                      PFHRENZY
     THE ULTIMATE MAP COLLECTION FOR MARATHON


Hi and thank you for purchasing this CD.  Youve just bought THE largest collection of Marathon-related resources, a culmination of a few months worth of downloading, e-mailing, sorting, and (this was the hard bit) play testing.  I reckon if you take the time to play every map included in this collection youll keep yourself busy for all of 1996 AT LEAST!!!


WHATS ON THE CD

OK.  On the CD youll find the following files:

I. Maps for both Marathon 1 and Marathon 2
  	                    A. Network
				                   B. Solo
								                                1. Single levels
								                                2. Entire Packages, such as Devil in a Blue Dress
				                   C. Demonstration Maps
II. Sounds
III. Shapes
IV. Patches
V. Physics Models for both Marathon 1 and 2
VI. Demos
				                   A. Marathon 1
				                   B. Marathon 2
VII. Marathon Magazines
VIII. Editors
				                   A. Sound
				                   B. Shape
				                   C. Music
				                   D. Map
IX. Bungie Catalog
X. Graphics
XI. Netlink Remote

Before you start using ANY resources on this CD, well warn you once and only once to:

BACK UP ALL OF YOUR ORIGINAL MARATHON FILES!!!!!

Well accept no responsibility for anyone who stuffs around with their original files, kills them, then finds their original installation disks being used by their younger sibling as frisbees or to prop up their desk.  Back up your original Marathon files and put them away in a safe partition - you have been warned!!

HOW TO USE THE RESOURCES ON THIS CD

MARATHON 1

When you installed Marathon onto your hard drive, youd have found 5 files in the Marathon folder.  They are:

 Marathon
 Map
 Shapes
 Sounds
 Music

Marathon  will not run if any of these file are missing, nor will it run if any of these files have been renamed.  Marathon 1 is only happy if these files are all in the same folder, with their proper names.  The only other file that will be read by the Marathon application is a Physics Model, which is explained below.

Map

Therefore when you want to try a new map, rename (by clicking on the name once and holding the cursor over the name for a few seconds until you are able to edit the name) or move your current map, and move the new map into the folder with the other Marathon files.  It may be necessary to rename your new map Map as a lot of the time the Author gives the Map another name.  If the map was the only file in the map folder on the CD (besides the Read Me) then you can double click on Marathon and away you go!!!

Shapes, Sounds and Music

Some maps also have new shapes, sounds or music files with them.  Like the Map file, rename or move the original files from the Marathon folder and copy the new files in, ensuring their names are consistent with the list above.  There are a number of shapes,  sounds and music files which we would have LOVED to include on this CD, such as Simpson's sounds and shapes, but this would have resulted in us declaring the Australian version of Chapter 11 after a couple of phone calls from 20th Century Fox and friends.  D'oh!!!

Physics Model

Often some of these smart authors have decided to change the games physics model.  What this means is that they have come up with a new set of  parameters for the weapons, eg. increase the damage caused by the pistol, make the SPNKR rapid fire with each clip holding 100 missiles etc. etc.  There is a physics model editor on the CD and you may enjoy fiddling around with these parameters yourself.

To use a physics model, copy it to the Marathon Folder and ensure that the name of the physics model is Physics Model.

Patches

Sometimes, instead of replacing the original files, the author supplies a patch file.  This edits the original Marathon files and alters them PERMANENTLY.  This is why it is important to back up your original files, so after youve finished with the edited version of the game you can throw it away and make another copy of the original files.

To use the patches, simply double click the patch and choose the file you wish to patch.

Terminal Editors

Some maps include a file for editing the messages appearing in the Marathon Terminals.  These usually appear as a resedit file and required resedit to install.  This is usually a delicate process and I recommend you only attempt it if youre a) an experienced resedit user or b) feeling lucky.  If you still want to do it please follow the instructions given in the associated Read Me.  Once again ensure youve backed up the original files.

Films

Some authors have included films of their exploits playing their levels in network mode.  I personally think this is a fantastic idea and just wish more authors did this.  One of the greatest pleasures map authors get is when someone sends them films of battles fought on one of their levels.  I encourage you all to save any mega-battles you have with your favourite levels and email them to the author - theyll love you for it!!


If, like me, you quickly find the number of Marathon related files floating around your hard drive multiplying exponentially, you may want to check out some of the applications in the Help folder.  These apps will assist you in sorting out these files into different folders and keeping tabs on which Map is currently called Map at this particular moment.  Ive never used any of them personally, but then again my bedroom has never seen a vacuum cleaner before so make up your own mind.

MARATHON 2

Luckily for us Bungie realised that people were making their own maps, sounds, physics models etc. and added an Environment setting to the preferences, allowing players to choose their map, shapes, sounds and physics model before starting.  Note that the Physics models must be in the folder named Physics Models to be chosen.

