Was Mega City only designed for the sequels?

This is how I see it. Barrens and the slums looks like the first movie, while downtown looks like the sequels.
Hardline names...hmmm, I think they are diffrent, International HL's are named after Nippon cities i belive....There are biblical names, such as, magog, apollyon. There are probably some Chicago streets names on some HL's/districts.
Some of the buildings are designed after Chicago buildings.

dont have a official source =)

Well... Debir Court is in the Slums and took an important part in "Reloaded". And somehow I think the Slums just perfectly mirror that sort of sulky, dreary mood that was during the Oracle part of it.

On the other hand, Metacortex and Morpheus' rescue in the first movie were supposed to be in Downtown (well... were in Downtown). And Downtown has this unreal illusion feeling that the whole first movie, but especially the "Downtown" scenes, had.

So you see I can't fully comprehend your point, but hey, it's your opinion

About the hardlines, all I wanted to say is that they seem to be called differently in the movies than in the game (who recognizes the chase at the end of part 1 in Stamos/Mannsen Park?).

So I thought the Wachowskis maybe thought their movie will unofficially play in Chicago, but then decided to create a separate city for the sequels (although that's weird too, they designed the whole freeway system for the chase, but didn't use it in the game).

P.S.: Adding new movie locations to the game together with a city expansion would be great as an idea, the question is, will it still be exciting if those just completely differ from their original version?

I haven't player PoN yet, so I can't say anything that.

You're completely right with the subways, though, I already posted something like this in another thread.

About the city design, check the "Ask the Devs a MxO question", where Rarebit gave some detailed information about this issue.

Oh, Sydney then

I myself, having lived in Chi-town a few times thruout my life, can safely and 100% surely say that the matrix movies took place in chicago, yes a lot of scenes were shot in sydney, but they main idea for the movie scenraio was ion chicago. In the first movie, they name off chicago streets and locations, plus when neo is runing from smith at the end of the movie, a lto of that was in chicago, cause i myslef have been down those streets he ran on, now it would be to hard to recreate all of chicago to  T for a video game, but mega city is chicago.

Yea, I thought something like this. But that was actually my original question. So, the first movie took place in Chicago and had Chicago street named off. So, that means, "Mega City" was designed for the sequels only. That should at least explain why Hel Club and Debir Court are the only authentic locations in the game (not sure about Metacortex though).

It's also more realistic because the sequels had a lot more CG environments and also an amount of panorama shots (mostly with Neo flying). Of course, they also had to create the whole freeway system with highest detail (so I wonder why it's not in the game).

Can you say the same about the sequels, i.e. that you recognize certain places?

in all three movies, the scenario\place, was chicago, but u didnt get to see that because 2 and 3 because you got that concept in one, plus it didnt show to many chase scense to hardlines, but mega city is a sim version of chicago. The only times in the movies they ever left chicago ( not talking about filming locations), was when they were in the merovigians mansion, which if i had to make a good guess to where thats located, id say in some mountian range in canada, because of the dinstance neos operator tesll him he has to travel to get back to morpheus and trinity.

to answer your question to why a lot of its not in the game, think how much time it would take to code that much information, to replicate the 2nd largest city in the US, and as far as meros mansion, that may already be coded, just not added yet, keepo an eye out, i have a feeling mega city may be expanded someday, if the game stays popular enough and brings soe enough money for them to keep it going

I can't remember asking why those locations weren't in the game.

My question was originally, if the idea of Mega City was actually born during the sequel pre-production, and not during the planning of the first part. The places the sequels took place are supposed to be in a fictional Matrix city, but it was obvious that the first movie was really placed in Chicago. And now, since I know from you that it actually takes place on real streets of Chicago, I'm sure. (Well, Morpheus was interrogated in front of a Sydney background (credit: Stack), but since you've really recognized the streets there it's defintely Chicago.)

Now, the question I pointed in my last message was if now the sequels were yet shot in Chicago and if you've really identified locations from the sequels as real places in Chicago. Now, the freeway was actually built separately for the filming (and is now recycled) and the Debir Court was also an artificial set. And the rest was CG overview from above. There were only a few times where the city was shown from a normal perspective (like the beginning of the freeway chase and a few other shots, let's say in front of Hel Club), but mostly it was special sets and virtual environments.

But I'm still asking if you've recognized anything that's really in Chicago (although this question kinda gets pointless because of the was the movie was shot), just in case you have.

But the sequels aren't supposed to take place in Chicago, it really takes place in a fictional city. It even has that Y-shape you can see on the atlas f.e.. So, the other question is how authentically it was made after that designs in MxO. Rarebit sorta answered that question, and from what I know, not strictly.

And that leads me to my original question again, was Mega City idea really only created for the sequels and not for "The Matrix"? Well, I'd say, that would it be. Although it isn't completely clear if there was still some kind of idea behind it.

