Hasbro Press Release: Transfan Vocabulary

A press release from Hasbro called "Transformers: Learn to Speak the Vocabulary of Cybertron, Home Planet of Transformers" doesn't really cover the language of Transformers but instead covers the language of Transfans and the Hasbro marketing department. For example G1 is the Transformers Generation One, the first toy line from 1984. For those new to this property, its not bad as a quick 101 explanation of the fan vocabulary.

The press release:

BEFORE BLOCKBUSTER MOVIE OPENS ON JULY 4, KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AUTOBOTS AND DECEPTICONS

PAWTUCKET, R.I., (February 2007) – When the first-ever live-action TRANSFORMERS movie from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, in association with Hasbro opens on July 4, 2007, longtime fans will easily comprehend the lexicon associated with the world-famous toy line.

But for those who feel like they may need subtitles to understand some of the names and terms that are unique to the TRANSFORMERS world, here is a beginner’s guide to learn the difference between AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS, discover where CYBERTRON is located within the galaxy, and realize why the Earth’s inhabits can put their faith in OPTIMUS PRIME to restore order to our planet.

TRANSFORMERS GLOSSARY

A
* AllSpark: The TRANSFORMERS afterlife. The TRANSFORMERS source of life, or, the basic building block of the TRANSFORMERS soul.

* Ark: The AUTOBOTS; starship they travel in to Earth.

* AUTOBOT: The “good guys” in the TRANSFORMERS race. AUTOBOTS hold to the ideals of defending life and aspire for a peaceful existence.

* AUTOBOT JAZZ™: Faction – AUTOBOT. Vehicle – White Car. AUTOBOT JAZZ lives by the “rock-n-roll” lifestyle credo of “if you can’t do something with style, it’s not worth doing at all.”

* AUTOBOT RATCHET™: Faction – AUTOBOT. Vehicle – Ambulance. AUTOBOT RATCHET serves as the medic to his AUTOBOT brethren.

* “AUTOBOTS, Roll Out!”: “AUTOBOTS, Roll Out!” is the classic call to action of AUTOBOT leader OPTIMUS PRIME.

B
* BARRICADE™: Faction – DECEPTICON. Vehicle – Police Vehicle (most often). BARRICADE is the DECEPTICONS “scout,” often disguised as a symbol of authority for the purpose of getting close to and spying on the AUTOBOTS and their human allies.

* BLACKOUT™: Faction – DECEPTICON. Vehicle – Assault Helicopter. BLACKOUT’S character takes out enemies with its Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) cannons.

* BONECRUSHER™: Faction – DECEPTICON. Vehicle – Military Armored Assault Vehicle. BONECRUSHER is one of MEGATRON’S subservient soldiers.

* BotCon: The annual TRANSFORMERS fan convention started in 1994. BotCon 2007 will be held in Hasbro’s hometown of Providence, Rhode Island, this June 28 – July 1.

* BRAWL: Faction – DECEPTICON. Vehicle – Tank. BRAWL has a distinctive three-barrel turret and is one of MEGATRON’S loyal henchmen.

* BUMBLEBEE™: Faction – AUTOBOT. Vehicle – Yellow Car. BUMBLEBEE is the “little brother” in the AUTOBOT family, idolizing his bigger, stronger brethren, and often finding himself in troublesome situations. He specializes in reconnaissance missions.

C
* CYBERTRON: The home planet of the TRANSFORMERS. CYBERTRON is also the very first AUTOBOT and can also convert into a robot form known as CYBERTRON PRIMUS.

* Cybertron City: A generic term used for one of several AUTOBOT strongholds.

* CYBERTRON PRIMUS:.The first AUTOBOT and true name of the planet CYBERTRON. It was through the efforts of CYBERTRON PRIMUS that the first TRANSFORMERS were born. Arch nemesis: UNICRON

D
* DECEPTICON: The “bad guys” in the TRANSFORMERS race. DECEPTICONS believe in total domination of the universe and the acquisition of power.

* DECEPTICON FRENZY™: Faction – DECEPTICON. Vehicle/Alternate Mode – boombox or other everyday gadget. DECEPTICON FRENZY is one the smallest DECEPTICONS and is often seen converted into an everyday gadget (eg, boombox) for purposes of spying on humans.

E
* Energon: A generic term for the primary energy source used by TRANSFORMERS.

G
* G1: The first “generation” of the TRANSFORMERS toy line as it was introduced in 1984. The original line included 21 figures, including OPTIMUS PRIME™, MEGATRON™, BUMBLEBEE™, AUTOBOT JAZZ and STARSCREAM™. Fans refer to this generation as “G1” or “Gen1”.

I
* IRONHIDE™: Faction – AUTOBOT. Vehicle – Truck. IRONHIDE is a “cowboy” type character and is one of the oldest friends of AUTOBOT leader OPTIMUS PRIME. He is often side-by-side with OPTIMUS PRIME as they race into battle.

M
* Matrix: A symbolic object of immense power passed on from one AUTOBOT leader to another containing all the accumulated knowledge and wisdom of the AUTOBOT past.

* MEGATRON: Faction – DECEPTICON. Vehicle – Jet, Tank or Blaster. Leader of the DECEPTICONS and the primary villain in the TRANSFORMERS saga.

* “MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE”: “More Than Meets The Eye” is a TRANSFORMERS tagline often used in the brand’s marketing. It alludes to the TRANSFORMERS robots ability to mask their appearances and hide in plain sight as any vehicular or technological object in the world.

N
* Nemesis: The DECEPTICONS starship that they traveled in to Earth.

O
* OPTIMUS PRIME™: Leader of the AUTOBOTS. Voiced by Peter Cullen in both the original animated series and the upcoming live-action feature film.

R
* “Robots In Disguise”: “Robots In Disguise” is a TRANSFORMERS tagline often used in the brand’s marketing. It alludes to the TRANSFORMERS robots ability to change from robot mode into another form, such as a vehicle or gadget.

S
* SCORPONOCK™: Faction – DECEPTICON. Vehicle – Giant mechanical scorpion. SCORPONOCK is a powerful DECEPTICON featured in this summer’s live-action film..

* Spark: Unique to each TRANSFORMERS character, the Spark is the soul or core essence of each individual AUTOBOT or DECPTICON. A TRANSFORMER is given its Spark by the AllSpark itself.

* STARSCREAM™: Faction – DECEPTICON. Vehicle – Fighter Jet (most often). An extremely ambitious and treacherous character, STARSCREAM is often positioned as MEGATRON’S right-hand man.

T
* TRANSFORMERS: The TRANSFORMERS are a fictional robot race that is able to change, rearranging itself into an innocuous form, such as a car, mechanical gadget or object, aircraft, or animal. The TRANSFORMERS race is made up of two primary factions – AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS. The TRANSFORMERS were introduced as a toy line to the United States in 1984 by Hasbro, Inc. They have since appeared in countless comics, cartoons, video games and films.

U
* UNICRON: A giant, planet-sized and evil DECEPTICON TRANSFORMERS character first introduced in the 1986 TRANSFORMERS animated movie. He is the arch enemy of all AUTOBOTS and is capable of destroying almost anything … including planets.