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The Bond Gadget Test


Hobbes-timus Prime

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Not at all. Here is the link to all of the Seibertron.com Movie articles that deal with Soundwave: Soundwave articles

 

I don't lie about this stuff. If i post something, it is because I have read it or heard it directly. Evidence is always there to back it up. Sometimes it is very obscure and hard to dig back up, but it exists and has been stated.

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So the main topic seems to be ambulances or something. What in an ambulance can be used to repair a robot? So why is this relevant again?

 

Tramp's point is based on the fact that the stereo mode is essential to Soundwave's function as a communications officer for the 'Cons.

 

If the alt. mode is, in fact, essential for a Transformer to perform his specialized function, how does an ambulance help Ratchet with his functions? If you can't make a case for Ratchet needing to be an ambulance to fix robots, then it is harder to make a case for Soundwave needing to be a stereo. If Ratchet can repair robots without turning into something that would help with that (say, a tow truck of some kind) why does Soundwave need to be a stereo?

 

That's how it's relevant.

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So the main topic seems to be ambulances or something. What in an ambulance can be used to repair a robot? So why is this relevant again?

 

Tramp's point is based on the fact that the stereo mode is essential to Soundwave's function as a communications officer for the 'Cons.

 

If the alt. mode is, in fact, essential for a Transformer to perform his specialized function, how does an ambulance help Ratchet with his functions? If you can't make a case for Ratchet needing to be an ambulance to fix robots, then it is harder to make a case for Soundwave needing to be a stereo. If Ratchet can repair robots without turning into something that would help with that (say, a tow truck of some kind) why does Soundwave need to be a stereo?

 

That's how it's relevant.

 

 

Precisely. Does Optimus Prime have to be a semi to lead the Autobots? Must Mirage be a Formula 1 racer in order to be a spy with the power of invisibility? How do Lamborghini alt modes make Sideswipe and Sunstreaker better warriors? Wouldn't they be better as Humvees or tanks of some kind? Did Galoka think the Ulus were too ugly to save?

 

And if being an ambulance is so important to making Ratchet the medic for the autobots, what about Hook? He's a Constructicon, he's the Decepticons' surgeon, and he's a crane. What part of being a freakin' crane makes Hook a better medic? Aside from being able to drag his comrades out of the line of fire, a crane has little utility as a repair unit for giant robots.

 

And in G2 Hubcap is an Autobot communications officer. He's just a metallic re-hash of Cliffjumper. I guess a Porsche 924 Turbo is a really effective communications device. Prowl is a military strategist. He turns into a friggin' police car. By Tramp's logic, shouldn't he change into the war room at the Pentagon, with a supercomputer and a bunch of little robot generals? Ultra Magnus is the Autobot City Commander. Shouldn't he change into City Hall rather than a semi with a car carrier trailer? Skids is a theoretician. Why does he turn into a Honda and not a super-computer?

 

See, this is the problem. Alt modes do not have to match function. It's often pretty cool if they do, but not absolutely necessary. Again, the only reason Soundwave changed into a tape deck was to entice kids to want the toy. Same with Blaster. The cassette minions were a marketing tool, an action feature that had the added effect of getting kids to want more accessories for their toys. In light of these facts, mass-shifting becomes completely pointless--it's solidly proven Soundwave can be damn near anything and still carry out his primary function.

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So the main topic seems to be ambulances or something. What in an ambulance can be used to repair a robot? So why is this relevant again?

 

Tramp's point is based on the fact that the stereo mode is essential to Soundwave's function as a communications officer for the 'Cons.

 

If the alt. mode is, in fact, essential for a Transformer to perform his specialized function, how does an ambulance help Ratchet with his functions? If you can't make a case for Ratchet needing to be an ambulance to fix robots, then it is harder to make a case for Soundwave needing to be a stereo. If Ratchet can repair robots without turning into something that would help with that (say, a tow truck of some kind) why does Soundwave need to be a stereo?

 

That's how it's relevant.

 

 

Precisely. Does Optimus Prime have to be a semi to lead the Autobots? Must Mirage be a Formula 1 racer in order to be a spy with the power of invisibility? How do Lamborghini alt modes make Sideswipe and Sunstreaker better warriors? Wouldn't they be better as Humvees or tanks of some kind? Did Galoka think the Ulus were too ugly to save?

