Marathon's Story What's New (Jan-Feb 1997)

Feb 27, 1997
Double Aught Software, creators of Marathon Infinity, have put together a Carnage Map Pack for Infinity. There are a total of 18 net maps, mostly new, to kill your enemies on, to kill your friends enemies on, and to kill you friends on. You can get it from the Double Aught home page.

Prompted by a number of requests for the Marathon Music Exploder I have added a new section Marathon Music to Facts and puzzling things about... for details.

Feb 23, 1997
Did you know... not many people know this... including myself... that Pathways Into Darkness, Bungie's third game and prequel to Marathon, had eight possible endings. Yes Eight! Ranging from utter failure to outstanding success. You can read all about them at the Pathways Into Darkness Story page. Damn... I only every managed one... and I ain't telling ;-)

Dustin Westphal <bachus@rdc-cybersign.com> writes concerning the Cthulhu Mythos in Marathon. See the The Cthulhu Mythos in Marathon section of Facts and puzzling things about... for details.

Feb 22, 1997
For those of you who have asked about the up-and-coming interview with Greg Kirkpatrick and Chris Geisel. Yes, it will appear on the page. Yes, it will appear soon... 2 weeks! Yes, it will answer alot of our questions but not all of them. As Greg said some time back:

I don't think I've been helpful at all, and I hope I didn't clarify anything... I don't even know what I'm saying, to paraphrase myself, " there are some things that we can't understand or even hope to." <laughter>

Hats off to Jim Mitchell for completing all 88 solo levels in the Marathon Trilogy vidmaster style. A mammoth achievement. See the Marathon Vidmasters' Page for details.

Feb 21, 1997
Acme Station, the King of levels, just got beaten again. Check the Marathon Vidmasters' Page for details. Very nice film.

Dustin Westphal <bachus@rdc-cybersign.com> writes:

The opening words in M1 are about the Jjaro. If it was about the Pfhor then it would say that they are coming. The Jjaro are the ones waiting.

Dustin also points out that Tau Ceti has seven letters. But you already knew that... didn't you?

Feb 19, 1997
Stuck in Marathon Infinity? Can't get off Thing What Kicks...? Bobs giving you a hard time? Can't find that secret switch that gives you God-like like powers? Then worry no longer because now you can sit back and watch the movie. All 33 Infinity solo levels have been completed Vidmaster Style by Jim Mitchell . Catch the "Master of Vid" at work on the Marathon Vidmasters' Page.

Feb 18, 1997
Forrest Cameranesi <Pfhorrest@aol.com> writes about the Infinity timelines. See the Am I Dreaming section of Facts and puzzling things about... for details.

Feb 17, 1997
Michael Florentin Nielsen <florent@post3.tele.dk> writes about the Infinity timelines. See the Am I Dreaming section of Facts and puzzling things about... for details. Oh and there is something extra too. ;-)

Feb 16, 1997
Forrest Cameranesi <Pfhorrest@aol.com> provides a very perceptive insight into the meaning of the dream levels. See the Am I Dreaming section of Facts and puzzling things about... for details. Oh and there is something extra too. ;-)

Jimmy Mitchell <jmitch@mail.erskine.edu> writes:

Chad (3 o M7), FM (1 o M7), more???

Makes me wonder anyway... ;-)

Feb 12, 1997
Concerning the startup quote in Marathon:

somewhere in the heavens... they are waiting

William Vuong <vuongm@earthlink.net> writes:

"Is this alluding to the Pfhor or the Jjaro? Think about it!!!"

Matt Soell (Bungie) provides some interesting information about Bungie's position regarding Mac vs. PC game development in a letter to Jim Mitchell <BobJam@aol.com>. You can read it at Jim's page here. As always Matt's humor shines through:

"...Unfortunately, "Pathways Into Darkness 2000: The Special Edition" will be Pentium-only. The restored Muller scene is a real hoot. ;) "

Eric Anderson <brittain@ellensburg.com> writes concerning Durandal's remark on "Neither High nor Low":

"you are about to see what no human has ever seen"

Feb 11, 1997
Many thanks to Jim Mitchell <BobJam@aol.com> for pointing out that I had no less than seven typographical errors in the solo level names on the page. Seven mistakes! I kid you not. Coincidence or a devious plot...? The terminally curious should be able to find these but don't look in the obvious places.

