ConceptartCohesion #001: 8th Day >>> COW - Giant Suicide Digger

[Fozzybar]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/images/cacb.jpg


ConceptartCohesion #001: 8th Day

Storyline:

The year 2446 CE

Mankind and its technology have advanced at an exponential rate, however trivial political, religious and social demands have caused the splintering of former superpowers into smaller nation states, pitting themselves against each in a number of minor conflicts.

Since 2395 a minimum of 27 conflicts, hostile incursions and border disputes have been raging in various confined areas across the planets surface, sparking a new global economy.
Covenants of major corporations have banded together in various factions and are now the true international players, feeding the ever increasing demand of new weapons technology.
The change in style of warfare has rendered weapons of mass destruction virtually useless increasing an appetite for more unconventional weapon systems, specifically the VidaNova Corporations newest developments in the field of creating new species of animals bred for specific purposes.

The idea behind this new move is too harness the animals natural intelligence, sensory abilities, and ability to traverse difficult terrain. They are currently working on models for civilian implementation, ranging from beasts of burden for remote areas to leisure models as pets. However there have been worrying reports of certain products escaping from captivity, and having unexpected effects on the flora and fauna they interact with, conspiracy theorists place blame on a huge range of subjects, ranging from the Cytarabinoside used in manipulating metabolic pathways in the animals, to mother earth resting control back from humanity to satan himself.
Some minor political and religious groups are already rallying, trying to bring this series of unnerving events to the public eye, wild rumors and conspiracy theories are already calling this the 8th day of creation.



http://www.conceptart.org/forums/images/cow/cow.jpg

Topic:
Giant Suicide Digger


Description:
Giant Suicide Digger - Difficult terrain made it very hard or even impossible to reach military targets which are hidden in dense jungles or high mountains. As an alternate to the obvious units attacking from the air scientists created a new species which is a result of cross breeding different species with ability to dig their way through the ground. By manipulating special genes they created a huge creature which is optimized on seeking elektro magnetic signals...

The defensive structures of the strategical buildings are producing electro magnetic signals in operational mode, which is an indication of the enemy buildings position. The Suicide Diggers are genetically programmed to search for this kind of signals and follow them with fatal certainty until they find the source. When they have found the source they dig up to the surface. Inside the creatures built in technology parts are programmed to detonate in a devastating explosion when breaking through the surface, resulting in a total demolition of the targeted object and the digger creature itself of course.

The loss of a highly developed creature seems high, but is very small compared to the destruction of a military target.

Deadline:
Wednesday, 15th March 2006


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Linked weekly activities:

EOW - Environment Of The Week
Mystical Cavern Temple ProNatura
LINK: EOW thread for ConceptartCohesion campaign (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=63201)

IDW - Industrial Design Of The Week
Genetic Soldier Transport
LINK: IDW thread for ConceptartCohesion campaign (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=63194)

ChOW - Character Of The Week
"The Head" - Chief of VidaNova
LINK: ChOW thread for ConceptartCohesion campaign (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=63202)


Link to the campaigns main thread:
main thread for ConceptartCohesion campaign (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=62480)

[Fozzybar]

the new round is on....sorry for any typos or bad phrasing in the description...my english too poor for a task like this...correct me if there is anything wrong and i will change it :)

[Fozzybar]

This is going better and better FOZZ!!

ooops...after saying this your stars increased by one ;)

[JakkaS]

This is going better and better FOZZ!!

[GatorKyle]

This should be a challenge, I like it.

[Tyranx]

Hmmm.... This will be interesting :blah:

[Hookswords]

ok, let me make sure I got this straight. The bases are on the surface and these beasts dig to the signal, coming out onto the surface an explode?

[Mrianna]

It seems so Hookswords... Might be why they are suicidal. This will be fun! :3

[Nexus]

Hmmm, this one is gonna be a little tougher than the last one. It's more specific and so theres more things that have to be integrated into the creature. I think this one will definitely look a bit more techy considering the different systems that might be necessary for such an organism.

[Orion9282]

My entry:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e16/Orion9282/Kiwa_Hirsuta.jpg

Ha ha... kidding. But have you guys seen this? A new animal was found in the South Pacific. Furry Lobster! No joke! Thought you guys might be interested.

Link to the story here:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4785482.stm

[OtterFrenzy]

whoa! that lobster is intense!

[Form]

id like to see one of those badasses swimming round in a tank at a chinese food restaurant...

[Nexus]

Id like to see it in a battle to the death with one of those gigantic koi goldfish in a tank at a chinese food restaurant. Two creatures enter, one....ends up on my plate, delicious. There can only be one highlander.