 

And if being an ambulance is so important to making Ratchet the medic for the autobots, what about Hook? He's a Constructicon, he's the Decepticons' surgeon, and he's a crane. What part of being a freakin' crane makes Hook a better medic? Aside from being able to drag his comrades out of the line of fire, a crane has little utility as a repair unit for giant robots.

 

And in G2 Hubcap is an Autobot communications officer. He's just a metallic re-hash of Cliffjumper. I guess a Porsche 924 Turbo is a really effective communications device. Prowl is a military strategist. He turns into a friggin' police car. By Tramp's logic, shouldn't he change into the war room at the Pentagon, with a supercomputer and a bunch of little robot generals? Ultra Magnus is the Autobot City Commander. Shouldn't he change into City Hall rather than a semi with a car carrier trailer? Skids is a theoretician. Why does he turn into a Honda and not a super-computer?

 

See, this is the problem. Alt modes do not have to match function. It's often pretty cool if they do, but not absolutely necessary. Again, the only reason Soundwave changed into a tape deck was to entice kids to want the toy. Same with Blaster. The cassette minions were a marketing tool, an action feature that had the added effect of getting kids to want more accessories for their toys. In light of these facts, mass-shifting becomes completely pointless--it's solidly proven Soundwave can be damn near anything and still carry out his primary function.

Does Prime have to be a semi to lead the Autobot? no, but it helps because the trailer provides an added mobile command station. it is also a large mode. Prowl as a police car, a mode which denotes authority and commands respect, good for a strategist. It also fits his personality. Hook, his primary function among the Constructicons is not just as surgeon. He is an engineer. His crane mode is very usefull in his job constructing buildings and fortifications, and also symbolozes his dedication to precision in both construction and as surgeon. His job therefore is two-fold, and his mode reflects this purpose quite well. Magnus is Prime's brother, and a soldier charged with defending Autobot City. An immobile alt mode is useless in defending a city. A large vehicle mode is more essential.

 

As for Soundwave, you have it backwards, because the tape deck design came first as part of the Microman line. The name "Soundwave" was given because of the fact that he transformed into a device which was designed to produce sound waves in the form of music— a tape deck. The design was perfect for a Decepticon Communications officer. The same is true of the cassettes. They were not an invention of Hasbro as a marketing ploy. They were just as much a part of Takara's Microman series as the tape deck. When the tape deck was brought over as Soundwave, the Cassettes came with him. They took a pre-existing design, and applied a character archetype and function to that mold which was best suited to it, and to which made the most sense. The same was done with the designs that became Perceptor and Blaster, as well as Ratchet, Hoist, Grapple, Inferno, all of the other Constructicons, Astrotrain, Octane, Blurr, Broadside, the Combaticons, Erector, the Autobot Micromaster Rescue Patrol, and many more. Sure, there are characters who are just cars or trucks, but, when you look at the main line specialists, and many other Trasformers, their alt modes are a direct reflection of their primary functions and serve to enhance that function tremendously. The alt mode of a given Transformer is almost always a reflection of their function or personality or both. It isn't random.

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So Hound as an army jeep but being a super chummy guy instead of a tough as nails drill sergeant type? Surely an army decoed vehicle would help him garner much respect and authority, as Prowl's does his?

Or Ironhide being a minivan instead of an armored vehicle that could take a hit? How does a cherry van help him do his job of security?

Or Wheeljack turning into race car, even though his function is being a mechanical engineer?

 

Why does your logic only apply when you say it does, instead of all of the time?

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As for Soundwave, you have it backwards, because the tape deck design came first as part of the Microman line. The name "Soundwave" was given because of the fact that he transformed into a device which was designed to produce sound waves in the form of music— a tape deck. The design was perfect for a Decepticon Communications officer.

 

I don't have it backwards. Of course that's how Hasbro came up with the character - by working backwards from the preexisting mold. A preexisting mold they mixed with other preexisting molds that were not in scale with it. Hence, the need for Mass Shifting in the storyline.

 

My entire point is that the movie storytelling shouldn't be hampered by decisions made with this reverse engineering line of thought, and they should be free to take Soundwave's character, and reinvent his form in a way that isn't dictated by any preexisting toy mold.

 

The same is true of the cassettes. They were not an invention of Hasbro as a marketing ploy. They were just as much a part of Takara's Microman series as the tape deck. When the tape deck was brought over as Soundwave, the Cassettes came with him.

 

So, they were a marketing ploy invented by Takara. Way to split hairs. :thumb

 

...when you look at the main line specialists, and many other Trasformers, their alt modes are a direct reflection of their primary functions and serve to enhance that function tremendously.

