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Activision/Bungie game revealed by court (4 MMO sci-fantasy FPSs, more) [OP Updated]
- Thread starter V_Ben
- Start date
Pretty cool, but there's at least one shooter MMO planned for both PC and PS3 coming up, so I don't think people should fret too much about exclusivity.
Also, considering it says it's going to have a first and second game I'm not so sure it's an MMO since that would imply persistence rather than separate titles.
And this is why I hate Activision. They turn talented studios into slaves who manufacture clone after uninspired clone. They use you and abuse you, then spit you out when you have no soul left. These types of deal with the devil partnerships never last in the long run, and EA is practically Activision's equally rotten twin brother.
Industry needs a major shift in business practice if creativity is going to survive.
Vinterbird
Member
This is what a Bungie negotiated deal looks like. They got a deal they wanted. Imagine a studio not in Bungies position to make demands.
This is literally terrifying to me. I write reviews for G4 and (as of late last year, I believe), we're included in Metacritic/GameRankings numbers. My own personal, probably-biased-one-way-or-another-because-there's-no-such-thing-as-an-objective-review is going to affect the jobs and well-being of hardworking developers? That's not supposed to affect a review, but this is bullshit. There's a lot of unwritten pressure there. I would probably decline to review a title I knew had a clause like this.
Reagan's BR
Banned
It really makes you wonder what all of the other developers are dealing with.
I threw up in my mouth a little bit.
Well, at least this seemingly confirms a fall 2013 release for the next xbox.
edit: Activision could terminate the contract if HALO: REACH didn't sell 6 million units in its first six months? LOL?
The term MMOFPS gets thrown around a lot these days, but most likely it'll just be a standard shooter multiplayer affair with a slightly higher playercount and more persistence ala Dust514.
NullPointer
Member
This is like a diamond bullet of truth right through my forehead.
Monocle
Member
That bit about Bungie getting a bonus for a 90+ GameRankings score is pretty lulzworthy, and a sad reminder of the way that publishers fuel the farce that is game journalism. Does anyone on either side even read the reviews anymore? With few exceptions, they're crumbly turds of overwrought hype and cliche, seasoned but rarely with seeds of critical analysis. All that seem to matter are the scattershot numbers at the top of the page, which usually map to a three point scale of 1) "OMG this sucks," 2) "well it's OK I guess," and 3) "this is totally rad guys."
I'm not thrilled that Bungie is committed to making four MMO FPSs, but shooters are their stock and trade, and they're pretty good at what they do. The games might be worth a look after all, though Bungie will need all the luck in the world and about seven shit-tons of fairy dust (and maybe also a legion of mutant crustacean slave laborers) to meet their deadlines without compromising on quality.
More Marathon is always a good thing. At least there's one future Bungie product that I can look forward to without reservations.
I'm not thrilled that Bungie is committed to making four MMO FPSs, but shooters are their stock and trade, and they're pretty good at what they do. The games might be worth a look after all, though Bungie will need all the luck in the world and about seven shit-tons of fairy dust (and maybe also a legion of mutant crustacean slave laborers) to meet their deadlines without compromising on quality.
More Marathon is always a good thing. At least there's one future Bungie product that I can look forward to without reservations.
Wouldn't you expect your review to affect the jobs and well-being of hardworking developers anyway? You do write reviews for a reason, don't you?
Anyway, it's $2.5 million. I'm sure they'd rather have the money than not have it, but the rest of the numbers in this contract are in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
D
Deleted member 22576
Unconfirmed Member
I'm starting to picture something like borderlands mixed with guild wars and I'm getting very excited.
ThisWreckage
Banned
I can't help but laugh. Everything about this game sounds terrible. This industry is absolutely dead when it comes to creative tentpole franchises. The only, and I mean only, creativity can be found in indie/downloadable titles. Sequel machines dressed in slightly different colors.
PopcornMegaphone
Banned
I doubt MS would allow Bungie to own the IP's.
If this were really about creative freedom, I doubt they would have locked themselves in to creating endless sequels.
By the way, I'm not criticizing Bungie. It's a business.
You haven't seen Destiny...
and one can suppose the Games being heavily retail oriented through four major iterations over ten years means Bungie will probably treat the game both as a MMO and a more classical SP/MP game.
Those who fear the term MMO should wait and see, I don't think Bungie is ready to introduce something that feels empty and boring.
Hypereides
Member
Good god Kotick. I didnt know you were such a cruel cheap SOB.
GodfatherX
Member
I was really disappointed when Bungie left MGS after Halo 3 launched, but overall I think its for the best. I think Halo needed some fresh ideas and 343i has assembled a great team including some Halo vets that I have the utmost confidence in delivering a major leap for the franchise.
Interested in Destiny as well, I think Bungie needed a new universe to craft from scratch. This game has been in development in one stage or another since Halo 3 shipped, this is Jason Jones new baby and I think when revealed will exceed the already high expectations.
