Famine - Revision history

TheLastGherkin: /* Name */

2024-08-16T08:58:47Z

Name

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:58, 16 August 2024
Line 19:		Line 19:
	==Notes==		==Notes==
	===Name===		===Name===
	For a time, this character was known only by the Mandarin name ''Xún Xīng Zhě'' (寻星者), which literally translates to "Star Seeker," because that was the only name attached to the artwork at the top of this article, released during promotion for the ''Transformers Online'' game. A TFWiki article for him was created under this name, and a few months later, [[Ask Vector Prime]] used as a basis when creating English names for the game cast, idiomatically localising this somewhat generic descriptor into "Starquest." The article was moved to that name, and stayed there for years... until some internet spelunking in 2024 discovered that there might've been more to the story.		For a time, this character was known only by the Mandarin name ''Xún Xīng Zhě'' (寻星者), which literally translates to "Star Seeker," because that was the only name attached to the artwork at the top of this article, released during promotion for the ''Transformers Online'' game. A TFWiki article for him was created under this name, and a few months later, [[Ask Vector Prime]] used it as a basis when creating English names for the game cast, idiomatically localising this somewhat generic descriptor into "Starquest." The article was moved to that name, and stayed there for years... until some internet spelunking in 2024 discovered that there might've been more to the story.

	In describing the story of the game, the ''Transformers Online'' website mentions an original Star Seeker character created for the game, named in Madarin as ''Jīhuang'' (饥荒), and in English as "Famine".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111027055444/http://tf.91.com/guide/info/background.shtml Transformers Online: Background] (archived, Chinese)</ref> The website did not directly link this new 'bot with the character in the artwork above, but from a breakdown of the game's levels, we know that Famine was to be encountered by the player during the third level, set in Siberia,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111028142919/http://tf.91.com/guide/map/map.shtml Transformers Online: Maps] (archived, Chinese)</ref> and contemporary report describes the character pictured at the top of this page as being a Star Seeker boss in one of the first three levels, implicitly tying the artwork to Famine.<ref>[http://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2011-11-15/1053549569.shtml Sina article] promoting one of the game's closed beta tests</ref> A [[:File:Transformers-Online-Factions.jpg\|banner]] used on the ''Transformers Online'' site placed this boss character alongside [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (WFC)\|Megatron]]—perhaps as he was the closest thing to a main antagonist that had been programmed into the game before it closed...?		In describing the story of the game, the ''Transformers Online'' website mentions an original Star Seeker character created for the game, named in Madarin as ''Jīhuang'' (饥荒), and in English as "Famine".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111027055444/http://tf.91.com/guide/info/background.shtml Transformers Online: Background] (archived, Chinese)</ref> The website did not directly link this new 'bot with the character in the artwork above, but from a breakdown of the game's levels, we know that Famine was to be encountered by the player during the third level, set in Siberia,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111028142919/http://tf.91.com/guide/map/map.shtml Transformers Online: Maps] (archived, Chinese)</ref> and a contemporary report describes the character pictured at the top of this page as being a Star Seeker boss in one of the first three levels, implicitly tying the artwork to Famine.<ref>[http://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2011-11-15/1053549569.shtml Sina article] promoting one of the game's closed beta tests</ref> A [[:File:Transformers-Online-Factions.jpg\|banner]] used on the ''Transformers Online'' site placed this boss character alongside [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (WFC)\|Megatron]]—perhaps as he was the closest thing to a main antagonist that had been programmed into the game before it closed...?

	Unfortunately, as ''Transformers Online'' never made it out of closed beta testing—with all the NDAs and the lack of online gameplay footage that would imply—we don't know for ''certain'' that Famine is Starquest is Star Seeker is the artwork above. If the artwork ''is'' Famine, the character would prove to be a neat parallel to [[Scourge (G1)\|Scourge]], who cuts a similar figure and is named "Plague" in China!		Unfortunately, as ''Transformers Online'' never made it out of closed beta testing—with all the NDAs and the lack of online gameplay footage that would imply—we don't know for ''certain'' that Famine is Starquest is Star Seeker is the artwork above. If the artwork ''is'' Famine, the character would prove to be a neat parallel to [[Scourge (G1)\|Scourge]], who cuts a similar figure and is named "Plague" in China!

