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Halo |OT4| Trust's a Tough Thing to Come by These Days

J10

Banned
I didn't say I was proud, but I do well enough to win more than lose, which adds a lot to my base enjoyment of the game. I feel like I have a good grip on the gameplay. I didn't mean to imply that I could play professionally or anything.
 

Fuchsdh

Member
why can't we have a gun that shoots straight. also sad to say, we are miles behind cod concerning how aiming feels.

Look at it this way: in reality, the weapons shouldn't be hitscan, and plasma weapons should travel faster than projectile weapons, so no one is happy.

I didn't say I was proud, but I do well enough to win more than lose, which adds a lot to my base enjoyment of the game. I feel like I have a good grip on the gameplay. I didn't mean to imply that I could play professionally or anything.

Haha, feel far, far better about yourself then: http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Career/ServiceRecord?gamertag=Pixelfox

(When I started Reach five months ago, though, I was a 45BPR and at .83 K/D, so yay improvement.)
 
We cannot be friends anymore.

smashbrosskip_2.gif
 

TheOddOne

Member
Well this is intresting regarding Destiny.
MARATHON FOR $375,000,000
Once $375,000,000 in operating income is made through the Destiny business, Marathon will be free to be published, and at this stage about 10 per cent of staff can work on the project.

2021
Bungie is generally banned from developing action shooters other than Destiny until 2018 (after the release of Comet 3), regardless of other stipulations. After then it would have to wait another three years to be able to publish such a game, but in any event must give Activision first rights to negotiate a publishing deal.

NO ZAMPELLA WEST INCIDENTS
Key staff had to sign a new, long-term employment contracts with Bungie that Activision had approved the terms of. It stipulates that ‘key members’ will lose their equity in the studio if they leave before Destiny project number two, due for release Fall 2015 on PC, PS4 and Xbox 720.
(There is only one loophole that allows staff to get their equity back, and the Destiny project will need to make $1 billion in operating income for such a loophole to possibly come into effect).

NO INFINTY WARD INCIDENTS
The Destiny project will legally have entered ‘critical risk’ if 33 per cent of the Bungie staff leave the studio within any twelve month period prior to the master copy of Comet number four (due 2020).
In this phase, Activision has, in certain circumstances, the authority to assume control of the game’s IP, as well as a licence to use the proprietary ‘Destiny Game Engine’.

NO COMPETE
A small section of Bungie staff (identified as ‘key-key members’) have signed a no-compete clause, meaning they are prohibited from joining rival companies during the spell of the contract.

CRITIAL RISK
Activision CFO Thomas Tippl has the final authority to decide whether the Bungie project has entered a ‘critical risk’ period, which is determined as the project not meeting certain completion or quality milestones. In this event Activision has the right to resume control of the Destiny series without Bungie’s approval until 2020. (Bungie must still be paid royalties for games already produced).
More here.
 
That's rough. It makes sense that Activision wanted a contract like that after IW, but I'm surprised Bungie took it. Especially considering they could have signed with anyone I bet.
 

Fuchsdh

Member
How Blizzard has not been completely and utterly destroyed by Activision's money-grubbing ways is beyond me. Only a matter of time I suppose.
 

Fracas

#fuckonami
Was Activision the only company that went after Bungie? One of the best and most successful studios shouldn't have to subject to this.
 
I love all this contract stuff, people getting genuinely sad and angry at mostly logical contracts. The money for this game is coming from Activision as a benefactor they should have alot of control over the product. Most of this stuff is contractually fluff that will only ever come into play under extreme circumstances and the rest of it is just maintaining you interests and investments.

With a company of around 200 members and that fairly strict 8 year dev cycle they have going on its common sense that you what the staff devoted to the product.

But yeah w.e "our freedoms are being oppressed"
 
BUNGIE BUYOUT PENALTY
If, before 2016, a company merged with Bungie, or bought it outright, Bungie would need to pay Activision 19.9% of the acquisition transaction fee.
Jesus. Prior to these reveals, I thought Bungie actually got an incredible deal from Activision because of IW's departure.

How Blizzard has not been completely and utterly destroyed by Activision's money-grubbing ways is beyond me. Only a matter of time I suppose.
Blizzard is still essentially a separate entity after the Activision Vivendi Games merger.
 

m23

Member
The authority to assume control of the game’s IP.

THE FUCK?!

So if a third of Bungie leaves the company within 12 months before the final game releases in 2020, Activision will get the IP. That is pretty crazy, not the Activision gaining control part, but the fact that Bungie actually decided to go through with this.
 
"Sure, we'll support your ambitious, expensive new ip. But, you gotta do this, this, this, annnnd...this. Oh, and sign here, too. Oh, almost forgot, sign here as well."

frank_exit.gif
 

TheOddOne

Member
I love all this contract stuff, people getting genuinely sad and angry at mostly logical contracts. The money for this game is coming from Activision as a benefactor they should have alot of control over the product. Most of this stuff is contractually fluff that will only ever come into play under extreme circumstances and the rest of it is just maintaining you interests and investments.

With a company of around 200 members and that fairly strict 8 year dev cycle they have going on its common sense that you what the staff devoted to the product.

But yeah w.e "our freedoms are being oppressed"
The thing about it is that Activision since the whole IW situation must have really tighten up their belts. Some stuff on the offset look way too strict, but then in the light of them spending so much money it is understandable. Still, from a gamer perspective this looks like it will create tension for the creators we love and care about.
 
