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Influences and references

2024-11-21T23:16:01Z

Andrevan: /* Other */

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The [[Star Control|Star Control 1]] manual mentions "Inspired by the Works of Fiction of: [[wikipedia:Orson Scott Card|Orson Scott Card]], [[wikipedia:Larry Niven|Larry Niven]], [[wikipedia:Andre Norton|Andre Norton]], [[wikipedia:David Brin|David Brin]], [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert A. Heinlein]], [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]], [[wikipedia:Jack Vance|Jack Vance]], [[wikipedia:Alan Dean Foster|Alan Dean Foster]], [[wikipedia:Keith Laumer|Keith Laumer]], [[wikipedia:A. E. Van Vogt|A.E. Van Vogt]], [[wikipedia:E. E. Smith|E.E. "Doc" Smith]], [[wikipedia:Joe Haldeman|Joe Haldeman]], [[wikipedia:Dan Simmons|Dan Simmons]], [[wikipedia:Fred Saberhagen|Fred Saberhagen]] and 100 worthy others."

==Alien design==
The names of certain races introduced in [[Star Control II]] are taken from the so-called "[[Professor Zorg's Guide to Alien Etiquette]]" (the copy-protection of Star Control): [[Orz]], [[Pkunk]], [[Slylandro]], [[Supox]], [[Thraddash]] (as "Thrddash"), [[Utwig]], and [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]].

The name [[Androsynth]] is taken from the Greek "andros" ("man") and "synthetic" from Greek "syn" ("together") and "thesis" ("put"), or as the [[Star Control II]] manual says it "fake men".
Their appearance is inspired by the visual style of the band [[wikipedia:Devo|Devo]].{{ref|1}}

The pink triangle on the suits of the Androsynth in [[SuperMelee]] is a [[wikipedia:Pink triangle|gay symbol]].{{ref|2}}

The Star Control 2 manual describes the [[Chenjesu]] as being "a bit more equal" than the other [[Alliance]] races, which is a reference to a [[wikipedia:Seven Commandments|similar statement]] found in ''[[wikipedia:Animal Farm|Animal Farm]]'' by [[wikipedia:George Orwell|George Orwell]].

The [[Dnyarri]]'s toad-like appearance and [[Paranormal phenomena|psychic compulsion]] ability are reminiscent of mind-controlling "V-frogs" from the Isaac Asimov story [[wikipedia:Lucky Starr and the Oceans of Venus|''Lucky Starr and the Oceans of Venus'']].

The name [[Druuge]] is pronounced almost exactly like the ancient Persian word "druj" - a term of [[wikipedia:Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian religion]] that is very roughly translated as "daeva (demon) of lies". Since the Druuge are proven liars and resemble the [[wikipedia:Daeva|daevas]], which are described as "beings with combined human and animal characteristics," this may have been an influence.

The [[Ilwrath]] were named after a friend of the creators  named McIlwraith.

The name [[Melnorme]] is a reference to jazz singer [[wikipedia:Mel Tormé|Mel Tormé]].

The [[Mycon]] is taken from the Greek prefix "myc-" or "myco-", which means Fungus.

The [[Orz]] and the disappearance of the [[Androsynth]] were influenced by [[wikipedia:H. P. Lovecraft|H. P. Lovecraft]]'s writings, specifically Lovecraft's [[wikipedia:From Beyond (short story)|"From Beyond"]] which describes malignant entities in an alternate dimension that perceive those who peer into their dimension and that leave no bodies of those they attack.

Utricularia, as in ''[[Supox]] Utricularia'', is a genus of carnivorous plants more commonly known as [[Wikipedia:Bladderwort|Bladderwort]].

The [[Shofixti]] are inspired by the historical [[wikipedia:History of Japan|Japanese culture]].
"[[Kyabetsu]]", the name of the former Shofixti homeworld, is the transliteration of "cabbage" into Japanese writing. The tiny main gun of their [[Scout]] ships is called the Mendokusai Energy Dart; "Mendoukusai" in Japanese means "irritating; bothersome."

[[Spathi]] is "Sword" in Greek. It is possible that the name is meant to be very ironical, because the Spathi are so cowardly. Also, the rumours of the Black Spathi Squadron might be a reference to the [[Wikipedia:VMA-214|Black Sheep Squadron]] from World War 2.

The [[Syreen]] are based on the [[wikipedia:Siren|Siren]]s from classical mythology. They were sea nymphs who would use enchanting song to lure ships onto the cliffs. The name for their original homeworld, [[Syra]] may also be a reference to [[wikipedia:Cleopatra I Syra|Cleopatra I Syra]], an Egyptian queen.

The [[Ur-Quan Kohr-Ah]]'s [[Eternal Doctrine]] might be inspired by the objective of the [[Wikipedia:Githyanki|githyanki]] (from ''[[wikipedia:Dungeons & Dragons|Dungeons & Dragons]]'') to exterminate every other race who could possibly enslave them again. Also similar to the bifurcation the [[Ur-Quan]] race, a faction (the [[Wikipedia:Githzerai|githzerai]]) opposed such a course of action and split with the githyanki.

The [[Yehat]] are inspired in part by the [[wikipedia:Scottish clan|Scottish clan]]s; the uplift of the Shofixti is inspired by [[Wikipedia:David Brin|David Brin]]'s [[Wikipedia:Uplift Universe|Uplift]] series.

The split between the Pkunk and the Yehat may be based in the split between the [[Wikipedia:Vulcan (Star Trek)|Vulcanians]] and the [[Wikipedia:Romulan|Romulans]] in [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]], with the Pkunk fleeing like the Romulans did (however, for opposite reasons).

===Larry Niven influences===
A number of aliens draw some of their inspiration from Niven's [[wikipedia:Known Space|Known Space]] novels. Fred and Paul have openly admitted in a [[IRC chats with Toys For Bob|1998 IRC chat]] to being influenced by these novels.{{ref|2}}
*The [[Dnyarri]] are very similar in description, powers, and history to the [[wikipedia:Thrint|Thrint]]un race, "a long-extinct species which ruled the galaxy through telepathic mind control." Like the [[wikipedia:Grogs|Grogs]], the Talking Pets are devolved forms of a once-great race.
*The [[Precursors]] are also slightly similar to the Thrintun who likewise left behind relics to be used by the modern-day characters in Niven's novels and who were given a vague moniker, "Slavers", by later races since their real name was unknown.
*Though not physiologically, the [[Spathi]] resemble less advanced versions of the cowardly [[wikipedia:Pierson's Puppeteer|Pierson's Puppeteer]]s.
*The [[Arilou]], in their speculated capacity as genetic manipulators of humanity, are also similar to the Puppeteers.
*The [[Melnorme]], like the [[wikipedia:Outsiders (Known Space)|Outsiders]], are traveling merchants who trade in information and will answer any question for the right price.
**The [[Keel-Verezy]] may be similar to the [[wikipedia:Starseed|Starseeds]], sharing a similar relation with the [[Melnorme]] as the starseeds with the Outsiders.
*The [[Shofixti]] are similar in appearance and warlike tendencies to the [[wikipedia:kzin|kzin]].

===Starflight influences===
The creators of [[Star Control]] and [[Star Control II]] worked in the making of the [[wikipedia:Starflight|Starflight]] games as well, and numerous SC elements are inspired from the SF universe:
*Gameplay elements
**Exploration in the Starflight games also had three parts: planet (with a landing vehicle that could stun lifeforms and collect minerals), interplanetary and hyperspace (with portals leading to planetary systems).
**A starbase fulfilled a similar role to the [[Earth Starbase]] in Star Control II — elements appearing in both SC2 and SF are hiring crew, installing modules, receiving notices and analyzing artifacts.
**In the Starflight games there were also a number of artifacts (though some of them were bought instead of found), including an "Uhl weapon" performing a function similar to the [[Utwig Bomb]] — the neutralization of the final boss in the game; even more resembling the Utwig Bomb, in the first Starflight there existed artifacts of the Phlegmak, a long-disappeared species, named "Black Egg Bombs", capable of destroying entire planets.
**The useless [[Wimbli's Trident]] and [[Glowing Rod]] resemble some similar, useless "alien curiosities" from the Starflight games.
*Several lines in Star Control II are clear puns on lines from Starflight and Starflight II. Notably, the quirky speech patterns of the [[Orz]] seem based on those of Starflight's Veloxi ([[Greg Johnson]], one of the Starflight developers, was the one who fleshed out the Orz dialogue).
*Starflight's Crystal Planet, built by the Ancients to cleanse the galaxy of Endurium-using life-forms by flaring their suns, seems an influence for both the [[Sa-Matra]] and the [[Eternal Doctrine]] (or the [[Path of Now and Forever]]).
*The name [[Arilou Lalee'lay]] may originate from the Starflight II race name Aeoruiiaeo.
*In terms of external morphology, the [[Umgah]] resemble the Spemin (both SF games).
**The cowardly Spemin might have also been an influence for the design of the [[Spathi]].
*Psychologically and in terms of general appearance, the [[Utwig]] resemble the Dweenle (SF2).
*The [[VUX]] appear to be influenced by the Lieu Vadish.
*The ceremonious religion of the Tandelou (SF2), the belief that their rituals are of essential importance for the Universe, and their worship of the Most Valuable Thing, might have been an influence for the design of the [[Utwig]]. Also, it is necessary to return the Most Valuable Thing to the Tandelou to convince them to cooperate, similar to returning the Ultron to the Utwig.
**Some elements of the Tandelou religion (cosmic alignments, portents and omens) are similar to parts of [[Pkunk]] culture.
* The Tandelou's appearance is somewhat similar to the Ur-Quan too, three big eyes (although the Tandelou lack the three additional small eyes), four tentacles and a worm-like body. The Ur-Quan also somewhat resemble the Ng-Kher-Arla in appearance.
*In terms of external morphology and psychology (empathy), the [[Supox]] greatly resemble the Elowan (SF1).
*Hayes' theory about the [[Mmrnmhrm]] being colonizing robots resembles the fact that the Mechan of SF1 were robots built with the purpose of colonizing planets in advance for the Noah project.
*Physically, the [[Mycon]] resemble the Nathracch (SF2). In terms of behavior, they resemble the Gazurtoid (both SF games), which also could be said perhaps for the Kohr-Ah (whereas the Gazurtoids wish to exterminate every race except fellow waterbreathers, the Kohr-Ah wish to exterminate any race but fellow Ur-Quan)
*Psychologically and culturally the [[Thraddash]] resemble the G'Nunk (SF2); in addition, in order to make friends with both species it is necessary to kill many of them.
**Another similarity between the G'Nunk and the Thraddash is the worship of an artifact, the Most Valuable Thing and the [[Aqua Helix]] respectively, which is kept in a temple on one of the race's worlds and can be stolen by the player over the course of the game.
**Some Thraddash given names are also reminiscent of "G'Nunk", such as Znonk and [[Gnusko]].
*The Zoq-Fot-Pik also were likely influenced by the G'Nunk, as the G'Nunk are also a collective of three species.
*The [[Melnorme]] are possibly also inspired from the Humna Humna, the merchant race in Starflight II.
*"Interstar" in "[[Interstar Credits]]" is probably inspired from the name of the space organization of the people of Arth, Interstel.
*The G'Nunk's deity G'Naen Sh'Gar (She/It who hunts) has some similarities to the Ilwraths Dogar and Kazon.
* The Orz and the Uhl also have some similarities, as the Uhl is also an extradimensional lifeform. Uhl also has some similarities with the Dnyarri as it is capable of mental compulsion.

==Dialogue==
The default name of [[The Captain]], Zelnick, may come from Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of [[Crystal Dynamics]] at the time when 3DO version of Star Control II was being made. The producer of the 3DO version of Star Control II was Crystal Dynamics.

====Arilou====
The [[Arilou]]'s final line "Be seeing you..." may be a reference to the TV series [[wikipedia:The Prisoner|The Prisoner]].

====Druuge====
The 'Dribble-Down' effect through which the [[Crimson Corporation]] seeks to improve the [[Druuge]] quality of life is a play on [[wikipedia:Trickle-down economics|Trickle-down economics]].

====Ilwrath====
One of the gods that the [[Ilwrath]] used to worship was called "Awk of Seds", a reference to the text processing programs [[wikipedia:AWK programming language|awk]] and [[wikipedia:sed|sed]].

[[wikipedia:Captain Satellite|Captain Satellite]], which the [[Ilwrath]] confess to have watched on [[Channel 44]] prior to [[Dogar and Kazon]]'s transmissions, was a show on KTVU-2 in Oakland, California.

Dogar is at one point refered to as "The Dark Beast With A Thousand Young". This is a play on Lovecraft's ancient deity [[wikipedia:Shub-Niggurath|Shub-Niggurath]], who is known as "The Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young".
====Melnorme====
The Melnorme line "This very morning, I was just saying to subordinate Ochre `Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum! I smell the feet of a Hu-Hu-Man!'" refers to the fairy tale [[Wikipedia:Jack and the Beanstalk|Jack and the Beanstalk]], where an ogre (a flesh-eating giant) speaks the line "Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman.". The similarity between the subordinate's name "Ochre" and "ogre" is probably not a coincidence either.

The phrase "itchy pods" from the Melnorme line "I had itchy pods this morning, Captain, and here you are!" may come from the wives' tale of "itchy palms" that predict wealth. It may have also been influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by [[wikipedia:Dr. Seuss|Dr. Seuss]]' book "On Beyond Zebra", which introduces the letter "ITCH" with the line "And 'way, 'way past Z is a letter called ITCH. And the ITCH is for Itch-a-pods, animals which [...]".

====Mycon====
The Mycon phrase "The Juffo-Wup is strong in this place." (without the definite article in the DOS version) is a variation on the [[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] phrase "The Force is strong in this place."

The Mycon's dialogue "You humans improve a tool and double your capabilities. We Mycon improve ourselves and increase a thousand-fold" may be a reference to one of Khan's speeches in ''Star Trek: The Original Series'' Season 1 Episode 22, "Space Seed": "Improve a mechanical device, and you may double productivity. But improve man, and you gain a thousand-fold".

