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[element]

this goes under the WTF pile.

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/digitaljoystick/archives/122799.asp

A friend of mine who has someone close that works at Bungie has just been dying to tell me a secret about their future. Since the NDA officially expire today the sent me and email with the details. I have full faith in this contact.

The email is as follows :

"So heres my big secret. You should google Bungie + Microsoft + separation this week.
You know that big ol BILLION dollar franchise Bungie has created for Microsoft, to show their appreciate Microsoft is letting Bungie leave. Of course Microsoft gets to keep all rights to the Halo franchise, but as today Bungie no longer part of Microsoft. Ask anyone who works there to search the global address book, they're no longer in there. Microsoft was supposed to release the press release today but if they wait till the 10/6 the impact wont effect the quarterly results. However today is the actual official date and the day the NDAs expire, however you still didn't hear this from me."

"Apparently MS just wants Bungie to make Halo for the rest of their natural days, and Bungie doesn't like how MS is constantly trying to "handle" everything they do; the way they market their games, the way they interact with their fans (basically the fact that they do appreciate their fans), and how stingie they are with the profits (comparable to the rest of the industry). So as of today they are their own independent entity. They'll probably make Halo 4 for Microsoft, however hey are also free to create new intellectual properties for whatever system they want. (Even though they prefer the xbox platform)"

"What a way to say thank you."

Something fishy about this.

Summary (Unconfirmed/Speculation at this point):
1. Bungie upper management has brokered a deal that allows them to buy back the company from Microsoft and regain the independent developer status.
2. MS has 'first rights of refusal' on Bungie games moving forward. Meaning if MS wants it, MS publishes it. In the case that MS does pass on a game developed by Bungie, then Bungie would be allowed to shop that game around to other publishers and possibility work on other platforms.
3. Microsoft will retain the intellectual property rights of Halo and all associated products.
4. Frankie or Luke have not posted in this thread
5. Current response from Microsoft/Bungie has been 'we don't comment on rumors.'

 

[gregor7777]

 

[Haunted]

Can't wait for Stinkles' new Wii IP.

 

[Stumpokapow]

Bungie developing for Dreamcast 2 confirmed. The pieces are all falling into place.

 

[Loudninja]

A friend of mine who has someone close that works at Bungie has just been dying to tell me a secret about their future. Since the NDA officially expire today the sent me and email with the details. I have full faith in this contact.

yeahh.......

 

[Vic]

well well well...

 

[Jackson]

Ya I just read that... (you beat me to it)

 

[djkimothy]

:lol

Gates will murder his mother if it meant keeping Bungie on board.

edit:Oh man... if true, please go back to your Mac roots! At least make Marathon Next gen!

 

[ManaByte]

"I love the smell of FUD in the morning."

 

[goldenpp72]

makes total sense!

 

[Akia]

holy freaking crap

if true

 

[I AM JOHN!]

Bungie developing for Dreamcast 2 confirmed. The pieces are all falling into place.

BELIEVE

 

[Meier]

It would probably be one of the poorest decisions in business history.. so I don't buy it. It'll get worked out if there's some friction.

 

[RSTEIN]

So, basically, Bungie stole 80p as one last FU to MS?

 

[Threi]

So much BS in that email

so...much...BS...

*dies*

 

[Durante]

A friend of mine

I stopped reading there.

 

[Opus Angelorum]

:lol

Gates will murder his mother if it meant keeping Bungie on board.

Scary because he would.

 

[PhatSaqs]

http://www.gamedreamz.com/index.cgi?m=stories&s=read&id=7778

MS 2008 of doom confirmed.

 

[Kuroyume]

Oh lord, even I'm getting sick of all these Halo/Bungie threads... And I'm a Halo fan...

 

[Dante]

:lol

Right.

:lol

 

[Stumpokapow]

Scary because he would.

She's been dead for fifteen years so that might be problematic.

 

[Father_Brain]

Uh... yeah.

