Post by: Nick DiMola on October 05, 2007, 07:58:48 AM
So I guess the rumors were true...
This creates an interesting situation. I wonder if Bungie will continue developing for Microsoft or start a new franchise on other consoles. I would have a big laugh if they developed a very Halo-like FPS for the PS3 or Wii.
Post by: bustin98 on October 05, 2007, 08:16:02 AM
I wish I knew what we'll see to come out of this. Maybe Bungie was a stopping block to putting Halo on the DS. There was an interview with a couple of Bungie guys and the HaloDS rumor was brought up. One fellow said that he didn't see the DS as a FPS system and had no interest in it.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on October 05, 2007, 08:16:52 AM
Post by: that Baby guy on October 05, 2007, 08:21:25 AM
Post by: vudu on October 05, 2007, 08:41:37 AM
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on October 05, 2007, 08:42:31 AM
Post by: Nick DiMola on October 05, 2007, 08:55:37 AM
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Bungie Studios was founded in 1991 with two goals: to develop games that combine brilliant technology, beautiful art, intelligent stories and deep gameplay, and then sell enough of those games to achieve its real goal of total world domination.
Well it seems Bungie successfully accomplished Goal #2. As for Goal #1 ...
Post by: Kairon on October 05, 2007, 09:09:33 AM
Post by: Crimm on October 05, 2007, 09:20:39 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on October 05, 2007, 09:52:17 AM
Hey, Nintendo, remember when MS took Rare? Payback time. Only Bungie is still in their prime. I can't think of more valuable dev right now. Thus I figure Nintendo will probably NOT even consider going after them, just because. But seriously imagine if they had both Retro AND Bungie on board.
The Wii's third party support sucks balls. Nintendo should start being friendly with these guys. They could be like Square was in 1997.
Post by: that Baby guy on October 05, 2007, 09:57:26 AM
After all, they've had their standard number of games in development, so those costs haven't really risen, yet they're making at least fifty bucks/Wii. I'd say they could but them if Bungie were interested. I think Nintendo should be very interested since Halo 3 made quite a splash in Japan, as well. I'd say this would be a great opportunity to please Western gamers, while not offending Japanese ones, either. I think that could be a very remarkable move, if Nintendo would actually make it. Of course, they'd have to make sure that half of Bungie's talent doesn't leave upon takeover, but other than that, it's an ideal purchase for Nintendo.
Post by: bustin98 on October 05, 2007, 10:15:48 AM
I think Bungie could fill a space missing in the Wii's library, but there are a lot of other studios that can do the same. My impression is that Bungie is full of Microsoft fanboys and thats not likely to change.
Post by: that Baby guy on October 05, 2007, 10:19:39 AM
It's bad, but I'm very tempted to create a wikipedia rumor about bungie being bought by Nintendo, or in talks with Nintendo or something. I'd like to see the reaction.
Post by: Ian Sane on October 05, 2007, 10:28:19 AM
Hell they don't even have to own them. Just have them work on an exclusive. FPS experts. Wii remote. I mean COME ON. It's a perfect fit!
Post by: Strell on October 05, 2007, 11:09:09 AM
If that is the case, then they could get them under their wing and bring them in as a close developer to give advice on the next round of hardware. Then get them to make a launch game using the Wii 2 (whatever it ends up being called) that implements the new hardware.
I imagine the next system from Nintendo will be more directly comparable in terms of power.
This is a good idea, but I'm doubting it would ever happen. But if it did, then the world has seriously turned upside down.
As far as Rare->MS parallel goes, it never struck me as a big deal, given what has happened. I always saw it as a Nintendo wanted to offload Rare and make some money back at the same time, and MS was the first willing participant (or highest bidder, whatever).
Post by: Pale on October 05, 2007, 11:14:32 AM
All in all, they probably just wanted to control their own destiny as far as what games they were making. MS would not have done this if there was a possibility of losing them as a developer. Chances are we won't really ever notice a difference.
