To keep each log short, I wrote an assembler MACRO that would call all the necessary functions in one line of code.
The macro was called ERMAC… short for Error Macro.
Unfortunately or fortunately, we listed the number of ERMACS that occurred directly after the log/number of times players fought against REPTILE, who was a hidden fighter in the first Mortal Kombat.
This (of course) made players speculate that ERMAC was another hidden character, like REPTILE.
Soon rumors of ERMAC became stuff of legend with players insisting they fought against him.
In Mortal Kombat 2 we made REPTILE a playable fighter and added 3 new hidden fighters: Smoke, Jade and Noob Saibot.
Finally in Ultimate MK3 (running out of kolors) we finally added ERMAC as an actual (red ninja) fighter in the roster.
But here we are, as he is about to join the roster of #MortalKombat1 Game play trailer THIS WEEK!
Ed Boon: We were developing the original MortalKombat game more than thirty years ago. There were parts of the game’s code that, in theory, it shouldn’t be able to access or run. In the event that it did, a counter that would record the ERROR was increased. In order to verify this counter in arcades, we also created a “Game Audits” screen.
In an attempt to keep each log brief, I created an assembler macro that would call each required function in a single line of code. It was known as the ERMAC macro. abbreviated as Error Macro.
Sadly or fortunately, we also included the number of ERMACS that happened right after the log or the total number of times players engaged in combat with REPTILE, a concealed fighter from the original Mortal Kombat game.
Players naturally surmised that, similar to REPTILE, ERMAC was another secret character. Player claims that they fought against ERMAC quickly turned rumors about him into folklore. They weren’t.
Three new hidden fighters, Smoke, Jade, and Noob Saibot, were added to Mortal Kombat 2, along with the addition of REPTILE as a playable fighter. But Ermac remained elusive to some players.
We made the decision to bring some of the myths to life for MK3, starting with ANIMALITIES. ERMAC was finally added to the roster as an actual (red ninja) fighter in Ultimate MK3 because we were running out of kolors.
His appearances in MK games have been numerous over the years. He now has a complete backstory and is a part of MK mythology.
We could never have imagined that this red ninja with the silliest name would play such a significant role in Mortal Kombat’s history, much less be around for another thirty years! But here we are, about to join the cast of MortalKombat 1 Game play trailer THIS WEEK!