 

[xBigDanx]

:lol :lol :lol

http://www.8bitjoystick.com/archives/jake_bungie_leaving_microsoft_you_heard_it_here_first_folks.php

 

[krypt0nian]

+1 Halo 3 threads, so it's not all bad.

 

[Loudninja]

Sony buys Bungie, Oni 2 confirmed

 

[Dups]

My aunt's uncle's newphew's neighbour's paper boy told me the same thing!

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

Nintendo to buy Bungie CONFIRMED. $400 million to MS. Take that Rare.

 

[Corwood Rep]

So last night I microwaved coffee, and I got it out of the microwave, and it was hotter than I expected, and I thought "shit, that's hotter than I expected" and I lost control and fucking spilled it all over my shirt, which just made things worse. So that sucked.

What'd you guys do this weekend?

 

[chespace]

And away we go!

 

[Stumpokapow]

Sony buys Bungie, Oni 2 confirmed

Oni was dope as shit.

 

[Loudninja]

So last night I microwaved coffee, and I got it out of the microwave, and it was hotter than I expected, and I thought "shit, that's hotter than I expected" and I lost control and fucking spilled it all over my shirt, which just made things worse. So that sucked.

What'd you guys do this weekend?

I bitch slap a dragon

 

[TemplaerDude]

:lol

the whole premise of their leaving is preposterous. microsoft "shows their appreciation" for "making halo" by "letting them go"?

ridiculous. nay, REDONCulous.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

Bullshit. Some of it anyway.

 

[SuperAndroid17]

actually , idk

why is it always my friend? my uncle? my grandpa's grandfather etc.

 

[Rindain]

Can't wait to see their new Wii IP.

 

[Rorschach]

Cancel your Halo Wars pre-orders. It's all over! Halo DS confirmed. Matt redeemed.

 

[Z_Y]

An NDA on a contract? How does that work? That would have to have been signed at the inception of the Bungie/MS relationship.


"BTW, if we ever break-up...you can't tell anybody about it until X number of days is up."

That makes no sense.

 

[Dascu]

Halo 4 would be a nice launch title for the Splorgenborg, I guess.

 

[Suburban Cowboy]

would be a huge development. Marathon '08 for the Wii?!

Id like to point out tho that Microsoft basically made Bungie what it is today. MS didnt just promote the game, they promoted the developer. Halo would have been no bigger than any other FPS (say, Farcry) if it had been multiplatform or led for the PC. Hell, we probably wouldnt even have a Halo 3.

VERY interesting if this turns out to be true tho

 

[PowerSmell]

Rumor has that MS aren't letting Bungie pursue the Oni IP, which is why Bungie wish to seperate.

Bonus reply: Marathon DS confirmed?

 

[beelzebozo]

i'll bet microsoft had bungie's copy of paper mario, and wouldn't give it back
so bungie breaks up

and tips over a magazine rack

 

[I AM JOHN!]

Come on, guys, we all know that Sega is buying Bungie.

Spoiler

Shadow the Hedgehog 2 at launch for Dreamcast 2 in 2009 BELIEVE MOTHERFUCKERS!!!

 

[Haunted]

Can't wait to see their new Wii IP.

You're so witty.

 

[Patrick Klepek]

It should be noted that blog is NOT by the Seattle PI...it's just hosted on their servers.

 

[Laguna X]

:lol There's no way in hell that this is true.

 

[Kaako]

Riiiiiiiight :lol
10+ page incoming.

 

[Firewire]

meh!

 

[Barakov]

Oh man. Gregor had the right of it with that meme. :lol

I expect great things out of this thread. Don't disappoint me Gaf.

 

[ShinAmano]

So last night I microwaved coffee, and I got it out of the microwave, and it was hotter than I expected, and I thought "shit, that's hotter than I expected" and I lost control and fucking spilled it all over my shirt, which just made things worse. So that sucked.

What'd you guys do this weekend?

Nothing that exciting

 

[theBishop]

Half of Bungie will be folded into the Office 2009 team.