November 16, 2021 (Tuesday)

Previously on duality.net .

Double Aught arrive in Atlanta city for E3.

They are ready to show Duality to the public.

Little did they know that others had a different plan.

Find out what really happened on... duality.net

November 15, 2021 (Monday)

As expected... a lot questions arising from those two official screenshots below.

What is that in the upper left?
What level is this?
Are these taken from the beta, gamma, blamma?
Is one of those screenshots a fake?
Are both screenshots fake?

And it's only 1994.

November 13, 2021 (Saturday)

Q1. Compare and contrast. (10 marks)

   

What better way to start the weekend than with a head scratcher.

Note: both these pics are official Marathon screenshots (i.e. they were both released by Bungie in 1994).

November 11, 2021 (Thursday)

And now back to Duality.

Double Aught arrive in Atlanta for E3 and the first public showing of Duality.

The DA crew bring a new level of edginess to Atlanta nightlife.

"Resurgens" is the new Double Aught motto.

Find out what really happened... on... duality.net

November 9, 2021 (Tuesday)

Regarding the Escapist article mentioned yesterday a number of people have pointed out that Wired published a similar article entitled:

"It's Time to Revisit the Games That Gave Rise to Halo"

It focuses on the first game in the Marathon series and discusses how the story unfolds and interweaves as you play. Here's a snippet:

...the use of text—not voiceover—allows the story to grow in elaborate and sometimes strange directions, a sort of epistolary sci-fi novel unfolding parallel to and intersecting with Marathon's gameplay.

Here's another snippet:

...as the game weaves these stories together, the levels escalate from Doom-style death mazes to elaborate set pieces, major incursions from the Pfhor that you have to fend off while you work to repair the ship, send a warning to Earth, and keep the Pfhor from destroying the artificial intelligences you rely on for information, orders, and advice. The escalation is impressive and thrilling, foreshadowing things Bungie would try with Halo and even Destiny, and laying groundwork for the way major action video games would eventually come to design story lines and levels.

Good to see renewed interest in a 25+ year old game from mainstream media... even if they are waiting for Halo Infinity Infinite.

Halo Infinity Infinite is scheduled for release in a month's time (December 8, 2021).

Related links:

Jason Jones on Marathon
Original Level Notes for Marathon
Arrival
Intellectuals approve of epistolary sci-fi novels

November 8, 2021 (Monday)

Earlier this year I added the Escapist article on the Marathon series and its influence on Halo entitled "From '94 to Infinity: Before Halo".

I have now added Greg Kirkpatrick's response to this in a 'letter to the editor' in the Escapist (2005, Volume 1, Issue 8). You can read it here (see the 3rd page).

This issue also has an interesting article on the rising cost of game development budgets, publishers and why it sucked to be a developer in 2005.

Hey it sucked to be a developer in 1998 too. Go ask Greg Kirkpatrick.

"We thought the term "aught" would catch on but it didn't.
We had 8 employees at one point and an office in Brooklyn.
It was a great learning experience for me."
(Greg Kirkpatrick, 2013)

Related links:

Blasts from the Past - early Marathon, Bungie and Double Aught history
What happened to www.doubleaught.com ?
Greg Kirkpatrick on Marathon Infinity
ck on infinity
Will the Historians find the 'answer' ?

November 6, 2021 (Saturday)

And now back to Duality.

Courtney Evans joins the Double Aught team.

A recent Juilliard School graduate he brings music to Duality.

Listen to the original music as it was back in 1998 on... duality.net

November 4, 2021 (Thursday)

And without further ado...

"I've got a bad feeling about this."

It's a lot worse than you think.   It is...

Quake   vs   Marathon 2: Durandal for Windows 95

"Get me outta here. See ya starside."

Quake was released on June 22, 1996. Marathon 2: Durandal for Windows 95 was released on September 6, 1996 but was a port of the Mac version released in November 1995.

In their wisdom CNET Gamecenter decided to do a 1 on 1 grudge match shoot-out.

To be fair Marathon 2 didn't fare too badly winning two rounds and tied in another.

Find out which ones on... CNET Gamecenter's Quake vs Marathon 2.

