Thoughts on "Canine"

Akake on 2010/03/25 14:06

I can't think of many deep ideas for this theme, but there are a few I like.

I like the idea of a simple wolf/dog monster gore-fest, but I'm sure lots of people here wouldn't exactly like that...

A brawler about a foxes fighting wolves or dogs would be interesting, as well.

A kitsune (Moving into "Canid" rather than "Canine", but I think that's close enough) would make an interesting protagonist, assuming something interesting was done with it.

A canine-type creature digging could be made into a game as well, I think.

I'm kinda curious what others are thinking...
I like "Canine", myself, but my taste in ideas is a bit... simple.

---Akake

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Comments

Cosmologicon on 2010/03/25 14:27:

I trust Wikipedia, that "canines" includes wolves, foxes, jackals, and coyotes, as well as dogs. I fully intend to stand behind that if it comes to it. :)

Akake on 2010/03/25 14:49:

Note: Nerdy biology follows (Specifically taxonomy)

Foxes, I think, are technically "Vulpines"

Though all of the above are "Canids"

I'm speaking more in terms of taxonomy, though. I don't think anyone would get upset with anyone for calling foxes canines.

Wolves, coyotes and dogs are all canine, though. In fact, the three species can successfully interbreed, which raises some questions about how closely or distantly related they are.

Jackals, too, I think are generally placed in with the canines.

Foxes (Whether you mean "True" foxes in Vulpes (As in Vulpes vulpes) or the miscellany that is generally considered part of Vulpini rather than Canini) are their own group under Canidae. (Well, I mentioned it there, they're grouped under tribe Vulpini)

That said... No one is going to be upset if you choose something out of Vulpini, or something out of caniformes in general. Made up things just have to be reasonably canine.

Cosmologicon on 2010/03/25 14:53:

What about Dire Wolves? That's all I care about. They're like regular wolves, but direr.

Akake on 2010/03/25 15:16:

Note: More nerdy biology following (This time relating to ice-age precursors to modern species)

Dire wolves are long-since extinct and aren't really all that closely related to wolves if I recall, but I suppose they're typically placed under caniformes...

Dire "wolves" existed during the ice age in North America, but remains aren't common so many scientists aren't quite sure what they actually were.

Or if you mean DnD dire wolves, those'll probably work.

gcewing on 2010/03/25 22:03:

FWIW, George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series features direwolves, which are depicted as being something like a standard wolf only bigger and stronger and more difficult to tame.

Maybe an RTS featuring armies made up of various grades of canids. Direwolves would be the fully maxed-out unit.

richard on 2010/03/26 02:31:

"direr" indeed

kip on 2010/03/26 05:17:

i like canine, too

saluk on 2010/03/26 17:42:

My idea was for a dog dentist trauma center type game. Doubt I'd do it but it was the first thing that came to my mind :)

wisty on 2010/03/26 18:20:

SimDog.

Akake on 2010/03/27 14:51:

I'm leaning towards a brawler with lots of violence using typical cartoony art style. I think it'd be fun to try to get just the right level of graphic carnage where it's fun but not juvenile.

The RTS would be a fun one to play, though. I'd like to see it :)

Akake on 2010/03/27 14:53:

And, gcewing:

That's all well and good, but I think the real-life (Well, extinct but not fictional) dire wolf might be an interesting subject as well...