Bungie Splits from MS

[arniejolt]

From Gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6180462.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;1):

Rumours have been bubbling over the Internet cauldron all week that Bungie would be jumping ship from its corporate masters at Microsoft. The rumours seemed unlikely to be true, as Bungie has been wholly owned by the Microsoft machine since 2000.

Today, though, the unlikely became reality. This morning, Bungie announced it was officially splitting away from Microsoft to become an independent, privately held developer, Bungie LLC. Microsoft will continue to retain a minority stake in Bungie, and continue its long-standing publishing agreement with the company.

"While we are supporting Bungie's desire to return to its independent roots, we will continue to invest in our Halo entertainment property with Bungie and other partners, such as Peter Jackson, on a new interactive series set in the Halo universe," said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios.

Bungie will remain in its current location in Kirkland, Washington, and will retain its primary focus on Microsoft platforms. Harold Ryan, Bungie's studio head, commented, "This... will enable us to expand both creatively and organizationally." Ryan also stated that the studio would continue to work on Halo, and "beyond."

"Bungie is like a shark," said Bungie founder Jason Jones. "We have to keep moving to survive. We have to continually test ourselves, or we might as well be dolphins. Or manatees." (Emphasis in the original.)

Bungie's latest release, Halo 3, has nabbed $300 million in sales in its first week, becoming the fastest-selling video game in history, and is even topping charts in Japan.

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[Apples]

Doesn't surprise me in the least. Here's a fictional excerpt from how the discussions went between the two:



MS: "We can pop this Halo thing out every couple of years for crazy buckets of money, sounds great yes?"

BU: "Uhh, our development shop has been a one trick pony on this same track for a while now, we'd like to try something fresh"

MS: "Are you allergic to buckets of money?"

BU: "No, we're just tired of releasing the same game with new skins and slight plot tweaks. We'd like to try a new franchise."

MS: "What if the bucket was really big and came with a box of donuts on the side?"

BU: "It's a chore being under the scrutiny of millions of crazy Halo nerds. I mean who seriously gives a crap on the exact resolution specs of the software rendering."

MS: "What if the bucket was heart-shaped to represent how much we love you guys?"

BU: "This was originally a mac dev shop, and we used to push out all sorts of original software, we'd like to get back to that"

MS: "BUCKETS!"

BU: "I don't think we're all on the same page here"

[Eman311]

Microsoft keeps the rights to any Halo products, and also can claim Bungie's new franchise for themselves if they deem it too close to Halo in looks and gameplay.

So it's like taking off one very tight leash to put on a much looser one.

[battle_axe_of_doom]

^^ so what you two above me are saying is that bungie splits from MS yet their biggest (and only??) product will still only be owned by MS?? wow kinda feel sry for these guys

[Eman311]

Yep, although i doubt bungie cares the whole reason for the split was to make a new type of game, which MS obviously doesn't want to do. I bet MS just finds some other big name studio to take over.

[gh2masterwellalmost]

So what? Xbox still has total exclusivety (spell check), so PS3 fanboys calm down. You ain't getting Halo. Now go return to your poor Halo castoffs, Resistance is it called?

EDIT: Bungie EVEN SAID they would still keep the relationship with Microsoft strong. So Halo 4 is 360/720 (its my nickname for the next xbox) exclusive.

Why you all making a big fuss of this? As a Halo fanboy I'm happy to hear this, means Bungie could go either way, Halo 4 or some other FPS. Just so long as they release an FPS they've kept me happy.

[DShiz1029]

So what? Xbox still has total exclusivity, so PS3 fanboys calm down. You ain't getting Halo. Now go return to your poor Halo castoffs, Resistance is it called?

EDIT: Bungie EVEN SAID they would still keep the relationship with Microsoft strong. So Halo 4 is 360/720 (its my nickname for the next xbox) exclusive.

Why you all making a big fuss of this? As a Halo fanboy I'm happy to hear this, means Bungie could go either way, Halo 4 or some other FPS. Just so long as they release an FPS they've kept me happy.

There ya go.

[Xzyliac]

I want to see what Bungie can do without Halo and beyond the shooter genre.

Time to resurrect the pirate game rumor?

[TheRocker]

Anybody find Halo and God of war Some what similar

GoW 1 Ps2
GoW 2 Ps2
GoW soon to Next gen predecesor
I believe whats his name split from Sony to make some games but Sony kept GoW

Halo 1 Xbox
Halo 2 Xbox
Halo 3 comes out to X360 the next gen
Bungie Splits but MS keeps Halo

[Xzyliac]

Anybody find Halo and God of war Some what similar

GoW 1 Ps2
GoW 2 Ps2
GoW soon to Next gen predecesor
I believe whats his name split from Sony to make some games but Sony kept GoW

Halo 1 Xbox
Halo 2 Xbox
Halo 3 comes out to X360 the next gen
Bungie Splits but MS keeps Halo

David Jaffe + Bungie = BFF?

