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[Dolomite]

Certain Affinity has been working on Infinite since December 2019 and have a history of working on Halo MP dating back to Halo 2's 2006 DLC Map Pack. The studio was founded by Max Hoberman, former Bungie employee who worked on Oni, Halo, and Halo 2. Max was actually the MP/Online lead for Halo 2. Certain Affinity has produced maps for Halo 2, Halo Reach, and Halo 4. They were also responsible for the Halo 2 Anniversary MP for MCC. They are most likely making maps for Infinite and 343 will make the gameplay decisions, so don't expect classic Halo (unfortunately). As far as "outsourcing" goes, perhaps 343 has problem with outsourcing, but in this case CA is the best developer for the job. Some classic Halo fans would even argue that CA's Halo 2 Anniversary MP was better than Halo 4/5.

 

[iconmaster]

 

[Codes 208]

So there’s now, what 2-4 devs working on infinite? (Don’t get me wrong, CA is a pretty good dev to outsource to but holy shit what a clusterfuck)

 

[struggler_guts]

Is this the same group that tweeted they got hired on to help right before the delay, or is this yet another team that is comin in to save them?

 

[GymWolf]

 

[RaptorGTA]

I almost feel they need to pull a Metroid Prime 4 and just redo the whole game. What was shown off didn't impress most potential buyers so i don't know how much you can do where your base line is already meh. I would love to be wrong and in a year see a jaw-dropping gameplay trailer..but I cant see it right now.

 

[Cert.in.Death]

Was it really necessary to insert the Registered Trademark symbol?

I'm now curious to know what you may be worried about had you omitted it.

 

[MiguelItUp]

Jesus Christ, this is becoming a Call of Duty title where its tendrils are put into other developers to help with multiple parts of the game. The biggest difference is that those are planned... This.... Not so much.

Good god, what did 343 do this entire time? How did they have a holiday 2020 release date set and planned? How could they feel confident about it whatsoever? in the past month, (hell, less) they announced co-development with Sperasoft, and now CA. Wow.

343 + Skybox Labs + Sperasoft + CA = Halo Infinite

I bet we're gonna see another one (or more) in the near future.

 

[IntentionalPun]

Led by Max Hoberman, Certain Affinity’s Founder and President, who served as the former Multiplayer and Online Lead for the Halo series

Sounds like this guy got smart and spun off a side-company and kept his job but probably makes way more lol

 

[GHG]

Today we’re proud to reveal Certain Affinity’s partnership with 343 Industries on Halo Infinite. Our team has been working closely with 343 since December of last year, continuing a long history of collaboration between the two studios working on multiple Halo titles dating back to 2006.

Certain Affinity Reveals Ongoing Partnership with 343 Industries on Halo Infinite - Certain Affinity

Today we’re proud to reveal Certain Affinity’s partnership with 343 Industries on Halo Infinite. Read more...

www.certainaffinity.com

 

[IntentionalPun]

Jesus Christ, this is becoming a Call of Duty title where its tendrils are put into other developers to help with multiple parts of the game. The biggest difference is that those are planned... This.... Not so much.

Good god, what did 343 do this entire time? How did they have a holiday 2020 release date set and planned? How could they feel confident about it whatsoever? in the past month, (hell, less) they announced co-development with Sperasoft, and now CA. Wow.

343 + Skybox Labs + Sperasoft + CA = Halo Infinite

I bet we're gonna see another one (or more) in the near future.

They've been involved since last December, and the guy who owns CA formerly was the lead for Halo multiplayer in past games...

So this isn't quite as bad as it sounds IMO... former multiplayer lead "got his job back" with spin-off company lol

 

[Xenon]

So Halo Infinite is named after it's budget.

 

[kiphalfton]

According to Wikipedia they "co-developed with 343i" on Halo Anniversary Edition and Halo 4.

So I mean could go either way.

 

[Pejo]

Imagine for a second being a first party development studio for one of the biggest corporations on the planet. Then imagine that you need to outsource your work because you're either inept at it or too slow. Then imagine actually keeping your job. What the fuck is going on at 343i?

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

CA has worked with 343 (and Bungie) in the past on numerous halo titles. Their relationship is similar to Treyarch and Raven Software....they work on CoD together.

CA has been working on H:I for quite a bit at this point. This press announcement is just a mechanism for them to point out the fact that they are also part of the development team.

