Science fiction and science fantasy settings!

#1 Diabolical_Jazz

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Posted 08 January 2012 - 08:23 AM

So, science fiction/science fantasy often have very well-developed settings.
Which ones do you like?
Which ones do you dislike?

I don't think he needs to be immortal. I think all he needs to do is to write the right story. Because some stories do live forever.

#2 Diabolical_Jazz

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Posted 08 January 2012 - 08:25 AM

Personally, I *love* the setting for Mass Effect.
It's got multifaceted races with interesting cultures, and the large-scale inter-species politics are well-developed and complex, without falling into the trap of being bleak and gritty just for the sake of bleak grittiness.
The Geth and the Krogan are amazingly well written.

Plus their technology all being based on Element Zero and the mass effect is pretty clever, and it gives their setting a certain amount of believable cohesiveness.

I don't think he needs to be immortal. I think all he needs to do is to write the right story. Because some stories do live forever.

#3 SpleenBeGone

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Posted 08 January 2012 - 08:57 AM

I was a very big fan of the Stargate series. I liked that the stargate plot tool allowed them to pretty much be able to do something completely different every episode. Even though the original series was my favorite, and what got me started, I loved the Atlantis series as well. The way the city was designed was wonderful and I loved the look of everything. Plus, I mean, who wouldn't want to live in a massive floating city?

Though I did find Stargate: Universe to be a very good show in its own right, I felt like I was watching a different show, there wasn't nearly enough exploration and discovery for me.

#4 Diabolical_Jazz

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Posted 09 January 2012 - 03:24 PM

I remember seeing the original Stargate movie and being pretty impressed, but I never got a strong impression of an expansive world behind-the-scenes, which is probably why I never watched any of the TV shows. I really should give them a shot sometime, though. I *do* love massive floating cities. XD

I didn't know there were so many iterations of that show, either. 0_0

I don't think he needs to be immortal. I think all he needs to do is to write the right story. Because some stories do live forever.

#5 SpleenBeGone

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Posted 09 January 2012 - 04:33 PM

Yeah, the series has a lot more back story. I think only one person is the same from the movie though. The original series ran for 10 seasons, Atlantis for I think 5, and Universe for two. I think they're all pretty awesome, plus, you can't beat a show with McGyver in it.

#6 stackcollision

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Posted 09 January 2012 - 06:47 PM

I practically grew up on SG-1. Richard Dean Anderson is my hero.

However, I think SG-1 accumulated its mountain of depth simply because it ran for so long. I don't think the writers sat down and fleshed out hundreds of civilizations until they had to for each episode.

Personally, I love the EVE universe. Even if you're not a player, the "EVE Chronicles" series of short stories are great reads.

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#7 Diabolical_Jazz

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Posted 09 January 2012 - 07:08 PM

Well, even Star Wars got fleshed out by many writers over a long period of time.

I played a little bit of EVE, but I never got into the backstory.
Also, operating starships using drop-down menus made me rage.

I don't think he needs to be immortal. I think all he needs to do is to write the right story. Because some stories do live forever.

#8 SpleenBeGone

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Posted 09 January 2012 - 07:13 PM

I agree that it was mostly the longevity of the series, but it ended up working beautifully I think.

I've never tried EVE, but it has intrigued me.

#9 Chukkzy

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 05:06 PM

Yeah, the series has a lot more back story. I think only one person is the same from the movie though. The original series ran for 10 seasons, Atlantis for I think 5, and Universe for two. I think they're all pretty awesome, plus, you can't beat a show with McGyver in it.

Person as in actor or character? There are several characters that made it into the show, the boy from Abydos (can not remember how to spell his name right lol), Daniel Jackson and of course Jack O'Neill, though I must say I like Richard Dean Anderson better in the role as he is less of a depressed soldier but more of a sarcastic dude, and I like sarcastic characters. There were no actors involved in both show and movie, to my knowledge.
Also again, Anderson rocks as O'Neill, he is my favourite TV character from the last 20 years I think.

Mass Effect is good also, and to mention the obvious: Star Trek is a great franchise, too bad they don't do much with it anymore.

#10 SpleenBeGone

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 06:05 PM

I could have sworn Michael Shanks played Dr Jackson in both, it's been a really lone time since I've seen the movie though. And yeah, Anderson is awesome in the show, I love his sarcasm and reactions to everything.