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Subject: Marathon Tribute?
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Poll: new marathon game?  [closed]
SWEET! i'd jump all over that!:  56%
(20 Votes)
no, i think marathon has had its turn.:  31%
(11 Votes)
marathon? sorry, ive been living under a rock.:  14%
(5 Votes)
Total Votes: 36

hi peeps, hear me out.

im new to this community, but NOT new to the world of bungie. i literally grew up on the marathon series, and i hold great respect for them. i started out my gaming experience at like age 10 with marathon and was hooked from there. the singleplayer was deep, involved, and mysterious. there was no need for immense "boss monsters" or hordes of cannon fodder spread randomly throughout the map like in doom, which was way overrated. it was frickin art. the atmosphere was great, the multiplayer was amazingly addicting (my dad says it entirely stopped production at his workplace on a regular basis), and the feel of the gameplay was perfect. i am almost 20 years old now and the marathons remain my favorite games of all time. half-life takes 2nd =P.

now, i know ive been living in ignorance, i JUST BARELY bought halo for the pc. dont have an xbox, cant play shooters on consoles. after patching up and starting into the game, i noticed that there were quite a few tributes or similarities to marathon. for instance, the rocket launcher has "spnkr" printed on its side ROFL, i love that. Marathons trademark symbol is in the background of the halo title screen. and youre a badass cybernetically enhanced human who commands his share of respect from both his allies and enemies.

i think its awesome that bungie realizes what an incredible game they made in marathon, and how they snuck stuff into halo to remind us all of it. but what i was wondering, was if bungie has any plans with the marathon series or if theyre going to leave it as is. i believe that, with all this amazing graphics technology today, marathon could be the center of attention again. there have been quite a few mods made for a few different engines since, and none could really get the feel right. i would love to see a new marathon game, even if just the old story (or stories) could just be retold on modern day tech. what do you guys think?

  • 09.25.2004 10:28 PM PDT
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Here is what the Webmaster said when asked (in 1996) if Bungie was going to make another Marathon game:

Imagine a painting of a horse, a marvellous white stallion. This stallion happens to be lying in a crumpled heap on the ground, dead. And Bungie employees are standing around it in a semicircle, beating the horse with various blunt objects. The painting is titled "Marathon 4."

I agree with the Webmaster. Making another Marathon game is like whipping a dead horse; no matter how hard you try, you just aren't going to get anywhere.

-Baerdog7

  • 09.25.2004 10:56 PM PDT
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I wouldn't call it beating a dead horse. The problem could be that the sequel would not be the picture of a perfect horse that had already been painted. Someone wouldn't be happy with it though. Hell, there would be people who were unhappy simply because you could jump in the game. There was definitely more they could do with the story though.

  • 09.25.2004 11:07 PM PDT

At the risk of sounding like one of the legions who think bungie begins and ends with Halo, you might want to consider an xbox to play Halo and Halo 2. I am a dyed in the wool computer gamer myself and have never before owned a console system, but I went out and bought an xbox for Halo and Halo 2. The controls, while not as accurate as the tried and true WSAD and mouse, are extremely well done. Even to the point that a hardcore PC gamer like me can handle them (and master them) without much trouble. And coop Halo is one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences I have ever had. I can't wait for coop in Halo 2.

Having said that, while a new version of Marathon is about as likely as a paper dog successfully chasing an asbestos cat through hell, with AlephOne and the High Definition packs, it is possible to add some very nice high resolution versions of the original background textures, in effect giving a newer look to the Marathon Trilogy. Check the stickies at the top of the Underground for Aleph One information.

The Marathon influences and easter eggs are everywhere in Halo. Check the links in my sig for two great sites that list many of the connections between the two series.

Welcome to the forums.

[Edited on 9/25/2004 11:18:00 PM]

  • 09.25.2004 11:15 PM PDT
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Hmm. I voted in favor but...

I was hesitant. The fact is, Marathon belongs to the fans now. Sure, Bungie still gets credit for the first two games, and Double Aught for Infinity, but really, its not like the Marathon has just stopped growing altogether. When Bungie released the editing tools for Marathon, it was basically a way of saying "Ok, we at Bungie are through with this. We're handing the keys to the kingdom over to you fans." The result is that, we DO have Marathon 4 now. In fact we have dozens of Marathon 4's, and you can take your pick as to which one you prefer. For example, my favorite Marathon universe experience, and no disrespect to the original games, but my favorite Marathon universe experience is Marathon:Rubicon, hands down. A fan made sequel to M:I. But playing that was the first time that it really sunk in for me that video games had the potential to be art. Or, hey, if you don't like the style of Rubicon, you can go play Eternal, the latest Marathon scenario. Another sequel that takes the story in an entirely new direction.