Chris McFeely: /* Name */

2024-08-15T14:17:05Z

Name

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:17, 15 August 2024
Line 19:		Line 19:
	==Notes==		==Notes==
	===Name===		===Name===
	For a time, this character was known by a Mandarin name, ''Xún Xīng Zhě'' (寻星者), ~~a literal translation of~~ "Star Seeker". ~~He received an English language~~ name ~~thanks to~~ [[Ask Vector Prime]], ~~which~~ idiomatically ~~localised~~ this somewhat generic descriptor into "Starquest", ~~where this wiki article~~ stayed for years... until ~~latter-day~~ internet spelunking discovered that ~~he may have~~ been ~~given a proper name in ''Transformers Online'', in Mandarin as ''Jīhuang'' (饥荒), and translated into~~ the ~~Latin alphabet as "Famine"~~. The same page on the website described the backstory of the game, and called out Famine as being an original character joining the ranks of the Star Seekers alongside new versions of established characters [[Grotusque (Prime)\|Grotusque]] and [[Iguanus (Prime)\|Iguanus]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111027055444/http://tf.91.com/guide/info/background.shtml Transformers Online: Background] (archived, Chinese)</ref>		For a time, this character was known only by the Mandarin name ''Xún Xīng Zhě'' (寻星者), which literally translates to "Star Seeker," because that was the only name attached to the artwork at the top of this article, released during promotion for the ''Transformers Online'' game. A TFWiki article for him was created under this name, and a few months later, [[Ask Vector Prime]] used as a basis when creating English names for the game cast, idiomatically localising this somewhat generic descriptor into "Starquest." The article was moved to that name, and stayed there for years... until some internet spelunking in 2024 discovered that there might've been more to the story.

	~~From~~ a breakdown of the game's levels, we know that Famine was to be encountered by the player during the third level, set in Siberia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111028142919/http://tf.91.com/guide/map/map.shtml Transformers Online: Maps] (archived, Chinese)</ref> A contemporary report describes the character pictured at the top of this page as being a Star Seeker boss in one of the first three levels, implicitly tying the artwork to Famine ~~(since he sure ain't Grotusque or Iguanus),~~<ref>[http://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2011-11-15/1053549569.shtml Sina article] promoting one of the game's closed beta tests</ref> ~~and a~~ [[:File:Transformers-Online-Factions.jpg\|banner]] used on the ''Transformers Online'' site placed this boss character alongside [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (WFC)\|Megatron]]—perhaps as he was the closest thing to a main antagonist that had been programmed into the game before it closed...?		In describing the story of the game, the ''Transformers Online'' website mentions an original Star Seeker character created for the game, named in Madarin as ''Jīhuang'' (饥荒), and in English as "Famine".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111027055444/http://tf.91.com/guide/info/background.shtml Transformers Online: Background] (archived, Chinese)</ref> The website did not directly link this new 'bot with the character in the artwork above, but from a breakdown of the game's levels, we know that Famine was to be encountered by the player during the third level, set in Siberia,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111028142919/http://tf.91.com/guide/map/map.shtml Transformers Online: Maps] (archived, Chinese)</ref> and contemporary report describes the character pictured at the top of this page as being a Star Seeker boss in one of the first three levels, implicitly tying the artwork to Famine.<ref>[http://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2011-11-15/1053549569.shtml Sina article] promoting one of the game's closed beta tests</ref> A [[:File:Transformers-Online-Factions.jpg\|banner]] used on the ''Transformers Online'' site placed this boss character alongside [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (WFC)\|Megatron]]—perhaps as he was the closest thing to a main antagonist that had been programmed into the game before it closed...?

	Unfortunately, as ''Transformers Online'' never made it out of closed beta testing—with all the NDAs and the lack of online gameplay footage that would imply—we don't know for ''certain'' that Famine is Starquest is Star Seeker is the artwork above. If the artwork ''is'' Famine, the character would prove to be a neat parallel to [[Scourge (G1)\|Scourge]], who cuts a similar figure and is named "Plague" in China!		Unfortunately, as ''Transformers Online'' never made it out of closed beta testing—with all the NDAs and the lack of online gameplay footage that would imply—we don't know for ''certain'' that Famine is Starquest is Star Seeker is the artwork above. If the artwork ''is'' Famine, the character would prove to be a neat parallel to [[Scourge (G1)\|Scourge]], who cuts a similar figure and is named "Plague" in China!

