|
Marathon's Story Page
|
|
Marathon's Story Page
|
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #678. Who... am I? Who am I, really? Paz (@TheRealQuenny) gives us... You Are Destiny.  You Are Destiny by Paz (@TheRealQuenny) on x.com. March 29, 2025. Paz writes: first proper draw7ng i have done in months and i managed to do it in only 6 hours! I am very proud with how it turned out!The background in the image is of course is Aye Mak Sicur. The chains hanging down remind me of that scene in Alien where Brett is killed in the Claw Room. Ridley Scott was apparently looking for a strange visual touch to enhance the atmosphere. Aye Mak Sicur has the same vibe with its strange howling sound that makes the Jjaro station appear alive. The odd thing about the Paz's image is the use of the Bungie's Seventh Column logo.  The Seventh Column dates back to the turn of the century. Bungie's Max Hoberman (aka Yeroen) wrote: "...the whole point of the Seventh Column is to promote LAN play of Bungie's games."The Seventh Column logo has become synonymous with Halo.  Bungie Day by Zumoggu | Comms Open (@Zumogguri) on twitter.com. July 7, 2023. The graffiti version of the Seventh Column logo has a MIDA vibe to it.  But I digress. Who... am I? Who am I, really?  I am hero by ThousandMasks on twitter.com. September 11, 2022. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #677. Happy TBWSAF Day! Yes folks, on this day 29 years ago Bungie announced that Marathon 2: Durandal would be ported to Windows 95. Bungie's new web site (the third iteration) also carried the announcement. Ling-Ling's Head proudly announced:   NEW!! Find out about the upcoming Marathon 2 for Windows 95!
In truth the  This lead to some acronymous usenet posts at the time such as: "SAY IT AIN'T SO, BUNGIE!"Matt Soell (Bungie Software) provided the following explanation in an alt.games.marathon post on March 20, 1996: "We had planned to make the announcement of the M2 Windows 95 port at the end of the month, to coincide with the Computer Game Developer's Conference. I had planned to deliver my promised announcement to the Mac game newsgroups around the same time.Whatever outrage fans had at this stage it was nothing in comparison to what was to come following the official announcement on March 30, 1996. The 3rd round of letters to the Bungie WebMaster in May 1996 contained the following letter from a rather disgruntled fan.  Letters to the Bungie WebMaster banner. "You [EXPLETIVE DELETED] [EXPLETIVE DELETED]s have gone and done it now. You said you wouldn't create Marathon for PC. [EXPLETIVE DELETED] liars! What have I to hold above the PC gamer's heads now, huh you [EXPLETIVE DELETED]s?!?! Bungie immortalised the whole Windows 95 affair in the acronym on the bottom of the Marathon Infinity box.  Marathon Infinity box acronym. 1996 It did not feature on the Marathon 2: Durandal Windows 95 box as some people mistakenly think. That box still used the MBIBTYB acronym (aka My Bob Is Bigger Than Your Bob).  Marathon 2: Durandal Windows 95 box acronym. 1996 Bungie were still dishing it out to Microsoft Bob even though at this stage Microsoft Bob was on the proverbial ropes and about to throw in the towel.  Bungie's Marathon Bob versus Microsoft Bob T-Shirt. Bungie had won... or so they thought. But what did the TBWSAF acronym stand for? It was former Bungie employee Alex Rosenberg who revealed what the TBWSAF acronym stood for back on May 8, 1998. Fast forward to March 24, 2000. Chicago Reader, Chicago's largest free weekly newspaper, featured an article on Bungie by Bill Mahin entitled... Monsters in a Box.  Image courtesy of Doug Zartman. In the article the TBWSAF acronym was spelled out in uncensored form. However it is not 100% accurate. Either Bill Mahin picked it up wrong or the person who told him forget what it was. Afterall it was four years later. The TBWSAF acronym would go on to be used on all of Bungie's Mac only products other than the Mac Action Sack. That was a sack not a box so it didn't get a box acronym DOH!  Bungie's Mac Action Sack. 1999 The release of the Mac Action Sack at MacWorld Expo (New York, July 21-23, 1999) did ellict the usual Bungie sack jokes. "Action Sack For Those That Lack" proclaimed the press release. The Bungie Booth was awash with Sack and Your Mom jokes. I leave the last word to Bill Mahin's Monsters in a Box article. In the fall of 1996 Jason Regier joined the development team for the new game. He'd been writing software for Qualcomm, a cellular-phone company in San Diego, and designing computer games in his spare time, one of which, Amoebarena, had been picked up by a distributor. Qualcomm, he says, "was very corporate. I felt like a cog in a big wheel. It was a lot like the world of Dilbert." In contrast, Bungie "was like a frat house. You felt part of something big--that the success of the company depended on how much work you put into the project."Happy TBWSAF Day! |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #676. And now for something completely different. Marathon Kitteh.  Marathon Kitteh by oowhiplashoo (aka discosmackdown) formerly on DeviantArt. Date unknown. This rare female representation of the Marathon's Security Officer is by oowhiplashoo (aka discosmackdown, aka Heather, aka Kitten, aka Disco). I know... I know... it's complicated. It has been languishing in the Story page archives for some time. Unfortunately I have little information about it and sadly it is now gone from DeviantArt. On November 14, 2024 Heather wrote on DeviantArt: i'm probably posting this to radio silence but i'm mostly posting this for context for anyone coming across my page it's been 4 years since i've tried to pick up my activity here, and every time i come back to this site i just get really mad and frustrated, so unfortunately i have finally decided that, despite being on this site for so many years, i've wiped my gallery clean. i'm utterly sick to my stomach of how AI has been shoved into nearly every corner of the internet and i no longer want to participate in those areas that allow it to run rampant.AI running rampant? Who'd have thunk it? Interestingly we featured Heather's artwork back on January 13, 2025. A Ratchet & Clank / Marathon crossover.  