In [[2012]] it was announced via [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 48|''Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club'' #48]] that the [[BotCon 2013]] set would be ''Machine Wars''-themed and set after ''Generation 2'' in the ''[[Transformers: Wings Universe|Wings Universe]]'', a variant version of the [[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]. [[A Flash Forward, Part 6|The G2-themed Club comic in the same issue]] was a prelude to the ''Machine Wars''-themed Botcon 2013 comic "[[Termination]]". The ''Machine Wars'' storyline concluded the next year with the digitally-released sequel "[[A Common Foe]]", which ended with a tease at the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' era.

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==Toys==
===Original line===

The line consists entirely of pre-existing molds: four small molds that had been originally developed for ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' but were canceled with the line, and four larger toys released in the second-to-last year of "Generation 1" in European markets.

The four smaller molds share the same "flipchanger" quick transformation feature as early ''Beast Wars'' Basic class toys released the year before; the four larger toys are more in line with the blocky, non-articulated Generation 1 design style, but have had their missile launching gimmicks either altered or removed altogether [[for safety reasons]].

Most of them, despite being classic characters, are in color schemes that are completely ''not'' those of the characters they're meant to represent. Given Skywarp has the ''Generation 2'' Decepticon symbol on him, it's likely these non-matching decos were originally planned for that line as new characters.


{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Basics'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Hoist (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|Hoist]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Hubcap (MW)|Hubcap]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Mirage (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|Mirage]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Prowl (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|Prowl]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<br>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Megaplex#Machine Wars|Megaplex]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Megatron (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|Megatron]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|Skywarp]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|Thundercracker]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Megas'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Sandstorm (G1)#Machine Wars|Sandstorm]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Soundwave (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|Soundwave]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''Ultras'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|Optimus Prime]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Starscream (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|Starscream]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:MachineWars Hoist toy.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Hoist]]
|}

===Post-''Machine Wars'' toys===
Unsurprisingly, ''Machine Wars'' was largely forgotten following its short lifespan. It did get a few nods here and there, but this would be a ''way'' shorter section if [[BotCon]] hadn't decided to devote a set to the theme one year. (This set/theme was also kind of a notorious clunker, with the souvenir sets needing to be clearanced out online.)

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''[[e-HOBBY]]'''</u>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Megaplex#Collector's Edition|Megaplex]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Starscream (G1)/toys#BlackStarscream|Starscream Black Version]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|''Universe'' (2003)]]'''</u>
{{Bp-d1|[[Soundwave (G1)/toys#Universe (2003)|Soundwave]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<u>'''[[BotCon 2013]]'''</u>
{{Bp-a1d1|''Machine Wars'' box set<br>([[Hoist (G1)/toys#Timelines|Hoist]], [[Megaplex#Timelines|Megaplex]], [[Skywarp (MW)#Toys|Skywarp]])}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Starscream (G1)/toys#Timelines|Starscream]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Mirage (G1)/toys#BotCon2013|Mirage]] & [[Thundercracker (MW)#Toys|Thundercracker]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Sandstorm (MW)#Toys|Sandstorm]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|<br>
{{Bp-a1d1|Kreon Souvenir Figure Set<br>([[Hoist (G1)/toys#BotCon2013|Hoist]], [[Megaplex#Kre-O|Megaplex]], [[Skywarp (MW)#Kre-O|Skywarp]])}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|}

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==Notes==
* It has been speculated that ''Machine Wars'' would not have existed if not for an overenthusiastic [[Kenner]] presentation at [[BotCon 1996]]. At the time, ''Beast Wars'' was in full effect, but representative [[Anthony Gaud]] reportedly told the audience, in detail, that they were going to launch a Generation 1 revival as well, which naturally brought a LOT of excitement to the fandom. When the lackluster ''Machine Wars'' appeared the following year, with virtually none of the details mentioned coming to pass, some fans surmised that Hasbro had scrapped any true revival plans (assuming they were even "plans" rather than just musings), but still felt the need to follow through on Gaud's remarks.
* Three of the four Basic molds have card-art that is not of the actual toys, removing weapons and changing colors to kinda-sorta-vaguely match: Mirage/Prowl use altered ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' [[Jolt (G2)|Jolt]] art, Megatron/Megaplex use altered [[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]] [[Falcon (G1)|Falcon]] art, and Skywarp/Thundercracker use Predator [[Skydive (Predator)|Skydive]] art.
* A new version of Hubcap, based on the BotCon 2013 Hoist/Electrons toy, was under consideration for a [[Transformers Figure Subscription Service]] toy... but the low sales of the BotCon sets nixed that pretty effectively.

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/series/mw.htm ''Machine Wars'' toys at TFU.info]


[[Category:Franchises]]
[[Category:Generation 1 franchises]]
[[Category:Machine Wars| ]]
[[Category:Toylines]]