I love all this contract stuff, people getting genuinely sad and angry at mostly logical contracts. The money for this game is coming from Activision as a benefactor they should have alot of control over the product. Most of this stuff is contractually fluff that will only ever come into play under extreme circumstances and the rest of it is just maintaining you interests and investments.

With a company of around 200 members and that fairly strict 8 year dev cycle they have going on its common sense that you what the staff devoted to the product.

But yeah w.e "our freedoms are being oppressed"

The problems I have isn't the strict guidelines, it's the ability for Activision to take over the IP if things don't go well. Of course, it's not a situation that will most likely occur, but for them to have that option is ridiculous.

edit: Then again, I'm not the guy who signed the contract so surely Bungie is happy with the way things are.
 

GhaleonEB

Member
I assume you guys did not read the contract; it was all spelled out there. Activision is forking over huge sumso fund the projects, and has a number of clauses to ensure that if the game is endangered that they'll still be able to deliver it and recoup the investment. If I had to guess, internal to Bungie the 'key members' agreed in some way to stick around through the terms of the Activision contract. Certainly have have a huge financial incentive to stick around. The other clauses read like standard non-compete clauses to me.

Dunno, I don't see anything worrying in there.
 

TheOddOne

Member
I assume you guys did not read the contract; it was all spelled out there. Activision is forking over huge sumso fund the projects, and has a number of clauses to ensure that if the game is endangered that they'll still be able to deliver it and recoup the investment. If I had to guess, internal to Bungie the 'key members' agreed in some way to stick around through the terms of the Activision contract. Certainly have have a huge financial incentive to stick around. The other clauses read like standard non-compete clauses to me.

Dunno, I don't see anything worrying in there.
Agree, but the only thing that worries me is the ridged release schedule. Looks unrealistic.
 

GhaleonEB

Member
Agree, but the only thing that worries me is the ridged release schedule. Looks unrealistic.

Bungie signed onto it, which I can't imagine they'd do if they couldn't support it.

The Destiny team has been going for nearly five years now, from the early initial core team to the full studio focusing on it since Reach shipped. Getting their teams and pipeline set up to deliver content on that cadence is probably one of their main challenges and focus areas.

Wow, hard to believe that was two years ago already.
 
The thing about it is that Activision since the whole IW situation must have really tighten up their belts. Some stuff on the offset look way too strict, but then in the light of them spending so much money it is understandable. Still, from a gamer perspective this looks like it will create tension for the creators we love and care about.

I doubt it will create much tension, Bungie are big boys now they know how to operate and meet targets effectively they do all that and its going to be easy riding with Activision. Contracts like these are set up to accounts for every possible scenario that could unfold and after they invest in a studio for 10 years its more than reasonable for something like this to be requested on Activisions side, If bungie didnt feel up to it im sure after MS they would turn the offer down.

Nothing iv read is really shocking so far, With the hundreds of crazy court cases going on in the industry's about IP ownership and such having a clear document like this is better for both parties.

Bungie would love to publish all this themselves im sure but at the end of the day that a huge endeavor and something like that just is not feasible.

This is not about Bungies creative control which is what seemed to be the issue at MS, the contract still allows Bungie freedom over the IP unless the royally screw the pooch and are deemed a risk. As long as Bungie deliver content here, here and here they can do what they want with the game.

As for the 5% on Marathon stuff thats something Activision should get praise for they could of just said "no you will only work on destiny for 10 year" allows 5% of staff who i assume are being paid wages from Activison's funding to work on a separate title is a good will gesture.

The problems I have isn't the strict guidelines, it's the ability for Activision to take over the IP if things don't go well. Of course, it's not a situation that will most likely occur, but for them to have that option is ridiculous.

edit: Then again, I'm not the guy who signed the contract so surely Bungie is happy with the way things are.

I dont see why, the IP's development and evolution has been funded via Activision it maybe the brainchild of Jones or Staten or whoever but without funding its just a idea and ideas aint worth anything dude. Content = Money and that content is produced under funding from Activision. Its smart from a business standpoint to secure that investment actually pays off in some way. If bungie fuck up now then they can push the game on to gearbox or someone to finish up, without the contract bungie could cut and run and publish the game with EA and Activision dont really have a legal leg to stand on
 
As long as Destiny is Halo quality than everything should be good for Bungie. If not, well then things might get ugly from the way this deal looks.
 

TheOddOne

Member
I doubt it will create much tension, Bungie are big boys now they know how to operate and meet targets effectively they do all that and its going to be easy riding with Activision. Contracts like these are set up to accounts for every possible scenario that could unfold and after they invest in a studio for 10 years its more than reasonable for something like this to be requested on Activisions side, If bungie didnt feel up to it im sure after MS they would turn the offer down.

Nothing iv read is really shocking so far, With the hundreds of crazy court cases going on in the industry's about IP ownership and such having a clear document like this is better for both parties.

Bungie would love to publish all this themselves im sure but at the end of the day that a huge endeavor and something like that just is not feasible.

This is not about Bungies creative control which is what seemed to be the issue at MS, the contract still allows Bungie freedom over the IP unless the royally screw the pooch and are deemed a risk. As long as Bungie deliver content here, here and here they can do what they want with the game.

As for the 5% on Marathon stuff thats something Activision should get praise for they could of just said "no you will only work on destiny for 10 year" allows 5% of staff who i assume are being paid wages from Activison's funding to work on a separate title is a good will gesture
Ok, this makes more sense now.
 

kylej

Banned
Glad somebody is lighting a fire under Bungie's ass. You eat what you kill. Reach was sloppy as shit and ODST was disappointing, they got too comfortable in their abandoned movie theater complex. I expect good things to come out of this.
 
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