The Energon Pub

[Blurrz]

Ch-ch-changes. Botcon Streetwise looks to have channeled David Bowie's famous song 'Changes', as he is no longer Streetwise, but now goes by the name of Streetstar. The official Botcon website has been altered with this name change. Whether this is due to legality issues or the fact that Streetstar is the Japanese name for the repaint of Streetwise - we've got a new name but the figure remains the same.




Keep it at Seibertron.com for the fastest Transformers news on the net!

[Sabrblade]

So with this name change, who is he now?

Is he still this guy:


Or is he this guy now:

[Blurrz]

Like I'd know.... I'm just trying to make sure this isn't another FunPub joke on us.

[Bumblevivisector]

Sheesh, considering this Universe mold wasn't the greatest match from the waist up, if this sort of thing keeps happening, this Streetwise might just end up becoming Volfogg the ninja/commando/cop from GaoGaiGar; wait, did that show air during the last year of G2?

(yes, I know Volfogg would need some purple too...)

[LiKwid]

Like I'd know.... I'm just trying to make sure this isn't another FunPub joke on us.

Us? LoL j/k I managed to come in a little late on the last joke

[Swiftpaw]

I'm gonna guess its still Streetwise with a different name due to licensing, much like Silverstreak being Bluestreak and what not. The easiest (and more unique) name to grab just happened to be from Operation Combination ... even though technically those limb robots were just drones controlled by the leader, iirc right.

It makes more sense than hacking a totally new name on him, at least.

[Sabrblade]

even though technically those limb robots were just drones controlled by the leader, iirc right.

Um, what? No, they weren't drones (at least there was indication that they were).

[Jelze Bunnycat]

even though technically those limb robots were just drones controlled by the leader, iirc right.

Um, what? No, they weren't drones (at least there was indication that they were).

I did some checking and, like Battle Gaia, Guard City was never shown in his individual components, meaning he was in his combined form the entire time, occasionally switching his limbs around.

Not like it matters, really. The Japanese continuity is separate from the US one and what's in a name?

[Diem]

If they can't use the Streetwise name, maybe this guy could be:

(drumroll)

The G2 version of Movieverse Barricade!

Nah, that's stupid.

[Sabrblade]

even though technically those limb robots were just drones controlled by the leader, iirc right.

Um, what? No, they weren't drones (at least there was indication that they were).

I did some checking and, like Battle Gaia, Guard City was never shown in his individual components, meaning he was in his combined form the entire time, occasionally switching his limbs around.

Not like it matters, really. The Japanese continuity is separate from the US one and what's in a name?

On the other hand, the whole fiction of Operation Combination was very shallow in its own right, with very little of any characterization happening to the players of the story. Fire Chief and Great Cannon get no more persona than their respecitve teammates do.

Though, this is also kinda bordering on the idea that the torsos are the dominant minds of the gestalt, when there are other theories on the combined form's mind being an amalgam of the minds of its components, or an entirely new mind unlocked and awakened by the combination of its components.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Though, this is also kinda bordering on the idea that the torsos are the dominant minds of the gestalt, when there are other theories on the combined form's mind being an amalgam of the minds of its components, or an entirely new mind unlocked and awakened by the combination of its components.

In short:

New unlocked mind: G1 cartoon
Amalgam: Universe Profiles and toy Tech Specs
Torso dominant: RiD

[Sabrblade]

Torso dominant: RiD

Technically both Rapid Run and Railspike form the torso of Rail Racer. One just formed the stomach while the other formed the giant mono-manboob.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Torso dominant: RiD

Technically both Rapid Run and Railspike form the torso of Rail Racer. One just formed the stomach while the other formed the giant mono-manboob.

Or whoever's on top...

*hides*

[Bumblevivisector]

As for LioKaiser (well, LioCaesar since I'm referring to the tech-spec, and that's how it was spelled as opposed to pronounced in the Victory anime), his bio claims that LeoZack (the leader, forms head and chest) controlled the whole show, perhaps the first instance of this being explicitly stated. Though I haven't seen enough of Victory to know if this was somehow contradicted.

