Confused about the rebirth mod

[675111c36a4c2Gaco]

I'm a bit confused about the rebirth mod. I downloaded the "complemented version" of the mod and was encouraged by the text that stated that the midwife model with the oversized breats (hot, not scary) was replaced with a high-poly model with same skin as the old (sounds good). I have only played the first 15 min. of the game or so. In the original the first hybrid you saw looked like this:

Image: http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6928/covsusetxjdm5.th.jpg

I'm scared shitless like that :yay:

The problem is that I don't think the new "standard hybrid" is scary anymore. When I installed the rebirth mod the first hybrid now looked like this:

Image: http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9676/ss2xl8.th.jpg

I think the head looks weird, too big for the rest of the body, and somewhat out-of-place. But I'm now a bit confused when I found this screenshot on the internet:

Image: http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6481/shock220060616094655gc5.th.jpg

That looks like the rebirth hybrid but in somewhat lower res/poly count! My memory is failing me. Is this from the rebirth mod or is there such a model in the original? In any case I am SURE that the first hybrid you encounter in the game is one in the first picture of this post, not the second or third and I'm disappointed that it has been replaced.

I'm sorry that I come off as kind of vague and I find it a bit hard to formulating my question. In short I'm partly confused about whether the model on the 2nd/3rd picture exists in the original and in any case I am disappointed that the model of the first encountered hybrid is so different or almost comical looking and I'm simply doubting whehter I want to use the rebirth mod. I'd like to hear some other opinion on the rebirth mod models as well as my first impression is that they do not stay adequately true to the originals, but perhaps it's just a matter of getting used to it?

Thanks

[675111c36a6dbKolya]

Your first image is the original hybrid. Maybe you prefer the original models. Lots of people do.
The second image shows the pipe hybrid from Rebirth.
The third image shows the shotgun hybrid from Rebirth that you likely haven't met yet.

[675111c36a836Gaco]

Oh so it IS kind of normal to prefer the originals? cool

Dare I ask what you prefer personally?

Thans for clearing it up. I think I'll stick with the old models then. BTW I can't find any screens on how the midwife looks in rebirth? The release notes on the complementary version just states that it's changed from the original rebirth beta 1, but there's no screen of how it looks then.

[675111c36a921Kolya]

It looks pretty much like the old midwife with a high poly body. You'll find out soon enough.

[675111c36aa05Gaco]

God damnit, I'd sure like that one! Haven't someone made a version of rebirth where it's all original skins just higher poly??

[675111c36ab09Kolya]

No. But if you just want the midwife, that's easy. Read SS2 Modding mechanics & compatibilities.

[675111c36abe0dogeddie]

Man, I think the old models are crude as hell. Rebirth is WAY nicer.

[675111c36ad0eKolya]

Yes, Rebirth is nicer. But many people have said that they find the old models scarier. This makes perfect sense, since with the crude old models your imagination has more to fill in and your participation level is higher. As outlined by Marshall McLuhan when he spoke about hot and cool media. (Understanding Media, 1964)

[675111c36b030ZylonBane]

It looks pretty much like the old midwife with a high poly body. You'll find out soon enough.

Or more accurately, it looks pretty much like the new midwife with a low-res texture.

[675111c36b124Kolya]

I prefer to call my glass half full.

[675111c36b398Gaco]

Believe me, in some senses I'm a pure graphics whore. I dig Crysis totally and spend 4000$ on PC hardware just to be able to play that game. My standards for graphics are generally very high, I always play with anti-aliasing (except in crysis, *sniff*) etc.

But... I don't know how I can say this and still sound respectful toward the creators behind rebirth, but the visual expression of the models in that mod is simply wrong. As I said the head on the hybrid looks way oversized and the face expression somewhat max-payne'ish. I also think the animations for the models work better with the old ones, they seem to fit together better. System Shock 2 is the only (the only!) game that have ever actually scared me. That's quite a feat. The rebirth models look nicer but A LOT less scary. I WANT to like rebirth, but I just can't look past it's shortcomings. Sorry but it's simply too far away from the original art direction IMO. But it'd sure be cool if someone made a modle mod that actually fit seemlessly into the game and just look better, not different. It's much to ask I know, just saying it'd be cool

But SS2 is really a fascinating game for me in all respects. The way they incorporate real science (like the element canisters), scientific terminology, intelligent science fiction (yes I do like science! That's why I study it real-life) with First Person Shooter and classical Role Playing Game elements is simply fantastic. And that's actually what I hope to do someday, take the SS2 concept further - making real educational software that teaches real physics, mathematics and chemestry and combine it with the exciting gameplay, action and a high quality storyline. Oh well I think I'm moving along a tangent now, back to the real issue.

My curiosity still makes me want to know if you personally prefer playing with the rebirth or not, Kolya? I won't take it as more than a subjective opinion, I'm just curiuos to know. And any other who has an opinion (and can explain it) for that matter

[675111c36b4c6Kolya]

Well... It's been two years or more since I *really played* SS2 last time. Nowadays I go in, check a mod is working, or some feature, and then I zip out of it like a rat from a burning house. Not because I don't like it anymore, but because I have hopes to forget as much as I can, and one day play like it was new....
But you guys keep reminding me!  :p

Back when I played more regularly I used to play with rebirth complemented most of the time.