Saix: /* Name */

2024-08-14T15:47:43Z

Name

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:47, 14 August 2024
Line 19:		Line 19:
	==Notes==		==Notes==
	===Name===		===Name===
	For a time, this character was known by a Mandarin name, Xún Xīng Zhě (寻星者), a literal translation of "Star Seeker". He received an English language name thanks to [[Ask Vector Prime]], which idiomatically localised this somewhat generic descriptor into "Starquest", where this wiki article stayed for years... until latter-day internet spelunking discovered that he may have been given a proper name in ''Transformers Online'', in Mandarin as ''Jīhuang'' (饥荒), and translated into the Latin alphabet as "Famine". The same page on the website described the backstory of the game, and called out Famine as being an original character joining the ranks of the Star Seekers alongside new versions of established characters [[Grotusque (Prime)\|Grotusque]] and [[Iguanus (Prime)\|Iguanus]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111027055444/http://tf.91.com/guide/info/background.shtml Transformers Online: Background] (archived, Chinese)</ref>		For a time, this character was known by a Mandarin name, ''Xún Xīng Zhě'' (寻星者), a literal translation of "Star Seeker". He received an English language name thanks to [[Ask Vector Prime]], which idiomatically localised this somewhat generic descriptor into "Starquest", where this wiki article stayed for years... until latter-day internet spelunking discovered that he may have been given a proper name in ''Transformers Online'', in Mandarin as ''Jīhuang'' (饥荒), and translated into the Latin alphabet as "Famine". The same page on the website described the backstory of the game, and called out Famine as being an original character joining the ranks of the Star Seekers alongside new versions of established characters [[Grotusque (Prime)\|Grotusque]] and [[Iguanus (Prime)\|Iguanus]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111027055444/http://tf.91.com/guide/info/background.shtml Transformers Online: Background] (archived, Chinese)</ref>

	From a breakdown of the game's levels, we know that Famine was to be encountered by the player during the third level, set in Siberia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111028142919/http://tf.91.com/guide/map/map.shtml Transformers Online: Maps] (archived, Chinese)</ref> A contemporary report describes the character pictured at the top of this page as being a Star Seeker boss in one of the first three levels, implicitly tying the artwork to Famine (since he sure ain't Grotusque or Iguanus),<ref>[http://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2011-11-15/1053549569.shtml Sina article] promoting one of the game's closed beta tests</ref> and a [[:File:Transformers-Online-Factions.jpg\|banner]] used on the ''Transformers Online'' site placed this boss character alongside [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (WFC)\|Megatron]]—perhaps as he was the closest thing to a main antagonist that had been programmed into the game before it closed...?		From a breakdown of the game's levels, we know that Famine was to be encountered by the player during the third level, set in Siberia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111028142919/http://tf.91.com/guide/map/map.shtml Transformers Online: Maps] (archived, Chinese)</ref> A contemporary report describes the character pictured at the top of this page as being a Star Seeker boss in one of the first three levels, implicitly tying the artwork to Famine (since he sure ain't Grotusque or Iguanus),<ref>[http://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2011-11-15/1053549569.shtml Sina article] promoting one of the game's closed beta tests</ref> and a [[:File:Transformers-Online-Factions.jpg\|banner]] used on the ''Transformers Online'' site placed this boss character alongside [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (WFC)\|Megatron]]—perhaps as he was the closest thing to a main antagonist that had been programmed into the game before it closed...?

