Natural Selection And Starcraft
Narog
Join Date: 2003-03-13 Member: 14459Members
Join Date: 2003-03-13 Member: 14459Members
I'm new to this game and like it a lot. It's kind of clear that Starcraft has been a major inspiration source for the developers.. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
It's one thing that confuses me though: The resemblance between the alien race (Kazaa or whatever the name is <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->) and the Zerg from Starcraft.
The level 1 alien (skulk I think it's called?) in NS is the Zergling, the lerk is that flying thing from starcraft (that I can't remember the name of) the onos is the ultralisk and finally the fade.. It's supposed to be the equivalent of a hydralisk right? Then why has it got two legs??
I understand it might be because of copyright issues but as far as I know blizzard can't do anything as long as natural selection remains free, right?
It's one thing that confuses me though: The resemblance between the alien race (Kazaa or whatever the name is <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->) and the Zerg from Starcraft.
The level 1 alien (skulk I think it's called?) in NS is the Zergling, the lerk is that flying thing from starcraft (that I can't remember the name of) the onos is the ultralisk and finally the fade.. It's supposed to be the equivalent of a hydralisk right? Then why has it got two legs??
I understand it might be because of copyright issues but as far as I know blizzard can't do anything as long as natural selection remains free, right?
Comments
NS has, as Comp said, lots of sources of inspiration, SC (which Flayra, the lead designer refers to as "Best. Game. Ever") one of them. The 'Aliens' movies are another, as are lots of RTS and FPS games. Trying to base ones exceptions for NS on any of them is however bound to leave you dissapointed, because they're just that - inspirations.
The role of the Onos is another than that of the Ultralisk, the Lerk is a support fighter where the Mutalisk is an air-borne shocktrooper. The Gorge has no equivalent at all, and the Skulk really only shares its size and claws with the Zergling.
And the wallclimbing is from AVP.. Another inspiration
Nothing is original anymore, NS just happenes to be rather original (I can, if given time, find places and things that are VERY close to nearly everything in NS, however they are from all over ;D)
and yes, I think we should dub thee flame bait
You aint the first to spot resemblences between this and SC. As long as you're not calling it "cs with aliens" or "an AvP clone"...
You aint the first to spot resemblences between this and SC. As long as you're not calling it "cs with aliens" or "an AvP clone"...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thanks for the welcome.
About the resemblences, mind if I call it "cs with starcraft"? <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
Anyway, this thread was by no means intended as flame bait. The main reason was to see if the decision to make the aliens look slightly different was to avoid a lawsuit, because ever since USMC: Infestation (an Aliens total conversion for Half-Life) got FOXed I've grown to hate the kind of power the big companies have over projects like these. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->
We discussed the basic look we wanted to go for (natural, animal-like creatures), then Flayra merely told me what the aliens abilities would be, and I designed them to match. So there was no effort on my end to avoid a lawsuit by staying away from SC, I simply wanted to create unique and interesting aliens that were different from all the other games and movies out there.
Tihi.
We discussed the basic look we wanted to go for (natural, animal-like creatures), then Flayra merely told me what the aliens abilities would be, and I designed them to match. So there was no effort on my end to avoid a lawsuit by staying away from SC, I simply wanted to create unique and interesting aliens that were different from all the other games and movies out there. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
And u did a great job (u know that already tho <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> ), all games are ripped of from something anyway (IRL, doh)
You aint the first to spot resemblences between this and SC. As long as you're not calling it "cs with aliens" or "an AvP clone"...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thanks for the welcome.
About the resemblences, mind if I call it "cs with starcraft"? <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
Anyway, this thread was by no means intended as flame bait. The main reason was to see if the decision to make the aliens look slightly different was to avoid a lawsuit, because ever since USMC: Infestation (an Aliens total conversion for Half-Life) got FOXed I've grown to hate the kind of power the big companies have over projects like these. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Cant forget Bid For Power. I was looking forward to that game for ages, then they took away all the DBZ chars, and the only reason to play it. Fortunately you can still find the original files that the devs (a friend of mine included) leaked.
