No prob, glad to know I'm not the only one out there! It sure helps to not be a "ZoMg! Downshift should be named Wheeljack!" or "Optimus Prime shouldn't have a faceplate!" when the toy isn't even those characters to begin within my eyes
I randomly rename the odd character, but mostly I stick with the official names. Sometimes I use the Japanese name instead of the US name or vice versa, depending on what appeals to me more.
I'm in the process of renaming "Autorooper," but I have both him and Streetwise. (*shameless plug*) I finished Streetwise the very day that Takaratomy announced KP Autorooper. They're friends now
Everything gets named as it is on the box. The exceptions are some alts and bts: Decepticharge -> Dragstrip Shockblast/Laserwave -> Shockwave Meister -> Jazz Alert -> Red Alert (Kissplay) Rodimus -> Hot Rod
For the most part, I call them by the names Hasbro gives them. The biggest exceptions being Energon and Cybertron Downshift. Those two are so obviously meant to be Wheeljack, that giving them a different name was like a slap in the face to Wheeljack fans. Classics Rodimus gets called Hot Rod. I'm pretty sure that's what Hasbro would have called him, if they could have. I'm planning to start a plot based photo comic (should I ever finish the kitbashes and sets I need for it.) and a few toys will get different names. E-Bulkhead will be Springer, Cyb OP will be Galaxy Prime. Cyb Red Alert will be First Aid, and CD Red Alert will be First Aid's big brother First Gunner. I'll also be using a lightly modified smal Energon Megatron for Galvatron. Minicons will be reffered to as Micro Masters.
I really like my "MEISTER" as Meister (though Jazz is a natural name choice). However, Alert and Red Alert are a tad different to me. Originally the Acura mold was to be BT Red Alert, but Prowl was chosen instead. I'm planning to make a custom out of a BT Prowl into ol' Red. Obviously he is to be a different character than my BT* Alert. . . . pre-Alt/BT, I had a HUGE list of TFs renamed from G1-RiD. My interests shifted a bit since the Alt/BT line came out though
Laserwave - Shockwave Meister - Jazz Decepticharge - Dragstrip Masterpiece Ultra Magnus - Magnus Prime In my own private (very fanwanky) continuity, in the distant past Optimus and Magnus were caught in one of the early Decepticon attacks, Magnus was seriously injured and ended up with his armour as a result. But in an alternative reality, Optimus was the one who was hit and died before they could get help. Magnus never got his armour and ended up as leader instead. If there's ever an award for "most over-complicated explanation for having two toys exactly the same apart from the colour" I'm a sure thing. Alt Optimus Prime - Ginrai Just because I feel like it.
The names on the packaging or their official american names. I drop the "Autobot" and "Decepticon" prefix when they are added of course. Alternators Shockblast, Classics Rodimus... even Alternators Meister - I keep those names for example.
I stick with their G1 root name I mean cmon, 'Rodimus Major', who's going to stick with that one. Even their new names are more than meets the eye lol
I also rename some of my Alts to be part of my updated G1 universe. Meister - Jazz KP Rodimus - Hot Rod Windcharger - Overdrive Nemesis Prime - Trailbreaker (with some modifications) I kinda ignore Alt Prime for now because MP Prime is the leader of my Alts. I just got Alt Prime to make Hoist, but have been putting that project (and others) off for too long. KP Convoy is still Convoy.
I call my Optimus Primes "Usses" (pronounced Uh-ses) as a whole group but individually, by their birth name..er, I mean, their true name. Heather
It's not exactly a name change, but I always ask Pepsi Prime where HE LEARNED TO DRIVE LIKE A CORPORATE WHORE!!!
That's right! We can't have people re-naming their toys all willy-nilly... we'll have CHAOSSSSS!!! The toy canon will start to break down under the pressure of so many individual subjective versions of continuity! Call the Canon Police! You! Put down the Armourhide...NOW!! Refrain from calling him "Huffer". He's not even orange!! Phew... what a chilling vision of the future! zmog