What good is learning Alien Languages?

[AlienPet13]

There is either no reason to learn the alien languages or the writers of the game seem to periodically forget the fact that you don't yet understand the language. In any case, it literally doesn't stop you from communicating and understanding the options.

Examples...

When talking to any Alien, you are given three options. Keep in mind, you supposedly don't understand it's language which appears as gibberish, yet somehow you can perfectly understand the three options, which are usually something like...

1) Request health restore.
2) Request shield restore.
3) Request help with languge.

But if you don't understand this creatures language, how then are you capable of making any of these requests? What's up with this stupid contradiction? Are the writers of this game acttually this dumb?

Same thing with many of the Monolith encounters... you click on the thing and then read some text, often some kind of bragging phrases like, "We are the Gek, masters of the stars, fear us" or some BS like that. So how the hell can my character understand this when I don't know the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ language yet? And to emphasize this utter stupidity, the option is usually, "seek help with language," where you learn yet another word. Why? Apparently you don't need to know the language because the game interprets everything for you anyway?

Understanding the language only helps you make the correct choice, but the options themselves are somehow already understood... which should be impossible until you actually do understand the aliens language!

Sorry but I don't consider this nitpicky at all. It goes to the very logic of the game's lore and story. This not only doesn't make sense, it is such a glaring logical contradiction that it serves only to prove the utter stupidity of the writing in this game. It's impossible to enjoy the fiction when it's this illogical. I'm all for suspension of disbelief and fictional universes that have their own rules, but at very least, your fiction must also abide by it's own rules.

Everybody is complaining about developers lies and/or missing features, and I too am disappointed about those things, but seriously... what people should be talking about is how bad this game really is. Yes, it's boring. Yes, there is a lack of stuff to do. But let's not also forget... this game is incredibly, utterly, unbelievably stupid!

For me it's not just about the lies and missing features. It's about the fact that this is a really bad game... a really, really, really, really bad and incredibly stupid game.

[Unlimited]

I hear a small violin playing.

[AlienPet13]

Originally posted by Hudd:

I hear a small violin playing.

It's a piece of entertainment and therefore valid criticism is warrented.

Did you think your sarcastic remark, posted a few seconds after I posted the OP, which proves not only that you didn't read it but that you're also just a fanboy troll... did you think that comment disproves my observations and turns this games ♥♥♥♥ writing into brilliance?

Nope, the game still sucks and the $60 I paid for it gives me the right to say so.

[baer]

ok good opinion

my opinion is ur a doo doo head

BAM ROASTED XD XD cX cX

[Kashra Fall]

You are given those 3 options after and only after you first talk to the alien. The option you are speaking of is from the carbon feeding minigame, which helps you to learn new words. However, to get upgrades/multitools or just random rewards, you need to know what the alien is talking about in terms of the conversation.

[lucyrocketdog]

I get asked questions where my knowledge of the language helps me make the correct choice. If the alien asks me ..."xxxx xxx xx x isotopes xxx xxxx x..?" I know the word isotope so I know what to give him. I get a better outcome by giving him what he wants (my standing goes up).

[AlienPet13]

Originally posted by i hate video games:

ok good opinion

my opinion is ur a doo doo head

BAM ROASTED XD XD cX cX

Ouch! Well... you sure got me there. I think the doo doo in my head prevented me from seeing the bad writing and glaring logical contradictions in the game lore as the truly brilliant work of art that it actuall is. You've totally turned me around! xD

[Skwor]

Originally posted by AlienPet13:

Originally posted by Hudd:

I hear a small violin playing.

It's a piece of entertainment and therefore valid criticism is warrented.

Did you think your sarcastic remark, posted a few seconds after I posted the OP, which proves not only that you didn't read it but that you're also just a fanboy troll... did you think that comment disproves my observations and turns this games ♥♥♥♥ writing into brilliance?

Nope, the game still sucks and the $60 I paid for it gives me the right to say so.

It is your opinion, as for whether it is valid criticism well in my opinion it is not, you are just whining. You are just a hater and think your opinions constitute facts, quite delusional actually.

[Critta]

Originally posted by AlienPet13:

Originally posted by Hudd:

I hear a small violin playing.

It's a piece of entertainment and therefore valid criticism is warrented.

Did you think your sarcastic remark, posted a few seconds after I posted the OP, which proves not only that you didn't read it but that you're also just a fanboy troll... did you think that comment disproves my observations and turns this games ♥♥♥♥ writing into brilliance?

Nope, the game still sucks and the $60 I paid for it gives me the right to say so.


The violin just got even smaller

[Sovereigndrake]

Monoliths project an idea into your head negating the need for language.

As for learning it, perhaps the aliens lack this capability. Why on earth we learn useless words like "Grah" (seriously, what the ♥♥♥♥) i don't know. All we need is: Help, Multi-tool, Weapon, Sentinel, Isotope, Oxide, Rare, Common, etc...

[jpcerutti]

You mean you don't like grinding for words at the rate of two or three a minute instead of grinding for resources? Dont forget you get to hold buttons and wait for vertigo style changes of viewpoint.

[AlienPet13]

Originally posted by Kashra Fall:

You are given those 3 options after and only after you first talk to the alien. The option you are speaking of is from the carbon feeding minigame, which helps you to learn new words. However, to get upgrades/multitools or just random rewards, you need to know what the alien is talking about in terms of the conversation.

How does your character understand ANY options if he doesn't know the language yet?

This is very simple guys... the game is basically saying lay an egg to get the chicken that lays the egg in the first place.

You simply cannot communicate at all with the alien, and understand any options if you don't know the language.

In any case, how can I understand entire paragraphs of stuff from the Monoliths if my character doesn't yet know the entire language? THe momolith stuff is completely ignoring the characters lack of knowledge of alien language.

[AlienPet13]

Originally posted by Sovereigndrake:

Monoliths project an idea into your head negating the need for language.

Where in the game does it ever establish that this is the case? And if their monoliths can do that why can't they just do that when you talk to them in person?

[AlienPet13]

Originally posted by jpcerutti:

You mean you don't like grinding for words at the rate of two or three a minute instead of grinding for resources? Dont forget you get to hold buttons and wait for vertigo style changes of viewpoint.

I rather like the idea of learning language, even if it's grinding words. I just think it should make sense, stick to it's own established rules, not break logic and not be incredibly stupid. Otherwise, it could have been a great feature.

[jpcerutti]

Originally posted by AlienPet13:

Originally posted by jpcerutti:

You mean you don't like grinding for words at the rate of two or three a minute instead of grinding for resources? Dont forget you get to hold buttons and wait for vertigo style changes of viewpoint.

I rather like the idea of learning language, even if it's grinding words. I just think it should make sense, stick to it's own established rules, not break logic and not be incredibly stupid. Otherwise, it could have been a great feature.

Learning the language would be a good feature.... if it didn't require grinding.

Add: Don't know how many words each has, but at the rate of two or so a minute it takes several hours of interaction to learn enough for sentences to mostly make sense. I did it with the first race I met for two hours and then gave up from boredom.

[4c 61 6e 64 6f]

At least in the german translation, it says something like "i don't understand why, but it is talking to me in the language of my people"