====Pkunk====
[[The Captain]]'s remark to the [[Pkunk]] "Hey! Bird-brains! Got any fruit loops? Har-har-har!" refers to a brand of breakfast cereal called [[wikipedia:Froot Loops|Froot Loops]], which features a toucan resembling the Pkunk as its mascot.

Another Captain's remark, "We are on a five year mission, to seek out new life and new civilizations to boldly go where no... (...)" refers to the mission of the [[wikipedia:Starship_Enterprise|Enterprise]] in [[wikipedia:Star_Trek_The_Original_Series|Star Trek]].

The Pkunk say that they insult their foes to keep from "wrapping around" to evil; this is a programmer's joke about the nature of integers under the C programming language (and many others.) If you increase a number past its maximum (for example, 127 in an 8-bit integer) it suddenly becomes negative (-128, in this example).

The Pkunk mention channeling a ancient warrior called [[Rumdumdaddy]], which is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Ramtha|Ramtha]], an ancient Lemurian warrior that [[wikipedia:JZ Knight|JZ Knight]] claims to channel.

Many Pkunk dialog is a play on Far East/New Age philosophies. The Pkunk's observation that everyone in their past lives were famous, rich or interesting, and that hence other people don't reincarnate makes fun of the readings of so-called psychic mediums, who generally try to inspire faith by telling people what they want to hear. Along these same lines, The Captain mentions a [[wikipedia:Ouija|Ouija Board]], another common element of some New Age philosophies, when dissuading the Pkunk from returning to the Yehat.

A Pkunk greeting, "Auspicious portents and serendipitous omens have foretold your arrival", resembles a Tandelou greeting from [[wikipedia:Starflight 2|Starflight 2]], "Mysterious signs and ambiguous portents have foretold your arrival".

====Shofixti====
[[Tanaka]]'s opening comments, "you killed my father, my mother, my many brothers, all six of my sisters - in fact, my entire species! Prepare to die," may pay homage to the movie [[wikipedia:The Princess Bride|The Princess Bride]], in which the character [[wikipedia:Inigo Montoya|Inigo Montoya]] has prepared a similar comment for when he confronts his father's murderer, [[wikipedia:Count Rugen|Count Rugen]].

====Slylandro====
When you choose the aggressive lines to speak towards the [[Slylandro]] [[Probe]]s, the third time you get the response "ENACTING THIRD LAW." before combat is initiated. This refers to Isaac Asimov's [[wikipedia:Three Laws of Robotics|Three Laws of Robotics]]. The third law says "A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.".

The [[Slylandro]] explain that the Probes were programmed "to seek out new life and new civilizations... to boldly go where no
catalog item 2418-B... Remote Self-Replicating Robot Explorer Probe had gone before", a reference to Star Trek.

====Spathi====
When the [[Spathi]] [[The Safe Ones|Safe Ones]] ask the player for the [[Secret Spathi Cypher]], one of the incorrect options is "Wagh-nagl Fthagn", which spelled a little bit differently ("Wgah'nagl Fhtagn") comes from "''Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!''", a liturgical phrase in H. P. Lovecraft's [[wikipedia:Cthulhu mythos|Cthulhu mythos]].

One of the other options for the Spathi Cypher, "Gort, merenga!" comes from the movie "[[wikipedia:The Day the Earth Stood Still|The Day the Earth Stood Still]]".

====Starbase====
When [[The Captain]] gets to choose the name for the [[New Alliance of Free Stars|new alliance]], one of his options is "The United Federation of Worlds", a reference to the [[Wikipedia:United Federation of Planets|United Federation of Planets]] from Star Trek. [[Starbase]] Commander [[Hayes]] will reply to this choice by saying "we will make it so", another reference to Star Trek, where captain [[Wikipedia:Jean-Luc Picard|Jean-Luc Picard]] would frequently order to "make it so".

Commander Hayes mentions early on that the [[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] annihilated Buenos Aires. This is most likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert Heinlein]]'s novel [[wikipedia:Starship Troopers|Starship Troopers]], where the alien race humanity is fighting against similarly destroy Argentina's capital.

Commander Hayes also mentions that when the Ur-Quan destroyed much of mankind's history, they also destroyed several places without any known value. These places likely correspond to locations in popular fiction and mythology. They are:
*"kilometer of land in central Iraq" - possibly the biblical [[Wikipedia:Babel|Babel]], [[Wikipedia:The Nameless City|The Nameless City]] from the works of H. P. Lovecraft, or [[Wikipedia:Iram of the Pillars|Iram of the Pillars]]
*"several targets in the Amazon rain forest" - possibly [[Wikipedia:El Dorado|El Dorado]] or simply just other undiscovered city centers in the Amazon jungle
*"something deep under the surface [of the Antarctic icecap]" - possibly a reference to the alien city discovered in H. P. Lovecraft's ''[[Wikipedia:At the Mountains of Madness|At the Mountains of Madness]]''
*"broad swath of the ocean floor in the south-eastern Atlantic" - possibly [[Wikipedia:Atlantis|Atlantis]], or possibly the south Pacific, underwater city of [[Wikipedia:R'lyeh|R'lyeh]] where [[Wikipedia:Cthulhu|Cthulhu]] rests.

The idea of a "[[psychon]]" present in Commander Hayes' statement that when an electric current is fed into the [[Taalo Shield]] "all evidence of psychon interaction is flatlined" possibly originates from [[wikipedia:Sir John Eccles|Sir John Eccles]]' theory, presented in his book "[[wikipedia:How the Self Controls Its Brain|How the Self Controls Its Brain]]". Psychons were also a currency in one of [[Paul Reiche III]]'s earlier games, ''Mail Order Monsters''.

The [[wikipedia:Roadside Picnic|Roadside Picnic]] might be the inspiration for the 'Empties'. In the novel they are one of the common alien artifacts found in the Zones. In the game they are a [[Precursor]] [[list of Precursor relics|artifact]] that Commander Hayes mentions in relation to the [[Ultron]].

The 'Singing Hoops', another Precursor artifact that Hayes mentions in relation to the Ultron, may have been inspired by the "talking rings" from the 1960 film, [[wikipedia:The Time Machine (1960 film)|The Time Machine]], that when spun retold the "last recorded voice of civilized man".

====Utwig====
When the [[Utwig]] are trying to tell you what to do with the [[Precursor Bomb]], at one point they say that the "Bomb must be...Hugged?" This is likely a reference to the movie [[Wikipedia:Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb|Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb]].

One of the ways that the Utwig determined that the [[Ultron]] could have been saved was by cushioning the fall with a fuzzy wumpus. A Wumpus is a mysterious monster from the famous, early computer game [[Wikipedia:Hunt the Wumpus|Hunt the Wumpus]].

When describing the [[Ur-Quan Kohr-Ah|Kohr-Ah]], the Utwig say that their stated purpose is "to seek out new life and new civilizations...and then annihilate them," a clear play on the mission statement of the [[Wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] of [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]] fame.

The Utwig parting phrase "May the Ultron be with you!" is a variation on the [[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] phrase "May the Force be with you."

The [[Chief Groo]]'s name may originate from [[wikipedia:Groo the Wanderer|Groo the Wanderer]]'s name.

The phrase "even the High Proctor gambols" in the Utwig outtakes may be a reference to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procter_%26_Gamble Procter & Gamble], an American consumer goods corporation.

====VUX====
The description of the constellation that is described as "the snake-like creature who has swallowed the elephantine beast" in the DOS version ("the long, thin creature who has swallowed the huge beast." in the 3DO version and UQM) is a reference to the children's book [[wikipedia:Le Petit Prince|Le Petit Prince]] by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which [http://www.korczak.com/Exupery/englisch/i.html describes and shows] an image of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant.

The VUX say that [[Captain Rand]]'s [[Insult]] fixed their attitude setting at "ABHOR", which may be a reference to [[Professor Zorg's Guide to Alien Etiquette]] from Star Control 1, where the player was to select the correct attitude for a given situation; one of the answers was "ABHOR", again in all caps.

====Yehat====
"[[Cheep-Guava]]", the name of the head of the [[Yehat]] revolution, is a pun on "[[Wikipedia:Che Guevara|Che Guevara]]", the Cuban revolutionary leader.

====Zoq-Fot-Pik====
When first meeting the [[Zoq-Fot-Pik]] at their homeworld, they warn you not to try stealing their atmosphere, a reference to [[Wikipedia:Spaceballs|Spaceballs]].

The coordinates "...ziggerfau-gerrrnuf, Ah-ah, Pahoy-hoy" of the Zoq-Fot-Pik homeworld given in their initial encounter refers to Hawaiian words for two types of [[Wikipedia:lava|lava]] flows, "Aa" and "Pahoehoe".

At one point, the Zoq claims its species has psychic powers. The Pik scoffs at this claim, mentioning several apparently failed attempts at psychic demonstrations such as fixing broken chronometers and bending dorfs, eventually calling the Zoq a faker. This conversation is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Uri Geller|Uri Geller]], who also claimed to use mental powers to make stopped watches start and to bend spoons.

====Other====
The Mosquito Mange is mentioned in the [[Androsynth]] computer records immediately prior to their disappearance. It is a reference to the term found in Roadside Picnic referring to graviconcentrates - areas of heightened and directed gravity.

Deep radar or deep-radar, mentioned by Commander Hayes and the Star Control II manual, p. 39 (PC), is likely a reference to the homologous device from Larry Niven's Known Space universe. In addition, the deep-radar from Star Control can apparently penetrate massive bodies (just like Niven's one), as it is used to detect mineral deposits.

==Ship Captains==
Numerous [[list of ship captain names|ship captain names]] are actually references.

====Androsynth====
*'''1040-EZ''' is a common [[wikipedia:Form 1040EZ|tax return form]] in the United States.
*'''976-KILL''' is probably meant as an American phone number. It may also refer to the movie [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094597/ 976-EVIL]. The "976" prefix is reserved for pay services.
*'''[[wikipedia:AK-47|AK-47]]''' is the famous Avtomat Kalashnikova assault rifle
*'''BHS-79''' ''(just a wild guess here- is this the initials of one of the high schools they attended, and their graduation date?)''
*'''BIM-XT''' is an anagram for the [[wikipedia:IBM XT|IBM XT]] personal computer from the early 1980s
*'''BOOJI-1''' is a possible reference to the character [[wikipedia:Booji Boy|Booji Boy]] from the band [[wikipedia:Devo|Devo]].
*'''CRC-16''' is a 16 bits "[[wikipedia:Cyclic redundancy check|Cyclic redundancy check]] (an error-detecting checksum).
*'''DORN-3''' may be a reference to artist John Alfred Dorn III, who did several illustrations for the novels of [[wikipedia:Stanisław Lem|Stanisław Lem]]. It could also be a reference to actor [[wikipedia:Michael Dorn|Michael Dorn]], who played Lt. Worf on ''[[Wikipedia:Star Trek: The Next Generation|Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''.
*'''DOS-1.0''' is a reference to one or all of the various early disk operating systems ([[wikipedia:PC-DIS|PC-DOS]], [[wikipedia:MS-DOS|MS-DOS]], [[wikipedia:Apple DOS|Apple DOS]], etc).
*'''HAL-2001''' is a reference to the [[wikipedia:HAL 9000|HAL 9000]] computer from [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]]'s and [[wikipedia:Stanley Kubrick|Stanley Kubrick]]'s [[wikipedia:2001: A Space Odyssey|2001: A Space Odyssey]]
*'''JOR-15''' might be a reference to [[wikipedia:Jor-El|Jor-El]], superman's biological father in the DC comics universe.
*'''KORB-7B''' might refer to [[wikipedia:Lawrence Korb|Lawrence Korb]], a former US Secretary of Defense heavily involved in military security. May also refer to Roger Corby, an android from the original Star Trek episode [[wikipedia:What Are Little Girls Made Of?|What Are Little Girls Made Of?]]
*'''ME-262''' is a reference to the Messerschmitt [[wikipedia:Me-262|Me-262]], the first operational jet powered aircraft.
*'''NECRO-99''' may be a reference to the robot NECRON-99 from the movie [[wikipedia:Wizards (movie)|Wizards]].
*'''SR-71''' is a reference to the Lockheed [[wikipedia:SR-71|SR-71 Blackbird]], an advanced reconnaissance aircraft.
*'''[[wikipedia:Merkur XR4Ti|XR4-TI]]''' was a car model manufactured by the short-lived [[wikipedia:Merkur|Merkur]] brand.

====Druuge====
*'''Moola''' is a play on "moolah", an English slang word for money.
*'''Duulard''' could be a play on "dullard," which is slang for a boring person.
*All Druuge names have doubled vowels.

====Human====
*'''Adama''' is the captain of the [[wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica|Battlestar Galactica]] in the television series by the same name.
*'''Belt''' is a reference to Henry Belt, captain of a solar sail vessel in Jack Vance's short story ''Sail 25''.
*'''Buck''' refers to [[wikipedia:Buck Rogers|Buck Rogers]], a character who appeared in popular sci-fi comic strips and serials in the late 30's, as well as a later television series.
*'''Decker''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Willard Decker|Willard Decker]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the movie [[wikipedia:Star Trek: The Motion Picture|Star Trek: The Motion Picture]].
*'''Ender''' is a reference to the main character of the Orson Scott Card novel [[wikipedia:Ender's Game|Ender's Game]].
*'''Graeme''' is a reference to Donal Graeme, a protagonist in the [[wikipedia: Childe Cycle|Childe Cycle]] novels by [[wikipedia:Gordon R. Dickson|Gordon R. Dickson]]. ''(This may also be a reference to other characters in this series with this same lastname.)''
*'''Halleck''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Gurney Halleck|Gurney Halleck]] of the [[wikipedia:Dune universe|Dune series]].
*'''Kirk''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:James T. Kirk|James T. Kirk]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the original series of [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''Pike''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Christopher Pike|Christopher Pike]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Starship Enterprise|Starship Enterprise]] NCC-1701 in the pilot episode of [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Pirx|Pirx]]''' is a reference to a fictional test pilot in a series of stories by Stanisław Lem.
*'''Solo''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Han Solo|Han Solo]], captain of the [[wikipedia:Millennium Falcon|Millennium Falcon]] in [[wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] episode 4 through 6.
*'''Spiff''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Spaceman Spiff|Spaceman Spiff]], a fantasy identity of Calvin from [[wikipedia:Calvin and Hobbes|Calvin and Hobbes]]
*'''Trent''' is a reference to Jeff Trent, civilian airline pilot from [[wikipedia:Plan 9 from Outer Space|Plan 9 from Outer Space]]
*'''Tuf''' is a reference to Haviland Tuf, the protagonist in [[wikipedia:Tuf Voyaging|Tuf Voyaging]] by [[wikipedia:George R.R. Martin|George R.R. Martin]].
*'''VanRijn''' is a reference to the merchant prince Nicholas Van Rijn in [[wikipedia:Poul Anderson|Poul Anderson]]'s stories.
*'''Wu''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Louis Wu|Louis Wu]], the protagonist of Larry Niven's [[wikipedia:Ringworld|Ringworld series]].