Feb 8, 1997
Added a new section Rampancy to Facts and puzzling things about... .

Ty Klein <mrenigma@earthlink.net> writes concerning Rampancy. See the Rampancy section of Facts and puzzling things about... for details.

Eric Anderson <brittain@ellensburg.com> writes concerning the number seven. See The Number Seven section of Facts and puzzling things about... for details.

Chris des Marais <ddesmar@eta.k12.mn.us> writes concerning the heights in Marathon. See The Player's Height section of Facts and puzzling things about... for details.

Feb 7, 1997
The magic number seven. Yes I updated the page. But where?

Feb 4, 1997
Double Aught Software have the beginnings of a Duality page at http://www.duality.net/. Early days yet though.

Feb 3, 1997
Chris Geisel (Double Aught) goes wild [?rampant] on alt.games.marathon:

Subject: Re: Marathon 4 - honest question
Date: Mon, 03 Feb 1997 12:17:17 -0500
From: chrisg@doubleaught.com (Chris Geisel)
Newsgroups: alt.games.marathon
References: <32F4CC23.8C0@texas.net>


In article <32F4CC23.8C0@texas.net>, "Thomas G. Holmberg"
<holmberg@texas.net> wrote:

< What IS that teaser on their web page?
< 
< "The future is an angry cloud of DUST.   The FUTURE is coming."

That teaser and those shots are from Duality, Double Aught's next (full)
3D game.  Check our site in the coming weeks for more details, shots, and
cryptic hints specially designed to give twitch enthusiasts nervous
anticipation, rampant speculation, and in extreme cases, hallucination. 
(okay, so far we've only witnessed that in Greg K.)

later,

chris

-- 
Lead Designer
Double Aught, Inc.
www.doubleaught.com

But you heard it first on the Marathon's Story page way back in Nov 18, 1996. :-)

And watch out for a Duality page... coming soon!

Thanks to all the people who have written in pointing out the Bungie style mathematics on the page.

9 + 4 = 12, 1 + 2 = 3

Feb 2, 1997
Many thanks to Jimmy Mitchell <jmitch@mail.erskine.edu> for sending the first Total Carnage film of getting to the co-op carnage break level "Robot World Arena" from "Rise Robot Rise". He gets it right the first time too. :-) You can see the film here. Thanks to all those who also sent in films.

Forrest Cameranesi <Pfhorrest@aol.com> writes concerning our possible origin. See the You section of Facts and puzzling things about... for details.

Forrest Cameranesi <Pfhorrest@aol.com> also writes concerning the number seven. See The Number Seven section of Facts and puzzling things about... for details.

Feb 1, 1997
Update News

Acme Station, the King of levels, has just been Vidmastered. Find out the details at the Marathon Vidmasters' Page.

Sam Bryant <sam_bryant@atlmug.org> writes:

"Someone said that the Millenium Falcon was docked at Hanger 96 at Mos Eisley. This is incorrect. I, also, just got back from the movie, and it was Hanger 94. Maybe Marathon is bad for your ears...

But, 9 + 4 = 12, 1 + 2 = 3!"

aaarrggghhhh.... another error on the Story page... will there be no end. I contacted George and he confirmed the error.

HAN: Okay. You guys got yourself a ship. We'll leave as soon as you're ready. Docking bay Ninety-four.

BEN: Ninety-four.

Charles Lechasseur <clechas@qc.autoroute.net> writes:

you asked for it. :)

i included a film where i reach the secret term in solo play. oh, this was done on normal - i'm no vidmaster, sorry... :)

All right... nice one... :-)

Concerning his film Charles says:

i had forgotten that you needed to complete the level in order to reach Robot World, but you can see that it _is_ possible to read the term - and if i had finished the level, i would've reached the secret level.