[gh2masterwellalmost]

Why are you guys still going on about this? Bungie is still working EXCLUSIVELY for M$. M$ still owns Halo. Me = happy. PS3 fanboys = debate pointlessly.

[Xzyliac]

Why are you guys still going on about this? Bungie is still working EXCLUSIVELY for M$. M$ still owns Halo. Me = happy. PS3 fanboys = debate pointlessly.

Who is debating? A debate never even began.

Paranoia?

[gh2masterwellalmost]

Who is debating? A debate never even began.

Paranoia?

WHO SAID THAT?

:p:p

[defmonkey]

They might put out a few games for the DS (the rumoured Halo DS), which I think M$ would allow, because they wanna be f*ck buddies with Nintendo.

[gh2masterwellalmost]

They might put out a few games for the DS (the rumoured Halo DS), which I think M$ would allow, because they wanna be f*ck buddies with Nintendo.

Halo DS?? (laughter).

If a Halo game comes out on the DS I'll eat a hat. And I'll video it and upload it to the forum. I'm being serious. It'll never happen.

M$ may be closer to Ninty than Sony, but they are still enemies in the console battle. Remember there would be no Xbox around if it wasn't for M$ being declined to buy out Ninty. And Halo would just be an obscure Mac title.

It ain't gonna happen pal. Promise. Bungie, I think, will let go of the Halo brand and create another FPS brand, but do a bit of a "Call of Duty" by changing the timeframe to present. And I think Halo 3 will be the last Halo you see. Promise (discounting sometime in the future when it'll all get rereleased on the future equivalent of Xbox Live Arcade). M$ will not let it be a pointless cash cow, because they don't have a reputation for that sort of thing with games.

OR, this is the one I'd be happiest with, the next Halo will be multiplayer only.

[battle_axe_of_doom]

actually the last halo you'll ever see is halo wars 5

[Xzyliac]

I want a next-gen Oni.

With Rockstar and Bungie getting a ton of console experience under their belts I'd love to see the two come back together and bring this cult classic back from the dead!

[gh2masterwellalmost]

Oni Omfg That Was Awesome!

[SmokaCola]

Who cares? Halo isn't really that amazing of a shooter anyways, it's ok. I wouldn't say it's the best omg I just **** my pants shooter ever though.

[gh2masterwellalmost]

Who cares? Halo isn't really that amazing of a shooter anyways, it's ok. I wouldn't say it's the best omg I just **** my pants shooter ever though.

Its not the best FPS ever. Single player really lets it down. But its multiplayer is of the same quality as the best - Counter Strike, UT etc. The controls have perfected FPS controls forever, and even shaped both the Xbox and Xbox 360 controller, which the Wii copied with the trigger, and the PS3 copied a ton off of.

Do not call it unoriginal, the series that is. It has revolutionised console gaming forever. Its multiplayer is up there with the best. But the single player... the plot is taken so seriously, and the story feels short of the likes of Bioshock.

Again, it is an example of simplicity. A simple map (say, Narrows, for example) put 4v4 (we don't need to do 16v16... pointless waste of speed) and make the only weapons Snipers and Shotguns. Brilliant. Its been done before, but never this good before.

[battle_axe_of_doom]

^ nah. about the xbox controller being ripped off by the wii and ps3, xbox controller is a clear ripoff of the dreamcast controller so who cares about the controller

it is unoriginal. it hasn't revolutionized ****.

and there are more weapons than a sniper and shotgun. the ****ty sword, the needler, the brute shot, need i continue??

[Xzyliac]

People Halo is a big deal because of one simple answer:

It was the first successful console FPS.

The majority of mass market gaming is in consoles right? Check. So when Halo hit it was the equivalent of a new genre to alot of gamers who never checked out PCs.

That's it. Nobody is calling it the best thing since sliced bread. It was just an eye opener that a FPS could happen on a console. Before that it was a rarity. Same goes for online. Halo 2 was one of the first games to make a consoles online experience worth the cash and time.

That being said yeah there are way better FPS' out there. But there is reason for Halo to be a big part of gaming history. It's overrated but it is a milestone.

[gh2masterwellalmost]

^ nah. about the xbox controller being ripped off by the wii and ps3, xbox controller is a clear ripoff of the dreamcast controller so who cares about the controller

it is unoriginal. it hasn't revolutionized ****.

and there are more weapons than a sniper and shotgun. the ****ty sword, the needler, the brute shot, need i continue??