Bigger Guns Nearby by discosmackdown on DeviantArt. July 2, 2009. The Ratchet & Clank series of sci-fi action games span two decades (2002-2021) and were largely exclusive to PlayStation consoles. The Ratchet & Clank innuendo-like game titles, such as Going Commando, Up Your Arsenal and Size Matters, would not be out of place in the Bungie office humor of the 90s and beyond. Of course, Sony lawyers don't want people to talk about this for obvious reasons. Oops. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #675. It's sketchy Friday! We've got sketches. First up... I know who you are.  I don't have a name or title for it by LAINHELL on the Alright Runners™ Discord. March 19, 2025. What the... LAINHELL (the artist of this piece) writes: I don't have a name or title for it.Title or not this is going on my Freak List for 2025. Now don't get me wrong, being on the Freak List is not a BAD thing, it's a GOOD thing. It made me look not once, not twice, but thrice! It made me go... WTF and stare! Is this representing betrayal or the betrayed? In Requiem For a Cyborg failure to comply resulted in maximum enforcement (?dismemberment) The lost of the hands reminds me of this sketch by author Christopher Paolini.  A sketch from one of my old journals by Christopher Paolini on r/marathon. January 12, 2018. Christopher wrote: A sketch from one of my old journals . . .It is of course the hand from the final screen of Marathon Infinity. Christopher Paolini is most famous for The Inheritance Cycle, a trilogy starting with Eragon (2002) which would later be made into a 20th Century Fox film of the same name. More recently he has moved into science fiction with the Fractalverse series.  Fractalverse by Christopher Paolini at Fractalverse.net. His most recent book in the series is Fractal Noise. The blurb reads: A stellar survey team in the mid-2030s discovers an anomaly on a seemingly uninhabited planet. A pit 50 kilometer wide and most certainly not of natural origin.  Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini. Published May 16, 2023. Humanity is not alone. Somewhere in the heavens... they are waiting. When asked if Marathon was an inspiration for him as a kid? Christopher replied: Still is! Some of the best deep lore of any sci-fi story I think. Happy sketchy Friday. Stay sketchy. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #674. Happy Autopsy Day! On this day 29 years ago David Loew, a Californian resident, was autopsied and found to have died from... Dehydration, acute malnutrition, immobility from constant and incessant play of Marathon Infinity.He was the 19th case in the month of March 1996.  Autopsy ad for Marathon Infinity by Bungie 1996 The date on this seven page autopsy report (March 27, 1996) predates the release of Marathon Infinity by seven months (in our timeline). Welcome to quantum realities. Welcome to Marathon Infinity. Welcome to Bungie's Marathon ads in the 1990s. Try doing ads like these today. Bungie's Autopsy ad for Marathon Infinity featured in a number of gaming magazines prior to the release of the game. But the most notable was on the back cover of the premiere issue of MacAddict in September 1996.
For some, the Autopsy ad foreshadows events in Marathon Infinity. A cryptic clue to what is/will happening/happen in Marathon Infinity.  Interdimensional Time Travel by munky on x.com. September 2, 2022. Marathon Infinity. Play it in your next life, too. Just make sure you drink plenty of water. Happy Autopsy Day! |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #673. More M.A.D.D. Following up on Monday's totally M.A.D.D. we give you... more M.A.D.D. Robb Shoberg, a professional 3D artist from Los Angeles in the United States, has worked on numerous games such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Titanfall, Titanfall 2, Starcraft and World of Warcraft. He took time out to give us M.A.D.D. on his Artstation page.  M.A.D.D. by Robb Shoberg on Artstation. 2019. Robb writes: marathon tank doodle quickie. the design is from the OG legend, Androidarts. just always liked the shape. made some parts in MOI and Fusion 360.Android Arts is Arne Niklas Jansson. You can see his M.A.D.D design in the insert on Robb's work in progress image below.  M.A.D.D. by Robb Shoberg on Artstation. 2019. Here's another work in progress image this time from Robb Shoberg's Instagram page.  M.A.D.D. by Robb Shoberg on Instagram. 2019. The M.A.D.D design by Arne Niklas Jansson (Android Arts) was part of a Marathon poster commisioned by Bungie for their 20th anniversary celebration in 2011. It was a limited edition run of 100 pieces (size 16 inches x 22 inches).  Marathon poster owned and framed by tychovii on r/marathon. March 20, 2013 Arne gives a detailed description on how he worked with former Bungie art director Lorraine McLees to create this poster on his Android Arts page. There is a lot of visual humor in the poster if you study it carefully. The poster was going to have text descriptions but this was dropped in favor of a cleaner look.  Marathon poster (text mockup) by Arne Niklas Jansson on AndroidArts. 2011 Arne's Marathon Mjolnir Battleroid Cyborg armour concepts is one of those iconic pieces from the past.  Marathon Mjolnir Battleroid Cyborg armour concepts by Arne Niklas Jansson on AndroidArts. Arne writes: Marathon Mjolnir Battleroid Cyborg armour concepts. There were likely ~9 onboard aside from #54/player. I figured that maybe they vary in appearance like the art does. Suits are vacuum sealed in lore&play and the only image with a sealed helmet that I know of is the muddy pink suit.As Leela says at the end of Marathon. I am disturbed by how easily the cyborgs were secretly assimilated into our midst, and believe that this event predates the Marathon's launch from Mars three hundred years ago. Although the results were unquestionably for the best, their presence on the Marathon could only have been to further wicked ends. I'm certain the real answer lies somewhere in the tumultuous, back-stabbing politics of Sol during the early twenty-fourth century.Would never happen in the twenty-ninth century right? I mean there are laws governing the appropriate use and storage of Battleroids right? And there are no Battleroids on the UESC Equanimity right? I mean no one could smuggle Battleroids onto a UESC ship right? Right? RIGHT? |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #672. Remember the compact disc? Remember compact disc jewel case art? Well Atlyx on the Marathon Discord does (an old-timers place apparently). He remade the jewel case art for all three Marathon games.