====Ilwrath====
*'''[[wikipedia:Gorgon|Gorgon]]''' is a famous Greek mythological creature, of which [[wikipedia:Medusa|Medusa]] was one.
*'''Kalgon''' might refer to [[wikipedia:Calgon|Calgon]], a cleansing product. It may also refer to the villain of the notoriously bad 1988 film [[wikipedia:Space_Mutiny|Space Mutiny]].
*'''Taragon''' likely refers to the spice [[wikipedia:tarragon|tarragon]]
*'''[[wikipedia:Baylor University|Baylor]]''' is a university in Waco, Texas. It may instead refer to [[wikipedia:Balor|Balor]], a giant king with an evil eye from Irish mythology.

====Kohr-Ah====
*All of the captain names are '''Death''' followed by a [[wikipedia:Prime_number|prime number]].

====Mycon====
*'''Znuff''' could be a reference to the 1984 rock group [[wikipedia:Enuff Z'nuff|Enuff Z'nuff]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Spork|Spork]]''' is an eating utensil, a hybrid of a spoon and a fork.

====Pkunk====
*'''Crow''' may refer to [[wikipedia:Crow T. Robot|Crow T. Robot]] from [[wikipedia:Mystery Science Theater 3000|Mystery Science Theater 3000]] as well as the obvious type of bird.
*'''Ernie''' is likely a reference to the British cartoon [[wikipedia:Ernie (comic strip)|Ernie]].
*'''Tweety''' is likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Tweety|Tweety Bird]].
*'''WudStok''' is Snoopy's friend [[wikipedia:Woodstock (Peanuts)|Woodstock]] in the comic strip [[wikipedia:Peanuts|Peanuts]].
*'''Jay''' and '''Raven''' refer to the [[wikipedia:Corvidae|corvids]] of the same name.
*'''Buzzard''' refers to the [[wikipedia:buzzard|birds of prey]] of the same name.

====Shofixti====
*'''Bonsai!''' is actually [[wikipedia:Bonsai|the Japanese art of pruning trees]], but is most likely a reference to the cry [[wikipedia:Ten thousand years|Banzai]].
*'''Busu''' is a Japanese word for ugly
*'''Chimchim''' most likely refers to the pet chimpanzee in [[wikipedia:Speed Racer|Speed Racer]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Daikon|Daikon]]''' is a giant, white radish popular in Japanese cooking.
*'''[[wikipedia:Gaijin|Gaijin]]''' is a disparaging Japanese term for foreigner.
*'''Genjiro''' is possibly a reference to the character Genjiro Tani, a mentor to [[wikipedia:Skyrider (Kamen Rider)|Skyrider]] and [[wikipedia:Kamen Rider Super-1|Kamen Rider Super-1]] in the Japanese [[wikipedia:Kamen Rider series|Kamen Rider series]].
*'''Ginzu''' is probably the [[wikipedia:Ginsu|Ginsu knife]].
*'''Hiyata''' is a reference to the title character of the Japanese show [[wikipedia:Ultraman|Ultraman]], where it can also be spelled "Hayata".
*'''Ichiban''' is the Japanese word for the number 1, or first
*'''Kimba''' refers to the main character in the Japanese animation [[wikipedia:Kimba the White Lion|Kimba, the White Lion]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Katana|Katana]]''' is a Japanese sword.
*'''[[wikipedia:Kudzu|Kudzu]]''' is an Asian plant that can be found in southern Japan.
*'''Naninani''' is Japanese for "such and such"
*'''[[wikipedia:Sushi|Sushi]]''' is Japanese for seasoned rice, usually associated with raw fish.
*'''Tanaka''' is a fairly common [[wikipedia:Japanese name|Japanese surname]] and may also be a reference to the creator of the [[wikipedia:Godzilla|Godzilla]] series, [[wikipedia:Tomoyuki Tanaka|Tomoyuki Tanaka]].
*'''[[wikipedia:Tofu|Tofu]]''' is bean curd, popular in Japanese cooking.
*'''Tora-3''' refers to the radio call announcing the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. [[wikipedia:Tora Tora Tora|Tora! Tora! Tora!]]
*'''Wasabe''' is a Japanese condiment, usually spelled [[wikipedia:Wasabi|wasabi]].

====Spathi====
*'''Jinkeze''' is a reference to the catchphrase of [[Wikipedia:Velma Dinkley|Velma Dinkley]], a main character in the [[Wikipedia:Scooby-Doo|Scooby-Doo]] cartoons, which she says when she is scared or surprised.

====Supox====
*'''Crinoid''' is a reference to the Krynoids, hostile sentient plants in the [[wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Who]] episode ''The Seeds of Doom''. In real life [[wikipedia:Crinoid|crinoids]] are animals of the phylum Echinodermata whose name literally means "lily-like".
*'''Trifid''' is a reference to the carnivorous, mobile (and possibly intelligent) plants in [[wikipedia:The Day of the Triffids|The Day of the Triffids]].
*All of the other captain names are parts or types of plants.

====Syreen====
*'''Aelita''' refers to the early Soviet sci-fi novel ''Aelita'' by [[wikipedia:Alexei Tolstoy|Alexei Tolstoy]] or to a silent film [[wikipedia:Aelita|Aelita:Queen of Mars]] based on it.
*'''Alia''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Alia Atreides|St. Alia of the Knife]], the sister of [[wikipedia:Paul Atreides|Paul Atreides]] in the [[wikipedia:Dune universe|Dune series]].
*'''Alura''' is possibly a reference either to Princess Allura in the [[wikipedia:Voltron|Voltron]] cartoon series or to the mother of [[wikipedia:Supergirl|Supergirl]].
*'''Ardala''' is a reference to the Princess Ardala, nemesis of Buck Rogers.
*'''Be'lit''' is a possible reference to [[wikipedia:Belit|Belit]], a pirate queen in the [[wikipedia:Conan the Barbarian|Conan the Barbarian]] stories.
*'''Brawne''' refers to Brawne Lamia, a character in Dan Simmons' [[wikipedia:Hyperion Cantos|Hyperion Cantos]] books.
*'''Dale''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Dale Arden|Dale Arden]], the girlfriend of [[wikipedia:Flash Gordon|Flash Gordon]].
*'''Danning''' is a reference to the actress [[wikipedia:Sybil Danning|Sybil Danning]].
*'''Dejah''' may be a reference to Dejah Thoris Burroughs (Deety) in Robert A. Heinlein's [[wikipedia:The Number of the Beast (novel)|The Number of the Beast]], or to Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, in the [[wikipedia:Barsoom series|Barsoom series]] by [[wikipedia:Edgar Rice Burroughs|Edgar Rice Burroughs]].
*'''Maya''' refers to the attractive female [[wikipedia:Space 1999|Space: 1999]] character gifted with shapeshifing abilities, or possibly to [[wikipedia:Captain_Harlock|Captain Harlock]]'s ward (in [[wikipedia:Space_Pirate_Captain_Harlock|Space Pirate Captain Harlock]]) or love interest (in [[wikipedia:Arcadia_of_My_Youth|Arcadia of My Youth]]).
*'''Munro''' possibly refers to another genre actress, [[wikipedia:Caroline Munro|Caroline Munro]].
*'''Penny''' possibly refers to the lead female character in the movie [[wikipedia:The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension|The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension]], or the character of Penny Robinson in the television show Lost in Space.
*'''Ripley''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Ellen Ripley|Lieutenant Ripley]], as portrayed by [[wikipedia:Sigourney Weaver|Sigourney Weaver]] in the movie [[wikipedia:Alien (movie)|Alien]].
*'''Sparta''' is a reference to the beautiful female protagonist with a mysterious past in the Venus Prime series by [[wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]] and [[wikipedia:Paul Preuss|Paul Preuss]].
*'''Teela''' is a reference to [[wikipedia:Teela Brown|Teela Brown]], one of the heroines of the Larry Niven's [[wikipedia:Ringworld|Ringworld]] novels.
*'''Yarr''' may be a reference to [[wikipedia:Natasha Yar|Natasha Yar]] who appeared in [[wikipedia:Star Trek: The Next Generation|Star Trek: The Next Generation]].

====Umgah====
*'''Bob''' is possibly a reference to the creators themselves: [[Toys For Bob]].
*'''Brewz'k''' is likely the slang word "brewski".
*'''Ei'Ei'o''' is probably referring to the refrain of the children's song ''[[wikipedia:Old MacDonald Had a Farm|Old MacDonald Had a Farm]]''. The name was used before in [[Professor Zorg's Guide to Alien Etiquette]] in [[Star Control 1]].

====Ur-Quan====
*While all captain's names are '''Lord''' followed by a number, '''Lord 666''' is notable as a reference to the [[wikipedia:Number of the Beast|Number of the Beast]]. There is no known pattern to their numbers, unlike the Kohr-Ah.
*[[Paul Reiche III]] said the following about the race's name: "They're an old alien race, so let's use the word Ur, which means old in some ancient language, and Quan, just 'cause it sounds cool".[https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/starcon_2_transcript.txt] He was likely referring to the German prefix ''ur-'', which means "original, primordial".

====Utwig====
*'''Endo''' might refer to a slang word for [[Wikipedia:marijuana|marijuana]]. In Japanese, this is also type of pea.
*'''Manny''' might refer to the main character in [[wikipedia:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert A. Heinlein]]'s book [[wikipedia:the Moon Is a Harsh Mistress|The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress]].
*'''Nestor''' might refer to the [[Wikipedia:NS-2|NS-2]], a robot model in Asimov's "[[Wikipedia:Little Lost Robot|Little Lost Robot]]" that can, by inaction, allow a human to be harmed. It is also an actual human name of Greek origin.
*'''Jujuby''' might be an alternate spelling of '[[Wikipedia:Jujube|Jujube]]', which is the fruit of a certain tree, also known as the "Chinese Date".

====VUX====
*'''[[wikipedia:Program Information File|PIF]]''' is a file extension used in early versions of [[wikipedia:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]].
*'''VIP''' is an acronym meaning "very important person".
*'''YUK''' likely comes from the work "yuck" -- an appropriate name, given the VUX's appearance.
*'''[[wikipedia:zit|ZIT]]''' likely comes from the skin blemish of the same name.
*'''NRF''' may refer to the toy gun brand [[wikipedia:Nerf|Nerf]].

====Yehat====
*'''Beep-eep''' could refer to the token sound made by the [[wikipedia:RWile E. Coyote and Road Runner|Road Runner]] in various [[wikipedia:Looney Tunes|Looney Tunes]] animations and products.
*All the rest of their captains' names simply change the first letter.

====Zoq-Fot-Pik====
*'''RinTin''' is likely named after the famous movie dog [[wikipedia:Rin Tin Tin|Rin Tin Tin]].
*'''TikTak''' is likely a reference to the [[wikipedia:Tic Tac (candy)|Tic Tac]] breath mints or to the children's game [[wikipedia:Tic-tac-toe|Tic-tac-toe]].
*'''TikTok''' may be a reference to the [[wikipedia:Tik-Tok|character of the same name]] from the Land of Oz series.

==Ship Designs==
*The '''[[Arilou]]'s [[Skiff]]''' vessel is reminiscent of the 'traditional' flying saucers or UFO's.
*The '''[[Earthling]] [[Cruiser]]''' seems to be inspired by the Federation Starships from [[wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*The '''[[Ilwrath]] [[Avenger]]''' shares the same approximate configuration as both the [[wikipedia:Klingon starships|Klingon Bird-of-Prey]] and the [[wikipedia:Romulan starships|Romulan Warbird]] from Star Trek.
*The '''[[Mmrnmhrm]] [[X-Form]]''' takes inspiration for both of its transformation forms from two popular [[wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] Rebellion fighters -- the [[wikipedia:X-Wing|X-Wing]] and the [[wikipedia:Y-Wing|Y-Wing]], respectively.
*The '''[[Syreen]] [[Penetrator]]''' is shaped after the [[wikipedia:V-2 rocket|V-2 rocket]], and a dildo.
*The '''[[Ur-Quan Kzer-Za|Ur-Quan]] [[Dreadnought]]''' seems to be inspired by the [[wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica (ship)|Battlestar command ships]] from Battlestar Galactica.
*The '''[[VUX]] [[Intruder]]''' looks very similar to the D7 class Klingon starship.
*The '''[[Chmmr]] [[Avatar]]''' looks similar to [[wikipedia:Vic Viper|Vic Viper]] of the [[wikipedia:Gradius series|Gradius series]] (the ZapSats may replace the option pods). The ZapSats also strongly resemble the Uhl Weapon from Starflight II, though it did not have the two mouse-like ears.