 

[IntentionalPun]

Imagine for a second being a first party development studio for one of the biggest corporations on the planet. Then imagine that you need to outsource your work because you're either inept at it or too slow. Then imagine actually keeping your job. What the fuck is going on at 343i?

Almost every game at the very least involves hiring a ton of contractors near the end of a project to finish work (often groups of contractors via an agency).. this really isn't any different.

Almost every piece of software you use is created by people working for multiple companies.

 

[CrysisFreak]

collaborating?
More like CA desperately trying to salvage a trainwreck jfl.
Sorry I wish it was not so but Craig is right here behind me and he is unironically UPSET.

 

[alabtrosMyster]

What movie is this? I want to watch it.

On topic: who are these guys?

That reminds more and more of the Duke Nukem 3D Forever (hmmm like Infinite), where they spent enough money to send people on the moon and got us a really great game in the end, obviously.

 

[Entroyp]

I never played Halo’s multi after Halo 2. Was it perceived as being as good/great in later games?

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

Almost every piece of software you use is created by people working for multiple companies.

100000000% this. They wouldn't have enough room on the "back of the box" for all the studios/teams that work on games.

Even in the 2000's the number of studios working on Black Ops for example was double digits.

 

[Pejo]

Almost every game at the very least involves hiring a ton of contractors near the end of a project to finish work (often groups of contractors via an agency).. this really isn't any different.

Almost every piece of software you use is created by people working for multiple companies.

Maybe this is true for bigger software companies and game developers, but a few places that I've worked had realistic goals and timelines for the dev team, and they mostly got their stuff done on their own on schedule. I get that it's not comparing apples to apples, but...

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

On topic: who are these guys?

A studio based in Texas. The created age of booty, worked on a number of cod titles, and were a major part of H:MCC

 

[alabtrosMyster]

Imagine for a second being a first party development studio for one of the biggest corporations on the planet. Then imagine that you need to outsource your work because you're either inept at it or too slow. Then imagine actually keeping your job. What the fuck is going on at 343i?

Corporations and studios outsource all the time for many reasons, this is not special... what's special is the timing of the announcement. MS must be shopping around for people who can salvage the project.

 

[IntentionalPun]

Maybe this is true for bigger software companies and game developers, but a few places that I've worked had realistic goals and timelines for the dev team, and they mostly got their stuff done on their own on schedule. I get that it's not comparing apples to apples, but...

Just really depends on the scale of the project, what the schedule looks like, what kind of company it is, etc.

It could come down to the work schedule even; not all projects even make sense to staff with full timers if the workload isn't consistent throughout a project, as you'd end up with full time people with nothing to do when the work scales down.

Also not sure what type of development you do.. but "product development" is a different beast than "software development", particularly for a publicly traded company whose product release dates are part of their financial estimates.

Your initial comment is a little ironic, as hiring consultants is even more common the bigger a company is..

 

[Swift Hunta]

Is this the same group that tweeted they got hired on to help right before the delay, or is this yet another team that is comin in to save them?

If you read the actually article you’ll find out.

 

[Swift Hunta]

Corporations and studios outsource all the time for many reasons, this is not special... what's special is the timing of the announcement. MS must be shopping around for people who can salvage the project.

It says the work started last December

 

[Swift Hunta]

Imagine for a second being a first party development studio for one of the biggest corporations on the planet. Then imagine that you need to outsource your work because you're either inept at it or too slow. Then imagine actually keeping your job. What the fuck is going on at 343i?

You’re a clown lol

 

[TheGrat1]

Is this the same group that tweeted they got hired on to help right before the delay, or is this yet another team that is comin in to save them?

 

[Elginer]

Jesus Christ, this is becoming a Call of Duty title where its tendrils are put into other developers to help with multiple parts of the game. The biggest difference is that those are planned... This.... Not so much.

Good god, what did 343 do this entire time?

Diversity hires and shit posting on Reeeee

 

[alabtrosMyster]

A studio based in Texas. The created age of booty, worked on a number of cod titles, and were a major part of H:MCC

That doesn't sound like it's a good idea to give them such big contracts, they may break Infinite as much as MCC.

 

[Dolomite]

Was it really necessary to insert the Registered Trademark symbol?

