April 22nd, 2018 
Simon Plumbe 
Transformers gaming has changed dramatically over the years. Since the release of the first game from Ocean Software in 1985 for the Commodore 64 and Spectrum, we’ve seen a diverse range of titles release for almost every contemporary platform of that era. While the games themselves have changed with the times, often being limited to genres that were technically feasible (and more often than not relatively easy to develop) based on the available hardware growing available, games based on the Transformers franchise grew as hardware progressed steadily.
The Changing Shape Of Transformers Video Games
Transformers gaming has changed dramatically over the years. Since the release of the first game from Ocean Software in 1985 for the Commodore 64 and Spectrum, we’ve seen a diverse range of titles release for almost every contemporary platform of that era. While the games themselves have changed with the times, often being limited to […]
Episode Review: Beast Wars S01 Ep04 “Equal Measures”
Years ago, when I first watched this episode of Beast Wars, I still had no interest in Transformers at all. I had been bought – and given away – a solitary toy, watched most of G1 during school holidays as a teenager but didn’t feel any real connection to it so Beast Wars really had […]
Will The Transformers Franchise Join The VR World?
It seems as if everyone is jumping on the VR bandwagon. With Sony’s PlayStation VR becoming a runaway success, most mobile platforms having VR software available for them, and an increasing number of PC games supporting one or more of the popular VR systems it seems only natural that Transformers will become the latest in […]
The More Traditional Side Of Transformers Gaming
It doesn’t matter what aspect of Transformers drew us into the franchise – whether it was the toys as a child growing up, the comics, the movies or the television shows (in my case in particular Beast Wars) – it feels as if there’s a constant need from Hasbro to ensure that the brand is […]
Episode Review: Transformers S01 Ep03 “More Than Meets the Eye, Part 3”
“Prime, can you hear me?” More Than Meets the Eye Part Three concludes the introduction to the epic war between the Transformers. When we left our heroes in part two, Prime was left tumbling down the mountainside by an explosion after he had sent his counterpart Roller into the mine to see what had happened […]
Episode Review: Beast Wars S01 Ep04 “Equal Measures”
Years ago, when I first watched this episode of Beast Wars, I still had no interest in Transformers at all. I had been bought – and given away – a solitary toy, watched most of G1 during school holidays as a teenager but didn’t feel any real connection to it so Beast Wars really had a lot to prove and had a lot of work to convince me that any Transformers series was worth watching. Having enjoyed the series to that point, I was still eager to see what was coming…
Will The Transformers Franchise Join The VR World?
It seems as if everyone is jumping on the VR bandwagon. With Sony’s PlayStation VR becoming a runaway success, most mobile platforms having VR software available for them, and an increasing number of PC games supporting one or more of the popular VR systems it seems only natural that Transformers will become the latest in a long line of franchises to add a VR product to its brand.
The More Traditional Side Of Transformers Gaming
It doesn’t matter what aspect of Transformers drew us into the franchise – whether it was the toys as a child growing up, the comics, the movies or the television shows (in my case in particular Beast Wars) – it feels as if there’s a constant need from Hasbro to ensure that the brand is profitable beyond those core product lines. It almost feels as if those aren’t enough to keep Hasbro content and that we they are always looking for a never ending number of avenues in which they can make money from their loyal and often eager fanbase ready to lap up every piece of merchandise presented before them…
Episode Review: Transformers S01 Ep03 “More Than Meets the Eye, Part 3”
“Prime, can you hear me?”
More Than Meets the Eye Part Three concludes the introduction to the epic war between the Transformers. When we left our heroes in part two, Prime was left tumbling down the mountainside by an explosion after he had sent his counterpart Roller into the mine to see what had happened to Sparkplug and Bumblebee, who had planted the bomb to stop the Decepticons. The Autobots tend to Prime, and as it turns out he’s ok, apart from some difficulty transforming. Roller also appears unscathed and the Autobots dig through the mine rubble to find their friends. The Autobots plan to resume their search for the resources they need to return home, but are startled to see the Decepticons blast their way out of the mine. Frustrated by this, Ironhide sets of in pursuit, supported by Bluestreak. A battle ensues and Ironhide is injured, which leads Prime to give him some words of wisdom before they return to base.
Episode Review: Transformers S01 Ep02 “More Than Meets the Eye, Part 2”
“There’re two things I really hate Brawn…….fire and water……”
More Than Meets the Eye Part Two continues the introduction to the epic war between the Transformers. As we re-join the action, the Autobots and humans from the oil rig are floating in the water, some of them trapped as the oil rig burns. The Autobots set about rescuing each other and the humans, which gives us an opportunity to see some of their special talents, such as Trailbreaker’s ability to create force shields, and Jazz’s handy grappling hook type tool. The Autobots introduce themselves to the humans, two in particular-Spike Witwicky and his father Sparkplug. It is decided that it’s a good idea for Spike and Sparkplug to accompany the Autobots, as they can assist them with their knowledge of earth.
G1’s Most Controversial Episode?
Animated television shows in the 1980s often followed a few basic formulae. Some were genuinely intended to entertain viewers and – through advertising or re-runs – make money for the studios that produced them such as the various Marvel shows of the time. Others wereintended to inform and educate in a way that would entertain young children so they would absorb the messages presented to them in a more digestible form. Then there were shows like Masters Of The Universe and Thundercats that were little more than 25 minuteadvertisements for the latest toys being released by their respective companies. While we were too naive to realise it back then, Transformers fell into the latter category. The show needed to make the toys and characters look as “cool” as possible while remaining kid-friendly at all times… Read more »
Episode Review: Transformers S01 Ep01 “More Than Meets the Eye, Part 1”
“Prime told me there’d be days like this”
More than Meets the Eye Part One serves as an introduction to the epic war between the Transformers. We learn that the Transformers are a unique race of robots who live on the planet Cybertron. Early on in the show, the scene is set as we see that Cybertron has been drained of its resources by the war raging between the peace loving Autobots, led by Optimus Prime and the evil Decepticons, who are led by Megatron. We see that the transformers are aptly named as they can change from robots to vehicles-also referred to as “alt modes”.
Future Events From Infinite Frontiers
For the last couple of years people have been asking us here at Infinite Frontiers if we have plans to run any more events or conventions. Those who attended Auto Assembly over the years since the first event back in 2000 have been asking if the convention was going to make a return or if we had any other plans in the pipeline. Certainly we’re no strangers to running events and social gatherings here and it’s part of our long-standing heritage. We were formed back in 1989 originally as a Doctor Who fan club, based around holding regular club meetings and gatherings and while we rapidly moved into digital publishing within a year, we soon moved back into running events with a Star Trek convention and a long running club which again held regular meetings before the advent of Auto Assembly.
A Collector’s Life Part 2: Transform and Move On…
Recently we launched a new series of articles spanning all three of our websites, kicking off with the first instalment on the Infinite Frontiers site – A Collector’s Life Part 1: What Makes Us Collect Things? While I looked at what drives the passion of collectors, I only touched briefly on the diverse range of what people and collect and why.
Now it’s the turn of Transformers and my personal story from start and a rather dramatic change for the future…
Most fans my age would be about to recount memories of their childhood of when they received their first toy, their first comic (most likely the epic run from Marvel UK) or the first episode of the original G1 series that they saw on television. Those same fans could remember every detail about seeing the 1986 movie in the cinema and witnessing what would have been the heartbreaking scenes to them as a child when they witnessed Optimus Prime die for the first time.