==Star and constellation names==
According to the [[HyperSpace]] starmap, the names for the HyperSpace stars and constellations were taken from "traditional astronomical designations." These are the in-game star and constellation names that don't directly correspond to real life astronomical designations. Others such as Lalande and Wolf, while not the name of actual constellations, appear to be derived from astronomical designations.
*'''Almagest''' is a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Almagest|Almagest]], an astronomical treatise written by [[Wikipedia:Ptolemy|Claudius Ptolemaius]] and describing his geocentric theory.
*'''Arianni''' may be a reference to the "inner earth people" with the same name mentioned in a purported [http://www.reversespins.com/byrd.html missing diary] of [[wikipedia:Admiral Byrd|Admiral Byrd]]. Alternative origins may be Arianna Reiche ([[Paul Reiche III]]'s daughter), the [[Wikipedia:Ariane (rocket)|Ariane rockets]], which were the primary launch vehicle of the European Space Agency in the latter portion of the 20th century, the planet [http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/places/article/69410.html Ariannus] from the original [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]], the [[wikipedia:Arianism|Arianist]] religious doctrine, the [[wikipedia:Aryan|Arian/Aryan]] (Proto-Indo-European) people or the ancient Greek historian [[wikipedia:Arrian|Arrian]].
*'''Brahe''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Tycho Brahe|Tycho Brahe]], the famous Danish astronomer of the 16th century.
*'''Cerenkov''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov|Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov]], a Soviet physicist and Nobel laureate.
*'''Chandrasekhar''' is a reference to the Indian-American astrophysicist [[Wikipedia:Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar|Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar]], famous for his work on stellar evolution and black holes.
*'''Copernicus''' is a reference [[Wikipedia:Nicolaus Copernicus|Nicolaus Copernicus]], the polish astronomer who proposed the sun was the center of the solar system.
*'''Gorno''' is a possible reference to the [[Wikipedia:Gorn|Gorn]], a race in [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]].
*'''Hyginus''' is a reference to the attributed author of [[Wikipedia:Poeticon astronomicon|Poeticon astronomicon]].
*'''Hyperion''' is a reference to the main setting of Dan Simmons' [[wikipedia:Hyperion Cantos|Hyperion Cantos]]; in turn, the denomination is taken from the name of the mythological Titan [[wikipedia:Hyperion (mythology)|Hyperion]].
*'''Illuminati''' is a reference to a variety of conspiracy theories, especially those of the [[Wikipedia:Illuminati|Bavarian Illuminati]].
*'''Kepler''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Johannes Kepler|Johannes Kepler]] who discovered the three laws of planetary motion.
*'''Klystron''' is a reference to a kind of vacuum tube used in early radar systems.
*'''Lalande''' is a reference to the french astronomer [[wikipedia:Jérôme_Lalande|Jérôme Lalande]].
*'''Lentilis''' is probably a reference to the Lentili from David Brin's short story [[Wikipedia:Sshhh ...|Sshhh ...]].
*'''Lipi''' is possibly a misspelling of "[[wikipedia:Lupus (constellation)|Lupus]]", an existing constellation.
*'''Maksutov''' is likely a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Maksutov telescope|Maksutov telescope]] invented by the Russian optician [[Wikipedia:Dimtri Maksutov|Dimtri Maksutov]].
*'''Mersenne''' is a reference to [http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Mersenne.html Marin Mersenne] a Minim friar who lived in France from 1588-1648 and was a major founder of number theory.
*'''Metis''' is a [[wikipedia:Metis (moon)|moon of Jupiter]], and correspondingly a [[wikipedia:Metis (mythology)|character]] in Greek mythology.
*'''Olber''' is likely a reference to [[Wikipedia:Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers|Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers]], a German astronomer.
*'''Organon''' is likely a reference to either Francis Bacon's book [[Wikipedia:Novum Organum|The New Organon]] or Aristotle's [[Wikipedia:Organon|Organon]], after which Bacon's book was named. Alternatively it could be a reference to [[Wikipedia:Organia|Organia]], an important location in [[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]], or to the [[Wikipedia:Organa family|Organa family]] in the [[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]] universe.
*'''Ptolemae''' is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Ptolemy|Claudius Ptolemaius]], an ancient astronomer whose Geocentric views Copernicus replaced.
*'''Raynet''' is possibly a misspelling of "[[wikipedia:Wolf-Rayet|Rayet]]", an existing astronomical designation. It could also be a reference to British amateur radio network [[Wikipedia:RAYNET|RAYNET]].
*'''Saurus''' is possibly a reference to [[wikipedia:Eden Phillpotts|Eden Phillpotts]] novel ''Saurus''. It is also similar to the Greek word for "reptile".
*'''Squidi'''
*'''Vitalis'''
*'''Wolf''' is a possible reference to the german astronomer [[Wikipedia:Max_Wolf|Max Wolf]].
*'''Zeeman''' is possibly a reference to the physicist [[Wikipedia:Pieter Zeeman|Pieter Zeeman]] for whom a [[Wikipedia:Zeeman (crater)|crater]] on the moon is named.

==Music==
*The Androsynth theme resembles "Mongoloid" by Devo [https://sndup.net/pzhmr/]
==Other==
*'''[[Leyland Gravity Whip]]s''' are named after Robert Leyland, a Toys For Bob programmer.

*The name and appearance of most '''[[Table of bio types|bio types]]''' found on planets originate in some way from real (living or not) things. The less obvious ones are listed below:
**'''Roto-Dendron''' is likely a [[wikipedia:Portmanteau|portmanteau]] of "[[wikipedia:Roto|roto]]" and "[[wikipedia:Rhododendron|rhododendron]]" (the name of a real plant).
**'''Macrocilla''' is probably a misspelling of "macrocilia", i.e. macroscopic [[wikipedia:Cilium|cilia]].
**In '''Splort Wort''', "splort" is an onomatopoeia for the shooting of a liquid, and "wort" is old English for "herb".
**The '''Bug-Eyed Bait''' resembles a worm, and indeed, worms are used as bait in fishing. Also, the large eyes of the creature justify the epithet "bug-eyed".

*The Pkunk Fury tactic of rotating while firing in all directions is refered to in the Star Control II manual as '''Death Blossom'''; this term originates from the movie [[wikipedia:The Last Starfighter|The Last Starfighter]] where it is used to describe a similar manoeuvre.

*Talana's uniform is near-identical to Princess Leia's slave outfit from [[wikipedia:Star_Wars_Episode_VI:_Return_of_the_Jedi|The Return of the Jedi]].

*Shiva Furnaces were probably named after the Hindu God of Destruction [[wikipedia:Shiva|Shiva]].

*Hellbore Cannons are a reference to Keith Laumer's [[wikipedia:Bolo_%28tank%29#Bolo_offensive_systems|Bolos]] or perhaps the weapons used by the Hydrans in the game [[wikipedia:Star_Fleet_Universe|Star Fleet Battles]].

*Star Control II shares a few plot elements with [[wikipedia:C. C. MacApp|C. C. MacApp]]'s "Recall Not Earth", such as a defeated Earth, a unique giant starship in the hands of a human captain, and the quest for a race's last females.

*Star Control II starts on February 17, 2155, and the [[Kohr-Ah]] win the [[Second Doctrinal War]] on February 17, 2159 or 2160. February 17 is [[Paul Reiche III]]'s birthday.

==Notes and references==
{{note|1}}''From part two of Matt Barton's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuLGjRuaCC4 video interview] with [[Paul Reiche III]] and [[Fred Ford]]:
::In general, we would create a ship through illustrations, and usually through paper illustrations, and then implement powers that made sense for it and that were cool and then afterwards, we'd sort of backwards think about "Now, who's flying this ship?", you know, "This ship sort of has this odd, robotic kind of pop look to it, so maybe like someone who looks like Devo is flying it." And so the Androsynth evolved out of this strange like "Wouldn't it be cool if Devo was flying spaceships.".
{{note|2}}[[Paul Reiche III]] explained the connection between the Androsynth and his own "friendships with openly gay folks" in an [http://uqm.stack.nl/forum/index.php?topic=2719.msg34333#msg34333 email exchange with a fan].
{{note|3}}{{IRC1998}}
::<Manta> Fwiffo: Has anyone ever brought up parallels between Babylon 5 and Star Control?<br>
::<Fwiffo> Babylon 5 causes a certain amount of stomping around the office screaming.<br>
::<Fwiffo> Babylon 5 steals from us. We steal from known space.<br>
::<Fwiffo> And Larry in known space steals from others.

==See Also==
*[[References to Star Control in other works]]

[[Category:About the Star Control series]]
[[Category:Trivia]]

Ragheagetegeiyejgdg

2024-11-21T23:14:33Z

Andrevan: Blanked the page

User:Andrevan

2024-11-21T23:14:13Z

Andrevan: Blanked the page

Talk:Influences and references

2024-11-21T23:13:57Z

Andrevan: /* Music */

I've just read Roadside Picnic and I'm confused about why you regard the "Mosquito Mange" as an influence or reference. Was this something Fred and Paul said in a chat session? Is there something in Star Control II that is similar? I've thought about it and I fail to see the connection. Please enlighten.
--[[User:PsiPhi|PsiPhi]] 00:59, 19 Jul 2005 (CEST)

That item was actually one to be researched further (which is why I put the question marks there). I haven't read the story myself yet, but it's been mentioned in the IRC channel as a possible origin of the "mosquito mange" expression which is used in SC2 when examining the Androsynth ruins: ":I see requests to the central computer for information -- data on `reality aberrations', the `Mosquito Mange' and, er, ghosts, poltergeists, and other malevolent supernatural creatures."
-- [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 04:23, 19 Jul 2005 (CEST)

For those who want to do some work on this page, there are two threads at the PNF boards, which have some more useful info. Be sure to verify these though, as some are plain wrong.
*http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~starcontrol/forum/index.php?topic=53.0
*http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~starcontrol/forum/index.php?topic=698.0
-- SvdB 05:32, 19 Jul 2005 (CEST)

I've been doing some work on these references (mostly the names) and have put up the ones that seem the most likely given the context and time period. Here are a few more captain names that I wasn't sure enough on though:
*'''Danning''' - Sybil Danning (mentioned on one of the PNF board threads)
*'''Munro''' - Caroline Munro, famous scream queen
*'''Decker''' - character from ST:TMP or Commodore Decker of USS Constellation in the Original Series ('The Doomsday Machine' episode)
*'''Graeme''' - from characters in the Childe Cycle by Gordon R. Dickson (I've seen the characters' names also spelled Grahame so I'm not sure)
*'''Alura''' - the only thing I found was Superman's mother. This might just be a word-play on 'Allure'
*'''BOOJI-1''' - reference to [[wikipedia:Booji Boy|Booji Boy]] of Devo fame
Are any of these reasonable enough to include on this page? Also, if there are any that I've already put up that you disagree with, we can discuss and edit as needs be - I won't take it too personally. Next on the my list is to parse the works of the authors they mention, looking for references and such. Of course if we have fans of these works, they'd be the first and best to find those.
[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 04:59, 3 Aug 2005 (CEST)

:I think Alura was Supergirl's mother, not Superman's.-- [[User:PsiPhi|PsiPhi]] 11:02, 5 Aug 2005 (CEST)

::You're right - I slipped up on that one. Is there any other possible Alura reference/inpsiration? [[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 00:23, 12 Aug 2005 (CEST)

:::I can't find any other. I think it would be safe to add it for now. [[User:PsiPhi|PsiPhi]] 03:54, 18 Aug 2005 (CEST)

:::My only qualms with adding this Alura reference is that it doesn't exactly fit the context. All the others are centrallish characters that tend to have certain qualities that match the Syreen image. Supergirl's mom simply seems like a flat, background character on the sidelines of the DC universe. Personally, of all the possible inspirations I've proposed I think that this one is the weakest (followed closely by penny). I did find a third potential inspiration: Princess Allura of [[wikipedia:Voltron|Voltron]] fame. So the list of possibilities is:
:::*Word play on allure
:::*Supergirl's mother
:::*Princess in Voltron
:::*something else???
:::How do we decide what can reasonably be stated as the reference/influence that Paul and Fred intended anyways? When I've been looking, my criteria has been the works of the explicitly stated authors, occuring before SC2's release, well known pop culture - usually sci-fi, uniqueness, and context. I think that we've probably nailed the majority of the captain names and other influences, but what about the cases, like Alura, where it's just a decent guess. My two cents is that we continue to express such uncertainties in the edits, reserving the more definitive statements for the surer references. That said, I think I'll add the rest of these references and see what happens. -- [[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 09:56, 18 Aug 2005 (CEST)

::::Wow, Voltron! I loved that show as a kid. 20 years later and I can still remember the theme song (scary). Now that you bring it up, Princess Allura fits a lot better than Supergirl's mother. She was an important character and did command one of the lions after Sven left. If Chimchim is a reference to the pet in Speed Racer and if Kimba is also a reference to a character in Japanese animation (plus the fact that the entire Shofixti culture was based on the Japanese), this does form a pattern that one of the designers loved Japanese anime. It is possible they accidentally misspelled her name. Knowing this, I would put Princess Allura far ahead of Supergirl's mother (who, as you put it, wasn't that important a character).[[User:PsiPhi|PsiPhi]] 20:42, 18 Aug 2005 (CEST)

Not to be a jerk or anything, but I'm removing the slylandro etymology remark until someone can provide an external reference for it, i.e. a greek dictionary showing slyl=sky. I remember seeing this over on the Androsynth page and it's rubbed me the wrong way ever since. And don't just point me to the threads on the forum because it's always the same person making this claim, and I'd like something a little more objective. Every greek dictionary I've looked at either has ouranos or aither as the the word for sky. So if you're a proponent of this, I'll gladly eat crow and repost it if you can back it up. [[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 06:32, 19 Aug 2005 (CEST)

===Princess Bride===
The page for [[Tanaka]] contains the following text:
"Trivia: His opening comments of 'you killed my father, my mother, my many brothers, all six of my sisters - prepare to die' are a homage to Inigo Montoya from 'The Princess Bride'". I personally wouldn't know about this so I'm not going to add it here. But if it is verified, it ''would'' belong on this page.
-- [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 08:54, 11 Oct 2005 (CEST)

:I might be able to vouch for this, having seen this movie innumerable times while growing up (and a few more times in my "adult" years). In all honesty, I can clearly remember being reminded of this movie when I saw this part of the game (and again when I heard it). I'll make the changes here and in the Tanaka page then. The line possibly being referenced can be found in the [[wikipedia:Count Rugen|Count Rugen]] article. [[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 00:11, 12 Oct 2005 (CEST)

