From: fai@northshore.ecosoft.com (Stephen G. Grammont)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Bungie Speaks
Date: 20 Jun 1994 20:40:03 GMT
Organization: North Shore Access, a service of Eco Software, Inc.
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Message-ID: <2u4ur3$70@shore.shore.net>
NNTP-Posting-Host: northshore.ecosoft.com
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Well, Bungie has finally spoken about the whole Marathon thing.  The most 
important piece is regarding the mail order ad.  It clearly states that 
the screen shot is *not* in the game.  It was earlier artwork that has 
since, I suppose, been trashed.  Read for yourself.  Post was found in 
Bungie's AOL support area:

Begins here

Subj:  All the news that's fit to print      94-06-16 17:33:28 EDT
From:  BUNGIE1

Okay, folks, here's all the dope there is on Marathon, straight from 
Bungie Software's official mouthpiece, namely, me:
   I regret that the non-release of Marathon has created so much stress 
among some of our customers (and I'm glad to see others keeping a little 
more perspective about this).   A couple of weeks ago I was thumbing 
through a mail order catalog and was astonished to find an ad for this 
game which does not yet exist, featuring a screen shot that will not be 
in it, and implying that it is available now, which it is not.  I assure 
you these ads are not some manipulative ploy to jerk around our 
customers.  The mail order houses, which are not under our control, are 
advertising it now because they're taking pre-orders now.  I don't know 
what they're telling people about when it will arrive -- I hope they're 
being as vague as the truth is.  The truth is, hopefully it will be ready 
in time for MacWorld, or early August.  If not, or if we think it's not 
yet good enough to succeed PID, then it will be ready later.
   As to the perennial question, "will it be better than DOOM", well, I'm 
the P guy; how many grains of salt do you want?  It will be higher-res; 
I'm not a technical person and don't know a thing about bit-depth, etc., 
but I know that the art and the effects already surpass anything I have 
seen in any previous game, Mac or otherwise.  In the more relevant 
comparison to PID, it will be substantially more challenging as a mental 
exercise, will have a more complex plot, scads of horrifying (and 
remarkably intelligent) adversaries, lotsa snazz weapons, and will take 
place in a wide variety of environments featuring non-orthogonal rooms 
and multiple elevations.  I've seen as much of it as anyone, and I'm 
really looking forward to playing it.  'Nuf said.  
    All registered Pathways customers will receive a mailing when 
Marathon is released with a special offer.  For the rest, we will make 
sure you hear about it through the usual channels.  We intend to make a 
big splash with this game.  As ever, we are grateful for your enthusiasm 
and your support. 

Happy Carnage!

Doug Zartman
PR Director
Bungie Software