[[Image: War_for_Cybertron_Next_Gen_Version_Cover_Art.jpg |250px|thumb|right| "Hey.. What is Starscream doing there? Where's Megatron?"]]
[[Image: War_for_Cybertron_Next_Gen_Version_Cover_Art.jpg |250px|thumb|right|The war to begin all wars.]]
'''Transformers: War for Cybertron''' is a series of video games published by [[Activision Blizzard|Activision]] and developed by [[High Moon Studios]], [[Next Level Games]] and [[Vicarious Visions]], set before the Transformers take their war to [[Earth]].
The '''''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|War for Cybertron]]'' video games''' launched the [[franchise]] alongside the novel ''[[Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron|Exodus]]''. Published by [[Activision Blizzard|Activision]] and developed by [[High Moon Studios]], [[Next Level Games]] and [[Vicarious Visions]], the games are rooted in the [[New Aligned continuity family]]. They depict the events of the [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]ian war that led to the [[Dark Energon]] contamination of the planet and sent the [[Transformer]]s into deep space.
The developers saw themselves as creating a prequel to the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]], and as such, the look and story of the game is steeped in Generation 1 and its lore.{{Fact|date=January 2011}} [[Hasbro]], however, made it part of the foundation for their new "modern continuity",<ref name="Archer and Tieger">[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/video-games-17/tfw2005-war-for-cybertron-interview-with-aaron-archer-and-matt-tieger-168910/ 2009 TFW2005 interview with Aaron Archer and Matt Tieger]</ref><ref>"The official story of the original 13 and specifically Alpha Trion has not been explored fully in the modern continuity that Transformers War for Cybertron, Exodus, and Prime are a part of." [[Hasbro Q&A/September 2010: Answers]].</ref> beginning with ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]''. The novel ''[[Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron]]'', adapts the game's events, presenting a version of the story that draws on elements from all across Transformers history in accordance with the new [[production bible]] Hasbro has produced to guide this new [[continuity family]]'s writers. <ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-prime-39/botcon-2010-transformers-prime-panel-coverage-170054/ BotCon 2010 coverage at TFW2005]</ref>
A sequel is in development for release in 2012.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/tfw2005-coverage-of-hasbro-investor-day-november-2010-170888/ TFW2005 Coverage Of Hasbro Investor Day November 2010]</ref>
A sequel is in development for release in 2012.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/tfw2005-coverage-of-hasbro-investor-day-november-2010-170888/ TFW2005 Coverage Of Hasbro Investor Day November 2010]</ref>
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==Transformer references==
* [[Steve Blum]] does his best [[Victor Caroli]] impression for his role of the narrator.
* A variety of callbacks to ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'':
** Ironhide greets the space slug with the [[universal greeting]], to Warpath's confusion.
** In the Kaon prison, an Autobot is pronounced guilty and pushed off a gantry into a pit. He responds with "Spare me this mockery of justice!", quoting [[Kranix]] during his trial on [[Quintessa]].
** Rumble repeats another line from the movie: "First we crack the shell, then we crack the nuts inside!"
** When Starscream declares himself as Decepticon leader, Megatron retorts that "[he] still function[s]."
* The [[Punch of Kill Everything]] is a multiplayer Leader Class ability and a Soldier class upgrade.
* When Skywarp calls Thundercracker ugly he replies [[Seeker (body-type)|that they look the same]]. [[The Twins|Hmmm.]]
* [[Stan Bush]]'s [[BotCon 2007]] theme song, "[[Till All Are One (Transformers Theme)]]" is used in the credits, and the special thanks describe the families that were involved "rock like Stan Bush".
* Air Raid pokes fun at Silverbolt's fear of heights.
* The in-game menu for stat tracking and leaderboards is called [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan 1]].
* When Ironhide asks Optimus how he knows Megatron, Optimus replies that it is a story for another time.
*Pretty much all the Achievement/Trophy names are references to other parts of Transformers history, mostly G1.
** The ones for completing the campaign chapters include [[Dark Awakening]], [[Starscream's Brigade]], [[A Prime Problem]], [[The Last Prime]], [[The Touch|You Got The Touch]], [[The War Within]], and [['Til all are one|Till All Are One]].
** Gameplay names include [[Thief in the Night]], [[Fire in the Sky]], [[Unicron|Chaos Bringer]], [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster!]], [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator!]], [[Bruticus (G1)|Brute-a-kiss!]], [[Slugfest (G1)|Slugfest]], [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide Performer]], [[Rumble (G1)|First we crack the shell...]], [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blast-a-rachnia]] and [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]].
* Autobots and Decepticons alike are heard to swear by '[[Primus]]', confirming his 'existence'.
* Trypticon has a 'conversion cog' that controls his transformation, and is probably a less 'branded' term for G1's [[transformation cog]].
* The energon cubes bear strong resemblance to the [[Allspark]] cube.
* The game's Rocket Turret, when ripped from its mounting, is named the "[[Nucleon]] Shock Cannon" on the HUD.
==Toy tie-ins==
[[Hasbro]] has confirmed that several toys will be made to tie into the promotion of the video game. These include figures of Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, Megatron and Soundwave. At [[Toy Fair 2010]], they were confirmed to be part of the [[Generations (toyline)|''Generations'' toyline]]. At [[BotCon 2010]] they said they would like to make more, and that Starscream (and likely other Seekers) are at the top of the list if they decide to produce more figures from the game.
