Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro


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Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro

Posted By: Philtron Date: 12/8/20 4:14 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro (General-RADIX)

: They're still mandatory to progress, which to me raises the question of what
: they're doing there if they're borderline non-canon. (As opposed to the
: Vidmaster and carnage break levels which are clearly out-of-universe and,
: well, optional.) At the very least, none of the dev comments I've read
: indicated that they're supposed to be totally out-of-universe.
: And Grek Kirkpatrick did say that the dream levels' narrative(s) directly
: pertaining to the SO is a valid reading , so, there's that.
: I guess it's the specific idea of "they're not plot-relevant, therefore
: they literally didn't happen " that really bugs me here, as even for
: the purpose of this discussion, I feel that's treading close to
: numbers-only.
I think the mistake you're making is looking at story as only "plot and characters". Storytelling involves a lot more than just that.
If you're reading a book and the narration states "The main character opened the door" do you think there's an actual literal voice saying this out loud to the characters? Or do you understand that it doesn't literally happen but it's still part of the story?
Some books start off a chapter with a quotation like, "'Sometimes to truly live, you must truly die.' - Some Guy, 1219". Do you think those words are literally being said in the story? Or do you get that they don't literally happen, they're just supposed to set a mood or tone for us?
Here's one mainstream example. In Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" novel, the main character meets various actual gods and supernatural beings who have immigrated to America. Periodically there are chapters that have nothing to do with those characters or the plot. These chapters deal with characters and events that don't directly connect to the main plot at all. Their purpose in storytelling however is to reinforce and expand on the themes of being an immigrant, adjusting to new cultures, maintain your traditions and identity as you simultaneously have to adapt to a new physical and cultural environment. Those chapters aren't literally or directly related to the main plot of the novel. They also are not symbolically connected, either. They are still part of the storytelling, though.
I think Infinity was engaging in some sophisticated storytelling techniques that most games still haven't dealt with.

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: I think the mistake you're making is looking at story as only "plot and : characters". Storytelling involves a lot more than just that. : If you're reading a book and the narration states "The main character : opened the door" do you think there's an actual literal voice saying : this out loud to the characters? Or do you understand that it doesn't : literally happen but it's still part of the story? : Some books start off a chapter with a quotation like, "'Sometimes to : truly live, you must truly die.' - Some Guy, 1219". Do you think : those words are literally being said in the story? Or do you get that they : don't literally happen, they're just supposed to set a mood or tone for : us? : Here's one mainstream example. In Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" : novel, the main character meets various actual gods and supernatural : beings who have immigrated to America. Periodically there are chapters : that have nothing to do with those characters or the plot. These chapters : deal with characters and events that don't directly connect to the main : plot at all. Their purpose in storytelling however is to reinforce and : expand on the themes of being an immigrant, adjusting to new cultures, : maintain your traditions and identity as you simultaneously have to adapt : to a new physical and cultural environment. Those chapters aren't : literally or directly related to the main plot of the novel. They also are : not symbolically connected, either. They are still part of the : storytelling, though. : I think Infinity was engaging in some sophisticated storytelling techniques : that most games still haven't dealt with.

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Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Philtron	12/7/20 5:53 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	General-RADIX	12/7/20 6:12 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Philtron	12/7/20 7:23 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	pfhore	12/7/20 8:05 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	General-RADIX	12/7/20 9:51 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Durandal_1707	12/8/20 3:07 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	General-RADIX	12/8/20 8:49 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	General-RADIX	12/7/20 9:45 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Godot	12/7/20 11:38 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Philtron	12/8/20 4:14 a.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	General-RADIX	12/8/20 4:51 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	VikingBoyBilly	12/8/20 11:19 a.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Philtron	12/8/20 4:29 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	VikingBoyBilly	12/9/20 4:11 a.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	VikingBoyBilly	12/9/20 4:17 a.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Durandal_1707	12/9/20 5:01 a.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	VikingBoyBilly	12/9/20 7:00 a.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Aaron Freed	12/9/20 4:57 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	VikingBoyBilly	12/10/20 2:00 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Bob-B-Q	12/10/20 8:31 a.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Forrest of B.org	12/7/20 11:44 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Forrest of B.org	12/7/20 11:50 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	General-RADIX	12/8/20 1:15 a.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Durandal_1707	12/8/20 3:29 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	General-RADIX	12/8/20 5:56 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Philtron	12/8/20 4:05 a.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Durandal_1707	12/8/20 3:33 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Philtron	12/8/20 4:35 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	pfhore	12/8/20 7:42 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Philtron	12/10/20 6:45 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	General-RADIX	12/10/20 8:16 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Philtron	12/12/20 8:42 a.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Godot	12/11/20 12:07 a.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Bob-B-Q	12/11/20 8:23 a.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Durandal_1707	12/11/20 1:57 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	pfhore	12/11/20 1:24 a.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	Godot	12/7/20 11:24 p.m.
Re: Marathon Infinity: the Story: the Intro	VikingBoyBilly	12/8/20 10:42 a.m.



	Your Name:
	Your E-Mail Address:
	Subject:
	Message: : I think the mistake you're making is looking at story as only "plot and : characters". Storytelling involves a lot more than just that. : If you're reading a book and the narration states "The main character : opened the door" do you think there's an actual literal voice saying : this out loud to the characters? Or do you understand that it doesn't : literally happen but it's still part of the story? : Some books start off a chapter with a quotation like, "'Sometimes to : truly live, you must truly die.' - Some Guy, 1219". Do you think : those words are literally being said in the story? Or do you get that they : don't literally happen, they're just supposed to set a mood or tone for : us? : Here's one mainstream example. In Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" : novel, the main character meets various actual gods and supernatural : beings who have immigrated to America. Periodically there are chapters : that have nothing to do with those characters or the plot. These chapters : deal with characters and events that don't directly connect to the main : plot at all. Their purpose in storytelling however is to reinforce and : expand on the themes of being an immigrant, adjusting to new cultures, : maintain your traditions and identity as you simultaneously have to adapt : to a new physical and cultural environment. Those chapters aren't : literally or directly related to the main plot of the novel. They also are : not symbolically connected, either. They are still part of the : storytelling, though. : I think Infinity was engaging in some sophisticated storytelling techniques : that most games still haven't dealt with.
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