Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise): Difference between revisions
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While all elements of ''War for Cybertron'' fiction are based on the Aligned [[production bible]], the creators of the various media products diverged from each other in many details. The events of the video games overlap with much of ''Exodus'', and [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)#Synopsis|the results mesh poorly]]. However, Hasbro has consistently described as a single [[continuity]] not just the games and novel, but the [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|''Prime'']] fiction as well.<ref>[[Hasbro Q&A/September 2010: Answers|TFWiki.net Hasbro Q&A, Sept. 2010]]</ref> This brings up issues such as the fact that [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] are very ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]''-inspired in ''War for Cybertron'' and can speak words, but they're portrayed in the [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Prime'' cartoon]] as quasi-mute. Cartoon Bumblebee in particular is very much like [[Bumblebee (Movie)|his live-action movie incarnation]], speaking in [[R2-D2|electronic beeps and squawks]]. The aforementioned "Bumblebee at Tyger Pax" story attempts to explain this change, but the [[retcon]] occurs ''before'' the game events, so the contradiction remains. | While all elements of ''War for Cybertron'' fiction are based on the Aligned [[production bible]], the creators of the various media products diverged from each other in many details. The events of the video games overlap with much of ''Exodus'', and [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)#Synopsis|the results mesh poorly]]. However, Hasbro has consistently described as a single [[continuity]] not just the games and novel, but the [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|''Prime'']] fiction as well.<ref>[[Hasbro Q&A/September 2010: Answers|TFWiki.net Hasbro Q&A, Sept. 2010]]</ref> This brings up issues such as the fact that [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] are very ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]''-inspired in ''War for Cybertron'' and can speak words, but they're portrayed in the [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Prime'' cartoon]] as quasi-mute. Cartoon Bumblebee in particular is very much like [[Bumblebee (Movie)|his live-action movie incarnation]], speaking in [[R2-D2|electronic beeps and squawks]]. The aforementioned "Bumblebee at Tyger Pax" story attempts to explain this change, but the [[retcon]] occurs ''before'' the game events, so the contradiction remains. | ||
When asked about the contradictions, Hasbro VP of Intellectual Property Development [[Aaron Archer]] replied, "reasons for the confusion will be revealed".<ref>[[Hasbro Q&A/January 2011: Answers|TFWiki.net Hasbro Q&A, Jan. 2011]]</ref> In at least one small case, Hasbro ''has'' taken a stab at reconciliation, declaring [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]]'s predecessor in the games, "Zeta Prime", and the one in the novel, "Sentinel Prime", to be the same individual, "[[Sentinel Zeta Prime]]". | Adding to the confusion and contradiction were statements made by High Moon Studios themselves, principally ones made to the video gaming press, where the studio went as far as describing the game as a "prequel to the original cartoon series". As these statements were made for the benefit of their target audience who would have little knowledge of Hasbro's official position of the subject, as far as the press and the majority of gamers are concerned, ''War for Cybertron'' is a game set in the cartoon from their childhood. | ||
When asked about the contradictions, [[Hasbro]] VP of Intellectual Property Development [[Aaron Archer]] replied, "reasons for the confusion will be revealed".<ref>[[Hasbro Q&A/January 2011: Answers|TFWiki.net Hasbro Q&A, Jan. 2011]]</ref> In at least one small case, Hasbro ''has'' taken a stab at reconciliation, declaring [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]]'s predecessor in the games, "Zeta Prime", and the one in the novel, "Sentinel Prime", to be the same individual, "[[Sentinel Zeta Prime]]". | |||
''War for Cybertron''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s sequel, ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron]]'' takes some steps to better mesh with the fictional universe it belongs to. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 15:40, 30 September 2012
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Transformers: War for Cybertron was launched in the summer 2010 as the first franchise in the Aligned continuity family. Set in the ancient days of the Cybertronian war, its scope ranges from the onset of war until the Dark Energon contamination of Cybertron that caused the Great Exodus.
Franchise elements
- Video games
- A novel
- A comic
- A toyline (sort of... see below.)
Hasbro has published a timeline online summarizing many events from the above media.<ref>War For Cybertron Timeline on Hasbro.com</ref>
Toys
The only official War for Cybertron-branded toy was a Legends-class Starscream that came free with the purchase of a War for Cybertron video game from UK retailer ShopTo.net. It was a redeco of a Cybertron Starscream toy.
Hasbro did produce a handful of new toys based directly on designs from the video games, but for some reason they were sold in Generations packaging with no mention of War for Cybertron (save for a sticker announcing the game that was placed on the initial release of some of these figures). Despite this omission, the release of the first wave was timed within days of the games and novel,<ref>Allspark.com toy-sighting forum reports</ref> and their on-package bios were basically in sync with their fiction:
- Cybertronian Bumblebee
- Cybertronian Optimus Prime
- Cybertronian Megatron
- Cybertronian Soundwave
- Cybertronian Cliffjumper(retool/redeco of Cybertronian Bumblebee)
- Cybertronian Jazz
- Cybertronian Shockwave
- Cybertronian Starscream
The first five toys were later redecoed in TakaraTomy's United line, this time representing their Generation 1 counterparts, <ref>United commercial showing the "Cybertronian" toys trans-scanning into Generation-1-style modern Earth forms</ref> and several of the toys and other designs seen in the game were then used to represent the Generation 1 characters in IDW's Robots in Disguise comic. Later figures like Shockwave would be realesed as Prime toys.
Apocrypha
The author of the Exodus novel shared his unofficial short story "Bumblebee at Tyger Pax" online.
Continuity
While all elements of War for Cybertron fiction are based on the Aligned production bible, the creators of the various media products diverged from each other in many details. The events of the video games overlap with much of Exodus, and the results mesh poorly. However, Hasbro has consistently described as a single continuity not just the games and novel, but the Prime fiction as well.<ref>TFWiki.net Hasbro Q&A, Sept. 2010</ref> This brings up issues such as the fact that Bumblebee and Soundwave are very Generation 1-inspired in War for Cybertron and can speak words, but they're portrayed in the Prime cartoon as quasi-mute. Cartoon Bumblebee in particular is very much like his live-action movie incarnation, speaking in electronic beeps and squawks. The aforementioned "Bumblebee at Tyger Pax" story attempts to explain this change, but the retcon occurs before the game events, so the contradiction remains.
Adding to the confusion and contradiction were statements made by High Moon Studios themselves, principally ones made to the video gaming press, where the studio went as far as describing the game as a "prequel to the original cartoon series". As these statements were made for the benefit of their target audience who would have little knowledge of Hasbro's official position of the subject, as far as the press and the majority of gamers are concerned, War for Cybertron is a game set in the cartoon from their childhood.
When asked about the contradictions, Hasbro VP of Intellectual Property Development Aaron Archer replied, "reasons for the confusion will be revealed".<ref>TFWiki.net Hasbro Q&A, Jan. 2011</ref> In at least one small case, Hasbro has taken a stab at reconciliation, declaring Optimus Prime's predecessor in the games, "Zeta Prime", and the one in the novel, "Sentinel Prime", to be the same individual, "Sentinel Zeta Prime".
War for Cybertron's sequel, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron takes some steps to better mesh with the fictional universe it belongs to.
References
<references />