Game Informer: Microsoft/Bungie Split

[Strollymonster]

It's been confirmed now, folks. (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/05/its-official-bungie-branches-off-from-microsoft/)


Bungie has just announced that they've "reached an unprecedented and exciting agreement" that they'll "branch off" from the Microsoft Game Studios mothership and become Bungie, LLC, an independent company, starting ... today (well, technically October 1, but effective immediately)! Worried about Halo going to another, less competent developer? No need, the studio will retain a long-term publishing agreement with Microsoft Game Studios for Halo (http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Halo/) titles. Other titles? All they're saying is that they "will continue to develop with [their] primary focus on Microsoft's platforms." With Microsoft holding a minority equity interest in the company, that's not surprising.

Unsurprisingly, Microsoft is also retaining ownership of the Halo property (MGS chief Shane Kim calls it "our Halo entertainment property") as well as reserving first crack at publishing any Bungie-developed IP. We're left wondering if Marathon counts as a Halo property or a Bungie property ...

What are the immediate repercussions of this division? According to Bungie (http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Bungie/), "Practically speaking, nothing has changed and you guys won't see much, if any difference, for a while ...." We hope it means that somehow they'll be able to bring the same level of skill to a project besides Halo.

[Mikintosh]

Xbox R.I.P.

November 2001 - When people eventually get tired of Halo 3

[veemonjosh]

Let's see, Sony has lost everything exclusive to their name except Metal Gear Solid 4, Microsoft might be losing their biggest moneymaking developer...

Anyone else getting a "Nintendo might actually win a console war" vibe for the first time since the days of the NES? :eek:

[Sigma]

Let's see, Sony has lost everything exclusive to their name except Metal Gear Solid 4, Microsoft might be losing their biggest moneymaking developer...

Anyone else getting a "Nintendo might actually win a console war" vibe for the first time since the days of the NES? :eek:
Nintendo has already won. The fact that the Wii immediately has turned a profit and is already outselling the competition with no signs of slowing down has cemented it as the clear winner this generation. Microsoft and Sony will now duke it out for second place.

[Peter Paltridge]

But it begs the question, where does Bungie go if they leave? Do they become multiplatform? Will Sony buy them (or do they care that much about such an American property)? Will we get Halo Wars on the Wii?

[TKnHappyNess]

If it happens, would Microsoft or Bungie retain the rights to Halo?

[Chad Bonin]

Bet ya Bungie goes multiplatform, and if they kept the Halo rights, we'd get Halo DS finally...

[Tanooki]

Bet ya Bungie goes multiplatform, and if they kept the Halo rights, we'd get Halo DS finally...
i'd rather see halo: wii using controls similar to that of prime 3

[JohnCrichton]

I think we'll still get Bungie/Microsoft products just as much as we ever did. They've both experienced a very profitable relationship.

This just gives them freedom to now choose what they do instead of doing just HALO for the rest of their lives.

I can see them doing DS stuff and PS3 stuff after PS3's got enough of a user base to make it worth their wile.

[IanC]

Under MS all that would be in Bungie's future is halo, halo and more halo.

By themselves they have more freedom. Maybe they could do another Myth game for example :)

[Conan-san]

Hey, maybe Nintendo can buy them and make realy crappy use of them, I'm senceing crappy remake of Halo1 for the Wii's future!

[Chad Bonin]

i'd rather see halo: wii using controls similar to that of prime 3...

Well, they've already MADE Halo DS. They just need to finish it up.

[Desensitized]

Ugh, hopefully this doesn't mean more games like 'Oni'... *BLARGH*

[River26]

Xbox R.I.P.

November 2001 - When people eventually get tired of Halo 3

Indeed. Well, I mean sure, that Halo 3 may just have started to sell. But in terms of longevity and game sales. It was actually Nintendo's properties that were here the longest. And have gained millions of fans worldwide, including it's new future system; the Wii.

Wii just practically beat out Halo 3's sales in both years combined. Last year and this year alone.

[BCVM22]

Wii just practically beat out Halo 3's sales in both years combined. Last year and this year alone.

Erm... yes, typically, a system that has been out for nearly a year will outsell a software title that's been out for a week. I'm not quite sure what that proves.

[Conan-san]

Erm... yes, typically, a system that has been out for nearly a year will outsell a software title that's been out for a week. I'm not quite sure what that proves.