Saix: /* Name */

2024-08-14T15:47:20Z

Name

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:47, 14 August 2024
Line 19:		Line 19:
	==Notes==		==Notes==
	===Name===		===Name===
	For a time, this character was known by ~~his~~ Mandarin name, Xún Xīng Zhě (寻星者), a literal translation of "Star Seeker". He received an English language name thanks to [[Ask Vector Prime]], which idiomatically localised this somewhat generic descriptor into "Starquest", where this wiki article stayed for years... until latter-day internet spelunking discovered that he may ~~already~~ have ''~~had~~'' ~~an English name on the~~ ''~~Transformers Online~~'' ~~website~~, ~~spelled out in~~ the ~~Roman~~ alphabet as "Famine". The same page on the website described the backstory of the game, and called out Famine as being an original character joining the ranks of the Star Seekers alongside new versions of established characters [[Grotusque (Prime)\|Grotusque]] and [[Iguanus (Prime)\|Iguanus]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111027055444/http://tf.91.com/guide/info/background.shtml Transformers Online: Background] (archived, Chinese)</ref>		For a time, this character was known by a Mandarin name, Xún Xīng Zhě (寻星者), a literal translation of "Star Seeker". He received an English language name thanks to [[Ask Vector Prime]], which idiomatically localised this somewhat generic descriptor into "Starquest", where this wiki article stayed for years... until latter-day internet spelunking discovered that he may have been given a proper name in ''Transformers Online'', in Mandarin as ''Jīhuang'' (饥荒), and translated into the Latin alphabet as "Famine". The same page on the website described the backstory of the game, and called out Famine as being an original character joining the ranks of the Star Seekers alongside new versions of established characters [[Grotusque (Prime)\|Grotusque]] and [[Iguanus (Prime)\|Iguanus]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111027055444/http://tf.91.com/guide/info/background.shtml Transformers Online: Background] (archived, Chinese)</ref>

	From a breakdown of the game's levels, we know that Famine was to be encountered by the player during the third level, set in Siberia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111028142919/http://tf.91.com/guide/map/map.shtml Transformers Online: Maps] (archived, Chinese)</ref> A contemporary report describes the character pictured at the top of this page as being a Star Seeker boss in one of the first three levels, implicitly tying the artwork to Famine (since he sure ain't Grotusque or Iguanus),<ref>[http://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2011-11-15/1053549569.shtml Sina article] promoting one of the game's closed beta tests</ref> and a [[:File:Transformers-Online-Factions.jpg\|banner]] used on the ''Transformers Online'' site placed this boss character alongside [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (WFC)\|Megatron]]—perhaps as he was the closest thing to a main antagonist that had been programmed into the game before it closed...?		From a breakdown of the game's levels, we know that Famine was to be encountered by the player during the third level, set in Siberia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111028142919/http://tf.91.com/guide/map/map.shtml Transformers Online: Maps] (archived, Chinese)</ref> A contemporary report describes the character pictured at the top of this page as being a Star Seeker boss in one of the first three levels, implicitly tying the artwork to Famine (since he sure ain't Grotusque or Iguanus),<ref>[http://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2011-11-15/1053549569.shtml Sina article] promoting one of the game's closed beta tests</ref> and a [[:File:Transformers-Online-Factions.jpg\|banner]] used on the ''Transformers Online'' site placed this boss character alongside [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (WFC)\|Megatron]]—perhaps as he was the closest thing to a main antagonist that had been programmed into the game before it closed...?

Saix at 15:40, 14 August 2024

2024-08-14T15:40:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:40, 14 August 2024
Line 5:		Line 5:

	[[File:TFOnline Famine.jpg\|thumb\|upright=2.66\|Do not steal.]]		[[File:TFOnline Famine.jpg\|thumb\|upright=2.66\|Do not steal.]]
	'''Famine''' (~~a.k.a.~~ '''Starquest''') is a [[Star Seeker]] spy who can seamlessly blend in among the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s. He turns into some manner of winged beastie, and is protected on his missions by a pack of mechanical dogs.<ref name=dogs>[https://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2012-02-14/1344582767.shtml Sina article] about ''Transformers Online''{{'}}s mysterious dog enemies</ref>		'''Famine''' (饥荒 ''Jīhuang'', aka '''Starquest''') is a [[Star Seeker]] spy who can seamlessly blend in among the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s. He turns into some manner of winged beastie, and is protected on his missions by a pack of mechanical dogs.<ref name=dogs>[https://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2012-02-14/1344582767.shtml Sina article] about ''Transformers Online''{{'}}s mysterious dog enemies</ref>

