Who the hell is Mark? /SPOILER

[Lockmort]

I live in Europe and own a ps3 so when I finally got to play episode 2 last night, it has been over 2 months since I last took a look at our survivors.

I could remember everyone, and recalled most of the decisions I made from episode 1. But I had no memories of Mark at all. I just couldn't figure out where he came from. Did I miss something from episode 1?

It's just now that I realized that Mark wasn't in episode 1 at all. That's a bit lame. Introducing a new character like that, especially after knowing everything that happens to him. Why couldn't we just have both Doug and Carly alive, that would have been way more emotional. Now I didn't really care for Mark, so when shit hit the fan I still thought it was pretty awesome, but it didn't have the impact it could have had. Bit of a shame.

Or am I missing something here?

[jaybreezy]

I thought they did a good job at making you like Mark enough to feel for him when what happened, happened.

The story skips three months and the group met Mark within that time. So no you didn't miss anything but they let you know how he came to be let into the group.

[magzhi]

Just talk with him in game. He is gonna tells everything about himself throughtout the chapter.

[Vainamoinen]

Originally Posted by Lockmort

that's a bit lame. Introducing a new character like that, especially after knowing everything that happens to him. [...]

Or am I missing something here?

Maybe elementary narrative techniques, but it really is a matter of taste.

There were three months between the happenings in episode 1 and 2. Months in which probably far more happened than sleeping and starving - and that includes new acquaintances. We still get an introduction of Mark with the same level of detail as with as Carley and Doug - it's just that Lee already knows him. From the perspective of storytelling, that is not only all right - it's also necessary to vary the way characters are introduced into the story. From the standpoint of character exposition, all's well for me here.

Killing the new guy off before the end of the episode however,, that could be seen as a bit cheap. He didn't even wear a red shirt!!

[mtdew332]

Originally Posted by Vainamoinen

He didn't even wear a red shirt!!

Now THAT is funny!

[Jazzy]

Yep, I agree that both introducing a new character offscreen is fine and that killing off the new guy was a bit cheap, it sets a bad precedence for future characters introduced offscreen. Plus, I liked Mark!

[Master of Aeons]

In replaying it, they sort of bludgeon you repeatedly with Mark's backstory.

"You shouldn't have opened that door, Mark."
"The one to the commissary where we met and I gave you food? Yeah, but I'd be eaten instead by now."

"Shut up, Mark! The only reason you're here is because you had food!"
"Yes, you're referring to us meeting in the air force produce aisle. You shot a zombie off me and we all ate steaks right after; good times."

"Oh god, it's Mark! He's a zombie!"
"It's ironic, really. After all that stuff I said when we first met about how I like to stay clean and couldn't imagine being rotted and icky."

[BSM]

Originally Posted by mtdew332

Now THAT is funny!

Wait, I don't get it.

[mtdew332]

Originally Posted by BSM

Wait, I don't get it.

You must not be old enough, its a Star Trek reference.
EDIT: For clarity, just so you know.
On the original Star Trek show, when they beamed off the ship to somewhere else, the crew member in the red shirt always seemed to be the "extra" in the episode who dies.

[iosepusmagus]

I wish TT gives us a patch that has another narrative branch where Mark lives, or at least survives his amputation. RIP Mark, you used to an adventurer like Lee, but then you took an arrow to the shoulder.

[mtdew332]

I actually liked the way it went.
Even with no legs and dead, Mark still helps out his friends in the group by saving Kat.

Talk about ultimate sacrifice and loyalty.

And who wasn't shocked to see him drag himself to dinner.

[kikyouchanx]

Mark saved the day, nuff said

[Xarne]

damn someone beat me to the red shirt reference! That is the very first thing that came to mind when I saw this post lol - and frankly he's a liability- running his mouth off the the St Johns about Kat being a Vet; spilling out your personal opinions about Larry.

[aguyuno]

[Spoilers below for ep 2. If you didn't finish, don't read.]

Is anyone else as irritated as I am that we didn't get to play the bit where they rescue mark, but instead are just "Yeah btw, here's some new guy, have fun"? I get that they randomly at one point say where he came from, but what the hell? Why did they even GO to the airforce base in the first place? I assume it must've been tied to Lilly, but still.

Just seems like weak-ass development work. Especially if you're inventing a character just to kill him off. That's bad writing on par with "giant monster end battle".

[Goldrock]

whats so weak about it? there was a few month maybe a week or 2 inbetween the episodes just like a tv show there is stuff going on that we are unaware of.

[aguyuno]

Originally Posted by Goldrock

whats so weak about it? there was a few month maybe a week or 2 inbetween the episodes just like a tv show there is stuff going on that we are unaware of.

When was the last time you watched a show where they come back from a season and say "Hey here's this guy on our team, we're going to act like he's always been there and not even try to explain where he came from beyond 'Oh he was in the army' or something"? Cause that show must have suuuucked.

[Zeruis]

It is presumed that a few group members went to the air force base to look for supplies. While there, they found Mark. The only reason he was invited to the group, was that Mark had food and supplies, which the group was lacking. As for the actual gameplay of the air force base, I guess that we will never get to play it.

[tonyyy123]

[SPOILERS]
Dont read this comment if you havent completed episode 2!
yeah i agree with you. But adding Mark out of thin air wasnt bad writing i mean its been done before. But killing him off in the same episode was bad writing, i didnt care at all if he died because we werent given more time with him to care about him. Unlike when Larry was killed off i was definately shocked.

[aguyuno]

Originally Posted by Zeruis

It is presumed that a few group members went to the air force base to look for supplies. While there, they found Mark. The only reason he was invited to the group, was that Mark had food and supplies, which the group was lacking. As for the actual gameplay of the air force base, I guess that we will never get to play it.

Like I said, I know they tried to explain it within the confines of the game with convenient dialogue ("The only reason YOU'RE here..." from Lilly, for example). But that seems ridiculously weak. I mean really, even if it had been as simple as him showing up at the beginning all "Oh hey, I've got food at my base, come get it". Or heck, why couldn't HE be the guy we save from the bear trap at the beginning?

[aguyuno]

Fair enough@thread merging, I guess. Still seems weak though.

Edit: The Mark thing seems weak, I mean