Related links:

Marathon Infinity will blow Quake away?
Marathon 3D
Win 95 Marathon 2: The Undiscovered Secrets
The fate of the Marathon 2 for Windows 95 Source Code
Marathon release dates
Blasts from the Past - early Marathon, Bungie and Double Aught history

November 3, 2021 (Wednesday)

Thanks to all those who wrote in with the names for the creatures in the latest Duality screenshot.

Good to see that there are still people out there who know their Duality lore.

So on the lower left we have the Grrloper (later shortened to just Loper). On the upper right we have the Airpede.

And in the foreground we have... Baby Groot! Yes folks... we have a comedian in our midst. You know who you are. ;)

A number of people have also pointed out that these are not the 'first' Duality creatures to be seen. There is a drawing of a Hybrid on the Contact page.

November 2, 2021 (Tuesday)

And now back to Duality.

Double Aught release "Creatures in a Cubist Landscape".

And you can see it on... duality.net

October 31, 2021 (Sunday)

Happy Halloween.

To mark the day (as is the tradition) General-RADIX has created a new piece of Marathon art.
Check out the Enforcer and an unfortunate S'pht'Shr.

Related links:

Happy Halloween 2020
Happy Halloween 2019
Happy Halloween 2018
Happy Halloween 2017
S'pht clan names
The S'pht'Kr's final message - can you solve the riddle of the red sands?

October 30, 2021 (Saturday)

A number of people have asked about the two new screenshots on duality.net. Specifically...

"Where's the 2nd one?"

Yes, this caused some confusion back in the day.

Apart from the obvious one (aka sandpit) the 2nd one is easily missed.

Compare the previous screenshot page here.... with the new one... over here.

Can you see it now?

October 29, 2021 (Friday)

Previously on duality.net.

Jihan Kim creates a new look Duality page.
But makes a fatal mistake.
The Master is not pleased... "I HATE FRAMES!!!", he screams.
Jihan Kim toils under the whip to create a new... old look Duality page.
The Master is still not pleased... "GET THAT OFF THE PAGE!!!", he screams.
The offending item is removed.

Find out what... on duality.net

October 27, 2021 (Wednesday)

And now for something completely different...

YouTuber RUFUS of RUFUS!'s Video Game Graveyard has just released an excellent and highly amusing video on Marathon Infinity.
He writes:

Welcome to the final chapter of the Marathon saga, wherein RUFUS! travels through multiple realities, murdering both alien and human alike, in a futile attempt to figure out what the fuck is going on.

Apart from being highly amusing it is also informative and definitely worth a watch. Here's a snippet.

See the full video here

RUFUS!'s Video Game Graveyard is dedicated to...

...games developed by small teams for little money, something that gets lost in these days where a game costs $100,000,000 to make and has a production team the size of a fucking movie studio. Games that embody true passion and innovation rarely get the spotlight and the big bucks. So let's bring them back from the dead.

Also he swears a lot. But it's all done in the best possible taste!

Related links:

RUFUS on Marathon
RUFUS on Marathon 2
Infinity timelines page as featured in the video
Timelines... haven't we been here before?
"what the fuck is going on"  =   the 'ultimate question'

October 25, 2021 (Monday)

Late to the party...

Marathon | Reddit (aka r/Marathon) turned 13 yesterday.

Yes, r/Marathon is 13 years old having been created on Oct 24, 2008. Somewhat deceptive though as it was originally created as a Marathon running subreddit. The annexed Bungie version dates back to 2012.

Still a lot of water under the bridge since then and a lot of Marathon discussion.

Here are seven highlights that come to mind without even doing a search.

Baran's (aka zlatanbaranovic) interview with Greg Kirkpatrick.
It didn't turn out exactly as planned. Baran asked the r/Marathon community to post the questions they wanted him to ask Greg. Then Greg dropped in and began answering them directly himself. Funny how things work out. Here is Baran's actual interview after the event.

Baran's interview with Matt Soell.
To mark the 25th anniversary of Marathon, Matt Soell agreed to answer Baran's questions regarding his time at Bungie and his work on the Marathon series. To quote the late Kenny Everett... "It's all done in the best possible taste!"