[seba_boi]

What's up with its pincers?... [/derails thread]

[Nexus]

Well when I did this for the Portal Opener CoW people seemed to think it was beneficial so I'll do another brainstorm/inspiration post to get this badboy rollin'. Ok, so once again we have another genetically engineered creature. However in this case it has a very specific purpose, that of a suicide bomber. Now because this creature functions in a disposable capacity I would say that the creature design shouldn't be unecessarily large (although it should be large in comparison to a person, large enough to carry a sizeable bomb) and it shouldnt have a bunch of random additions that serve no purpose. This thing should be economically designed, cost effective. So perhaps something streamlined and simple would be best for this CoW, not an easy thing to do when the siren call of fancy doo-dads and gizmos is so hard to resist. Ok now lets bang out the specifications for this animal. It has to be a good digger. So what animals are best at digging? What natural apparatus do they possess that makes them so effective at digging? How could these be improved through futuristic technology? The next thing would be in relation to sensing electromagnetic fields. What animals can sense electromagnetic fields? Once again how could this be enhanced? Also on a side note, echolocation and sensing electromagnetic fields arent remotely similar, not tryin to say that anyone here would think that but I dont want any confusion. There are animals on this planet that sense electromagnetic fields but I'll leave it up to you to do that research, its part of creature design. Finally the creature has to contain a powerful explosive. What kind of explosive? Where is it contained within the animal? What mechanism triggers the device? Also more importantly is the problem of shielding the bomb until its reached its destination, dont want a mishap with one of these creatures, so it will have to have some kind of armor whether it be natural, metal, whatever to keep the package safe until delivery. I mean consider what would happen if the creature is digging at super speeds and and a large piece of rock debris hits an unshielded bomb, there goes thousands and thousands of dollars down the drain, not to mention the collateral damage if its near the base. Also considering this thing is tunneling quickly through the earth it should be resistant to blows from rocks and other excavation material so it might be good to have the entire creature armored and contained to avoid soil getting into important circuits and mechanisms. That about wraps it up for now, any other thoughts I have Ill post later, hope this helped someone out there.

One more thing and this is a question for Fozzy. Why does the creature have to be giant? It cant be because the bomb is big. That doesnt make sense. Currently we can carry a nuclear weapon large enough to level a city inside a backpack. Is it because the bomb has to be large enough to wipe out complexes as large as multiple states? I mean it makes more sense tactically to send a midsized, shielded creature with a nuke than something giant and unwieldy. The larger something is the less stealthy it becomes. Plus, growing something that big takes longer than a smaller suicide creature. In addition if we can make a nuke that can take out a whole city the size of a backpack currently, then in the future we should be able to make a bomb that could wipe out an entire country only slightly larger than a backpack, maybe even smaller. I dunno it just seemed odd to me, but your the Grand High Archon of the Critter Kingdom so its your call.

[walnut]

Well sharks can sense electromagnetic activity, so that could be cool. Then again we're talking about tiny receptor organs here, so i doubt if this could play such a great role visually. And the most effective creature i can come up with at the time being would be an earthworm. Most probably easy to engineer and produce but not very interesting from a designer's point of view right? As for where the bomb should go, i guess the back of the creature would be safest? But if you give it decent enough sensors (check out the starnosed mole) it would be able to circumvent any possible obstacles, so that shouldn't pose too much of a problem. I'll also have to go with the GIANT size not being a very handy one.
One more thing: What if this creature can't surface inside the targeted location? I mean, it's quite probable the floor is made of iron or thick concrete. 's Gotta be one though monkey to pull that off.

[Nexus]

That is an awesome point Walnut. So another part of this creature is that it has to be armed with digging equipment that can breach any material. Doesnt matter how you do it I suppose. I mean you dont just have to stick to claws that can cut through anything, there are so many other means of excavation. My guess is that the best way to deal with a reinforced floor is something outside the realm of organic means but there are many ingenious natural mechanisms so I wouldnt count that option out. And yes Walnut is correct, any fish of the elasmobranch variety, aka sharks, rays, and skates are very adept at sensing electromagnetic activity but there are other creatures too. Man it never ceases to amaze me how much thought we all put into a fantasy creature, vested interest I guess.

[Fozzybar]

Nexus
First of all thanx for the input, i think many members benefit from your brainstorming.
Coming to the question why the creature has to be giant...maybe i chose the wrong word, i didn't mean giant like big as a school bus...it's just that the animals living on earth and are able to dig are maybe as large as a mole or in that range, i didn't want to have 20 entries of creature in the size of mice...so the term giant refers to the currently known digger creatures...though a digger in size of a school bus would look badass, hehe...

walnut
"One more thing: What if this creature can't surface inside the targeted location? I mean, it's quite probable the floor is made of iron or thick concrete. 's Gotta be one though monkey to pull that off."
Well, that's one of the tasks the scientists and you have to solve :)

Orion
I read this news yesterday and mother nature is always our best inspiration source :)

[Nexus]

Gotcha Fozz, thanks for the clarification.

