Machine Wars
Encyclopedia
Machine Wars was a short-lived toy series in the Transformers toyline, introduced in 1997. The series was initially exclusive to KB Toys and its subsidiaries, although overstock/unsold surplus eventually appeared at other retailers.
Machine Wars was Hasbro
's first attempt at returning to vehicle
-formed Transformers after it had revolutionised the toyline with Beast Wars
, where all toys had animal
alternate modes. The Machine Wars subline lasted only for one wave of toys, which contained twelve toys - six Autobot
s and six Decepticon
s. With no TV show or comic book
to back the story up, the line generated little interest and sales were so low that the line ended after the first wave.
The line also seemed somewhat rushed, with most of the toys even lacking original packaging art (the Basic-sized race car mold used altered art from Generation 2 Laser Rod Jolt, the two basic jets used recycled European packaging art, Optimus Prime's art was altered from his Generation 2 Laser Rod version, and the other three boxed toys used recolored art from their original counterparts).
s of earlier Europe
an-exclusive Generation 1 toys.
The eight smaller toys had a spring-loaded "instant transformation" feature like the smallest toys of the first Beast Wars line also had. These toys were designed to have transparent windows and "light pipe" eyes, but those parts were cast in opaque plastic, much like the first year Beast Wars toys, probably to lower production costs.
s, but because of the heightened child safety laws of the United States
, the spring-loaded guns were not included in the Machine Wars versions.
The original European Predators had a "scope" system where smaller Predator aeroplane
s could be locked onto scopes on the two bigger Predators, and looking through the scope would present a picture of an enemy Turbomaster
. This feature was not fully carried over to the Machine Wars versions - the scopes were retained, but they no longer contained any pictures. The smaller Predator planes were not included in the Machine Wars toyline.
and Transformers: Car Robots/Transformers: Robots in Disguise toylines.
Machine Wars was Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
's first attempt at returning to vehicle
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
-formed Transformers after it had revolutionised the toyline with Beast Wars
Beast Wars
Transformers: Beast Wars is a Transformers toyline released by Hasbro between 1995 and 2000, and a Daytime Emmy Award winning full-CG animated television series spawned by it that debuted in 1996...
, where all toys had animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
alternate modes. The Machine Wars subline lasted only for one wave of toys, which contained twelve toys - six Autobot
Autobot
Autobot, a faction of sentient robots from the planet Cybertron, are usually the main protagonists in the fictional universe of the Transformers, a collection of various toys, graphic novels, paperback books, cartoons and movies first introduced in 1984. In all but one Transformer story, the...
s and six Decepticon
Decepticon
The Decepticons are usually depicted as the antagonists in the fictional universes of the Transformers stoyline and related comics and cartoons, and the enemies of the Autobots and the University of California Davis Aggies...
s. With no TV show or comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
to back the story up, the line generated little interest and sales were so low that the line ended after the first wave.
The line also seemed somewhat rushed, with most of the toys even lacking original packaging art (the Basic-sized race car mold used altered art from Generation 2 Laser Rod Jolt, the two basic jets used recycled European packaging art, Optimus Prime's art was altered from his Generation 2 Laser Rod version, and the other three boxed toys used recolored art from their original counterparts).
Fiction
Although no official Machine Wars fiction was ever made outside the toy tech spec biographies, Hubcap and Prowl did make brief cameos in various Transformers: Timelines stories.Toys
The toys in the Machine Wars subline came in two size classes. The eight toys in the smaller size class were new molds left over from Generation 2, with two toys from each of four molds. The four larger toys were repaintRepaint
A repaint is a toy that was created entirely from a mold was previously available, however the colors of the plastic and/or the paint operations have been changed...
s of earlier Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an-exclusive Generation 1 toys.
The eight smaller toys had a spring-loaded "instant transformation" feature like the smallest toys of the first Beast Wars line also had. These toys were designed to have transparent windows and "light pipe" eyes, but those parts were cast in opaque plastic, much like the first year Beast Wars toys, probably to lower production costs.
Changes from the original European versions
The original European versions of the four larger molds had spring-loaded guns capable of firing oblong plastic bulletBullet
A bullet is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun. Bullets do not normally contain explosives, but damage the intended target by impact and penetration...
s, but because of the heightened child safety laws of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the spring-loaded guns were not included in the Machine Wars versions.
The original European Predators had a "scope" system where smaller Predator aeroplane
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
s could be locked onto scopes on the two bigger Predators, and looking through the scope would present a picture of an enemy Turbomaster
Turbomaster
Turbomasters were an Australian, Canadian, and European exclusive range of Transformers toys, released in 1992 as part of their final year of products for the original franchise. A subgroup of the Autobots, there were six Turbomasters: Thunder Clash, Rotorstorm, Boss, Hurricane, Flash, and Scorch...