<center><gallery>
Image:Generationstoy-CybertronianOptimusPrime.jpg
Image:Generationstoy-CybertronianMegatron.jpg
Image:Generationstoy-CybertronianBumblebee.jpg
Image:Generationstoy-CybertronianSoundwave.jpg
Image:Cliffjumper_Prime_toy.jpg
</gallery></center>
==Fiction==
===Comic adaptation===
[[IDW Publishing]] published a ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)| War for Cybertron]]'' comic based on the game. News of this first got leaked when [[Australia|Australian]] website JB Hi-Fi offered a ''free'' copy of issue 1 if you pre-ordered the game from them.<ref>[http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/game/ps3/transformers-war-for-cybertron-bonus-comic-book/513755 TRANSFORMERS: WAR FOR CYBERTRON (Bonus Comic Book)]</ref> Later, it was available for those that purchased either the PS3 or Xbox versions of the game at Sears or Kmart in America. The story is a partial adaptation of the ''Exodus'' book.<ref name="adaptation">[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-war-for-cybertron-1-information-and-team-revealed/18661/ Transformers: War For Cybertron #1 Information and Team Revealed]</ref>
The cover artist is revealed to be [[Marcelo Matere]], who updated his DeviantArt gallery with the inked version,<ref>[http://mmatere.deviantart.com/art/War-of-Cybertron-Cover-inks-165279485 Inks-only comic cover at Marcelo's DA gallery]</ref> with [[Priscilla Tramontano]] as colorist.<ref>[http://noprips.deviantart.com/art/War-of-Cybertron-Cover-165344432 Colored cover at Priscilla's DA gallery]</ref> [[Alex Irvine]] and [[Don Figueroa]] are writing and drawing, respectively. <ref name="adaptation" />
===Prose===
*'''[[Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron]]''' - This tie-in novel explores the relationship between Orion Pax and Megatron before the war.
*'''[[Bumblebee at Tyger Pax]]''' - An unofficial short story billed as the tale of Bumblebee losing his voice.
===Online===
*'''[http://www2.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/play/details.cfm?guid=7fd5ecd9-19b9-f369-1041-a7635be83172 Transformers War For Cybertron Timeline]''' - Hasbro's official online timeline for the War for Cybertron. It basically outlines the events in ''Exodus'' up until the time Megatron discovered [[Dark Energon]] and directs you to the video game to find out what happens next.
The standard version of the game, and the one most publicized, was made available for two out of three of the main consoles and the PC with few changes between each.
The Wii version, titled Transformers: Cybertron Adventures, was handled by Next Level Games, and was developed as an on-rails shooter with some driving sections.
Prime will destroy the title. He hears what people want.
Operation Transmission Recovery
As an early marketing campaign, the game's website included the feature "Operation Transmission Recovery": using transmission and coordinate dials, you could pick up "transmissions" from Cybertron (or "video clips/images" to you and me).
There are two dials, blue (outer) and yellow (inner). Using your mouse, you can drag the dial to set coordinates. The blue dial is set by aligning it to marks on the outer circle. When aligned, it becomes a blue ring. After that, the yellow dial is set so that signal strength is full, as indicated by a meter on the right. Once a transmission is unlocked its symbol lights up and the "Total Recovered" amount increases a little bit. When you reach 100%, it tells you how many hours remain until next batch.
As of January 12, 2010, the following transmissions (Batch 9), almost all of which are part of the second trailer (link below), were available:
S. No.
Blue
Yellow
Type
Description
1
351
327
Video
Game Trailer (unlocked by default).
2
018
088
Video
Starscream flying.
3
018
088
Image
Starscream standing.
4
029
209
Video
Battle scene: Camera behind Autobots, Optimus is prominent.
5
040
328
Image
Holographic map of Cybertron and its two moons.
6
051
110
Image
Cybertron .
7
073
190
Image
Optimus vs. an average Decepticon.
8
085
298
Video
Decepticon insignia (on Starscream).
9
096
347
Video
A bomb explosion on Cybertron's surface (possibly the same one which made a huge hole in it).
10
107
035
Image
Megatron crushes cranial unit of a poor Autobot, Starscream is visible behind him, just before the ground assault.
11
120
040
Image
Cybertron as seen from a moon.
12
140
201
Image
Starscream flying towards Cybertron .
13
162
359
Image
A red robot (Ironhide?).
14
173
003
Image
A hall (Council of Autobot Elders?).
15
192
147
Video
Injured Autobot, trying to get up .
16
203
094
Video
Battle scene: Trypticon joins the battle as a burning asteroid (Entry mode) behind Decepticons and Autobots run towards it.
17
214
004
Image
A city seen from a tunnel .
18
225
199
Image
A city tower falling and hitting another tower.
19
265
011
Image
Optimus Prime.
20
284
021
Image
Megatron firing his gun (at YOU).
21
295
249
Video
Optimus uses his axe on a Decepticon.
22
306
041
Image
Cybertron as seen from another moon.
23
317
081
Video
City skyline, camera moving down, some music in the background (start of the second trailer).
24
328
221
Video
Battle scene: A missile hits a battlestation and an Autobot falls down from it.
However, when Activision began releasing more information on the game and the release date was closing in, this teaser feature was removed.
Surface of Cybertron
Bumblebee fires his weapon.
Ratchet, Bumblebee, and Prime in battle.
Omega Supreme attacks a platoon of Decepticons.
Starscream and Megatron get ready for the ground assault.
More Decepticons!
Soundwave sneaks around.
Prime will destroy the title. He hears what people want.
