Marathon total conversions
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Many Marathon total conversions have been available for free over the internet. Many have taken great leaps with the engine itself and many so are being converted to Aleph One an open source engine available for: Marathon Infinity, Marathon 2: Durandal, and Marathon. After the release of Forge and Anvil in 1996 many players put their best efforts into this and made new experiences for new players.
Contents |
[edit] Creation tools
Two basic and simple programs were released by Bungie in 1996 with Marathon: Infinity. They were also released as part of the Trilogy Release and can be legally downloaded for free from http://trilogyrelease.bungie.org/.
[edit] Forge
Forge is used to create levels to play in Marathon. Forge was used by Bungie in the creation of Marathon, Marathon 2:Durandal, and Marathon: Infinity but was not released to the public until Marathon Infinity. Before Forge, a shareware program known as Pfhorte was used to create custom maps. Pfhorte was similar to Forge but had no visual mode and didn't require merging.
Forge is still in use today but only runs native to Mac OS 9. The source code was apparently lost by Bungie[citation needed], so there will be no port to any other operating systems. There have been some attempts at creating a replacement for Forge but Forge continues to be the best map editor available, primarily because of its visual mode. Running Forge on a modern machine often requires an emulator for Mac OS 9, such as Mac OS X's Classic Mode.
[edit] Anvil
Anvil is the sister program to Forge and is used to apply shapes (graphics), sounds, and physics. Physics can be edited directly in Anvil but shapes and sounds require additional programs. Anvil merely aligns the graphics and sounds so they perform correctly in game.
Anvil, like Forge, is a Mac OS 9 program.
[edit] Other
Other programs are available to make scenario making and total conversions easier. Such programs like Hex make editing terminals as simple as Forge. Fux! is used to change colors on overhead maps and in terminals. These programs are third party and are not affiliated with Bungie in any way.
[edit] Conversions
[edit] Devil in a Blue Dress
Devil in a Blue Dress is a scenario for both Marathon and Marathon 2 game engines. It was the first project created by the Marathon Map Makers' Guild (MMMG) and has since been ported to Aleph One. It can still be downloaded and played for free.
It is based on an entirely new storyline, using Bungie's environment, but not related whatsoever to the U.E.S.C. Marathon. It features 21 solo levels and an entirely new storyline. Excalibur: Morgana's Revenge is the sequel to Devil in a Blue Dress.
The webpage for Devil in a Blue Dress can be found here: http://bighouse.bungie.org/devil/.
[edit] Storyline
 |
This section is a stub. You can help by expanding it. |
[edit] Weapons
|
This section is a stub. You can help by expanding it. |
[edit] Eternal
Eternal is a free, stand-alone first-person shooter, multi-platform game. It is a scenario for Aleph One, the cross-platform, open source first-person shooter engine derived from Bungie's Marathon 2 engine. Its story is an unofficial sequel to Marathon Infinity. While Eternal is a near-total conversion, featuring all new levels, textures (including landscapes), weapons, music, and interface, most of the characters are retained from the original games.
Eternal has been through many releases and is currently maintained by Forrest Cameranesi. The latest completed version is Eternal Mark V, but the current working edition is Eternal X Alpha 3.
The Eternal project has a webpage at http://eternal.bungie.org/.
[edit] Storyline
The storyline of Eternal begins ninety-four years after the events in Marathon Infinity. The goal of the player is to change the events of the past one hundred eleven years by traveling back in time to board the U.E.S.C. Marathon.
[edit] Weapons
As of the "Eternal X Alpha 3" pre-release of Marathon Eternal featured the following weapons -
"Cronus Class Fusion Pistols" Like the Zeus Class Fusion Pistol but doubled fisted and without a charging mechanism.
"Ouranus Class Plasma Cannon" Automatic Plasma Cannon with Charging Mechanism.
"Aggregate Issue Staff Weapon" The staff weapon carried by Pfhor Fighters with melee and ranged attack functions.
"Aggregate Issue Havoc Rifle" The rifle carried by Pfhor Troopers, superior to the assault rifle in the original Marathon Trilogy in that is vacuum capable.
"Willful Issue Scatter Riffle" The weapon which was carried by Pfhor Enforcers in the original Marathon "Marathon 1" it fires automatic high velocity pulses.
