It's science fiction, it's for entertainment - it's not meant to make sense otherwise it would be boring. No science fiction universe would be as good if it was fully grounded in reality. For example, something like an Emperor-Class Battleship from W40K would not be as cool if it made sense:
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/C5zut.jpg[/IMG]
The whole point of it is that it looks good.
[QUOTE=wraithcat;34444099]Yeah but for space, it's a much better design than a forward thrusting space ship. The absolutely ideal shape in space is a sphere, a square is not so bad either though. You get easy standardisation of section, very little lost space, and a bunch of other beneficial things. Also standard kinetic weapons in space? Have fun.
[/QUOTE]
You have 2 more directions to think about so yeah something that is symmetrical would be better. However if we consider the use of tactics and strategy, it would be better to have something that focuses firepower and armour in a single direction. Sure a sphere will be equally armoured and armed all around, however with tactics you could only keep one side facing the enemy, and gaining a huge advantage to armour and firepower compared to the sphere.
Also kinetic weaponry would work great, though not what we currently use (unless we have a air chamber where the kinetic energy is transferred to the projectile, then let out into space). Magnetic propulsion should work great, missiles as well as long as you manage to keep the propellant burning.
A pistol in space would be fearsome though, no air resistance so the bullets wouldn't sterilize themselves by the time they are in the wound.
[QUOTE=nightlord;34445655]It's science fiction, it's for entertainment - it's not meant to make sense otherwise it would be boring. No science fiction universe would be as good if it was fully grounded in reality. For example, something like an Emperor-Class Battleship from W40K would not be as cool if it made sense:
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/C5zut.jpg[/IMG]
The whole point of it is that it looks good.[/QUOTE]
I think this picture personifies 40k.
[img]http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x26/SteveBerenyi/BlockHeadMain.jpg[/img]
Are chainsaws the size of skyscrapers practical? No.
Are they extremely fucking awesome? Yes, yes they are.
The one thing that pisses me off the most in most science fiction works is the lack of firepower. Sorry but I can't really get immersed when in 2500 they have less firepower than we have now.
[QUOTE=wraithcat;34444099]The absolutely ideal shape in space is a sphere[/QUOTE]
[img]http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/death-star-1.jpg[/img]
And OP says star wars wasn't right...?!
[QUOTE=Boba_Fett;34445924]I think this picture personifies 40k.
[img]http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x26/SteveBerenyi/BlockHeadMain.jpg[/img]
Are chainsaws the size of skyscrapers practical? No.
Are they extremely fucking awesome? Yes, yes they are.[/QUOTE]
That's the old design though, back when WH40k was a lot more cartoony. Titans (and everything else) look a lot more "realistic" and "practical" now (I used quotations for a reason).
[QUOTE=ForestRaptor;34444615]
[img]http://www.dk.co.uk/static/html/features/starwars/technology_gallery/images/ARC-170%20Fighter.jpg[/img]
[/QUOTE]
Spaceship too pointy, would not fly.
No, seriously. The designs are primarily meant to appeal to the target groups, and few cares if it's a realistic design.
[QUOTE=acds;34445957]That's the old design though, back when WH40k was a lot more cartoony. Titans (and everything else) look a lot more "realistic" and "practical" now (I used quotations for a reason).[/QUOTE]
Imperator and Warmonger Titans still look like that. None of the Titans would make sense if we apply real-world logic to it. They all have massive flaws that outweigh the few advantages. But if they were made to make sense and be realsitic, they would be boring and the whole point of them would be gone. They look cool, which is what they are supposed to.
Most sci-fi things are like that. Impractical, but if they were practical, they wouldn't fit in.
[QUOTE=Mxpklx;34439980][release]Guns![/release]
[img]http://www.bungie.net/images/Games/Reach/intel/weapons/ar.png[/img]
These are the most realistic guns I could actually see 500 years in the future. I have studied most other guns from different sci fi shows and none compare to these. They are modern, they are reliable, and they have prestigious design.[/QUOTE]
You forgot the Covenant weapons.
[IMG]http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100908011928/halo/images/3/3f/Plasmapistolrender.png[/IMG][IMG_thumb]http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111103235628/halo/images/4/47/ParticleBeamRifle-HighRes-Transparent.png[/IMG_thumb]
[IMG_thumb]http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111113225224/halo/images/2/2d/HaloReach-FocusRifle-Profile.png[/IMG_thumb][IMG_thumb]http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120114173845/halo/images/e/e1/Type-31_Rifle.png[/IMG_thumb]
[IMG_thumb]http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120114173558/halo/images/5/55/HReach_-_T33LAAW.png[/IMG_thumb][IMG_thumb]http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110819022728/halo/images/2/20/CovenantCarbine-Sidecrop-transparent.png[/IMG_thumb]
How do you even fire these things?
No mention of sound in space in those films/movies/games
[QUOTE=TheCronkofDestiny;34446465]You forgot the Covenant weapons.