[Hookswords]

Sandworms! Tremors!

Why giant you ask? Because excess is always a fruit of war. The bigger gun wins. I think its a metaphor for our own folly. I think this will be very fascinating. Walnut, I thought of sharks as well, maybe a hammerhead.

[Nexus]

What? I thought devastation and tax increases were the fruits of war.

[Sorknes]

Saw it yesterday Orion, and I just *LOVE* it! :D

I need to be careful. I've had dunes Sandworms on my brain all day too, heh.

[infinitemonkey]

I couldn't get my entry for the previous CohesionCOW uploaded in time (a shame, it was a pretty cool sci-fi griphonesque beast). I've got a pretty good idea for this one, hopefully I'll have the time to do it.

[walnut]

A mole/lobster hybrid, does that sound like something that's been doen before?
Strangely enough sandworms haven't even come up in my head.

[hwango]

So do we have to use existing tunneling critters, or can we make a new thing that tunnels (out of existing non-tunneling animals)? Mechanical bits included again?

[Fozzybar]

according to the description you should design a creature which is developed from tunneling animals we know, but just make a creature which is believable in representing what it is supposed to do...

You know, a badass looking tunnel creature, you instantly think of digger abilities when you see it...a pony is a bad base eg :)

[JakkaS]

..a pony is a bad base eg
Thx a lot FOZZ, now i have to start everything form the begining.:evilmustache:

[hwango]

according to the description you should design a creature which is developed from tunneling animals we know, but just make a creature which is believable in representing what it is supposed to do...

Yeah, I kind of got the impression that it was supposed to be based on real tunneling animals, but that pretty much means moles, woodchucks, earthworms, and various insects, none of which really grabbed my interest. I was thinking it might be fun to adapt something else...and no, it's not a pony.

[walnut]

What, a GIANT pony based digging creature is not an option? You gotta be pulling my leg.

[Erilaz]

Here's what I was working on. A bird creature that has mole and crab-like properties for a three-pronged attack on the earth and rock. Obviously this is still a work in progress. I wanted to see if it fell too far outside the guidelines at this stage:
http://www.artfuloddities.com/2D/Sketches/COW/digger004.jpg

[Michael Jaecks]

You know, with respect to insects and arachnids, at least with the information I'm gathering, there are few that don't burrow or dig for some reason at some point in their life. Even flying insects do it to lay eggs. Some do it for hibernation, water insects will dig into the mud. Scorpions burrow. In fact, desert creatures of many types spend time underground to avoid the sun.

Remember Starship Troopers? Pretty much all those bugs spent time underground, and the tanker bugs typically made their attacks by surfacing from underground.

And of course, there are those animals that burrow into things other than soil.... termites into wood, some birds will burrow into wood... and of course ticks and fleas burrow into the skin.

Manta rays and eels will submerge themselves in the sandy floor of the ocean.

Ostriches will bury their head in the sand.

There are a lot of directions to take this idea, I think.

I have a working title for my creature. It's called a Vulcan Worm. But its not all worm.

[brokk]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/bk7600/cch2_cow_f.jpg

EDIT:

These creatures are about the size of a cow. They are a genetic cross between beetles and moles, along with unique DNA sequences acting as a genetic bridge for the different DNA strands that constitute the creature's "blueprint". Which also gives them particular fenotipic characteristics, most notably, a very other-wordly appearence. The Giant Suicide Diggers are covered with tough chitin, and they use their frontal appendages for digging.

[Form]

can u explain it a bit broken?

[brokk]

can u explain it a bit broken?

Edited above, I knew I should have though the description a bit better before starting with the image :dead:

Crits are welcomed : )

[OtterFrenzy]

I based my entry off of a combination of naked mole-rat (perhaps the most horrifying burrowing creature! [to me at least ;)] ), Echidna, electric eel, and Queen Termite (to produce storage chambers for explosives)]

I took the description at face value and went with HUGE.


Smaller early prototypes met with initial success, but were quickly countered by underground mines, counter-burrowing drones, etc. A large enough creature is capable of digging very deep, covering vast distances underground and emerging suddenly. It's sheer strength helps it to tear through tough substances and makes countering it before it can reach the surface very difficult.

The pictured version is a test involving the fully mature animal. For smaller, lower-priority targets within close ranges, immature individuals are economically preferable.