::I wasn't suggesting removing the trivia from the Tanaka page. I'd say it would belong in both. You don't think so? — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 05:07, 12 Oct 2005 (CEST)

:::I guess I kind of jumped the gun there, but I was thinking about removing it from the Tanaka article before your comment. My thinking was that it is a reference/influence that really isn't critical to understanding who Tanaka is and what role he plays in the game. If the trivia appears on the Tanaka page also, then we should put the other trivia found here on the corresponding pages as well. I'd say that if the trivia contributes to our understanding of the original article (like the Androsynth's pink inverted triangle insignia) then it should be included there also; but otherwise, just keep it here. As I see it, this page is for all those quirky references we enjoy finding but that don't really add to the main pages. But, as always, if you want to put it back on the Tanaka page, I won't take it personally. [[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 22:25, 20 Oct 2005 (CEST)

::::Well, "be bold in editing" is the credo. I'm more interested in the motivations (so that we can come to some guidelines) then this particular case.
::::My view is that each page should be complete in its subject. That doesn't only include the relation between of the subject and the game, but also anything that explains how the game element came to be the way it is. That includes influences imho.
::::I don't consider the Ultronomicon a reference work about just the SC2 game events, but also anything that has anything to do with it.
::::Now if there was a lot to say about each trivia, I'd choose a link to the relevant section of a dedicated trivia page. But the trivia here are no longer than a paragraph.
::::—[[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 12:30, 21 Oct 2005 (CEST)

== Graeme ==

"Graeme is a reference to Donal Graeme, a protagonist in the Childe Cycle novels by Gordon R. Dickson. (This may also be a reference to other characters in this series with this same lastname.)"
Are any of these characters pilots or captains of a space ship? Because if there's only one, it's probably safe to say that's the one the reference is about (as all people from this list are pilots/captains).
— [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 15:44, 5 Nov 2005 (CET)

:I don't know really - haven't had a chance to read or even look at the books. Maybe I'll have to do a run down to the bookstore. There are at least 4 Graeme characters (including Donal) that I have found just by looking at short book reviews and synopses on the web. Anyone know any Dickson fans? I'll keep looking and edit if I find anything along the criterion you mention. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 18:29, 5 Nov 2005 (CET)
:Small update - Donal Graeme is a captain of a starship during at least part of one of the novels. Still don't know about the others though - sorry. I'll keep looking... --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 10:15, 11 Nov 2005 (CET)

== Constellation names ==

What's this with all the constellation names? Afaik, every single one of those stars actually exists. As such, they don't belong in the Ultronimocon, and certainly not on this page. They're not references any more than "Jupiter" or "fungus", or "stick" is a reference. That is, they normal real-life terms used exactly as in real life. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 23:52, 3 Dec 2005 (CET)
:Not exactly. I added the list, specifically excluding the pre-existing, real-life names (as far as I could tell). About a quarter of the constellation/star names are not actual constellation/star names. A lot of them are references to astronomers or physicists, some of which also have star catalogs, star types, and planetary features named after them (Lalande, Wolf, and Zeeman for example). There are others that might have a sci-fi origin like Arriani or Saurus. And then there are those that refer to things completely unrelated to astronomy (Klystron) or with no apparent source that I can find (Lipi). I guess this arose from some of the discussion on the which form of the constellation names to use in articles. I figured that for completeness, the reference page should also tell where the more esoteric in-game constellation/star names come from. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 01:40, 4 Dec 2005 (CET)

Perhaps there are '''some''' that are made up (after all, more may be named between now and 2155). But with all the stars in the sky, I'd expect that anyone who's had anything to do with astronomy has a star or cluster named after him.

Also, stars that have latin names appear to be mentioned in the genitive when a prefix word is present. So the star system "taurus" (bull) has the star "alpha tauri" ("A of the bull"). Genitive forms usually have -i, -is or -ae (singular) or "-um", "-orum" or "-arum" (plural; "alpha geminorum" is "A of the twins") suffixes. "Lipi" may be a typo for "Lupi", "Lupus" meaning "wolf" (which is an actual constellation).
— [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 20:39, 4 Dec 2005 (CET)

:Sorry a response has been so delayed - end of the year finals. I see what you're saying, and could go back on my previous arguments and agree with taking off the names like Luyten, Wolf, and others that are part of star names/star catalogs/star types. I'll do some more research over the winter break and see if any others that might fall into this category. I'd still like to leave the others up so people can see where the names might have come from, even if it is from some astronomer not honored in stellar nomenclature like Brahe (I believe there's no star-thingy named after him). And of course, I'll continue to mull this whole issue over.

:As for the names being in the genitive cases, Phoenix and I had some discussion over at [[Ultronomicon talk:Manual of Style#Constellation names]] about this, and we'd certainly like to hear you're thoughts. For example, do you know of any in-game instance when the nominative form of a latin constellation name is used? --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 06:49, 15 Dec 2005 (CET)

== Raynet ==

How important is RAYNET, the british amateur radio organization? Unless it's much bigger than I thought, or something special to FF or PR3... I don't expect it would be the source for this name.

== Utwig captain names ==

Interesting finds Censored, but I'm not sure if those are so much references as they are coincidences, especially the Duna name (in portuguese in means a sand dune). I don't see how the Danuba river relates to the Utwig. Nestor I might be able to buy, they are kind of elderly and wise, but weren't the robots in asimov's "I, robot" books called nestors (maybe this was only in the movies)? And for Endo, the japanese author maybe if again we can relate him somehow to the utwig personality/culture. I think a stronger possibility might be that endo is a slang term for marijuana - that smoke you see on their bridge, well, that's why they're sooo sad and out of touch with reality (probably got a bad case of the munchies too). --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 09:22, 9 February 2006 (CET)

== Arilou captain names ==

Is it possible that the Arilou captain names are "words" from songs? Does anyone recognise any of those names? — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 08:48, 6 March 2006 (CET)
:They seem to mostly be nonsense words to me, besides "Dingdup" which sounds like "Dinged up". "Louifoui" might be from a song, although the only one I can think of that's remotely similar would be "Louie Louie". -[[User:Fadookie|Fadookie]] 09:41, 6 March 2006 (CET)

== Trent ==

Is this possibly a reference to Trent Castanaveras (sp?) of Daniel Keys Moran's _The_Long_Run_. Primarily I'd describe him as a thief, but he's also a competent pilot.

== Buenos Aires ==

I added the entry about how Hayes mentioning the destruction of Buenos Aires seems to be a reference to Starship Troopers. Anyone have anything else to mention, questions, etc? [[User:MasterGrazzt|MasterGrazzt]] 03:28, 1 June 2006 (CEST)
:[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]], thanks for correcting my mistake about Buenos Aires being in Peru instead of Argentina. While I hate to invoke the old internet defense of "I was tired", that was indeed the case, as I made that correction very early in the morning during an attack of insomnia. Hopefully, I am allowed to continue adding to this wiki :-). [[User:MasterGrazzt|MasterGrazzt]] 10:29, 3 June 2006 (CEST)
::No problem. We've all done that at one point or another. Welcome to the community and please continue to add. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 21:03, 3 June 2006 (CEST)

===Other places destroyed===
I've added some possible references for the other places the Ur-Quan destroyed. I grabbed the ones that I could think of first or find easily. I'm assuming that all the places have some kind of importance to mankind's history given the destruction of the other places. Here they are for the talk, and some of my thoughts on them:
*''blew away a kilometer of land in central Iraq''
:My best guess is Babel/Tower of Babel, but could be the Nameless City or Ubar (Iram of Pillars) but those are supposed to be Arabia.
*''vaporized several targets in the Amazon rain forest''
:The only mythology/fiction thing I could come up with was El Dorado, but it might just be other as yet undiscovered cities.
*''punched a big hole through the antarctic icecap to destroy something deep under the surface''
:This one could be a lot of things. My initial search turned up ''The Mountains of Madness'' and Campbell's ''Who goes there?'', which was made into a movie ''The Thing''. I'm not sure if there are some other "buried in antarctic" mythologies that existed prior to 1992 (the X-files movie came out in 1998).
*''melted a broad swath of the ocean floor in the south-eastern Atlantic''
:I thought this was Atlantis, but the south-east location seems a bit odd to me.
Am I missing any other possible references that these might be too? --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 07:32, 7 June 2006 (CEST)

===Drooge===
Friend in Russian is "друг" which can be transliterated as "drug". I've never guessed that the name "Drooge" is from Russian word for "friend". While translating name "Drooge" was transliterated back to Russian as "Друудж" with absolutely no meaning. [[User:Dmit|Dmit]]

== Music ==

I think the Androsynth fanfare sounds an awful lot like the song "Mongoloid" by Devo, or potentially another Devo song since plenty of them have similar riffs. For comparison, see http://sndup.net/pzhmr (I'd love to upload it here but it won't let me). [[User:Andrevan|A]] 01:55, 13 March 2007 (CET)

I'm not familiar with Devo, but from what I see on Wikipedia, their matching outfits and kitch sci-fi style do say Androsynth to me. Together with the "Booji-1" Androsynth captain, this music similarity is probably not a coincidence. What kind of problem do you have uploading? Any error messages? — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 02:38, 13 March 2007 (CET)

Yeah, I've never really seen or heard Devo, but from what I knew of them, the Androsynth match pretty well. The shiny glasses, 4 of them in a cockpit (I'm pretty sure Devo had 4 members), and the "ditty" for when they win a combat just ''screams'' Devo, if you ask me. — [[[[User:Gaeamil|Gaeamil]] 02:17, 13 March 2007 (MST)

:It won't allow ogg uploads. I added it to http://sndup.net/pzhmr [[User:Andrevan|A]] ([[User talk:Andrevan|talk]]) 23:13, 21 November 2024 (UTC)

== Thiotimoline ==

I read the Wikipedia article on Thiotimoline, and I don't see very much similarities, other than time travel of information being involved. That's not enough to list it here imho. Is there anything else in the actual Thiotimoline essays that connects it with the Metachron? — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 03:08, 2 April 2007 (CEST)

:Oh frell, I'm sorry for the delay in response - I didn't see this until just now. The similarity in my mind is that the reaction happens prior to the adding of water, and is a gradual process that can be measured to determine when water will be added (from the first essay). I've recently re-read the first and third essays/stories, but am still searching for the second where I seem to recall that someone was using the endochronic properties to predict if rocket launches would be successful. The third essay goes a little bit more into detail talking about creating devices out of endochronic polymers, but focuses on using them for space/time-travel. Thiotimoline and the metachron are the only scifi devices that I know of that predict their own destruction/dissolution so that's why I originally connected the two and inserted the comment. But if the idea is more prevalent than I thought, or the argument still doesn't cut it without a specific reference, go ahead and remove it and I'll add it back in when/if I find something more definitive. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 03:04, 11 April 2007 (CEST)

== The Pootworm and Descartes ==

Okay, this one got me. Granted I'm no philosophy major, but I'm not a backwater hick. So can someone please explain in what ways the Pootworm dialog is a play on Descartes' "Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum"? For reference, here is the Pootworm dialog:
:"Welcome to our home stars. We are the Pkunk. Pkunk we are. Seekers of the deepest truths, askers of interesting and significant questions. Even now a question of great transcendental significance comes unbidden to our minds. Who are you and what do you want? Do not be frightened. We are powerful creatures, yes but we could not hurt you anymore than we could squish the helpless Pootworm. We love the Pootworm. We are one with the Pootworm. We are one with you. Of course you realize that this means you are one with the Pootworm. Rejoice!! To be one with the Pootworm is to be alive, and why not be alive? Is that not what living is for?"
I could be blind, but I don't see where "I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am" is referenced in there. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 07:48, 14 April 2007 (CEST)

:"We are one with the Pootworm. We are one with you. Ergo, you are one with the Pootworm. Ergo, you are [alive]"
:There are some similarities, as you see. It's another apparently superfluous tentative to prove that we exist (by using some more particular affirmations). [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 10:53, 14 April 2007 (CEST)

::The link with Decartes is indirect. The Pootworm dialog connects with "proof of existence", and only via that do you go to "Decartes". That's one step too many, and hence, considering that there are no other connections, too little to be included here. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 19:21, 19 April 2007 (CEST)

== ZFP ==

Yes, if you try hard enough, you can make up some vague connections. But this page is not about what associations you can come up with (don't even think about it; such a page has no place in the Ultronomicon); it is about things that had influenced TFB and other materials that TFB refered to.

If this applied to the Zoq/Frog connection, that means that TFB must have had the same connection in imagery that we've determined by poll to be very far-fetched. (Note that it's more likely that the race design came before the artwork). Even for a page in which some "maybe"s are acceptable, this is just too far "out there".