Dude, the most comfortable controller to date (I've held the likes of the NES despite it being a bit before my time as well) certainly isn't the unwiedly WASD + Mouse. Its the Xbox 360 controller.

The Xbox controller was chunky like the Dreamcast. But the Xbox S Controller, the smaller one, was the gap between the Dreamcast controller and the PS2. The PS2 controller needed the triggers and the analog stick re-placement (for FPS, as Halo proved, it works best with one in top left one in centre right), and it became almost the perfect controller. Until the 360 controller came along.

It is original. And the PS3 controller is a blatant copy. The PS icon = Big Xbox icon, L2+R2 become triggers = LT + RT 360. Wii has a trigger because the 360 made it popular. The Dreamcast should be forgotton for the controller, because it wasn't successful. The Xbox's was.

And of course, there are more weapons than Shotty Snipers, but it was just my example. We have the excellent energy sword, which actually well balanced, you get no real advantage with it, unless you really know how to use it. The weapons in Halo are awesome.

I disagree there have been a "ton" better FPSs. We have had Bioshock (single player) that is, Half Life, but not much else better than Halo. And the multplayer gives the CSS multiplayer a run for its money.

Console multiplayer is just better. Just jump into a game. Its hard to find a hacker in a Halo game, theres no worry about you not having the latest graphics card, there is less noob bashing, less talking, and its just more laid back.

[battle_axe_of_doom]

People Halo is a big deal because of one simple answer:

It was the first successful console FPS.

The majority of mass market gaming is in consoles right? Check. So when Halo hit it was the equivalent of a new genre to alot of gamers who never checked out PCs.

That's it. Nobody is calling it the best thing since sliced bread. It was just an eye opener that a FPS could happen on a console. Before that it was a rarity. Same goes for online. Halo 2 was one of the first games to make a consoles online experience worth the cash and time.

That being said yeah there are way better FPS' out there. But there is reason for Halo to be a big part of gaming history. It's overrated but it is a milestone.

actually the first couple successful console FPS were goldeneye, perfect dark, hell even turok was successful

[gh2masterwellalmost]

actually the first couple successful console FPS were goldeneye, perfect dark, hell even turok was successful

Yh they were. But none offered the brilliance of Halo 1 single player (though today its a bit dated as I found out). Goldeneye and Perfect Dark certainly didnt offer the intense online multiplayer.

In a couple of years time, it will be me argueing that Halo is better than w.e. new FPS is out then, in the same way you're still fighting for a tired franchise(s). Perfect Dark Zero had a nice multiplayer though, a nice introduction for the 360, but it was only backing vocals for the Halo masterpiece. The console battle suddenly warmed up. PS3 is miles behind, and the Wii is in 360s sights... :P

[battle_axe_of_doom]

i'm not even going to say anything anymore since you already admitted your blind halo fanboyism and lack of respect for historical games

[Xzyliac]

actually the first couple successful console FPS were goldeneye, perfect dark, hell even turok was successful

Again rare (no pun intended). Halo brought about a universal standard that everyone could follow. Not just the rare N64 FPS classic.

It was just a universal standard. Had all the consoles had the control scheme and excellent specs the N64 had Goldeneye probably would've been Halo.

[TheRocker]

Why are you guys still going on about this? Bungie is still working EXCLUSIVELY for M$. M$ still owns Halo. Me = happy. PS3 fanboys = debate pointlessly.

Looks like you're somewhat paranoid , since Bungie could make Multi-Platform game :rolleyes:

[SmokaCola]

I have my own personal opinion on halo and i'm sticking to it. I've played all the halos to date hoping they'd get better with offline/online play and neither has satisfied me. It's really not the best you can get, but it is a pretty good shooter.

[Quinarvy]

GH2master are you TRYING to start a flame filled console war after starting a flame free one?

Talk about flip-flopping

[sa_nick]

So what? Xbox still has total exclusivety (spell check), so PS3 fanboys calm down. You ain't getting Halo.

You do understand the reason we like playstation is because it doesnt have shìtty games like Halo, right?

I've played them all and none of them had anything special to offer. I did enjoy Red vs Blue though.

[Quinarvy]

I did enjoy Red vs Blue though.

Does anyone not enjoy Red vs. Blue?

[SmokaCola]

Does anyone not enjoy Red vs. Blue?

