Support NeoGAF

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

 

[Zeouterlimits]

Really? Any key Bungie staffers there or what? Seems kinda crap no?

Frank O'Connor (OuterWorldVoice on gaf) is, some form of Franchise Development Director.
Left Bungie to go to 343.
There seems to be plenty of great people there (Ryan Payton, Corrinne Yu), Halo'll be okay.

So since I love Bungie, should I not loathe Activision anymore?

 

[Shake Appeal]

Man, remember how well Valve and Activision got along, long before the Infinity Ward shipwreck?

But I'm sure Bungie are going into this with their eyes open!

 

[venne]

At least now, publishing with someone other than Microsoft, you'll be able to play Bungie games on your PC again.

Yeah, because Activision does so well with the PC.

*looks sternly in the direction of MW2 on PC*

 

[Combichristoffersen]

what

the

fuck

They chose Activision?

 

[Plywood]

Bungie's first move of freedom: Lock themselves in for another 10 years.

 

[Hanmik]

????? I went for a cup of coffee.. and I return to this?

 

[RoboPlato]

Hopefully they can get a couple games out before Activision destroys them.

 

[arstal]

Can't Activision force them to release what they want? I mean, say they make a new super succesful IP... if they have exclusive publish rights to Bungie games, they can refuse to publish any projects until they start developing a sequel to that, right?



343 Studios, owned by MS.

In the past, I know Timegate deliberately put out the same game 3 times to get around a bad publishing contract with Strategy First. Who says Bungie couldn't release some poison pills themselves?

 

[Jocchan]

PETATON

 

[mr afghan jones]

Where does this leave ongoing support, new maps, playlist management etc for Reach?

Seems weird, Bungie and Activision have always felt like total opposites in the way they run their businesses and treat their community. I am afraid.

 

[TheGreatDave]

Technically. But how independent can you be with a 10 year exclusive publishing contract, and with the Devil, no less? There have been so many horror stories coming out of Activision in recent years and they jump straight into this? I honestly have to question Bungie leadership's sanity.

The question is if Activision can dictate the release schedule or any in-game aspects. Just because Activision are publishing doesn't mean they can make this a yearly franchise or whatever.

 

[Elios83]

That's kinda unexpected.
I mean, I was expecting that they would make a multiplatform game eventually while their focus would continue to be Halo but this is much bigger.
It's basically their next BIG IP, post Halo saga, going multiplatform with a greedy publisher like Activision betting on a 10 years plan around it, not a single game.

 

[Matt_C]

Because when I think successful FPS publishing, I think Capcom.

Why not sign with Konami too?

The Bungie name is able to sell on it's own with the casual masses. I am even more shocked that Take2 hasn't given an offer. I remember back in the PS2 days that Rockstar games allegedly had the rights to use the Halo engine or something.

 

[Mad_Ban]

What the fucking fuck?

Hopefully Activision redeem themselves in my eyes when Bungies new game is out. I refuse to break my Activision boycott.

 

[Suzzopher]

????? I went for a cup of coffee.. and I return to this?

:lol

 

[StriKeVillain]

 

[chewydogg]

A look on the bright side, we get a game from Bungie's new IP every year for the next ten years!!

Oh, wait...

 

[Cep]

No words...

 

[Jamesfrom818]

Wow

:lol

 

[Blimblim]

Damn, that certainly came out of nowhere.
Looks like Bungie will still be independent though, and not stuck with whatever ATVI wants them to do like Bizarre.
Still, both biggest studios who worked for MS are now with Activision.

 

[Pistolero]

So this is like Insomniac going multiplatform ?

This is official...

 

[savor100]

This is insane

 

[whatevermort]

I know that this'll be forgotten in three posts, but it's only a publishing partnership. Activision haven't purchased Bungie, and they have no control/say over the IP. This is not an Infinity Ward/Activision deal; it's just a publishing deal. It's just using them as publishers. It doesn't even, at this stage, guarantee that they'll be multi-format; they might be moving to PC only, for all we know.

 

[MMaRsu]

Jesus christ what a bunch of fuckwits.

My god, how can you be sooooooooooo STUPIDDDDDDD

 

[Opus Angelorum]

I'm stunned, this is...unbelievable.

Well I guess this is a good way of detracting people from the Infinity Ward story.

 

[Rated-Rsuperstar]

Call of Halo: Modern Reach incoming...

 

[FrankT]

Not too surprised with Activision really. 10 years however that is a long ball and chain.

 

[JDSN]

:lol Some great posts here so far, someone even mentioned honor in a serious manner. Now im kinda hoping for something similitar to happen to Naughty Dog.

 

[Danthrax]

????? I went for a cup of coffee.. and I return to this?

Put the GAF Pokéball over that woman's head and the Bungie/Activision logos on the flying ball

 

[Aspiring]

Frank O'Connor (OuterWorldVoice on gaf) is, some form of Franchise Development Director.
Left Bungie to go to 343.
There seems to be plenty of great people there (Ryan Payton, Corrinne Yu), Halo'll be okay.

So since I love Bungie, should I not loathe Activision anymore?

Oh OK cool. I was just wondering where abouts the series would be headed, but it sounds like its in good hands. I do wonder though if it will be the same, just as people are questioning CoD without IW staffers.

 

[ChryZ]

 

[Shurs]

Yeah, because Activision does so well with the PC.

