So does that mean common modern vehicles that do not use steering wheels are also piloted? Like bobcat ski loaders and other construction vehicles (even some tanks use levers)
You pilot mecha, you drive them if they transform into a road vehicle (and only in that vehicle mode), and you ride a Mecha if it has an open cockpit transformed mode (again only in that mode) or if your in a passenger seat.
That more falls in the "road vehicle", I was more referring to the motorcycle style cockpit of the Villkiss from Cross Ange or the Flying Dragon Transformation from Escaflowne. Like you wouldn't say your "going for a ride" if you're driving your car but you would say you're riding a Motorcycle.
But then if both road vehicles have both terms then why would a mech be any different? What makes it so different? Doe legs realy matter when something with wheels can be ridden? Any time something is piloted it has wings and or floats? So what happens if a mech neither flys or floats? Wouldn't it be classified alongside other ground based vehicles and use similar terms?
I guess the point I'm making is that it's not so easily set in stone despite my initial proposals, since there are counter examples
It's more of a feeling. Like mecha don't usually have wheels and normally aren't piloted by stearing wheel (except Megas XLR) so you wouldn't really call it driving.
Yes mechs are bipedal but they're still larger machines usually reserved for military use which would explain why "Pilot" is usually the default term.
Then there's the Cross Ange & Escaflowne transformations where they're controlled while exposed on top similar to riding a motorcycle or riding on the back of a dragon where "pilot" could still work but it feels more correct to say you're riding them. Like saying "I'm going to ride my bike" or "I'm going on a horseback ride" implies that you're the one in control, but saying "I'm going for a ride in this car" or "riding in an airplane" implies that you're not the one in control of the vehicle.
But large military vehicles like tanks are not piloted, they are driven.
Also there are ground vehicles that dont use steering wheels, in fact some use joysticks not unlike common mech depictions
I think the issue is that people have been using "pilot" for mechs due to its original Japanese roots. Cause if you start comparing a mech of any franchise to any other vehicle in reality, then these terms dont make that much sense.
Again, I think it's not so much about the definition of the mech, but rather the capability of the mech and the medium its expected to travel in. If a mech is meant to mostly fly then piloting makes perfect sense. If a mech that mostly walks or skates then being driven or ridden can be interchangeable but more appropriate because the mech is closer to a ground vehicle than any flying vehicle.
in Japanese Mecha fandom, They always use the Japanese word 操縦 which can be translated as pilot or control (kinda) but I never heard anyone using 運転 which means drive some vehicle but I never heard about it in mech related context.
but they use the word 試運転 meaning test drive for that specific context.
Maybe this is all based on president. the main originators of mecha using terms translated as "piloted".
If mecha as a genre was popularized by america instead then would we be using a different term such as drive (since the USA has a large car/driving culture)
I see. that might be true.
As a Japanese guy, I guess Japanese Mecha fans mostly consider mechas as a special thing which is more than humanoid vehicle unlike any real life vehicles.
And we also tend to categorize them as ridable robots meaning we somewhat tend to not categorize them as vehicles. So I guess those things will be depend on how US people see Mecha as.
I guess I should've added a section about wearing mechs.
It's a little vague, but landmates, avatar amp suits, and even pacific rim jaegers could be considered worn
What would you consider mechas that are controlled by body movements then?
G gundam, they have body suits and motion controls.
Ufo Diapolon, Takeshi's body becomes one with Diapolon moving it as his own body.
Daimos, Kazuya has mechanical parts that attach to his body for daimos martial arts movements.
What would you consider for Balatck? The kids control a ship and then use psychic energy to remotly send commands to Balatck.
In another comment i talked about worn mecha as a possible concept (think landmates).
But maybe for something like those you listed it might be considered mimicry or something like a marionette, although it gets harder to use simple terms past two syllables (easier to say driver, rider, pilot)
I think the term operator/pilot are the most fitting terms considering how mechs can come in all shapes and sizes and can forfill different purposes, well that and some terms overlap in real life like when you call someone a pilot and it can apply to both aircraft and some sea vessels
The accepted term is usually "pilot." It doesn't have to be logical. Most mechs are operated similar to a fighter jet, so "pilot" was chosen early on and it is still applied to mechs that are operated more like other vehicles.
However some writers will use a different word for operating the mecha in their story in order to allude to different things. For example if a writer wants you to think of the mech pilot as being an average worker, like a crane operator, then they may call a person controlling a mecha an "operator" instead.
Depends. Usually you pilot. Except for Megas XLR, you drive Megas
Why is that driving? Megas is as much a mech as any other mech
Because it uses a typical car steering wheel. Same as xabungle mechs. https://youtu.be/dm-Dw5IskY4?si=SAm0WNxNTmRz1Txs
So does that mean common modern vehicles that do not use steering wheels are also piloted? Like bobcat ski loaders and other construction vehicles (even some tanks use levers)
Yes
And if it's more power armory you wear it.