 

Which brings us back to the ambulance question. Why don't I have an answer yet? I mean, did you add me to your ignore list or what?

 

The alt mode of a given Transformer is almost always a reflection of their function or personality or both. It isn't random.

 

Nobody in this thread is talking about randomly assigning alt. modes to anyone.

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Tramp I LOVE G1 Lore. If I could write my own tf stuff I'd rather write a cartoon series or comic cuz I can't get away from it. Fact. But in the movies they are going to let alot go. Mass Shifting has been dead in the main Tf lines for well over a decade and the movie is just its formal funeral. I feel what I've herd the writers and Don say is that "We don't want to piss off the fans by being the ones to say its dead" but it was DOA when they got there. for 15 years or so Cartoon writers didn't feel they could get away with it.

 

Is Megatron defined by Mass shifting? No. Hell Galvatron had a gun mode as a toy and the 86 cartoons didn't even want to deal with that. They stuck with the cannon. Cuz mass shiftiing is, I think I said 4-5 pages ago,... DUMB.

 

To me Megatron is Defined by Self Importance, Belief in the Decepicon cause, and having a big Gun, preferably on his arm.

 

To me Soundwave is defined by, Loyalty to Megatron, Luitenant of Megatron, and spitting out other little tfs...

 

Neither need to fit in my pocket to seem authentic.

 

As for the Importance of alt modes showing function. Jazz was the audio autobot beforre blaster and he was a car. Wheeljack was the original scientist and he was a ...car. Ratchet was a medic and he was an abulance, I'll grant you. Prime's Truckness made him leader not because of his "Mobile command" hooey, but because a truck is bigger than say... a car.

 

The Transformers on screen representation has been moving away from what we have lovingly dubbed mass shifting since 1986. The Year is 2007, I think we've arrived.

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So Hound as an army jeep but being a super chummy guy instead of a tough as nails drill sergeant type? Surely an army decoed vehicle would help him garner much respect and authority, as Prowl's does his?

Or Ironhide being a minivan instead of an armored vehicle that could take a hit? How does a cherry van help him do his job of security?

Or Wheeljack turning into race car, even though his function is being a mechanical engineer?

 

Why does your logic only apply when you say it does, instead of all of the time?

Wheeljack is a daredevil as well as a mechanical engineer. The race car mold fits his personality. Hound is a scout. A jeep is the perfect alt mode for that function. He is also a wilderness lover and a fearless and professional soldier. Why wasn't Ironhide an armored vehicle? Because most of the Autobots, particularly the older ones started as civilians. His Earth mode is very similar to his Cybertronian mode. and most civilian armored vehicles are vans to begin with. An obviously armored car would stick out like a sore thumb too. Secondly, all of the characters you mentioned started as Microman or Diaclone designs. Their character personalities and functions were often based upon the model chosen. It wasn't a matter of coming up with a character and trying to figure out an alt mode for him. It was taking a design and fitting a personality and function to it based upon its appearance and design. That is how all of the first and second season Transformers came to be, as well as some of the third seson ones. They had an ambulance model. What kind of character suits an ambulance? A medic. Call him Ratchet. How about a fire engine? Search and Rescue. Call him Inferno. A Tape recorder? Decepticon Communications name him Soundwave. A Boombox? Autobot Communications, name him Blaster. A microscope? Scientist, call him Perceptor. The designs determined the characters and functions and in turn the functions determined the designs later on. You fit the design to the character and function, and you fit the character and function to the design. They go hand-in-hand.

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Dude, you are reaching soooooooooooooo far. This is all 20 year old plot development this movie is year one in it self and all our spiffy character insights are no excuse to do stuff so outside the premmise. I FEEL the way you do about it. But I KNOW better. You need to let the old soundwave go and turn your considerable analytical talents help you find a non magic shrinky alt mode for him. Then we can all shout at Don Murphy to do That right instead of ditching him agian cuz they can't get it right.

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Their character personalities and functions were often based upon the model chosen. It wasn't a matter of coming up with a character and trying to figure out an alt mode for him.

 

But the movie storytelling is.

 

They had an ambulance model. What kind of character suits an ambulance? A medic. Call him Ratchet.

 

But he's not a human medic. He fixes machines. What elements of an ambulance helps you repair giant alien machines? Is it thematic to his character? Yes. But does it actually assist of the performing of his function? No.

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