Max: Created page with " '''Greeters''' are appliances used by Glukkons as combined vending machines, marketing and P.R. salesm..."

2010-09-25T18:11:04Z

Created page with "thumb|<span title=""></span> '''Greeters''' are appliances used by Glukkons as combined vending machines,<ref name="OcInsInh"/> marketing and P.R. salesm..."

New page

[[File:Greeter.jpg|thumb|<span title=""></span>]]
'''Greeters''' are appliances used by [[Glukkons]] as combined vending machines,<ref name="OcInsInh"/> marketing and P.R. salesmen,<ref name="AEManual"/> security guards and company greeters,<ref name="AOWI128"/> and can be found patrolling the walkways of Magog Cartel factories and facilities. They appeared in ''[[Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus]]'' gameplay as an enemy that would attack [[Abe]] and other [[Mudokons]] if their sensors detected their motion.

== Manufacture ==
[[Vykkers]] originally designed Greeters for the Glukkons to be aggressive, self-promoting [[SoulStorm Brew]] vending machines<ref name="OcInsInh"/> that would follow Mudokons around, giving them the SoulStorm sales pitch and selling them Brew. They were to double as automated greeters, welcoming business associates to Glukkon workplaces, while also despatching anyone not recognized as an official employee with a quick electrocution.<ref name="AOWI128"/>

To fulfil these multiple roles, Greeters were fitted with motion detectors meant to be able to distinguish between official employees and trespassers. Unfortunately, a programming error caused Greeters to attack Mudokons indiscriminately. Aghast,<ref name="AEManual"/> but unable to fix the bug themselves, the Glukkons decided that, retrofitted,<ref name="AOWI128"/> they would make far better security devices.<ref name="OcInsInh"/> Workers are told that as long as they remain motionless in the Greeters’ infrared beam, they will be safe.<ref name="StoneGreeters"/>

== Construction ==
A Greeter unit is essentially a four-foot<ref name="OcInsInh"/> (1·2 m) tin can built out of junkyard scrap metal,<ref name="AOWI128"/> with a control box, exhaust pipe, and steam whistle (or ‘horn’<ref name="OcGreeters"/>) attached to the rear; a large, cheesy grin fixed to the front in a crude attempt to mask its more sinister nature,<ref name="AOWI128"/> which lip syncs to the speech the unit produces; and a ring of sensors and lightning dispensers at the bottom.<ref name="Farzad"/>

This cylindrical unit is balanced efficiently<ref name="Alf6"/> on a single, invariably squeaky wheel that brings the Greeter’s height to 5 feet 8 inches (1·7 m), ignoring the horn.<ref name="Farzad"/><ref name="OcInsInhAbe"/> It is also fitted with a voicebox<ref name="OcGreeters"/> that originally gave the SoulStorm Brew sales pitch,<ref name="AOWI128"/> but was apparently changed to common [[Sligs|Slig]] phrases after their change of function.

== Gameplay ==
Greeters are a novel form of security device in ''Abe’s Exoddus'', appearing in FeeCo Depot, the Slig Barracks and SoulStorm Brewery. They will not detect Abe unless he upsets their motion detectors. The movement of these beams is harder to predict than regular motion detectors because of the Greeters’ travel across the screen. However, the beams can be seen to encircle the Greeter at a steady rate, just seen in 2D.

A glitch occurs when the player has activated or unlocked [[Oddworld:_Abe's_Exoddus_cheats#Invincibility|invincibility]] and is electrocuted by a Greeter. Abe will not die, but will gradually begin to glow more and more with each electrocution.

== Production ==
Experimental Greeter designs explored several combinations of spherical, conical, and cylindrical shapes, but always with a height equal to Abe’s.<ref name="Farzad"/> According to concept sketches by Farzad Varahramyan, Greeters should ‘<q>behave like a drunk unicyclist and move & sound like an old tinkertoy.</q>’ The Greeters’ steam horn is basically a scaled down replica Greeter, but with a downturned mouth.

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="OcInsInh">Broderick, Glenn (c. Februray 1999). ‘[http://oddworldlibray.net/archives/scriptures/website/INsOMNIOUS/Inhabitants.php#Greeters Name: Greeters]’, ‘Inhabitants’. Official Oddworld website.</ref>

<ref name="AEManual">O’Connor, Paul (17 November 1998). ‘Greeters’, ‘The Cast’. [http://cdn.steampowered.com/Manuals/15710/manual_english.pdf?t=1275939192 Game manual] for ''Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus''. New York: GT Interactive. ‘<q>Glukkons were aghast when these marketing and P.R. machines began attacking the customers.</q>’</ref>

<ref name="AOWI128">Johnson, Cathy & Daniel Wade (eds) (15 September 2004). ‘Greeters’, ‘''Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus''’, p. 128. ''The Art of Oddworld Inhabitiants: The First Ten Years 1994–2004''. Mylor: Ballistic Publishing.</ref>

<ref name="StoneGreeters">Vice-President Aslik (17 November 1998). ‘Uncle Aslik’s Tourist Tip #9: Greeters Welcome You!’. FeeCo Depot. StoryDwelling Theater. Story stone (FDP02C16), ‘FeeCo Depot’ (FDP02C10). ''Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus''. New York: GT Interactive. ‘<q>Remember: If you don’t move, they can’t see you!</q>’</ref>

<ref name="OcGreeters">Oddworld Inhabitants (17 August 2000). ‘[http://oddworld.com/firsttenyears/universe/industrial/characters/ow_greeter.html Greeters]’. Oddworld Universe. Official Oddworld website.</ref>

<ref name="Farzad">Varahramyan, Farzad (24 March 1998)'. ‘Abe II: Greeters’ concept sketches. In Cathy Johnson & Daniel Wade (eds) (15 September 2004). ‘Greeters’, ‘''Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus''’, p. 128. ''The Art of Oddworld Inhabitiants: The First Ten Years 1994–2004''. Mylor: Ballistic Publishing.</ref>

<ref name="Alf6">Alf (01 March 2001). [http://oddworld.com/firsttenyears/alf/ow_dearalf06.shtml Dear Alf 06], q. 31. Alf’s Rehab & Tea. Official Oddworld website.</ref>

<ref name="OcInsInhAbe">Broderick, Glenn (c. February 1999). ‘[http://oddworldlibrary.net/archives/scriptures/website/INsOMNIOUS/Inhabitants.php#Abe Name: Abe]’, ‘Inhabitants’. Official Oddworld website.</ref>
</references>
[[Category:Oddworld industrial technology]]
[[Category:Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus gameplay]]

Greeters - Revision history

Max: Created page with " '''Greeters''' are appliances used by Glukkons as combined vending machines, marketing and P.R. salesm..."