While certain sci-fi games were inspration for NS, you try coming into the NS chat and telling flay that he's ripping off starcraft and see how he reacts. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
The original author was RhoadsToNowhere.
It was posted in a great thread on the artwork forum, <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=7&t=6181&st=0' target='_blank'>NS in other games</a>. There are probably about a hundred pics there from NS being put into famous (and infamous) games. There were more, but sadly attatchments were lost when we moved from UBB to Invision boards. :(
You aint the first to spot resemblences between this and SC. As long as you're not calling it "cs with aliens" or "an AvP clone"...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thanks for the welcome.
About the resemblences, mind if I call it "cs with starcraft"? <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
Anyway, this thread was by no means intended as flame bait. The main reason was to see if the decision to make the aliens look slightly different was to avoid a lawsuit, because ever since USMC: Infestation (an Aliens total conversion for Half-Life) got FOXed I've grown to hate the kind of power the big companies have over projects like these. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Funny that you mention this. A while back (before NS release), FOX was trying to release an AVP2 expansion pack entitled "Aliens versus Predators 2: Natural Selection." Thankfully, the NS team had copyrighted the name and subsequently pwned fox into changing the title of their game to "Primal Hunt."
The way the aliens twitch when stood still...It's a great effect!
-psygnosis-
Whoa, that's freakin awesome. Power to the indie developers! *pumps first in air*
I think the title of Best. Game. Ever. now belongs to NS in my book...
You aint the first to spot resemblences between this and SC. As long as you're not calling it "cs with aliens" or "an AvP clone"...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thanks for the welcome.
About the resemblences, mind if I call it "cs with starcraft"? <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
Anyway, this thread was by no means intended as flame bait. The main reason was to see if the decision to make the aliens look slightly different was to avoid a lawsuit, because ever since USMC: Infestation (an Aliens total conversion for Half-Life) got FOXed I've grown to hate the kind of power the big companies have over projects like these. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Funny that you mention this. A while back (before NS release), FOX was trying to release an AVP2 expansion pack entitled "Aliens versus Predators 2: Natural Selection." Thankfully, the NS team had copyrighted the name and subsequently pwned fox into changing the title of their game to "Primal Hunt." <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Heh cool. Fox got foxed!
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->Thank you. I was feeling guilty not giving due credit to the man. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
It IS possible to create sprites of NS characters in SC... then you could create a custom map with NS rules. If anybody is interested in doing this, let me know. I would definetly help out.
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In fact, why don't I just make a custom map of SC to resemble the gameplay of NS for fun. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
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<!--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 personally cant see the resemblence between ns and starcraft outside of their concept genre (which is heavily populated) though I swear the voices are simliar but a bit jumbled. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->This could be because Flayra got a voice actor who did some voice acting for StarCraft.
Was Bluebyte's 'Incubation' (turn based 3d camera aliens vs marines) an inspiration in the making of NS. Because I think of incubation before i think of star craft.
Especially the underground Levels in Incubation - the look and feel is the same when playing NS maps.
AND especially the little spider-like alien's attack where it sacrifices itself to kill any nearby marines in an acid cloud. Even looks like xenocide!
/me goes to find a copy in a bargain bin somewhere because he lost his
skulks are like zergling, but altered alittle (primarily mele attacker, weak and cheap)
gorges are like drone (build stuff)
lerks are like mutalisks, but altered alot to fit the gameplay (flys and has ranged attacks)
fades are like hydralisks, but altered alitle (can be mele? or ranged)
onos are like ultralisks, but altered alittle (mele lords + bulldozers lotsa health)
of course the models do not look anything alike but thier abilities and uses are kinda similar... of course starcraft takes place in a more 2d planar open space.
there is of course alot of uniqueness in this game but... but whatever like they said.. this game was inspiered by other sci-fi games...
but i do swear that the commander's hud voice seems quite simiar... well kinda...
We need infantry portals --
Good evening, magistrate --
No, no, that's not it.... maybe it's the voice of shodan.
Welcome back to Citidel Station --
Select your troops, and give them orders --
.... I just don't know *cries*