How do Scrabs and Paramites see?

Abeguy · #1 07-23-2003, 05:12 PM

i was wondering, how do Paramites and Scrabs see? how do they know were you are?

Direvus · #2 07-23-2003, 05:20 PM

I'd always assumed that they don't.

It's entirely plausible that Paramites and Scrabs gather all their sensory information using smell, sound, and perhaps vibrations in the ground.

Most creatures on Earth rely less on sight than we do -- so although it seems very important to us, it isn't the only way of getting around. Think of moles, or bats.

***Wil*** · #3 07-23-2003, 05:31 PM

My God, how could I forget about this question in my FAQ? I hear it so frequently. I'll have to sort it out later.

:

From Dear Alf, February 2000:
Q: How Do Paramites, Scrabs, and fleeches see? They all don't have Eyes.
Alf: There are alternative means of "seeing", echolocation, for one. Plus, just because you can't see a set of eyes doesn't mean they aren't there, somewhere ...

In addition to Alf's answer:
It is highly likely that Scrabs use echolocation as well as their excellent hearing. Playing in Munch's Oddysee, Brewery To Be, gives an example of this. Having heard something moving among them that is not a Scrab, they all scream into the air, apparently raising the attention of those around them, getting them into the mood for a chase, and also making a note of your position, direction, size and speed. From there on, they just have to use their regular hearing to know where you're going so they can chase you. They also have that 'screen' on the front of their 'head'.

Paramites may also use echolocation, but being close to the ground, they probably rely more on ground vibrations. They are very close to the ground, so it makes sense. It also explains why, in Abe's Exoddus, Paramites can sense your presence when you're invisible, but Scrabs can't. Sort of. Someone did believe they spotted Paramite eyes on the Abe's Exoddus Gamespeak screen, so if you want to have a look there, you can. It wasn't generally accepted, but I think there's more truth in it than we realised at the time. I was trying to read the writing around the Paramite Meat Cuts image, but pretty much the only word I could make out for sure was the word 'eye', and sure enough it was pointing to the space behind the Paramite's mouth.

Fleeches may use both echolocation and ground vibrations, since they screech, have 'screens', and are close to the floor. We know they use their hearing, since they are alerted by Slurgs popping.

With Slogs, its quite uncertain. They definitely have hearing, because they respond to Slig commands and Abe's farts. A short clip of a warthog/Slog-like creature in Oddworld 4 shows a single small eye, so possibly Slogs used to have eyes.

TheKhanzumer · #4 07-23-2003, 07:17 PM

I think that the eyeless creatures of oddworld use very advanced and specialized organs that use sonar to detect their surroundings. Somewhat like echolocation in bats but much more developed.

***Wil*** · #5 07-23-2003, 08:15 PM

Now that would be interesting. If it were sonar, then it might be that Vykkers were inspired by this, hence their Scrab Traps and SkullJack. Almost identical to how they used the gasbag technology of Meetles...and maybe Skeeters.

paramud · #6 07-24-2003, 03:34 AM

:

Originally posted by Direvus
It's entirely plausible that Paramites and Scrabs gather all their sensory information using smell, sound, and perhaps vibrations in the ground.

well you can take out hearing us they don't have ears...

GrigtheSlig · #7 07-24-2003, 03:46 AM

Just cause you can't see there ears, doesn't meen they don't have them. Mudokons don't have visible noses, but Alf says Abe's farts are horribly smelly!

Al the Vykker · #8 07-24-2003, 03:58 AM

"Your eyes can deceive you, don't trust them." -Obiwan Kenobi

Once again, I quote Star Wars.

Remember a lot of people who are blind have better senses like hearing, etc. But the best example would be bats using echo location to fly and see where they are going. The same is true for slogs, paramites, and scrabs. They probably have much better attuned hearing and smelling possibilites rather than using eyes or having them.

oddguy · #9 07-24-2003, 04:48 AM

Scrabs, Paramites and Slogs probably can get around better than those with eyes, because they have nothing to distract them. They have more reliable ways of decerning what's around them, when our eyes often deceive us.

***Wil*** · #10 07-24-2003, 09:16 AM

Erm, yeah, but what about if they get distracted by other sounds and vibrations? They're probably just as confused by random noise as we are by random lights and sights.

And Paramud, when you say 'ear' you're refering to the ear flap. Like Grig said, they could have auditory bits without the catchment area. They could have millions of tiny 'ears' all over their body for all we know. You could ask Alf for some creature schematics, but methinks last time somebody tried he either was transfixed with the idea that they were a Vykkers or demanded they spoke less biology, more cosmetology and psychology.

TheKhanzumer · #11 07-24-2003, 05:45 PM

Ah yes. Less biology more cosmetology. I remember him saying that in response to some of my nerdier questions. I think that it is better for some things to not be official now, that way we can think whatever we want. People who want to get in depth on the science of a video game character can and those who don't wont have too.

MrBoj · #12 07-24-2003, 08:53 PM

on a side note, bats only swoop down and "get caught in your hair" because they are looking for bugs...and as you walk through grass, leaves, etc. you stir up the bugs that fly up to your head's level, so the bat is looking for bugs with his echolocation and he flies right into a big, dumb human.