MAPS

The quality of maps included on this CD vary greatly.  We debated whether to write comments about each map, but decided that any comments we made would be entirely subjective and what we thought was great may get the big thumbs down by you.  Also, play testing and writing reviews of all these maps would have meant this CD wouldnt have been finished for Christmas 1998!!

We did however include the comments written by Claude Errera (thanks Claude) about some of the maps.  These comments can be found in the Marathon 1 and Marathon 2 maps folders and can also be found at his web site called Marathon Hyperarchive Northwest with the address:

http://www.ese.ogi.edu/pub/entertainment/marathon/

If you are able to, send your constructive criticisms to the authors by email - most LOVE to get feedback, including any ideas you may have on how their maps may be improved.

Some of the maps normally run on PPCs only, and we have done our best to categorise these.  What this means is that if you run these maps on your trusty 630 and the darn thing crashes on ya, the map MAY include a zero length polygon.  For some reason PPCs can handle this, but 68k machines cant.  To get around this run the most excellent app called Ignore Zero Divides, which can be found in the Maps and Help folders.

Before you start copying maps/physics models etc. over to your Marathon folder, please read the accompanying Read Me.  This will (hopefully) give you a brief run down of the map(s), and information about the author.  Often the Read Me has information that is crucial to you.  You have been warned!!

We have split the maps into 4 broad categories:  Net Maps, Solo Maps, Solo Packages, and Demonstration Maps.

NET MAPS

As the name suggests, these maps have been designed with network games in mind.  This does not mean they wont be any good as Solo maps, but often network maps dont contain any monsters and it tends to get a little boring after wandering around a level for 10 minutes not being able to blow anything or anyone away.  If the maps here can be played Solo, youll find copies of them in the SOLO MAPS folder as well.

Some maps are designed to be played as either network or solo levels.  The difference being that if you want to kill some of your friends, when you go to Gather Network Game, you turn off the monsters.  Only do this if the Read Me recommends you do so or you find there are too many aliens around.

SOLO MAPS

Once again, before playing these maps, make sure you read the Read Me.  Often youll find out that there is more than one level in the Map file, although the levels are actually unconnected.  The way to start at any level you want is by holding down the command and option keys whilst clicking on Begin New Game.  A dialogue box will appear which will let you choose the level on which you wish to start on, with 0 being the first level.

COMBO PACK

There are a few map packages on the CD which will be like playing the original Marathon all over again.  I highly recommend checking these out as they have been carefully put together by people who have had the benefit of playing and editing Marathon for over a year.  If you thought Marathon 1 solo was dead, playing these packages will convince you otherwise.   Devil in a Blue Dress is the first group map project release by the MMMG (Marathon Map Makers Guild), co-ordinate by Bill Catambay entirely by e-mail!!  If you wish to participate in future group map projects and want to join their mailing list, e-mail Bill (Catambay@aol.com).  Another polished package I can recommend is Operation Tantalus by Jim Brewster, David Dericotte and Hamish Sinclair.  It has a home page at: http://www.unm.edu/~brew/seth.html

DEMONSTRATION MAPS

There are also some maps which authors have written to show other map makers how to so various tricks when producing maps.  If youre this way inclined youre encouraged to check them out.

EDITORS

There are a large number of editors on this CD, which can enable you to create or edit maps/ sounds/ shapes/ music/ physics models etc. etc.

The only thing I'll say about editors here is that if you want to make more Marathon 2 maps in a hurry, open your favourite Marathon 1 map with Pfhorte 2.0a8 and save it.  This should automatically convert the Map to one that can be opened and played with Marathon 2.

GRAPHICS

A collection of pics done by the great Craig Mullins, also used on the cover of the CD.  Browse and be in awe.

NETLINK REMOTE

This beautiful shareware control panel put together by Joe Kloss will allow you to play your friends over the modem WITHOUT the use of ARA!  In fact, it is meant to be faster than ARA for Marathon and FA 18 Hornet - even playable with 14.4 modems.  The unregistered version of Netlink Remote will allow you to connect for up to 10 minutes.  This restriction is removed once you and your friend have registered your copy.

ALL THE REST

As you will have no doubt noticed, there is much more to this disk than can be fully explained here, anyway the authors of the software do a much better job explaining thier work than we ever could.  Just remember to read the Read me's and you shouldn't have any problems.  Good luck - and remember...  it's not how many kills per minute you get, it's HOW FAR THEY FLY WHEN YOU SPNK THEM!!!!


                                         OK, ONE MORE TIME
BACK UP ALL OF YOUR ORIGINAL MARATHON FILES!!!!!

This CD ROM is  1996 4th Degree.  All rights reserved.  However original authors retain their individual copyright.