*looks sternly in the direction of MW2 on PC*

At least there is a PC version. We've seen Microsoft kill off PC versions of games before, in order to push the 360 platform. It's a smart business move on Microsoft's part, but if you're an independent developer, you want to get you game into as many hands as possible. Signing with Activision over Microsoft allows Bungie's next game to be on more than just the Xbox.

 

[Onemise]

 

[Zeouterlimits]

Where does this leave ongoing support, new maps, playlist management etc for Reach?

I'm sure that's already in the Reach contract between MS & Bungie.
Bungie aren't going to abandon the game, don't worry.

Still crazy. So crazy.

 

[Peff]

I know that this'll be forgotten in three posts, but it's only a publishing partnership. Activision haven't purchased Bungie, and they have no control/say over the IP. This is not an Infinity Ward/Activision deal; it's just a publishing deal. It's just using them as publishers. It doesn't even, at this stage, guarantee that they'll be multi-format; they might be moving to PC only, for all we know.

But it doesn't mean that Activision HAS to publish every single thing Bungie comes up with either. And since they have exclusive rights, they kinda do have a say, don't they?

 

[Suzzopher]

:lol Some great posts here so far, someone evem , mentioned honor in a serious manner. Now im kinda hoping for something similitar to happen to Naughty Dog.

We'll no doubt see Insomniac sign with them by E3:lol

 

[GraveRobberX]

Someone really needs to photoshop Kotick's head onto the Million Dollar Man's Body

With the Caption reading:

"Everyone has a Price....Hah Ha Ha Ha!"....Money, Money...Monnneeeeey $$$$$$$$$

 

[HiResDes]

I know that this'll be forgotten in three posts, but it's only a publishing partnership. Activision haven't purchased Bungie, and they have no control/say over the IP. This is not an Infinity Ward/Activision deal; it's just a publishing deal. It's just using them as publishers. It doesn't even, at this stage, guarantee that they'll be multi-format; they might be moving to PC only, for all we know.

Nice to see a voice of reason amidst all of this senseless rage, but with that being said Kotick can suck a big one, and Satan's big one at that.

 

[TheGreatDave]

The Bungie name is able to sell on it's own with the casual masses. I am even more shocked that Take2 hasn't given an offer. I remember back in the PS2 days that Rockstar games allegedly had the rights to use the Halo engine or something.

But essentially all this is is a contract to fund and publish software. No one has a better history for selling large quantities of FPS games and marketing them well than Activision lately. Hell they can probably turn their MW2 Plastic Crap Factory in to a Bungie Plastic Crap Factory, so how can Bungie resist?

 

[neorej]

Nice move.

Bungie: "So, Bobby, we've got an idea for this game."

Kotick: "Yeah, that's nice. Here's everything you need to know about Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3."

Bungie: "but, creative fre..."

Kotick: "Listen."

Bungie: "What?"

Kotick: "Modern Warfare 3."

Bungie: "*sigh* OK, but as long as we get to do our i.."

Kotick: "Yeah, whatever."

Bungie: "So, we'll just get started on Modern Warfare 3 then?"

Kotick: "Yeah, and, erm, I need you to finish this by october 2011."

Bungie: "But, we need to familiarize ourselves with..."

Kotick: "MODERN WARFARE 3 OCTOBER 2011!!!"

Bungie: "Yessirmisterkoticksir."

 

[CrunchinJelly]

Is the bailout watch thread up yet?

 

[Yagharek]

:lol :lol holy shit, insane news. Its not april 1st again is it? (Checks PS3 clock)

Well, I can only see this ending in tears and a mass defection to wideload studios

 

[Opus Angelorum]

Halo Hero : The Spartan
Halo Hero II : The Flood
Halo Hero III : The Brute
Halo Hero IV : World Tour

Confirmed.

 

[Dipswitch]

Very interesting, on many levels. It seems to be for this one new IP, so if it's good Activision stands to make some nice cake. As does Bungie obviously.

I'm assuming MS had right of first refusal, so I'd love to know the reason why they decided it wasn't worth their while. IP wasn't strong enough in their eyes perhaps? Halo is what brought Bungie to the big leagues obviously. Their other IP's have been interesting, but haven't exactly set the world on fire sales wise as far as I can tell.

And finally, multiplatform. Will be interesting to see which platform they gravitate to as the lead. Or will they allow other studious to port their titles?

Questions questions......

 

[Son of Godzilla]

what

the

fuck

They chose Activision?

In all seriousness, it was probably Bungie's best decision. It's an easy sell to Acti suits, meaning everything would be on their terms. Plus they could leverage Activision's hemorrhaging against itself. I'm sure there's tons of pressure on Activision to find something new to hang it's coat on, plenty of room to get great deal. I mean, you'll have to sue to get them to honor the contract, but still.

 

[Shurs]

:lol Some great posts here so far, someone evem , mentioned honor in a serious manner. Now im kinda hoping for something similitar to happen to Naughty Dog.

You do know that Sony owns Naught Dog, right?

 

[Notorious_Roy]

Damn, that certainly came out of nowhere.
Looks like Bungie will still be independent though, and not stuck with whatever ATVI wants them to do like Bizarre.
Still, both biggest studios who worked for MS are now with Activision.

All that remains is the Activision console.

This'll be a nice E3... :lol

 

[Feindflug]

WTF? is this real?

I love their games and wish the best for them by going multiplatform but signing a contract with the devil is some dangerous shit. :lol

 

[berserk_ftw]

So when can we expect their first game announcement? :lol