I'm now curious to know what you may be worried about had you omitted it.

Sometimes I like to add a little razzle dazzle. Report me lol

 

[Vawn]

I'd love to be a fly on a wall in some of these progress meetings between 343i and Xbox leadership.

 

[Evangelion Unit-01]

CA has done maps for Halo 2, Reach, 4, and 2: Anniversary. They are based out of Texas. The studio was started by the former Halo 2 MP/Online lead. They also created the Doom 2016 MP (you ever notice it has some Halo elements?).

Per article they've been working on the game for a year now. They are likely primarily building MP maps and maybe some additional work (they did entirety of H2 Anniversary MP which is the best Halo MP since 3). That said, gameplay decisions will come from 343 so don't expect this means that the game will play like Halo 2 (unfortunately).

Re: Outsourcing
Perhaps 343 is outsourcing at a rate that goes beyond what a normal dev might do but this is not one to be concerned about. If anything CA is one of the best teams to make Halo content as they have produced a better MP experience w/ H2A than 343 has with Halo 4/5.

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

Ah, they were smart enough to state it as "our ongoing partnership" to avoid the last blowup about external teams coming in to save the sinking Halo ship.

 

[iconmaster]

What movie is this? I want to watch it.

Raiders of the Lost Ark. You should!

 

[Birdo]

May as well get Sony involved too.

 

[LuisBell]

It's crazy. Really wish they could deliver a good game but it's unlikely.

 

[Sybrix]

Frankenstein

 

[Kenneth Haight]

 

[SpartanN92]

Some of y'all might not know, Certain Affinity has worked with 343 in the past. They did the multiplayer maps for Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary (Halo Reach multiplayer technically) and they did the AMAZING multiplayer for Halo 2 anniversary (The game that Halo 5 SHOULD have been.)

CA was founded by a former Bungie Halo dev named Max Hoberman.
This is good news.

 

[Chairman]

Well its wise to ask for help when needed. MS should have a department when they share technology and resources like Sony does with their studios.

 

[DeaDPo0L84]

With this many development teams helping with the game I bet diversity is through the roof.

 

[Papacheeks]

So basically your confirming what others have said that they relied heavily on contract work from a third studio while trying to make this game. You wonder if the other rumor is true that the Contract house, were the ones responsible for the demo. As in 343's build didn't even work. The contracted studio/staff actually were able to make a stable build that was playable.

Fuck I can tell you heads are rolling at 343.

 

[Plague Doctor]

Would this collaboration be considered a AAAA collaboration? Or do we breakdown each company by A's, and count the A's?

The marketing wizards at MS need to get on that shit asap. Some of us need our marching orders for online discussion.

 

[MasterCornholio]

So there’s now, what 2-4 devs working on infinite? (Don’t get me wrong, CA is a pretty good dev to outsource to but holy shit what a clusterfuck)

Kind of like the MCC

 

[Black_Stride]

Imagine for a second being a first party development studio for one of the biggest corporations on the planet. Then imagine that you need to outsource your work because you're either inept at it or too slow. Then imagine actually keeping your job. What the fuck is going on at 343i?

First party studios that outsource work are either inept or too slow.

*Checks list of studios that fall into this category
Damn:

1. Naughty Dog
2. Guerrilla Games
3. Sony Santa Monica
4. Playground Games
5. Insomniac Games
6. Sucker Punch Studios
7. Bend Studio
8. Rare
9. 343i
10. The Coalition

And thats just off head, if I sit and actually get on Artstation I bet I could find an outsourcing studio or artist for every first party game released this generation.


Shit every pretty much first part studio must be inept or too slow, what the fuck is going on at all these studios, how are they still even employed......ohh because they outsource their work to be able to finish these massive projects in a semblence of a timely manner, nah that couldnt be it.....they are just inept or too slow.
Pejo is an absolute genius for having figured this out.

 

[Calverz]

This is good. Its obvious the scope for the game is huge. I wish all the teams the best in producing the best Halo game to date.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Release your damn game cut the bullshit id love to play a new Halo

 

[Tesseract]

please stomp the rats before they eat away what's left of your flagship

 

[Flying Toaster]

I appreciate that 343 with a truckload of money gave us Craig. It takes millions to be ace at the meme game. Will 343 loose Halo now? I am curious of MS just puts it on other studios going forward.