• Tired of SciFi Aliens looking like humans.
    239 replies, posted
Thread reminds me of how I'd like a Mass Effect movie.
[QUOTE=sami-pso;23627477]OP you try your hardest to think aliens are not humanoid. But you're restricting yourself from the possibility that the when we happen to meet the first alien species, they are in fact humanoid. The odds of finding a planet like earth are slim. With those same odds you should give any shape a chance. Including humanoid. Don't band wagon.[/QUOTE] Don't band wagon? Fucking seriously? Is there like, a band wagon for every damn opinion that people don't like now? And the possibility of a creature evolving on an entirely different planet with a different chemical make up, a different evolutionary process, a different environment etc. etc. and still coming out to look similar to us is so incredibly, skull fuckingly slim that it is basically impossible, excluding the possibility from your mind is as logical as excluding the possibility that you'll find out how to grow wings and fly. Nevertheless, giving an alien humanoid features to be more easily relate-able is fine for the sake of the story, but you have to admit the designers just didn't try with Avatar's Na'vi.
I think there's even more aliens looking like ALIENS, than there are of aliens looking like humans.
Sangheili are pretty inhuman in appearance, and yet their martial nature is still relatably human when they are unable to sacrifice their honor for the Great Journey and end up siding with humanity during the Halo Trilogy. [img]http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100408204707/halo/images/8/85/Halo_Reach_Sangheili.png[/img] Other than that, I can't think of a solidly cool alien race that isn't excessively human-like in appearance in most entertainment. Seems like most people haven't tried. They just aren't memorable. [b]Edit:[/b] Wiataminnit...turians. [img]http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/4942/224596-nihlus_super.jpg[/img]
Turians look a lot like cats IMO
I like how this thread is a [url=http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3331864]direct copy/paste of a SomethingAwful thread[/url]
If they have a face, their emotional expressions will likely be completely different and we won't have any idea what they are feeling. For a creature with lots of predators that still requires 3d vision, it would not be wasteful to have two eyes on the front and a few more to maintain better vision to the sides and back. Appendages such as arms are highly likely but for balance or just being vestigial, they could have more than 4 very easily. A head is possible but it is just as likely to be between their legs as on the top. As long as it can provide a decent sensory input, it doesn't matter.
[QUOTE=Amsay;23628325]Turians look a lot like cats IMO[/QUOTE] Um...Nihilus looks a lot like a cat from that angle. Is that what you're referring to?
[QUOTE=Flip pl;23623413]Argh, I hate that movie.[/QUOTE] What is it called, I can't remember I saw when I was younger.
[QUOTE=TH89;23628346]I like how this thread is a [url=http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3331864]direct copy/paste of a SomethingAwful thread[/url][/QUOTE] Also, since you guys still haven't figured out the answer to this question that the SA users came to on the first page, most science fiction is meant to tell metaphorical stories, not accurately predict the future. Aliens are stand-ins for tribal humans, or foreign aggressors, or oppressed minorities, or other things. They're human because they're allegorical FOR humans, and therefore have to be relatable enough for the allegory to work. If Neytiri was a silicon-based monstrosity who communicated in ultrasonic screams then the plot of Avatar would be emotionally unbelievable.
[QUOTE=Disgruntled;23622593]1. Take a regular Earth animal 2. Add extra limbs and other assorted body parts 3. ??? 4. ALIENS![/QUOTE] [b]OR[/b] 1. Take two known animals or something(EG a 'pill bug' and one of those roller droids from star wars) 2. Mash them together in a creative way, and apply cool materials and abilities 3. ??? 4. AWESOMER ALIENS FTW!!! :P
[QUOTE=nERVEcenter;23628395]Um...Nihilus looks a lot like a cat from that angle. Is that what you're referring to?[/QUOTE] Try putting a helmet on Garrus that doesn't cover his face, it looks a lot like this: [IMG]http://www.funnypicturesofcats.info/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/funny-pictures-of-cats-dot-info-043.jpg[/IMG]
Oh, lawdy. Is that some kittens?
It's way harder relate to characters that don't look human or at least have some human traits.
[QUOTE=Devodiere;23628391]If they have a face, their emotional expressions will likely be completely different and we won't have any idea what they are feeling. For a creature with lots of predators that still requires 3d vision, it would not be wasteful to have two eyes on the front and a few more to maintain better vision to the sides and back. Appendages such as arms are highly likely but for balance or just being vestigial, they could have more than 4 very easily. A head is possible but it is just as likely to be between their legs as on the top. As long as it can provide a decent sensory input, it doesn't matter.[/QUOTE] I find it hard imagining a humanoid with it's head in it's groin. A head mounted on the 'top' of a vertically standing body, that has 2 legs on the bottom and 2 arms up on the top sides, with all the soft squishy organs being in the middle of the body, AKA humanoid. All of our limbs are positioned that way because it's the best to suit our environment, taken from the creatures we descended from: apes. So really, the Na'vi should have four arms :colbert:
[QUOTE=lolnubs;23628774]I find it hard imagining a humanoid with it's head in it's groin. A head mounted on the 'top' of a vertically standing body, that has 2 legs on the bottom and 2 arms up on the top sides, with all the soft squishy organs being in the middle of the body, AKA humanoid. All of our limbs are positioned that way because it's the best to suit our environment, taken from the creatures we descended from: apes. So really, the Na'vi should have four arms :colbert:[/QUOTE] Doesn't need to be humanoid and it definitely won't be if it's head is displaced. Aliens can be non-humanoid but don't have to be absurdly strange. Deep sea fish are so strange because the conditions they are in are incredibly different to ours. Factors like gravity, air pressure, climate and terrain can vary greatly and still be closer to out own environment than deep sea fish.
