Epsilon Program: Difference between revisions

← Older edit

Epsilon Program (view source)

Revision as of 21:39, 4 May 2014

443 bytes removed , 4 May 2014

m

→‎Members

VisualWikitext

Bluesboyjr

Administrators, Trusted Users

2,974

edits

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 [[File:EpsilonProgram-GTASA-logo.jpg|thumb|The logo of the Epsilon Program.]]
-'''The Epsilon Program''' is a fictional religious cult that is referred to in a number of [[Grand Theft Auto]] games in the [[3D Universe]], and appear in the [[HD Universe]], prominently [[Grand Theft Auto V]]. Led by [[Cris Formage]], the cult first emerged as a [http://www.epsilonprogram.com/ teaser site] for [[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]], and more recently a [http://twitter.com/EpsilonismToday twitter account] for [[Grand Theft Auto V|GTA V]].
+'''The Epsilon Program''' is a fictional religious cult that is referred to in a number of [[Grand Theft Auto]] games in the [[3D Universe]], and appear in the [[HD Universe]], prominently [[Grand Theft Auto V]]. Led by [[Cris Formage]], the cult first emerged as a [http://www.epsilonprogram.com/ teaser site] for [[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]], and more recently a [http://twitter.com/EpsilonismToday twitter account] for [[Grand Theft Auto V]]. The cult is mentioned frequently on the radio from GTA San Andreas onwards, leading on to a series of Epsilon missions for [[Michael De Santa]] in GTA V.
-The cult is an obvious scam, intended to gain money by brainwashing its followers into paying large sums of money, parodying real-life cults in the late 20th century. In Formage's own words, it is "''a fellowship of like-minded adults who tithe money in exchange for salvation and merit badges''".
-Epsilonism seems to be a parody of [[:wp:Scientology|Scientology]], which is followed by Hollywood celebrities, and is likely to be a central theme to [[Vinewood in GTA V|Vinewood]] celebrities in [[Grand Theft Auto V|GTA V]].
+The cult is an obvious scam, intended to gain money by brainwashing its followers into paying large sums of money, parodying real-life cults in the late 20th century. In Formage's own words, it is "''a fellowship of like-minded adults who tithe money in exchange for salvation and merit badges''".
 ==Religious beliefs==
@@ Line 49: / Line 46: @@
 The Program is mentioned further in [[Grand Theft Auto IV]]: [[Bluesy St. John]] claims she once ended up spending her Thursday nights in a group that prayed to Kifflom, and the cult sponsors [[Chiropracticovernight.com]]. [[Brendan Roberts]] suggests that he is a member of the cult, as noted when he says ''"Kifflom"'' at the end of his interview on Intelligent Agenda on [[Public Liberty Radio]].
-In [[Grand Theft Auto V]], the members [[Marnie Allen]], [[Jimmy Boston]] and [[Baygor]] can be met in person, along with Fromage himself.
+In [[Grand Theft Auto V]], the members [[Marnie Allen]], [[Jimmy Boston]] and [[Baygor]] can be met in person, along with Formage himself.
+==Inspiration==
+The Epsilon Program seems to mostly be a parody of [[:wp:Scientology|Scientology]], a religion with a number of celebrity followers which has attracted controversy for being a "scam" or a "cult", like its GTA counterpart.
-==Possible background==
+The cult is named after the [[:wp:Epsilon|Greek letter E]]. The name could possibly be in reference to the [[:wp:Epsilon Team|Epsilon Team]], a Greek secret society.
-The Epsilon Program is named after the [[:wp:Epsilon|Greek letter E]]. The name could possibly be in reference to the [[:wp:Epsilon Team|Epsilon Team]], a Greek secret society.
 In the 1987 film ''[[:wp:Dragnet|Dragnet]]'' two cops are involved in investigating a crime. The crime gang is ran by a reverend, who has a voice similar to Cris Formage's. All members of the gang are in a cult, and perform a number of weird rituals throughout the movie. In certain scenes a quiet background music can be heard, identical to the one on the Epsilon Program website. The movie is shot in Los Angeles and some scenes are shot near the observatory - which is sometimes linked with Epsilon in the game. The short scene from the movie featuring both reverend's voice and the music can be seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWkm713fH-s here].