[OtterFrenzy]

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/OtterFrenzy/Fantasy/77_ExplosiveHorror8.jpg

[Jonoy]

Cicada's and yabbie's for me... in the design process that is. I kinda want to stick with the same direction as my last COW to keep the unity...

[Nexus]

OtterFrenzy, I like the overall design of the creature. It definitely looks like a tunneler, what with its obvious naked mole rat influences and its multiple digging appendages. However, I dont think the little bullseye designs are working for it, they just flatten out the creature, knock down his values because theyre not rendered the same as the flesh theyre on top of.

[OtterFrenzy]

Thanks for the suggestion, Nexus.

I'll try rendering them in the same style and see how it looks...originally I wanted to show them starting to heat up/glow from the inside (sort of like the coloring in the scene in Return of the Jedi when Han Solo emerges from carbonite) and was having a lot of trouble getting the coloring to work, but since there's still plenty of time I'd like to give it a second try....

[perineum]

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b160/perineum/suicidedigger.jpg

[perineum]

sorry this is in here but I thought it was cool inspiration.
googled "big machine" and this came up in images.
its the largest construction machine in the world...
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b160/perineum/1.jpg

[Form]

ive had that ref for a while... i thought it was agricultural?? wat the hell does it construct out in those fields?>?

[perineum]

This is the largest earth mover in the world built by the German company, Krupp, and seen here crossing a federal highway in Germany en route to its destination (an open-pit coal mine). It is cheaper to move the thing like this, than to construct or reassemble onsite.

The mover stands 311 feet tall and 705 feet long.

It weighs over 45,500 tons

Cost $100 million to build

Took 5 years to design and manufacture

5 years to assemble

Requires 5 people to operate it

The Bucket Wheel is over 70 feet in diameter with 20 buckets, each of which can hold over 530 cubic feet of material.

A 6-foot man can stand up inside one of the buckets.

It moves on 12 crawlers (each is 12 feet wide, 8’ high and 46 feet long)

There are 8 crawlers in front and 4 in back.

It has a maximum speed of 1 mile in 3 hours (1/3 mile/hour)

It can remove over 76,455 cubic meters each day. (100,000 large dump trucks at 40yds. each)

[Nexus]

Perineum- I like where it is going thus far and there alot of good things happening within the creature design. My concern is that currently it looks more mechanical to me than it does organic. I think the problem is the square indentations in its legs and on its upper carapace, the repetition of that square gives it a nonliving appearance, as if those are maintenance panels or some other plating. I think also the obligatory red lighting adds to that industrial look, I mean do the lights serve a purpose or are they just there for cool factor?

[Jonoy]

"..recently the offshoot Militant wing of ProNature have been luring our suicide diggers into ambushes by wiring up pre-century tanks with EMP field generators. Once the SD arrives they attemp to destroy the SD with a small strike force, limiting the number of possible casualties..."
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a134/jonoy/SuicideDiggerFIN.jpg

cicada n glowbeetles...

[Erilaz]

Awesome jonoy, a real good sense of weight and power in that bug. The bulbous nature also suggest the explosives he's packing too. Nice!:teeth:

[Legato]

Already put one up and finished it for the IDotW (which I consider myself better at than organics) however my mind got turning and I figured I would at least put up a proof of concept type of brainstorming session for this booger as well! I won't plague these boards with 1k wide images, but any smaller and the notations would be lost!...

Its kind of random and non-linear, however I hope you guys enjoy it. I figure a plant would be too big of a departure from the official description and besides... I for the life of me can't figure out a reason for the "guide root"


[my brainstorming fun!] (http://incolor.inetnebr.com/legato/COtW/COtW%20002%20Brainstorm1%20Reduced.jpg)

^^^

[machzero]

first time attempting a COW~! heh. Had sketches for the character and environment sections too, but had a last minute call from work today, and will be flying overseas tomorrow. Just had time to tidy up the creature design a bit.





kept the design pretty simple without thinking too much... a creature's overkill since we're already too damn good at bombing each other already with fun stuff like fuel air explosives, 2ton bunker busters and so on.

Creature has the digging abilities of a mole, the seeking abilities of a truffle hunting porker, the tenacity of a badger, and about a ton of high grade 23/34rd century explosives. And it's probably friendly too, til it goes 'boom. The breeders/scientists weren't particularly concerned with keeping it neat and tidy looking, the raw cybernetics are crude and visible. Nothing the creature's overly concerned about since it's probably juiced up on a cocktail of steroids and drugs.


http://www.medievalfx.com/machzero/graphics/060313a.jpg

[Kei-th]

machzero Really great He really has the eyes of a mole! I like the raw cybernetics!

