Since marines already use xenoforms, the word uses xeno- (foreign, alien) and ovi (from latin, eggs). (ok, the singular would be xenovum but who cares about latin grammar :), plus xeno- comes from greek anyway so just take it as a neologism).
AsranielJoin Date: 2002-06-03Member: 724Members, Playtest Lead, Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Playtester, Retired Community Developer
100% for glowies, for many reasons, but number one reason is that a marine seeing them the first time would also call them like them. Easy to remember word, and it describes them while keeping them mysterious. Also, it would fit the naming of other stuff like the onos, which is also a not really a serious name but fits.
<!--quoteo(post=1726935:date=Sep 11 2009, 05:17 PM:name=Asraniel)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Asraniel @ Sep 11 2009, 05:17 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1726935"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->100% for glowies, for many reasons, but number one reason is that a marine seeing them the first time would also call them like them. Easy to remember word, and it describes them while keeping them mysterious. Also, it would fit the naming of other stuff like the onos, which is also a not really a serious name but fits.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
i say have a complicated name and then a sort of short nickname as well. For example not all of us call the them kharra. we just call them aliens. Even tho the real name of their species is kharra. We just say aliens cause its simple. ive heard people calling a skulk a dog etc..
so in the same way we shud have the scientific name be xenovi and eventually the community will create a name for them without us noticing.
Somewhere it was claimed that Kharaa is just a foreign word. I looked up two meanings: "rear" and what's coming from one. If I remember correctly that story said that it was meant to tell "behind you!"
I know this thread is old but the names for the alien race is interesting. Heres a few ideas with a little historical meaning perhaps.
Pishachas (hindu- cannibalistic demons) Pishaaacha? Rakshasas (hindu - shapeshifting demons/illusionists) maybe change to Rakshashi'ii, also called Nri-chakshas, or Kravyads Nirriti (hindu -god of death)
Daeva (biblical - evil insects?)
Nihilanth (do you know where this is from?)
some sort of play on words -Gual'raa, Ger'raum, Ra'apolii Alien: greek=alladapolis, hebrew=ger space: german=Raum Evil: hebrew=Ra
<!--quoteo(post=1727290:date=Sep 15 2009, 06:57 AM:name=Colon Cancer)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Colon Cancer @ Sep 15 2009, 06:57 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1727290"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Nihilanth (do you know where this is from?)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> It's the main bad guy of Half-Life. I've never been able to kill it without cheating.
In my opinion your proposals are too fancy for a marine's mouth. But we could think that Kharaa is a name given by scientists but players (marines) still refer to them as aliens. So perhaps we could really give them some fancy name and let players (marines) call them something like Glowies.
<!--quoteo(post=1727291:date=Sep 14 2009, 10:15 PM:name=KonserniJohtaja)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KonserniJohtaja @ Sep 14 2009, 10:15 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1727291"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It's the main bad guy of Half-Life. I've never been able to kill it without cheating.
In my opinion your proposals are too fancy for a marine's mouth. But we could think that Kharaa is a name given by scientists but players (marines) still refer to them as aliens. So perhaps we could really give them some fancy name and let players (marines) call them something like Glowies.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You just have to jump over its head and shoot at the exposed brains (after being teleported all over creation several times. Oh, and destroying the crystals keeps him from recharging)
I'm down to call them anything but Glowies, at least call them glowers. Glowies just sounds like what a kid would call stuffed animals that glow in the dark.
I kinda like Sylph (silf). Often a term for minor spirit of air in some western mythology. In this instance however I think it might look better by changing it to not have the y, even though this one is supposed to have it in there. Silph. Looks more appropriate like that to me.
If not, Nymph isn't bad. Embyr just bugs me for some reason. Nothing else really jumped out at me.
Nymph is pretty good imo... it sounds like a reactionary word to what they would see and is immeasurably better than glowies.. although Ember (without a y) is not bad idea either. Sprawns is kinda funny though.
You're a non-biologist, you stumble across this utterly alien freakin' thing. Specks of light are moving around it. What do you call 'em when you're in a hurry and prone to swearing and OMG THEY'RE EATING EVERYBODY'S FACE OFF AUUUGHHHH!
"Glowies" is far too generically cutesy. "Nymphs" is too much like a name biologists come up with... it isn't a nickname you'd expect from firsthand reports of frightened civilians and grizzled fighters. I can see them giving something a "cutesy" name as a way to insult it (like calling gorges "pigs") but nobody fights little specks of light, so there's no need to pick an effeminate or weak-sounding nickname.
The only reason I suggest "motes" is because the Hive does look a bit like a God's Eye... with motes in it :D
Comments
Since marines already use xenoforms, the word uses xeno- (foreign, alien) and ovi (from latin, eggs).
(ok, the singular would be xenovum but who cares about latin grammar :), plus xeno- comes from greek anyway so just take it as a neologism).
Also, it would fit the naming of other stuff like the onos, which is also a not really a serious name but fits.
Also, it would fit the naming of other stuff like the onos, which is also a not really a serious name but fits.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
*high five*
so in the same way we shud have the scientific name be xenovi and eventually the community will create a name for them without us noticing.
If I remember correctly that story said that it was meant to tell "behind you!"
floaties.
glowies.
thingies.
fireflies...
wait, i got it!!
firefly!
or
firelarvea
annoying stupid thingies!
How about, radioactive snot rocket? ;)
Pishachas (hindu- cannibalistic demons) Pishaaacha?
Rakshasas (hindu - shapeshifting demons/illusionists) maybe change to Rakshashi'ii, also called Nri-chakshas, or Kravyads
Nirriti (hindu -god of death)
Daeva (biblical - evil insects?)
Nihilanth (do you know where this is from?)
some sort of play on words -Gual'raa, Ger'raum, Ra'apolii
Alien: greek=alladapolis, hebrew=ger
space: german=Raum
Evil: hebrew=Ra
It's the main bad guy of Half-Life. I've never been able to kill it without cheating.
In my opinion your proposals are too fancy for a marine's mouth. But we could think that Kharaa is a name given by scientists but players (marines) still refer to them as aliens. So perhaps we could really give them some fancy name and let players (marines) call them something like Glowies.
In my opinion your proposals are too fancy for a marine's mouth. But we could think that Kharaa is a name given by scientists but players (marines) still refer to them as aliens. So perhaps we could really give them some fancy name and let players (marines) call them something like Glowies.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You just have to jump over its head and shoot at the exposed brains (after being teleported all over creation several times. Oh, and destroying the crystals keeps him from recharging)
But ingame? holy poop, no!
If not, Nymph isn't bad. Embyr just bugs me for some reason. Nothing else really jumped out at me.
"Commander, I need some help; Im being persued by Whoosps!"
yes like turds.
"Glowies" is far too generically cutesy. "Nymphs" is too much like a name biologists come up with... it isn't a nickname you'd expect from firsthand reports of frightened civilians and grizzled fighters. I can see them giving something a "cutesy" name as a way to insult it (like calling gorges "pigs") but nobody fights little specks of light, so there's no need to pick an effeminate or weak-sounding nickname.
The only reason I suggest "motes" is because the Hive does look a bit like a God's Eye... with motes in it :D