 The game takes place in the year 1992; as Cris Formage says that the Earth is 157 years old, that would put its creation at 1835. The supposedly-recent creation of the earth as insisted by the program also alludes to the Young Earth creationism beliefs, in which people who believe in it claim that the Earth is much younger than what scientists state.
-==GTA IV and GTA V Eras==
+==Grand Theft Auto V==
-The Epsilon Program also exists in the [[GTA IV Era]]. It is referenced on the [[Radio Stations in GTA IV|radio]] and [[Internet in GTA IV|Internet]], and the phrase "kifflom" is heard several times. [[Brendan Roberts]] may be a member of the cult. This may be a reference to Tom Cruise's religion being Scientology, as Roberts is speculated to be based on Cruise.
+The Epsilon Program plays a major role in a series of optional side missions in [[Grand Theft Auto V]], where [[Michael De Santa]] becomes part of the cult.
-[[Michael De Santa]] can optionally take part in a lengthy series of side missions beginning with [[Seeking the Truth]] focused on the Epsilon Program.
-In July 2012, Rockstar created the [http://twitter.com/EpsilonismToday EpsilonismToday] twitter account. This suggests the cult continues in [[Grand Theft Auto V|GTA V]], but it's not known whether this will play a major part in the storyline. Recently, the real religion of Scientology has caused controversies in the media, and it's famously practiced by Hollywood stars in LA - so Epsilonism is likely to be a central theme to the celebrity lifestyle in [[Vinewood in GTA V|Vinewood]].
-In December 2012, Rockstar released for sale two t-shirts with the game's logo and a third light-blue one saying "KIFFLOM" on the front and "The tract is not yet written" on the back,<ref>[http://www.rockstarwarehouse.com/Product.aspx?pSKU=RS-GTA-KIFFLOM KIFFLOM t-shirt]</ref> thus verifying that it continues in GTA V.
-On April 2013, R* released a newswire page about Kifflom, revealing that 'directions' will be provided within one week<ref>[http://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/49521/kifflom.html R* Newswire]</ref>. A collection of screens showed off the facts of Kifflom, with one showing a Caucasian male dressed in a light-blue attire. The terrain behind it appeared to be in-game footage.
+In July 2012, Rockstar created the [http://twitter.com/EpsilonismToday EpsilonismToday] twitter account, teasing the cult's appearance in GTA V. In December, Rockstar released for sale two t-shirts with the game's logo and a third light-blue one saying "KIFFLOM" on the front and "The tract is not yet written" on the back<ref>[http://www.rockstarwarehouse.com/Product.aspx?pSKU=RS-GTA-KIFFLOM KIFFLOM t-shirt]</ref>. On April 2013, R* released a newswire page about Kifflom, revealing that 'directions' will be provided within one week<ref>[http://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/49521/kifflom.html R* Newswire]</ref>. A collection of screens showed off the facts of Kifflom, with one showing a Caucasian male dressed in a light-blue attire. The terrain behind it appeared to be in-game footage. [[File:EpsilonProgram-GTAV-contest.jpg|thumb|right|200px| The application form]] On April 29, R* revealed an application form to enter the "Los Santos Area Enlightenment Seminar", which in reality was a casting call for five Epsilon members in the game.
-[[File:EpsilonProgram-GTAV-contest.jpg|thumb|right|200px| The application form]]
+===Missions===
-On April 29, R* revealed an application form to enter the "Los Santos Area Enlightenment Seminar". In fact, this is a casting call from R* to cast one lucky fan as one of the five Epsilon members.
+* [[Seeking the Truth]]
+* [[Accepting the Truth]]
+* [[Assuming the Truth]]
+* [[Chasing the Truth]]
+* [[Bearing the Truth]]
+* [[Delivering the Truth]]
+* [[Exercising the Truth]]
+* [[Unknowing the Truth]]
 ==Speculation in GTA San Andreas==