	==Fiction==		==Fiction==
Line 19:		Line 19:
	==Notes==		==Notes==
	===Name===		===Name===
	For a time, this character was known by his Mandarin name, Xún Xīng Zhě, a literal translation of "Star Seeker". He received an English language name thanks to [[Ask Vector Prime]], which idiomatically localised this somewhat generic descriptor into "Starquest", where this wiki article stayed for years... until latter-day internet spelunking discovered that he may already have ''had'' an English name on the ''Transformers Online'' website, spelled out in the Roman alphabet as "Famine". The same page on the website described the backstory of the game, and called out Famine as being an original character joining the ranks of the Star Seekers alongside new versions of established characters [[Grotusque (Prime)\|Grotusque]] and [[Iguanus (Prime)\|Iguanus]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111027055444/http://tf.91.com/guide/info/background.shtml Transformers Online: Background] (archived, Chinese)</ref>		For a time, this character was known by his Mandarin name, Xún Xīng Zhě (寻星者), a literal translation of "Star Seeker". He received an English language name thanks to [[Ask Vector Prime]], which idiomatically localised this somewhat generic descriptor into "Starquest", where this wiki article stayed for years... until latter-day internet spelunking discovered that he may already have ''had'' an English name on the ''Transformers Online'' website, spelled out in the Roman alphabet as "Famine". The same page on the website described the backstory of the game, and called out Famine as being an original character joining the ranks of the Star Seekers alongside new versions of established characters [[Grotusque (Prime)\|Grotusque]] and [[Iguanus (Prime)\|Iguanus]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111027055444/http://tf.91.com/guide/info/background.shtml Transformers Online: Background] (archived, Chinese)</ref>

	From a breakdown of the game's levels, we know that Famine was to be encountered by the player during the third level, set in Siberia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111028142919/http://tf.91.com/guide/map/map.shtml Transformers Online: Maps] (archived, Chinese)</ref> A contemporary report describes the character pictured at the top of this page as being a Star Seeker boss in one of the first three levels, implicitly tying the artwork to Famine (since he sure ain't Grotusque or Iguanus),<ref>[http://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2011-11-15/1053549569.shtml Sina article] promoting one of the game's closed beta tests</ref> and a [[:File:Transformers-Online-Factions.jpg\|banner]] used on the ''Transformers Online'' site placed this boss character alongside [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (WFC)\|Megatron]] ~~– perhaps~~ as he was the closest thing to a main antagonist that had been programmed into the game before it closed...?		From a breakdown of the game's levels, we know that Famine was to be encountered by the player during the third level, set in Siberia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111028142919/http://tf.91.com/guide/map/map.shtml Transformers Online: Maps] (archived, Chinese)</ref> A contemporary report describes the character pictured at the top of this page as being a Star Seeker boss in one of the first three levels, implicitly tying the artwork to Famine (since he sure ain't Grotusque or Iguanus),<ref>[http://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2011-11-15/1053549569.shtml Sina article] promoting one of the game's closed beta tests</ref> and a [[:File:Transformers-Online-Factions.jpg\|banner]] used on the ''Transformers Online'' site placed this boss character alongside [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (WFC)\|Megatron]]—perhaps as he was the closest thing to a main antagonist that had been programmed into the game before it closed...?

	Unfortunately, as ''Transformers Online'' never made it out of closed beta ~~testing – with~~ all the NDAs and the lack of online gameplay footage that would ~~imply – we~~ don't know for ''certain'' that Famine is Starquest is Star Seeker is the artwork above. If the artwork ''is'' Famine, the character would prove to be a neat parallel to [[Scourge (G1)\|Scourge]], who cuts a similar figure and is named "Plague" in China!		Unfortunately, as ''Transformers Online'' never made it out of closed beta testing—with all the NDAs and the lack of online gameplay footage that would imply—we don't know for ''certain'' that Famine is Starquest is Star Seeker is the artwork above. If the artwork ''is'' Famine, the character would prove to be a neat parallel to [[Scourge (G1)\|Scourge]], who cuts a similar figure and is named "Plague" in China!

	(Incidentally, if the character were ever actually named "Star Seeker", it wouldn't overlap with the Star Seekers faction, which is called the Thunder Fury in Mandarin.)		(Incidentally, if the character were ever actually named "Star Seeker", it wouldn't overlap with the Star Seekers faction, which is called the Thunder Fury in Mandarin.)
Line 29:		Line 29:
	===Other notes===		===Other notes===
	*Another report from a contemporary news source revealed that the enemies of the Siberia level would be monstrous robot dogs, implying them to be Famine's mooks.<ref name=dogs/>		*Another report from a contemporary news source revealed that the enemies of the Siberia level would be monstrous robot dogs, implying them to be Famine's mooks.<ref name=dogs/>

	~~===Foreign names===~~
	*''Mandarin:'' '''Xún Xīng Zhě''' (寻星者, "Star Seeker")

	==References==		==References==

Jalaguy at 12:08, 14 August 2024

2024-08-14T12:08:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:08, 14 August 2024
Line 13:		Line 13:
	==Games==		==Games==
	===''Transformers Online''===		===''Transformers Online''===
	~~{{charstubgame~~\|{{storylink\|Transformers Online (2012 video game)\|Transformers Online}}}}		Famine was placed undercover among the Cybertronians by Thundertron, and secretly fed his pirate comrades information on the Autobots and Decepticons' plans, including that they were sending missions to the Star Seekers' base on the [[Moon (moon)\|Moon]].