 He even recreated the faded black color you find on them. No expense spared back in the day. Atlyx also scanned (1200 dpi) the original Marathon sticker that came in the Marathon box. Not an easy thing to do because it is silver color.  Marathon sticker scanned by Atlyx on the Marathon Discord. June 1, 2023. While this sticker came in the Marathon box it was actually available for free from Bungie's booth at the Macworld Expo in Boston August 3-5, 1994. Unknown to fans at the time was that the bar code was readable if you knew how to. But it would take nearly three years before someone did. The bar code (Code 39 format) reads DOOMSUCKS. Below is a comparison of the DOOMSUCKS in Code 39 format and the Marathon sticker bar code.  So August 3, 1994 marks the date of the earliest known Bungie code that had to be solved by fans. There were also codes hidden in the Marathon game terminals. But perhaps the most devious code in Marathon required fans to write the code to create a map editor that would read the Marathon map format. By doing so they discovered this iconic map writing.  The upshot of all this is that Bungie have had over 30 years of experience at doing this. What have you been doing for the last 30 years? |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #671. Totally M.A.D.D. Sam Donez, a professional artist focusing on 3D environment design, gives us Marathon's Automated Defence Drone (M.A.D.D.).
Sam who hails from Seattle in the United States wrote: I decided to reimagine the Marathon Automated Defense Drone from Bungie's 1994 game "Marathon".Here is an interesting size comparison interpretation.  M.A.D.D. (size comparison) by Sam Donez on Artstation. April 10, 2020. For completeness Sam did a 3D model for the hostile M.A.D.D. (aka Berserker).  M.A.D.D. (hostile) by Sam Donez on Artstation. April 10, 2020. Beware of Low-Flying Defense Drones... is the only level where you will see these hostile drones in action. Durandal warns us about them at the start in his own inimitable style: Yeah right!By the way, I had an accident with some defense drones while you were away. You might bump into a few of them here. Don't worry, they're mostly harmless; I don't think I gave them any ammunition for those grenade launchers. Apart from being green and firing grenades the hostile drones tend to hover lower than the friendly blue ones. Hence the level name. While the level was created by Alexander Seropian he would later reveal: Jason Jones made some slight modifications to it and renamed it.If you want to see both types of drones in action here is a Vidmaster film by Jason Jones from January 26, 1995. Jason wrote: School is now in session. :) Marathon Vidmaster Challenge. Jason Jones completes Beware of Low-Flying Defense Drones.... January 26, 1995. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #670. What's old is new again. Nice to see Marathon artwork that is over 20 years old. Jasmine Woo (aka KnifeNglue) on DeviantArt did a series of Marathon poster-like images in 2003 which amazingly are still around. Jasmine wrote: Doodling in PS7 and stuck with old fps nostalgia... Character from Bungie Studio's Marathon Infinity... old school mac fps.We're featuring them below. First up Fusion Akimbo.  Fusion Pistol by KnifeNglu on DeviantArt. December 9, 2003. Of couse you can only wield one Fusion Pistol in the game but that hasn't stopped people drawing the player wielding two. One of the earliest depictions of Fusion Akimbo is the Salvo chapter screen in Tempus Irae. 
Tempus Irae. Salvo chapter screen. Chris Borowiec (Borzz) and James Hastings-Trew. October 1997.