Marathon Iceberg by orihaus.
While not the 'answer' to the 'ultimate question' it does depict the depths you have to go... to fully understand Marathon Infinity.

Marathon Tube Poster Recreation by hanz333
Don't have a Marathon poster? Then make one yourself. And then get it professionally framed. An original Marathon poster in its tube can cost $100s assuming you can find one. The Authenticity in Art Foundation have been notified.

Here is gorgeous pic of a well loved Marathon keychain.
One of the most coveted pieces of Marathon memorabilia out there.

Very good idea by Gopherofdoomies
Now you know how Tfear felt.

Am I wrong? by thunderchild120
For Homers everywhere!

Related links:

The Marathon Poster
The Marathon Keychain
What is the 'ultimate question' ?
Who are the Homers ?

October 24, 2021 (Sunday)

In the last update of duality.net or indeed doubleaught.com you may have noticed a reference to Marathon Infinity winning:

CNET Gamecenter's Best Macintosh Game for 1996

Why did it win? Who were the nominees? What was CNET Gamecenter?

Now you can find out on the Blasts from the Past section.

Related links:

duality.net - Duality development one web page at a time
doubleaught.com - award winning web design
Blasts from the Past - early Marathon, Bungie and Double Aught history
Tuncer Deniz shows Bungie's awards in 1996
Tuncer Deniz today

October 23, 2021 (Saturday)

Marathon Infinity - 25th Anniversary Edition.

Soli Deo Gloria Productions, LLC have released a 25th Anniversary Edition of Marathon Infinity for iOS (iPhone and iPad) to celebrate 25 years of Infinity.

The 25th Anniversary Edition brings new advanced lighting effects with bloom, static, and projectiles that illuminate dark walls and floors.

Now Immersionists can be better illuminated while they search for the 'answer' to the 'ultimate question'.

Also check out what Soli Deo Gloria has to say about... "What does it mean to be a Vidmaster?"

Rage hard... and Vid It With Style.

Related links:

Marathon for iOS
Marathon 2: Durandal for iOS
Marathon release dates
Vidmaster
Vid It With Style ?
Who are the Immersionists ?
What is the 'ultimate question' ?

October 22, 2021 (Friday)

Seven days to go...

The Secret History of Mac Gaming: Expanded Edition by Richard Moss is due to be released on October 29, 2021.

The original edition weighed in at 416 pages and covered "the creative little community of game developers and players who made the Macintosh a special, forward-thinking place for games in the 1980s and '90s - even as the rest of the world forgot it."

This newly-expanded edition "adds around 70 pages of extra content"... including the 'answer' to the 'ultimate question'.

Here's a double spread page preview of the chapter called Durandal (click the image to see a larger version).

But that's not all...

In a recent Facebook post on Bungie's Marathon fans Richard Moss writes:

"I'm planning a second volume of my book The Secret History of Mac Gaming, of which one major component will be a community-focused/people's history of the Mac gaming scene (ie how people played, modded, and talked about Mac games in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s)."

Probably going to need 700+ pages for that book.

Related links:

Blasts from the Past - early Marathon, Bungie and Double Aught history
Page 2401 - Marathon community in the 90s and early 2000s
What was Page 2401 ?
What is the 'ultimate question' ?

October 21, 2021 (Thursday)

And now back to Duality...

Double Aught have been hard at work and are now heading to E3 to show a Duality Preview.
Duality is scheduled for a Christmas release.
duality.net gets a new web designer and a fresh new look.
What could go wrong?

Find out on duality.net

Related links:

doubleaught.com - award winning web design
Blasts from the Past - early Marathon, Bungie and Double Aught history
Marathon 2 Preview - on The Disc
Marathon 2 Preview - walkthrough (secrets and stuff... hush hush)

October 20, 2021 (Wednesday)

"The trippy, rave-y 90s project"... and the "ultra-rave energy of Infinity".

Thanks to Chlazza in a Story forum post for pointing out a recent article on Power of Seven the folks that did the theme music for Marathon 2: Durandal and Marathon Infinity. You can see it here.