Well, it's HALO3, the game that apperently comes into your house and makes you a mug of lemsip is you're under the weather....

Seriously, you would expect such a game to outsell som' waggle machene...unless, you know, Halo 3 ain't all that and a bag of chips...

[tucsoncoyote]

Well this isn't the first time I've heard of Microsoft parting ways with any company, and it's not going to be the last.

Let's set the record straight here, Every time Microsoft partners or buys out a company and then they build something, it's a hit.. it's when Microsoft splits or sells off a company that Microsoft is the one that gives everyone who's a game the bird..

Cases in Point:

Case #1: Microsoft's Accquisition of Access Software, and the Links Golf Simulation Series: Now back in 1990, Access Software was an up and coming software company that had only one thing and one thing in mind.. Good Golf Simulations.. and they had a winner with Links, and Later Links 386...

Enter Microsoft, who then buys out Access and takes it under it's wing, it helps develop some of the best golfing simulations in the business with games like Links LS, Links 2001 and finally Links 2003.. But then Microsoft decides it wants out of the business.. So it sells off Access Software to Take Two Interactive who takes control of the said Salt Lake City Company and turns it into Indie built.. in just 2-3 years Indie Built's studio finally closes and there is no market for a Links 2005, 2007, or even a 2009.. So Microsoft loses a golfing simulation that made it a small mint, and Acess Software ends up deader than a zombie at a dead man's party. Meanwhile EA Games comes out with Tiger Woods and is having a great run at Selling units of it's product..while the Links series flounders and folks are still enjoying the game that's now still 4 years out of date..But still will Microsoft come up with a new version? Nope not likely..

Case #2: Microsoft/Kujo and Microsoft Train Simulator: Then in 2000, Microsoft decides to Partner up with Kujo Entertainment to create something that is very similar to Microsoft's Popular Flight Simulator series that has had 8 incarnations since it was first developed after the accquisition of it from Sublogic Computer software in 1982.. Since then Microsoft had up to that time created 7 versions of it's popular flight simulator and each had done quite well expanding on the market each time. So what does Microsoft do with Kujo? Make a Train simulator.. so realistic you could watch the train derail.

But after just 2 years Microsoft decides to take charge and wants to develop a new train simulator with Kujo called "Train Simulator 2" yet Kujo and Microsoft have creative differences and Kujo walks leaving this project on the shelf for Microsoft to do some 5 years after the first version..(Right now Microsoft has the product Starting to come together nicely but it won't be out till more than likely this time next year if not October of 2009..yet they're basing this more off their successful Flight sim Series and less off of the intiial MS/Kujo formula.. Will it sell? that's left to be determined. Meanwhile Upstart Aurun has developed at least 5 updates to it's popular Trainz series and have kept it's people somewhat happy..without even breaking a sweat..

The point is this.. Everytime Microsoft sticks its' fingers into someones great idea they usually come along and make it first good, then when they want to go further, Microsoft usually mucks it up, only to have to either sell off their share, or even put their next pet project on hold, sometimes years at a time.

and if this is very true with Bungie, well then I seriously doubt there might be a Halo 4... after all When Microsoft decides to do team efforts they usually get it right, It's only after they have a hit (or hits) do they realize they think they can do it better if they did it themselves.. and in the end, the games get the short end of the stick..

But it's not only Microsoft, But EA games as well. They too have committed this "Cardinal Sin" of dissing others off and in the years that have preceeded this Companies like Sierra Gaming, and Maxis are now just subdivisions of the larger EA, and while some sport simulators like Madden '08 are selling quite well for platforms, other parts of the equation are being flung by the wayside as PC Gamers are being forced to leave their computers for the platformed base systems.. the bottom line? This type of idea sometimes hurts even friendly competition between these game companies, and in a lot of ways hurts the gamers even more.

Frankly I liked the old days when you had a wider choice But now? I think at this rate, with this Bungie/Microsoft split, folkw might leave the Xbox in favor of wanting games they want.. now what companies dictate.. but until this rumor is proven 100 % true, I would hold Microsoft to a benefit of the doubt.. but if it is true? I feel sorry for the Halo 3 gamers.. now not having any kind of support from either Bungee or Microsoft..

which says one thing.. Someone's gotten too big for their britches..

