Site News


12.25.2002
Tophet

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

I hope you all have a good time with family/friends/whoever, and that you have a happy and safe New Year.

Oh, and go read the news over at marathon.bungie.org regarding a new tutorial by Quartz on the Battle Cat's Marathon page. Quartz walks you through the technique of adding additional textures to a standard texture set.  You will need a Mac or an emulator on a fast PC to make use of this information, though.

12.10.2002
Tophet
The SDL version of "M1A1" has been updated again.  Go here if you want 3rd-party custom maps.  The v.1.5 Shapes allowed for four Trooper color types rather than two.  I have updated the Physics and several of the maps to include them.  A Tiny Hulk and Tiny Assimilated have also been added to the Physics (which occasionally show up in the map "Monster Menagerie").  Tiny Bobs have been moved from the Cyborg slots to the VacBob slots in the PMs.  Entries have been changed in the Settings script to keep the Tiny Bobs and the new Tiny Assimilated appear "friendly" in the motion sensor.

Also updated  "M.A.D.D.s for A1 SDL v3" Shapes to include four Trooper color types (and "The Incredible Hulks" PM to demonstrate them), like "M1A1 Shapes" but with the Infinity Trooper graphics.  Updated again 12/10/2002 to fix a Shapes error where a "soft dead" Trooper would look like a grenade in flight.  This has been fixed in the re-release.  Get this if you love carnage and monster variety.

11.21.2002
Tophet

Films section added to Orbital Arm for those who like to show off and don't have an A1-SDL build that cuts off the last 30 seconds of gameplay like most of the early builds did.  Since there is no means of automatic submission and film files are usually small, I suppose you will have to send them to me with "A1-SDL Film" or "M2-PC Film" in the Subject line for the time being (depending on which game engine you used to make the film).  I only ask that you also specify which scenario or map was used (supply a link only, don't send it), attach any custom external physics model used to make the film (applies mostly to M2-PC films but valid for any unmerged map), and include a ReadMe file.
10.17.2002
Tophet
Raul Bonilla's "M1A1" Marathon to Aleph One conversion has been updated.  Consequently, the SDL version has also been updated.  Grab "M1A1 for SDL v1.5" here.  Then, go here to get the 3rd-party custom maps which have all been updated with minor fixes and will work with v1.5.  Version 1.5 replaces map "Entryway" with "Grendel Lives" (from the early Alpha demo of M1 with a custom PM to match), and adds new textures and new landscapes.  Still plays all MP3s from the "M1A1 MP3 Tracks v1.2" file correctly, but drops the backwards tracks from the in-game lineup.  Also updated "Scenario MML Updates" to allow the four Tiny Bob types in "M1A1 for SDL v1.5" to show up as friendly under the motion sensor (see "Monster Menagerie" map).  Grab it here.
09.19.2002
Tophet
1. "M.A.D.D.s for A1 SDL v3" added to the "Aleph One" downloads page.  This update replaces v2 and features Hulks in the "M.A.D.D. Shapes" file.  Appended into the Cyborg collection (the Cyborgs remain), the Hulks are from Raul Bonilla's "M1A1" Marathon to Aleph One conversion.  All shape collections are copyright Bungie, of course.  A modified net map and Physics Model, both called "The Incredible Hulks" have been added for you to try out and play with.  You'll need to play at "Major Carnage" level or below in order to see the Minor Hulks (which are faster but don't chuck grenades at you).  This is still the SDL port of Quartz's M.A.D.D. patch for Infinity.

2. Minor update to "Tophet's Physics Models v3" lets Minor Cyborgs shoot two Bouncing grenades at you instead of one (still easier to dodge two than one Major Cyborg's Seeking grenade).  This affects all the Physics Models except for the "Bob Slaughter" Physics Models.

09.01.2002
Tophet
Another minor update to "Tophet's Physics Models v3".  Tweaked Enforcer sounds and added a melee weapon to Enforcer arsenals in all physics models.  Some fire bullets like they did in M1 and others fire S'pht bolts as a random alternative to firebolts.  The meanest variety fires an overloaded fusion bolt as a random alternative in "S'pht Rebellion 3 for Infinity", and fires a rail gun (SMG) as a long-range weapon in "Pfhor Rebellion 2 for Evil".  The grenade-only Cyborgs were replaced by an Enforcer-class Elite Pfhor fighter and trooper in "S'pht Rebellion 3 for Infinity" and "Pfhor Rebellion 2 for Evil" but, in the former, they have been restored to the Tiny Bob and Tiny Flick'ta slots using firebolts (Alien Shotgun) as a random alternative to bouncing or seeking grenades.  Also corrected a very old problem I somehow overlooked.  Pfhor Drones no longer consider the Pfhor to be allies, but now see them (all Pfhor classes) as friends, as was the case in the Standard M2/Infinity PM.  Get Tophet's PMs if you enjoy dying :-)
08.03.2002
Tophet
1. "M.A.D.D.s for A1 SDL v2" added to the "Aleph One" downloads page.  An SDL port of Quartz's M.A.D.D. patch for Infinity. Some changes were made for this version.  Most were merely cosmetic, but the one big change is that the M.A.D.D.s replace the Ticks instead of the M2 Bobs in the external physics model.  The one embedded in Quartz's demo map still replaces the M2 Bobs (but with the new Shapes changes now make the Ticks look like M2 Bobs) - see the enclosed readme files for details.