Yeah, but red vs blue is just comedy. Just like "Special agent bob and steve" or w,e. So I mean... It's not like you're really watching a Halo or Splinter Cell video :p

[Quinarvy]

Yeah, but red vs blue is just comedy. Just like "Special agent bob and steve" or w,e. So I mean... It's not like you're really watching a Halo or Splinter Cell video :p

Still, it got me to consider getting a 360 and Halo 3...

then I realized I had YouTube...

And a guitar and Rock Band to save up for ;)

[gh2masterwellalmost]

You do understand the reason we like playstation is because it doesnt have shìtty games like Halo, right?

I've played them all and none of them had anything special to offer. I did enjoy Red vs Blue though.

We have a fanboy alert. PS3 fanboy inbound. They have an army of... two midgets. The 360 fanboys... omg 2 million. Well this ain't gonna end quickly is it... "BOOM HEADSHOT! Solid Snake's head isn't so solid after that sniper rifle shot by the Master Chief" :p

Halo 3 is the greatest console multiplayer game available. I accept the PS3 has some great games, so why won't you do the same with the 360, the most successful game of all time.

[TheRocker]

Halo 3 is the greatest console multiplayer game available the most successful game of all time.

Man you like to start trouble
That's your OPINION not a FACT

[jq71586]

Most successful video game on 360? Yes. Most successful game on next-gen systems? Yes. Due to the sheer numbers.

Most successful video game of all time, not even close.


More successful video games to date in no particular order, to this date, again by numbers.

Pac-Man
Halo 2
Super Mario Bros. *Highest selling game of all time*
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
Legend of Zelda
Super Mario World
Donkey Kong Country
Super Mario Kart
Super Mario 64
GoldenEye 007
Mario Kart 64
Legend of Zelda: OoT
Wii Sports

Granted it will pass a fair number of these games in the coming years, but it will never, ever touch Super Mario Bros., which is the most successful game of all time.


And this was excluding all hand-held games and hand-held game systems.

[SmokaCola]

GH2 You're so childish lol.

[battle_axe_of_doom]

actually the highest selling game on its own is super mario bros 3. super mario bros 1 technically has sold more copies, but thats only because it was packaged with the NES itself :nerd:

the REAL reason why halo is making such absurd amounts of money is simple: INFLATION. let's say 1000 people by the legendary edition. thats already $120000 not counting the other 3 editions

[Eman311]

You can't deny Halo 3's epic ownage, outselling any other game or MOVIE debut in history.

and 300 million in a week? that's just ridiculous. not only that, the game's multiplayer is top-notch, and the campaign was much better than Halo 2.

[battle_axe_of_doom]

ok once again. it helps that a movie only charges $6-10 per ticket while halo 3 ranges from $60-$120. if a movie makes $150 million off of only $10 i'm pretty sure thats waaaaaaaay more impressive than a $60 product outselling it

[Saltines]

You can't deny Halo 3's epic ownage, outselling any other game or MOVIE debut in history.

and 300 million in a week? that's just ridiculous. not only that, the game's multiplayer is top-notch, and the campaign was much better than Halo 2.

They were both inferior to Halo 1 in the campaign department.

[Eman311]

notice i only mentioned halo 2.

[Saltines]

notice i only mentioned halo 2.

Yeah I know, I was jus' saying.

[gh2masterwellalmost]

They were both inferior to Halo 1 in the campaign department.

It goes without saying. Man, I really wanna play Halo 1 again...

[SmokaCola]

It goes without saying. Man, I really wanna play Halo 1 again...


Campaign on Halo 1 was the best out of all of them? That's not saying a whole lot, I found the campaign to be rather dull. The story wasn't that interesting either, but that's my opinion.

[gh2masterwellalmost]

Campaign on Halo 1 was the best out of all of them? That's not saying a whole lot, I found the campaign to be rather dull. The story wasn't that interesting either, but that's my opinion.

The story is cheesy. I couldn't give two ****s about it. But I don't know how you can say it was dull - the first time you did the 6 min warthog final mission it was nail-biting stuff. I have a feeling people hate Halo just because of the hype, it seems everyone is picky on it. Believe me, RB will not sell half as much as Halo or be as good, but you don't see the forum full of people going "rb is crap" do you? We're all excited by RB too.

[SmokaCola]

Lol, I don't hate it for the hype. I -USE- to hate it for the hype, now I just hate it because I played the campaign mode and it wasn't that impressive. Just my opinion though.

Edit: More of a dislike... not hate, just not my cup of tea I guess. I rather play CS:Source or Team-Fortress 2.

[TheRocker]

I dont hate Halo its basicly all i play at my friend's house other than Gh2 and soon Gh3 , i just dont see the big deal about certain people claiming its the Biggest Bestest Greatest game in the WORLD.