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Bungie Breaks Free From Microsoft

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5 2007 4:00 PM

Submitted by Uncognitive. Edited By erin_broadley.

TAGS: Halo, Bungie, Microsoft, Halo 3, Xbox 360, Xbox, videogames, Not another fucking story about Halo 3 what did Microsoft pay you fucktards or something?

It’s theoretically possible that there may be some of you out there who are still unaware that Halo 3, the latest and supposedly final chapter in the ludicrously popular videogame series, has recently become available for purchase.

In which case, I’d like to congratulate you for escaping from solitary confinement in a Thai prison, but if you don’t mind me saying so, stopping by a local internet café to browse the SG Newswire might not be the best way to celebrate your new-found freedom.

For the rest of you, if Microsoft’s marketing tsunami hasn’t already convinced you to buy one of the three different versions of Halo 3 to play on your new Halo 3-themed Xbox 360 console while you drink Halo 3-flavored Mountain Dew and then impress fellow Halo 3 players by burping loudly into your Halo 3-themed wireless Xbox Live Headset, they’ve got one last trick up their sleeves to wring a few more drops of hype from Halo 3 now that it’s gone from “upcoming videogame packed with life-altering awesomeness” to “tangible shiny disc-shaped object you can be interactively entertained by while Bill Gates takes another swim in his Scrooge McDuck-sized pool of money”.

To celebrate the release of Halo 3, Microsoft announced today that they are “evolving their relationship” with Bungie, the game development studio that created the Halo games. Bungie, who had been in a monogamous relationship with Microsoft since Microsoft bought them in 2000, got the 7 year itch and decided the time was right to take a little break, get back into the swingin’ independent game developer scene, maybe see some other consoles. Microsoft fell for the “it’s not you, it’s me” line and now only owns a minority stake in Bungie.

Like most major developments in the videogame industry, news of the Microsoft/Bungie split first appeared as an unsourced rumor in an obscure videogame blog. The original article, which paints the reasons for the split in less glowing terms than the eventual Bungie and Microsoft press releases, started a geeksplosion of skeptical postings and articles on other, slightly less obscure videogame websites.

Those of you who have social lives that don’t involve bellowing “Boom! Headshot!” into your headset might not realize how the accuracy of most videogame rumors posted on the internet is on par with broken watches and blind pigs, which makes it all the more surprising that this one turned out to be true.

But before you start daydreaming about how awesome it’ll be to play Halo 4 with your Wiimote, Microsoft still owns the intellectual property rights to all things Halo. Also, Microsoft will be “continuing its long-standing publishing agreement” with Bungie for future games, and Bungie claims that they “will continue to develop with our primary focus on Microsoft’s platforms”.

I just hope this split doesn't further delay the release of my most anticipated Bungie game that doesn't involve the word "Halo", the genre-defining killer app known as Pimps At Sea.

22 Comments

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SnowgodCCR

Twin Mountain, NH

November 2006

OCT 05, 2007 04:34 PM

I've never played any of the Halo games. I like the music though, my girlfriend convinced me to buy the CD next time we're someplace that sells it. Definitley good stuff on there. Do the games live up to the soundtrack? I don't know, but maybe I'll find out sometime.

How bad is it that I say "boom headshot" and I don't play videogames other than Gran Turismo?

gcash056

Orlando, FL

October 2004

OCT 05, 2007 04:53 PM

Uh. I've done all of the above. I have a special-editon HALO3 XBOX running the special theme download from XBL, and I have the Legendary edition helmet sitting on my shelf right now.

And I have a bottle of "game fuel" even though I wouldn't dare drink that nasty shit.

I also bought an original XBOX specifically to play the original HALO, which is still my favorite so far. However buying the 360 was worth it for Bioshock alone.

And "pimps at sea" is GREAT, but I'm under NDA... I honestly don't think there will be a HALO 4 however. There just ain't no mo' to the story. And most of HALO's draw (at least for me) is the story.

