haha. I like "Oh no!" = onos. gj whoever figured that out <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo--> but I doubt that was the dev team's intent D:
sorta on a slight side note ONI!= ghost what Oni actualy meens is intranslatable (it is something we simply don't have in our culturE)
however the most comon trans of it is Demon (they are sorta evil(ish) spirits, again we don't have a paralel)
ok as for ontopic here are my thoughts: are those names suposed to be the Marines names for the aliens? or are they suposed to be the aliens names for them selves? personaly I rather like them (though sorta eh on a few) what I do like about them is that they are decent enough names and they don't preclude ppl having pet names for em (forinstance bob, tiny etc) oh well, still can't place those names b/c I don't have that good pics of what they look like (are there any actual pics of em?)
I love Fade and Lerk (especially since it's kind of a cross between 'lurk' and 'lark'<!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo-->, I like Skulk, and I think I'm getting used to Gorge. As for Onos...I think I could get used to it, but it's just way too wide open for "Oh no! Onos!" jokes. And the level 5 is NOT something to laugh at.
the bigger they are the harder you should laugh at em <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
hehe, personaly I think I would be gasping OH SH** and craking up the first time I am run over by a lvl 5 ;D
I like the names for level 1-4 but I think <!--emo&:tiny:--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tiny.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':tiny:'><!--endemo--> need to be worked on
Yes, for those of you visually gifted, this post is in <b>all bold.
1: Skulk ( I like this name, but it dosen't fit the level one. I'm not saying that Bob did, but it is definatly not what I was thinking. Somthing that sounds more cruel, like <u>Vec</u>
2:Gorge (I think of two things when i see this name. Eating a lot, and a lousy Democratic candidate. Unfortunatly, I can come up with nothing better.)
3:Lerk (I like this one a lot. I can hear people saing in game "LERKER IN THE VENTS!" over voice com)
4:Fade (<u> Your serious? </u>why?!?! Does umbra make a noise? If so, i think it should be that. I wouldn't mind him being called <u>Hiss</u> or <u>Kish</u>)
5:Onos (This really sounds like irc babaling. "Onos! The level five is going to eat me! Onos Mr.Bill!" No. Really dosen't do it. How about <u>Ortos</u>?)</b>
I think both Onos and Fade are keepers. Lerk and Gorge... hmmm might take some time to get used to. Skulk however should really be rethought! I can't see myself or other people saying, "WATCH IT! A Bunch Of 'Skulks' Are Coming Right For Us!"... doesn't seem to have the right ring to it. <!--emo&???--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'><!--endemo-->
Hmm from what I can tell must people agree that these sound like unrelated nick names, and Gorge/ Fade are universally hated, while opinions on the other names are split. BTW, am I the only one who see's MC hammer everytime the word "Fade" comes up?
same applys to me fam <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo--> tho the only name i really like is onos, sounds a bit deeper than the rest of the names Imho
i dont care about their abilities reflected in the names, i just want the name to fit the animal,
thats like calling my dog Berk'n'Bita its not that awesome
Heh yea well it's like that. People all have their own taste in names and whathaveyou. But they can't make everyone happy. They just need to pick names for them and eventually people won't even think it was possible for a certain level to have a different name.
<!--QuoteBegin--Haije+Aug. 26 2002,00:58--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Haije @ Aug. 26 2002,00:58)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->The names for the aliens should basically be like a species name.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> yea, that sounds like a good idea.. but.. im just a lowly drone or something..
these aliens were named by humans.. I dont think tyhat other aliens are like Geeeooooorrrggee. I like some of the names but in my opinion they dont match their names should serve a purpose or not this is just my opinion i just dont see why to give them super exotic names that are hard to pronounce when a human named them.
I have never bothered to register for the forums, until now, because I believe the names of the aliens are extremely important. I was a little afraid to post this yesterday, but seeing how there are a few people who thinks the same way as I do, I'm gonna give my 2 cents as well.