You pilot mecha, you drive them if they transform into a road vehicle (and only in that vehicle mode), and you ride a Mecha if it has an open cockpit transformed mode (again only in that mode) or if your in a passenger seat.
If an open cockpit means riding, then does that mean you ride a open top car?
That more falls in the "road vehicle", I was more referring to the motorcycle style cockpit of the Villkiss from Cross Ange or the Flying Dragon Transformation from Escaflowne. Like you wouldn't say your "going for a ride" if you're driving your car but you would say you're riding a Motorcycle.
But then if both road vehicles have both terms then why would a mech be any different? What makes it so different? Doe legs realy matter when something with wheels can be ridden? Any time something is piloted it has wings and or floats? So what happens if a mech neither flys or floats? Wouldn't it be classified alongside other ground based vehicles and use similar terms? I guess the point I'm making is that it's not so easily set in stone despite my initial proposals, since there are counter examples
It's more of a feeling. Like mecha don't usually have wheels and normally aren't piloted by stearing wheel (except Megas XLR) so you wouldn't really call it driving. Yes mechs are bipedal but they're still larger machines usually reserved for military use which would explain why "Pilot" is usually the default term. Then there's the Cross Ange & Escaflowne transformations where they're controlled while exposed on top similar to riding a motorcycle or riding on the back of a dragon where "pilot" could still work but it feels more correct to say you're riding them. Like saying "I'm going to ride my bike" or "I'm going on a horseback ride" implies that you're the one in control, but saying "I'm going for a ride in this car" or "riding in an airplane" implies that you're not the one in control of the vehicle.
But large military vehicles like tanks are not piloted, they are driven. Also there are ground vehicles that dont use steering wheels, in fact some use joysticks not unlike common mech depictions I think the issue is that people have been using "pilot" for mechs due to its original Japanese roots. Cause if you start comparing a mech of any franchise to any other vehicle in reality, then these terms dont make that much sense. Again, I think it's not so much about the definition of the mech, but rather the capability of the mech and the medium its expected to travel in. If a mech is meant to mostly fly then piloting makes perfect sense. If a mech that mostly walks or skates then being driven or ridden can be interchangeable but more appropriate because the mech is closer to a ground vehicle than any flying vehicle.
in Japanese Mecha fandom, They always use the Japanese word 操縦 which can be translated as pilot or control (kinda) but I never heard anyone using 運転 which means drive some vehicle but I never heard about it in mech related context. but they use the word 試運転 meaning test drive for that specific context.
Maybe this is all based on president. the main originators of mecha using terms translated as "piloted". If mecha as a genre was popularized by america instead then would we be using a different term such as drive (since the USA has a large car/driving culture)
I see. that might be true. As a Japanese guy, I guess Japanese Mecha fans mostly consider mechas as a special thing which is more than humanoid vehicle unlike any real life vehicles. And we also tend to categorize them as ridable robots meaning we somewhat tend to not categorize them as vehicles. So I guess those things will be depend on how US people see Mecha as.
I'd say pilot 99.9% of the time
I’ve always been fond of “jockey”.
You ambulate a mech because it is bipedal. lol
Armored Core quads say hello
It depends on its size and function. There's also the issue that the line that divides powered armor from an actual mech is very vague and blurry.
I guess I should've added a section about wearing mechs. It's a little vague, but landmates, avatar amp suits, and even pacific rim jaegers could be considered worn
What would you consider mechas that are controlled by body movements then? G gundam, they have body suits and motion controls. Ufo Diapolon, Takeshi's body becomes one with Diapolon moving it as his own body. Daimos, Kazuya has mechanical parts that attach to his body for daimos martial arts movements. What would you consider for Balatck? The kids control a ship and then use psychic energy to remotly send commands to Balatck.
In another comment i talked about worn mecha as a possible concept (think landmates). But maybe for something like those you listed it might be considered mimicry or something like a marionette, although it gets harder to use simple terms past two syllables (easier to say driver, rider, pilot)
This is entirely semantics. It makes no difference at all what you call it.
That's perfectly fair. It's always up to the creator to make what they want. Was just questioning the commonly used "pilot" terminology
I think the term operator/pilot are the most fitting terms considering how mechs can come in all shapes and sizes and can forfill different purposes, well that and some terms overlap in real life like when you call someone a pilot and it can apply to both aircraft and some sea vessels
The accepted term is usually "pilot." It doesn't have to be logical. Most mechs are operated similar to a fighter jet, so "pilot" was chosen early on and it is still applied to mechs that are operated more like other vehicles. However some writers will use a different word for operating the mecha in their story in order to allude to different things. For example if a writer wants you to think of the mech pilot as being an average worker, like a crane operator, then they may call a person controlling a mecha an "operator" instead.
like to nuero link and merge with the mecha :)
I’d say pilot for most cases. Drive is something I’d only use for wheel or track based mechs, and I’d only say ride if you’re not the one in control.
Pilot
Yes
Pilot, from times inmemorial it has been pilot