Talk:Mini Vehicle

Is 'Minibots' actually an official term? I'm pretty sure they were never called that in any catalogues or fiction. - RolonBolon 21:11, 8 May 2006 (UTC)

I had the same question.--G.B. Blackrock 21:16, 8 May 2006 (UTC)

I believe it was used in the Marvel comics, at least early on. Does anybody have them handy? I mostly read 'em at the library or from the used-to-was scan archives online. --Autobus Prime 21:19, 8 May 2006 (UTC)

The toy catalogs list them as Minicars and then Mini Vehicles, as toys like Powerglide and Cosmos were added. If it's not from there, I wonder where "Minibots" came from. --ItsWalky 21:29, 8 May 2006 (UTC)

"Minicars" I'm quite familiar with. Perhaps we should change the name? That still leaves "Mini Vehicles" but it's reasonably clear, as Walky suggests, that this is simply because the year 2 "mini-whatevers" were no longer cars. "Minibots" may be an attempt to bridge the gap, but then we must consider it a "fan" term.--G.B. Blackrock 21:44, 8 May 2006 (UTC)

What was the Takara reissiue called? X-BoB58 23:27, 8 May 2006 (UTC)

Don't forget the Sparkler Mini-Bots. That, at least, is official.

er, that was me. Chip 00:46, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

Folks:

Hm. I couldn't find the term "Minibot" in any of my comic issues, but then I don't have many, and none of them are the 'character' pieces that I (think I) remember the term from. It may be a fan term, but it's a fan term with wide comprehension, so perhaps we should keep using it, and try to find the history of the term, as was done with 'seeker'? I don't think 'fan' terms are a bad thing; after all, the fans are the 'scholars' of this branch of knowledge, and if a fan term is in common use then why not use it? Comprehension is the important thing with language, and even logic or consistency must bow before it, except with the French, but who counts them, really! --Autobus Prime 11:59, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

I think we should have the main page at "Mini Vehicles" (sp?), and redirects at "Minicars" and "Minibots", and mention that "Minibots" is a fan term, at least until someone can find any offical mateial that says otherwise. --FortMax 17:07, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

Fortmax -- Well, I for one tend to respectfully disagree on this. I guess we are looking at this from different angles: enlightening the heathens vs. pandering to the masses. It's true that a fan term (if this is indeed a fan term) doesn't have the 'canonical' sanction of the official one, but I believe that in this case the term "Minibots" has the widest recognition, and will be clear to the most people, which (I believe) is what an encyclopedia such as this is all about. For a similar example, take the term 'combiner'. I believe, though I am not sure, that the only canonical term used was 'special teams' (until recent times, that is) but the fan term is understood by many more people. On the other hand, the question of promoting the proper term is a valid one. Hmm. I need to find time to go to the library and read up on my early G1 comics. The phrase 'the little yellow Minibot' comes to mind, somehow. --Autobus Prime 18:12, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

Sorry, Autobus, but the others are right. "Minibot" deserves a section in the fandom category, but it's not an official term, and so we shouldn't use it on the Wiki. --ItsWalky 18:14, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

"Combiner" was used in an official capacity during RiD. So, even if it was originally a fan term (I would guess so), it is now canonical. "Special team" is a more restrictive term, applying only to Scramble City combiners. Regarding Seeker: that term is now official also, although just barely, I will admit. Prior to its inclusion in a War Within comic, there was a movement within the fandom to switch from Seeker to Skyraider, a term with an official basis (beyond just appearing in one JC Penny's catalog) and a more accurately evocative feel. As others have noted, I absolutely think the term Minibot should be mentioned in the Mini Vehicles article, and there should be a Minibot article to redirect here. We don't want to obscure the term, we just want to give preference to the official one. --Steve-o 22:06, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

I'll get right on that a few hours ago. ;) --ItsWalky 22:09, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

In the UK Comic, they were pretty consistently called 'Mini-Autobots'. --Ratbat 03:48, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

Actually, the term "Minibot" WAS used officially at least once... in the Marvel UK comics, issue #44, Laserbeak refers to Bumblebee as a Minibot. http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/venjix/laserbeak_minibot_panel.jpg