That could've been intended as the next step in Gestallt evolution, skirting the problem of the big bots' brains being screwed up from having their thoughts being limited to what their components could agree on. (I don't see the new unlocked mind theory from the cartoon and amalgam mind theory from the comics/specs as being mutually exclusive). But that could've also been something unique to LioKaiser, since the Breastmasters were the only team that could apparently swap out component teammates as long as there were a total of 6; granted we only know it applied to the left arm/back-half, which apparently could've been Deathcobra. Alas, poor Hellbat got replaced anyway in the KO sets by HellDealer, or DoubleBatter, whatever you call him. Though I bet if they ever ran into the Rescue Force...

And speaking of swapping guys around, was it ever explained how the minds of the Multiforce and Energon double-gestallts worked? Was it just, as the last guy said, whoever happened to be on top? And for that matter, the leaders seemed to be the only sentient parts of the 3 Energon gestallt teams, but we'll never know because no one cared anymore by the time they were introduced in the show.

Oh, and this leader/head theory also applied to the JBW gestallts, but I guess it technically got started with God Ginrai, and carried over to Victory Saber, even if they're more cases of a lieutenant becoming armor for the leader.

[Rated X]

So much silly politics over names that havent been heard for 20 years.

Without disrespecting anyone, I personally believe excercising a copyright against someone trying to pay homage is pathetic...

[Jelze Bunnycat]

So much silly politics over names that havent been heard for 20 years.

Without disrespecting anyone, I personally believe excercising a copyright against someone trying to pay homage is pathetic...

Not 20, more like 6 years. It was last used for a Micromaster Defensor component from 2004, hence my great surprise.

[Rated X]

So much silly politics over names that havent been heard for 20 years.

Without disrespecting anyone, I personally believe excercising a copyright against someone trying to pay homage is pathetic...

Not 20, more like 6 years. It was last used for a Micromaster Defensor component from 2004, hence my great surprise.

Even then, there should be some kind of code of honor that if your idea didnt make big bucks back in the days, dont sue someone else for using it when its paying homage at an event created to glorify the originals.

[Flashwave]

And speaking of swapping guys around, was it ever explained how the minds of the Multiforce and Energon double-gestallts worked? Was it just, as the last guy said, whoever happened to be on top? And for that matter, the leaders seemed to be the only sentient parts of the 3 Energon gestallt teams, but we'll never know because no one cared anymore by the time they were introduced in the show.
.

No, I don't bleive it was, though the naming always folowed Powerlinx Guy on top. Though let's be honest, and not to be factionist here, but the autobots are generally more organized in such things than were the cons. With Powerlinx, you had two minds generally in agreeance of "Shoot the Decepticon!" The Gestalts, Defensor was united on the grounds of doing no harm, and Computron was a group of scientists. The Deceptiocns on the other hand, had a lot more problems with

"Shoot him!"
"NO SHpoot him!"
"Shoot the Autobot fro the glory of Megatron"
"Shoot Starscream for the Glory of Megatron!"
"Look a Bunny!"

ANd for the Piranhacons:
"Would somebody tell me who to shoot already!"

The three man teams also beg the qustion too, what of Magnaboss? and Magmatron was three unit to a single mind, but wasn't there another one from BW/BM?

Me, I just cheated and had Glavatron or someone blow the combiner proraming out of Vector Sigma and clear to Kigdom Come. It doesn't make a lot ofsense I know, but it gets me around the fact that nome of the Combiner Homgaes cna combine anymore. We're 3/5 of the way through Bruticus (and actually 4/5 finished if you repaint BlazeMAster as Vortex, and I'm using the U1.0 Skywarp as Blastoff) The repaint of Movie Dirge just needs a few touch ups and there's Slingshot to go with Silverbolt, We got Drag Strip (well, some of you do...) and Dead End, There's Botcon Razorclaw... Shall I go on?

[Delicon]

I could care less what they officially call him, if it's an obvious homage that they had to slightly modify a name on, I always just call it the name of the character it is obviously intended to be (Universe Tankor = Octane, Titanium Hotzone = Hotspot, etc.)