"Willful Issue Flamethrower" The "Alien Weapon" from the original Marathon Trilogy.
"Wave Motion Cannon" This is the beam weapon.
In the more recently released Alpha builds the S'pht Orb Device has been replaced with dual fisted energy blades.
[edit] Excalibur: Morgana's Revenge
Excalibur: Morgana's Revenge is a scenario for the Mac OS Marathon and Marathon Infinity game engines, originally released in March, 1997, for the Marathon 1 engine. It was then released for the Marathon Infinity engine, when it was released, and finally the Aleph One engine. It is a sequel to Devil in a Blue Dress. It features 37 solo levels; new textures, sounds, physics, graphics, storyline, maps and interface; and musical scores incorporated into Infinity's ambient sound slots.
[edit] Storyline
[edit] Weapons
[edit] Marathon: EVIL
Marathon EVIL is a scenario for the Mac OS Marathon Infinity game engine, originally released in 1997. It features 17 new solo levels; 22 new network maps; and new enemies, sounds, textures and weapons.
[edit] Storyline
It has often been compared to Alien.
[edit] Weapons
You get all the weapons from Marathon Infinity, and a few new ones like the Pfhor staff.
[edit] Marathon: The Gray Incident
Marathon: The Gray Incident takes place at some undetermined point past Marathon Infinity. It was released on March 4, 2006. It's one of the more linear (and shorter) scenarios, but one of the key features of the scenario is its straightforward difficulty. It is a prequel to the Portal of Sigma. It features 17 new single-player levels and 7 multiplayer arenas, five new weapons, and several new and improved enemies.
[edit] Storyline
[edit] Weapons
[edit] Tempus: IRAE
Tempus Irae is a scenario for the Mac OS Marathon Infinity game engine, originally released in 1997. It features 37 new solo levels; new textures, sounds, scenery, shapes, terminal pictures and chapter screens.
[edit] Storyline
[edit] Weapons
[edit] Marathon: Rubicon
Marathon Rubicon is a scenario for the Mac OS game Marathon Infinity. The project started in 1997 as Marathon Chimera. It features a nonlinear plotline that can be traversed in any number of ways, with different endings based upon a player's choices over the course of the game. It features more than 360 new textures, over a dozen new characters, new scenery, 8 new weapons, 67 solo levels.
[edit] Storyline
You awaken inside a Pfhor stasis chamber for 50 years after your last battle. It seems that a vicious war erupted between the Pfhor and the UESC right after your last adventure. Fortunately, the war is even, and no one is winning. You are sent to the planet were all the UESC soldiers are fighting, to tip the scales and win the war.
When you arrive, you land in a small canyon with slimy water at the edges. There is a small base in the canyons, and you must infiltrate it, and assist the other soldiers who are also fighting.
[edit] Weapons
- Magnum .44 Ultra Class Pistol : An improved variant on the original Magnum .44 Mega Class pistol. It can hold 12 bullets per clip, and fires at a much faster rate. These pistols can be dual-wielded as well, resulting in an incredible firing rate.
- MA-75B Assault Rifle/Grenade Launcher¹ : The MA-75B Assault Rifle/Grenade Launcher is not very different from the original Assault Rifle, except cosmetic changes. It appears to have the same firing rate for both triggers. It has a more compact design than the previous assault rifle, as well as different sounds. In the Chimera scenario, Durandal transfers different ammo in mid-teleport, giving it the ability to fire underwater, at a slow rate.
- Mercury A3 Fusion Rifle : The Mercury A3 Fusion Rifle is a combination of the Zeus B4 and D2 Fusion Pistols, which shoot out powerful bolts at a steady rate, and rapidly discharges small fusion bolts, respectively. Both of the triggers on the Fusion Rifle can be held down at once, as well, allowing for plenty of firepower overall.
- WSTE-M Combat Shotgun : Identical to the WSTE-M Combat Shotgun from the original series of Marathon. Still can be duel-wielded, and flipped over to reload it.
- SPNKR X-34 SSM Launcher : The rocket launcher for Marathon Rubicon. It has 3 barrels total, allowing for 3 missiles to be in the launcher at once. The secondary trigger for this weapon launches all the missiles at once, but less accurately.