The "Fot"-".fot file" connection is even more far-fetched. There are only that many three-letter words, neither is really "unnecessary", there are no other similarities, and Windows 3.1 was only just out when TFB were finishing up SC2, at which time they likely had better things to do than look at the internals of Windows. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 18:16, 19 April 2007 (CEST)

:Ah, oops (the Fot thingy). About the ZoqFrog I can only say one thing: *FRUMPLE!!!*. And "Nnnnnnnngah! It is *dancing*!". [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 18:20, 19 April 2007 (CEST)

== Stars and constellation influences ==

[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] removed the Lipi and Vitalis references (Lipi=Lipi Marketing, Vitalis=Saint Vitalis), arguing that they aren't related to science or sci-fi. However, unless a more sci(-fi) reference is found, we can stick with this. After all, who said that FF&PR3 weren't allowed to be influenced by non-sci(-fi) sources?! [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 08:48, 26 May 2007 (CEST)

:You are absolutely right that we don't know exactly what FF&PR3 were influenced by, but we can make a good guess based on statements they've made, by the context of the game itself, and similarities to other known influences. The purpose of this page as I see is not to document every coincidence of shared names, but to catalog those for which an argument can be made why they are likely candidates and not happy coincidences nor the first thing that pops up when you google/wikipedia the term. That's my full problem with Lipi and Vitalis. The Vitalis saints and Lipi marketing have nothing to do with science, stars, math, science fiction - in other words, they don't fit the pattern. They look like things that just have the same name. It's a much more extraordinary claim that those are the references/influences for those names because they don't fit the pattern. In the choice between using those references or nothing at all (if nothing can be found), I disagree with you and I'd rather go with nothing. Leaving an entry blank does no harm - it's alright to say that we don't know something; but to claim a coincidence is a possibility simply because the name is or sounds the same is shoddy research and devalues this list.
:I'd say keep searching on the Lipi and Vitalis fronts - it was only today that I found a "Saurus" reference that I like and that I think fits the context, and I've been thinking about these lists off and on for awhile now. Be patient. Coincidences do happen so do the research to make sure the names fit. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 10:05, 26 May 2007 (CEST)

== Ship Designs ==

I'm not the one who made the initial reference to the Ur-Quan Dreadnought bearing more than a passing resemblance to the Battlestar Galactica, but I do agree with it. Namely, the low profile, long main body, distinctive "head" shape, pods (flight pods on the Galactica, warp pods on the Dreadnought) separated from the main body by "nacelles," a single engine cluster at the end of the rear body and the ability to launch fighters. These are certainly not all features solely distinctive to the Galactica, but they are in tandem. I'm honestly not *too* bothered by the edit by Valaggar, but I personally think the resemblence is far too uncanny for there not to have been a design inspiration there. --[[User:24.117.122.78|24.117.122.78]] 17:37, 27 June 2007 (CEST)

:Yeah, feel free to revert it, unless someone does not agree. I wasn't in a good mood when I made the edit... and you know what sort of things stem from such a mood. I apologize. [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 20:17, 27 June 2007 (CEST)

::Changed, but not reverted. There certainly are a lot of differences, still, so I worded it similarly to how the human cruiser entry is worded. --[[User:24.117.122.78|24.117.122.78]] 20:42, 27 June 2007 (CEST)

== **HYUIVBHJHG** ==

A possible origin of the word "**HYUIVBHJHG**" (suggested [http://uqm.stack.nl/forum/index.php?topic=483.msg4041#msg4041 here] on the forum) would be that the letters are chosen in such a way that, on a [[wikipedia:Dvorak Simplified Keyboard|Dvorak Simplified Keyboard]], they make a 42:

[[Image:Dvorak HYUIVBHJHG.png]]

I know it's too far-fetched, but it's interesting nonetheless.

:I'm not really seeing the 42 in that. The leftmost cluster kind of looks like a reverse 4, and if the second cluster could look like a 2 if that right most dot (V) where closer (like on the M). I highly doubt that it's intentional, though I'd be interested in how Death 999 thought it looked like a 42 since I'm not seeing it immediately. However, if you have to stare at it cross-eyed, standing on your head during a grand alignment of the planets in order to see it then I think it's better left off the "Influences and references" page. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 18:34, 23 August 2007 (CEST)

::Even if it looked more like a 42, there are many keyboard layouts and you can also translate the 42 figure to the right or left, obtaining other letter combinations. Plus, those letters are really close to each other on a standard keyboard, leading me to suspect that it was just random key pressing. [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 18:40, 23 August 2007 (CEST)

== Tossing into the furnace ==

Quote from the 1990 game Loom, from Mr. Stoke at the Blacksmiths' Guild (Mr. Stoke is angry because the player — who's actually impersonating someone else, but that's beside the point — didn't bring the firewood he asked for):
:''If your father wasn't the Foreman, I'd toss YOU in the furnace.''
Any chance this inspired (intentionally or not) the Druuge's punishment by tossing into the furnace? [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 15:24, 12 January 2008 (CET)

::Ah, and, by the way, the Weavers (from Loom also) never take out their cloaks (and if someone looks to a cloakless Weaver, that someone dies). This also is quite similar to what's going with the Utwig and their masks (except the death thing of course). [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 16:13, 12 January 2008 (CET)

I guess it's not ''impossible'' that TFB were inspired by this, but then again, it's not impossible that they were inspired by Hansel and Grethel either (remember how the witch came to her end?).
Regardless, any connection is a stretch, and therefor such a mention has no place in the article, unless supported by some more substantial clue.

I haven't played Loom, but if your entire connection is based on them both having some piece of garment that they hever take off, then this may be even more far-fetched than the furnace thing. It isn't even the same piece of garment, nor do the reasons appeaer to be similar. And it's not as if the idea of having to cover your face is unique. Think of burkas irl for instance.

I haven't been paying attention to the Ultronomicon for a while, but I'm glad that Fyzixfighter is still here providing some counterbalance, because you still don't seem to critically look at your own ideas. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 20:56, 12 January 2008 (CET)

:Hey, don't be so over-reactive. There ''is'' a reason for which I posted this on the talk page rather than writing it in the article — it's more of a curiosity I came upon rather than something I insist is probably an influence. That you haven't been paying attention to the Ultronomicon for a while makes it even worse, as you're formulating a view about how I ''generally'' act based on how I ''seem'' to act ''right now''. Also, even if I did mean that this is ''probably'' a reference, it would in no case mean that I am ''generally'' not critical about my claims, but merely that I tend to go overboard with influences and references.

(And by the way, see the above section for another example of me posting "curiosities" such as this on this page) [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 10:10, 13 January 2008 (CET)

You used to post things you didn't think through all the time, and now after not having paid much attention to this place for a little while, the first thing I see is more of the same, and I'm supposed to think that you have changed and this is actually an exception? I guess it is possible, but it wouldn't be my first thought, and indeed, it wasn't my first thought.

But I guess the fact that you posted this to the talk page first is an improvement. I wonder what would have happened if noone had replied though.

As for the "curiosity" above... I'm pretty sure you weren't supposed to take Death 999's remark seriously...

— [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 17:17, 13 January 2008 (CET)

:(re first paragraph) True, it ''wouldn't'' be your first thought. But, still maybe you ''should'' have had the second thought that you should glance a little over some of my other recent contributions (easily accessible [http://uqm.stack.nl/wiki/Special:Contributions/Valaggar here] as you know), to see if your impression is really so true. Although the risk that you are mistaken is not so big, the consequences of being mistaken are not so small either. This is sometimes expressed as "give him a chance".
:(re second paragraph) Well, there's no need to take D_999's reply seriously to post that "curiosity". [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 14:58, 14 January 2008 (CET)

== Singing Hoops ==

Er, isn't the Singing Hoops<->talking rings from "The Time Machine" connection a little too tenuous? I mean, a singing hoop isn't exactly a talking ring, and although I haven't seen the movie, and we don't even know what exactly the Singing Hoops were, so we don't have any link except the similar names... and anyway, a ring which stores historical information isn't very similar to a hoop which sings... and "talking rings" isn't even an "official" name, I gather (it's not "Talking Rings"). And the talking rings don't exactly stand out in the list of possibilities... hula hoops might be closer, since they're hoops, at least, but even that is too tenuous. [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 14:38, 7 March 2008 (CET)

:While I agree it's a bit tenuous, but I don't think it's more tenuous than a few other things on this list. Additionally, the my reasoning for the connection goes beyond the name. And while not an official name, the name was only every spoken so it makes it hard to hear capitalization - a script of the movie doesn't capitalize them, but they are consistently referred to as the "talking rings" in the dialog. Both the talking rings and the Singing Hoops are strange, not completely understood artifacts of an extinct, technologically advanced civilization - the Precursors in the case of the latter, and "civilized man" in the case of the talking rings - that mysteriously vanished several millennia before (~800000 years in the movie). The rings are also kept in a museum type structure with other artifacts from that ancient civilization similar to how the Hoops were discovered with other artifacts, and the current society (the Eloi) has no concept of any of them (I love the earlier scene with the decrepit books) - Weena says that the rings talk, but they speak of "things no one understands".
:I think the biggest thing that makes this tenuous for me is that we have no reason to think that this movie was an inspiration beyond that it's classic sci-fi. At least with the "Empties" the name matches perfectly with something in Roadside Picnic and we have one other reference to Roadside Picnic somewhere else (Mosquito Mange). There is a hoop in Roadside Picnic that they find in "the Zone" that when spun on the finger, keeps spinning for several minutes without stopping after the initial whirl, but there's no singing element associated with it. Back to the Time Machine, I'd highly recommend watching the movie, which is not only classic sci-fi film, but also perhaps to get a better feeling than what my clumsy explanation above can convey. But if it still seems too tenuous or coincidental, let's remove it and I'll just keep looking for some kind of influence. I'm still looking for something for "the big Dud" (<tongue in cheek>[[wikipedia:The Big Lebowski|The Big Lebowski]] perhaps...</tongue in cheek>). --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 21:52, 7 March 2008 (CET)

== Linch-Nas-Ploh = Little Prince refrence? ==

According to ZEX, Linch-Nas-Ploh translates as "The snake-like creature who has swallowed the elephantine beast" (or `the long, thin creature who has swallowed the huge beast' in UQM). In the (rather wonderful) story "The Little Prince", the main character drew a boa constrictor digesting an elephant: http://theliterarylink.com/prince1.html And Lyncis does rather look like a hat (somewhat like the original drawing.)
Thoughts? I only just thought of the connection, looking at the map, but it strikes me as a rather remarkable coincidence.
Alana--[[User:70.57.232.235|70.57.232.235]] 01:59, 22 March 2008 (CET)

:It's already covered. See the first paragraph of the VUX section (or search for "Le Petit Prince"). EDIT: Also, Lyncis doesn't look like a hat, it looks like a boa constrictor that has digested an elephant. :P
:Maybe we ought to add the English translation of "Le Petit Prince", though (either as an alternative name or simply as a replacement for "Le Petit Prince")? [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 08:13, 22 March 2008 (CET)
:: A'duuur. XD;; Hahaha, and I felt so ''clever'' for noticing it while staring at Lyncis... :B
:: But including the name in English probably isn't a bad idea, especially since some people have probably only seen the English-language movie. :3 Alana [[User:71.32.36.197|71.32.36.197]] 23:37, 22 March 2008 (CET)

== Ziggerfau-gerrrnuf, Ah-ah, Pahoy-hoy ==

Coincidentally, "Ahoy-hoy" is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahoy-hoy greeting] term derived from "Ahoy!"

== Anyone have a full list of Captain names? The PONAF are starting to get phased out. ==

Baylor for the Ilwraith might be closer to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balor Balor] of myth.
TikTok for the Zoq/Fot/Pik is analogous to Tick-Tock while NikNak is similar to Knick-knack. [[User:216.57.30.2|216.57.30.2]] 22:36, 29 April 2008 (CEST)

:Besides the name, what other elements might connect an Ilwrath captain to this myth?
:And as for getting a list of names, the names are in the source code in a text file in the race's folder in the main content folder accessible [http://sc2.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/sc2/trunk/sc2/content/ here]; for example, the androsynth captain names are in ../content/androsyn/andtext.txt. Hmmm...if it's true PONAF is getting phased out, and even if not, I wonder if a straight '''List of captain names''' would be a meaningful article here? --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 02:55, 30 April 2008 (CEST)

Talk:Influences and references

2024-11-21T23:13:45Z

Andrevan: /* Music */

I've just read Roadside Picnic and I'm confused about why you regard the "Mosquito Mange" as an influence or reference. Was this something Fred and Paul said in a chat session? Is there something in Star Control II that is similar? I've thought about it and I fail to see the connection. Please enlighten.
--[[User:PsiPhi|PsiPhi]] 00:59, 19 Jul 2005 (CEST)

That item was actually one to be researched further (which is why I put the question marks there). I haven't read the story myself yet, but it's been mentioned in the IRC channel as a possible origin of the "mosquito mange" expression which is used in SC2 when examining the Androsynth ruins: ":I see requests to the central computer for information -- data on `reality aberrations', the `Mosquito Mange' and, er, ghosts, poltergeists, and other malevolent supernatural creatures."
-- [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 04:23, 19 Jul 2005 (CEST)

For those who want to do some work on this page, there are two threads at the PNF boards, which have some more useful info. Be sure to verify these though, as some are plain wrong.
*http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~starcontrol/forum/index.php?topic=53.0
*http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~starcontrol/forum/index.php?topic=698.0
-- SvdB 05:32, 19 Jul 2005 (CEST)

I've been doing some work on these references (mostly the names) and have put up the ones that seem the most likely given the context and time period. Here are a few more captain names that I wasn't sure enough on though:
*'''Danning''' - Sybil Danning (mentioned on one of the PNF board threads)
*'''Munro''' - Caroline Munro, famous scream queen
*'''Decker''' - character from ST:TMP or Commodore Decker of USS Constellation in the Original Series ('The Doomsday Machine' episode)
*'''Graeme''' - from characters in the Childe Cycle by Gordon R. Dickson (I've seen the characters' names also spelled Grahame so I'm not sure)
*'''Alura''' - the only thing I found was Superman's mother. This might just be a word-play on 'Allure'
*'''BOOJI-1''' - reference to [[wikipedia:Booji Boy|Booji Boy]] of Devo fame
Are any of these reasonable enough to include on this page? Also, if there are any that I've already put up that you disagree with, we can discuss and edit as needs be - I won't take it too personally. Next on the my list is to parse the works of the authors they mention, looking for references and such. Of course if we have fans of these works, they'd be the first and best to find those.
[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 04:59, 3 Aug 2005 (CEST)

:I think Alura was Supergirl's mother, not Superman's.-- [[User:PsiPhi|PsiPhi]] 11:02, 5 Aug 2005 (CEST)

::You're right - I slipped up on that one. Is there any other possible Alura reference/inpsiration? [[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 00:23, 12 Aug 2005 (CEST)

:::I can't find any other. I think it would be safe to add it for now. [[User:PsiPhi|PsiPhi]] 03:54, 18 Aug 2005 (CEST)