One comment on the article reads:

I also frequented the http://marathon.bungie.org/... (crazy how that lives on!) archive, with dumps
of all the terminal text, while playing the Marathon 2 theme on loop. Those were the days!

And Peter Kirn THANK YOU THANK YOU for this post! I wonder what led you to make it? 25th
anniversary of Marathon Infinity? ;D

"crazy how that lives on!"... indeed.

Related links:

Power of Seven and Psykosonik
25th anniversary of Marathon Infinity
Marathon release dates
Marathon Music... and 'background voices' in the Marathon 2 theme
Marathon Music... and 'background voices' in the Marathon Infinity theme

and remember this?

That 90's walk !!!

October 18, 2021 (Monday)

Always sad to hear of the passing of a well known Marathon fan.

Sometimes we forget how much time has passed since 1994.

According to Curt Lewis on the Facebook page Bungie's Marathon fans Michael Garrison (aka CYBERNATOR) passed away a few months ago.

Curt has a nice write up of the days they played Marathon on Apple's campus wide network. Curt writes:

"Watching him play was funny. He was expressionless. You'd think he was working on a spreadsheet. He knew exactly where to go on the map to make the most use of the radar. "

Michael Garrison was a persistent winner when Bungie held their Marathon tournaments at MacWorld.

However a good deal of controversy dogged those tournaments. One day someone will write it all down for posterity.

For now... check out:

The Marathon Macworld Mayhem Tournament
The Marathon Macworld Mayhem 2 Tournament

RIP.

October 17, 2021 (Sunday)

And now on doubleaught.com...

Is this the end of doubleaught.com?

Find out on temporal-assassins  .

October 16, 2021 (Saturday)

Lots of folks writing in about having to spend yet another 25 years searching for the 'answer'.

"Nuts to this, I want the answer NOW."

Over the years numerous groups have evolved around the mythos that is Marathon Infinity.
Here is quick breakdown of those that are currently known.

Intellectuals

Intellectuals are a highly literate group who believe that like other great literary works of the 20th century the 'answer' is whatever you want it to be. If an 'answer' should ever be forthcoming it is unlikely that Intellectuals would ever agree with it. The genesis of Marathon intellectualism is believed to be this late 1997 usenet post.

Saviors

Saviors believe that someone (the Savior) will appear with the 'answer'. Savior faith is based on the simple belief that someone MUST have the 'answer'. A sub-group of Saviors believe that in 2021 2046 a time vault will open and Greg Kirkpatrick will appear (Hari Seldon-like) to reveal the 'answer' or at least provide guidance for the next quarter century. However it has been repeatedly pointed out that Greg Kirkpatrick is still alive. Intellectuals disparagingly refer to Saviors as the Nar.

Historians

Historians believe that the 'answer' lies in the past. Somewhere buried in ancient long forgotten usenet posts and other archaic communication protocols lies the 'answer'. The adage goes that "Marathoners have had all of the necessary data for years, they only lacked the will and intellect to decipher it". A sub-group of Historians believe that Greg Kirkpatrick actually posted the 'answer' to the 'ultimate question'. However this mythical post has yet to be found. Intellectuals disparagingly refer to Historians as the Psychos.

Deconstructionists

Deconstructionists believe that the 'answer' can only be found by analysing and deconstructing every word of Infinity's story in search of meaning. However such efforts require a planetary sized network of computers. To date it has not been feasible to sacrifice such a network for this task. Deconstructionists wait for the birth of AI to begin their search for the Holy Grail.

Immersionists

Immersionists believe that the 'answer' can only be found by reading the terminals in-game and not on a page. Immersionists seek to identify with, understand, and experience the character's inner motivation and emotions. Only through complete immersion can the story be truly understood. A sub-group of Immersionists believe that there is an undiscovered path backwards in the game that if taken with a certain item will reveal a hidden secret with the 'answer'.

Hypertextualists

Hypertextualists (aka the Hypers) believe that Infinity's story cannot be read in a normal linear fashion to obtain the 'answer' and as such have created elaborate three-dimensional maps of the story in hypertext. However, since there can be only one true map this has lead to deep divisions within the group. A sub-group of Hypertextualists believe that Infinity's story map can only be created in five-dimensional space.