Message Edited by zeroone5069 on 02-06-200606:00 AM

I know exactly that they really created Mega City for the sequels. They've created computer 3D models of it and designed it to make difficult sequences like the freeway chase or backgrounds for, let's say, the Smith fight. The Y-shape of this city is something you already could see in the beginning of "Revolutions", first in form of a Matrix icon, until it started to zoom in and revealed itself as a city. Does Chicago or any other city in the world have a shape like that? Honesty, I doubt it.

So can you really able to name off certain streets, or places that were mentioned or shown in the sequels?

However, it's obvious that Mega City wasn't created for the first part. The fact that you (and I guess lots of other people who know Chicago) recognized some places there, prove it: The first movie was obviously supposed to take place in a world like you've described it. I think, their original idea was that it's actually the world you and me are living in. So I guess the scenes were actually supposed to be somewhere in our world, maybe not obiously in Chacago or Sydney, but somewhere in an American city, which should serve the look and atmosphere they wanted for the Matrix (I mean, is there really the Metacortex building in Chicago?).

But then they started to design a fictive city for the sequels and let the movie take place there. It doesn't mean it's now supposed to be somewhere else, so the Oracle apartment is still where it was. But during the production of "The Matrix" there was no talk about the Mega City, and then, for the sequels, they've decided to create it for several reasons (I guess one of them was this game) and then "make" the first part take there either, although it originally didn't. Therefore, we now have some places from the first part here but look different, so maybe it now doesn't fit into the master plan).

However, I don't know this from an official source (so like John Gaeta said: "We really had no clue about creating a city for the first part, but then the brothers decided to make it". So maybe another knows?

One thing to note is that in MxO we only see a very small portion of the Mega City.  Who knows what else is out there. 

The most notable locations that I'd love to see:

- Lafayette Hotel
- Neo's Apartment
- Seraph's Teahouse
- Oracle's Apartment (though rumored to actually be in Richland/Westview)
- Merv's Restaraunt
- Mega City Power Plant
- Mega City Power Downtown office

And I've always been curious as to which club Neo met Trinity at.

Neo's apartment was just another apartment, I guess.

Seraph's teahouse is apparently part of the other Chinatown from Enter the Matrix, which is (unnecessary to say) not our lovely International District

The Oracle's apartment ought to be in Mara somewhere around Debir Court.

Like most cool things, the power plant is now a piece of cinder

Power office? If you mean the one where the Vigilant's crew died... maybe, but it wasn't really different from any other office floors (especially computer rooms) in office buildings.

However, my original point (or rather question) was that the whole idea wasn't yet born when the first movie was being done. So the club doesn't have to be anything like the clubs in MxO, just another club from the Real "

cshank wrote:

From what I've heard, the 'Mega-City' is a contruct made after the whole smith thing to accomodate all the humans in an easier way.

Wait, wait... where have you heard that? The Mega City was already designed for Reloaded and Revolutions, just watch the DVD bonuses. However, from what I can see, MxO and the movies aren't really canon regarding the world.

Yeah it won't be for a long time but it they will be opened some time, and when they do they are going to have to raise the max level as you will be able close to 50 with the access nodes and Hardlines alone.

Message Edited by 20136098 on 06.08.2006 01:54 PM

It's just logical. First of all, the three inaccurate locations (Government Building, Heart O' The City Hotel, and most likely Metacortex) are places from the first movie, whereas Hel Club and Debir Court are from the sequels.Another argument is that the city in "The Matrix" looked completely different from the one in MxO, without the rectangular shape and ... just different. So we see Neo and Trinity saving Morpheus from a place that's supposed to be in Downtown, and after a short helicopter flight, they go into a subway station which is not only supposed to be in Westview (since Neo runs from the subway to the hotel), but also looks completely different from every subway station in the game (as already pointed out, it still looks like a normal subway in the real world). I've read the hardlines' names were actually referring to streets in Chicago ("Names of locations" thread), the city that served as an inspiration for Mega City, and if I remember the Ultimate Matrix Collection feature correctly (I don't feel like watching it all over again at the moment), the city background for Morpheus' interrogation scenes was actually a Chicago wallpaper (something similiar at least). So everything seems to indicate that Mega City was born during the "Reloaded" and "Revolutions" pre-production. Does anyone know an official source or, even better, an official statement that refers to this issue?Of course, just others' opinions would be very appreciated either! lol

After Smith was defeated, the Matrix was rebooted. Apparently, the buildings were changed a lot during that, but who knows.

This is perhaps the best solution to this issue. During the reset, this instance of the Matrix has been different from the one where Neo saved all the bluepills. Although the bottomline is not all of us are free. Some don't even want to be -- as the Cypherites claim a need for bliss. But back on to the topic, the city has been changed by the reset. Neo will return, but hopefully the game will stay true to the story and it will be a new Neo, with a completely different name. The way the movies portrayed themselves in the very end of Revolutions, the simulation was devasted by Smith. It even exists within the backstory of the game, and with the history of Agent Gray.

 While it would be nice to witness the continuity from the movies into the game, it's easy to explain why it's different.

