When I ran uqm2.exe the first time around, I was unable to use controller input. Considering I'm using Striker's CVS build and uqm2 was (presumably) built off of the 0.2 source, this isn't surprising. However with this newest mod it seems you've updated the source to the latest, because I did not have to worry about changing to my old keys.cfg.

If you're having problems, I suggest you update all of UQM to Striker's build and see if you're able to run this fork afterwards.

Because they didn't make the sun explode, they simply punched a big hole in one of its outer layers. This resulted in a lot of instability, causing incredibly hot plasma to spew out in all directions. If the sun HAD gone supernova, it is unlikely that the hyperspace portal leading to Delta Gorno would even exist. This means not only could you not reach Delta Gorno, but neither could Tanaka or Katana. At least via Hyperspace anyhow...if you REALLY wanted to try to cover the Truespace distance, I'll see you in a few years.

All the Orz "words" I took to make this document come from the uqm's orz.txt, which I converted from unix format. This file may be found at http://www.customc.net/staff/sage/orz.txt. For the most part the words were taken in order from that document. *Germinate* is the second best-fit found in this document, and thus is second in this list.

[scratch]

If your enemy had a weapon that could destroy all of your best ships from ten times thier own weapon range without taking so much as a scratch, and was able to subjugate your strongest allies easily, you'd want it destroyed as insurance against its misuse again.

If your species had in its posession a relic of incredible power and kept it in its own posession for 200,000 years, and in fact your species' percieved "dominance" over all your slaves was attributed to this artifact (even indirectly), you would be quite demoralized to hear of or even witness the loss of it.

The Yehat themselves even tell you (paraphrasing) that you can destroy Dreadnaughts left and right for as long as you like, but you'll never defeat the Ur-Quan as long as they have the Sa-Matra. Considering how powerful the Sa-Matra is, and how wise the Yehat are in matters of war, I would consider this a reasonable assumption.

The psionics theory is a good one that I neglected to mention before, but it seems somewhat likely that the Orz seek out psi-capable creatures. If this were the case, I imagine that would provide a partial (if unresolved) answer to the Orz purpose. Perhaps they would also take to the Syreen as well, since they seem to be at least somewhat psionic.

*Bubbles* = cells? I recall having that theory myself when I first encountered SC2 (not having played it but watching as a friend did).
*Quick babies* baffles me...I realize that they never call anyone else this, but there are times (I think...would have to check my reference material) that the Orz simply call them "Arilou".
*silly cows* = reference to Precursors?
*juice* could have something to do with *sauce*. Then again they get very *frumple* while *squeezing juice*.

Sorry Jiffa but you're way off base there. If a Shofixti kills an enemy with the Glory Device then the game does play the Shofixti victory ditty. Try it sometime against an idle human opponent if you need to.

[*people energy*:]

This was a project I worked on about a month ago (before my webspace crapped out and vanished until recently). I wish to revive it but time constraints prevent me from doing this solo. Though currently incomplete, I figure this is the best place to spark discussion and hopefully gain some contributions...

If you disagree with any of this, have anything to add (I know I missed a few that I do know the meanings of, or are just really obvious...), or anything else, please discuss and your contributions will be noted.

NOTE: Any mention of the Dynarri might possibly be replaced with "Taalo" instead. Since the Orz were very vague in thier talk of the *Playground* I just made the first assumption I could.

