History Main / OurWeaponsWillBeBoxyInTheFuture

** The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90 FN P90]] and the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_F2000 F2000]]. Belgians love boxy weapons.

* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushmaster_ACR Bushmaster ACR]] and the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_SCAR FN Scar]].

* ''StarshipTroopers.''The Verhoeven movie gives us these [[http://www.imfdb.org/index.php?title=Starship_Troopers#Morita_MK_II_Advanced_Systems_Rifle wonderful gems]].

On the SlidingScaleOfShinyVersusGritty, OurWeaponsWillBeBoxyInTheFuture tends towards the latter, but not always. [[CrystalSpiresAndTogas "Enlightened"]] civilizations may still keep their boxy arms around as a symbol of older times or as a realist answer of how they keep the peace. If the Enlightened civilization has an active military, expect these [[InSpace Space]] [[OurElvesAreBetter Elves]] to use [[EverythingIsAnIPodInTheFuture vaguely iPod shaped weapons]].

** The Imperium's [[{{BFG}} Bolters]], [[http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/9/93/MkII_bolter.jpg rather square]] weapons are that best-described as "fully automatic rocket-assisted armor-piercing grenade launchers". Not only that, but they're freaking HUGE in addition to being boxy - the ones carried by the similarly huge Astartes couldn't possibly weigh any LESS than 100 pounds.
*** This editor's favorite is the shotgun, which must be [[http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Shotgun seen]] to be believed.

** The Imperium's [[{{BFG}} Bolters]], [[http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/9/93/MkII_bolter.jpg rather square]] weapons are that best-described as "fully automatic rocket-assisted armor-piercing grenade launchers".

* ''StarshipTroopers.''The Verhoeven movie gives us these [[http://www.imfdb.org/index.php?title=Starship_Troopers wonderful gems]].

->''"If there is any one weapon that defines the the Imperium, it is the bolter. No other weapon combines high technology levels with such delibrate brutality, and no race would consider making it but mankind."''[[hottip:* :or Orks.]]
-->-- ''{{Warhammer 40000}}''

* While not the "future" by any stretch (Going so far as to say it's "a century a lot like the one we just had"), TeamFortress2 has the Sentry Gun, a deployable, upgradeable turret. Through all 3 levels of its upgradedness, its central components are quite boxy.
** A new weapon for the Soldier class recently came out, which is called ''The Black Box'', and - you've guessed it - [[ShapedLikeItself it's black and boxy]].

* Most of the weapons drawn by RobLiefeld.

* The human-designed Claymore shotgun in ''MassEffect 2'' has been described as a brick with a [short] barrel at one end. It's an accurate description.

* Human weapons in the {{Halo}} series, are not particularly boxy compared to some of the other examples here, but when compared to the sleeker weapons of the [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Covenant]], it stands out a bit more.

* ''[[BattlefieldSeries Battlefield 2142]]:'' Despite being made of "[[HandWave advanced polymers]]", some of the weapons are outrageously boxy and larger than their modern-day counterparts. Examples: [[http://images.wiki.wegame.com/i/cWtml3t7.gif]] [[http://images.wiki.wegame.com/i/OQ5EObc5.gif]] [[http://images.wiki.wegame.com/i/HOGst4hj.gif]] [[http://www.arctura.net/bianchi.jpg]]

* The [[Doom BFG9000]] is bulky and appears boxy with many smaller boxy parts on it. There's also the Plasma Rifle, basically a boxy assault rifle-like weapon with an accordion barrel (to reduce recoil?).

** The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90 FN P90]].

* Several weapons in ''{{Rifts}}'', where the boxy barrel coverings are stated to contain heavy-duty cooling systems for laser and plasma weapons.

[[{{IncrediblyLamePun}} Has nothing to do with trolls.]]

* Most of the weapons drawn by RobLiefeld fall under this trope.

