Difference between revisions of "GTVA Colossus ship type debate"

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There is no explicit evidence in FreeSpace [[canon]] about '''the ship type of the [[GTVA Colossus|GTVA ''Colossus'']]'''.
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There is no explicit evidence in FreeSpace [[canon]] about '''the ship type of the [[GTVA Colossus|GTVA ''Colossus'']]'''. Numerous candidates have been put forward as to what ship type the ''Colossus'' should be classified under.
  
 
==Ambiguous evidence in canon==
 
==Ambiguous evidence in canon==
 
===Warship===
 
===Warship===
In-game dialog simply calls the ''Colossus'' a warship. Warship is used as a generic term in FreeSpace to designate all combat-capable ships cruiser size and above. In the second stage of [[The Great Hunt (FS2)|The Great Hunt]]'s mission briefing, even a Rakshasa is simply called a "warship."
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In-game dialog simply calls the ''Colossus'' a warship. "Warship" is used as a generic term in FreeSpace to designate all combat-capable ships of cruiser size and above. In the second stage of [[The Great Hunt (FS2)|The Great Hunt]]'s mission briefing, even a ''[[SC Rakshasa|Rakshasa]]'' is simply called a "warship."
  
===TVA battle ship of massive proportions===
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===Battle ship===
A block of text in the Colossus cutscene reads: [http://koti.mbnet.fi/reiler/FunkyFreeSpaceStuff/wtfnooblol.png "TVA battle ship of massive proportions"]. There are a number of inconsistencies between confirmed canon information and the FreeSpace 2 cutscenes. The Colossus cutscene itself is not in accordance with, for example, the size and armament of the in-game ''Colossus''. The introductory cutscene of ''FreeSpace 2'' also portrayed the [[SD Lucifer|SD ''Lucifer'']] with its beam cannons misplaced. An out-of-universe explanation for this is that the cutscenes were made in a separated studio, and was not overseen by [[Volition]].
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A small block of text in the Colossus cutscene refers to the Colossus as a [http://koti.mbnet.fi/reiler/FunkyFreeSpaceStuff/wtfnooblol.png "TVA battle ship of massive proportions"]. However, there are a number of discrepancies between confirmed canon information and the FreeSpace 2 cutscenes. For example, the Colossus cutscene itself is inconsistent with the size and armament of the in-game ''Colossus''. Additionally, large blocks of text in cutscenes were often filled with nonsensical placeholder text. An out-of-universe explanation for this is that the cutscenes were made in a separated studio, and were not overseen by [[Volition]]. More information on cutscene inconsistencies can be found [[FreeSpace Trivia#Cutscene_quirks|here]].
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Regardless, the full designation was probably not entirely serious.
  
 
==Fan suggestions==
 
==Fan suggestions==
 
===Juggernaut===
 
===Juggernaut===
In a [http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,58564.0.html forum thread] at Hard Light Productions, fans have suggested the juggernaut designation. 59 votes were cast on juggernaut, with superdestroyer being second with 17 votes. The community seems to agree that the juggernaut designation would be fitting for the ''Colossus'', because it is the Terran equivalent of the [[SJ Sathanas|Shivan Juggernaut Sathanas]]. The Sathanas class is explicitly called a juggernaut, so logic would dictate that a warship that is on par with it in effectiveness should also be classified as a juggernaut.
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In a [http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,58564.0.html forum thread] at Hard Light Productions, fans suggested the juggernaut designation. According to a poll, 59 members (62.8%) referred to the ''Colossus'' as a juggernaut, with superdestroyer being in a distant second place with 17 votes (18.1%). The community appeared to agree that the juggernaut designation would be the most fitting for the ''Colossus'', being the Terran equivalent of the [[SJ Sathanas|Shivan Juggernaut ''Sathanas'']]. The Sathanas class is explicitly referred to as a juggernaut, so logic would dictate that a warship that is on par with it would also be classified as a juggernaut. However, this is never explicitly stated in-game.
  
