Cybertron Backstop = Cybertron Dickcheese. Skids = Skidses. Demolishor = DemoliSHORE. Ratchet = Rat-Chet. ROTF Prime = Sex. Barricade = Barrikate. Sideways = Ashleycade. Ravage = Wavage. Sideswipe = Stabby McWheelfeet. Any Random TF = Ted
Generally only in the few instances where the characters are meant to interact with each other within my personal universes, but share names. RotF Onslaught is now Barrage, the new field commander of the Combaticons, taking over from Onslaught (Universe Ultra), so that he can maintain his position as military strategist full-time. Cybertron Sideways is instead Skyjack's Cybertronian form.
I like how we all have our own TF continuity for our toys-- borrowing from various canon, but ultimately abandoning all of them. Surprising that Takara keeps doing official prose for Binaltechs and Alternity... I mean, very few fans I know "use" that story. Especially with the silly "Tracks can Change Color; Jazz and Prowl have DRONES" contrivances they use to work in every redeco.
I re-stickered Universe Dropshot and now call him Sidetrack and Universe Overload is now Flak. I love me some Micromaster homages.
warbot defender is Springer. I have the FP shadow commander, and i think nemesis prime is more of a title than a name, so i call him scourge. I call Rotf black prime Motormaster, thanks to a person at botcon who suggested it.
Well, I don't make up new names for them (unless it's a custom that is actually an original character... but as I've only done two of those, there isn't a strong precedent). Once in a blue moon I'll re-purpose them as other, pre-existing characters... i.e. like many people I have Real Gear Photon serving as a Classics Reflector, and Cybertron Armorhide standing in for Pipes. I have a rule for myself, though.... I can't repurpose a figure like that unless I've done some small modification to it, however minor. It could be as minor as a few paint touch-ups and some reprolabels, but unless it has been modified in some way from its original I won't let myself repurpose it. One example: I use Universe Blaster as SG Soundblaster (in this case a distinct character from Soundwave, so that it doesn't contradict the white MP3 Soundwave) but to let myself do so I had to remove the painted red lines from his visor and add reprolabels. And of course if the figure is clearly intended to be a certain character but bears a different name for legal reasons, I feel fairly justified using the original name (i.e. Tankor = Octane, Darkmount = Straxus, Silverstreak = Bluestreak, Slice = Slicer, etc.). But I think many folks do that, nothing strange there. Oh, you know what, blast.... I just thought of a figure that I re-named, and re-purposed, without any mods. I think of Animated Elite Guard Bumblebee as Goldbug, a distinct character from Bumblebee. Ah well.
This. I'm also calling Darkmount Straxus and Terradive Jhiaxus when I get them. Yellow Sam's Club RiD Prime is Overload and RiD Magnus is Guardshell. Warbot Defender is Springer.
I myself have renamed the figures that I have in my collection with names from the G1 era. Names that would fit with the figures Here are some examples: AUTOBOTS: Bluestreak (Universe Classics 2.0 Deluxe class Silverstreak) Broadside (Energon Ultra class Quickstrike) Chainclaw (Beast Wars Deluxe class Jawbreaker) Crossblades (ROTF Deluxe class Evac) Dogfight (ROTF Deluxe Breakaway) Fortress Maximus (Energon Ultra class Ultra Magnus) Greaser (ROTF Scout class Slap Dash) Nightbeat (Cybertron Deluxe class Hot Shot) Perceptor (2007 Movie Voyager class Inferno) Pincher (Cybertron Ultra class Dark Scorponok) Powerglide (ROTF Scout class Fireflight) Silverstreak (ROTF Deluxe class Sideswipe) Sky Lynx (Energon Mega class Overcast) Skydive (ROTF Scout class Air Raid) Slingshot (ROTF Scout class Skydive) Sludge (Cybertron Scout class Wreckloose) Steeljaw (Cybertron Voyager class Leobreaker) DECEPTICONS: Abominus (RiD Ultra class Galvatron) Apeface (Beast Machines Super class Primal Prime) Beastbox (Beast Wars Transmetal Mega class Optimus Primal) Blitzwing (Cybertron Leader class Megatron) Cyclonus (Beast Machines Ultra class Jetstorm) Demolishor (ROTF Voyager class Shanghai Showdown Demolishor) Hook (2007 Movie Voyager class Mudflap) Nautilator (Beast Wars Ultra class Rampage) Motormaster (RiD Super class Scourge) Predaking (Cybertron Ultra class Scourge) Reflector (2007 Movie Real Gear Zoom Out 25X) Road Rocket (ROTF Scout class Trenchmouth) Scavernger (ROTF Voyager class Demolishor) Squawktalk (2007 Movie Real Gear Booster X10) Thunderwing (Energon Super class Megatron) Turmoil (ROTF Deluxe class Bludgeon) Wildrider (ROTF Deluxe class Dead End)
Universe (2008) Powerglide = Jetfire (I don't have Classics Jetfire) Cybertron Leobreaker = Steeljaw (No reason at all) Cybertron Unicron = Bludgeon (He looks like Bludgeon)
Well, my Classics Rodimus is Hot Rod, Universe Tankor is Octane, Energon Stormjet is Energon Silverbolt, Animated Soundwave is Guitar Hero Soundwave ( i mean it, i actually call him that way XD ) ...hm..i think thats all. ^^
I'm thinking of renaming Silverstreak, "Bluestreak" into Shaggy. I've been watching the G1 cartoons again and yes it's the same voice-actor that does both, but I hear a lot of Shaggy within Silverstreak. So, thinking of renaming him Shaggy. Shaggystreak? LOL!
Yup, Casey Kasem.... also of the old American Top 40 countdown. Man, now I feel old. He was also Cliffjumper, Dr. Arkeville, and Teletraan-1. Huh, you reminded me, I guess I also renamed the central bots of Superion and Bruticus, so that they don't conflict with the Ultra class Silverbolt and Onslaught. Silverbolt remains Storm Jet (kind of the reverse of your renaming) and Onslaught is Mindset. I guess I do more mental re-naming than I realize. Hrm.
For me the the only renaming (apart from trademark induced names, like Uni Tankor/Octane) I do has been ROTF scout Dead End as Detour (to differentiate it from the deluxe), and ROTF Demolishor as Scavenger
Good thread! Here are mine: Animated Snarl >> Slag Windrazor >> Graphy Galaxy Force Excellion (Cybertron Hot Shot) >> Tracks Cybertron Swerve >> Overdrive Cybertron Galvatron >> Lord Thunderwing Armada Galvatron >> Skullgrin Cybertron Crosswise >> Jazz Superlink Sandstorm (Armada Cyclonus grey repaint) >> Grindor Guardian Sky (Japan exclusive minicon) >> Blaze Master (Micromaster) Guardian Powered (Japan exclusive minicon) >> Swerve Also, my Beast Wars returns Obsidian works as the Obsidian character, while the regular American release plays as a drone
I rename all my TFs as Habeeb#1, Habeeb#2, Habeeb#3... but most of the time I just call 'em Habeeb. Sigh, bring back Al Bundy!!!
I only change them if the toy was obviously renamed in the first place. Universe Silverstreak is Bluestreak, Darkmount will be Straxus etc. I do like Warhead for Atomic Lugnut though, so I might use that, with respects to whoever it was that suggested that.