As for the chase scene, remember that Neo also ran through Chinatown [International] to get to the Hotel and Jack Out. So there's another location thrown in there. It'd be easy to explain if perhaps while Thomas Anderson worked in Downtown for Metacortex, Morpheus' interrogation took place in the Slums -- at the Kalt building there (only thing missing is the lobby). It's relatively close to the areas where the Oracle tends to be -- which is where they'd left when Morpheus was captured. But eventually there's too many flaws in that theory of mine.

Reboot ftw?

Yeah it won't be for a long time but it they will be opened some time, and when they do they are going to have to raise the max level as you will be able close to 50 with the access nodes and Hardlines alone.

I've read somewhere else on the forums that they have no intention of using the dark areas of the map, they were there for expansion before SOE took over and then the design team went in the other direction. Also raising the level cap would unbalance the combat system. This is only what I've read elsewhere on the forums, i'd love for new areas to open up!

Yeah, it's pretty clear that there is a whole lot from the first movie that changed in the sequels. Some of my favorites are when Morpheus is spotted at Heathrow Airport, a real-world airport, the various street names mentioned by others on this thread, the introduction of Smith to Morpheus as "I'm a Smith." like they're a series.

It does raise some interesting questions though, the current backstory. For example, what do bluepills call their city? Do they call it "Megacity" and why doesn't that strike anyone as odd. There's an airport--seen in Enter the Matrix, and freeways--seen in Reloaded. Where do they go? Does the freeway just loop around the city? Do the airplanes just fly in a big circle? If the Matrix was made to recreate 1999 and it's been running for six iterations of roughly 100 years a pop, does that mean the simulation started in 1300 sometime? And that's not the pre-Oracle Matrixes that failed, mind you--just the six Ones that kept the current one running! Mostly this stuff isn't explained. Some of it is pretty wonky.

The introduction of the "feel-good" cake that the Merovingian serves that one gal in Reloaded might give some suggestions as to how it might work. Say the ball drop is the cue for a massive release of code--convincing everyone that this year is 1999 and last year was 1998. Same thing next year. Not sure how that keeps folks from ever getting on the airplane or keeps them from taking an offramp that goes nowhere--but it does explain a few things. The more I explore the Matrix, the more Pleasantville it seems. It is kindova' dream world. Things don't quite add up, don't quite make sense--like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad.

the introduction of Smith to Morpheus as "I'm a Smith." like they're a series.

Let's get this straight: Mega City is not Chicago. It is based on Chicago, but it is not Chicago.

They've already stated that Mega City, the mountains, and the Chateau are the only places simulated in the Matrix. So, from what we can tell, it doesn't simulate the entire world, the Chateau doesn't need to be in Canada, and the Mega City isn't really Chicago. It shares many qualities with Chicago because the Wachowskis are from Chicago, but they stated that it's not supposed to be any real city, which is why it's just called "Mega City."

Stack wrote:

Let's get this straight: Mega City is not Chicago. It is based on Chicago, but it is not Chicago.

They've already stated that Mega City, the mountains, and the Chateau are the only places simulated in the Matrix. So, from what we can tell, it doesn't simulate the entire world, the Chateau doesn't need to be in Canada, and the Mega City isn't really Chicago. It shares many qualities with Chicago because the Wachowskis are from Chicago, but they stated that it's not supposed to be any real city, which is why it's just called "Mega City."

As far as I know they never stated that ever, if they had it would have cleared up a ton of issues. Source plz.

Neo: Oh *poop*.
Link: Operator.
Neo: Link, where am I?
Link: You're not gonna believe this, but you're all the way up in the mountains.
Neo: Really.
Link: Yeah, it's gonna take me a while to get up an exit. Oh *poop*.
Neo: What?
Link: Those Twin things are after Morpheus and Trinity, and I don't have a way to get them out.
Neo: Where are they?
Link: Middle of the City, 500 miles due south.

That's all I know about the mountains. I would've expected the Matrix was bigger than that though and I've never read anything, aside from MXO, saying it's a small city, a few mountains and a chateau.

NightTrace wrote:

Stack wrote:

Let's get this straight: Mega City is not Chicago. It is based on Chicago, but it is not Chicago.

They've already stated that Mega City, the mountains, and the Chateau are the only places simulated in the Matrix. So, from what we can tell, it doesn't simulate the entire world, the Chateau doesn't need to be in Canada, and the Mega City isn't really Chicago. It shares many qualities with Chicago because the Wachowskis are from Chicago, but they stated that it's not supposed to be any real city, which is why it's just called "Mega City."

As far as I know they never stated that ever, if they had it would have cleared up a ton of issues. Source plz.

Neo: Oh *CENSORED*.
Link: Operator.
Neo: Link, where am I?
Link: You're not gonna believe this, but you're all the way up in the mountains.
Neo: Really.
Link: Yeah, it's gonna take me a while to get up an exit. Oh *CENSORED*.
Neo: What?
Link: Those Twin things are after Morpheus and Trinity, and I don't have a way to get them out.
Neo: Where are they?
Link: Middle of the City, 500 miles due south.

That's all I know about the mountains. I would've expected the Matrix was bigger than that though and I've never read anything, aside from MXO, saying it's a small city, a few mountains and a chateau.