			Later, while the Autobots and Decepticons were focused on preventing the Star Seekers from repairing [[Tyger Pax]]'s sunken [[space bridge]], Famine launched his own attack on an Autobot facility in [[Siberia]], taking its resident [[Protectobot (WFC)\|Protectobots]] captive and obtaining intelligence that the Autobots were developing [[combiner]] technology at a hidden laboratory beneath [[Steel City]]. Famine correctly predicted the Autobots would send a rescue team for their comrades and laid plans to capture the reinforcements, but did not expect the Decepticons to attack as well, seeking revenge for his espionage among them. The Star Seeker deployed some of the pirates' domesticated alien creatures to defend the base, and the region's inclement weather provided a further degree of natural defense, but the dual assaults quickly overwhelmed him. Finding himself at the mercy of [[Megatron (WFC)\|Megatron]] himself, Famine traded the captured intelligence on combiner technology for his life. {{storylink\|Transformers Online (2012 video game)\|Transformers Online}}

	==Notes==		==Notes==
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	For a time, this character was known by his Mandarin name, Xún Xīng Zhě, a literal translation of "Star Seeker". He received an English language name thanks to [[Ask Vector Prime]], which idiomatically localised this somewhat generic descriptor into "Starquest", where this wiki article stayed for years... until latter-day internet spelunking discovered that he may already have ''had'' an English name on the ''Transformers Online'' website, spelled out in the Roman alphabet as "Famine". The same page on the website described the backstory of the game, and called out Famine as being an original character joining the ranks of the Star Seekers alongside new versions of established characters [[Grotusque (Prime)\|Grotusque]] and [[Iguanus (Prime)\|Iguanus]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111027055444/http://tf.91.com/guide/info/background.shtml Transformers Online: Background] (archived, Chinese)</ref>		For a time, this character was known by his Mandarin name, Xún Xīng Zhě, a literal translation of "Star Seeker". He received an English language name thanks to [[Ask Vector Prime]], which idiomatically localised this somewhat generic descriptor into "Starquest", where this wiki article stayed for years... until latter-day internet spelunking discovered that he may already have ''had'' an English name on the ''Transformers Online'' website, spelled out in the Roman alphabet as "Famine". The same page on the website described the backstory of the game, and called out Famine as being an original character joining the ranks of the Star Seekers alongside new versions of established characters [[Grotusque (Prime)\|Grotusque]] and [[Iguanus (Prime)\|Iguanus]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111027055444/http://tf.91.com/guide/info/background.shtml Transformers Online: Background] (archived, Chinese)</ref>

	From a breakdown of the game's levels, we know that Famine was to be encountered by the player during the third level, set in [[Siberia]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111028142919/http://tf.91.com/guide/map/map.shtml Transformers Online: Maps] (archived, Chinese)</ref> A contemporary report describes the character pictured at the top of this page as being a Star Seeker boss in one of the first three levels, implicitly tying the artwork to Famine (since he sure ain't Grotusque or Iguanus),<ref>[http://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2011-11-15/1053549569.shtml Sina article] promoting one of the game's closed beta tests</ref> and a [[:File:Transformers-Online-Factions.jpg\|banner]] used on the ''Transformers Online'' site placed this boss character alongside [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (WFC)\|Megatron]] – perhaps as he was the closest thing to a main antagonist that had been programmed into the game before it closed...?		From a breakdown of the game's levels, we know that Famine was to be encountered by the player during the third level, set in Siberia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111028142919/http://tf.91.com/guide/map/map.shtml Transformers Online: Maps] (archived, Chinese)</ref> A contemporary report describes the character pictured at the top of this page as being a Star Seeker boss in one of the first three levels, implicitly tying the artwork to Famine (since he sure ain't Grotusque or Iguanus),<ref>[http://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2011-11-15/1053549569.shtml Sina article] promoting one of the game's closed beta tests</ref> and a [[:File:Transformers-Online-Factions.jpg\|banner]] used on the ''Transformers Online'' site placed this boss character alongside [[Optimus Prime (WFC)\|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (WFC)\|Megatron]] – perhaps as he was the closest thing to a main antagonist that had been programmed into the game before it closed...?