[TheDirtSyndicate]

bah.
fuck you guys. i couldn't come up with anything good this week.... had a few terrible sketches... gave up.
nothing worth posting. good luck!

[GatorKyle]

Don't worry about it complete2, sometimes you just get in a funk. It happens to me, where I can't think of anything to draw, or I just don't want to draw.

[JakkaS]

This time I have made other type of presentation [I hope you will like it]
-------------
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/JakkaS/4910dd09.jpg

CODE-NAME: DIGIT
PROJEKT NUMBER: 2449-78/1a
LEADING SCIENTIST DOCTOR HANNA SHOVEL
ASSISTENT DOCTOR VLAD PICK
-------------------------
PROJECT STATUS: CLOSED
BUDGET: 100.000 CALI'BOS
--------------------------
----[MORE INFO]----
--------------------------
PROJECT GOALS: BIOENGINEERICAL UPGRADED CREATURE FOR SUICIDE MISSIONS

SHORT SUMMARY: Our project is successfully finished. We have used a critter called by natives "Kayakas". This blind creature, that can sense electricity, lives under the planet surface. It uses this ability mainly to track down others of its kind. We have discovered that GSD [Giant Suicide Digger] can sense strong source of electric field from over 50 kilometers...

UPGRADES:
"Kayakas" AKA "Digit" have very interesting way of procreation. Speciman of this kind looks for strong electricity fields that's generated by "Kayakas'" females ready to procreation. Rest of living organism generates much smaller electric fields, that also can be sensed. When a male and female meet each other, they release genetic materials from their excrescences on their back. We have genetically changed this material to make it explosive, so when the substance is in contact with oxygen, it blows up! We are able to control the power of explosion and also have control what targets we want to destroy.

ADDITIONAL NOTE:
Our power stations, bunkers and static field generators have "Anti-Digit" systems. When our security system tracks down presence of GSD it can automatically change the electric field power ratio or even turn it off. In 99% cases this stops the GSD.

VIDANOVA POLICE NOTE:
We suspect that this creature was used to attempt on one of the VidaNova leaders.
For more info enter fifth level authorization code: [ ]-[ ]-[ ]-[ ]-[ ]-[ ]-[ ] [ENTER]

[Tyranx]

Lol Jakkas, thats awesome, cool creature, and nice presentation.

[Mike Corriero]

Jakkas looks like you had a lot of fun with that, the little scenario on the bottom is funny, I for a second thought the one guys name was Mike Corriero not Mat Coltiero :tihi:

I actually decided to produce something, this time black and white, something I haven't done for cow yet I don't think.

[Mike Corriero]

http://pratt.edu/~mcorrier/portfolio/SuicideDigger.jpg

Giant Suicide Digger aka. Armant 2.0
VidaNova Corporations has spawned a new breed of atomic bomb, one that lives and breathes and reproduces. The Giant Suicide Digger has been over 150 years in the making since the dawn of the new era when chaos was awoken in the form of Gene Splicing. Man kind had reached a new technological hurdle which it overcame with great pride but disastrous affects. In the year 2275 sector 40.44 of the Colorado Rocky’s breeched it’s overload in the secondary power source resulting in a cataclysmic explosion which left the rocky mountains in dismay. The terrain became impossibly difficult leaving a labyrinth of jagged razor sharp rocks in the aftermath of the incident. VidaNova had begun experimentation on underground genetics of species such as gofer, earthworms, ants and armadillos. Through these experiments giants of the underground were born and reproduced to be used in times of warfare. The dawn of a new era of weaponry had begun, once the Suicide Digger was conceived.
Here you can see a Suicide Digger in hibernation mode docked at Bay VidaBista 45. These giants are dormant until needed, each containing a surgical implant in it’s brain that will hone in on specific locations through means of magnetic fields. Once it’s destination is secured this giant living time bomb begins its underground journey and it will end with the destruction of whatever lay in its path. Suicide Diggers were created primarily with the genes of Bulldog Ants and Armadillo’s giving the creature a profound amount of natural protection with it’s thick plated body and massive claws and pinchers. The thick shell at birth is injected with a form of liquid explosive which grows as the animal ages and increases in size. A small detonator is installed and without even knowing it’s purpose the creature harbors an atomic bomb in its back.

[Nexus]

Great job as always Jakkas and Mike. Doesn't look like there's much interest in this weeks CoW as far as entries go. Not sure if I'll have time to submit one considering I dont have much time to work with but Ive gotten projects done under tighter deadlines. Still kinda hoping that people are just withholding their WIP's and a wave of entries will pop up on Wednesday. Just have to wait and see I suppose.

