I know there's quite a few people who love System Shock 2 around here, so here goes...

I got a new case on sale a while back, and I was planning to add a window to it just for kicks. Then I realized it has a somewhat sci-fi look to it, and after seeing an incredible Half-Life themed case I figured I could do something similar, although simpler, but with a System Shock theme.

Here's the case:


I've come up with a few ideas to start, but I'd like some input and feedback on my ideas. I've been having a lot of trouble getting SS2 to run under XP (I haven't tried this one patch yet, will do that soon), so I hoped you guys might be willing to help me out. I'm not even asking you to boot up SS2 or anything, but I thought maybe if you know of anything from SS2 that could be applied to a PC case, or similar sci-fi ideas that fit in with SS2, you might be willing to share them.

• See the honeycomb grating in this screenshot? I can get some of that real cheap from a local hardware store, so I was thinking of cutting out a long, verticle section of the front bezel, the edge of each side. Like on that 90 degree angle, cut out a long verticle strip which spans across the bend and replacing it with some of that honeycomb grating. It should look pretty sweet, and provide air intake. I'll then line it with a black fabric so it looks dark behind the bezel, and acts as a dust filter.
• A really, really nice window with an engraving of Shodan in the bottom right corner (she would be below the 3.5 inch drives, near the air intake). The head would be in that corner with most of the pipes and stuff going out to the left and upward. It'll either be etched in or sandblasted in, and I can light it up with LEDs along the edges so that the engraving glows like a fiber optic. I may even do two layers of plexiglass, so that I can light Shodan and those bright circuit lines (which come from here eyes and face) green while keeping the rest of the face a different color. If not that (kind of heavy, two layers is) then I'll use clever placing of LEDs to light up different colored parts. It should look pretty badass. I might also etch the words "system shock" with proper system shock lettering into the plexiglass, metal or both (meaning the edge is not straight and the text would run into the metal and I would etch into that).
• On the top of the case, near the front, I was thinking about adding a fanbus for controlling fans and lighting levels inside the case. But not just any bus, this one has a twist. A keypad inset into the top of the case, with a knob that is also inset. By pressing and holding one or more buttons, you can use the knob to adjust the fan speed/lighting level/etc of a device inside. I actually found out how to build a circuit for this using some digital potentiometers that remember resistance settings after they've been set, basically allowing me to adjust brightness and stuff and have it be retained in the digipots even after a poweroff. I was thinking that a properly pained keypad and correct looking knob (or slider) would look quite System Shocky, and quite practical too.
• Using some Bic fluorescant pens, you can create a seriously cool circuit outline effect such as this. Under black light, you get that really sweet effect. When I saw that, it jumped right out at me as being very System Shock like. I was thinking of outlining the major circuits on my motherboard, video, sound and NIC.
• Drives will also be painted that same metallic silver. Speaking of that silver color, it somewhat strikes me as out of place. Any ideas on how I could fancy it up to make it seem more like it came out of SS2?

Those are basically my current solid ideas. I was also throwing around the possibility of putting the Xerxes logo thing, as seen in the above linked screenshot, on top of my case near the keypad controller. Maybe actually theme that controller entirely around Xerxes. Thoughts on how else to Xerxify that or other portions of the case would be helpful. I'm also trying to think of what I could with the other side panel of the case. That one rarely sees any modding, so I'd like to do something with it. Be it engraving, painting, whatever.

Any thoughts or feedback of any kind would be great guys.

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Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.

Heh. MGE M1 Gamer. We sell it for $69.99 at Fry's Electronics. 450 Watt PSU, too bad it's a sucky brand.

Sorry I've never played the game so I couldn't help you out on your mod. Good luck with it though.

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The Matrix is not Linux compatible.

The metallic silver probably just needs some wear and tear.

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[This message has been edited. Deal with it.]

I don't have any realistic suggestions, but wouldn't it be cool if you got a tiny little lcd display to put on the front, and you had it display an animation on it? Yeah...anyway...

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WOOSH|-----@%

You have my full support on this project, for whatever that’s worth. Anyway, onto some suggestions. On the outside of the case on the motherboard side you need to have the words "Remember Citadel" written in blood (al la the first replicator room on Med-Sci). As for the silver question, I don’t think Shock got its Sci-fi feel from shiny mettalic objects, but instead from more toned down, almost medical/sterile surfaces. Im am thinking Matte colors, probably white outlined in very dark gray, which is then contrasted by the neon’s of the electronics. If you want to Xerxify it do a bubbling blue watercool reservoir. Also both shocks had allot of strong angles but not necessarily sharp edges, so you might want to try to capture that feel in the case as well. I really like the Bic fluorescent pen look, I would really recommend you use that. If you pull off the keypad that also would be really nice, just remember the Tetra-corp logo on it! and the case also MUST have a Tri-optimum logo somewhere, a case badge at least...

These are my ideas for now, I WILL be back...

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"Well, if I am not drunk, I am mad, but I trust I can behave like a gentleman in either
condition."... G. K. Chesterton

“questions are a burden to others; answers a prison for oneself”

[This message has been edited by West Wind (edited May 27, 2004).]

Thanks for the suggestions. Originally I was going to do an Imperial themed case, which the silver went well with, but now the System Shock theme makes it out of place. The deep gray, almost gunmetal finish of the rest of the case is perfect, though.

Is there any particular way I might add wear and tear to the silver? Actually now that I look at some screenshots, SS2 does have shiney stuff, but it's usually a blue tint of silver, not straight up metallic silver like my case. Hmm... I suppose it may just be fine. I'm not exactly too keen on repainting the entire bezel, especially because painting plastic sucks, even with newer techniques and paints, long term life can be a *****.

And yes, West Wind, I want the words "Remember Citadel" somewhere on the case. I think I may put that on the non-window side of the case, perhaps with a blood spray or too. I'm not too sure about painting blood though.

I don't want to overload the case with symbols and motifs, so I think I'll keep the Triop logo as a case badge. I'll have the Tetra-corp on the keypad no doubt, heh.

Some guys on the TTLG SS2 forum suggested doing a lot with blood and biomatter goop. But I'm really not sure how to do that.

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Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.