I also believe that the names are too individual, Lerk, Fade...etc they all sound like the names of a particular Alien, maybe they're the "Generals" of that particular alien genome, but they do not generalize that type at all.
When I first came on to the forums, and people were coming up with the names Bob, Pudgy, Flyer, Blinky, and Tiny. The first time I saw those names I LOVED THEM and became immediately attached to them, they sound general, simple to remember, and most of all it actually sounds like something the marines would call those buggers.
Think of it this way...a group of marines advancing slowly...one of them spots an alien, is he more likely to yell out "ONE LERK and a FADE SPOTTED." or would he yell "ONE FLYER!! ONE BLINKY!!" The community nicknames sound better because it actually sounds like something the marines would come up with.
I've read almost every single PT story that's posted here and frankly...if you replaced the community-names with the new-names in those stories...they lose their appeal...
Just my 2 cents.
[edited in] Remember StarCraft? Hydralisks, Ultralisks, Zerglings, Mutalisks. However "scientific" these names sounded, people ended up calling them "hydras", "ultras", "lings", "mutas" because they were short, simple, and everyone understood them.
<!--QuoteBegin--.Unit+Aug. 26 2002,17:32--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (.Unit @ Aug. 26 2002,17:32)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->The community nicknames sound better because it actually sounds like something the marines would come up with.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> I could not agree more, these names dont sound like something marines in an intense battle would say. They dont really roll off the tounge at all. It is really, really, a shame that the dev team hates the un-offical names so much becuase they really fit the aliens well, and everyone already knows them. Not to mention, they are just 100% easier to say.
i think part of it is that were all used to the community names o f"bob" and so on.. but as for the theme, i think these names fit fine, after a while people will start to think "how could they be anythign else" which is what i bet a couple people are thinking now
I think part of the debate arises from the misconception that a creature can only have one name. Take a look at real life. Any given animal has several names, usually consisting of their scientific name, their common name, and sometimes a slang name.
What we are used to are the slang names, Bob, Pudgy, Batty(never caught on), Blinky, and Tiny. What the devs are proposing are not replacements to the slang names, but rather common names to enhance the game's atmosphere. I think what might be a good idea is in the manual when describing the aliens, include 3 name columns. Common, slang, and alien(whatever they would call themselves). Maybe throw in some anatomical sketches of dissected specimens to create mood, though not if it delays the game even a minute. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
Now as for my opinions on the names: Skulk - Like it. Implies a smaller, craftier creature. Slink might be good too. Gorge - Probably my least favorite. I hear this word and think of a canyon. I know it's a reference to eating, just doesn't ring my bell. Lerk - I see this word and it gives me the image of something that lurks, which has nothing to do with flying. Fade - Good one here. First thought that comes to mind are the Mydrraal from Wheel of Time that can walk through the shadows. Possibly why it was chosen. Onos - Not sure I think much of this one. It's ok, but the word does not embody massiveness and power in my mind. Something with harder and/or more guttural sounds perhaps. Gorgos?
If you decide to give the aliens their own names, my suggestion would be to create a brief alien language for all of the creature's defining characteristics, and then assemble the terms to create descriptive names. Say we make the alien term for soldier/trooper K'narr. And the alien word for vanish is Xev. (just examples). Then the alien term for the level 4 is XevK'narr. Just a thought.
I dont like any of them <!--emo&???--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'><!--endemo--> I prefer the nick names...they seem more suitede to each class.. plus bob is the name of my bunny who attacks anyone that comes near him <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo--> maybe you should just stick to the nick names to avoid confusion?
*hides in the corner and prepares to be pelted by stones*
The names seem... workable, but I feel they need work. I see how the old ones fail just as the marines probably wouldn't call such a threat to their lives something so silly. The new ones seem an improvement to me, but shouldn't be the final word.
