UGO.com created an article about fantasy substances that we all wished were real, and amazingly Protoculture made the list!
"Protoculture: Trying to nail down an exact definition of Protoculture is a bit dicey; the nearly mystical substance produced by space flowers in the Robotech universe is either a genetic modifier or a form of sentient life or a facilitator for telepathy...you know, one of those deals But one thing we do know is that it allows people to create and manipulate robotechnology, which means one thing: Giant robots. And brother, any substance that in some way makes it possible for us to possess and pilot our own giant robot is A-OK in our book. Sure, there are hallucinations and possible intergalactic war to follow but, hey...giant robots."
Everyone wants their giant robots, lol. Protoculture is so much more than that. Genetic-engineering, folding space, powering of huge spaceships, and more.
Find out what other substances made the list: http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=17206§ionId=7
Thanks Darkwater
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5 comments:
Hmm. the definition, or actually what is protoculture and how it is created is definitely a touchy subject as I'm not aware of any thing in Robotech (eg. novel, animation, RPG's) that goes in depth into explaning it, but it's like this in my opinion.
Zor Prime, leading Tirolian scientist, first took samples of the Flowers of Life from Operta, the Invid Homeworld. He was awed at how the Invid could ingest certain parts of the plants which allow the Invid to transform their physical form into other shapes or even mimic other lifeforms. Somehow Zor was able to seduce the Invid Queen into giving him more insight into the process.
With that information, Zor returned to his lab and attempted to discover the various properies of the Flowers of Life. I believe that by taking the seeds (seen in Robotech 2: The Sentinals in Campbell's lab), by introducing some kind of intense electromagnetic radiation or pressure would cause the seeds to emit a kind of energy radiation where the energy emitted is several times greater than the power required to stimiluate the process and is very clean to produce (no pollutants). Zor Prime created the Protoculture Matrix, a device which creates this effect in a constant controlled environment producing the "protocuture" energy and somehow capturing it with some kind of containment field or energy storage vessel (we can only imagine). An example might be the Protoculture fuel cells regularly seen in the 3rd generation of Robotech to power Cyclones and Alpha/Beta Fighters.
But is protoculture just another source of energy? Does it somehow give man the ability to control transforming robot machines? I won't go into the novels, but by just observing the animated story, I think protoculture isn't necessary involved with the transformation process or gives man the ability to do so. Seems like the RDF just came up with the idea because they knew giant aliens were coming and they needed an edge.
Thoughts on this?
Samsonator
"Space flowers?" I don't think that's the best way to describe the Flower of Life. But, it's still cool that Protoculture made the list.
Samsonator, to answer or response without getting into a full end discussion.
First, it's just "Zor", Zor Prime is the clone of the original Zor. The series clearly states that Protoculture is the essence of Robotechnology. So, for the aliens Protoculture is a major part of their mecha and ships. Humanity, reverse-engineered the technology at first. There's nothing to say they used protoculture in the beginning, but they surely after capturing the Robotech Factory with Breetai and Exedore.
Hi "the masters",
Opps...Zor...right, not Zor Prime. My bad.
Anyone think they have some specific ideas how protoculture is involved with Robotechnology other than being utilized as a power source for powering the engines of spaceships and energy weapons? I can't think or recall any examples that could shed some light into this mystery. The Zendraedi sure don't use protoculture to transform their spacecraft, only to power their spacefaring war machine. The idea of transforming mecha isn't used by the Robotech Masters, so transforming mecha seems to be an entirely human idea. The only thing that comes close is the Invid evolutionary process and the ability for the Invid queen to manipulate the shape of her people.
As for reverse-engineering, it's interesting when you think about what exactly was reverse-engineered by the RDF. The SDF-1 wasn't supposed to transform to begin with, as the spacefold generator vanished and the SDF-1 HAD to be made to transform in order to get certain components of the ship connected together in order for the "main gun" to fire. Reflex weaponry technology was adapted to create the Grand Canon in Alaska. Is protoculture necessary for veritechs to transform? I don't think so, at least there's no evidence to suggest that it requires protoculture or how the idea of transforming came about.
So how is protoculture the essense of Robtechnology? I guess, from the Robotech Master's point of view(since they developed it) is technology the uses the energy derived from a Protoculture Matrix and technology/research obtained from the actual Flower of Life.
Samsonator
Zor's Protoculture Matrix is pretty much the most important thing in the entire Robotech universe since it is the Holy Grail of Zor's research into the Flowers of Life. Does protoculture from the Matrix make things transform? No. But it is with this energy, that Zor calls protoculture, is the basis for all technology that the Masters and the Zendraedi, and even the Invid use. So the equation to make protoculture is simple without going into actualy chemical formulas.
1) Get specimen from Flower of Life (eg. seed, pedal, whatever it is)
2) Put specimen into the Protoculture Matrix
3) Protoculture is generated. Store in a battery.
LOL, there you have it...PROTOCULTURE for everyone!!! Whee!!
Samsonator
Now if only Zor left some notes somewhere to tell us how to make a Matrix....
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