Chronology Theory
From Portal Puzzle Wiki
| A major component of this article or section is speculation. The ideas and connections made here have not been confirmed by any official source. |
It should be noted that this theory has progressed from one focusing on the nature of the 'dinosaur' filenames to a theory related to the terminology of the Estimated Time Remaining, seemingly focused on biological chronology. This page is also updated with edits reserved only for grammatical clarification. As you read this page from top down the theory evolves so that readers may see the thought process that went behind each new discovery. Contact mentok in #portal if you have any questions on this mangled garbage can of mental refuse.
Contents |
[edit] A Theory on "Dinosaur" and Geochronology
Premise: certain texts that accompany the progress bar are allusions to the plot of HL2: Episode 3. The following are all direct references to geochronology are significant events in the chronology of life:
- Late Eocene
- xxxx Geological Eras (Where x = random number)
- EARLY DECEMBER, FURONGIAN EPOCH
- EARLY PRECAMBRIAN
Conjecture: I believe those four texts are references to the Combine's presence and impact on biology on the planet Earth in HL2. No connections with Portal have yet been made aside from what is already been established via in-game evidence (re: The Borealis). I assert that the list items above refer to a possible complete extermination of the human race, the Combine presence or both.
[edit] Initial Impressions and Research of "Late Eocene"
I theorize that a possible rationale for the 'dinosaur' title in many of the filenames bears some connection with the 'Late Eocene' period found in the Progress Bar page, more directly, the Estimated Time Remaining (henceforth ETR). The Late Eocene period is sometimes associated with the Grande Coupure and mass extinction of various species, the emergence of other species (involving what would evolve into modern day mammalian species) and a considerable ecological shift of various fauna.
From this, I am inclined to believe the thought of the Xen skyboxes being False Leads hold more relevance than previously established.
Update: I understand that the Xen skyboxes were included in Portal since launch, are they present in any of the HL2 games? If any help is available to find this out, it will help.
This page will be continuously updated.
[edit] Furongian Epoch & The 'Turnover Event'
After continued reading and correspondence with the ETR texts, I have learned that the Furongian Epoch (the 10th list item of the ETR) is characterized by an explosion of unique and varied lifeforms and organisms, simultaneously with continued mass extinctions of other species.
The following quote comes from Palaeos.org: As we might expect, the environmental changes in the Furongian led to a general turnover of organisms in the great shallow seas of the Cambrian. Many sources refer to these as "mass extinctions." However, we might reserve that term for a relatively small number of events of greater magnitude and severity. In a biotic turnover "event," most organisms are simply replaced by other organisms of a similar type. The mechanism of replacement is likely to involve a significant amount of natural selection by competition. A mass extinction ought to mean elimination of multiple species without competitive selection, such as by a natural disaster. These are two extremes of a continuum, but it is sometimes useful to distinguish between the two mechanisms.
I am further curious why the ETR texts make multiple references to chronology using terms most closely associated with geology and biology-specifically-that relating to evolutionary trends of time periods most closely associated with the Jurassic period, given the nature of the Combine's own evolutionary methods: assimilate and evolve other species for the purpose of their own uses.
Continued connections to the discovery of those Xen lightboxes hold my attention. I'm wanting to believe at this point that the ETR texts are plot devices, as much as they are a part of this ARG.
One of the earlier theories speculated that Dinosaur was a hint to the older nature of BBS.
[edit] Possible Misdirection
There are four geological eras in present taximony. Why the ETR makes reference to 1946 and 2871 eras is currently unknown. It is possible that these are purposefully erroneous to dissuade or misdirect any research endeavors such as the one presently engaged.
[edit] A New Discovery
I have come to a preliminary deduction that some of the ETR texts all have reference to geochronology and the extinction of various organisms and species. These events bear resemblance to the Combine assimilation of species and organisms into their collective and possibly has implications for the human species on earth in the HL universe. Other than a possible merging of the two universes between the game Portal and HL2, no direct correlation can be made from what we already know (competition between Black Mesa and Aperture Science, and the keen interest Dr. Kleiner has in the Borealis). Furthermore, it was previously assumed that this chronology was arbitrary.
One discovery however was made after further examination of The Progress Bar page. Towards the bottom you will find a link to Last-Thursday.org, a website seemingly devoted to a religious organization. 'Last Thursday' is also an ETR text listed from the BBS prior to the completion of the progress bar. Upon browsing to the contact page of Last-Thursday.org, users will see the email address 'everyone-else@last-thursday.org'.
Edit: Last Thursday I think you just got trolled
[edit] Relevance of 'everyone else'
In 2009, a movie 'Knowing' was released starring Nicholas Cage with a plot heavily revolving around chronology and numerology. The numbers found scribbled on a sheet of paper found in a time capsule laid in sequence all recorded catastrophic events of human history involving the extinction (or more appropriately eradication) of civilizations through time, and those yet to occur. The last two numbers of this sequence were '33'. Nicholas Cage's character eventually discovered that this number '33' was actually two reversed E's, and from this determined that 'EE' actually meant 'everyone else' i.e. total human extinction.
It is assumed then, that the significance of the ETR texts is more than arbitrary indicators of time remaining (or possibly elapsed) to coincide with the progress bar, and actually refer to the extermination of various species encountered by the combine. Everyone-else, as evinced by the contact address could very well mean the same as it does in the movie 'Knowing': possible human extermination. At time of writing (14:39 5 March 2010) I have dispatched an email to this address asking 'Will the humans be eradicated?'. Currently awaiting response.
[edit] GameInformer Cover & Biological / Geochronology and the new ending of Portal I
After taking a look at the GameInformer cover art, a thought occurred to me regarding the geochronology theories. A component that was briefly touched on involving the paleolithic periods referenced in the ETR texts was the emergence and proliferation of fauna (i.e. plant-life). As such, it is possible that this is what the ETR texts are referring to, having seen the GameInformer cover art (see Front Page for image) in vague detail. The Combine assimilation of creatures and actions on earth might possibly have no relevance. As such, you may (for the moment) dismiss comments made in earlier versions of this page regarding Combine extermination of the human species, but not totally.
At the same time, a second thought has come to mind: In the Portal 1 timeline, the workers of the Aperture Science (henceforth AS) labs were gassed by GLaDOS with the exception of Chell. This would could be a symbolic 'extermination' (if any connection must be made, we will link this with the 'Late Eocene' Epoch/Era) shortly after GLaDOS's AI became more and more intelligent and self-aware. This is noteworthy, as on a biological level the Eocene era was marked by the emergence of one species at the sacrificial extinction of another. The relevance of this is key as the GL of GLaDOS means 'Genetic Lifeform'.
Time passes and Chell begins her testing, eventually 'destroying' GLaDOS and the various turrets. This is reminiscent of the Furongian Epoch in which (according to the italicized quote from palaeos.org): " replacement(or possible extermination) is likely to involve a significant amount of natural selection by competition". However what is most striking regarding the connection of geochronology and the events of Portal and the new ending of Portal I is an unseen mechanical device, which is seemingly, and for all intents and purposes 'new'. Again, from palaeos.org regarding the Furongian Epoch:
In a biotic turnover "event," most organisms are simply replaced by other organisms of a similar type. In Portal terms: Chell destroys GLaDOS and the minor organisms (turrets) and is replaced.
It is widely assumed by the Portal speculators that this device which drags Chell away is in fact a new machine (organism), that has possibly replaced previously encountered devices in the AS laboratories. Being a machine (evinced by the mechanical/robotic sound effects), it is logical to conclude that these machines are similar, though not the same.