. This feature was not fully carried over to the Machine Wars versions - the scopes were retained, but they no longer contained any pictures. The smaller Predator planes were not included in the Machine Wars toyline.
Autobots
- Optimus PrimeOptimus PrimeOptimus Prime is a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. Prime is the leader of the autobots, a faction of transforming robots from the planet Cybertron. The autobots are constantly waging war against a rival faction of transforming robots called Decepticons...
: Futuristic tractor trailer. Repaint/remold of European-exclusive Turbomaster ThunderclashThunderclashThunder Clash or Thunderclash, are the names of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. Thunder Clash was part of the original Transformers continuity, with the name as Thunderclash been used for different characters in several newer Transformers...
. - SandstormSandstorm (Transformers)Sandstorm refers to several different characters in the various Transformers universes. The original Sandstorm was an Autobot Triple Changer who appeared in the Transformers animated series, voiced by Jerry Houser in 1986...
: Futuristic helicopterHelicopterA helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
. Repaint of European-exclusive Turbomaster Rotorstorm. - MirageMirage (Transformers)Mirage is any of several distinct fictional characters in the various Transformers series. Mirage is one of the single most re-used names in the Transformers series, and is almost entirely synonymous with characters possessing Formula One racing car alternate modes.-Transformers Generation 1:Some...
: Lola T-95 Racing car. Based on a mold prototyped in late Generation Two, but never produced as a toy. - ProwlProwl (Transformers)Prowl is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers series. "Prowl" is one of the most re-used American names in the assorted Transformers series, and its use has become almost synonymous with Autobots who possess a police car alternate mode...
: Racing car, shares the same mold as Mirage. - HoistHoist (Transformers)-Transformers: Generation 1:In the original Transformers toy line, Hoist is an Autobot who functions as a repairman for the team, keeping them to a tight maintenance schedule. Hoist is confident and sometimes rash, brave, tough and loyal. He transforms into a green tow truck...
: Tow truckTow truckA tow truck is a vehicle used to transport motor vehicles to another location , or to recover vehicles which are no longer on a drivable surface.Towing services are generally provided by an emergency road service operator...
. Based on a mold prototyped in late Generation Two, but never produced as a toy. - HubcapHubcap (Transformers)Hubcap was the name of four fictional Autobots in the Transformers universes.-Transformers Generation 1:Hubcap's original bio described him as a friend to everyone, but trusted by no-one...
: Tow truckTow truckA tow truck is a vehicle used to transport motor vehicles to another location , or to recover vehicles which are no longer on a drivable surface.Towing services are generally provided by an emergency road service operator...
, shares the same mold as Hoist.
Decepticons
- StarscreamStarscream (Transformers)Starscream is a fictional character in the Transformers franchise. He is one of the most prolific characters in the Transformers fictional work, appearing in almost all incarnations of the story. Starscream is usually portrayed with the same characterization...
: Futuristic bomber aeroplaneFixed-wing aircraftA fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
. Repaint of European-exclusive Predator SkyquakeSkyquakeSkyquake is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:Skyquake is leader of the Decepticon Predators. He is cold, cruel and single minded.-IDW Publishing:...
. - SoundwaveSoundwave (Transformers)Soundwave is the name of several characters in the various series Transformers series. His most famous disguise is that of a microcassette recorder and has an iconic voice done by a vocoder.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
: Futuristic missileMissileThough a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
carrier tank. Repaint of European-exclusive Predator Stalker. - Megatron: F-22 RaptorF-22 RaptorThe Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals...
. Megatron's blister card had Megaplex's art and vice-versa. Based on a mold prototyped in late Generation Two, but never produced as a toy. - Megaplex: F-22 Raptor, shares the same mold as Megatron. The only toy in the entire line whose name hadn't been used previously.
- SkywarpSkywarpSkywarp is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers toy line. He is usually depicted as a black or purple Decepticon jet with teleportation powers.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
: Dassault RafaleDassault RafaleThe Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engine delta-wing multi-role jet fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Introduced in 2000, the Rafale is being produced both for land-based use with the French Air Force and for carrier-based operations with the French Navy...
. Based on a mold prototyped in late Generation Two, but never produced as a toy. - ThundercrackerThundercrackerThundercracker is the name given to multiple fictional characters in the Transformers universes. Thundercracker is almost always depicted as a blue color Decepticon who turns into a jet fighter.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
: Dassault Rafale, shares the same mold as Skywarp.
History
The four previously unreleased Generation 2 molds introduced in Machine Wars were eventually used in the Beast Wars IIBeast Wars II
refers to the 1998 Japanese Transformers television animated series, and the movie and toyline that resulted from it. While its position in the Transformers continuity has previously been unknown, the IDW Publishing comic book mini-series Beast Wars: The Gathering and comments from Transformers...
and Transformers: Car Robots/Transformers: Robots in Disguise toylines.