Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)
From Transformers Wiki
| The name or term "War for Cybertron" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, seeWar for Cybertron (disambiguation). |
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Transformers: War for Cybertronwas launched in mid-2010 as the firstfranchisein theAligned continuity family.Set in the ancient days of theCybertronianwar, its scope ranges from the onset of war until theDark Energoncontamination of Cybertron that caused theGreat Exodus.
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Franchise elements
- Video games
- A novel
- A comic
- A toyline (sort of...see below.)
Hasbrohas published a timeline online summarizing many events from the above media.[1]
Toys
The only officialWar for Cybertron-branded toy was aLegends ClassStarscreamfigure (aredecoof Legends ofCybertronStarscream) that came free with the purchase of a copy of theWar for Cybertronvideo game fromUKretailerShopTo.net.
Generations(2010)
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Hasbro did produce a handful of new general retail toys based directly on designs from the video games, but for some reason they were sold inGenerationspackaging with no mention ofWar 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,[2]and their on-packagebioswere basically in sync with their fiction:
These five toys were later also redecoed inTakaraTomy'sUnitedline, this time representing theirGeneration 1counterparts.[3]
In addition, several designs that originated with theWar for Cybertronvideo game were later released under the 2012-onwards revival of theGenerationsline to coincide with theFall of Cybertrongame, this time actually brandedFall of Cybertron.
Gamer Edition
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In2023,Hasbro debuted the "Gamer Edition" subline ofStudio Series,featuring three characters fromWar for Cybertronin the first wave, complete with game-inspired cardboard backdrops. All figures include removable right forearms to emulate the gameplay and most include arm-mounted weapons that can be swapped between figures. Given thescaleandscreen-accuracyfocus ofStudio Series,there are now Voyager Class figures in addition to Deluxe Class.
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2024
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Apocrypha
The author of theExodusnovel shared hisunofficialshort story "Bumblebee at Tyger Pax"online.
Continuity
While all elements ofWar for Cybertronfiction are based on the Alignedproduction bible,the creators of the various media products diverged from each other in many details. The events of the video games overlap with much ofExodus,andthe results mesh poorly.However, Hasbro has consistently described as a singlecontinuitynot just the games and novel, but thePrimefiction as well.[4]This brings up issues such as the fact thatBumblebeeandSoundwaveare veryGeneration 1-inspired inWar for Cybertronand can speak words, but they're portrayed in thePrimecartoonas quasi-mute. Cartoon Bumblebee in particular is very much likehis live-action movie incarnation,speaking inelectronic beeps and squawks.The aforementioned "Bumblebee at Tyger Pax" story attempts to explain this change, but theretconoccursbeforethe 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".Rik Alvarezsaid in 2015 that this was, in fact, the original plan forWar,[5]to be a game prequel to a cartoon that it manages to be incompatible with in almost every major way. High Moon calling it a prequel even after it was made part of Aligned was likely due to marketing: the target audience of gamers who would have little knowledge of Hasbro's official canon positions, probably not care, and would like to play a game based on that cartoon they used to watch as a kid with the cool truck guy.
When asked about the contradictions,HasbroVP of Intellectual Property DevelopmentAaron Archerreplied, "reasons for the confusion will be revealed".[6]In at least one small case, Hasbrohastaken a stab at reconciliation, declaringOptimus 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 Cybertrontakes some steps to better mesh with the fictional universe it belongs to. Alvarez said High Moon were up for making changes to fit with the glorious five-year Aligned plan.[7]
Notes
- Several of the designs seen in the games were later used to represent2005 IDW continuitycharacters inIDW Publishing'sRobots in Disguisecomic.
References
- ↑War For CybertronTimeline on Hasbro.com
- ↑Allspark.com toy-sighting forum reports
- ↑Unitedcommercialshowing the "Cybertronian" toystrans-scanningintoGeneration-1-style modernEarthforms
- ↑TFWiki.net Hasbro Q&A, Sept. 2010
- ↑TF2005.com"More tidbits from a friend of mine who took notes at the panel:... WFC was originally a G1 prequel."
- ↑TFWiki.net Hasbro Q&A, Jan. 2011
- ↑Rik Alvarez panel, slide show -See fan photos