Tempus Irae has recently been remastered as Tempus Irae Redux and you can play it on Steam. Next up the Flamer (Napalm Glory).  Naplam Glory by KnifeNglu on DeviantArt. December 9, 2003. Jasmine wrote: Never was really good with the flamer, but the bodies and the death scream is cooler when fraggin with this thing.Least we forget the Marathon 2 and Marathon Infinity manuals had this to say about the use of TOZT-7 Backpack Napalm Unit. I don't believe it is necessary for me to state the personality disorders evident in an individual who enjoys, or more accurately revels, in spraying their enemies with flaming napalm aerosol.Last up, everyone's favorite the SPNKR rocket launcher.  SPNKR by KnifeNglu on DeviantArt. December 9, 2003. Jasmine wrote: SPNKR Rocket laucher. Can't have an fps without one.Indeed. It ain't over until the Lazyboy sings. It is intersting to note that the original SPNKR rocket launcher had the offical nickname 'Lazyboy'. However it never caught on with fans and SPNKR became the defacto name with all its inevitable connotations. Bungie humor in the 90s folks. Indeed SPNKR was the punchline to a Christopher Barrett joke on the Marathon Discord shortly after the Marathon announcement. It went like this.  Christopher Barrett (aka Oryx) on the Marathon Discord. Time is in GMT.  Christopher Barrett (aka Oryx) on the Marathon Discord. Time is in GMT. But I digress as always. Thanks to Jasmine Woo for these little hits of nostalgia. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #669. Someone said Marathon and everyone thought...  Marathon by commandertilio on tumblr. July 12, 2016. This artwork is by commandertilio (@commandertilio) on tumblr and dates back to 2016. When commandertilio created this he hadn't really played much Marathon. He wrote: I once played the demo when I tinkered with Macintosh Classic emulators.Fast forward six years and he's like...  *reads Marathon lore once* by commandertilio on tumblr. August 28, 2022 commandertilio wrote: *reads Marathon lore once*Yes, Marathon does that to you. We've featured this image quite a few times on the Story page. It's a homage to the TV series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and the episode "Sweet Dee Has a Heart Attack" (air date October 30, 2008) In the episode Charlie Kelly uncovers a major office conspiracy. Pepe Silvia does not exist. Shades of Robert Blake in Marathon perhaps?  Charlie's crazy red string conspiracy board has gone on to create many memes over the years. For example, the Board by Emily Aster.  The Board by Emily Aster ⚬ Mars Witch on x.com. March 10, 2023 The most recent is...  Alright Runners Conspiracy Board by gooie on the Alright Runners™ Discord. March 14, 2025 It's a tongue-in-cheek representation of the efforts taken to decode the Marathon emblem, a collectible entitled Destination: Tau Ceti, recently found in the Destiny 2.  Marathon emblem (secondarySpecial) in Destiny 2. March 11, 2025 Here's a better view of the emblem code that people are trying to decode.  Recreated emblem symbols by vslvsk on the Alright Runners™ Discord. March 14, 2025. This of course presumes that this part is the actual code. The upshot of all this is that Marathoners Anonymous is going to need more chairs... unless you want to sit beside Hamish.  Marathoners Anonymous group therapy tru7h circle. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #668. Happy Marathon Trilogy Box Set Day! Yes folks, on this day 28 years ago Bungie announced the Marathon Trilogy Box Set.  All three Marathon games in one big black box. The Marathon Trilogy Box Set advertisment was typical 90s Bungie humor.  These guys didn't mess around when it came to overkill.  Picture courtesy of Wired magazine December 1998. From left to right: Doug Zartman, Jason Jones and Alexander Seropian. In 1998 Bungie were on the top of the world. In October 1998 they had been ranked 101 in the top 500 fastest growing private companies in the United States. The December 1998 issue of Wired magazine did an article on Bungie's ascent.  But all that was about to change. The cover of Wired magazine December 1998 featured Bill Gates and the 83 reasons why his reign was over.  Bill had not forgotten Bungie and their part in the demise of Microsoft Bob. Marathon Bob versus Microsoft Bob t-shirt. Bill's revenge would be sevenfold (Genesis 4:15). But I digress. Today is also sketchy Friday. We've got sketches. kamila_a (aka kam) on tumblr gives us this humorous sketch.  my leela shes VERY ill by kamila-a on tumblr. March 4, 2025. Context is everything. Entitled "my leela shes VERY ill" kam has just arrived on Colony Ship For Sale, Cheap. On the previous level we learn that Leela is under attack and her systems are failing. "She's VERY ill". Mjolnir Recon 54 is clearly upset. So what does Durandal do? Well he reads us a story from his Big Book of Metapfhors. Priceless. You can relive that moment by listening to it here courtesy of Dan Storm.  If it's any consolation kam draws Durandal as a door with a handle. Get it? Happy sketchy Friday. Stay sketchy. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #667. Back on February 10, 2025 we featured kamila_a (aka kam) on tumblr who was playing Marathon and drawing her iconic moments. Well kam is back with another iconic moment.  bounce on the lava by kamila-a on tumblr. March 9, 2025. Entitled 'bounce on the lava' even the image itself screams pain. A few days before this image kam was still on Colony Ship For Sale, Cheap. kam wrote: kind of a slowburn annoyance where you see the concept and go ahhh thats simple and then you have to actually Do It.I can only assume kam is now on Habe Quiddam where you are forced to spend time on lava. You should go to this locationWait to see where they left the device. Interesting to note that in the very first version of Marathon v1.0 the failure message on the exit terminal did not display. So if you failed to go out on the lava and retrieve the S'pht device no message was displayed (the terminal simply blinked on and off) and there were no clues as to what the player had failed to do.You didn't get the present that the S'pht so kindly left for you. You should go back and retrieve it. I could let you leave without it, but you'd be sorry later. This caused some people to wander around the level hopelessly trying to find another way off Fortunately this was fixed on February 20th 1995 when Bungie released the Marathon v1.1 updater. That wasn't the only thing it changed but that's a story for another day. In other news... Paz (@TheRealQuenny) finally finishes his If I had a rocket launcher... I'd make somebody pay image We featured a set of work in progress images back on February 5, 2025.  If I had a rocket launcher... I'd make somebody pay by Paz (@TheRealQuenny) on x.com. March 14, 2025. Hopefully kamila_a (aka kam) will find the rocket launcher at the end of the next level Neither High nor Low and make somebody pay on the Pfhor ship. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #666. 666 Days of Night. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is...  Apologies to redorth for this 30 Days of Night / Marathon gore mashup. March 19, 2025. Yes folks, it has been 666 days since the Marathon announcment on May 24, 2023. Marathon ViDoc released May 24, 2023. 666 Days of Night... and counting.  Are you obsessively waiting for Marathon? Need help? Well Marathoners Anonymous is here to help you. We have a seat here for you... beside Hamish. Marathoners Anonymous group therapy tru7h circle.  7777 by UmbratheCyborg on Marathon Discord. June 11, 2024. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #665. And now back to Marathon.  Mjolnir Recon 54 by floodwatersblog on tumblr. March 17, 2025. The above piece is by floodwatersblog (@floodwatersblog) on tumblr. floodwatersblog writes: nobody does it like them. A reference to Bungie no doubt and their ability to make great games. floodwatersblog's artwork uses the classic Marathon Marine image by Craig Mullins as inspiration.  Marathon Marine by Craig Mullins on the Marathon Art of Craig Mullins gallery. Craig wrote: A much earlier marathon marine. Notice the style of painting is a little stiffer, but more detailed overall. The monitor in the background is an AI that helps you through the game. This image was never commissioned.Craig did this piece along with four others in early 1995 as a Marathon fan. It got Bungie's attention... the rest the say is history. The iconic rolled up sleeves, tactical bandolier and that... minigun. Let's hope we get a minigun this time. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #664.