I always figured scrabs and Paramites used a similar technique, but I can't imagine slogs and sloggies using these means. in fact, all of the wild life we've seen in the first two games do not have eyes (save if you want to be technical) even the slurgs....are those two protruding things eyes? it is only when we come to MO do the wildlife start to have eyes.

Sekto Springs · #13 07-24-2003, 10:24 PM

max, aren't mudosian bats deadly? they bite you and according to the odd objects page, they have very sharp teeth, do they look for bugs or blood?

PinkHaired Mudokon CWR · #14 07-25-2003, 12:10 AM

Where are the ears?

It makes sense they would use vibrations from the ground.

Al the Vykker · #15 07-25-2003, 12:36 AM

:

Originally posted by PinkHaired Mudokon CWR
Where are the ears?

It makes sense they would use vibrations from the ground.

I would guess they would be hidden somewhere or maybe on another part of the body.

TheKhanzumer · #16 07-25-2003, 01:41 AM

Ummm, MrBoj, that whole bats in the hair thing is just a myth. Maybe that has happened once or twice but it is hardly common. True story: One woman bet a scientist twenty dollars to prove to that bats really do get stuck in hair. He tangled a bat in her hair quite thoroughly and it got out in about a minute. Needless to say he made an easy twenty.

***Wil*** · #17 07-25-2003, 07:45 AM

:

are those two protruding things eyes?

I believe so. They look like eyes. Plus in AE Slurgs occasionally stop moving and lift those stalks, as if to keep track of where it's going.

:

max, aren't mudosian bats deadly? they bite you and according to the odd objects page, they have very sharp teeth, do they look for bugs or blood?

Odd objects page? I checked my AO manual, and in Abe's Guide to Oddworld it described bats merely as 'look out!' They do seem to be deadly, and it would be in keeping with the carnivorous wildlife theme in AO for them to be after blood, so that's what I think. They also seem to be able to kill Abe very quickly. Their echolocation leaves a lot to be desired, though, since they only actually kill you if you're foolish enough to stand in the way of one. Perhaps they're territorial.

I've never heard of bats getting caught in people's hair, though.

Sekto Springs · #18 07-25-2003, 07:52 PM

:

Originally posted by Max the Mug
Odd objects page? I checked my AO manual, and in Abe's Guide to Oddworld it described bats merely as 'look out!'

well, i meant by the picture you can see they have pointy teeth and their eyes are sharpened to an evil glare.

GrigtheSlig · #19 07-27-2003, 05:30 AM

Whats up with the bats anyway? I hate them!!!

***Wil*** · #20 07-27-2003, 08:51 AM

Nooo! It's because people didn't like the bats in AO that they weren't in AE! So shush, because I want them back.

GrigtheSlig · #21 07-27-2003, 08:24 PM

Why??? I like the BEES better if you rgoing to bring back something really anoying!

MrBoj · #22 07-27-2003, 09:55 PM

hey, I know bats dont get caught in your hair, Khanzumer. I already said they are looking for insects, not to get caught in your hair.

Sekto Springs · #23 07-27-2003, 10:42 PM

i don't think oddworldian bats simply look for bugs

Big_Bro_Slig222 · #24 07-28-2003, 02:49 PM

I always thought they use EMP, electro magnetic pulse, or rather, detect beings that have one.

***Wil*** · #25 07-28-2003, 03:13 PM

:

Why??? I like the BEES better if you rgoing to bring back something really anoying!

Well, obviously you're entitled to your own opinion, but I personally loved the bats. I've missed the difficulty of Abe's Oddysee, especially the relative challenge of getting past bats and bees. Still, there's a beehive in the Oddworld 4 chase scene, so perhaps they'll have a triumphant return, in my eyes at least.

Eyes? See? See how I have cunningly brought everything back on-topic?

Oddsville · #26 07-28-2003, 03:30 PM

Thank god for you Max, we could have drifted off into a discussion about absolutly nothing! Yes, well anyways, I've always thought that Slogs used their smell to get around. They seem like the type that would really rely on that, and just look at them eat! Its a massacure which makes me think that if they do indeed rely on smell that the sent of blood just makes them go mad.

MrBoj · #27 07-29-2003, 09:45 PM

gah! Do I not make myself clear? People here always misunderstand what I am saying. I was refering to real life bats, not the bats in Oddworld. geez, dont mention it again.

Slogs most definitely use scent, or it would make a whole lot of sense if they did, hehe. Also notice the fleeches, no eyes. (I dont think anyone mentioned fleeches)

***Wil*** · #28 07-30-2003, 11:05 AM

I mentioned Fleeches, in my first post in this topic.

*wanders off*

GrigtheSlig · #29 08-01-2003, 02:55 AM

:

Originally posted by Max the Mug
Well, obviously you're entitled to your own opinion, but I personally loved the bats. I've missed the difficulty of Abe's Oddysee, especially the relative challenge of getting past bats and bees. Still, there's a beehive in the Oddworld 4 chase scene, so perhaps they'll have a triumphant return, in my eyes at least.

Eyes? See? See how I have cunningly brought everything back on-topic?

Really, where is the beehive?

***Wil*** · #30 08-01-2003, 08:28 AM

At the end of the chase scene, when the poacher jumps onto the log while the Steef bounds towards the camera, and the poacher takes a shot at him. Behind the poacher is the beehive, strung up to a branch. At least, it looks a lot like a beehive.