[Volsung]

OI has changed the subtext of their games. My question is whether this is representative of an actual shift in what they want Oddworld to be about, or if Stranger is simply so set apart from the quintology that this altered mindset applies only to it. I think stranger will be a fun, good game, but the credibility of the Oddworld Universe is called into question by some of the game elements, most notably, the Vacuum and the Chippunkz. The Vacuum I understand, and even if it doesn’t make sense and alters the physics somewhat, this can be overlooked for the simple fact that it is Stranger-centric. We’ll never have to see that vacuum in any quintology game ever.

Chippunkz on the other hand…You KNOW we’re going to see them again, and so I’ve tried to figure out just how possible they are. Below is my attempt.

Throughout the history of earth, there has only been one thing to distinguish human beings from any other animals. We have created a little something called culture. This is probably the distinctive feature oddworld uses when deciding whether a race is intelligent or not, as we all know that fuzzles and Chippunkz can talk, yet do not adorn themselves in any fashion, this raises a question: Why can these things talk?

I believe its fair to write off the fuzzles banal nature with a simple lack of appendages, but the Chippunkz provide us with a much larger problem. If they have the ability to communicate complex thoughts, as well as the dexterity necessary to fashion things of culture, such as tools, art, self-adornment, temples, homes, and the like, why haven’t they?

Two solutions present themselves. The chippunkz have some kind of telepathic ability to know what types of sounds would most irritate other beings. They then simply have the necessary vocal range to carry this out. This is credible to some extent, but why would such a mechanism have evolved?

Another solution. They were once just wildlife that was manipulated by the Vykkers into obtaining the capacity for speech. In an uncharacteristically well-thought move the Vykkers somehow removed the ability to use this speech for anything other than insulting. But again, why?

The most likely solution is just that OI thought it would be funny, and as they had the Fuzzle precedent already set (though fuzzles use their own language) they believed Chippunkz would slip by the feasibility matrix set by fans and into the game with no problem. This makes sense to a degree, given the inconsistencies of most games. But if the unlikely chippunkz (and their equally unlikely upgrades, or rather the manner of obtaining upgrades) becomes the new precedent, what’s to keep the quintology from being affected? Nothing, I fear.