Transformers questions by newbies, and not-so-newbies

[Bladestorm]

Relying on Google Translate must be horrible. [snip] The Google translated stuff is nothing more than placeholders just to give the German teachers a rough idea of what I'm trying to achieve.

Google Translate is a beast. It doesn't translate Traditional Chinese to English well AT ALL (but that's for another forum). I have found the Japanese translates enough to interpret the instructions when combined with the pictures for MP figures.

I don't know what the logic is behind not having "local language" instructions. I would have to translate either way though unless English was included. Admittedly all the MP's I've ever purchased are from Tak Tomy cases and the boxes inside generally aren't double (or triple) taped like the Hasbro direct stuff (eg Platinum Editions). Perhaps the distribution process is different or the cost to add the extra paper isn't justified as locals would just source from Japan given the pricing. I often wonder if the coins are produced to give the local suppliers a sweetener to entice people in Asia (but outside Japan) to buy local.
Not all local HK suppliers get the coins though as some bypass Hasbro HK and source direct from Japan so if you are buying MP's and you WANT the coin you have to check if stores include it before buying/pre ordering.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Google Translate is a beast. It doesn't translate Traditional Chinese to English well AT ALL (but that's for another forum).

I get handed BING and Google translated stuff all the time as "students work" which I find hilarious as I'll be reading their wrk going, 'Ok, a little bit starnge, but I can tell what they are trying to write' and the next paragraph/line is an incomprehensible line of words, that are English, but don't manage to convey any meaning. Much like posts on some american message boards

The old Alt.Toys. Transformers FAQ described it such

Remember in the old days when FAQs for subjects were useful and substantive info dumps that now day we have Wikipedia for.

While googling, I think I found a copy of that page :

http://206geek.com/how-were-the-tran...-effects-made/
Interesting about the TFing noise, as well as Soundwaves voice. I can pull off a fairly convincing Dr Claw, I might try and whip up a Soundwave sample for giggles.
Interesting. Just to add a bit of info, it turns out that many cartoons of the 80s used sound effects from the warner bros sound fx library. Which is why they share many of the same FX.

This includes Star Trek noises (the photon missiles fx show up everywhere) and you often hear the same FX on He-man, TF, Dungeons and Dragons, as well as countless others.

[prjkt]

Quite a few Star Wars FX ended up in TF as well, blaster fire and the tie fighter engine are probably the most obvious.

[griffin]

Did anyone here follow the "Ask Vector Prime" thingy on Facebook in the last year?

I never followed it, but noticed it's impact on the TFwiki, with a lot of pages noting additions/retcons that reference AVP.
In theory, it was a good idea (from the perspective of those young, or still young at heart) to try to explain the loose ends, errors and contradictions in the Transformers fiction universe, but ultimately, most of us older fans have already created our own explanations for things, and I heard that there were many who would reject and dispute things that were being posted by "Vector Prime" (otherwise known as Jim Sorenson for the Collector Club).

Anyways, it has come to an end.

[Paulbot]

Oh so it was on Facebook. I'd seen the references too but didn't know it was an ongoing thing, thought it tied back to the old days where Forums could send through a few questions to Hasbro every month.