:::My only qualms with adding this Alura reference is that it doesn't exactly fit the context. All the others are centrallish characters that tend to have certain qualities that match the Syreen image. Supergirl's mom simply seems like a flat, background character on the sidelines of the DC universe. Personally, of all the possible inspirations I've proposed I think that this one is the weakest (followed closely by penny). I did find a third potential inspiration: Princess Allura of [[wikipedia:Voltron|Voltron]] fame. So the list of possibilities is:
:::*Word play on allure
:::*Supergirl's mother
:::*Princess in Voltron
:::*something else???
:::How do we decide what can reasonably be stated as the reference/influence that Paul and Fred intended anyways? When I've been looking, my criteria has been the works of the explicitly stated authors, occuring before SC2's release, well known pop culture - usually sci-fi, uniqueness, and context. I think that we've probably nailed the majority of the captain names and other influences, but what about the cases, like Alura, where it's just a decent guess. My two cents is that we continue to express such uncertainties in the edits, reserving the more definitive statements for the surer references. That said, I think I'll add the rest of these references and see what happens. -- [[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 09:56, 18 Aug 2005 (CEST)

::::Wow, Voltron! I loved that show as a kid. 20 years later and I can still remember the theme song (scary). Now that you bring it up, Princess Allura fits a lot better than Supergirl's mother. She was an important character and did command one of the lions after Sven left. If Chimchim is a reference to the pet in Speed Racer and if Kimba is also a reference to a character in Japanese animation (plus the fact that the entire Shofixti culture was based on the Japanese), this does form a pattern that one of the designers loved Japanese anime. It is possible they accidentally misspelled her name. Knowing this, I would put Princess Allura far ahead of Supergirl's mother (who, as you put it, wasn't that important a character).[[User:PsiPhi|PsiPhi]] 20:42, 18 Aug 2005 (CEST)

Not to be a jerk or anything, but I'm removing the slylandro etymology remark until someone can provide an external reference for it, i.e. a greek dictionary showing slyl=sky. I remember seeing this over on the Androsynth page and it's rubbed me the wrong way ever since. And don't just point me to the threads on the forum because it's always the same person making this claim, and I'd like something a little more objective. Every greek dictionary I've looked at either has ouranos or aither as the the word for sky. So if you're a proponent of this, I'll gladly eat crow and repost it if you can back it up. [[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 06:32, 19 Aug 2005 (CEST)

===Princess Bride===
The page for [[Tanaka]] contains the following text:
"Trivia: His opening comments of 'you killed my father, my mother, my many brothers, all six of my sisters - prepare to die' are a homage to Inigo Montoya from 'The Princess Bride'". I personally wouldn't know about this so I'm not going to add it here. But if it is verified, it ''would'' belong on this page.
-- [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 08:54, 11 Oct 2005 (CEST)

:I might be able to vouch for this, having seen this movie innumerable times while growing up (and a few more times in my "adult" years). In all honesty, I can clearly remember being reminded of this movie when I saw this part of the game (and again when I heard it). I'll make the changes here and in the Tanaka page then. The line possibly being referenced can be found in the [[wikipedia:Count Rugen|Count Rugen]] article. [[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 00:11, 12 Oct 2005 (CEST)

::I wasn't suggesting removing the trivia from the Tanaka page. I'd say it would belong in both. You don't think so? — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 05:07, 12 Oct 2005 (CEST)

:::I guess I kind of jumped the gun there, but I was thinking about removing it from the Tanaka article before your comment. My thinking was that it is a reference/influence that really isn't critical to understanding who Tanaka is and what role he plays in the game. If the trivia appears on the Tanaka page also, then we should put the other trivia found here on the corresponding pages as well. I'd say that if the trivia contributes to our understanding of the original article (like the Androsynth's pink inverted triangle insignia) then it should be included there also; but otherwise, just keep it here. As I see it, this page is for all those quirky references we enjoy finding but that don't really add to the main pages. But, as always, if you want to put it back on the Tanaka page, I won't take it personally. [[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 22:25, 20 Oct 2005 (CEST)

::::Well, "be bold in editing" is the credo. I'm more interested in the motivations (so that we can come to some guidelines) then this particular case.
::::My view is that each page should be complete in its subject. That doesn't only include the relation between of the subject and the game, but also anything that explains how the game element came to be the way it is. That includes influences imho.
::::I don't consider the Ultronomicon a reference work about just the SC2 game events, but also anything that has anything to do with it.
::::Now if there was a lot to say about each trivia, I'd choose a link to the relevant section of a dedicated trivia page. But the trivia here are no longer than a paragraph.
::::—[[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 12:30, 21 Oct 2005 (CEST)

== Graeme ==

"Graeme is a reference to Donal Graeme, a protagonist in the Childe Cycle novels by Gordon R. Dickson. (This may also be a reference to other characters in this series with this same lastname.)"
Are any of these characters pilots or captains of a space ship? Because if there's only one, it's probably safe to say that's the one the reference is about (as all people from this list are pilots/captains).
— [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 15:44, 5 Nov 2005 (CET)

:I don't know really - haven't had a chance to read or even look at the books. Maybe I'll have to do a run down to the bookstore. There are at least 4 Graeme characters (including Donal) that I have found just by looking at short book reviews and synopses on the web. Anyone know any Dickson fans? I'll keep looking and edit if I find anything along the criterion you mention. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 18:29, 5 Nov 2005 (CET)
:Small update - Donal Graeme is a captain of a starship during at least part of one of the novels. Still don't know about the others though - sorry. I'll keep looking... --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 10:15, 11 Nov 2005 (CET)

== Constellation names ==

What's this with all the constellation names? Afaik, every single one of those stars actually exists. As such, they don't belong in the Ultronimocon, and certainly not on this page. They're not references any more than "Jupiter" or "fungus", or "stick" is a reference. That is, they normal real-life terms used exactly as in real life. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 23:52, 3 Dec 2005 (CET)
:Not exactly. I added the list, specifically excluding the pre-existing, real-life names (as far as I could tell). About a quarter of the constellation/star names are not actual constellation/star names. A lot of them are references to astronomers or physicists, some of which also have star catalogs, star types, and planetary features named after them (Lalande, Wolf, and Zeeman for example). There are others that might have a sci-fi origin like Arriani or Saurus. And then there are those that refer to things completely unrelated to astronomy (Klystron) or with no apparent source that I can find (Lipi). I guess this arose from some of the discussion on the which form of the constellation names to use in articles. I figured that for completeness, the reference page should also tell where the more esoteric in-game constellation/star names come from. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 01:40, 4 Dec 2005 (CET)

Perhaps there are '''some''' that are made up (after all, more may be named between now and 2155). But with all the stars in the sky, I'd expect that anyone who's had anything to do with astronomy has a star or cluster named after him.

Also, stars that have latin names appear to be mentioned in the genitive when a prefix word is present. So the star system "taurus" (bull) has the star "alpha tauri" ("A of the bull"). Genitive forms usually have -i, -is or -ae (singular) or "-um", "-orum" or "-arum" (plural; "alpha geminorum" is "A of the twins") suffixes. "Lipi" may be a typo for "Lupi", "Lupus" meaning "wolf" (which is an actual constellation).
— [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 20:39, 4 Dec 2005 (CET)

:Sorry a response has been so delayed - end of the year finals. I see what you're saying, and could go back on my previous arguments and agree with taking off the names like Luyten, Wolf, and others that are part of star names/star catalogs/star types. I'll do some more research over the winter break and see if any others that might fall into this category. I'd still like to leave the others up so people can see where the names might have come from, even if it is from some astronomer not honored in stellar nomenclature like Brahe (I believe there's no star-thingy named after him). And of course, I'll continue to mull this whole issue over.

:As for the names being in the genitive cases, Phoenix and I had some discussion over at [[Ultronomicon talk:Manual of Style#Constellation names]] about this, and we'd certainly like to hear you're thoughts. For example, do you know of any in-game instance when the nominative form of a latin constellation name is used? --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 06:49, 15 Dec 2005 (CET)

== Raynet ==

How important is RAYNET, the british amateur radio organization? Unless it's much bigger than I thought, or something special to FF or PR3... I don't expect it would be the source for this name.

== Utwig captain names ==

Interesting finds Censored, but I'm not sure if those are so much references as they are coincidences, especially the Duna name (in portuguese in means a sand dune). I don't see how the Danuba river relates to the Utwig. Nestor I might be able to buy, they are kind of elderly and wise, but weren't the robots in asimov's "I, robot" books called nestors (maybe this was only in the movies)? And for Endo, the japanese author maybe if again we can relate him somehow to the utwig personality/culture. I think a stronger possibility might be that endo is a slang term for marijuana - that smoke you see on their bridge, well, that's why they're sooo sad and out of touch with reality (probably got a bad case of the munchies too). --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 09:22, 9 February 2006 (CET)

== Arilou captain names ==

Is it possible that the Arilou captain names are "words" from songs? Does anyone recognise any of those names? — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 08:48, 6 March 2006 (CET)
:They seem to mostly be nonsense words to me, besides "Dingdup" which sounds like "Dinged up". "Louifoui" might be from a song, although the only one I can think of that's remotely similar would be "Louie Louie". -[[User:Fadookie|Fadookie]] 09:41, 6 March 2006 (CET)

== Trent ==

Is this possibly a reference to Trent Castanaveras (sp?) of Daniel Keys Moran's _The_Long_Run_. Primarily I'd describe him as a thief, but he's also a competent pilot.

== Buenos Aires ==

I added the entry about how Hayes mentioning the destruction of Buenos Aires seems to be a reference to Starship Troopers. Anyone have anything else to mention, questions, etc? [[User:MasterGrazzt|MasterGrazzt]] 03:28, 1 June 2006 (CEST)
:[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]], thanks for correcting my mistake about Buenos Aires being in Peru instead of Argentina. While I hate to invoke the old internet defense of "I was tired", that was indeed the case, as I made that correction very early in the morning during an attack of insomnia. Hopefully, I am allowed to continue adding to this wiki :-). [[User:MasterGrazzt|MasterGrazzt]] 10:29, 3 June 2006 (CEST)
::No problem. We've all done that at one point or another. Welcome to the community and please continue to add. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 21:03, 3 June 2006 (CEST)

===Other places destroyed===
I've added some possible references for the other places the Ur-Quan destroyed. I grabbed the ones that I could think of first or find easily. I'm assuming that all the places have some kind of importance to mankind's history given the destruction of the other places. Here they are for the talk, and some of my thoughts on them:
*''blew away a kilometer of land in central Iraq''
:My best guess is Babel/Tower of Babel, but could be the Nameless City or Ubar (Iram of Pillars) but those are supposed to be Arabia.
*''vaporized several targets in the Amazon rain forest''
:The only mythology/fiction thing I could come up with was El Dorado, but it might just be other as yet undiscovered cities.
*''punched a big hole through the antarctic icecap to destroy something deep under the surface''
:This one could be a lot of things. My initial search turned up ''The Mountains of Madness'' and Campbell's ''Who goes there?'', which was made into a movie ''The Thing''. I'm not sure if there are some other "buried in antarctic" mythologies that existed prior to 1992 (the X-files movie came out in 1998).
*''melted a broad swath of the ocean floor in the south-eastern Atlantic''
:I thought this was Atlantis, but the south-east location seems a bit odd to me.
Am I missing any other possible references that these might be too? --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 07:32, 7 June 2006 (CEST)

===Drooge===
Friend in Russian is "друг" which can be transliterated as "drug". I've never guessed that the name "Drooge" is from Russian word for "friend". While translating name "Drooge" was transliterated back to Russian as "Друудж" with absolutely no meaning. [[User:Dmit|Dmit]]

== Music ==

I think the Androsynth fanfare sounds an awful lot like the song "Mongoloid" by Devo, or potentially another Devo song since plenty of them have similar riffs. For comparison, see http://sndup.net/pzhmr (I'd love to upload it here but it won't let me). [[User:Andrevan|Andrevan]] 01:55, 13 March 2007 (CET)

I'm not familiar with Devo, but from what I see on Wikipedia, their matching outfits and kitch sci-fi style do say Androsynth to me. Together with the "Booji-1" Androsynth captain, this music similarity is probably not a coincidence. What kind of problem do you have uploading? Any error messages? — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 02:38, 13 March 2007 (CET)

Yeah, I've never really seen or heard Devo, but from what I knew of them, the Androsynth match pretty well. The shiny glasses, 4 of them in a cockpit (I'm pretty sure Devo had 4 members), and the "ditty" for when they win a combat just ''screams'' Devo, if you ask me. — [[[[User:Gaeamil|Gaeamil]] 02:17, 13 March 2007 (MST)

:It won't allow ogg uploads. I added it to http://sndup.net/pzhmr [[User:Andrevan|A]] ([[User talk:Andrevan|talk]]) 23:13, 21 November 2024 (UTC)

== Thiotimoline ==

I read the Wikipedia article on Thiotimoline, and I don't see very much similarities, other than time travel of information being involved. That's not enough to list it here imho. Is there anything else in the actual Thiotimoline essays that connects it with the Metachron? — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 03:08, 2 April 2007 (CEST)

:Oh frell, I'm sorry for the delay in response - I didn't see this until just now. The similarity in my mind is that the reaction happens prior to the adding of water, and is a gradual process that can be measured to determine when water will be added (from the first essay). I've recently re-read the first and third essays/stories, but am still searching for the second where I seem to recall that someone was using the endochronic properties to predict if rocket launches would be successful. The third essay goes a little bit more into detail talking about creating devices out of endochronic polymers, but focuses on using them for space/time-travel. Thiotimoline and the metachron are the only scifi devices that I know of that predict their own destruction/dissolution so that's why I originally connected the two and inserted the comment. But if the idea is more prevalent than I thought, or the argument still doesn't cut it without a specific reference, go ahead and remove it and I'll add it back in when/if I find something more definitive. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 03:04, 11 April 2007 (CEST)

== The Pootworm and Descartes ==

Okay, this one got me. Granted I'm no philosophy major, but I'm not a backwater hick. So can someone please explain in what ways the Pootworm dialog is a play on Descartes' "Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum"? For reference, here is the Pootworm dialog:
:"Welcome to our home stars. We are the Pkunk. Pkunk we are. Seekers of the deepest truths, askers of interesting and significant questions. Even now a question of great transcendental significance comes unbidden to our minds. Who are you and what do you want? Do not be frightened. We are powerful creatures, yes but we could not hurt you anymore than we could squish the helpless Pootworm. We love the Pootworm. We are one with the Pootworm. We are one with you. Of course you realize that this means you are one with the Pootworm. Rejoice!! To be one with the Pootworm is to be alive, and why not be alive? Is that not what living is for?"
I could be blind, but I don't see where "I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am" is referenced in there. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 07:48, 14 April 2007 (CEST)

:"We are one with the Pootworm. We are one with you. Ergo, you are one with the Pootworm. Ergo, you are [alive]"
:There are some similarities, as you see. It's another apparently superfluous tentative to prove that we exist (by using some more particular affirmations). [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 10:53, 14 April 2007 (CEST)

::The link with Decartes is indirect. The Pootworm dialog connects with "proof of existence", and only via that do you go to "Decartes". That's one step too many, and hence, considering that there are no other connections, too little to be included here. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 19:21, 19 April 2007 (CEST)

== ZFP ==

Yes, if you try hard enough, you can make up some vague connections. But this page is not about what associations you can come up with (don't even think about it; such a page has no place in the Ultronomicon); it is about things that had influenced TFB and other materials that TFB refered to.