	Unfortunately, as ''Transformers Online'' never made it out of closed beta testing – with all the NDAs and the lack of online gameplay footage that would imply – we don't know for ''certain'' that Famine is Starquest is Star Seeker is the artwork above. If the artwork ''is'' Famine, the character would prove to be a neat parallel to [[Scourge (G1)\|Scourge]], who cuts a similar figure and is named "Plague" in China!		Unfortunately, as ''Transformers Online'' never made it out of closed beta testing – with all the NDAs and the lack of online gameplay footage that would imply – we don't know for ''certain'' that Famine is Starquest is Star Seeker is the artwork above. If the artwork ''is'' Famine, the character would prove to be a neat parallel to [[Scourge (G1)\|Scourge]], who cuts a similar figure and is named "Plague" in China!

M Sipher at 12:00, 14 August 2024

2024-08-14T12:00:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:00, 14 August 2024
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	:''Famine is a [[Star Seeker]] from the [[Transformers Online (2012 video game)\|Transformers Online]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''		:''Famine is a [[Star Seeker]] from the [[Transformers Online (2012 video game)\|Transformers Online]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

	[[File:TFOnline Famine.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1.8\|Do not steal.]]		[[File:TFOnline Famine.jpg\|thumb\|upright=2.66\|Do not steal.]]
	'''Famine''' (a.k.a. '''Starquest''') is a [[Star Seeker]] spy who can seamlessly blend in among the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s. He turns into some manner of winged beastie, and is protected on his missions by a pack of mechanical dogs.<ref name=dogs>[https://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2012-02-14/1344582767.shtml Sina article] about ''Transformers Online''{{'}}s mysterious dog enemies</ref>		'''Famine''' (a.k.a. '''Starquest''') is a [[Star Seeker]] spy who can seamlessly blend in among the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s. He turns into some manner of winged beastie, and is protected on his missions by a pack of mechanical dogs.<ref name=dogs>[https://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2012-02-14/1344582767.shtml Sina article] about ''Transformers Online''{{'}}s mysterious dog enemies</ref>

TheLastGherkin at 11:55, 14 August 2024

2024-08-14T11:55:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:55, 14 August 2024
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	[[File:TFOnline Famine.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1.8\|Do not steal.]]		[[File:TFOnline Famine.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1.8\|Do not steal.]]
	'''Famine''' (a.k.a. '''Starquest''') is a [[Star Seeker]] spy who can seamlessly blend in among the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s. He turns into some manner of ~~flying~~ beastie, and is protected on his missions by a pack of mechanical dogs.<ref name=dogs>[https://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2012-02-14/1344582767.shtml Sina article] about ''Transformers Online''{{'}}s mysterious dog enemies</ref>		'''Famine''' (a.k.a. '''Starquest''') is a [[Star Seeker]] spy who can seamlessly blend in among the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s. He turns into some manner of winged beastie, and is protected on his missions by a pack of mechanical dogs.<ref name=dogs>[https://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2012-02-14/1344582767.shtml Sina article] about ''Transformers Online''{{'}}s mysterious dog enemies</ref>

	==Fiction==		==Fiction==
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	[[Category:Transformers Online characters]]		[[Category:Transformers Online characters]]
	[[Category:Video game-only characters]]		[[Category:Video game-only characters]]
			[[Category:Spies]]

Jalaguy: Replacing image with crop for a better-looking mainpic.