:coyote:

[danreyes1]

Has Bungie made anything other than Halo? Really, as a non Xbox fan and a non-shooter-game fan, I hardly care really.

[Charlie]

Has Bungie made anything other than Halo? Really, as a non Xbox fan and a non-shooter-game fan, I hardly care really.

Oni, the Marathons, the first two Myth games I believe, and a small handful of other computer games.

[krazymed]

Bet ya Bungie goes multiplatform, and if they kept the Halo rights, we'd get Halo DS finally...

My copies of Halo 1, 2, and 3 are going in the trash if I ever see Halo on the DS.

[krazymed]

Let's set the record straight here, Every time Microsoft partners or buys out a company and then they build something, it's a hit.. it's when Microsoft splits or sells off a company that Microsoft is the one that gives everyone who's a game the bird..

The same can be said for virtually every video game publisher. Look at Activision, EA, and Sony. It's mostly because they are more interested in marketing the product to make money instead creating a good product that will sell.

[Strollymonster]

Can a moderator edit the title of this topic, cause it's official now (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/05/its-official-bungie-branches-off-from-microsoft/).


Bungie has just announced that they've "reached an unprecedented and exciting agreement" that Bungie will "branch off" from Microsoft Game Studios and become Bungie, LLC, an independent company, starting ... today (well, technically October 1, but effective immediately)! Worried about Halo going to another, less competent developer? No need, the studio will retain a long-term publishing agreement with Microsoft Game Studios for Halo (http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Halo/) titles. Other titles? All they're saying is that they "will continue to develop with [their] primary focus on Microsoft's platforms." With Microsoft holding a minority equity interest in the company, that's not surprising.

What are the immediate repercussions of this division? According to Bungie (http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Bungie/), "Practically speaking, nothing has changed and you guys won't see much, if any difference, for a while ...." We hope it means that somehow they'll be able to bring the same level of skill to a project besides Halo.

So it really doesn't sound like much has changed, except that they've got more independence in what projects they choose to develop and what systems they go on.

It'll be interesting to see how long the "friendly relationship" lasts here.

[Keiichi]

First Peter Moore leaves and now Bungie is starting to break away from MS. It should be interesting to see if Bungie still has enough creativty to create something new or if they've become a one trick pony under MS.

[Desensitized]

My copies of Halo 1, 2, and 3 are going in the trash if I ever see Halo on the DS.
Uh... Ok... :shrug:

Anyway, it doesn't really make much of a difference as it was an unsolicited pitch (http://kotaku.com/gaming/rumor-smash/halo-ds-was-an-unsolicited-pitch-307822.php) and nothing more.

[krazymed]

Metroid Prime and Call of Duty 4 have been put on the DS. That's what worries me. If a third-party publisher or Nintendo gets Bungie, that could very well happen. At least with Sony, there is a very low chance of a decent PSP title.

[Tanooki]

Metroid Prime and Call of Duty 4 have been put on the DS. That's what worries me. If a third-party publisher or Nintendo gets Bungie, that could very well happen. At least with Sony, there is a very low chance of a decent PSP title.
metroid prime: hunters, actually worked very well on the ds. i don't see what the issue is. i actually consider the gameplay a step up from the cube versions, but the hands get so cramped up from playing for hours on end

[krazymed]

Well, Nintendo tends to take care of their own. Third-party publishers are pretty cutthroat, though. They will hand off the franchise to a lowly handheld developer and butcher it because it saves money. The Halo name will sell, but the game doesn't have to deliver for that to happen, and that's my main worry.

[Jyose]

This might be a good move for Bungie, they have established a brand with Halo, I just hope they aren't a one trick pony. Who knows, maybe we'll finally see American developed games do well on Japanese hardware.

[peacebyanymeans]

This might be a good move for Bungie, they have established a brand with Halo, I just hope they aren't a one trick pony. Who knows, maybe we'll finally see American developed games do well on Japanese hardware.

Microsoft holds all ownership to the Halo brand, not Bungie.

Anyway, this is a very interesting deal.

Basically, Microsoft holds some assets in Bungie, but has no control over what they decide to do, except that they have first dibs in publishing rights, meaning that whenever Bungie makes a new game, it has to be a Microsoft published game unless they decide to pass on it, which is probably unlikely, unless it's a handheld title or something. I dunno.