Are Higarans Human?

[Admiral_Lawn]

I rekkon they r caus look at the HW2 poster!!!:)

What do u think?

[Retroboy]

Interesting question.

I don't know, but certainly wouldn't want the theme to Homeworld 2 to be "Let's find the lost planet of our lost colony... Earth." It's been done... and done badly at that!

I do note that the animatics in Cataclysm also had representatives of the Somtaaw and others clan appearing distinctly as elegant humanoids, and Karen Sjet had a very humanlike sillhouette in HW as well.

-- Retro

-- Retro

[sub]

Yes.

[Seeker]

Just because they are humanoid, that doesn't mean that they are human.

There could be aliens that look like humans.

[The Preacher]

I believe they are. This is of course assuming that by human you mean a create with the same genetic makeup as us, not someone who was originally from earth.

[B3-bomber]

theyre human, just take a good look at the last missions of homeworld and the first one on cata. blue planet and one very familiar moon....

[Admiral_Lawn]

Thanks for ur comments!!!

I didnt get up to the last levels of HW!!! Mainly becaus i got really trashed by the Keapers of the Garden and gave up!:rage:

But it would be cool to see them...

[MakodFilu]

Originally posted by Seeker
Just because they are humanoid, that doesn't mean that they are human.

There could be aliens that look like humans.

In reality, not. In a game, maybe...

[MakodFilu]

Originally posted by The Preacher
I believe they are. This is of course assuming that by human you mean a create with the same genetic makeup as us, not someone who was originally from earth.

Huh! If you are talking about 'same genetic makeup', you are talking of 'genoma extract of an original earthling' as well...

No way to obtain that in another planet...

[Rebel]

Originally posted by B3-bomber
theyre human, just take a good look at the last missions of homeworld and the first one on cata. blue planet and one very familiar moon....


Hiigara isn't earth (at least not literally, perhaps symbolically)

This is because it is so close to the center of it's galaxy. By the time our solar system has reached the galactic core, so to speak, the earth would have been engulfed by our once red giant sun, now living out its existence as a white dwarf.

[Rebel]

Originally posted by MakodFilu


Huh! If you are talking about 'same genetic makeup', you are talking of 'genoma extract of an original earthling' as well...

No way to obtain that in another planet...



Hmm, not necessarily. There's enough stuff in this universe of ours for the possibility that somewhere out amongst the stars another being with similar genetic makeup exists, existed, or will exist.

[MakodFilu]

Not true. Even in Earth, if he wheel of time went backward and then forward again, evolution won't be the same.

[Retroboy]

Makod's right. If you subscribe to the theories of evolution (not that I'd want this to become a creationism debate), it's not statistically possible that separate evolution could lead to a similar genetic structure.

Rebel, Kushan ancestors had hyperdrive and the Momship made the trip from the edge of the galaxy to the core in mere months. Transit time to/from Earth woudn't be an issue.

The most "realistic" scenario is that Hiigarans/Kushan are our greatgreatgreat...(repeat ad nauseum)...greatgrandchildren.

-- Retro

[sajuukar]

Well, you can't say that it's statistically impossible, but it is ridiculously improbable. So maybe, this happend to be one of those ridiculouse chances... not that I belive in evolution or anything.
:angel:

[ionfish]

Have you lot never watched Star Trek? All aliens look like humans, dur.

[Stoo]

And don't forget Star Wars either; where humans are the dominant part of a galactic population "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away".

[Retroboy]

Have you lot never watched Star Trek? All aliens look like humans, dur.
Yes, that's true. It's a good thing that the Star Trek universe is based on real observation and not science fiction, otherwise this, too, would be in doubt.

;)

Actually, there was a Next Generation episode where they decoded a bunch of alien DNA and it held a message from the "Creators" - a common humanoid ancestor that long ago seeded our galaxy with life that would turn out eventually to be preferentially humanlike. Silly, but that's how they explained it.

-- Retro

[MakodFilu]

IonFish, Stoo:
...as I said, in fiction (i said 'in games') it could be possible.
...in reality... not...