2024-08-14T11:31:05Z

Replacing image with crop for a better-looking mainpic.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:31, 14 August 2024
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	:''Famine is a [[Star Seeker]] from the [[Transformers Online (2012 video game)\|Transformers Online]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''		:''Famine is a [[Star Seeker]] from the [[Transformers Online (2012 video game)\|Transformers Online]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

	[[File:~~Xun Xing Zhe~~.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1.8\|Do not steal.]]		[[File:TFOnline Famine.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1.8\|Do not steal.]]
	'''Famine''' (a.k.a. '''Starquest''') is a [[Star Seeker]] spy who can seamlessly blend in among the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s. He turns into some manner of flying beastie, and is protected on his missions by a pack of mechanical dogs.<ref name=dogs>[https://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2012-02-14/1344582767.shtml Sina article] about ''Transformers Online''{{'}}s mysterious dog enemies</ref>		'''Famine''' (a.k.a. '''Starquest''') is a [[Star Seeker]] spy who can seamlessly blend in among the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s. He turns into some manner of flying beastie, and is protected on his missions by a pack of mechanical dogs.<ref name=dogs>[https://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2012-02-14/1344582767.shtml Sina article] about ''Transformers Online''{{'}}s mysterious dog enemies</ref>

Jalaguy at 11:25, 14 August 2024

2024-08-14T11:25:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:25, 14 August 2024
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	{{Disambig2\|the Star Seeker\|the [[Unicron's Four Horsemen\|Horseman of Unicron]] known as Famine\|Terrorsaur (Armada)}}		{{Disambig2\|the Star Seeker\|the [[Unicron's Four Horsemen\|Horseman of Unicron]] known as Famine\|Terrorsaur (Armada)}}
	~~{{move\|Famine\|Appears that this may be this character's actual name.}}~~
	{{factions\|starseeker}}		{{factions\|starseeker}}

	:''Famine is a [[Star Seeker]] from the [[Transformers Online (2012 video game)\|Transformers Online]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''		:''Famine is a [[Star Seeker]] from the [[Transformers Online (2012 video game)\|Transformers Online]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

	[[File:Xun Xing Zhe.jpg\|thumb\|~~200px~~\|Do not steal.]]		[[File:Xun Xing Zhe.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1.8\|Do not steal.]]
	'''Famine''' (a.k.a. '''Starquest''') is a [[Star Seeker]] spy who can seamlessly blend in among the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s. He turns into some manner of flying beastie, and is protected on his missions by a pack of mechanical dogs.<ref name=dogs>[https://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2012-02-14/1344582767.shtml Sina article] about ''Transformers Online''{{'}}s mysterious dog enemies</ref>		'''Famine''' (a.k.a. '''Starquest''') is a [[Star Seeker]] spy who can seamlessly blend in among the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s. He turns into some manner of flying beastie, and is protected on his missions by a pack of mechanical dogs.<ref name=dogs>[https://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2012-02-14/1344582767.shtml Sina article] about ''Transformers Online''{{'}}s mysterious dog enemies</ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:25, 14 August 2024
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Disambig2\|the Star Seeker\|the [[Unicron's Four Horsemen\|Horseman of Unicron]] known as Famine\|Terrorsaur (Armada)}}		{{Disambig2\|the Star Seeker\|the [[Unicron's Four Horsemen\|Horseman of Unicron]] known as Famine\|Terrorsaur (Armada)}}
	~~{{move\|Famine\|Appears that this may be this character's actual name.}}~~
	{{factions\|starseeker}}		{{factions\|starseeker}}

	:''Famine is a [[Star Seeker]] from the [[Transformers Online (2012 video game)\|Transformers Online]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''		:''Famine is a [[Star Seeker]] from the [[Transformers Online (2012 video game)\|Transformers Online]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

	[[File:Xun Xing Zhe.jpg\|thumb\|~~200px~~\|Do not steal.]]		[[File:Xun Xing Zhe.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1.8\|Do not steal.]]
	'''Famine''' (a.k.a. '''Starquest''') is a [[Star Seeker]] spy who can seamlessly blend in among the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s. He turns into some manner of flying beastie, and is protected on his missions by a pack of mechanical dogs.<ref name=dogs>[https://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2012-02-14/1344582767.shtml Sina article] about ''Transformers Online''{{'}}s mysterious dog enemies</ref>		'''Famine''' (a.k.a. '''Starquest''') is a [[Star Seeker]] spy who can seamlessly blend in among the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s. He turns into some manner of flying beastie, and is protected on his missions by a pack of mechanical dogs.<ref name=dogs>[https://games.sina.com.cn/o/n/2012-02-14/1344582767.shtml Sina article] about ''Transformers Online''{{'}}s mysterious dog enemies</ref>