*people energy*: Though this is only used once, it is entirely possible that this is the most truth that can be found in the Orz's garbled communications. Records taken from the Androsynth homeworld indicate research into several things paranormal (ghosts, poultergeists, and the like). *People energy* is likely some indication of a spirit, or some sort of trace of a being that is echoed through several dimensions. The Orz indicate that we are only able to see *light reflections* of them, but that this is not the totality of the Orz.
*germinate*:
*dancing*: Ship to ship combat.
*party*: Viewed by the Orz as a good thing, but only done with *campers*. There is talk of the *biggest party*, but what this entails is unknown.
*bright*:
*smooth*:
*hurt*:
*frumple*: Anger.
*house*: Homeworld.
*better*:
*camper*: It would seem that a *camper* is someone who is friendly to the Orz. There may be more to it than that though. For instance, the Dynarri are "better *campers* than you (Zelnick)". *Campers* gain access to many things at the disposal of the Orz, including, but probabably not limited to alliance, ship specifications, and access to Orz *secrets*.
*spit*: Exchanging of words in *slow time*
*piece*: A unit of time?
*secret*: For *campers* ears only.
*think*:
*lonely*:
*juicy*:
*bubbles*: *Campers* seem to be made of *bubbles*, yet Orz are not.
*squirt*:
*inside*: The dimension currently being occupied?
*outside*: Another dimension.
*alliance*:
*slow time*: The dimension all *campers*, *not campers*, and *sad animals* seem to occupy. When transmitting, the Orz must speak to the residents in *slow time*, which apparently strains them. Though it is obvious that the Orz exist in *slow time*, they seem to indicate being able to exist on multiple *levels* at onces, for they mention *spreading* into *pretty space* at certain *gravity centers*, most notably the Taalo *playground*. *Slow time* *walkers* apparently are unable to experience whatever phenomenon exists here, and so it is not fun there.
*now space*: Sphere of influence, or perhaps Hyperspace?
*happy spices*:
*smell*: Sensing something across dimensions?
*expand*: Expression of joy.
*squishy*: A good thing.
*anticipation*:
*the middle*: same as *in between*?
*funny*:
*see*: By usage, this seems to be a straightforward translation. Effectively how we sense the *light reflections* of the Orz.
*light reflections*: The part of the Orz we are able to *see*.
*fingers*: Reaches into *heavy space*, with the effect of *seeing* *Orz bubbles*.
*heavy space*:
*pretty colors*:
*game*: Any activity to pass time.
*Playground*: The only known *playground* is the homeworld of the now extinct(?) Taalo. The Orz claim to see the Taalo in *pretty space* while in orbit of this particular *playground*. There, they make *time jokes*.
*silly*:
GO! GO!: Orz marines.
*other*: Ones being attacked by Orz marines.
*happy time*: Any time in which the Orz are not *frumple* because of the questions of *not campers* and *sad animals*.
*pleasent combinations*:
*successful*:
*levels*: One of any dimensions or groups of dimensions the Orz occupy.
*play*:
*friends*:
*open*:
*spread the wax*:
*quick babies*: the Arilou.
*below*: the origin of the Orz.
*above*: the origin of the Arilou.
*jumping in front*: Interfering. This likely has to do with the Arilou's comment of "changing your smell" so that you could not be found.
*fat*:
*special things*:
*time*:
*space*:
*colors*:
*sticky*:
*slide*: Something the Arilou, Taalo, and Orz have in common. But Orz are better, of course. Though Hyperspace  technology (read: dimensional travel) is common among almost all sentients, the Orz seem to indicate *sliding* is some sort of inherant ability of thier kind. Sadly the Orz make little sense on this subject, and the Arilou are (as with everything else) closed mouthed on the subject.
*in between*:
*pull*: Whatever they did to the Androsynth. Indicates taking them to another *level*
*connected*:
*good news*:
*happy town*:
*slippery places*: Weaknesses in the local dimension, allowing for a *smell* to be detected.
*silly cows*:
"*squeeze* the *juice*": Orz are only doing this while *frumpling*.
*happy*:
*become*:
*tired*:
*toy*:
*tell stories*:
*sick*:
*happy days*:
*cousins*: Other Orz.
*sisters*: Allies.
*connected*:
*together*:
*desert*:
*round*:
*lumpy*:
*dissolve*:
*take*:
*other house*:
*fun time*:
*juicy*:
*snappy fun*:
*extra sick fish*:
*special training*:
*special*:
*spicy games*:
*celebration*:
*relatives*:
*peppers*:
*conclusions*:
*Orz puppies*:
*sad animals*:
*sauce*/*special sauce*: Seems to be created by or is a byproduct of *dancing*. When the Orz are angry with Zelnick, they tell him that they will make *special sauce* from him after *dancing* with him. When Zelnick is friendly with the Orz, the Orz always wish him well by reminding him to *enjoy the sauce*.
*friend*:
*sorry*:
*joke*:
*dead*:
*strange*:
*picnic*:
*nice colors*:
*quick time*:
*pretty space*:
*gravity centers*:
*time joke*: The (extinct?) Taalo are making these at thier homeworld. Perhaps a loop of thier final moments before the Dynarri-controlled Ur-Quan arrived?
*chase*: The Orz wish to, or are doing this to the "sleeping" Dynarri. As a whole, the Dynarri are no longer sentient. Why the Orz would seek out the Dynarri is anyone's guess.
*hard*:
*words with fluid*:
*walkers*:
*friendly days*:
*terrified*:
**HYUIVBHJHG**: Some form of travel.
*heavy*: Occupying *heavy space*?
*enjoy the sauce*:
*absorbing*:
*new town*:

They also *squeeze* *juice* too...

I seem to recall that the Androsynth were taken over by ground troops only, with no evidence of orbital bombardment. If all the Androsynth were at the homeworld (which seems like a rare and somewhat stupid occurance from a defensive perpsective), none of them (presumably) would be able to get to ships to defend themselves. There's a likelyhood that the Orz sent a LARGE amount of Marines to all the spaceports and kept them from entering thier ships. Or it's entirely possible that the Androsynth were too spooked out by the spectral whatevers they were dealing with to notice they were being attacked and taken away.

I imagine if the Orz *danced* with the Androsynth instead of *pulling* them to wherever, the result of the conflict would have been much different.

Basically, the Androsynth were caught with their guard down and (probably) payed a great price because of it.

Details are what the Melnorme provide. At a cost, of course. Current events is all you really need to keep well informed about what's going on around you.

Making a 1-25 list of the ships (not counting the Sa-Matra or Vindicator, as they are both greatly overpowered compared to the standard ship) is damn near impossible given the rock-paper-scissors aspect of ship to ship combat. It's easiest to group off favorite ships. Instead I'll give my opinion on each ship.