The split was a helluva surprise. I was talking to my boss this morning saying it's bunk. I guess I'll have to decide on my favorite crow recipe over the weekend.

Tyvron

Ann Arbor, MI

September 2007

OCT 05, 2007 06:05 PM

Maybe they'll go back to making obscure FPS and RTS games for the Mac now.

seatbelt06

Saint Louis, MO

April 2007

OCT 05, 2007 06:45 PM

actually, there's plenty of story to tell. you'd know that if you finished halo 3.

and yes, the games more than live up to the soundtrack. the soundtrack only gets better by playing the game, because it puts the music into an emotional context.

Scott_Davidson

Australia

April 2007

OCT 05, 2007 06:51 PM

geeksplosion

Best new word ever!

As a PC man, Halo means little to me. But geeksplosion is a word I'm going to work into every conversation I can for the next few weeks... not hard considering I work in a computer store, and most of my friends are geeks and nerds.

Lemonkid

Montreal, QC

May 2003

OCT 05, 2007 07:16 PM

I didn't realize the point of this article until I re-read the headline.

existentialblues

Marietta, GA

July 2006

OCT 05, 2007 07:27 PM

Scott_Davidson said:

geeksplosion

as a p.c. man, the only reason i would play halo 3 is because ive played 1 and 2 on p.c., and i just wish they would release 3 quick for the p.c. because the graphics are always better on p.c.....being on p.c. is more of a reason to love halo not less

seaniesean5

Buffalo, NY

July 2005

OCT 05, 2007 09:39 PM

my gamer-tag is sedition 12 16 if anybody is interested in shooting me in my tiny little head send me a friend request anyway im gonna finish this can of "game fuel" now

FearTheReaper

NEWSWIRE

Los Angeles, CA

OCT 05, 2007 10:21 PM

When Bungie and Microsoft merged together, all the big guys at Bungie had to sign a seven year contract. Those contracts were up on September 19th. So, this is just a basic business decision. What was to stop the head guys from leaving and forming their own company?

Microsoft waited to see what they would do and it became apparent this week that they were all jumping ship. Then Microsoft learned the others at Bungie would follow their leaders out the door, basically leaving an empty shell called Bungie. Without those people, there is no reason to keep the company. So, Microsoft let them split and still keep Bungie, as long as they agreed to only release games on Xbox. It's a win-win for everyone. Halo made the XBox. The guys at Bungie can now get really rich.

xazapdmytinu

Fort Collins, CO

July 2007

OCT 06, 2007 12:31 AM

One can only hope Bungie's Alexander Seropian will make a John Lasseter turn and "BOOM HEADSHOT!" the Steve Ballmer.

ardour

Ottawa, ON

March 2006

OCT 06, 2007 12:38 AM

Kind of interesting to read. As a PC gamer (moreso back then as opposed to now... not enough good stuff is being releassed anymore) it's funny to see this. I remember it very well when Microsoft bought them out. It was a huge disapointment. Heh.

Ryukisho

Hampton, VA

September 2007

OCT 06, 2007 01:05 AM

seatbelt06 said:
actually, there's plenty of story to tell. you'd know that if you finished halo 3.

and yes, the games more than live up to the soundtrack. the soundtrack only gets better by playing the game, because it puts the music into an emotional context.

Not exactly since apparently the Master Chief's dead...I guess they could pass the torch along to someone else, but would it still be Halo? I mean, having a 7 foot tall main character named Master Chief gives the game some of it's appeal.

Pwndcake

Portland, OR

October 2004

OCT 06, 2007 02:31 AM

Dude, Pimps at Sea is going to be awesome!

Exsanguinatus

Australia

August 2007

OCT 06, 2007 04:10 AM

Ryukisho said:

Not exactly since apparently the Master Chief's dead...I guess they could pass the torch along to someone else, but would it still be Halo? I mean, having a 7 foot tall main character named Master Chief gives the game some of it's appeal.

Finish the last level again, wait for the credits to end......