44 replies to this topic

[Isingdeath]

Butane9000, on 19 July 2012 - 09:34 AM, said:

I believe this disagrees with you. It's an Sukhoi Su-47 Bekut. The amount of actual aerodynamic options are fast. However there are a few that are definitely cheaper and easier to maintain and therefor that is why you see most plans with the standard wing configuration we are used to.

I see where your going not disagreeing on a micro level but my point was more towards the macro aspect. So I do not think your picture does disagree with my point. You show that to any person with half a brain and ask them what it is. Most will say its a jet fighter airplane without any hesitation.

[Moonunit]

Well, the concept art drawings all have the same background, which would put a bit of sameness into the mixture. They all share the trait of having a massively wide pelvis too. Apart from that, Stalker differs from Atlas differs from Centurion differs from Jenner. The Commando art is much nicer than the TRO pics I've seen. Perhaps OP is seeing that they're all fairly butch?

FWIW I don't think a wide pelvis is a good thing when one is supposed to be running, it would make the weight shift between steps larger and therefore more lumpy/ungainly. Fortunately game engines are not subject to normal physics.

Last but not least, skins/paint jobs will make a huge difference.

[xTgondii]

Nevinrral, on 19 July 2012 - 07:56 AM, said:

I actually appreciate the similarities between mechs. Regardless of the fact they came from different planets and cultures, they are the cutting edge of technology at the time and they are all based in the same manufacturing principles. There are limits to the changes the manufacturers can and are willing to make.

Also cost effectiveness is a factor here. You think everyone is making proprietary upper arm actuators ?. Hell no they are mass produced in space china !.

100% agree.... I could gladly sign this post....

[Dredrik Salkon Kerensky]

I think the only thing that looks the same is the Head on the Hunchback and head on the Spider.... they look awefully similar.

[Suprentus]

Tronchaser, on 19 July 2012 - 09:32 AM, said:

The design convergance of which you speak is another country saying "Oh ****, we need our interceptor to go Mach x.x and with a range of xxxx miles with a ceiling of xxxxxx feet." Easiest way to accomplish that? Shorten your R&D cycle by swiping the other guys design that already does that. Fellas, it's not earth shattering. Please.

The MECHS in this case look alike not because of the Great Houses stealing from each other, but that fact that the ART dept. that designed them is the same. Simple? YES! Good grief.

I really think you're missing the whole point here. The point is that similarities are utilitarian in nature. It doesn't matter if the same ART dept made the designs, or if someone stole from someone else. Bipedal mechs are going to be very similar to each other because there is practicality in mounting missile launchers somewhere, or arm mounted cannons, or cockpit placement. I drew the parallel between planes and mechs because similarities between them are utilitarian above all else. Not because of design stealing, not because of artistic license, but because their designs served a common purpose.

However, regardless of that, there is still much variation between the mechs, even though much of them share similarities.