[IMG]http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100908011928/halo/images/3/3f/Plasmapistolrender.png[/IMG][IMG_thumb]http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111103235628/halo/images/4/47/ParticleBeamRifle-HighRes-Transparent.png[/IMG_thumb]
[IMG_thumb]http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111113225224/halo/images/2/2d/HaloReach-FocusRifle-Profile.png[/IMG_thumb][IMG_thumb]http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120114173845/halo/images/e/e1/Type-31_Rifle.png[/IMG_thumb]
[IMG_thumb]http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120114173558/halo/images/5/55/HReach_-_T33LAAW.png[/IMG_thumb][IMG_thumb]http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110819022728/halo/images/2/20/CovenantCarbine-Sidecrop-transparent.png[/IMG_thumb]
How do you even fire these things?[/QUOTE]
[img]http://operatorchan.org/r/src/r21966_ancient-aliens-guy.jpg[/img]
I like Halo but frankly your case is invalidated. Take the Dersite Battleship from Homestuck as an example:
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v26/professorscissors/Homestuck/1629.gif[/img]
.
A flying battleship. Guess what. It's fiction. Hussie decided he wanted a flying battleship. It is [b]fiction[/b]. It's not supposed to be realistic.
This article is terribly written in places.
Also, the assault rifle from halo is a terrible weapon. Any military in it's right mind would never have fielded it as a main battle weapon. It is inaccurate, lacks stopping power, eats ammunition at insane rate.
A much better "good future-weapon" example would have been Battle Rifle from Halo 2/3, or the covenant Beam Rifle.0
[QUOTE=acds;34444010]Kinetic weaponry would tear those flat surfaces apart.[/QUOTE]
[img]http://images.wikia.com/memoryalpha/en/images/7/7a/Borg_Sphere.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=LDTInsomniac;34440686]You don't need friction to stop. You just need an opposing force, in the same way that friction is an example of an opposing force.[/QUOTE]
No but with enough friction you will stop with no effort on your part. The thing is in space you'd be the one directing that opposing force, and again, have fun doing that in space while in combat.
[QUOTE=nightlord;34445655]It's science fiction, it's for entertainment - it's not meant to make sense otherwise it would be boring. No science fiction universe would be as good if it was fully grounded in reality. For example, something like an Emperor-Class Battleship from W40K would not be as cool if it made sense:
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/C5zut.jpg[/IMG]
The whole point of it is that it looks good.[/QUOTE]
Well, Science fiction should technically be about plausible science in the future, wheras most stuff labelled as Science Fiction is generally Science Fantasy.
[QUOTE=Irockz;34446641]I like Halo but frankly your case is invalidated. Take the Dersite Battleship from Homestuck as an example:
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v26/professorscissors/Homestuck/1629.gif[/img]
.
A flying battleship. Guess what. It's fiction. Hussie decided he wanted a flying battleship. It is [b]fiction[/b]. It's not supposed to be realistic.[/QUOTE]
yeah, it's fiction, not science fiction
it's futuristic fantasy
scifi doesn't have to all be hard scifi you dorks
But why is it called science fiction if there's no science in it?
It's fantasy.
[QUOTE=Mxpklx;34439980][release]Guns![/release]
[img]http://www.bungie.net/images/Games/Reach/intel/weapons/ar.png[/img]
These are the most realistic guns I could actually see 500 years in the future. I have studied most other guns from different sci fi shows and none compare to these. They are modern, they are reliable, and they have prestigious design.
[/QUOTE]It's like something from 20 years into the future, not 500 years.
Besides, why the hell are they still using 7.62mm NATO rounds so far in the future, with an effective range of 300m on the standard assault rifle.
That's like giving your soldiers sticks when what they really need are competent guns.
You're so stuck in your fandom you're blind.
Fuck Halo in the ass for copying Ringworld.
The effective range of 7.62x51mm rifles today are pretty much only limited by the curvature of the earth and the strength of the wind.
In 500 years humans probably won't be doing the fighting, let alone using bullets.
[QUOTE=sp00ks;34447237]But why is it called science fiction if there's no science in it?
It's fantasy.[/QUOTE]
Exactly. "Soft scifi" like Star Wars is future fantasy while LotR is medieval fantasy and Harry Potter is current day fantasy.
And to all those saying that realistic scifi would suck. In my experience I enjoyed more realistic scifi a lot more. Take Battle LA for instance. If it wasn't just infantry combat action scenes for 90 minutes but instead the aliens were far more powerful (as one would expect from aliens that can travel light years and build robot soldiers) and the movie focused more on their motivations and technologies it might not have sucked as hard.
I think this was the OP's attempt to make an amateur cracked article and how people handled it.
It's sick people like you who gave halo such a bad name, Fuck you.
My only real thought after reading this was...
Who cares?
*facepalm*
My answer to all of the above:
Because it looks cool, or because it's cheaper.
The end. Stop caring about it and you will have a better life.
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