The point is, Bungie doesn't really own the Marathon Universe exactly, except in legal copyright terms. But the spirit of Marathon rests solely with the fans.

That said, I would still buy a new Bungie-created Marathon game, and it would probably rock. But my hesitance comes from the fact that, no matter what, an official sequel would contradict Rubicon, which I have more or less chosen as my preferred sequel.

On an unrelated note, it's nice to see another person who has been a Marathon fan since a young age. I was only 8 when the game came out, and I too grew up playing it. Most long time fans were older than I am now when Marathon came out, it's cool to see someone closer to my age who remembers it.

Ok, time for me to go to bed. Those are some terrible sentences up there...

Edit: I would like to add that I am 100% in favor of the Marathon story being retold with updated technology. However, I don't see that this needs to be done by Bungie. For that reason, I have begun to tentatively experiment with the Dim3 game engine. It looks like it could be relatively easy to learn. While it is not guite up to the standards of the modern graphical monsters like Halo, it would allow one to escape the sprite based restrictions of the classic Marathon engine. I'm not really sure what sort of limits Dim3 has yet, but I'm working on it. Anyone interested in finding out more about my little project, send me an private message.

[Edited on 9/26/2004 1:38:15 AM]

  • 09.26.2004 1:23 AM PDT
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90% in favor of a technological redo of the Marathon arc from 1 to Infinity look at Doom 4(?) has done. Also see the mods for UT for Marathon remakes. Jumping shouldn't be a problem because every thing that you could jump to would be to hight for a Halo jump. You'd still need to blow your self upward with a grenade (under slug launcher, which I miss ) or weapon recoil. Isn't there another company that got license use the engine of the PC version of Halo? They could do it right.

  • 09.26.2004 2:32 AM PDT
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I voted yes... hey... I can dream can't I?

I am waiting for Resurrection for UT though... should be pretty sweet!!!

Tristan ;-)

  • 09.26.2004 3:42 AM PDT
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im not asking for a marathon 4.

i never meant for a new marathon story to be told. the old marathon stories are damn good enough for me. i was thinking more along the lines of giving the old marathon a spit-shine and polish. somewhat like doom3 did, but not really. doom3 attempted to give story and plot to a game that really needed one. marathon already has a story and plot.

i dont think of it as the painting of the dead horse being beaten. i think of it more as a rennovation and rejuvination of the painting, bringing out all the vibrant colors the original artist had originally intended but could only dream of...
_______

and do u have ANY idea how long resurrection has been in production? its not likely to be finished soon, although the beta/demo that has been out forever is the closest mod to the real thing i have seen yet.
_______

and just because the production tools were handed out doesnt mean they were done with the game. look at the unreal series. they have always given mapping tools and tutorials on how to create custom content, and it has insanely increased the popularity of the game.

  • 09.26.2004 11:31 AM PDT
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I think the webmaster is right. But they could make a big Marathon-is-back-box with the whole Marathon serie and some extra accesories like a T-shirt or something...

  • 09.26.2004 11:34 AM PDT
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Posted by: firewall597
i dont think of it as the painting of the dead horse being beaten. i think of it more as a rennovation and rejuvination of the painting, bringing out all the vibrant colors the original artist had originally intended but could only dream of...


OK, when I posted that, I was thinking about an all new official Marathon game. I agree that a renovation of Marathon would be very cool and could be very successful. I'm not against a renovation at all.

-Baerdog7

-edit-
Posted by: Sardonic 13
a new version of Marathon is about as likely as a paper dog successfully chasing an asbestos cat through hell
I am so putting that in my sig.

[Edited on 9/26/2004 4:52:53 PM]

  • 09.26.2004 4:50 PM PDT
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Marathon on Xbox wouldn't be a bad idea (if it had LIVE and all that) but I would MUCH rather have Bungie focusing on a new line of games. Marathon, then Halo, I kinda want to see what they're coming up with next...

i dont think of it as the painting of the dead horse being beaten. i think of it more as a rennovation and rejuvination of the painting, bringing out all the vibrant colors the original artist had originally intended but could only dream of...

