Why is the sanctuary emergency signal a literal SOS signal?

[Arondil]

I wish they had not been so specific about the nature of Al-An's emergency signal. As it is now, the signal genuinely is Morse code for SOS: three short, three long, three short.

Surely any kind of alien signal would have been sufficient to entice a player to investigate?

Al-An seems to be initially ignorant of core human concepts like individuality, emotional bonding, and spirituality. I find it highly unlikely that he would know so little about humans but would use a signal that is meaningless outside a very specific human context.

[dragonbornzyra]

Look at how many threads pop up on this forum asking where AL-AN is or saying they're stuck and as determine it's because they never found AL-AN.

I was able to find AL-AN in earlier patches with just the flashing lights down there. I would have found it even without them.

I think it's ridiculous players miss AL-AN and complain they're lost. So much of the game's in world context directs you to that area.

Even WITH the new SOS pings people are still missing AL-AN, and they are releasing 1.0 targeting the Switch audience.

If PC users can't find AL-AN with an SOS ping you think Switch users can?

[Tresh]

Originally posted by dragonbornzyra:

Look at how many threads pop up on this forum asking where AL-AN is or saying they're stuck and as determine it's because they never found AL-AN.

I was able to find AL-AN in earlier patches with just the flashing lights down there. I would have found it even without them.

I think it's ridiculous players miss AL-AN and complain they're lost. So much of the game's in world context directs you to that area.

Even WITH the new SOS pings people are still missing AL-AN, and they are releasing 1.0 targeting the Switch audience.

If PC users can't find AL-AN with an SOS ping you think Switch users can?

I didn't even get his signal yet when I found him, I was just looking for resources because I was hoping for some of the rarer stuff to just be a little deeper down.

[dragonbornzyra]

Originally posted by Dunathon:

Originally posted by dragonbornzyra:

Look at how many threads pop up on this forum asking where AL-AN is or saying they're stuck and as determine it's because they never found AL-AN.

I was able to find AL-AN in earlier patches with just the flashing lights down there. I would have found it even without them.

I think it's ridiculous players miss AL-AN and complain they're lost. So much of the game's in world context directs you to that area.

Even WITH the new SOS pings people are still missing AL-AN, and they are releasing 1.0 targeting the Switch audience.

If PC users can't find AL-AN with an SOS ping you think Switch users can?

I didn't even get his signal yet when I found him, I was just looking for resources because I was hoping for some of the rarer stuff to just be a little deeper down.

Exactly.

So it's difficult to picture people so unable to find AL-AN UWE all but literally shows us where he is. It's an exploration game where people complain about exploring so UWE catered to the crowd that expects a participation trophy.

[Arondil]

I don't have a problem with the fact that there is a signal, but with the fact that the signal takes a form that implies Al-An already knows enough about human culture to know about Morse code and the use of the three letters "SOS" in emergencies.

[dragonbornzyra]

Originally posted by angisilexpen:

I don't have a problem with the fact that there is a signal, but with the fact that the signal takes a form that implies Al-An already knows enough about human culture to know about Morse code and the use of the three letters "SOS" in emergencies.

Yeah, I'm with you there. I'm sure someone can say "What is SOS happens to be a universal signal for help?"

And you know, I could even maybe buy that. But not when there's over a dozen moments that already stretch your willingness to look the other way.

For all we know AL-AN's and the Precursor's signal could help could sound like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi13pgQQNp0

And sound threatening to others.

[Coops]

I am not sure Al An is the one sending the message. It might be an automated distress call from the storage facility that has been there for 1000's of years. When the Degassi and the Aurora were in trouble and about to crash on the planet, they may have been sending this SOS at the time. In fact, every Human ship that was shot down would have broadcast that code. It makes sense that the Precursors would use SOS as their "in trouble" code to attract Humans without knowing any other letters in Morse.

[duregard]

Originally posted by angisilexpen:

Al-An seems to be initially ignorant of core human concepts like individuality, emotional bonding, and spirituality.

That describes most people who know morse code as well, so not a problem :).

[Andreas]

Originally posted by duregard:

Originally posted by angisilexpen:

Al-An seems to be initially ignorant of core human concepts like individuality, emotional bonding, and spirituality.

That describes most people who know morse code as well, so not a problem :).

I agree. It's kinda stupid, but it doesn't matter since most people won't notice.

[Snine]

Originally posted by dragonbornzyra:

Look at how many threads pop up on this forum asking where AL-AN is or saying they're stuck and as determine it's because they never found AL-AN.

I was able to find AL-AN in earlier patches with just the flashing lights down there. I would have found it even without them.

I think it's ridiculous players miss AL-AN and complain they're lost. So much of the game's in world context directs you to that area.

Even WITH the new SOS pings people are still missing AL-AN, and they are releasing 1.0 targeting the Switch audience.

If PC users can't find AL-AN with an SOS ping you think Switch users can?

Pretty sure people miss it because the SOS isn't picked up by the PDA unless you're close to the cave entrances. For me I didnt pick it up until I was at Koppa.

