THE M1 MAP CONVERSION PROJECT.

Read Me version 1.4 (30 August 2010)

The enclosed map or map-pack is part of The M1 Map Conversion Project. You must have a current version of Aleph One and also the M1A1 Special Edition package.

You can get completely set-up in modern, hi-res and hi-def multi-platform M1A1 by following these links:

Current Aleph One
http://sourceforge.net/projects/marathon/

M1A1 Special Edition for SDL (Windows, et al)
http://bit.ly/aOcrms

M1A1 Special Edition for Macintosh (i.e., Mac OSX)
http://bit.ly/9DYQMm

M1A1 Hi-Res DDS Textures by Tim Vogel
http://bit.ly/aHOfB2

M1A1 Hi-Res Misc. Items
http://www.simplici7y.com/items/m1redux-v1-0

M1A1 Hi-Res Scenery Items
http://www.simplici7y.com/items/hd-scenery-for-m1a1

If you have an old M1 map you'd like to have converted to M1A1 and included in future packs---or have a conversion suggestion---please see the e-mail address below.

Special acknowledgment to the M1A1 Team <m1a1@bungie.org> without whom there would be no M1A1.

Notes:

- The maps of The M1 Map Conversion Project are all directly converted from their original M1 versions, and as such, the conversions are specifically for use with M1A1, only. They are not compatible with any other Aleph One scenario or flavor.

- Maps are being chosen for conversion on a mostly random roster, i.e., special preference is not being given for the "legendary" or "most popular" maps and/or authors.

- The intent of this project is to preserve & celebrate the cartographers who "started it all" back when Marathon was young (fifteen years ago, as of this writing). Remember too that Marathon was originally only available on the Apple Macintosh platform, so a lot of people in the Marathon community have never seen or known these M1 maps, at all.

- The recipe for converting these maps from M1 to M1A1 is arcane; it is inexact, and can be difficult to do. It requires multiple tools (see below). At least one of these tools---"Map Demerger 1.0.1"---had to be code-modified.

- All maps are being as faithfully converted as possible. Most, if not all original texturing, weapon/monster placement, switches/buttons, platforms, lighting, annotations, and scenery will be preserved from map to map. There will be no changes made to the original design and intent unless absolutely necessary, or unless a flaw is discovered which limits the map (i.e., a convex/concave dilemma, etc.).

- Terminals, if any, are not being preserved. As the current focus of the project is primarily M1 net maps, this should present few issues, if any at all.

- As it was with the original Marathon application and maps, there are no random nor ambient sounds on any maps.

- Again, the initial focus of the project is individual M1 net maps and also M1 net-packs, both famous and obscure. Solos are not being converted at this time unless they are specifically of a "demonstration" or "walkthrough" nature. Also, as with "Night on the Town," if the solo is simplistic and straightforward with no terms nor level jumps nor storyline, it will be included in the initial wave of conversions.

- Screenshots of these maps have been created using the April 2010 version of A1, with the highest of the DDS hi-res M1A1 textures installed, and also the hi-res scenery suite along with the improved "StarScape" backdrop file, available here: http://www.simplici7y.com/items/m1a1-starscape-dds

- Some in the current Marathon community will be very surprised at some of the advanced techniques and clever design these early cartographers employed: There are tricks and treats galore, some of which (sadly) appear to be the single works of unknown or anonymous authors.

- In each of these conversions, you will find that two same-name versions of each individual M1 netmap appears in your A1 selection list, followed by either "(+A)" or "(-A)". For example: If the map is called "Mineshaft," in the selection list you will see "Mineshaft (+A)" and also "Mineshaft (-A)". The (+A) signifies the inclusion of aliens and BoBs; the (-A) has no aliens nor BoBs. Each map is in fact identical to the other, excepting the inclusion/exclusion of aliens/BoBs. This was done for multiple reasons, not the least of which is the fact that many of you will want to walk through these M1 level unhindered by aliens and BoBs, to examine the mapmaking ideas and designs of your predecessors. Then having done that, you can switch to the aliens and BoBs version, and shoot everything you see. This frees you also from requiring having a netgame hosted, and it also requires no script/hack to remove or surpress aliens.

- All conversions, by popular demand, now include the "standard" M1A1 physics, fully merged.

- All uploads will include the texts of the original READ ME files, with their outdated e-mails and dead links and all. Additional information, such as the conversion dates and original dates of release will also be included.

- All uploads will include the original M1 maps, untouched.

- As of this version of this READ ME, some help would be appreciated in creating the often used (in M1) "sparkly static wall" effect. Feel free to e-mail below. In the meantime, research into this matter continues.

- VERY IMPORTANT: No judgment is being made about the quality of architecture and/or playability when choosing the order and sequence of converting these ancient M1 maps. More important is the preservation of Marathon's history, as a way of giving back to the community. Having said that, with the amount of work involved here, there will be no "frivolous" M1 conversions. 


THE M1 MAP CONVERSION PROJECT TOOLS:

- A modified/code-tweaked version of Map Demerger 1.0.1 by Tomoaki Deguchi

- PfhorteFAT v1.0d31 by Steve Israelson

- Forge v1.0.4, with M1 Shapes and code-modified to support M1 names and slots

- M1 Texture Mover DR1 by Charles Lechasseur

- Marathon Map Splitter v1.0.7 by Bo Lindbergh <d88-bli@nada.kth.se>

- Drop-Info by Stephan Somogyi and Leonard Rosenthal

- Chisel v2.1.6 by Mike Trinder <chisel@chthonic.f9.co.uk> http://www.chthonic.f9.co.uk/chisel/

- M1 Object Placement Editor v1.4 (aka, MOPE) by Eric Bennett <ericb@psu.edu>

- Durandal Object Placement Editor v1.2 (aka, DOPE) by Eric Bennett <ericb@psu.edu>

- Marathon v1.2 by Bungie Software

- LiteEdit v1.0 by Kirill Levchenko <kirill@lava.net> http://www.lava.net/~kirill/

- ResEdit v2.1.4 by Apple Computer

- Scalpel v1.02 by Bo Lindbergh

- SquishDDS v1.1.3  by Da Woon Jung <engineer.dirkpitt@antichef.com>

- Atque v1.1 by Gregory Smith

- SheepShaver v2.3 by http://www.emaculation.com/ (without which *none* of this would be at all possible)


Many thanks to all who are, were, and will be part of the Marathon community.

Any questions or comments, please e-mail:

M1 Map Dude <M1MapDude@yahoo.com>

30 August 2010