Re: Bad Machine

[Admiral Jota <jota@shell2.tiac.net>]

Kory Heath <kheath@best.com> wrote:
> [endgame spoilers for Bad Machine...]



















> Admiral Jota wrote:
> > Avrom Faderman <Avrom_Faderman@email.msn.com> wrote:
> > 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?

Yes.

> 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?)

The other ending I've reached so far does involve the Thinker, although
somewhat tangentially. I'm pretty sure there's another end involving the
area on the other side of the lasers, but I haven't solved that one yet,
if it exists.

> 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.  

That's how I feel; I rather like the way this game is written. The
enigmatic style of most of the text depicts the way the real world is
being reflected in the mind of Mover 005, and the endings fit in perfectly
with the rest of the game.

> 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!)

Heh. Dan has told me that the daylight ending is his favorite; I
personally rather like the the other one I've found.

> 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*.

Well, I don't know about that. With respect to the ending discussed so
far, it's not a 'find the object/defeat the villain' story, but that's a
very Good Thing(tm) IMO. The story is the hapless hero, trying to escape
the confines of the oppressive world around it.

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

I'm just talking about the hint file.

-- 
                                     _/<-= Admiral  Jota =->\_
                                      \<-= jota@tiac.net =->/