Critics

Critics believe that the Infinity story is a "load of tosh" and as such has NO 'answer', "never had and never will". Infinity is simply the "incoherent ramblings" of game makers who "mistake themselves for writers". A sub-group of Critics blame the Marathon's Story page for encouraging Double Aught to write "incomprehensible drivel simply to placate its rabid fans".

Homers

Homers are not strictly a group per se. Homers have played Marathon Infinity and then spent 7 seconds thinking (the maximum length of a Homerian thought) about what it means and moved on. Homers have been immortalised in this classic mural. If you are a Homer... remember to scroll to the right... no your OTHER right.

Which group are you in?

October 15, 2021 (Friday)

Happy 25th Birthday... Marathon Infinity.

Marathon Infinity was released on October 15, 1996. Twenty-five years ago today.

For 25 years Marathon fans have attempted to answer the 'ultimate question'.

Greg K:

Hello Hamish.

Hamish:

Who are you?

Greg K:

I am the Architect. I created Marathon Infinity. I've been waiting for you. You have many questions, and though the process has altered your consciousness, you remain irrevocably human. Ergo, some of my answers you will understand, and some of them you will not. Concordantly, while your first question may be the most pertinent, you may or may not realize it is also the most irrelevant.

Hamish:

What happens in Marathon Infinity?

Over the next 25 years Marathon fans will continue to search for the 'answer'.

Will you be here in... 2046 ?

October 14, 2021 (Thursday)

And now on doubleaught.com...

"Kill your enemies. Kill your friends' enemies. Kill your...

Double Aught finally add "friends" to their web page.

Find out who they were on... Them

October 12, 2021 (Tuesday)

Previously on doubleaught.com

The end of *GOOD TIMES*.
Is anyone working on Duality?
Do Double Aught have any friends?
Last polygon filled... at Hastur's Workshop.

And now on doubleaught.com... somebody set up us the bomb.

October 11, 2021 (Monday)

"My Own Private Thermopylae".

Thanks to Chris D in a Story forum post for pointing out that the Marathon level name "My Own Private Thermopylae" was used by a British TV presenter (Chris Packham) to describe his stance against those who would seek to silence his views on conservation and hunting.

"My own private Thermopylae. On Friday morning I was the victim of an arson attack on my home."

As Chris D rightly points out the exact quote "My own private Thermopylae" would appear to be the preserve of Marathon. One man's (or cyborg's) struggle against the many.

One wonders if Chris Packham is/was a Marathon fan.

For more information about this level name see the What's in a Name? and the Level Credits sections.

To quote Greg Kirpatrick (the creator of this level):

Don't we all wish at some point in our lives that we lived right before the
Golden Age of Athens? This level is as close as you'll ever come. It'll bring you
right to that ancient place where the battle was lopsided, where valor and courage
stood for more than the color of a man's blood.

And don't forget to check out the Vid Tips section of My Own Private Thermopylae for more tidbits from Greg Kirkpatrick.

This level was where the tide turned, where all ships floated with the rising tide (except Tfear's - his sank).

October 10, 2021 (Sunday)

Added the 9th iteration of Double Aught's Duality webpage.

How many more to go?

Hey... we are only getting started.

October 8, 2021 (Friday)

And then there were... screenshots.

The 8th iteration of Double Aught's Duality webpage finally added screenshots.

While these were considered to be the 'first' Duality screenshots ever released... they were not.

You have to look carefully to find the first.

October 6, 2021 (Wednesday)

This is the end of *GOOD TIMES*

Check out what happened to *GOOD TIMES* at Double Aught.

October 4, 2021 (Monday)

Added the 7th iteration of Double Aught's Duality webpage.

Check out the earlier Duality web page designs here.

October 2, 2021 (Saturday)

I tried to add *GOOD TIMES* to Double Aught's website archive page.

But it fought me long and hard. In the end I had to give up.

"Help me, Colin Kawakami. You're my only hope."

Check our Double Aught's earlier web page designs here.

September 30, 2021 (Thursday)

Added the 6th iteration of Double Aught's Duality webpage.

Check out the earlier Duality web page designs here.