[dragonbornzyra]

Originally posted by SnowGodz:

Originally posted by dragonbornzyra:

Look at how many threads pop up on this forum asking where AL-AN is or saying they're stuck and as determine it's because they never found AL-AN.

I was able to find AL-AN in earlier patches with just the flashing lights down there. I would have found it even without them.

I think it's ridiculous players miss AL-AN and complain they're lost. So much of the game's in world context directs you to that area.

Even WITH the new SOS pings people are still missing AL-AN, and they are releasing 1.0 targeting the Switch audience.

If PC users can't find AL-AN with an SOS ping you think Switch users can?

Pretty sure people miss it because the SOS isn't picked up by the PDA unless you're close to the cave entrances. For me I didnt pick it up until I was at Koppa.

Is this your first playthrough? If so I'd like to hear your vanilla experience in RotP

[Snine]

Originally posted by dragonbornzyra:

Originally posted by SnowGodz:

Pretty sure people miss it because the SOS isn't picked up by the PDA unless you're close to the cave entrances. For me I didnt pick it up until I was at Koppa.

Is this your first playthrough? If so I'd like to hear your vanilla experience in RotP

Not my first playthrough. I know exactly where the sanctuary is and how to get to it. The issue I've noticed is with how the PDA picks up the signal. The PDA audio log for the signal has only ever played for me when I get close enough to the cave entrances (when I was literally outside the cave entrances near the platform with the crane on it), and the one time it played for me when I was near Koppa (which only happened to me once out of the many times I've gone there). What I'm trying to point out is that for people new to the game this is likely a reason as to why they don't go to the sanctuary and get confused with what they're supposed to do after a certain point.

[dragonbornzyra]

Originally posted by SnowGodz:

Originally posted by dragonbornzyra:

Is this your first playthrough? If so I'd like to hear your vanilla experience in RotP

Not my first playthrough. I know exactly where the sanctuary is and how to get to it. The issue I've noticed is with how the PDA picks up the signal. The PDA audio log for the signal has only ever played for me when I get close enough to the cave entrances (when I was literally outside the cave entrances near the platform with the crane on it), and the one time it played for me when I was near Koppa (which only happened to me once out of the many times I've gone there). What I'm trying to point out is that for people new to the game this is likely a reason as to why they don't go to the sanctuary and get confused with what they're supposed to do after a certain point.

Ah I understand, they should tie the SOS sound triggering to the PDA entry unlocking.

However.....

You found the Sanctuary without the SOS prings, too, right?

When I was new to the game, the Twisty Bridges was my first goal that I prepared and worked towards.

In Subnautica it's the Aurora. We see it clear as day and any player worth their salt should be driven to go explore.

For Below Zero, the design of the shallows and Twisty Bridge terrain draws the player in towards it and the bottom drops out from under us.

There's every reason for any player to explore and find AL-AN, even without the SOS.

The SOS is a bonus breadcrumb to help people.

And even WITH the SOS people still can't find it.

You can't please everyone.

But what person willingly playing a survival exploration game is going to miss the Sanctuary in such a small game with a cramped map and so many clues?

I have little sympathy for players that can't find AL-AN. None. I have none in fact. I have no sympathy.

[archer9234]

I get the argument. But Alan had to have scanned everyone on the planet before hand. He knows marge shouldn't be trusted. He knows English. He had to have absorbed tech from earth at some point. He just doesn't understand emotions and organic elements. Knowing how a PDA functions is easier. Than trying to figure out why people hate brocoli.

[Catalytic]

Originally posted by angisilexpen:

Surely any kind of alien signal would have been sufficient to entice a player to investigate?

I completely understand the argument. From a sci-fi realism perspective, we expect something unfamiliar.

However, something about storytelling that needs to be understood is that when you're telling a story, you want to be understood. Too much that's weird or unfamiliar and you lose your audience. So authors use tropes that the audience will recognize and understand. That's why aliens always speak English. That's why sentient aliens are almost always 2-legged bipeds that look very human. It's why Shakespearean themes find their ways into like 50%+ of Hollywood movies, etc.

When we engage in fiction, we, as an audience have to meet the authors halfway by what's called suspended disbelief. We have to accept that some things just won't be perfectly realistic and we have to accept those things as part of the story and part of the entertainment.

The SOS signal is one such thing. UWE included it because it's a universal distress signal on Earth (across all languages). If you're out in the ocean stranded, that's your radio beacon. Sure, Al-an might not use it. He might use something else, but then we, as the audience would just be picking up some strange meaningless signal. It might not even be a radio or auditory signal at all! Remember, Al-an is a collective conscience. He communicates telepathically. If we wanted to be hyperrealistic, we'd only perceive his brain waves (maybe?). Ever look at an EEG? If you rendered it as audio it'd sound like static. Instead, we hear and recognize SOS and we know it's a distress call and respond. It works. Suspend your disbelief a bit and enjoy the story!

If there are nits to pick (and there are), there are much bigger ones to go after with this story.