I want an Alien 5, and if the rumors of it being directed by Ridley Scott are true then it should be fantastic. I want a back story, finally, for the past 30 years the general background of the xenomorphs have stayed secret, and I want to know it.
[QUOTE=Ghostwork;23622539]no, this [IMG]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_56uq77msz_g/SfbYVk2cPvI/AAAAAAAAATQ/i9iEXR9yWRo/s400/mars2-16-09.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] Those are still humanoid you know. The face looks like a human skull
I can't see their skulls? It's just brain and skin.
[QUOTE=Sure;23629358]I can't see their skulls? It's just brain and skin.[/QUOTE] :| [editline]06:58PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Amsay;23626830]Xenomorphs are still pretty humanoidish, apart from the tail and the long head.[/QUOTE] You ruin my life
[QUOTE=TH89;23628469]Also, since you guys still haven't figured out the answer to this question that the SA users came to on the first page, most science fiction is meant to tell metaphorical stories, not accurately predict the future. Aliens are stand-ins for tribal humans, or foreign aggressors, or oppressed minorities, or other things. They're human because they're allegorical FOR humans, and therefore have to be relatable enough for the allegory to work. If Neytiri was a silicon-based monstrosity who communicated in ultrasonic screams then the plot of Avatar would be emotionally unbelievable.[/QUOTE] That was mentioned a few times, first time on the first page.
C Clarke is one of the best authors alive, and how he describes the future of space travel sounds the most believable. Read them.
[QUOTE=TH89;23628469]Also, since you guys still haven't figured out the answer to this question that the SA users came to on the first page, most science fiction is meant to tell metaphorical stories, not accurately predict the future. Aliens are stand-ins for tribal humans, or foreign aggressors, or oppressed minorities, or other things. They're human because they're allegorical FOR humans, and therefore have to be relatable enough for the allegory to work. If Neytiri was a silicon-based monstrosity who communicated in ultrasonic screams then the plot of Avatar would be emotionally unbelievable.[/QUOTE] It's not the plot that'd be unbelievable. Written scifi seems to take more freedoms with alien appearance than films. It's just a question of what the media that's used allows. It's entirely possible to adequately describe feelings a human could not feel, and have a human reader understand them and their purpose, but it's not possible to display the alien that's experiencing those feelings on film and have the viewer understand why the alien is spasming like that.
[QUOTE=Raxas;23622563]When they look humanoid people relate to them easier. They can't read the emotions of, say, a fat slimy worm thing with writhing flagellum.[/QUOTE] Or a large, black, 1x4x9 monolith.
I can't imagine any evolved species not having hands. How would they be able to develop a space-faring civilization if they can't build or use tools or whatever?
[QUOTE=ThePuska;23629978]It's not the plot that'd be unbelievable. Written scifi seems to take more freedoms with alien appearance than films. It's just a question of what the media that's used allows. It's entirely possible to adequately describe feelings a human could not feel, and have a human reader understand them and their purpose, but it's not possible to display the alien that's experiencing those feelings on film and have the viewer understand why the alien is spasming like that.[/QUOTE] I think a more important reason why books can be more creative with their aliens is that when weird aliens appear on screen, the differences are constantly emphasised and it's much harder to relate to them. Similar to how it's easier to empathise with an attractive person rather than an ugly person.
[img]http://www.members.shaw.ca/halflifestory/evidence/combine/advisor.jpg[/img] They'd look something like this.
[IMG]http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/7029/reache310bruteminor.jpg[/IMG] Brutes, or the Jiralhanae if you want to be specific, who could forget them? Go Beserk when you strip them naked and do a flying jump drop punch to get revenge for it. Also 'Jiralhanae' is a Korean word which roughly means "stupid aggressive lunatic" which describes them perfectly.
[img]http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/9/2007/06/protector.jpg[/img] Big Daddies in [B]SPAYSE[/B] {Yes I know they're humans, but they NEVER take their helmets off.)
[QUOTE=Killuah;23622636]It's actually pretty likely for higher lifforms to look humanlike. For instance eyes: One eye is too less for 3D, 3 eyes would be wasting energy. 2 eyes is most likely. Then the concept of a "head". Organs for interacting with surroundings close to the brain is just effective, same for "hands".[/QUOTE] well being bipedal is not needed for being smart i think they most have someway of doing all the things that are needed like eyes but look at an octopus. it looks nothing like us but can pick up things and they are smart
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.