Happy St. Patrick's Day to all Story page readers... everywhere! Hmmmm.... actually if you're a Green Bob it's tough even on St. Patrick's Day!  Run Bob... Run... NOOOOO.... the OTHER WAY. On this day of days raise a tankard to the green at Bungie's Mos Eisley.  Bungie's Mos Eisley by biodude2 on DeviantArt.July 1, 2023. A wretched hive of scum and villainy that very few Bungie fans have been able to identify fully. But give it a go. Happy St. Patrick's Day Have a good one!  |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #663. To see a World in a Grain of SandAs the search for meaning in the Marathon emblem symbols continues... Recreated emblem symbols by vslvsk on the Alright Runners™ Discord. March 14, 2025. AlexB207 writes: maybe something is happeningHe went on to update his "nothing ever happens" meme from last month.
His faith restored that 'something is happening' Alex went on to give us...  NUCALORIC BRAND FORK by AlexB207 (@AlexB207Swag) on the x.com. March 14, 2025. This Tau Ceti artefact emits a green radioactive glow no doubt from the Pfhor's nuking of the colony in 2794. NuCaloric comes from last year's "now you see it now you don't" concept art.  Thief concept art.  marathonthegame.com. October 29, 2024. As one astute fan wrote at the time: I don't believe that such a "remarkable to the eye" thing could "accidentally" end up on all the banners (Steam, PS, etc.) except for the banner on the official websiteIt was Elster on the Marathon Discord that gave us the means to decode it.  Recreated NuCaloric barcode by Elster on the Marathon Discord. October 28, 2024. She wrote: There, updated version!But I digress. William Blake's poem "Auguries of Innocence" encourages individuals to see beyond the surface and find deeper meaning in the smallest details. It's the Marathon way. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #662. The Marathon's Story Page is like a box of chocolates.Thanks to ukimalefu in a Story forum post for this interesting item about the Martian moon Deimos from the European Space Agency.  Image courtesy of the European Space Agency. March 13, 2025. The European Space Agency writes: While performing yesterday's flyby of Mars, ESA's Hera mission for planetary defence made the first use of its payload for scientific purposes beyond Earth and the Moon. Activating a trio of instruments, Hera imaged the surface of the red planet as well as the face of Deimos, the smaller and more mysterious of Mars's two moons.The ESA added... Moving at 9 km/s relative to Mars, Hera was able to image Deimos from as close as 1000 km away, surveying the less-seen opposite side of the tidally locked moon from the red planet.  Image courtesy of the European Space Agency. March 13, 2025. Back on Earth... Elon Musk's SpaceX Mars colonization program (aka Occupy Mars ⬤) kicks into gear.  Elon Musk demonstrates the prototype Tozt Flame Unit for the Occupy Mars ⬤ mission. Deimos belongs to us!  One small step for man, one giant leap for... Elon Musk. I heard that Mars Is Damnably Arid at this time of year. Bungie Aerospace Corporation were unavailable for comment.  |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #661. It's sketchy Friday! We've got sketches. Guess who's back, back again?  Durandal Take the control by Neite (@Neite_off) on x.com. March 7, 2025. Neite (@Neite_off) gives us this nice sketch of Durandal (as a holographic projection) leading his team on another mission. If Durandal was a real person he would probably be called Shady. Now, this looks like a job for meBut I digress. Neite, a French Marathon fan, is no stranger to the Story page. We first featured his work back on January 22, 2024. He was documenting his experiences of new Marathon in a journal. As you do.  Marathon notes by Neite on Marathon Discord. January 21, 2024. And more sketches.  Marathon notes by Neite on Marathon Discord. January 21, 2024. He also did the same when he started to play the Marathon Trilogy.  Marathon notes by Neite on Marathon Discord. May 29, 2024. But on August 28, 2024 Neite wrote: I finished marathon durandal today it was just incredible. but now I'm afraid to start infinity because of this:  Marathon Infinity timelines posted by Neite on x.com. August 28, 2024. Wait to you see the next one! But I digress. Neite leaves us with two sketches. Fusion akimbo and Fusion gangsta-style.