Please note that, although ''juggernaut'' may seem the best option, it's not to be used extensively. It would also be advisable that ships or any other assets with comparable capabilities and dimensions don't share the same designation. A good example is the German [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-boat U-Boat] used in World War II, although they were the direct counterpart of Allied submarines, different names were indeedly used to emphasize the differences between the two sides. Juggernaut is not a conventional term. It comes, in fact, from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juggernaut Sanskrit] and was one of the names of Krishna, so the chances that its usage would not fit with the GTVA ''Colossus'' are to be taken into serious consideration, despite the common tendency to call the ''Colossus'' a juggernaut.
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The term "juggernaut" originates from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juggernaut Sanskrit] ''Jagannātha'', one of the names of Krishna. The term has passed into regular English usage to mean an unstoppable, destructive force.
  
 
===Superdestroyer===
 
===Superdestroyer===
Superdestroyer is used for the [[SD Lucifer|SD ''Lucifer'']] to distinguish it from other destroyers in FreeSpace 1. The ''Colossus'' may be distinguished from other destroyers in ''FreeSpace 2'' in such a way. However, designating the ''Colossus'' a superdestroyer would imply that it is on par with the SD ''Lucifer''. This comparison is difficult to make, however, because the ''Lucifer'' does not appear in the FreeSpace 2 campaign. Its primary armament in the table files consists of two [[SRed]] beams, but given how unfavorably these compare to the ''Lucifer'''s armament in FreeSpace 1, the size of the ''Lucifer'' compared to the ''Colossus'', and the lack of armaments on the ''Lucifer'' compared to the ''Colossus'', it seems likely that the SReds are a place-holder or were chosen early in development and never revised. Perhaps the [[GTD Hades|GTD ''Hades'']] would be a better example of a Terran-designed superdestroyer, as it is explicity stated to be a an attempt at the recreation of the ''Lucifer'', and has nearly identical stats in its first, and sole canonical appearance, [[Silent Threat]].
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The term "superdestroyer" is used to refer to the [[SD Lucifer|SD ''Lucifer'']] in order to distinguish it from other destroyers in FreeSpace 1. The ''Colossus'' may be distinguished from other destroyers in the same fashion. However, designating the ''Colossus'' as a superdestroyer would imply that it is on par with the SD ''Lucifer''. This comparison is undermined, however, by the vast differences in size and armament between the two ships. The [[GTD Hades|GTD ''Hades'']] would likely be a better example of a Terran-designed superdestroyer, as it is explicitly stated to be an attempt at recreating the ''Lucifer'', and has nearly identical stats in its sole canonical appearance, [[Silent Threat]].
  
 
===Super capital ship===
 
===Super capital ship===
The ''Colossus'' is given the -supercap flag in its [[ships.tbl]] entry. It is the same flag that is used for the ''Sathanas'', which is explicitly referred to as a juggernaut in game, and the ''Lucifer'' that is designated as a superdestroyer. Additionally, this is a generic designation, often used to describe any combat vessel larger than a destroyer. Nevertheless, the ''Colossus'' is never explicitly called a "super capital ship" in any text in FreeSpace 2.
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The ''Colossus'' is given the "supercap" flag in its [[ships.tbl]] entry. This is the same flag that is used for the SJ ''Sathanas'', which is explicitly referred to as a juggernaut in-game. Additionally, the ''Colossus'' model file is named "TerranSuper.pof". Nevertheless, the ''Colossus'' is never explicitly called a "super capital ship" in any text in FreeSpace 2.  
  