(after i read the term, the rest of the film is me finishing the level then trying to read the term again, then giving up. you can skip that... :)

You can see the film here. We await a completed film on Total Carnage. All secrets shown. :-)

Earlier News

Jason Parsons <arakasi@venus.superstore.com> writes concerning our death and rebirth. See the You section of Facts and puzzling things about... for details.

Alex Samaras <asamaras@winnie.fit.edu> also writes concerning our death and rebirth, and possible origin and destiny. See the You section of Facts and puzzling things about... for details.

Greg Kirkpatrick (Double Aught) writes concerning Shakespeare's Sonnet 131 on "Poor Yorick". See the Shakespeare in Marathon section of Facts and puzzling things about... for details.

Dustin Westphal <bachus@rdc-cybersign.com> writes:

"Well just got back from seeing Star Wars (love those new explosions) and guess what I heard while they were in Mos Eisley, "Meet me in Hangar 96." The Millenium Falcon was being docked at Hangar 96. Yessss!!!!!"

Ah! the mysterious hangar ninety six.

Charles Lechasseur <clechas@qc.autoroute.net> writes:

"on your page, you say that Robot World Arena is reachable in co-op mode only. having reached the level in solo play, i disagree. :)"

"if you do it _really_ quickly, it is possible to read the term as the platform is coming down. use the alien weapons to activate the switches. of course, you have to get straight on the tiny elevator, which is pretty difficult..."

hmmm... if anybody can do a film of getting to Robot World Arena from Rise Robot Rise on solo I'll add it to the page. Oh yeah... on Total Carnage please!

Dan Rudolph <rudolph.family@mcleod.net> writes:

"The Marathon Electric Logo is a stylized omega. Omega is the symbol for Ohms, which is the unit of resistance in electricity. This makes since, because they are an electric company."

Another interesting post from C1ndyh on alt.games.marathon:

Subject:      Re: Infinity's plot explained by Hamish (???)
From:         c1ndyh@aol.com (C1ndyh)
Date:         1997/01/31
Message-Id:   <19970131154701.KAA16277@ladder01.news.aol.com>
References:   <32F0E368.1004@mosquitonet.com<
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Newsgroups:   alt.games.marathon
X-Admin:      news@aol.com


<< I did mean to imply something along those lines, but not necessarily that
<< Durandal incorporates Jjaro technology. Remember Traxus? Then think about
<< this quote from Durandal:

<Whoa, wait a minute, you lost me.  What indications are there that
<Traxus had Jjaro influences?

There seems to be a connection between the introduction of Jjaro
technology and at least the potential for rampancy. The battleroids in the
asteroid war, the Hulks, the S'pht. You? As regards the AIs, what kind of
chance discovery could make Durandal's rampancy possible? When you
consider the kind of cascade (almost viral) effect that must have happened
with the Hulks and the S'pht, and compare it with Traxus infiltrating
other AIs on the Martian net, the possibility that Traxus incorporated
Jjaro technology and passed his rampancy on to other AIs on the net, one
of which was Durandal, seems reasonable. 

But WHY would rampancy occur?

Jan 31, 1997
We're back!

The expected downtime was a little longer than anticipated. Sorry for any inconvenience. Let's hope I've remembered to upload everything.

Prompted by repeated requests for directions on how to get to Robot World Arena I have donned m'boots and added a new section The Co-op Carnage Break Levels to Facts and puzzling things about... . The findings have interesting implications for the Infinity story.

Now these things look familiar... as if from an old dream, but you can't exactly remember...

Many thanks to Steve Wood <smwood@ccs.neu.edu> for pointing out a number of serious errors [?misconceptions] on the Story page. It seems I am guilty of typecasting. I hope the individuals concerned will forgive me.

Randy Reddig (Double Aught) points out that Chris Geisel was responsible for the text in the secret map "Hats Off To Eight Nineteen".

