Marathon A.I.s

Megabot · Post by **Megabot** » 2008-07-01 10:41pm

As far as I know, no one has done fanart of all three original A.I.s of the colony ship UESC Marathon from the old computer game Marathon, so I thought I'd give it a shot, each with their own Halo-esque holographic avatars.

Cortana's got absolutely nothing on these three...

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2008-07-02 12:02am

Durandal looks way too young.

And just out of curiosity, did you pilfer my avatar?

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2008-07-02 07:24am

I have to argee with Durandal; Durandal looks too young. He probably needs a beard.

Megabot · Post by **Megabot** » 2008-07-02 07:32am

Durandal wrote:Durandal looks way too young.

And just out of curiosity, did you pilfer my avatar?

You're probably right; I still have a long ways to go in drawing faces. Perhaps you could send me a photo of yourself to base it on?

And I got the Marathon symbol from http://marathon.bungie.org/story/, so in a way, yes.

Ford Prefect wrote:I have to argee with Durandal; Durandal looks too young. He probably needs a beard.

Or perhaps a less boyish-looking haircut?

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2008-07-02 07:39am

I think it'd depend on what point in the game it is. If it's aboard Marathon before it all goes down, I think Durandal could look 'young' quite easily. Later, when he's got his modified warship and is totally insane, he'd look different.

Like SHODAN.

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2008-07-02 07:42am

Megabot wrote: Or perhaps a less boyish-looking haircut?

I'm standing by beard.

I don't know why, but when I think Durandal, at least later on, I think of him looking like Moses.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2008-07-02 07:44am

I imagined him starting normal (like that guy) and becoming increasingly gaunt and haggard, even as his appearance became more flamboyant (like his speech).

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2008-07-02 07:53am

Stark wrote:I imagined him starting normal (like that guy) and becoming increasingly gaunt and haggard, even as his appearance became more flamboyant (like his speech).

Yeah, that's pretty good as an image. I sort of imagine a somewhat skeletal figure, albeit one in some seriously kingly attire. Well played Stark, well played.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2008-07-02 11:47am

I can't imagine Durandal in a human form. Indeed, even if the AIs of the Marathon had had them, I doubt he would have ever used it after going rampant. You can't put a human face on him, and he wouldn't want one even if you tried.

salm · Post by **salm** » 2008-07-02 02:32pm

Nice, but it´s very hard to read the "Leela" and the stuff that is right below her.

YT300000 · Post by **YT300000** » 2008-07-02 10:06pm

DPDarkPrimus wrote:I can't imagine Durandal in a human form. Indeed, even if the AIs of the Marathon had had them, I doubt he would have ever used it after going rampant. You can't put a human face on him, and he wouldn't want one even if you tried.

Exactly. Even a voice is pushing it.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2008-07-03 11:29am

is it bad that I'm thinking that Tycho would look better as the Tycho from Penny Arcade?

White Haven · Post by **White Haven** » 2008-07-03 11:39am

The Yosemite Bear wrote:is it bad that I'm thinking that Tycho would look better as the Tycho from Penny Arcade?

You walk up to a terminal and it just prints 'Roll for Initiative' and you know you're fucked.

Vanas · Post by **Vanas** » 2008-07-03 04:07pm

If I was going to be really, deathly, pedantic, I'd say that Durandal does have a face.

He also has a voice in the manual, IIRC. Seems to tend towards the mad scientisty.

Finally, the image link's not working for me.

Megabot · Post by **Megabot** » 2008-07-03 11:08pm

YT300000 wrote:
DPDarkPrimus wrote:I can't imagine Durandal in a human form. Indeed, even if the AIs of the Marathon had had them, I doubt he would have ever used it after going rampant. You can't put a human face on him, and he wouldn't want one even if you tried.
Exactly. Even a voice is pushing it.

I find it hard to believe that Durandal communicates with the cyborg entirely using conveniently-placed computer terminals (which seem more like a game mechanic than anything, like pattern buffers). I prefer to think of him beaming voice messages directly into the player's brain, like Deus Ex's infolink.

And anyone who has played the third party scenario Marathon Rubicon X (all pfhor of you

) will recognize these three A.I.'s: Haller, the A.I. of the warship UESC Chimera; Lysander, the Dangi Corporation's research A.I.; and Charlie, the operations A.I. for the UESC wing of the research station Salinger. My personal favorite is Lysander. Even though his villainy is almost cartoon-like, he easily rivals Durandal himself in terms of memorable lines.

"You are one painfully obedient fool. Painfully because you will suffer at my hands for this intrusion. Fool because you believe you will not..."

Havok · Post by **Havok** » 2008-07-03 11:41pm

I normally try to be positive, but I don't like these at all. The bodies of the characters look too funky and the writing underneath each looks too blurry and is hard to read.

Megabot · Post by **Megabot** » 2008-07-04 08:18am

havokeff wrote:I normally try to be positive, but I don't like these at all. The bodies of the characters look too funky and the writing underneath each looks too blurry and is hard to read.

I pretty much agree with you; I don't like how the second one turned out very much. It was rushed and I did it just for completeness-sake. The first one I'm (a bit) more proud of.

Vanas · Post by **Vanas** » 2008-07-04 12:55pm

I like the style you've got on that drawing, but yeah, the text is a little funky. Looks pretty decent as a whole, better than I could do.

As for voices, from the Manual Durandal's a dick over voice comms too.

During the daydream, you barely notice the change to zero gravity or the instruments and lights signifying the rendezvous of the shuttle with the Marathon. But as a warning light goes on, and Durandal's voice comes over the communicator, you jump to attention.

"Docking bay one: decompression completed. Mirata this is Durandal, abort landing. Repeat. Abort landing," a faint chuckle. A chuckle which means that something has gone horribly wrong.

You have just freed your arms when over the Battle Armor communicator, Durandal remarks dryly: "That little computer always did have impeccable timing. I wonder if I should let the Aliens know that you aren't just space debris? Hmmmnn..."

"You can't do that! Damn you, computer!"

Durandal chuckles again, "Ah, lucky you. I've found a new distraction. I am going to play with the Alien virtual parasites. I'll look you up when you arrive..." You can almost imagine the face of a wicked computer with its eyes wide and its lips folding out in a grotesque smile. A smile which reminds you of something from your past, but you can't remember exactly what it is.

YT300000 · Post by **YT300000** » 2008-07-04 02:34pm

Megabot wrote:
YT300000 wrote:
DPDarkPrimus wrote:I can't imagine Durandal in a human form. Indeed, even if the AIs of the Marathon had had them, I doubt he would have ever used it after going rampant. You can't put a human face on him, and he wouldn't want one even if you tried.
Exactly. Even a voice is pushing it.
I find it hard to believe that Durandal communicates with the cyborg entirely using conveniently-placed computer terminals (which seem more like a game mechanic than anything, like pattern buffers). I prefer to think of him beaming voice messages directly into the player's brain, like Deus Ex's infolink.

This is more or less the interpretation I had myself, with the possible caveat that computer terminal communication would be required during the middle of the invasion due to S'pht jamming, or the like.

On another note, since it turns out Durandal actually does have a voice, who would be a good choice to play him in a film? The voice has to be sinister, but not blatantly evil, and maybe a touch childish. Maybe John Cusack could pull it off (think the early manipulative parts of Runaway Jury)?