 
===Soup===
 
===Soup===
In [[FRED]], the ''Colossus''<nowiki>'</nowiki> short name is "TSoup". This was likely a typo, intended to mean "Terran Supercapital". However, the ''Colossus''<nowiki>'</nowiki> texture files also refer to "TSoup", as they are named TSoupTile##. For comparison, the ''Sathanas''<nowiki>'</nowiki> short name is defined as "SDev", perhaps meaning "Shivan Devil". These are defined in the [[ships.tbl#$Short name:|ships.tbl]].
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In [[FRED]], the ''Colossus''<nowiki>'</nowiki> short name is "TSoup". The ''Colossus''<nowiki>'</nowiki> texture files also make reference to "TSoup", being named TSoupTile##. The more obvious contraction "TSup" is actually already used to refer to [[GTS Hygeia|support ships]]. For comparison, the ''Sathanas''<nowiki>'</nowiki> short name is defined as "SDev", perhaps meaning "Shivan Devil". These are defined in the [[ships.tbl#$Short name:|ships.tbl]].
 
[[Category:The games]]
 
[[Category:The games]]

Revision as of 16:29, 7 July 2011

There is no explicit evidence in FreeSpace canon about the ship type of the GTVA Colossus. Numerous candidates have been put forward as to what ship type the Colossus should be classified under.

Ambiguous evidence in canon

Warship

In-game dialog simply calls the Colossus a warship. "Warship" is used as a generic term in FreeSpace to designate all combat-capable ships of cruiser size and above. In the second stage of The Great Hunt's mission briefing, even a Rakshasa is simply called a "warship."

Battle ship

A small block of text in the Colossus cutscene refers to the Colossus as a "TVA battle ship of massive proportions". However, there are a number of discrepancies between confirmed canon information and the FreeSpace 2 cutscenes. For example, the Colossus cutscene itself is inconsistent with the size and armament of the in-game Colossus. Additionally, large blocks of text in cutscenes were often filled with nonsensical placeholder text. An out-of-universe explanation for this is that the cutscenes were made in a separated studio, and were not overseen by Volition. More information on cutscene inconsistencies can be found here.

Regardless, the full designation was probably not entirely serious.

Fan suggestions

Juggernaut

In a forum thread at Hard Light Productions, fans suggested the juggernaut designation. According to a poll, 59 members (62.8%) referred to the Colossus as a juggernaut, with superdestroyer being in a distant second place with 17 votes (18.1%). The community appeared to agree that the juggernaut designation would be the most fitting for the Colossus, being the Terran equivalent of the Shivan Juggernaut Sathanas. The Sathanas class is explicitly referred to as a juggernaut, so logic would dictate that a warship that is on par with it would also be classified as a juggernaut. However, this is never explicitly stated in-game.

The term "juggernaut" originates from Sanskrit Jagannātha, one of the names of Krishna. The term has passed into regular English usage to mean an unstoppable, destructive force.

Superdestroyer

The term "superdestroyer" is used to refer to the SD Lucifer in order to distinguish it from other destroyers in FreeSpace 1. The Colossus may be distinguished from other destroyers in the same fashion. However, designating the Colossus as a superdestroyer would imply that it is on par with the SD Lucifer. This comparison is undermined, however, by the vast differences in size and armament between the two ships. The GTD Hades would likely be a better example of a Terran-designed superdestroyer, as it is explicitly stated to be an attempt at recreating the Lucifer, and has nearly identical stats in its sole canonical appearance, Silent Threat.

Super capital ship

The Colossus is given the "supercap" flag in its ships.tbl entry. This is the same flag that is used for the SJ Sathanas, which is explicitly referred to as a juggernaut in-game. Additionally, the Colossus model file is named "TerranSuper.pof". Nevertheless, the Colossus is never explicitly called a "super capital ship" in any text in FreeSpace 2.

Soup

In FRED, the Colossus' short name is "TSoup". The Colossus' texture files also make reference to "TSoup", being named TSoupTile##. The more obvious contraction "TSup" is actually already used to refer to support ships. For comparison, the Sathanas' short name is defined as "SDev", perhaps meaning "Shivan Devil". These are defined in the ships.tbl.