2. Minor updates to "Chai'etra Infinitus for SDL" and "Siege of Nor'Korh v2 for SDL" files so they will extract to the correct file path (i.e. subfolder "Maps\Chai'etra Infinitus").  External physics model provided with "Chai'etra Infinitus for SDL" to play with in unmerged or M2 maps.

3. "Max Payne Texture Pack for M1A1" are just what they sound like - Max Payne textures that are designed to replace the standard M1 textures found in M1A1.  Will only work in OpenGL mode.

4. Minor update to "Tophet's Physics Models v3" restores overload fusion bolt as Mother of All Hunter's long-range weapon and removes "Angular flipping on secondary trigger" on the player's Alien weapon (SMG projectiles) in all Infinity physics models.  Evil physics models are unchanged.

07.21.2002
Tophet
So you want to play M2 for Windows with Aleph One?  Grab Michael Adams' latest A1 build at the Marathon Open Source page or directly from here.  Then grab my "Scenario MML Updates" file from here.  This will remove the need to strip the .sce2, .shp2, .snd2, .mus2, and .img2 file extensions in order for it to work under Aleph One, thus allowing you to run the game under both engines.  Now you wish you could play M2 using custom Infinity physics models (like "Tophet's Physics Models v3" which was updated with some newer versions of its physics models as of 07/21/2002), don't you?  Unfortunately, the original M2 Shapes lacked a couple monsters and several color types for the existing ones, and the Infinity Shapes gives the M2 scenario some funny textures.  Thankfully, Raul Bonilla has fixed this issue for us.  Grab the ported M2 Shapes patch here.
06.11.2002
Scott
An updated version of Escape!! 2 Escape for BOB has been posted in the scenarios section. This update fixes some bugs and should work better with Aleph One. Also, there are some reports of difficulty getting the other download to work properly, which is hopefully fixed.
06.05.2002
Tophet
Michael Adams A1 build keeps getting better and better.  It now supports in-game MP3s (for scenarios such as "M1A1 for SDL"), and he is working on adding still more features before his next "official" release.  Grab it at the Marathon Open Source page or directly from here.

In other news, I have updated the MMLs for five major scenarios that use custom graphics and MML entries.  I may do others in the future but, for now, this download file will do.  (Note: One of these scenarios is not available in Zip format.  You must try to expand the Mac version of "Rubicon" with Aladdin Expander for Windows.  Contact Claude Errera if you have any problems expanding and utilizing the Rubicon files.  The Mac version of Rubicon AO should work "right out of the box" so to speak, as long as "Save Macintosh files in MacBinary format" is enabled in Aladdin Expander for Windows' Cross-Platform tab under "Preferences".)

06.01.2002
Tophet
For those of you who can get "M1A1 for SDL" to work on their machines (either with the included MP3-enabled A1 build or the latest build by Michael D. Adams ), there are now four 3rd party maps available.  Grab them from the link at the bottom of the "M1A1 for SDL" description on the Aleph One SDL downloads page, or from here.  BTW, the link in the "M1A1 for SDL" description for the MP3 Music tracks now works, thanks to Claude Errera having repackaged the 19 MP3s I uploaded into a shiny new Zip archive for us.

The Preferences file created by Michael D. Adams latest A1 build is not compatible with older A1 builds (perhaps due to additional features such as 3-button Mouse support), so if you want to play "M1A1 for SDL" with the MP3s, you will still need Ian Pitcher's A1 build included in this file.  Read my message from 04.26.2002 to find out why.

05.31.2002
Scott
That scenario I mentioned over a month ago has finally been completed. Go check out Escape!! 2 - Escape for BOB in the scenarios section!

Sorry about the late arrival, but college can take up a lot of potential free time. ;)
05.27.2002
Tophet
Michael D. Adams has fixed the latest Aleph One build with the proper DLL file settings. Grab it at the Marathon Open Source page or directly from here. It does not support playing in-game MP3 music yet, but it is a pretty stable build as far as I can tell. Don't forget to delete your Preferences file before replacing an older Aleph One build with this one (or it will not even start).
04.26.2002
Tophet
The latest version of Aleph One SDL for Windows at the Marathon Open Source web site is missing some updated DLL files. It doesn't work with the older Microsoft C++ DLL files included with previous Aleph One build releases. I am therefore posting this file.