- UESC Carpet Mortar : A heavy-duty assault weapon. The Carpet Mortar fires around 10 grenades in a single shot, for wide-spread attacks, and it has two barrels, allowing two shots to be fired before it must be reloaded.
- Dangi AI324b Maser : Created by the Dangi corporation onboard the UESC Salinger, the maser fires a constant, incredibly accurate, and deadly laser. An excellent sniper weapon, and can be used effectively on almost anything in Marathon Rubicon. When fired, it gives out a low hum. Various personnel with the Dangi corporation carry this weapon, as well, as may use it on the player.
- Alien Weapon : The weapon used by the Pfhor Enforcers in Marathon Rubicon, which can be stolen from them after they are defeated. The primary trigger sends out a bolt with a static-like texture on it, which will evaporate anything that it kills. When the Enforcers use it, the weapon will track it's target. They also have a secondary lightning effect with the weapon, almost instantly killing anything at close range.
¹ The Assault Rifle in the original (from Marathon 2 : Durandal and Marathon Infinity) was also called MA-75B Assault Rifle/Grenade Launcher. The in-game terminals as well as the HUD call it the MA-75B Assault Rifle/Grenade Launcher. It may or may not be a typo.
[edit] Portal of Sigma
Marathon: Portal of Sigma is a scenario for the first-person shooter, Aleph One. It is a three-chapter scenario, the first chapter being released on March 4, 2006. Due to a lack of updates by its creators prior to the release of the first chapter, it was long believed to be vaporware. It features enhanced aliens sprites; eight new weapons; five large texture sets, with improved textures from Marathon 2 and Marathon Infinity as well as original textures; 16-bit sounds; eleven single-player levels and 37 multiplayer arenas.
[edit] Storyline
[edit] Weapons
[edit] Marathon: RED
Marathon RED is a total conversion of the Marathon engine. It is set in the Marathon universe, with a new story, graphics, weapons, and people to go along with it. It was released by Ian McConville who is also the artist and creator of the webcomic Mac Hall.
[edit] Storyline
You wake up in a small sleeping chamber area, only to find yourself late for a briefing. Turns out, you are assigned to investigate a "dead" Pfhor scout craft. Once you land, you, along with other armed marines, will search the craft.
This scout craft has been completely inhabited with deadly monsters, lava pits, and dark slimy RED walls. But, you are armed to the teeth, and you can use those arms to kick butt.
[edit] Weapons
.33 Mercury Pistol - A small, handheld machine pistol, that fires like an uzi. DS Microwave - Has 2 firing modes:1. A grenade that explodes on contact;2. Sprays fire Version 3 Pulse Rifle - Almost like a Railgun, this rifle shoots 2 uranium slugs.
*There are more...*
[edit] Trojan
Trojan is a total conversion scenario for the Mac OS Marathon 1 game engine, originally released in June 1997. It includes 27 levels, 15 new aliens, 6 new weapons, new music and sounds, and completely original music and sounds.
[edit] Storyline
The story begins with a distress signal from the human-colonized planet Trojan. The player and a squad of marines are sent to investigate. It turns out that mysterious aliens are invading the colony and the player and his squadron must drive them out of the colony with force.
[edit] Weapons
The player starts off with his pistol, three clips for it, and a combat knife. Later on in the game, he can pick up and use a shotgun, an assault rifle that doubles as a grenade launcher, among others.
[edit] Dead scenarios
Only few total conversions have made it to the light of day. Many have been attempted and few have seen success. Many dead scenarios can be found at The Big House which hosts many classic total conversions and scenarios. A few dead scenarios (such as Marathon: Vietnam) have contributed to a place known as The Orphanage which hosts unused sounds, maps, shapes, ideas, and more.
[edit] External links
- The Traxus Project: Wiki site devoted to the Marathon Trilogy in detail, as well as alternative scenarios utilizing the Aleph One game engine
- The Big House: A site that still hosts many Total conversions and scenarios.
- Scenario News: Updates on new scenarios and Total conversions.
[edit] See also
|
Marathon • Marathon 2: Durandal • Marathon Infinity |
