Artificial Gravity... Why Not ?

[Lobster]

I like having limitations myself. It means they have to come up with unique solutions and designs to things that give them more character. Like the Imperial battle cruiser with the giant doughnut luxury section, and the Coriolis Stations have become iconic of both 2001 Space Odyssey and Elite.

Plus it acts as a constant reminder that we are dealing with actual space. I am hopeful that this eventually follows through to the planetary landing expansions. As it has always bugged me that so many sci fi universes have hundreds of planets that behave exactly the same as Earth, with the same breathable atmosphere and 1G gravity.

I always liked the idea of the Quarian race in Mass Effect. That their living conditions are so different they never remove their space suits, and as a result their suits have become casual and customizable like any other clothing. Stuff like that just feels so interesting and believable to me.

 

[CoSm1c gAm3r]

The 'So what' is, given the right elements on another planet it is well possible to create artificial gravity, nullify it, manipulate and do whatever you want. The 'Aliens' don't need rocketships they can probably pick a point on the galactic map and be there instantaneously.

We just can't even conceive of something 100,000 years ahead of us..

We can use imagination. Scientists can add some theories to their imagination. But still overdoing in my opinion is in many cases to much. Look at star wars and how they used mind to control matter in that silly sci-fi universe. For me that was very silly and also it was not supported by any type of science. It is just impossible but still see how many people liked it. Many people just don't care about science, plausibility, logic. I cannot grasp how I could gain fun from silly or simplified stuff. For me this is like some kind of black magic.

 

[Lobster]

We can use imagination. Scientists can add some theories to their imagination. But still overdoing in my opinion is in many cases to much. Look at star wars and how they used mind to control matter in that silly sci-fi universe. For me that was very silly and also it was not supported by any type of science. It is just impossible but still see how many people liked it. Many people just don't care about science, plausibility, logic. I cannot grasp how I could gain fun from silly or simplified stuff. For me this is like some kind of black magic.

I think there is a tangible difference between Science Fiction and Science Fantasy. While Star Wars deals with a lot of unexplainable "magic" things, the storytelling isn't focused on them. The writing of Star Wars has more in common with Lord of The Rings than it does with more speculative fiction. It's myth and legend, rather than futurism or an exploration of theoretical ideas.

On the other side you have things like Star Trek which spend a lot of time telling stories directly focused on scientific ideas. There is a lot of technical speech, and Trek stories regularly focus on some kind of specific anomaly or piece of technology.

I never ask questions about Hyperspace in Star Wars, because it only exists as a means for characters to move around quickly. Where as in Star Trek, Warp Drive is often given a lot of screen time as a device with rules, limitations and funky sounding components. So it is far more likely that I will find myself thinking about it as an actual concept.

The worst thing Star Wars ever did was try to offer some kind of ridiculous biological explanation for The Force (microbes in the blood? seriously). I don't want to know how The Force works. It's like when people dredge Loch Ness with ground seeking radar. I know there isn't a monster down there guys! It doesn't mean the myth isn't fun.

 

[GMcA]

The worst thing Star Wars ever did was try to offer some kind of ridiculous biological explanation for The Force (microbes in the blood? seriously). I don't want to know how The Force works. It's like when people dredge Loch Ness with ground seeking radar. I know there isn't a monster down there guys! It doesn't mean the myth isn't fun.

+1 The force is strong in this one.

Metachlorians, what a load of guff.

George Lucas surrounded himself with too many "yes men(and women)" the result: The Phantom Menace.

 

[SeptimusOraka]

Personally, I like of Star Wars, but more realistic sci-fi TV shows and movies (like BSG, Babylon 5 or Andromeda) are much more interesting.

 

[SeptimusOraka]

I think there is a tangible difference between Science Fiction and Science Fantasy. While Star Wars deals with a lot of unexplainable "magic" things, the storytelling isn't focused on them. The writing of Star Wars has more in common with Lord of The Rings than it does with more speculative fiction. It's myth and legend, rather than futurism or an exploration of theoretical ideas.

On the other side you have things like Star Trek which spend a lot of time telling stories directly focused on scientific ideas. There is a lot of technical speech, and Trek stories regularly focus on some kind of specific anomaly or piece of technology.

I never ask questions about Hyperspace in Star Wars, because it only exists as a means for characters to move around quickly. Where as in Star Trek, Warp Drive is often given a lot of screen time as a device with rules, limitations and funky sounding components. So it is far more likely that I will find myself thinking about it as an actual concept.

The worst thing Star Wars ever did was try to offer some kind of ridiculous biological explanation for The Force (microbes in the blood? seriously). I don't want to know how The Force works. It's like when people dredge Loch Ness with ground seeking radar. I know there isn't a monster down there guys! It doesn't mean the myth isn't fun.

I agree. This "Midichlorian" bull**** is ridiculous. Let the Force without any stupid biological/scientific explanation.

 

[Iskariot]

We can use imagination. Scientists can add some theories to their imagination. But still overdoing in my opinion is in many cases to much. Look at star wars and how they used mind to control matter in that silly sci-fi universe. For me that was very silly and also it was not supported by any type of science. It is just impossible but still see how many people liked it. Many people just don't care about science, plausibility, logic. I cannot grasp how I could gain fun from silly or simplified stuff. For me this is like some kind of black magic.

For many people quantum science is just as much inexplicable black magic as anything that Star Wars featured .
Even science sometimes depends on the suspension of disbelief.

For me personally the laughable wooden Star Trek pseudo science babble is much harder to stomach than any powers Darth Vader displayed. I have been watching some Star Trek reruns lately and many times I was cringing in my seat.
In the case of the Star Wars Force I think it became cringeworthy when they tried to justify it with midiglorians. For me that was one of the worst moments in Star Wars.

The Elite universe is thousands of years in the future. I feel it would not be problematic to introduce some superficial scientific background to support artificial gravity. But it is not necessary as far as I am concerned. I like the Elite universe as it is.

Many people just don't care about science, plausibility, logic.

Plausibility is very malleable and rationality is just a tool that can be used to justify anything in a certain context until it becomes pure madness and even logic is warped with ease. If people can believe by the billions in the existence of invisible gods, or in the healing powers of infinitely diluted substances then the Force of Star Wars is just a piece of cake. For me at least the Force in a scifi/fantasy context was infinitely easier to stomach than the god of my former religion for example.

EDIT:

The worst thing Star Wars ever did was try to offer some kind of ridiculous biological explanation for The Force (microbes in the blood? seriously). I don't want to know how The Force works.

Spoken from my heart. You bested me.

 

[patrickco]

would be interesting to see if any of the authors have a scene where the pilots kick there thrusters on to simulate earth gravity so they can enjoy a calm cup of earl grey, if thats not worth inventing artificial gravity for i don't know what is