: I hope I'm not saying too much here, but Ernie's strength is not in original
: map design. He is absolutely superb at map redesign - so much so that
: I've been trying to talk Chris Lund (unsuccessfully) into letting Ernie
: loose to tweak Rubicon X just enough to throw the experienced player off
: guard. I can't think of anyone better to work on a Tycho plank for
: Rubicon, either. What I'm getting at is that if you're expecting something
: really original, you may be disappointed. A lot of what you'll see in
: WMaiD will be familiar, as if in a dream. Much of his map layouts are
: adapted from other scenarios, but his modifications are seamless and the
: implementation is brilliant. Just because a stretch of a map looks like
: something you've played before doesn't mean you'll have any advantage in
: playing it over the novice. Although WMaiD may not go down in the annals
: of Marathondom as one of the greatest, it will be a blast to play.
...s..starving...
But seriously, that all sounds great, and honestly, I'm not really sure exactly what to expect, but knowing Ernie, and what his priorities are, I know it's really gonna be good. I mean:
-New and Familiar creatures,
-All new Terminal graphics,
-Orig. and Updated texture sets based upon M: Rubicon's, M: Red
-all new, original Menus, Music, Chapter Screens,
-and 30 new Solo levels, all wraped [sic] into a non linear storyline.
and the rest of the content on the site is really something to whet any 'thoner's appetite. Also, word on the street says Wmaid's gonna have the coolest pistol ever, can't wait to see it. ;)
The will to redesign, tweak, rework, cancel release, postpone, rinse and repeat are not only expected from a scenario, but actual, bona fide tradition. Had Bungie not done the same with Marathon would be here even discussing this? It's the attention to detail and the hard work and intelligence that goes into all things Marathon that keeps us coming back, and because of such, we've learned to be patient, because, more often than not, it is worth the wait. The kitchen comment was a friendly jab in the ribs, as we all know, nothing moves too fast in Marathondom, with the exception of the Beasts in RED, and perhaps forum contributors tripping over themselves to respond to a post by, oh dear god, an actual female.
I'd rather have a comprehensive blast-to-play scenario three months from now than a hasty collection of maps held together by a weak storyline and linear plot a year ago.