<!--QuoteBegin--SentrySteve+Aug. 26 2002,18:12--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (SentrySteve @ Aug. 26 2002,18:12)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--.Unit+Aug. 26 2002,17:32--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (.Unit @ Aug. 26 2002,17:32)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->The community nicknames sound better because it actually sounds like something the marines would come up with.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> I could not agree more, these names dont sound like something marines in an intense battle would say. They dont really roll off the tounge at all. It is really, really, a shame that the dev team hates the un-offical names so much becuase they really fit the aliens well, and everyone already knows them. Not to mention, they are just 100% easier to say.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> You have to remember, the scientists would be the second to see them, after one base is attacked, you wouldnt have any survivors. So maybe the nicknames like blinky will be used ingame, but remember, the game would look less professional if 'bob' were shown to all the new guys.
I agree that the community-names are not scientific and professional-sounding. But most of us are going to be playing as Marines who love putting lead into these aliens...not scientists that dissect and study them. I think marines would care very little for how scientific their nick-names for the aliens are.
As for making the mod seem un-professional to the public, I doubt the mere nick-names would have any effect on the public players, the instant they actually load up the game and enter a server, all doubts of "professionalism" would dissapear.
Also...this is a mod for team-work and fun, from what I've gathered. Not a realism-mod, if this was a realism-mod then the alien genomes probably need very detailed explanations behind their names, which is what most of you are trying to do right now. Personally I don't care much for why they're named that way...all I wanna do is be able to easily-call them simple, easy to remember names and shoot the damn things.
humbabaThat Exciting Tales From the Frontline GuyJoin Date: 2002-01-25Member: 86Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
It's all about atmosphere. So much time and effort for this mod has been spent working in beautifully moody artwork, haunting music, and spoooooky sound effects. To have the channel spammed with "2 BOBS INCOMING!!!" ruins the immersion. It makes the hours of effort from the artists all for naught. That isnt to say the nicknames are evil (well, the dev team may say so, and, their word is LAW), in fact, I still love bob. But Bob stays in the forums and in the readyroom, and I never got used to the other nicks anyway. In game, I use "lvl 3 incoming". I think the preference is really to use either the "lvl [blank]" or one of the official nicks, as the forum nicks are too cutesey for the atmosphere of the game. Its hard to let go, I know, but for the sake of the game and the new forumers destined to arrive, lets adopt these. And for Flay, who is making such a great mod for us all.
/me points to this thread <a href="http://www.natural-selection.org/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=1;t=2328;st=10" target="_blank">http://www.natural-selection.org/cgi-bin....8;st=10</a>
Now.... lemme do some self pimpage, but it was Hida Tsuzua who inspired me
As for the name, I like "Peregrinus validus" or "powerful stranger." It shows that they are new to the humankind as being aliens and that they are threat. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin--> I like your idea HT... so perhaps latin names...
So the full official names would be "Peregrinus validus Parvus"=bob "Peregrinus validus Obesus"=Fatty "Peregrinus validus Avolare"=batty "Peregrinus validus Abire"= Blinky "Peregrinus validus Colossicus"= Tiny <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Now maybe I'm some geek, but I'd prefer to have the official names be in this kind of a format, following the international scientific standard, and then, as the community goes "WTF is up with these long names" they'll play the role of a real grunt by creating nicknames from the longassed offical ones that will hopefully stick. Thou I'll always refer to the lvl1 as bob, even if everyone else in the game keeps on saying "WTF are you talking about you idiot?!?!?!?"
i am not really keen of gorge i get so many other words in my mind other than the real one like george gore, and i think when im playing a game ill prolly blurt out george instead of gorge because im in such a panic to shoot it or run and im not really paying attention.
Lurk doesnt seem like it fits someone who flys, maybe a name like..well i cant think of one now....
onos doesnt scare me, this alien needs a name to strike fear in the hearts of those who hear it. like DESTROYER OF ALL GOOD THINGS!!!! jk some scary name.