An interesting post from Chris Geisel, co-author of the Infinity story, on alt.games.marathon:

From: chrisg@doubleaught.com (Chris Geisel)
Newsgroups: alt.games.marathon
Subject: Re: Infinity's plot explained by Hamish (???)
Date: 21 Jan 1997 05:04:27 GMT
Organization: Double Aught, Inc.
Lines: 35
Message-ID: <chrisg-2101970008100001@chrisg.dialup.access.net>
References: <look-2001971608380001@cyber082.cyberspc.mb.ca>
NNTP-Posting-Host: chrisg.dialup.access.net

In article <look-2001971608380001@cyber082.cyberspc.mb.ca>, look@it.up
(A.S.) wrote:

[snip]
> 
>    Infinity was all a dream. A dream, get it?
> 
> This is the guy who knows more about marathon than anybody else except
> maybe... no, no one.

hey,

i've always hated 'dream' episodes of anything.  it's too easy: the
characters don't have to change, nothing 'really' happened, precious
characters, plots, and worlds safely frozen in nostalgic stasis forever. 
this is the surest sign that a story has had the life sucked out of it,
packed in little vacuum sealed jars, labeled, priced, and shelved (or
sold, as the case may be).

without commenting too explicitly ('cause i think the story is more
meaningful by itself), the story of infinity is the story, more than any
of the others, of the player.  and the player's 'growth' into something
new.

dig,

chris

-- 
-------------------
Chris Geisel
L'homme Wiggly
Double Aught, Inc.
www.doubleaught.com
-------------------

And what exactly does the player grow into?

Here's a very perceptive post on alt.games.marathon by Dan Rudolph:

Subject:      Re: Infinity's plot explained by Hamish (???)
From:         Face <rudolph.family@mcleod.net>
Date:         1997/01/28
Message-Id:   <32EE74B8.6F40@mcleod.net>
References:   <Hamish.Sinclair-2101970800550001@smd022.smd.tcd.ie>
<19970121190301.OAA22844@ladder01.news.aol.com>
<Hamish.Sinclair-2201970806210001@smd022.smd.tcd.ie>
<petrichE4En0B.Ax2@netcom.com>
<postmaster-2201971801310001@miyu.herringn.com>
<Hamish.Sinclair-2301971432100001@smd022.smd.tcd.ie>
<gabe-2701970542500001@dialin2-76.wustl.edu>
<look-2701971824190001@cyber137.cyberspc.mb.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-Ascii
Organization: McLeod USA
Mime-Version: 1.0
Reply-To:     rudolph.family@mcleod.net
Newsgroups:   alt.games.marathon
X-Mailer:     Mozilla 3.0 (Macintosh; I; 68K)


A.S. wrote:
> 
[snip]


> also note, it says you were "grafted to machines your builders did 
> not understand". That doesn't sound like the known definition of a 
> battleroid, as their just grafted to a bunch of metal.
> 
> Perhaps you have a Jjaro implant? Or a pfhor implant? is there a
> difference at this point?
> 
Perhaps there was more to the battleroid project than ever made it into
the Marathon's computer banks.  Where did they get the technology that
was incorporated into the humans?  Perhaps they found some Jjaro stuff
and experimented with it, using it to make both cyborgs and AIs.  This
would explain why Durandal went rampant.
-- 
Face (Dan Rudolph) <rudolph.family@mcleod.net>
The Dark Avenger of Netiquette
President, Watcher Comics <ftp://ftp.eyrie.org/pub/racc/watcher/>

Much will be revealed soon. :-)

Here's a joke from Randy Reddig.

How many Jjaro does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

Two. One to create the technology, the other to wait 9 million years for a sentience race to install it

James Hastings-Trew <jhasting@eagle.wbm.ca> writes concerning the player's height in Marathon. See The Player's Height section of Facts and puzzling things about... for details.

This is a good one. It comes from Bungie's letter page, always worth a read:

I have