Re: Bad Machine

[Kory Heath <kheath@best.com>]

[endgame spoilers for Bad Machine...]














Admiral Jota wrote:
> Avrom Faderman <Avrom_Faderman@email.msn.com> wrote:
> > I've finished the game.  It *is* a *fairly* conventional story structure
> > (though neither of the things you suggested), but still a remarkable game,
> > and one of the best ending texts I've seen in a long time (not because the
> > content is surprising, but the effect of the form is really quite
> > remarkable).
> 
> You may want to play the game again though; there is more than one
> 'winning' ending. (I've seen two; Dan has told me there are others.)

Ok, I'm finally going to break down and ask about this.  (I didn't want
to, but I haven't been able to get anywhere else on my own steam.)  I've
been able to break through the south wall near the lifter and go
outside, where it is "very bright, and very quiet".  Is this one of the
"winning" endings?

If it isn't, could someone give me a gentle nudge in the right
direction?  What should I be working on? (The thinker or the lasers in
Area 6?  The differently magnetized catwalk areas?)

If it is, I'd be interested in hearing how other people feel about
this.  My own feelings are mixed (or will be, if this is in fact an
"ending" :).  On the one hand, it's a gutsy move by the author, and I
like that.  On the other hand, I'm not sure I like the total lack of
closure that this has resulted in for me.  I've been sitting in limbo
for weeks now, with no clue about whether I've reached an 'ending', or
still have lots to explore.  For all I know, there *is* a conventional
"kill the queen" story in there; if so, I'd like to see it (even if I
end up liking *this* ending better!)

If this is an "ending", and if all the other "endings" are similar in
style, I wouldn't call this a conventional IF story structure *at all*.

> I did run into a bug with the lifter, but it was one that works fine as a
> puzzle, since there is a sensible in-game solution to get past the bug
> (which might not be readily clear to be a bug if you haven't looked at the
> hints/walkthrough).

Is there a full walkthrough available?  Or are you referring to the
hints.txt that comes with the game?

-- 
Kory Heath
kheath@best.com