Comments
ONI!= ghost
what Oni actualy meens is intranslatable (it is something we simply don't have in our culturE)
however the most comon trans of it is Demon (they are sorta evil(ish) spirits, again we don't have a paralel)
ok as for ontopic here are my thoughts:
are those names suposed to be the Marines names for the aliens? or are they suposed to be the aliens names for them selves?
personaly I rather like them (though sorta eh on a few) what I do like about them is that they are decent enough names and they don't preclude ppl having pet names for em (forinstance bob, tiny etc)
oh well, still can't place those names b/c I don't have that good pics of what they look like (are there any actual pics of em?)
hehe, personaly I think I would be gasping OH SH** and craking up the first time I am run over by a lvl 5 ;D
1: Skulk ( I like this name, but it dosen't fit the level one. I'm not saying that Bob did, but it is definatly not what I was thinking. Somthing that sounds more cruel, like <u>Vec</u>
2:Gorge (I think of two things when i see this name. Eating a lot, and a lousy Democratic candidate. Unfortunatly, I can come up with nothing better.)
3:Lerk (I like this one a lot. I can hear people saing in game "LERKER IN THE VENTS!" over voice com)
4:Fade (<u> Your serious? </u>why?!?! Does umbra make a noise? If so, i think it should be that. I wouldn't mind him being called <u>Hiss</u> or <u>Kish</u>)
5:Onos (This really sounds like irc babaling. "Onos! The level five is going to eat me! Onos Mr.Bill!" No. Really dosen't do it. How about <u>Ortos</u>?)</b>
<!--emo&???--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'><!--endemo-->
First, he had this very discussion amongst the devs.
Then, he had it in the PT forum.
Now, he has it here.
i dont care about their abilities reflected in the names, i just want the name to fit the animal,
thats like calling my dog Berk'n'Bita its not that awesome
yea, that sounds like a good idea.. but.. im just a lowly drone or something..
These names were mainly cooked up between Flayra and Jeff the writer. I think they were kept short to fit on the scoreboard.
I agree with whoever said these names don't have <b>it</b>.
I also believe that the names are too individual, Lerk, Fade...etc they all sound like the names of a particular Alien, maybe they're the "Generals" of that particular alien genome, but they do not generalize that type at all.
When I first came on to the forums, and people were coming up with the names Bob, Pudgy, Flyer, Blinky, and Tiny. The first time I saw those names I LOVED THEM and became immediately attached to them, they sound general, simple to remember, and most of all it actually sounds like something the marines would call those buggers.
Think of it this way...a group of marines advancing slowly...one of them spots an alien, is he more likely to yell out "ONE LERK and a FADE SPOTTED." or would he yell "ONE FLYER!! ONE BLINKY!!" The community nicknames sound better because it actually sounds like something the marines would come up with.
I've read almost every single PT story that's posted here and frankly...if you replaced the community-names with the new-names in those stories...they lose their appeal...
Just my 2 cents.
[edited in] Remember StarCraft? Hydralisks, Ultralisks, Zerglings, Mutalisks. However "scientific" these names sounded, people ended up calling them "hydras", "ultras", "lings", "mutas" because they were short, simple, and everyone understood them.
< Likes .Unit
V is going to remind me this is the wrong thread
< Made the 'Oh No's joke. =P
V Will promptly stop this nonsense!
I could not agree more, these names dont sound like something marines in an intense battle would say. They dont really roll off the tounge at all. It is really, really, a shame that the dev team hates the un-offical names so much becuase they really fit the aliens well, and everyone already knows them. Not to mention, they are just 100% easier to say.
What we are used to are the slang names, Bob, Pudgy, Batty(never caught on), Blinky, and Tiny. What the devs are proposing are not replacements to the slang names, but rather common names to enhance the game's atmosphere. I think what might be a good idea is in the manual when describing the aliens, include 3 name columns. Common, slang, and alien(whatever they would call themselves). Maybe throw in some anatomical sketches of dissected specimens to create mood, though not if it delays the game even a minute. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
Now as for my opinions on the names:
Skulk - Like it. Implies a smaller, craftier creature. Slink might be good too.
Gorge - Probably my least favorite. I hear this word and think of a canyon. I know it's a reference to eating, just doesn't ring my bell.
Lerk - I see this word and it gives me the image of something that lurks, which has nothing to do with flying.