If this applied to the Zoq/Frog connection, that means that TFB must have had the same connection in imagery that we've determined by poll to be very far-fetched. (Note that it's more likely that the race design came before the artwork). Even for a page in which some "maybe"s are acceptable, this is just too far "out there".

The "Fot"-".fot file" connection is even more far-fetched. There are only that many three-letter words, neither is really "unnecessary", there are no other similarities, and Windows 3.1 was only just out when TFB were finishing up SC2, at which time they likely had better things to do than look at the internals of Windows. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 18:16, 19 April 2007 (CEST)

:Ah, oops (the Fot thingy). About the ZoqFrog I can only say one thing: *FRUMPLE!!!*. And "Nnnnnnnngah! It is *dancing*!". [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 18:20, 19 April 2007 (CEST)

== Stars and constellation influences ==

[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] removed the Lipi and Vitalis references (Lipi=Lipi Marketing, Vitalis=Saint Vitalis), arguing that they aren't related to science or sci-fi. However, unless a more sci(-fi) reference is found, we can stick with this. After all, who said that FF&PR3 weren't allowed to be influenced by non-sci(-fi) sources?! [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 08:48, 26 May 2007 (CEST)

:You are absolutely right that we don't know exactly what FF&PR3 were influenced by, but we can make a good guess based on statements they've made, by the context of the game itself, and similarities to other known influences. The purpose of this page as I see is not to document every coincidence of shared names, but to catalog those for which an argument can be made why they are likely candidates and not happy coincidences nor the first thing that pops up when you google/wikipedia the term. That's my full problem with Lipi and Vitalis. The Vitalis saints and Lipi marketing have nothing to do with science, stars, math, science fiction - in other words, they don't fit the pattern. They look like things that just have the same name. It's a much more extraordinary claim that those are the references/influences for those names because they don't fit the pattern. In the choice between using those references or nothing at all (if nothing can be found), I disagree with you and I'd rather go with nothing. Leaving an entry blank does no harm - it's alright to say that we don't know something; but to claim a coincidence is a possibility simply because the name is or sounds the same is shoddy research and devalues this list.
:I'd say keep searching on the Lipi and Vitalis fronts - it was only today that I found a "Saurus" reference that I like and that I think fits the context, and I've been thinking about these lists off and on for awhile now. Be patient. Coincidences do happen so do the research to make sure the names fit. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 10:05, 26 May 2007 (CEST)

== Ship Designs ==

I'm not the one who made the initial reference to the Ur-Quan Dreadnought bearing more than a passing resemblance to the Battlestar Galactica, but I do agree with it. Namely, the low profile, long main body, distinctive "head" shape, pods (flight pods on the Galactica, warp pods on the Dreadnought) separated from the main body by "nacelles," a single engine cluster at the end of the rear body and the ability to launch fighters. These are certainly not all features solely distinctive to the Galactica, but they are in tandem. I'm honestly not *too* bothered by the edit by Valaggar, but I personally think the resemblence is far too uncanny for there not to have been a design inspiration there. --[[User:24.117.122.78|24.117.122.78]] 17:37, 27 June 2007 (CEST)

:Yeah, feel free to revert it, unless someone does not agree. I wasn't in a good mood when I made the edit... and you know what sort of things stem from such a mood. I apologize. [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 20:17, 27 June 2007 (CEST)

::Changed, but not reverted. There certainly are a lot of differences, still, so I worded it similarly to how the human cruiser entry is worded. --[[User:24.117.122.78|24.117.122.78]] 20:42, 27 June 2007 (CEST)

== **HYUIVBHJHG** ==

A possible origin of the word "**HYUIVBHJHG**" (suggested [http://uqm.stack.nl/forum/index.php?topic=483.msg4041#msg4041 here] on the forum) would be that the letters are chosen in such a way that, on a [[wikipedia:Dvorak Simplified Keyboard|Dvorak Simplified Keyboard]], they make a 42:

[[Image:Dvorak HYUIVBHJHG.png]]

I know it's too far-fetched, but it's interesting nonetheless.

:I'm not really seeing the 42 in that. The leftmost cluster kind of looks like a reverse 4, and if the second cluster could look like a 2 if that right most dot (V) where closer (like on the M). I highly doubt that it's intentional, though I'd be interested in how Death 999 thought it looked like a 42 since I'm not seeing it immediately. However, if you have to stare at it cross-eyed, standing on your head during a grand alignment of the planets in order to see it then I think it's better left off the "Influences and references" page. --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 18:34, 23 August 2007 (CEST)

::Even if it looked more like a 42, there are many keyboard layouts and you can also translate the 42 figure to the right or left, obtaining other letter combinations. Plus, those letters are really close to each other on a standard keyboard, leading me to suspect that it was just random key pressing. [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 18:40, 23 August 2007 (CEST)

== Tossing into the furnace ==

Quote from the 1990 game Loom, from Mr. Stoke at the Blacksmiths' Guild (Mr. Stoke is angry because the player — who's actually impersonating someone else, but that's beside the point — didn't bring the firewood he asked for):
:''If your father wasn't the Foreman, I'd toss YOU in the furnace.''
Any chance this inspired (intentionally or not) the Druuge's punishment by tossing into the furnace? [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 15:24, 12 January 2008 (CET)

::Ah, and, by the way, the Weavers (from Loom also) never take out their cloaks (and if someone looks to a cloakless Weaver, that someone dies). This also is quite similar to what's going with the Utwig and their masks (except the death thing of course). [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 16:13, 12 January 2008 (CET)

I guess it's not ''impossible'' that TFB were inspired by this, but then again, it's not impossible that they were inspired by Hansel and Grethel either (remember how the witch came to her end?).
Regardless, any connection is a stretch, and therefor such a mention has no place in the article, unless supported by some more substantial clue.

I haven't played Loom, but if your entire connection is based on them both having some piece of garment that they hever take off, then this may be even more far-fetched than the furnace thing. It isn't even the same piece of garment, nor do the reasons appeaer to be similar. And it's not as if the idea of having to cover your face is unique. Think of burkas irl for instance.

I haven't been paying attention to the Ultronomicon for a while, but I'm glad that Fyzixfighter is still here providing some counterbalance, because you still don't seem to critically look at your own ideas. — [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 20:56, 12 January 2008 (CET)

:Hey, don't be so over-reactive. There ''is'' a reason for which I posted this on the talk page rather than writing it in the article — it's more of a curiosity I came upon rather than something I insist is probably an influence. That you haven't been paying attention to the Ultronomicon for a while makes it even worse, as you're formulating a view about how I ''generally'' act based on how I ''seem'' to act ''right now''. Also, even if I did mean that this is ''probably'' a reference, it would in no case mean that I am ''generally'' not critical about my claims, but merely that I tend to go overboard with influences and references.

(And by the way, see the above section for another example of me posting "curiosities" such as this on this page) [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 10:10, 13 January 2008 (CET)

You used to post things you didn't think through all the time, and now after not having paid much attention to this place for a little while, the first thing I see is more of the same, and I'm supposed to think that you have changed and this is actually an exception? I guess it is possible, but it wouldn't be my first thought, and indeed, it wasn't my first thought.

But I guess the fact that you posted this to the talk page first is an improvement. I wonder what would have happened if noone had replied though.

As for the "curiosity" above... I'm pretty sure you weren't supposed to take Death 999's remark seriously...

— [[User:Svdb|SvdB]] 17:17, 13 January 2008 (CET)

:(re first paragraph) True, it ''wouldn't'' be your first thought. But, still maybe you ''should'' have had the second thought that you should glance a little over some of my other recent contributions (easily accessible [http://uqm.stack.nl/wiki/Special:Contributions/Valaggar here] as you know), to see if your impression is really so true. Although the risk that you are mistaken is not so big, the consequences of being mistaken are not so small either. This is sometimes expressed as "give him a chance".
:(re second paragraph) Well, there's no need to take D_999's reply seriously to post that "curiosity". [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 14:58, 14 January 2008 (CET)

== Singing Hoops ==

Er, isn't the Singing Hoops<->talking rings from "The Time Machine" connection a little too tenuous? I mean, a singing hoop isn't exactly a talking ring, and although I haven't seen the movie, and we don't even know what exactly the Singing Hoops were, so we don't have any link except the similar names... and anyway, a ring which stores historical information isn't very similar to a hoop which sings... and "talking rings" isn't even an "official" name, I gather (it's not "Talking Rings"). And the talking rings don't exactly stand out in the list of possibilities... hula hoops might be closer, since they're hoops, at least, but even that is too tenuous. [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 14:38, 7 March 2008 (CET)

:While I agree it's a bit tenuous, but I don't think it's more tenuous than a few other things on this list. Additionally, the my reasoning for the connection goes beyond the name. And while not an official name, the name was only every spoken so it makes it hard to hear capitalization - a script of the movie doesn't capitalize them, but they are consistently referred to as the "talking rings" in the dialog. Both the talking rings and the Singing Hoops are strange, not completely understood artifacts of an extinct, technologically advanced civilization - the Precursors in the case of the latter, and "civilized man" in the case of the talking rings - that mysteriously vanished several millennia before (~800000 years in the movie). The rings are also kept in a museum type structure with other artifacts from that ancient civilization similar to how the Hoops were discovered with other artifacts, and the current society (the Eloi) has no concept of any of them (I love the earlier scene with the decrepit books) - Weena says that the rings talk, but they speak of "things no one understands".
:I think the biggest thing that makes this tenuous for me is that we have no reason to think that this movie was an inspiration beyond that it's classic sci-fi. At least with the "Empties" the name matches perfectly with something in Roadside Picnic and we have one other reference to Roadside Picnic somewhere else (Mosquito Mange). There is a hoop in Roadside Picnic that they find in "the Zone" that when spun on the finger, keeps spinning for several minutes without stopping after the initial whirl, but there's no singing element associated with it. Back to the Time Machine, I'd highly recommend watching the movie, which is not only classic sci-fi film, but also perhaps to get a better feeling than what my clumsy explanation above can convey. But if it still seems too tenuous or coincidental, let's remove it and I'll just keep looking for some kind of influence. I'm still looking for something for "the big Dud" (<tongue in cheek>[[wikipedia:The Big Lebowski|The Big Lebowski]] perhaps...</tongue in cheek>). --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 21:52, 7 March 2008 (CET)

== Linch-Nas-Ploh = Little Prince refrence? ==

According to ZEX, Linch-Nas-Ploh translates as "The snake-like creature who has swallowed the elephantine beast" (or `the long, thin creature who has swallowed the huge beast' in UQM). In the (rather wonderful) story "The Little Prince", the main character drew a boa constrictor digesting an elephant: http://theliterarylink.com/prince1.html And Lyncis does rather look like a hat (somewhat like the original drawing.)
Thoughts? I only just thought of the connection, looking at the map, but it strikes me as a rather remarkable coincidence.
Alana--[[User:70.57.232.235|70.57.232.235]] 01:59, 22 March 2008 (CET)

:It's already covered. See the first paragraph of the VUX section (or search for "Le Petit Prince"). EDIT: Also, Lyncis doesn't look like a hat, it looks like a boa constrictor that has digested an elephant. :P
:Maybe we ought to add the English translation of "Le Petit Prince", though (either as an alternative name or simply as a replacement for "Le Petit Prince")? [[User:Valaggar|Valaggar]] 08:13, 22 March 2008 (CET)
:: A'duuur. XD;; Hahaha, and I felt so ''clever'' for noticing it while staring at Lyncis... :B
:: But including the name in English probably isn't a bad idea, especially since some people have probably only seen the English-language movie. :3 Alana [[User:71.32.36.197|71.32.36.197]] 23:37, 22 March 2008 (CET)

== Ziggerfau-gerrrnuf, Ah-ah, Pahoy-hoy ==

Coincidentally, "Ahoy-hoy" is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahoy-hoy greeting] term derived from "Ahoy!"

== Anyone have a full list of Captain names? The PONAF are starting to get phased out. ==

Baylor for the Ilwraith might be closer to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balor Balor] of myth.
TikTok for the Zoq/Fot/Pik is analogous to Tick-Tock while NikNak is similar to Knick-knack. [[User:216.57.30.2|216.57.30.2]] 22:36, 29 April 2008 (CEST)

:Besides the name, what other elements might connect an Ilwrath captain to this myth?
:And as for getting a list of names, the names are in the source code in a text file in the race's folder in the main content folder accessible [http://sc2.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/sc2/trunk/sc2/content/ here]; for example, the androsynth captain names are in ../content/androsyn/andtext.txt. Hmmm...if it's true PONAF is getting phased out, and even if not, I wonder if a straight '''List of captain names''' would be a meaningful article here? --[[User:Fyzixfighter|Fyzixfighter]] 02:55, 30 April 2008 (CEST)

User:Andrevan

2007-07-20T01:54:04Z

Andrevan:

I am an administrator on the English Wikipedia.

Talk:Influences and references

2007-03-13T00:55:41Z

Andrevan: Music

Influences and references

2006-10-08T02:56:35Z

Andrevan: /* Larry Niven influences */

Influences and references

2006-10-08T02:50:07Z

Andrevan: /* Alien design */