Guess who's back, back again? Shady's back, tell a friend Happy sketchy Friday. Stay sketchy. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #660. The good folks over at Destiny Bulletin found a Marathon-themed emblem in the Destiny 2 API. Entitled DESTINATION: TAU CETI it is in the standard three sizes format.  Marathon-themed emblem by Destiny Bulletin. March 11, 2025. Almost immediately Marathon fans began to speculate on the meaning of this string.  It features identical iconography seen in the new Marathon logo (still loving referred to as the goliath logo by Bungie). This new logo was released back at the end of October last year. Just random doodles to reflect the Marathon aesthetic or something more? Well the numbers 28 50 in the Marathon logo were quickly spotted as the date 2850 which featured prominetly on the Marathon website since Day 1. This is what it originally looked like.  marathonthegame.com. May 24, 2023. As for the rest? Well folks are still working on it. Watch this space. It reminds me of this concept image from last October. Thief concept art. Note the bar code like image on the wall. On the marathonthegame.com website the same image has no bar code on the wall. marathonthegame.com. October 29, 2024. As one astute fan wrote: Does not get much more obvious arg than this. Those that have deciphered it have been sworn to secrecy. Least you think this is a load of baloney cast you mind back to December 1, 2019. Bungie released the 25th Anniversary Marathon t-shirt. Yeah, like they would remember. But they did.  25th Anniversary Marathon t-shirt. December 1, 2019. You had to buy the t-shirt to read the blurry text. And people did.  25th Anniversary Marathon t-shirt. The rest they say is history. To quote Bungie themselves. The solution is a marathon, not a sprint. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #659. Continuing our theme of celebrating Marathon art from around the world we give you... Kent a digital artist and 3D modeler from the Philippines on DeviantArt. 
Marathon by Kent (aka kents001) on DevaintArt. February 12, 2025.
This monochrome (black and white) piece has a nice comic book retro look to it. Black on white can be used to great effect to evoke a sense of atmosphere. Case in point is Nathan Anderson's 'Marathon is 23' poster-style image. 
Marathon is 23 by Nathan Anderson (aka Deimos-Remus) on DevaintArt. December 21, 2017.
Tim Kelly gave us a black on white version of the Marathon Cyborg with that Look! More Magnum than Blue Steel?  Marathon Cyborg by Tim Kelly on DeviantArt. October 27, 2008. Tim created it for the birthday of Phobos-Romulus (Neal Anderson), brother of Nathan Anderson. It's what we do in Marathon. Neal went ahead and added some color! More Blue Steel than Magnum?  Tim Kelly's Marathon Cyborg inked by Phobos-Romulus. November 12, 2008. Magnum or Blue Steel? It's up to you. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #658. We have movement. More animated textures for Marathon 2: Durandal and Marathon Infinity from President People over on the Marathon Discord.
Note that the breakable panel switch was not redesigned between Marathon 2 and Marathon Infinity. In the above animations it is shown in both active and inactive (smashed) states. For details on the texture changes between Marathon 2 and Marathon Infinity see the Textures section.
El Presidente writes: Water/Lava switches progress. The wires took a while. Not 100% satisfied with the center of the blue M2 lava switch. I like the speaker on the gray Infinity lava switch, but maybe it looks silly despite my efforts. I wonder what sound it makes.Below are two screenshots from Marathon Infinity showing what it originally looked like with Marathon 2 textures and then later with the redesigned Infinity textures (same location).
The redesigned textures were done by Randy Reddig (Double Aught Software). Tuncer Deniz (Production Manager, Bungie Software) wrote in 1996: Randy Reddig, one of Greg's co-workers, decided one night in July to redo the water texture collection. We all thought the original water collection in M2 sucked, so he worked on it. The end result was great, Randy did a great job.Even after all that trojan work the Marathon Infinity box still contained a screenshot with the Marathon 2 textures.  Marathon Infinity box. As did the Marathon Infinity CD envelope.  Marathon Infinity CD envelope. Can't keep a good screenshot down. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #657. Continuing our theme of celebrating Marathon art from around the world we give you... Moo Hong Jun a concept artist from Cheras in Malaysia on Artstation.  Buzzard Dmr by Moo Hong Jun on Artstation. December 2024. Moo Hong Jun writes: Haven't done any proper firearm design in awhile , got inspired by Renault Hot Hatch Ev concept I saw on pinterest and added some Marathon game element on my design.Here are the left and right profiles of the "Buzzard" Designated Marksman Rifle.
Moo Hong Jun also gave us a nice work in progress movie showing the steps in the designed of his gun. In Marathon you are going to need guns... lots of guns. Some things never change.  |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #656. Poolside Picnic (apologies to the Strugatsky brothers).  Excursion to Tau Ceti IV by Sir Double D (aka Dobledas) (@sirdoubled.bsky.social) on Bluesky. March 6, 2025. Back on February 17, 2025 we noted that Sir Double D (aka Dobledas) was taking a break from his iconic moments in Marathon series to give us a NuMarathon piece. Well it's done. Sir Double D writes: Excursion to Tau Ceti IVA break from PvP action? Never! Remember the Bungie credo. Kill your enemies, Kill you friends' enemies, Kill your friends.It was even enshrined on Bungie's Minotaur t-shirt.  Minotaur t-shirt slogan on the back. Minotaur: The Labyrinths of Crete was Bungie's second game, released in February 1992. It was the first game by Jason Jones and was multiplayer only. (circumstances are cyclical) But I digress. Here's a nice work in progress sequence of Sir Double D's Poolside Picnic (before the inevitable carnage).