[Tyranx]

I'd like to do this week's cow, but Instead I am doing the EOW and CHOW since I need more of those in my portfolio. mayhaps next week. :rendered:

[Mike Corriero]

Thanks Nexus,
That's kind of what I was thinking, maybe people are busy but maybe their just holding off til last minute. I just found some time today, although I should have been doing work, so I wanted to get "something" done.

Tyranx, yea I saw your EOW, nice work. I should be doing the same :P characters

[Erilaz]

Crap! I didn't realise the date was tommorrow! I'd better finish!:x

[Erilaz]

Still going... does he look a little too cut-out?
http://www.artfuloddities.com/2D/Sketches/COW/digger007.jpg

[Tyranx]

He looks like a rubber doll, try to add some different colors and a stronger light source. The background doesn't really fit him, I'd just make it plain white or black... also give him something to stand on.

[walnut]

Yes. He also looks like a cute toy, but maybe that's intentional?

[Jonoy]

at the moment?
I'd make a new layer and put a few lines down defining the different muscles/surface of the creature or a new layer with a texture on it and set it to vivid light or the like so as to give the surface a texture that you can begin to put down so as to give the critter more form; it's just too brown at the moment.
What kind of texture are you after for its flesh? This is gunna help us observers to give you a hand in defining what kind of creature it is.

I know I'm not that good at digital illustration yet but what I do is;
1.base tonal range
2. create a layer above that and - highlight the lightsource reflection
3. create a midlayer to build up the base to the highlights
4. duplicate the three layers and merge the three copies, duplicate the new layer and set it to multiply. This way I can change the layer opacity and erase (at about 12-23%) that layer so that the first duplicate layer becomes the highlights for the layer you are erasing...
Scattered huh? sorry... I'll never be a teacher... unlike my finearts-lecturer dad...

[JakkaS]

Jakkas looks like you had a lot of fun with that, the little scenario on the bottom is funny, I for a second thought the one guys name was Mike Corriero not Mat Coltiero
Indeed it was fun :D
BTW, All names and characters are fictional. :wink:

I like textures you have use Mike. This builds really nice atmosphere. Only thing I don’t like it are these peoples in the background [same “brush” for each of them]. They just stand and watch the creature. I think they should run to hell. If I were one of them, I would do that!:evilmustache:

Tyranx and Nexus, thank you guys for kind words. :D

Jonoy, nice update. If I can suggest something. Maybe you should work more with the shooting soldiers/people. IMO they are more important then the tank. They interact with the creature.

[walnut]

Edit:

Finished my meagre entry:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/walberg/2923dd42.jpg

[Jonoy]

Jonoy, nice update. If I can suggest something. Maybe you should work more with the shooting soldiers/people. IMO they are more important than the tank. They interact with the creature.
Cool, I'm onto it, thanks for tha C. :)
Probably in about 2hrs 'cause I've gota do some worldbuilder (http://www.digi-element.com/) homework for my course but I know what you mean, the figures are way to undetailed and unformed to have the compositional level of interaction with the main target that they have.

[JakkaS]

It's "Run like hell" Jakkas. It's a subtle difference but still.
Hehehe, What can I say? That’s my English! There are to possibilities.....I can write like this or just reading your posts. Hmmm, I think this first option is better for me. :D

[shadoman]

Jakkas & MikeC. Nice creatues guys. Both so different and strong.

[Erilaz]

I'm aiming for a rocky/dirty hairless mole-like flesh that's had deformation due to the natural form of the bird trying to gentetically make it's way through. I dunno, maybe I should add a few protruding feathers to show that. Due to my colour-blindness, I'm thinking I should probably do this in greyscale next time just to get the values and texture right first, before playing with colour.

You're right though... the form needs an overhaul.
http://www.artfuloddities.com/2D/Sketches/COW/digger010.jpg

[pvpham]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d20/pvpham/2006/060314suicideDigger.jpg

In a world or war scientists have genetically engineered a new hybrid species designed specifically to annihilate enemy military bases without detection. The rapid tunneling and burrowing capabilities of mammals, engineered with sensory abilities ensure quick, undetected beaches inside enemy lines. However, this alone was not sufficient enough to destroy the entire base. Scientist combined beetle genes to the species which caused the mammal to grow a hard layer on its back which would provide protection from incoming bullets. In the growing months of the GSD explosives among with other remote devices were attached to its back where its hard shell would grow over it. Now an armored, burrower with sensory abilities, armed with explosives is at their disposable. Destruction lies ahead.

================================================== ===
I wanted to draw quite a few diagrams but I don't have enough time now. It took me wayyyyy longer to draw than I thought it would. I pretty sure I followed all the rules this time. Fingers crossed. Good luck everyone.

