Old Carrier vs New Carrier

[ArcherofAiur]

Again thats the "it works that way cause its a game/book/movie" explaination. But that doesnt change the fact that its ridiculous.

[sandwich_bird]

Zerg do a pretty good job, at least as far as the industry standards go. Protoss not so much (why would you need muscles if your a photoautotroph?).

To move so that you can always be in the sunniest place?

[ArcherofAiur]

To move so that you can always be in the sunniest place?

There is a much easier way. You spit out offspring to land on that sunnier place.

[sandwich_bird]

There is a much easier way. You spit out offspring to land on that sunnier place.

Yeah but then you have to consider that the Protoss are more advanced than plants on eart. e.g.: they live in society and they'll have to pay for all those offsprings that will go to college

But anyways, I think it's ok that a lot of aliens in sci-fi stuff are humanoid because we can't really prove in any ways atm that, if there's any other alien species out there, that they wouldn't share the same shape as us.

Back on topic: I prefer the carriers with the "windows". They don't have to be windows but you know, just some sort of design on the ship.

[Pandonetho]

Again thats the "it works that way cause its a game/book/movie" explaination. But that doesnt change the fact that its ridiculous.

What's ridiculous about it?

[Nicol Bolas]

But anyways, I think it's ok that a lot of aliens in sci-fi stuff are humanoid because we can't really prove in any ways atm that, if there's any other alien species out there, that they wouldn't share the same shape as us.

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. And I've listed to ArcherofAiur!

The most unlikely thing imaginable is that other aliens would share the same general shape as us. If Earth had maintained a higher oxygen content, "giant" arthropods (crabs, spiders, etc) would likely be the dominant land species. And they look nothing like us.

That's two almost entirely separate lines of evolutionary descent. Just on Earth. (note: this doesn't get into aquatic animals, which have even more diversity).

Now, you could imagine some basic similarities for land animals. You need some form of locomotion. You need something to see with. You need something to think with. And to get a civilization going, you need something to communicate with and manipulate the surroundings with.

Ants have that. They look nothing like us.

None of this necessitates looking even remotely human.

No, the human-like alien thing is either:

1: A cost-saving feature for the purposes of television/movies.

2: Allows human beings to interact with things that are at least remotely familiar. They emote using expressions we understand, sit on things we understand intuitively to be chairs, etc.

It's hard to develop an emotional attachment with, for example, a sentient ant colony.

[sandwich_bird]

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. And I've listed to ArcherofAiur!

The most unlikely thing imaginable is that other aliens would share the same general shape as us. If Earth had maintained a higher oxygen content, "giant" arthropods (crabs, spiders, etc) would likely be the dominant land species. And they look nothing like us.

That's two almost entirely separate lines of evolutionary descent. Just on Earth. (note: this doesn't get into aquatic animals, which have even more diversity).

Now, you could imagine some basic similarities for land animals. You need some form of locomotion. You need something to see with. You need something to think with. And to get a civilization going, you need something to communicate with and manipulate the surroundings with.

Ants have that. They look nothing like us.

None of this necessitates looking even remotely human.

Being highly improbable doesn't mean it can't happen. The best you could do would be providing a math function describing the probability that it can't happen and that still wouldn't prove anything. Anyways, I merely stated that it was acceptable, in respect to the degree of "realism" used in sci-fi mediums, to use humanoid shaped aliens because in any case, we can't prove that it can't happen. Never said I was a fervent believer that the little grey men are watching us from somewhere far away... I was quite aware of the probability implied in my claims and so didn't need you to point it out to me. thx.

Though I do have a question:

1: A cost-saving feature for the purposes of television/movies.

How is that supposed to be cost-saving?

[Visions of Khas]

How is that supposed to be cost-saving?

Humanoid aliens preclude the need for expensive CD, animatronics, and laborious costuming. Just slap on a mask and BAM!, alien.

[MattII]

Now, you could imagine some basic similarities for land animals. You need some form of locomotion. You need something to see with. You need something to think with. And to get a civilization going, you need something to communicate with and manipulate the surroundings with.

Ants have that. They look nothing like us.

Ants don't have independent thought, only basic instinct, and their ability to manipulate their environment is limited by their size.

An advanced, technological species has several necessities:
-At least two manipulator organs (ie, two arms), at least one of which has to terminate in a hand or similarly complex sub-manipulator. Failing this it may be possibly to get by with a single manipulator organ, but communication will have to be extremely precise.
-An advanced sensory system allowing both wide angle scanning and close detail detection, though they don't necessarily have to be the same organ for both.
-A form of locomotion that can propel an individual at a reasonable speed for a reasonable distance (dependent on the disparity of resources, including food).
-A brain with both a maximal brain-to-body size and a reasonable minimum size, which is actually quite hard to achieve given the amount of resources a brain takes.
-A method of communication that can be used to transmit ideas (ie. okay, this is what we do), not just emotions (ie. I'm scared) and instructions (ie. food this way).
-A social grouping that allows for some members to not have to contribute directly to food gathering. A social hierarchy also helps.
-To be of a sufficient size to reasonably manipulate the surroundings.
-A drive to improve their surroundings.

Of those, ants have only 3 (perhaps 4, depends on how good their senses are) of the qualifications, flunking out of brains communication and size. Chimps have 6, as do elephants (chimps flunk out on the brains and drive, elephants manipulators and drive). It would also help considerably to be a land dweller, because as far as we know you need to be able to manipulate fire to get very far (smelting for example, requires fire).

1: A cost-saving feature for the purposes of television/movies.

2: Allows human beings to interact with things that are at least remotely familiar. They emote using expressions we understand, sit on things we understand intuitively to be chairs, etc.

good points, but you missed out the third one:
3: Humanoid aliens (2 arms, 2 legs, eyes in the head) work, they fulfil all the criteria for an advanced, technological species. The others 'may' work, but it's only a guess. Centauroid body plans are another option, they provide greater speed at the expense of requiring more resources to maintain, and being a bit more unweildy. Insectoid body plans may work, but you have to be careful to balance out the required load-bearing capacity of the feet against the required dexterity of same, especially if you're going for something up in the tens-of kilogrammes weight range.

[Triceron]

Again thats the "it works that way cause its a game/book/movie" explaination. But that doesnt change the fact that its ridiculous.

I don't know about that. When your idea of aliens amounts to fiction composed of beings that are not humanoid, I start thinking of an intergalactic zoo. The idea of non-humanoid aliens being able to communicate with us is on the level of talking to animals, that can talk. THAT's ridiculous.