From: gt7344b@prism.gatech.edu (M)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: WARNING:  "Marathon" has potential health risks

Atlanta, November 1994 -  During the past two months a clinical study
has been conducted of video games and their adverse affects on players
at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Psychology Department.  

One game in particular has been tested, named "Marathon" by Bungie, Inc. 
Early observations were made while test students played the so-called "beta"
version.  With the recent release of the full-fledged demo, symptoms appeared
to increase by orders of magnitude.  

Test subjects were found to exhibit the following common behaviors while
playing the aforementioned game:

	o  Profound bodily movements associated with the fictional actions of
	   the on-screen character.  These include, but are not limited to:
	   dodging, shifting, and leaning, as if to coax additional
	   motions from, and preserve the life of, the said on-screen 
	   character.

	o  Exclamatory remarks and incomprehensible sounds, which would seem 
	   to imply physical and/or mental pain being experienced by the user.
  	   This of course cannot be the case, although users do show the
	   aftersigns of a physically traumatic experience, such as trembling
 	   of the hands and profuse sweating. 

Even more alarming were the persistent side-effects of this game, which
continue for weeks after participation stops.  This has led us to diagnose a
new neurosis, called "MArathon-Related Syndrome" (MARS for short).  The
symptoms of MARS are as follows:

	o  Paranoid Delusions:  Victims exhibit delusions of persecution. 
           Many are unable to be left alone in their own homes, for fear that
	   alien predators may "come to get them."  Accompanying this fear is
	   the victim's constant need to look over his shoulder, convinced
	   someone or something is "sneaking up behind" him.  
	 
	o  Acute Myopia and/or Tunnel Vision:  These visual impairments
	   would appear to be caused by intense squinting at--and close
	   proximity to--a computer monitor.  Some test subjects would
	   position their eyes as close as 2 inches from the surface of the
	   display.  This can pose many health risks, given the radiation
	   factors associated with CRTs.
	   
	o  Noctophobia:  A strong, abnormal fear of dark or dimly-lit places,
	   especially narrow corridors and small rooms, is also common.  These
	   situations often induce paranoid delusions (described above).  The
	   subjects tend to complain of lacking a motion detector or similar
	   device to help detect enemies during low-light conditions. 

These findings can be no less described than simply astounding.  The potential
threat of MARS to the young minds of America is--  

What was that?  Did you hear it?  
Why's it always so damned dark in here?  
So you think I'm crazy, do you?

Something's coming....  Oh my god--seven blips!!!  They're all over the place.

What's this?  There's one behind me!!  Wait...no...nothing there.  Must be
behind that wall...

Quick..... reload the grenades...%@*&#!$...I HAVE NO MORE GRENADES!!!

Now...just back up...back up....  As soom as that blue bastard rounds this
corner I'll--ARRRGH!   A compiler to the left!!!   Blast it---BLAST IT!!!!!

   God help me.....THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!






Article 84856 of comp.sys.mac.games:
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From: kephart@snowhite.eeap.cwru.edu (T. Kephart)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: WARNING:  "Marathon" has potential health risks
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 1994 15:48:37 -0400
Organization: Case School of Engineering
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In article <3bd5n1$3uu@acmez.gatech.edu>, gt7344b@prism.gatech.edu (M) wrote:

> Atlanta, November 1994 -  During the past two months a clinical study
> has been conducted of video games and their adverse affects on players
> at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Psychology Department.  
> 
> One game in particular has been tested, named "Marathon" by Bungie, Inc. 
> Early observations were made while test students played the so-called "beta"
> version.  With the recent release of the full-fledged demo, symptoms appeared
> to increase by orders of magnitude.  
> 
> Test subjects were found to exhibit the following common behaviors while
> playing the aforementioned game:
> 
>         o  Profound bodily movements associated with the fictional actions of
>            the on-screen character.  These include, but are not limited to:
>            dodging, shifting, and leaning, as if to coax additional
>            motions from, and preserve the life of, the said on-screen 
>            character.
> 

Washington DC, November 1994 - Addendum: For Immediate Release.

According to Hospital reports across the country, recent events have
causes an emergency meeting of the VCGCS (Video and Computer Game Council
for Safety).  This emergency meeting is being called to discuss possible
legislation to immediately remove and recall all computer and office
chairs containing wheels.

Siting hospital records, an large number of cranial, arm, and shoulder
injuries are caused by the combination of computer games and office
furniture on wheels.

Game players and have been seen flying across rooms, rolling forward into
the monitor (causing tramatic head injuries) and other similiar accidents.

Other hand and arm related injuries have been reported as players try
furiously to hold onto the keyboard as they launch themselves backwards in
an attempt to physically jump backward out of harm's way.

All wheeled chairs should be replaced immediately, or as a temporary
precaution, have the wheels removed, or chocked in place.