Fade - Good one here. First thought that comes to mind are the Mydrraal from Wheel of Time that can walk through the shadows. Possibly why it was chosen.
Onos - Not sure I think much of this one. It's ok, but the word does not embody massiveness and power in my mind. Something with harder and/or more guttural sounds perhaps. Gorgos?
If you decide to give the aliens their own names, my suggestion would be to create a brief alien language for all of the creature's defining characteristics, and then assemble the terms to create descriptive names. Say we make the alien term for soldier/trooper K'narr. And the alien word for vanish is Xev. (just examples). Then the alien term for the level 4 is XevK'narr. Just a thought.
I prefer the nick names...they seem more suitede to each class.. plus bob is the name of my bunny who attacks anyone that comes near him <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->
maybe you should just stick to the nick names to avoid confusion?
*hides in the corner and prepares to be pelted by stones*
The names seem... workable, but I feel they need work. I see how the old ones fail just as the marines probably wouldn't call such a threat to their lives something so silly. The new ones seem an improvement to me, but shouldn't be the final word.
I could not agree more, these names dont sound like something marines in an intense battle would say. They dont really roll off the tounge at all. It is really, really, a shame that the dev team hates the un-offical names so much becuase they really fit the aliens well, and everyone already knows them. Not to mention, they are just 100% easier to say.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You have to remember, the scientists would be the second to see them, after one base is attacked, you wouldnt have any survivors. So maybe the nicknames like blinky will be used ingame, but remember, the game would look less professional if 'bob' were shown to all the new guys.
As for making the mod seem un-professional to the public, I doubt the mere nick-names would have any effect on the public players, the instant they actually load up the game and enter a server, all doubts of "professionalism" would dissapear.
Also...this is a mod for team-work and fun, from what I've gathered. Not a realism-mod, if this was a realism-mod then the alien genomes probably need very detailed explanations behind their names, which is what most of you are trying to do right now. Personally I don't care much for why they're named that way...all I wanna do is be able to easily-call them simple, easy to remember names and shoot the damn things.
Again, just my 2 cents.
That isnt to say the nicknames are evil (well, the dev team may say so, and, their word is LAW), in fact, I still love bob. But Bob stays in the forums and in the readyroom, and I never got used to the other nicks anyway. In game, I use "lvl 3 incoming". I think the preference is really to use either the "lvl [blank]" or one of the official nicks, as the forum nicks are too cutesey for the atmosphere of the game.
Its hard to let go, I know, but for the sake of the game and the new forumers destined to arrive, lets adopt these. And for Flay, who is making such a great mod for us all.
Now.... lemme do some self pimpage, but it was Hida Tsuzua who inspired me
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin--> Hida Tsuzua
As for the name, I like "Peregrinus validus" or "powerful stranger." It shows that they are new to the humankind as being aliens and that they are threat. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->
I like your idea HT... so perhaps latin names...
Bob: parvus (small)
Fatty: obesus (fat)
Batty: avolare (fly away)
blinky: abire (go away)
Tiny: colossicus (huge)
So the full official names would be
"Peregrinus validus Parvus"=bob
"Peregrinus validus Obesus"=Fatty
"Peregrinus validus Avolare"=batty
"Peregrinus validus Abire"= Blinky
"Peregrinus validus Colossicus"= Tiny <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Now maybe I'm some geek, but I'd prefer to have the official names be in this kind of a format, following the international scientific standard, and then, as the community goes "WTF is up with these long names" they'll play the role of a real grunt by creating nicknames from the longassed offical ones that will hopefully stick. Thou I'll always refer to the lvl1 as bob, even if everyone else in the game keeps on saying "WTF are you talking about you idiot?!?!?!?"
Lurk doesnt seem like it fits someone who flys, maybe a name like..well i cant think of one now....
onos doesnt scare me, this alien needs a name to strike fear in the hearts of those who hear it. like DESTROYER OF ALL GOOD THINGS!!!! jk some scary name.
The rest i like and they seem to fit with me.