Sir Double D writes: went and redid the colors cause everything looked like clown world. added some foliage, sunshafts, and water to the bottom too. don't know if I wanna just call it here or add some dudes.Well he went on to add some "dudes". But a word to the wise... don't go dangling your feet in the pool. You never know what's in there. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #655. Back on September 20, 2023 and October 28, 2023 we featured H-LAB, Marathon-inspired art by Zongle Chen a concept artist from China. Recently Zongle has been creating more designs on Artstation with a Marathon-like aesthetic. A portable folding pistol that wouldn't look out of place in the back pocket of a Stealth Runner.  Portable folding pistol by Zongle Chen on Artstation. January 2025 Here's a really nice animated version of the folding pistol. Beats carrying a fork right? Policeman/Fork sketch. Not the Nine O'Clock News. BBC. 1979-1982. But I digress. Zongle also did some Marathon-like interiors that would not look out of place on Tau Ceti.  3D interior by Zongle Chen on Artstation. February 2025 Pyramids are back! A Jjaro artefact disovered deep underground? Afterall... A few more interiors with a Marathon-like color palette and aesthetic.  3D interior by Zongle Chen on Artstation. February 2025  3D interior by Zongle Chen on Artstation. February 2025 Last week Zongle dropped some exterior artwork. While not Marathon-related one makes me not want to go into the water.  Exterior by Zongle Chen on Artstation. February 2025 Zongle writes: Some exploration attempts I made in the previous course of the Air Force University. Thanks to the guidance of the Air Force UniversitySo the Chinese Air Force are interested in Tau Ceti? You have been warned. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #654. It's sketchy Friday! We've got sketches. Where there's a will, there's a way!  Colony Ship for Sale, Cheap! by KiwiTheWeh (@KiwiWeh) on x.com. June 28, 2024 We've featured sketches by KiwiTheWeh (@KiwiWeh) on the Story page before (see September 25, 2024 and September 27, 2024). Concerning this alternate way of getting out of the Pillar Room, KiwiTheWeh writes: There's always another way if you got the strength! The puzzle itself isn't that bad. The part that made it annoying on Kiwi's TC run was how much of a journey it was to get from the save on this level to the next one, especially when you don't know where the next one is.Indeed the next Pattern Buffer after the Pillar Room isn't until the next level 'Habe Quiddam'. Another Jason Jones level and you have to fight your way to it AND avoid the Simulacrums. Thank you Jason. So always go back and save. One wonders if Jason Jones was a fan of Andrei Tarkovsky's 1979 science fiction film, Stalker.  Andrei Tarkovsky on the set of the enigmatic Pillar Room. Stalker 1979. But I digress. Here are four other Marathon sketches by KiwiTheWeh featuring his character 'doll'. At least I believe that's her name.
From top left to bottom right we have Total Carnage, Deprivation Chamber, Gheritt White, and Durandal's Song. Check out the details in each image for some amusing anecdotes. Happy sketchy Friday. Stay sketchy. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #653. President People over on the Marathon Discord has been creating some very nice animated textures for Marathon 2: Durandal and Marathon Infinity. Here are just some of them.
The Marathon 2 Pfhor switches inactive and active reminds me of the search for Mark Bernal's initials. In the Marathon Scrapbook (page 23) there is short piece about Mark Bernal redoing the Marathon 2 textures and hiding his initials in one of the switch textures. The Scrapbook states: Mark revamped and created a large portion of the textures, making them not only useful individually but also as a unified group. (He managed to hide his initials in one of the switch textures.)Here is Mark Bernal working on Marathon 2.  Mark Bernal. Marathon Scrapbook (page 18). Bungie's "work harder and get more beer" initiative in action. Behind Mark is the desk of Robert McLees. Note the empty beer bottles.  Robert McLees. Marathon Scrapbook (page 18). Marathon 2: Durandal was announced on July 19, 1995. Bungie said it would be released on 30 November 1995. However it shipped on 21 November 1995. Bungie's "work harder and get more beer" initiative worked! That's how they did it back in the 90s folks. Now it's all Skinny Latte Macchiato and working from home in your PJs. Make Marathon Great Again. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #652. So back on November 7, 2024 we featured Stuffy Junk's humorous Frog Blast the Vent Core movie. You can see it below if you don't want to click the link. Frog blast the vent core! by Stuffy Junk on tumblr. November 5, 2024. Now Stuffy Junk is back with shotguns akimbo.  Shotguns Akimbo by Stuffy Junk on x.com. March 4, 2025 One mean Marine with perhaps the most discussed weapon in the Trilogy. But as Durandal said (in the Marathon 2 Manual): I won't waste my time trying to explain the loading mechanism to you - your primitive mind could never grasp its complex nature.Devastating at close range, dual shotguns are a fan favorite and frequently appear in Marathon fan art. Probably my favorite is by Italian artist (and humorist) juzo-kun.  Wacky crossover by juzo-kun on tumblr. July 17, 2016. Oh wait... Maybe it's this one?  I'm Back by juzo-kun on tumblr. July 16, 2017. Oh I can't choose! One thing is for certain though dual shotguns will only get you so far in Marathon. You really have to know what's going on... Oh and the Imperialist forces called it the... WSTE'M. Sucks to be an inserectionist. |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #651. Let's hear it for the Pfhor Enforcer . . . . Shout out for the Pfhor Enforcer . . . Anyone? . . . . Well ShockedHorizon5 (@ShockedHorizon5) is the self-declared... #1 Enforcer Fan. Well there has to be someone right? ShockedHorizon5 is probably best known for the Enforcer animation. Running...  