4 games + 4 expansions over 8 years seems about right. A 10-12 hour campaign every other year with a 4-5 hour expansion/dlc in between releases. After game 1 ships the core team moves on to refining the engine and starting production on game 2 while a small team creates the expansion, similar to ODST.
Interested in Destiny as well, I think Bungie needed a new universe to craft from scratch. This game has been in development in one stage or another since Halo 3 shipped, this is Jason Jones new baby and I think when revealed will exceed the already high expectations.
4 games + 4 expansions over 8 years seems about right. A 10-12 hour campaign every other year with a 4-5 hour expansion/dlc in between releases. After game 1 ships the core team moves on to refining the engine and starting production on game 2 while a small team creates the expansion, similar to ODST.
Monocle
Member
That's not entirely fair to fringe studios like PlatinumGames, but yeah, I pretty much agree.
Bungie's built up enough goodwill with me that I'll give whatever they serve up next a shot. I'll lose a lot of confidence in them if Destiny isn't a home run like Halo CE, though.
Yeah; but I think it's worth remembering that Bungie retain all IP rights for Destiny; so it's not all doom and gloom. If activision terminate the contract they can just shop the game around to other publishers.
GotchaForce
Member
It's Bungie. It's gonna rock everyone's socks off.
ThisWreckage
Banned
Platinum Games isn't a great example because they may be on the chopping block due to SEGA's recent troubles. Their games do not do well in terms of sales.
Monocle
Member
Yeah. I was thinking mainly in terms of creativity, but yeah.
Infinite Justice
Member
Indeed.
While the certain amount of units rule is messed up (sadly expected) i was more interested in the other where they can bailout as they see fit after releasing the second expansion.
Monocle
Member
The feel of artistic integrity.
Yes, but the horror is that this is one best contract they could land? I fear what other publishers might ask.
Infinite Justice
Member
Most likely one would be IP rights lol
Vinterbird
Member
To be fair. If I was EA and Bungie said "hey we need around 300 million to make a ten year long MMO IP for consoles", I would not have started any kind of contract negotiation with them. Activision is taking a huge gamble on Destiny, and I doubt there's anyone besides them, EA or Microsoft willing to fund such a venture. So it's mostly fair that Activisioncwants to see a good return in investment.
I need Bungie in my Life...
For all the good work 343i is doing with Halo, I'm still divided on their darker more personnal vision for it. I love that they are tightening the ship, making great books, better figures, movies etc... But I need a game universe that is all fun and cozy.
I need the Pink.
Good Job Bob
Member
You've not seen a single screenshot of this game.
Vinterbird
Member
The game is not even announced. People should wait and perhaps let Bungie talk about the game before calling them sellouts.
PopcornMegaphone
Banned
lol are you saying a legal document isn't a good way to judge this game?
You would probably decline to review most games then.
True, but they seem to have put way to many obligations on Bungie. I would even call some borderline insane.
What's hilarious is that they escaped Microsoft to get some "freedom" from making constant Halo sequels and now here they are, in an even more ridiculous situation.
Bungie knows how to put their own unique stamp on games, I am not worried about that. What I am worried about is the release death march they are embarking and unnecessary high expectations.
Vinterbird
Member
One would imagine that Bungie is not stupid, and that they probably already have Destiny 1 and Comet 1 in a shipable state, and they probably have a very detailed and well planned roadmap to ensure everything works as it should.
Bungie wanted a ten year long contract, Bungie wanted to make a MMO, Bungie wants all of this. This is not Activision forcing anything on them. Bungie pitched them, not the other way around. This is n a CoD situation. Bungie has actual control over their product.
This might be entirely their doing, but one can't help but look at the struggles of developing for current-gen consoles this gen and the likely increased difficulties of the next one and think that maybe they bit off more than they can chew with this contract.
Especially when the success of these games is hardly guaranteed.
Well this is going to be primarily a console game, while Planetside is a PC game. I don't think they'll be in direct competition. Secondly I doubt they're going for the same sort of massive thousand player open-world battles Planetside 2 is going for given the game is coming out for the 360 and maybe PS3. It'll probably be similar to Dust514, which features 64 player battles in smallish multiplayer arenas. CCP should be the ones worrying.
I'm wondering this as well. Why can't Bungie get into a situation like Valve, where they have complete creative control over their projects and not have some malevolent master looking over their shoulder ever step of the way? They've had massive success with their last four games and have a loyal fanbase, can't they start something on their own terms? It's ridiculous that they're developing a new Marathon game, but are contractually obliged to only put a maximum of 5% of theie workforce on it. It's their game FFS.
Yes, I understand this. I am not even questioning that Destiny will be something to look out for, but Im still baffled by how strict this contract is. Actually, I should not be, because developer and publisher relationships have been shady for most part. Still, I do not see it feasible to release a MMO every two years and every year after release DLC. Seems insane and could have impact on the quality of games. Maybe it will work out, but Im holding my breath.