oh the age old question, "are TFs really sentient if they are defined by programing?" still lingers about...  The controdictions are somewhat annoying in this regard;

 

G1 it was a choice depending on ones personality (cartoon)

G1 autobots made to protect cybertron decepticons made to explore (comic/cartoon)

 

But then we get to Beast wars, which has become the most widely accepted canon on TF programming, soul, personality traits.  However there are a few problems here as well.

 

It would seem from the beast wars that Maximal/Predacon are based on programming and that one can be programmed either way by chaning out a single chip!!

 

But then you have variables; Dinobot, who CHOSE to be a Maximal, and Black Arachnia who was a maximal, was reprogrammed to be a predacon then later reverted to being a maximal while retaining her predacon personality.

 

One could argue that with BA it's a case of "once a maximal always a maximal despite programming" but then what of Inferno and quickstrike?  both maximals reprogrammed and stayed on the side of bad.

 

is it as simple as chaning a chip?  Or are other forces at work?  We saw that Silverbolt had been badly effected by his being reprogrammed into a vehicon but not in the same way as Rhinox, who despite being a stalwart maximal, chose the side of megatron and the vehicons.

 

As i said alot of contradictions... i just hope some day we are given a real answer

it's a simple case of the writers not being able to pick one explanation and stick with it but instead switch between explanations as the story calls for it.

 

if the script requires the tf to have a spark then the tf will have a spark.

 

if the script requires the tf to be reprogrammable then the tf will be so.

 

if the script requires the tf to switch sides then it will.

 

unfortunately, these explanations are incompatable with eachother.

 

if a tf has a spark, then it effectively has free-will and cannot be reprogrammed.

 

if a tf can be reprogrammed then it cannot switch sides as it has no true free-will.

I'd say they're defined by programming. It'd be more complex than a single chip in my view.

 

Humans are sentient and we're greater than the sum of our basic parts. Of course being biological, one can alter one's "programming" with drugs, lobotomy, disease, what have you.

I think in BW and BM being an Maximal or Predacon was more symbolic, like a badge of allegience.  Here is situations of the characters mentioned.

 

Quickstrike: Before Megs showed up, he still showed being violent eventhough he was not a Predacon.

 

Silverbolt: After Megs showed up and implanted passcodes he still felt uncomfortable being a predacon.

 

Dinobot: As mentioned he chose to be Maximal and he himself later switched back and forth.

 

Dinobot II: At the end even though also being Predacon did honorable act.

 

Inferno: Programing screwed up and actually felt that he was a fire ant and Megs was the queen ant. Alliance mostly due to blinded programing.

 

Blackarachnia: Never made a Maximal again but made own choice who to side with.

 

Rhinox (BM): After Primal released his personality he made his own decision that Megs theory was right but that it should be him and not Megs in charge.

Setting aside G1, which really doesn't get into this issue so much (with the notable exception of "The Key To Vector Sigma" where you see Prime and Megatron asking Vector Sigma to make the TFs good or evil):

 

Blackarachnia provides the explanation for how this all works. She was originally a Maximal, but Tarantulas implanted a Predacon shell program in her (I take "shell" to refer to the interface of a computer's operating system, which would mean that how BA interacts with others is governed by that program). She was never particularly loyal to Megatron, and even her attraction to Silverbolt could be understood in light of her rebellious nature. But then she actually does fall for him... however it's not until "Crossing the Rubicon" that her Pred shell program is completely destroyed and she is reformatted as a Maximal. However, she is still who she is, and so she retains her personality, if not the inclination toward doing evil stuff.

 

As far as Beast Machines goes:

 

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

Rhinox's memories were awoken within Tankor by Rattrap. However, Rhinox was still inside Tankor's body and subject to Tankor's programming. The fact that Rhinox turned into an evil usurper fits with what happened to him in "Dark Designs" in BW. For some reason, something about Rhinox makes him seek power when he's reprogrammed as a bad guy. It is notable that Rhinox prefers to be referred to as Tankor once he is awoken; his situation is analagous to Blackarachnia's before she got rid of Tarantulas' shell program.

 

Re: Silverbolt, he is completely reformatted and so Jetstorm's programming no longer controls him. However, his experience as a Vehicon showed him that he was not only capable of living "without honor", but also *enjoying* it. This shakes him to the core and he spends most of BM rediscovering who he was/is.

I looked at TF programming in terms of a couple of other intellectual properties, namely the Matrix and Robocop.

 

Their programming is kind of like being in the Matrix.

 

A person has choice, even if only on the subconcious level, to accept or deny the Matrix (TF programming).

 

Even if they choose to follow the Matrix as a way of life, their path in it is dictated by their own personality and choices.

 

And there is a slim chance that they can ignore the Matrix all together, or choose to leave it once an outside party introduces the fact that it exists.

 

 

In Robocop, Murphy has prime directives that he must follow, but inside that set of his rules his personality emerges (reemerges in a way), and he lives his life through choices that he makes which won't interfere with the programming.

 

I think the TFs are similar. The programming is meant to be a guide for them, but being conscious and sentient machines, they can choose whether or not to follow that guide to a large degree.

 

Also, I assume the programming changes over time. It might be much less restrictive by the Maximal era than it was on ancient Cybertron. Later down the road it probably has more to do with logic, reasoning, and emotion, then good or bad.

 

This is similar to our own brains. But as advanced as we are, cut out a few pieces of grey matter in specific regions, and we can totally change. Just like TFs, our brain is the programming tht let's us interpret and interact with the world around us, and makes our biolgical systems work properly with each other...but it provides the means to have thoughts and emtions whcih help to establish opur personalities. It's cyclical in nature.

 

Now on top of the TF inherent programming is external programming that can obscure the indiviual inside. This is the same as how humans can fall into a mob mentality, or do things like join a cult.

What gets me is BW activtation codes.. if you can switch sides at will, whats the point of yelling out Terrorize or Maximize (can't spell, damn)..

 

Anyway, I think a TF can be sort of reprogramed to an extent.. kind of like brainwashing.. I imagine it takes some time to pull off, but I see it possible.

Whats interesting about Blackarachnia is that in universe Unicrons Influence is too much for her to bear, and she goes back to being a preadacon, the same thing hapens with Shadowstriker whoe was an Autobot turned Decepticon who turned good.

 

As for BW Inferno, he was planned to come back as the RID prowl repaint, while TFU Primal would get the Royal treatment

Whats interesting about Blackarachnia is that in universe Unicrons Influence is too much for her to bear, and she goes back to being a preadacon.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

me no likee :tdown

Whats interesting about Blackarachnia is that in universe Unicrons Influence is too much for her to bear, and she goes back to being a preadacon.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

me no likee :tdown

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

:pfx