catbarf on 27/3/2009 at 19:06

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I was thinking the other day about the differences between Dead Space and SS2 when I realized that a pronounced one can be found in the enemies. The ones in Dead Space are simply monsters. They're uncoordinated, occasionally hunting in packs but all too often just jump out of vents alone and die. The Many, on the other hand, are characterized as being intelligent. And, since they have a hive mind, the individual hybrids are ostensibly able to communicate with each other.

So, I find it rather odd that you very rarely see the Many working in a coordinated group. While there are occasional ambushes and signs of intelligence, such as the midwife destroying the computer or the wave of hybrids that attacks shortly after, you usually fight solitary individuals or small groups. They just wander around, and their compatriots don't respond to the threat they must know you pose in the area.

The point of the thread is this. Would you prefer it if SS2 showed more coordination from the Many? If instead of acting in patrol paths and single encounters, they hunt for you and prepare ambushes? I considered the possibility of the Many using the cameras to locate you, so that the more cameras you set off, the more likely you are to have significant opposition come your way. Instead of fighting the occasional wandering Hybrid, the halls would be mostly empty- until you see a group of ten come barreling down the hallway ahead of you, responding to the alarm you set off elsewhere in the level.

Would this be more interesting to play against? Or would it be too strange a method of gameplay?

General Four on 27/3/2009 at 20:21

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Honestly that would be cool.

But even though I'm all up for modding SS2, I don't think it would work. The dark engine is a pain in the ass when it comes to AI. But if somebody wants to, CHEERS TO YOU, NOBLE SOUL!:thumb:
On the can it work within the lore of the game side, it really seems it should. From what I remember from the research reports, the grubs/worms do have limited psychic powers. Combine them with a recently living crewmember
and it wouldn't be surprising for the hybrids to at least have some basic "Cover Me I'm going in" tactics. As you would think action movies would still be around for the average person to have an idea of S.W.A.T. style operating procedures.
Course this idea assumes the hybrids still have the use of their human memories.
Which brings the problem of what happened to the memories of the hybrids?
Does the Many have them? Or did the just die with the human when the Many took over?

Rambling post short, good idea, but how is going to be tough.

Kolya on 27/3/2009 at 21:40

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A question like this should be tackled from a technical direction first I think. Otherwise you quickly get lost in fun but ultimately useless lore discussion. So I'll add the little I know: The hybrids do communicate with each other via sound and sight that triggers alarm states in any single hybrid, eg finding a corpse or hearing another hybrid scream "Run!"
This does allow for calling in support but certainly not "SQUAD tactics". I have no idea how those are technically implemented in other games and it would be interesting and necessary to take a look at this before thinking of ways how this could be translated for the dark engine.

General Four on 27/3/2009 at 22:27

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I didn't mean to imply YOU.:sweat:

I meant IF (BIG IF) somebody did come along and modded SS2 like this, I would raise my glass and toast them. I had no other motive then to talk about the idea, not say, push for it to happen. I'm not sending someone down a path I wouldn't take.

Course if somebody does want to do it don't let my misgivings stop you.:D

JediKorenchkin on 28/3/2009 at 15:13

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Ending a question with a period is acceptable if it is rhetorical.