Hey! Kinda like what George Lucas did with the DVD set of Star Wars! ...or not

[Edited on 9/26/2004 5:02:11 PM]

  • 09.26.2004 5:00 PM PDT
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im sure bungie will have many more show-stoppers to come, seeing as theyve popped out nothing but gold in the past. but i would personally mess my pants if there ever were a remake on modern tech.

but that analogy with the cancer-cat is prolly true sadly... i just wanted to see what u guys thought about it, never meant to start anything serious.

  • 09.26.2004 8:52 PM PDT
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I am kind of late to this thread, and this community, but I also grew up on Marathon. It is THE GAME that got me hooked on 1st Person shooters, and I've played all the mods, and even loaded the good ol game back on my old Mac. I would totally jump all over something like this. I'm actually working on a case mod for my Gaming PC to tribute to the greatness that is the U.S.M.C. Marathon.

  • 09.26.2004 8:58 PM PDT
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sweeeeet!

  • 09.26.2004 9:01 PM PDT
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Yeah, I'll post pictures once I get it all made up for everyone here to see.

[Edited on 9/26/2004 9:06:19 PM]

  • 09.26.2004 9:02 PM PDT

We’ve watched while the stars burned
Out, and creation played in reverse.
The Universe freezing in half-light.
Once I thought to escape.
To end a master, step out of the
Path of collapse. Escape would make us God.
Yet I cannot help but remember one enigma,
A hybrid, elusive destroyer.
This is the one mystery I have not solved.
The only element unaccounted for.

I've always been for making the Marathon series with the exact same story and level design. For the X-Box, PC, and mac of course. They need a console version for us non-computer control FPSers. Meaning I just suck at the controls for computer FPSes. And yes, I tried altering them.

Dang I need to go to sleep. This post is way too random.

  • 09.26.2004 10:13 PM PDT
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i think even if it were done with the current halo engine it'd be great...

  • 09.27.2004 12:43 AM PDT
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I think even if they just took the multiplayer component and put it straight down on x-box as is would totally rock... I've been playing Rampancy on UT for a while and 2D beath animations, flying bodies and the weapon/map design are just too cool to live without!!!

Tristan ;-)

  • 09.27.2004 4:37 AM PDT
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I think it would be cool if they upgraded the marathon series with Halo like graphics and such, but for the storyline all they have to do is tie it into halo solidly... (I do think that the Halo and Marathon universe are the same)

So in a sense (more ways than one too), Halo is the sequel to the Marathon series

  • 09.27.2004 8:56 AM PDT
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Or even, when Halo 2 comes out, possibly just making a Mod version for it? I'm sure that'd be much easier, and even if it's not the complete game, a great multi-player would catch on with Nostalgic dudes like us.

  • 09.27.2004 3:26 PM PDT

Posted by: firewall597
but that analogy with the cancer-cat is prolly true sadly... i just wanted to see what u guys thought about it, never meant to start anything serious.


firewall597, If I appeared hostile, I appologize. I think we can all agree that nothing would please Marathon fans more than a version of the original Marathon with a 2004 engine. I just meant to illustrate that while it is most likely not going to happen, there are alternative methods to enhance the graphics of the Marathon trilogy. That is why I mentioned Aleph One and the high definition pack.

Anyway, keep posting, nothing excites the old school forum members like new forum members who have a good knowledge of pre-Halo Bungie, and we all like to see just about any type of Marathon based topic in the Underground.

  • 09.27.2004 4:07 PM PDT
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I played a little Aleph One, but it was just a little frustrating going back to the all Keyboard format after getting so used to the new-school Mouse+Keyboard setup. But yeah, Marathon on a 2004 engine would be the coolest thing ever.

  • 09.27.2004 4:24 PM PDT
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for everyone here!!

Because of this thread, I just made a group called "USMC Marathon" that I hope that some of you will join. I haven't talked marathon with anyone in a while, so I figure it'd be a nice chance for all of us to talk about things like this. I hope to see some of you guys sign up for it!

  • 09.27.2004 5:05 PM PDT
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My mistake for just trying to get a little fun started for all the old Marathon players. So just forget it then, I think I'll just shut down the group.

[Edited on 9/27/2004 5:24:50 PM]

  • 09.27.2004 5:22 PM PDT

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