* ''{{Warhammer40000}}'': While many of the weapons of the setting fall squarely under the BFS category, even the lasgun used by the standard human soldiers of the Imperial Guard is [[http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics11/img4542c91f4e221.jpg hugely cumbersome]]. Notables include:

**Also [[SmashMook Ogryn]] Ripper Guns ''need'' to be big and metallic, as they are designed to withstand [[PistolWhipping their users wielding them as clubs]].
**The Tau's Pulse Weaponry. [[http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/6/5152/57622.jpg What's not to love?]]
** This is not just limited to guns, the [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/28282_md-Imperial_Guard_Leman_Russ_2324.jpg Leman Russ MBT]] is a box with guns attached to it, the [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Black_Legion_Land_Raider_6351.jpg Land Raider]] is a mobile bunker, and their spaceships are... well, [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Battlefleet_Gothic_8426.jpg just look at them]]. Their not be underestimated though, the Leman Russ can run on Vodka and Saltpetre if it must, the Land Raider has a semi-sentient AI and the Spaceship has enough firepower to level continents.
* Justified in several weapons in ''{{Rifts}}'', where the boxy barrel coverings are stated to contain heavy-duty cooling systems for laser and plasma weapons.

** Of course, the Marines are huge fans of their powered armor, which makes the "big" understandable. No excuse for the blockiness though.

* Used, subverted, and averted in ''PerfectDark''. Some of the game's "modern" weapons fall under this trope. Maian weapons are at least partially organic and feature almost entirely smooth, rounded shapes, with nary a rectangle to be found. Skedar weapons go a different direction and use an inordinate amount of jagged points.
** Skedar weapons are justified in that they are also used as melee weapons. Including a minigun/circular saw.

** Some in-game material implies the reason the weapons look similar is that internally they're ''almost identical''; the munitions companies first developed a "smart" gun which could fire multiple types of ammunition, before realizing the [[WarForFunAndProfit advantage]] to forcing consumers to buy multiple weapons instead by creating [[CripplingOverspecialization specialized]] versions of the prototype design (which by coincidence the protagonist has).
* {{Fallout}}: The third one, at the very least. By way of example, compare a conventional minigun to the futuristic [[MoreDakka "Gatling Laser,"]] and judge for yourself which is the boxiest.

* The [[http://www.enemyforces.net/firearms/kriss_super_v.htm Kriss .45]] is an experimental submachine gun that uses an innovative recoil system and unusual stock to make it a wonderful accurate and controllable weapon that, for better or worse, is mostly square.

** The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HK_G11 HK G11]]. It also uses casless ammunition, making it rather futuristic.

*** Ah, yes, the P90, patron gun of the StargateVerse! How many evil empires have fallen to ye, O lowly yet awesome weapon!

* ''{{Warhammer40000}}'': While many of the weapons of the setting fall squarely under the BFS category, even the weak lasgun used by the standard human soldiers of the Imperial Guard is [[http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics11/img4542c91f4e221.jpg hugely cumbersome]]. Notables include:

* Used, subverted, and averted in ''PerfectDark''. Some of game's "modern" weapons fall under this trope. Maian weapons are at least partially organic and feature almost entirely smooth, rounded shapes, with nary a rectangle to be found. Skedar weapons go a different direction and use an inordinate amount of jagged points.

* Curious that {{Fallout}} hasn't been mentioned. The third one, at the very least. By way of example, compare a conventional minigun to the futuristic [[MoreDakka "Gatling Laser,"]] and judge for yourself which is the boxiest.

* Averted with the [[HalfLife Combine]] [[http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs36/f/2008/261/3/2/Overwatch_Pulse_Rifle_Textured_by_SgtHK.jpg Overwatch Standard Issue Pulse Rife]], aka the AR2. It looks high tech and futuristic, but isn't boxy. Despite it's shiny appearance, it's used by the Bad Guys.

** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HK_G11 HK G11]]
** What? No love for the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90 FN P90]]?

**[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMI_Tavor_TAR-21 Tavor TAR-21]]