[Seeker]

I thought I read somewhere that the reason they put all of the aliens in Star Trek looking like humans, was a financial issuse.

[ionfish]

Retro: one of these days I really must take the time to introduce you to the concept of irony...

[dough]

Not enough people get irony.

[Retroboy]

LOL! That's why I always use smilies when being ironic (or sarcastic) myself. Gives people a clue (hopefully) that I'm being deliberately dumb.

1+1=3. :D

-- Retro

[Revolver]

I'd like think that the possibility of an alien race looking a lot like us isn't so absurd. After all, if we "evolved" to this point, that must say something about our suitability in the sceme of things on this world.

With this in mind, aliens from similar type planets could bear quite a humanoid resemblance. Intelligence and sentience too could simply be traits that made sense for humanoids - without them I'd suspect we would have died out long ago.

[MakodFilu]

Revolver: Seems that you are insulting dolphin and elephant (among others) intelligence (and sentience) :p :D.
...the elephants have even mortuory rituals... (just my 0.02€).

...about the configuration, maybe you are right about a necessity of arms to manipulate, but why only two? Fingers? Why not ventoses?, or something *really* alien?, or...

...know what i mean?... ;)

[MakodFilu]

Just remembering: Octopuses have the intelligence of a 6 years old human (or were 3).

...a real achievement for an invertebrate criature, don't you think, Revolver? :D

[The5thElephant]

You scared me there for a second. I read what you said as someone insulted ME, and I was afraid that I was too stupid to notice and that everyone was laughing behind my back. I've heard the theory that the humanoid form makes a lot of sense for a planet like ours and thats why other sentient creatures from a planet similar to earth would have humanoid features. Agree disagree?

[MakodFilu]

Definately... disagree. An intelligent lifeform doesn't need human appearance. In fact, it's *way-really-highly* unlikely, if not impossible: even in Earth, if evolution went back and forth, humanity won't be existed, nor any of the creatures we know. Other creatures, even civilizations maybe, but not one thing would be the same.

[AcolyteOfDeath]

What if the Homeworld universe is a parallel universe to our own, and Hiigarans are humans, but Earth isn't necessarily where it is, and exactly like it is right now. Perhaps it is the distant future (to us), and the Humans have split into two different (but oddly similar) "races", much like two long-lost ethnic groups. These might be the Taiidan and Hiigarans. You guys never considered the "alternate universe" theory. Homeworld is just one possbility in an infinity of possibilities.

[Revolver]

"Other creatures, even civilizations maybe, but not one thing would be the same."

Sounds like you're working on the premise that evolution is totally random. In some ways it is, but in others it isn't. Starting over, sure, things would be different, but evolution's path wouldn't stray that much.

As far as multiple arms go, having more than two arms would be interesting, but for a humanoid, it would restrict each limb's range of movement. This is a bad thing.

We evolved our high intellect (well some of us :)) and sentience because it made sense in the context of our forms - we're general purpose creatures, with no "special" features for survival. Other creatures can survive without these things - monkeys have prehensile tails and feet, big cats have claws and teeth, birds have wings.

Basically, I think we have these two features because we needed them to survive. Not to say we have zero other merits - our bipedal movement and a pair of arms allows us to traverse nearly any terrain. We are highly adaptable to any environment - be it peaceful, dangerous, cold, hot, dry, wet, etc. Few creatures are as adaptable as us.

Finally, I apologize to all the dolphins and elephants and octopuses out there. I meant no disrespect. :)

[Retroboy]

We are highly adaptable to any environment - be it peaceful, dangerous, cold, hot, dry, wet, etc. Few creatures are as adaptable as us.This is only because of our intelligence and ability to create tools, though, not because of our bodily configuration. Your average naked human dropped in some strange woods somewhere isn't going to do very well for themselves unless they've read the right books or have survival training. We're hairless, have a lousy sense of smell, and we lost most of our instincts long ago. Heck, we can't even give birth without massive trauma, and our children are completely helpless for the first 3 years of their life.