September 29, 2021 (Wednesday)

A Marathon-like symbol in Foundation... or something more?

Old-school Marathoner Gabe Rosenkoetter in a Story forum post points out that there is a familiar looking image in Apple TV's new Foundation series. It appears 41 minutes into the second episode. You can see it below.

September 28, 2021 (Tuesday)

The Romans called it damnatio memoriae.

The Jjaro called it trih xeem.

Double Aught called it... reconstruction.

Phhht! Just like that.

September 26, 2021 (Sunday)

We have movement.

Added the 5th iteration of Double Aught's Duality webpage.

September 23, 2021 (Thursday)

Added the 4th iteration of Double Aught's Duality webpage.

Check out the earlier Duality web page designs here.

Also check out the Double Aught section on Blasts from the Past for all your Double Aught goodness.

September 21, 2021 (Tuesday)

Added... the page that never was to Double Aught's website archive page.

Check our Double Aught's earlier web page designs here.

Also check out the Double Aught section on Blasts from the Past for all your Double Aught goodness.

September 19, 2021 (Sunday)

26 years ago... today... let's go...

September 17, 2021 (Friday)

Added the 3rd iteration of Double Aught's Duality webpage.

Check out duality.net for older pages.

September 11, 2021 (Saturday)

So what is a poly?

Find out at duality.net

September 10, 2021 (Friday)

Thanks to Tycho in a Story forun post for getting Double Aught's oo5 web page design working as it did back in February 1997.

Check our Double Aught's earlier web page designs here.

Also check out the Double Aught section on Blasts from the Past for all your Double Aught goodness.

September 9, 2021 (Thursday)

Added the 5th iteration of Double Aught's web page... designated... connekt.

September 1, 2021 (Wednesday)

A new month... a new section.

Over the years I have got a lot of questions about Duality.

Do you have the Duality beta?
What was Duality's story?
Where is the Duality soundtrack?
What really happened at E3?
What was the Duality Anti-Glossary?
Who/what were the "infestation"?
What alien race lived in the ring before the humans?
What was Kwalt?
What was Operation Kwisachz?
etc... etc.

But the most frequently asked question by far has been:

Do you have the duality.net web pages?

So I have added a duality.net section to Blasts from the Past.

Mark Levin <haveblue@mac.com> writes about old Bungie code:

Bungie just posted this article about their internal coding practices, and while the whole thing is an interesting read, there's one bit at the beginning with a slightly surprising name in it:

"The "static" keyword performs a bunch of different jobs in C++, including declaring incredibly dangerous static function-local variables.

You should use the more specific wrapper keywords in cseries_declarations.h, such as static_global, static_local, etc.
This allows us to audit dangerous static function-locals efficiently."

Is Destiny 2 still using a descendant of Jason Jones' cseries library, which at this point would be at least 30 years old? It’s almost certainly not using any of the actual original code, which would have been written in plain C against the early 90s Mac Toolbox, but it's fun to think about the lineage.

August 28, 2021 (Saturday)

Remember THIS?

What was the Bungie Webmaster Poetry Slam and Hootenanny?

Why was this a watershed moment in Bungie history?

Who was the Bungie Webmaster?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?    YES   /   NO

August 15, 2021 (Sunday)

Happy August 15

August 15 holds a special place in the Marathon calendar.

But why?

And who were Hastur and Grendal?

And whatever happened to Randy Reddig?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?    YES   /   NO

July 24, 2021 (Saturday)

Added the 4th iteration of Double Aught's web page. Check out oo4

July 22, 2021 (Thursday)

Read what the Internet Professional Publishers Association (IPPA) had to say about Double Aught's web site.

July 10, 2021 (Saturday)

Thanks to Mark Levin in a Story forum post for pointing out that Pathways Into Darkness v2.0 for Mac OS X has been released on the Mac App Store.
This updated version takes full advantage of the new M1 processor.

July 7, 2021 (Wednesday)

Happy Bungie Day.

As is the tradition General-RADIX creates a new piece of art to mark the day.
And check out his artwork for 2020,   2019 and perhaps even 2018.

Thanks to Jeoku for sending in this Blast from the Past from the year 2000. Those guys were young back then. Where are they now?