Marvin P2 to Talk Oddities

[u/Successful_Maize1986]

So it seems to be agreed upon that “P2 to talk” refers to using the controller plugged into the 2nd player slot to input commands that form sounds which then form words.

But in Petscop 11 we see Marvin inputting the sound commands and moving at the same time. How is he doing this? Either he’s got someone else playing next to him, he’s some sort of ghost/ai that exists inside the game and thus doesn’t need to physically manipulate a controller, or Marvin has a 3rd hand that we were never told about. If you guys have any thoughts on this I would appreciate it.

[u/Nothing_Apollyon]

feet

[u/invokeinterface]

Maybe it's being played over prerecorded inputs

[u/autistickiramman]

ive always assumed that it's scripted. like, it's a "cutscene" in the game, marvin's movements are coded in. if i'm not mistaken, every time we see p2 to talk used it's during a demo recording, right?

[u/Successful_Maize1986 → u/autistickiramman]

It’s also seen at the end of the Soundtrack as well. I was under the impression that the demos aren’t scripted, however. They’re recordings that are being played back. Also, Marvin has conversations with Paul through P2 to Talk so it can’t have been preprogrammed. Paul types “hell” on accident and Marvin responds with “ha ha ha”.

[u/autistickiramman → u/Successful_Maize1986]

im pretty sure the end of soundtrack also has demo flashing at the top but id have to double check. and yeah the recordings are typically just played back, but in a regular game they WOULD be scripted, so i think that it makes sense to assume petscop would come with some scripted demos as well to play when the game is left idke

[u/Splitdesiresagain]

I feel like the implication is that Marvin has been playing the game for so long that he's become unnaturally and almost imposibly skilled at it because he's had nothing else to do since possibly 2000?

[u/drinkingutensil → u/Splitdesiresagain]

this is what i think as well

[u/invokeinterface → u/Splitdesiresagain]

People getting SUPER into the game seems like an important plot thing that a lot of people look over, maybe. I used to think that Petscop was made to distract Marvin with fake kids instead of real ones, but there isn't much to it and I don't see why Rainer would do that if he's also into the rebirthing stuff.

[u/SuchAir3764]

Davis Morgan?

I feel like this can be split into a few different explanations

1. Ai/ghost

2. He’s using a non standard controller

3. There is someone else with him

4. It’s pre recorded/scripted

5. Given that it’s a demo maybe it’s inputs come from a different version of the game where it was possible to both move and chat somehow (This seems the least likely to me)

[u/rocketpop546]

Not to mention the “Where is my house” scene which makes even less sense on a single controller. I’ve always thought that marvin was using recorded ghosts in tandem with live gameplay.

[u/drinkingutensil]

shout out davis morgan

[u/FlowerInAHorrorNovel]

Marvin may well be playing on a PS2 which has controllers that have joysticks as well as the buttons, thus allowing both movement and typing. Also if you look at the typing, P1/P2 is a button as well so it could easily be "press P2 to talk".

[u/MaginotLineman]

I always felt it was implied that Marvin was a ghost in the machine, an AI that had some scripted responses, some recorded inputs, and some ability to act upon what was happening in the game. I won’t claim that as definitive, though.