Androsynth: An interesting concept, but an unusual one. Random mining is not really my style.
Arilou: Too weak for my tastes. Forget teleportation.
Chenjesu: Bouncing ships into planets via DOGI is fun. Good ship though too slow.
Chmmr: Way powerful. No surprise there.
Druuge: Lots of fun sniping. Except when I miss a lot.
Earthling: Meh. Only good on rare occasions.
Ilwrath: Ditto.
Kohr-Ah: Love the shredder effect this ship has.
Melnorme: Super deadly.
Mmrnhrmm: Interesting, but weak.
Mycon: Meh.
Orz: Orz is *happy* now that *sad cow* is *dissloved*.
Pkunk: Even with the reincarnation I'm not fond of this ship.
Shofixti: Pointless against almost any targets that would be worthwile for the glory device.
Slylandro: A very fun design, one I must attempt to master.
Spathi: Since Fwiffo has superpowers I find Spathi to be fun, yet tedious.
Supox: Another interesting ship I wish to master.
Syreen: Huh huh huh. Hey Beavis, she said 'penetrate'!
Thraddash: So powerful, yet not...
Umgah: Meh.
Ur-Quan: I love this ship!
Utwig: I seek mastery of this ship as well.
VUX: Good for kamikaze chomping, but that's about it.
Yehat: I hate fighting the Royalist Yehat. I hate even more that I can't use these ships that well.
Zoq-Fot-Pik: Meh.

Overall Favorites:
Chmmr, Kohr-Ah, Ur-Quan, Thraddash, and Melnorme.

Runner-Ups (Runners-Up?):
Druuge, Orz, Slylandro, Utwig, Chenjesu, and Yehat.

Honorable Mentions:
Mmrnhrmm, Spathi, and Pkunk.

[Method 1:]

Deep_Jiffa: What list? Saying "ship x is better than ship y OVERALL" proves nothing. There are only two possible ways to prove which ships are superior.

Method 1: Similar somewhat to methods mentioned above, you compile a list of scores of ship 1 vs. ship 2, then vs. ship 3, etc for every ship. However with this method comes a lot of complications. Do we pit human vs. computer? Human vs. human? Or computer vs. computer? In any of these cases there are scores of variables to take into account, including, but not limited to: Skill (or AI setting) of the pilot; familiarity with piloted ship (not to be confused with skill), strategy (passive, agressive, or other), power/damage/usefulness of a weapon or secondary, versatility of the ship overall, acelleration and turning speed, and the mass of the ship. All of these factors (but as I said, lots more) have to be taken into account for just ONE of the ships. The second ship doubles this number of variables, and even then you must take into account the speed/trajectory of asteriods, the location and many MANY interactions you can have with a planet and it's gravity, how all of your weapons/specials interact with all of these and so on. With all of this, it could take the better part of a lifetime to compile and accurately project a thorough enough "list" of best to worst. After all that effort, what's the point? Even with the immense following this game has, I doubt anyone would care if it took only half a lifetime, much less a full one.
Method 2: Load up Super Melee or TimeWarp, pick your ships, and engage in combat. This method is much less time consuming, and can be repeated many times if desired, without all the variable counting and data compiling involved.

I'll take Methoid 2 any day...

[INSANE]

It should be noted that *fingers* might not be a direct translation and that they might mean something more like "a lesser manipulative extension of the larger creature". Teeth and stomach (or even hands, really) might not fit into that analogy.

I have also read Warlock's files and theories regarding the Orz. However I seem to remember the Marine vac suit "bubble" where the "Orz" was supposed to be housed turned out to be a viewscreen. What direction he intended to take this idea is anyone's guess, really. I kind of wish I could have seen the (paraphrasing) "horrible INSANE visage of the Orz, accented by a pair of Groucho Marx glasses"

*Light reflections* also, to a certain degree, support the "slice" theory. Light (presumably) is restricted to 3 dimensions. And since your sight relies on light, what you *see* of the Orz is not necessarily what the Orz are.

WYSINNWYG.
(What you see is not necessarily what you get.)

As stated before, Procyon is the correct star. But you must note that all homeworlds/other inhabited planets (with the notable exceptions of the Mycon and Slylandro) will have a green colored orbit. Green tends to indicate Earth-like temperatures for the planet following said orbit.

I would attempt genocide or some other similarly global inconvenience, however doing so would be problematic. Despite my general dislike of your human of average intelligence (read: simple), the loss of all human life might be too much to bear. Plus I figure any joke dealing with the eradication of humanity would (sadly) include myself. So, yeah. I have so much to learn about the finer aspects of blobbie "humor", but no will to implement it.

And yes, some sort of clarification (even though I might be the first in a decade to point this misunderstanding out) might be useful.

Another popular theory is that you are merely *seeing* a 3-D "slice" of a n-D (n presumed as > 3) being. TFB has in many instances supported the "Orz = one creature" theory, and the n-D slice seems like a logical extension of this idea (to me, anyhow). Is it possible that *people energy* is the closest the Orz come to telling you what they really are? Maybe. I don't know.