The file contains James Smirnotopoulos' A1 build that was included in the "M1A1 for SDL v1.3" release. It allows background music, but changing maps and other environment preferences crashes this build. Within, is another Zip file containing the older Ian Pitcher build of Aleph One for Windows. While it does not support background music and its OpenGL Mode is buggy, it is otherwise very stable and can be used to change maps. The executable names are different, so you can install both builds for easy switching, if you like.

This file should be helpful to get all you Windows Aleph One players past the frequent faulty builds that get posted on the Open Source site.
04.22.2002
Tophet
Raul Bonilla has started to convert some of the more popular M1 maps to M1A1 format. I have added a link within the "M1A1 for SDL v1.3" description on the Aleph One SDL download page which takes you to a page of M1A1 3rd-party maps, converted for use with the SDL version.  The More A1 Maps download page now also has a link to my own physics model collection.  BTW, check out the Episode One draft of my unofficial Marathon screenplay (all materials therein is copyright Bungie).
04.13.2002
Tophet
Well, this is my first update. Hope it goes over well.

Added a link to the Trojan M2 site's download page in Scenario downloads. I have added two new pages, one for large Aleph One SDL Scenarios, the other for small Scenarios and maps.

Also, you might want to check back here around the start of May for news on that new scenario Scott was telling you about (it should be nearing release by then).
04.08.2002
Scott
I'm sorry about the lack of updates over the last several months. Fortunately, Claude has the forums back up and running.

Oh, be on the lookout for a new scenario showing up here within the next week. ;)
4.06.2002
Owen

Despite what you may have thought, we're not dead yet. Over the past week or two, the forums have been down, which is currently being looked into. We hope to have them back up again soon, and we apologize for any inconvinience that may have been caused.

In other news, the site is somewhat lacking direction. Please let us know what you think about the future of OA! Either e-mail us, or post to the forums once they come back online (which will hopefully be soon!)

Also, I've encoded all of the e-mail links on our pages to prevent spam bots from harvesting the addresses (although I doubt that many of the address are still current, many of them are quite old). It's possible that I made a mistake or two while doing this, feel free to tell me about it if I did.

12.25.2001
Owen

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

I hope you all have a good time with family/friends/whoever, and that you have a happy and safe new year.

Oh, and go read this year's Battle Cat's Christmas message over at marathon.bungie.org. I thought it was funny, hopefully you will too.

11.21.2001
Scott
I found a bug or two in the net level I uploaded this morning, so those bugs have been fixed. If you already downloaded it, I'd recommend re-downloading it. Unless, of course, you feel like falling a long way and not being able to pick up any weapons you've dropped after you die sometimes... ;)
11.21.2001
Scott
A brand new netmap called Don't Disturb the King is now available in the netmaps section...go check it out!

Unfortunately, going to college has prevented me from updating this site as often as I'd hoped. :(

Next week, I begin my second trimester there, so I'll disappear again until likely as late as Christmas break.
11.2.2001
Owen
An item of note to Marathoners in general: The evihcra network is down, including one of the two major repositories of Marathon files available on the net, the Lh'owon Ar'kives. The Bungie.org Archives are still online and functioning as usual. Please be patient while they work to resolve their technical difficulties.
11.1.2001
Owen
Well, I guess that 'soon' was the wrong word, but here we are. There's been slight signs of life in the forum, but no major clamoring for updates, so I blame the readers ;)

I have added the Marathon 2 for Windows demo to our downloads section. If you don't already have a copy of M2/Win, and are having trouble finding one (it's not as common as it once was), then go get the demo. I'm not sure which, if any, of our maps will work with only the demo files, but if you want to give it a shot, let us know how it goes.
09.12.2001
Owen
I have removed yesterday's post, as it was not on topic, and everyone has already had plenty of opinions and reports on yesterday's events here in the US.

We should resume normal news posting soon.
08.15.2001
Scott
When forum posters begin to write messages about how quiet it is, one knows it's time for another update... ;)

So, today we bring you the rest of the maps from Dave Kozimor, all of which are netmaps. Go take a look. Also, Dave's address has been updated to his new one.

Unfortunately, I've heard that the Electric Infinity site has disappeared off of the net. We now need to find another place to host SDL files. Perhaps if none appear soon, we will begin hosting them here.

Also, Owen should be back from his vacation soon, so expect to see him posting again.
07.31.2001
Scott
Today, after a long hiatus, we bring you another solo map.

This time, Shrai Khal by Dave Kozimor is the new map available in the solo section.

Oh, and if you're wondering where all the old news went, well, I got rid of it so this page would load faster. Don't worry, you'll have access to it again when the "old news" link is reactivated, which should be soon.