[Mike Corriero]

Jakkas@- Thanks this is actually the "docking bay: so to speak I'll explain that a bit when I write the description, this isn't the place he's bursting through which is why everyones not scared and there isn't a big "break through" or explosion. These are the guys sending him out ;) I only put in the people icons for scale.

Shadowman@- Thanks

[Lewis]

Wow, great pieces so far... :x

My first time entering a COW

Let me introduce to you all:
Giant Suicide Digger
Porcus unicornis

Length: 2,5 meters
Shoulder height: 2 meters
Weight: several tons

The Porcus unicornis, also known as the “Cavecracker”, has a nose in the shape of a pickaxe. With this nose, which structure is comparable with his bone structure, he digs till deep under the ground. If he walks into really hard stone structures in the deepest of the world he likes to use his 70 cm’s long horn on the forehead to smash it apart. This horn is a mixture of the hardest and most solid stones and bones the world has ever known.
With special sensors on his head the Cavecracker can detect electro magnetic signals and locate strategic hostile positions. When the signals reach a certain amount of intensivity the explosive parts attached on the Cavecracker’s chest inflame and cause total destruction.

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/453/finito7pl.jpg

[Pixelestial]

RAOPS: Giant Suicide Digger

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/Ekhidna/Raops.jpg

-A raops is about the size of a pickup truck. Its giant armored head is covered in electromagnetic receptors. This trait allowed its ancestors to detect buried food, but it is now specialized to seek out the signals emitted by military targets. And since a raops is engineered to always feel hungry, it reaches its mark fast.

-A raops' optic nerves are hooked up to the bomb planted on its underside. Though nearly blind, its primitive eyes do detect light and dark, and when it surfaces, the light triggers the explosion of the bomb.

-Powerful stomach acids are disgorged from its mouth to eat through tough barriers.

-This creature produces a lubricating slime to line the tunnels it digs. This slime is also highly combustible. So, even if the raops is destroyed by a decoy mine, all of its tunnels will explode with it, breaking apart the structural integrity of the ground beneath the main target.

[GatorKyle]

http://www.cunninghamillustrations.com/Giant_Digger_flat.jpg

The giant plasma dozer worm is a miracle of modern genetic warfare. Measuring in at
55 feet in length and weighing in excess of 10 tons, this behemoth uses its helical
arrangement of hind pseudopodia to spin itself through the earth. The drill-like shape
of the head and the fiery furnace of a digestive system allow it to bypass all of the
toughest obsticles. Ampullae of Lorenzini that have been modified to detect electro-
magnetic signals through the earth guide this monster to its target. The GX bombs
arrayed underneath the beast's tough clitellum have been connected to these ampullae,
and also to our newest encoded GPS system, which makes for precise targeting for
the explosion. A computer system with an advanced AI is set to trigger the explosion
once the target is reached and all of the safety conditions have been met, ensuring that
your newest aquisition does not accidentally blow up your base.

Vida Nova corporation, bringing you the newest and best genetically enhanced weapons,
for those times when you just want to kill your enemies with style.

[perineum]

Gator, theres no image...

[perineum]

small update..
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b160/perineum/VNsuicidedigger.jpg

[Chuck,mate.]

ConceptartCohesion #001: 8th Day >>> COW - Giant Suicide Digger


http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/1986/digger1rx.jpg
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/9277/digger21gx0fo.gif

[GatorKyle]

Sorry, my image disappeared for some reason. I went to edit the post, and it reappeared. Don't know what happened.

[Lewis]

chuckmate already got my vote!!

[Chuck,mate.]

chuckmate already got my vote!!

that`s very nice to hear mate.
:)
thank you.

[imp_pixel]

Great designs everyone, I thought I'd give it a try also.

http://www.impudentpixel.com/images/digger_sized.jpg

Mass produced by VidaNova, the genetically engineered and mechanically enhanced Gehenapede is roughly 20 feet long and the upper body stands about 8 feet high. Its combination of drilling appendages and hydrolic powered neck allows easy entrance to military facilities. Each body segment carrying a destructive payload can separate from the main body allowing strategic placement in large complexes. The sensitive filiments on it's "eye" stalks trace electromagnetic signals and retract for protection while boring through rock.