And also firing...  The most underused animation in the history of Discord. Ok... I made that up... but nobody likes the Enforcer right? Did I say that ShockedHorizon5 was the... #1 Enforcer Fan ?  Enforcers by ShockedHorizon5 on x.com. February 22, 2023 ShockedHorizon5 writes: I love MarathonWell he loves the Enforcer.  Enforcer and Drone by ShockedHorizon5 on Marathon Discord. July 30, 2022  Enforcers by ShockedHorizon5 on x.com. July 27, 2024  Enforcers by ShockedHorizon5 on x.com. July 27, 2024 ShockedHorizon5 writes: Went back and edited the Enforcer Major some. I liked the purple but it also kinda bothered me, yk?In case you think that ShockedHorizon5 is the only fan of the Enforcer... Say hello to the Enforcers!  Enforcer by MiharuAkimoto originally posted on DeviantArt but gone now. Story page archival on Feb 2013.  Enforcers by Ish C on ArtStation. June, 2024.  Enforcer by GenjiLim on DeviantArt. March 8, 2010.  The Pfhor by Jay Faircloth. On anaphiel.com Even Mjolnir Recon 54 likes their weapon. It is after all the best weapon in Marathon. In the first game that is...  Marathon doodle by Lamb on x.com. May 14, 2024. Let's hear it for the Pfhor Enforcer! |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #650. Continuing our theme of celebrating Marathon art from around the world we give you... Reese Stewart a concept artist from Hartland Michigan in the United States.  Marathon-inspired designs by Reese Stewart on ArtStation. February 26, 2025. Reese, who is on ArtStation, writes: It's a Marathon not a sprint ;)Reese used Clip Studio Paint to create his Marathon-inspired images.
Concerning the one on the right Reese writes: I really like this one. The leg armor is interesting to me. I also like the absence of lines, focusing more on the design from an abstract perspective is sometimes very helpful to refresh the eye.Two more designs. Digging the Sufi-like skirt.  Marathon-inspired designs by Reese Stewart on ArtStation. February 26, 2025. Reese also posted a series of Marathon-inspired sketches last year using SketchBook Pro. Here are four.
The whole Marathon puffy jacket look reminded me of what I said back on June 3, 2023 (like a century ago). Here's a reminder for those that don't want to click that link.
Yes folks, it's now 2025 and AIs are truly in control. All over the ship, dancing through the wreckage of the Pfhor computer core,Get your skirt on Dancing Boy! |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #649. It's one of the most talked about terminals in Marathon. Yes! It has to be...  Gheritt White by echolessowl on DeviantArt. February 24, 2025 This excellent piece of expressionism art is by echolessowl on tumblr. echolessowl writes (quoting from the Gheritt White terminal): He had killed his nemesis. The rat lay dead in his bloody hands. At last, he held the throat of his beater.Expressionism seeks to depict not objective reality but rather the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse within a person. Probably the most famous example of expressionism is The Scream by Edvard Munch. And in Marathon there is a lot of screaming!  The Scream by Reginald Dujour, Marathon 1994. The Gheritt White terminal is only on the third level of Marathon and already your head is done in. Many have been spared the Gheritt White terminal because to get to it you have to find the secret Deprivation Chamber, grenade climb a high wall and then navigate a teleporter maze which if you get it wrong you have to start all over again. Yes, a head wrecking experience. This reminds me of the funny sketch by kamila_a (aka kam) from last month.  Kam wrote: the pfhor watching me try to learn grenade jumping (running around an empty room staring at my feet for a bit then randomly exploding myself)The Gheritt White story was written by Greg Kirkpatrick. Some 25 years later Greg was asked to explain who Gheritt White was. He replied: God, I wish I could remember. Although if I did remember, I might have to be cagey about how I answered.No one can be told what the Gheritt White terminal is you have to see it for for yourself. If you don't want to read the Gheritt White terminal (we know who you are) you can listen to it on The Terror Tale Vault. The video is entitled: "Gheritt White" - Greg Kirkpatrick - Abstract Horror - Insanity/Psychosis - In The Mind of a KillerYou can see it here. The introduction goes: The worlds inside the minds of the truly insane will be forever out of reach, as we can never truly see inside the mind of another. But in this short story, writer Greg Kirkpatrick attempts to translate the confusing and often dream-like mental state of a man that is truly over the edge. Is any of this real? Is Gheritt truly in a prison? Or is he only trapped in the prison of his own mind? Whose voice does he keep hearing in his cell? And what will happen when Gheritt floats up to the ceiling of his cell....?Greg Kirkpatrick had this to say about his level Never Burn Money and the Gherrit White story in the 1997. This map was the first attempt to make a really big map. The idea was to create an area that felt like a real space on the ship. To give the feeling of some control rooms, something that would actually get used by someone. It also had an extremely difficult secret area that hid a story that I wrote while working on Marathon. I'd have to say that looking back on the whole thing, I'm much more happy with the level than with the Gherrit White story, although I think the story added quite a bit of mystery to those who found it.Yes indeed. Thirty years on and we are still talking about it. Still creating artwork of our experiences. And still asking... what were the Jjaro doing at Tau Ceti?   |
|
This Day in Marathon.
Day #648. Yes... a new month! But what happened last month? Well here's a snapshot of what we featured. What did you miss?
|
***TRANSPORT WHEN READY***
Page maintained by Hamish Sinclair Hamish.Sinclair123@gmail.com
Last updated Mar 1, 2025