However, the same human dropped in a different CITY will probably be okay, because they'd use their intelligence to figure out what to do and to acquire the tools that would make their lives easier. The same is true for a smart alien with a completely different configuration.

A long time ago, the conditions on our planet made it preferable to have endoskeletons, be warm-blooded, be omnivorous, breathe oxygen, and have a body type with bilateral symmetry and four limbs. There are so many factors that created these preferences that would possibly be different on other worlds, the odds of close symmetry in another intelligent species are NOT an absolute lock.

Thinking aliens would automatically be like us in appearance is a bit egotistical. :)

-- Retro

[the buggers]

maybe we are like the exiles, stuck on earth with no idea of our past and the khar toba is somewhere is the pacific

[MakodFilu]

Revolver: you already said :)
'...having more than two arms would restrict movement _for an humanoid_...'
...so what about if not humanoid? I think 3 arms and legs would do best, maybe even 5, like starfishes. Trilateral simmetry would provide 360 degress of action, running away capability in every direction, and better stability as well... ;)

[Rebel]

Human beings are NOT very well suited for normal survival. In fact, the only reason we're still around is that the start of our race was at the same time when herds of megafauna were everywhere. Most animals didn't live long enough to learn to fear human beings, so we could hunt until our heart's content.

If you look at humans, we are NOT very impressive (in fact, statistically, the only thing we excel in physically is our ability to jump horizontally). Our babies are born completely helpless, and with no muscle strength or coordination to speak of. In fact, we stay completely helpless until about 3 years of age mentally AND physically. Due to some form of cosmic luck, we survived long enough to develop the brain capacity to create tools. Eventually, we had become advanced enough to control our environment, and so we are.

I think that it is definetely possible for there to be a race very similar to us, basically hinging on the idea that the universe is infinite. If that theory is true, then there are not only an infinite number of possibilities and infinite number of earths, but an infinite number of EVERY occurence. Therefore, we can assume that if the universe goes on for eternity, then there are an infinite number of human beings and earths and everything present in the universe.

[CruiserCarrier]

Too long of a thread, so I'll jump to the point. The Hiigarans, least to me, symbolize humans. They may be humanoid, they may be completely human. Take a good look at some of the Cata slides. I think the resemblance is supposed to draw the player in, to connect the player with the misfortunes for their race and the sheer determination of your race to win through.

[Retroboy]

The Hiigarans, least to me, symbolize humans. Agreed.

It's also MUCH easier to root for the terrestrial-looking alien than the one that looks like Frankenstein on crack put it together. Science Fiction gets a lot of mileage out of stories where the misunderstood weird-looking alien is the actual good guy, but everyone expected its very human-looking alien enemy to be the hero, and the latter's nefarious plans to conquer the universe almost succeed because all the players had preconceptions.

Based on appearances, who would most people want as a next-door neighbor: :angel: or :devil: ?

-- Retro

[Seeker]

Well said Retro.

[MakodFilu]

So, going to the point, hiigarans are human, at least no possibility for them to be alien. Even if for chance, a race so similar to us, earthlings, would groove up somewhere, most of the time it would become extinct before reaching the space. :D

[Rebel]

I agree with that :)

In most situations Human beings wouldn't live long enough to pass gas twice in their lifetime

[megaboyd]

if you read the Chronicles of the lensmen by E.E. "Doc" Smith
on every earth type world there are humanoid type beings.
for example: 4 arms, 2 mouths, and no eyes. E.E. "Doc" Smith is very descriptive.

[MakodFilu]

??? ...i didn't got the point.
...on every earth like world there are... too many bizarre types of life u can't even dream off, or no life at all.

[Retroboy]

Mega, for every science-fiction source you quote that has the dominant lifeform being humanoid, I can find another that has mixed body-types being non-humanoid in form. :)

Science fiction, particularly forty-year-old books that contain phrases like "...and hellacious Q-beams tore at the hyperpowered defensive atomic lattices, searching for a weakness they could exploit to penetrate to the fragile ships within...", doesn't make good reference material for debates. :D

I did very much enjoy that series, however. It was the ultimate pulp science fiction oddysey.

-- Retro