[Michael Jaecks]

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/neorepto/vulcanworm11.jpg

The vulcan worm is no more a real worm than a garden weasel is a real weasel. But, nicknames that follow an obvious function tend to stick. The vulcan worm is a reptillian based vertebrate. Its powerful claws dig. Its eyeless, snapper-turtle head chomps and strains earth through bony gills in its lower jaw. Its serpentine length is covered in rigid blade-like fins that extend from the body and curve counterclockwise.The fins' orientation encourage the beast to travel its burrow in a spiralling motion through the earth, speeding up delivery of the bomb it carries implanted in its head. Genetic engineering and cybernetic implants in the beast's brain stem hieghten the vulcan worm's natural equillibrium allowing it to dig its path without disorientation. The beast is also genetically engineered to be extremely sensitive to temperature and pressure. It digs ferociously and singlemindedly when submerged deep in the cold earth but is extraordinarily docile when exposed to room temperature or above. The open air puts it nearly to sleep.

The vulcan worm digs its path and surfaces. Upon exposure to the ambient temperature after reaching its destination, its unmovable mass simply lies exhausted and waits for its fate. A variety of detonation devices work well with this program. Bombs set on a timer, by remote, or in the presence of predetermined environmental conditions or electromagnetic frequencies can all be successfully delivered with the vulcan worm.

The residue left behind after detonation of the vulcan worm bomb resembles first magma, and when cooled, black volcanic rock. On the rare occassions a peripheral victim survives the massive explosion, ground-zero of the vulcan worm's attack is mistaken for a naturally occurring geological event, based on superficial analysis of the evidence left behind.

[redehlert]

Jakkas - are you on COWoroids? how the hell do you keep on doin' it!?! Fun entry, awesome rendering and very convincing.
MikeC - slick bw entry that I think I already commented on in one of your other threads, but it's slick to see and must be noted again. :)
Chuck,mate - great creature, but the thoracic glow just had me goin' HELL YEAH! nice one.....very nice.

Cheers!
D

[Mike Corriero]

MikeC - slick bw entry that I think I already commented on in one of your other threads, but it's slick to see and must be noted again. :)
D

thanks dude, I had fun with the black and white it opens up more opportunities that are more effective than if tried with color and are quicker to produce.

[chaosrocks]

heheh... seems like we have less compunction about blowing up crutaceans and "lower life forms" than mammals, nice Chuck....shiny too
soulweaver-- nice drawing.. alomost lookes like a bio text.. but which way does this thing move?
Lewis..nice uni-thingy,,,, it has character. perhaps even personaltiy... I like that.
I spent all my time on EOW this time. .. not gonna finish in time..great entries all!
c/rocks

[Nexus]

I got no time for this one guys. Kinda sucks because all the heavy-hitters such as Mike, Chuck, and Jakkas have entries this week. Feel like it's only really a good CoW if I have some competition that I can't beat at my current skill level. I dunno, I had a good idea but Ill work on it when I have more time and throw it in the Finally Finished thread. Anyways good luck all and I'll be back in the game next week, so watch your asses.

[Chuck,mate.]

Chuck,mate - great creature, but the thoracic glow just had me goin' HELL YEAH! nice one.....very nice.

Cheers!
D

10x red. just having a BLAST.
:teeth:

[Fozzybar]

hey, Chuck,mate....you couldn't do without COW eh? ;)

Nice entry as always, but you have to convert it to a non-animated image...it's part of the rules, even if not written, but it wasn't allowed whenever someone did an animation. I think a frame with the glow on the breast will do it, the animation is nothing essential for your entry...

[Chuck,mate.]

cool enough fozz.
i`ll just post a JPG. for the activity, and below it an animated version for the heck of it.
cheers.
:)

[Carnifex]

how many hours left? i have access to a scanner in about 4~5 hours.
:x

[Mike Corriero]

I don't know Carnifex but you may make it, fozzy sometimes takes a bit longer than expected.

[Fozzybar]

i am busy as hell at work...will do overtime...so Carnifex, i will close it like 9 pm - 11 pm today CET (it's Austria time ;) )

[redehlert]

don't you mean....it's Hammer Time?!
ooh oh ooh oh....here comes the hammer.....ooh oh ooh oh....here comes the hammer.
can't touch this. hahahaaaaa.....

(runs away to hide from foz)....

[Mike Corriero]

Maybe you should just lock the thread whenever work gets too busy and just set up voting later

[Pixelestial]

chaosrocks: Thanks for the comment. To me, it's important that a burrowing creature be able to move in both directions, since it can't turn around :wink: . Its head is in the armored dome, so that would be the "front", I guess...

I won't have time to leave crits for everyone this week, but great work all around, guys. :rendered:

[Fozzybar]

Maybe you should just lock the thread whenever work gets too busy and just set up voting later

yes, sometimes i do this...and i will probably do it tonight when i won't have the time...but lets see...

[Carnifex]

ahhh thanx.
here's mine.
(this is NOT a sketch)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b363/siansaar/digger.jpg