I've been looking at beast wars videos lately and realized that they have activation codes and speak to a computer. For example, all the characters activations codes to change to beast mode or to maximize/terrorize (albeit they don't use it all the time). When Dinobot saves the humans, he tells his computer to override stasis lock. When Megatron shoots optimus prime, he tells his computer to divert all power to his weapons. This makes me wonder if their sentient life form is separate from their internal computer that controls their power. Does this mean that the computer is their subconscious (so to speak) and their spark is their conscious?
It's just a part of their brain. It's akin to us being able to manually say, "Brain, give me all the adrenalin I've got!"
Seems that way, even if it's just a more explicitly stated form of bio-feedback. It seems like the spark at least CONTAINS the consciousness of a transformer, given "Possession" and what we see in Beast Machines. Could be more complex than that, especially in terms of how a spark interacts with a body.
I'd agree with Ryoku; most likely, it's a onboard implement of their processor that controls functions like energy diversion, stasis lock and other such functions, separate from the actual consciousness/personality.
Yeah, that's my theory as well. Compare this method to the more recent interpretations of Transformers as more biological organisms. Beast Wars' idea was more "computer" while Bayformers/TFP were more "brain".
The notion would seem to be that the computers were added at some point - perhaps in the upgrade from Autobot/Decepticon to Maximal/Predacon - to regulate and carry out bodily processes that Transformers normally had to dedicate conscious thought to, which might factor into the energy-conservation nature of the Maximal upgrade. In particular, transformation, hence the spoken command codes the Transformers give their computers. This is all but made explicit in "Beast Machines", where the Maximals no longer have these onboard computers, and instead have to consciously think their bodies through transformation - something that they've never had to deal with, and something that a lot of fans scoffed at back when the series aired, but actually, pre-Beast-Era Transformers were shown having to learn how to transform as far back as the "Headmasters" anime.
I suppose it would be like me going 'Computer: Activate Boner' rather than just naturally getting a boner without thinking about it.
Yeah, you can tell that in the BW-BM era, they were adding in components. Nightscream even mentioned that on-board alt-mode scanners became the norm between when Optimus and crew left for BW and the time of BM. Which makes me wonder, are Transformers created in the BW-onward era still made at full "G1 size" and then have to be "upgraded" to a Maximal/Predacon body? It'd be something interesting to explore the implications of. Are some still kept at full size to be used to heavy lifting or military? Are there those who refuse the upgrade? Are there those that angst that the upgrade was forced on them? Etc, etc. I would imagine in a post-BM era that they'd all be created as biomechanical though.
Christ McFeely basically nailed everything. I figure these computers regulate transformation as a single action to avoid mid-conversion stops like how we had seen before. (The Headmasters example given above, plus the other few instances in G1 of hlaf-transformed characters) Even though this was so not the case, I always took it as the excuse for why their transformations were always the same animation. If it's a programmed action it's only going to have a singular, most efficient pattern. (And the odd secondary pattern, Like Primal's jump-and-transform that's so cool to watch) Now that would be exciting. My guess is any new Transformers made after a certain upgrade would be made to the upgraded specifications. We know some Autobots survived into BW era without upgrading. But really the unhomogenous (is that even a word?) nature of Transformers would blur the line between non-upgrades and "OG" Tfs. The only robots I'd think who would actually have the upgrade forced upon them were the Predacons/Deceptions, and we all know how that turned out. I'd figure most TFs would be jumping at it, though, since their race went so long being nearly deprived of energy. (Megatron calls the Autobots "Archaic energon guzzlers" so I don't think he minds his "relaltively" small size) It would have to be since everyone was techno-organic at that point.