Post by: Kairon on October 05, 2007, 11:34:20 AM
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Originally posted by: Pale
I think you guys are missing the real point here. Nintendo wouldn't ever buy Bungie because Bungie doesn't want to be owned by anyone. I think it's pretty apparent that the original owners were kind of bummed that MS owned them now. There was probably a long and good natured negotiation about how they wanted to own the company again. Stocks probably changed hands (and maybe even some cash) so they could buy them back, and a contract was probably signed that ensured their games would still be on 360.
All in all, they probably just wanted to control their own destiny as far as what games they were making. MS would not have done this if there was a possibility of losing them as a developer. Chances are we won't really ever notice a difference.
QFT.
Post by: Plugabugz on October 05, 2007, 12:39:49 PM
Quality and talent has to surpass purchase price and that's just outta the question.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on October 05, 2007, 01:07:03 PM
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on October 05, 2007, 01:09:05 PM
Post by: Crimm on October 05, 2007, 03:09:57 PM
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Originally posted by: GoldenPhoenix
Nintendo should instead buy Konami and then dump them in the ocean for treating Wii owners like crap.
I'd contribute to a fund for that.
Post by: Arbok on October 05, 2007, 03:13:09 PM
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Originally posted by: Lord_die_seis
Well I doubt Nintendo Sony EA Activision or anyone would buy them, but I wont be surprised if they would make games for those publishers but like the interviews said they claim that they only have 360 SDKs.
I actually could see Sony attempting to do this, or at least woe them away from the 360 to make PS3 games.
Post by: Sir_Stabbalot on October 05, 2007, 03:21:56 PM
Post by: BranDonk Kong on October 05, 2007, 03:23:08 PM
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/oct07/10-05BungieEvolvesPR.mspx
Microsoft will retain an equity interest in Bungie, at the same time continuing its long-standing publishing agreement between Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie for the Microsoft-owned “Halo” intellectual property as well as other future properties developed by Bungie.
I'm pretty sure this just means Microsoft might let Bungie make games on other systems, but they'll be published under Microsoft Games Studios, just like RARE's GBA and DS games are. I don't think this is a split by any means, if anything, it's just going to make Microsoft more money. Notice the part about "other future properties developed by Bungie" part.
Post by: Ceric on October 05, 2007, 04:14:44 PM
Post by: Shift Key on October 05, 2007, 04:25:44 PM
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Originally posted by: Ceric
Bungie is past its prime if history has taught me anything.
My gut says "experimental" projects will be the new plans for Bungie, so I'm tempted to agree with this.
Post by: Kairon on October 05, 2007, 05:19:53 PM
Post by: that Baby guy on October 05, 2007, 05:24:52 PM
Viva Pinata 3: Finish the Swing.
Post by: denjet78 on October 06, 2007, 07:33:48 AM
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Originally posted by: Brandogg
You guys are reading this wrong, at least I think
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/oct07/10-05BungieEvolvesPR.mspx
Microsoft will retain an equity interest in Bungie, at the same time continuing its long-standing publishing agreement between Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie for the Microsoft-owned “Halo” intellectual property as well as other future properties developed by Bungie.
I'm pretty sure this just means Microsoft might let Bungie make games on other systems, but they'll be published under Microsoft Games Studios, just like RARE's GBA and DS games are. I don't think this is a split by any means, if anything, it's just going to make Microsoft more money. Notice the part about "other future properties developed by Bungie" part.
Does no one else find it strange that MS basically let go of a company that they already owned? This is MS here people. They're not interested in making money. They're interested in owning the world. This move would be akin to Nintendo releasing EAD as it's own company, although still maintaining a publishing agreement with them. How quickly would the news stories appear about "Nintendo Doomed!" or "EAD Goes Multi-Platform!"? Yet Bungie makes the same move and people assume that nothing is going to change just because MS says so? Uh... no.
To put it bluntly, Bungie is breaking away. Hell, MS is probably slamming them with anything and everything they can find just to keep them in the position they have them in now. We'll have to see just how long this "publishing agreement" holds out.
Post by: oohhboy on October 06, 2007, 02:40:11 PM
You can buy a company, but you can't buy the people in the company.
That is why Nintendo rarely buys out a company and is happy to let developers go when it is time. Now we can collectively stop asking Nintendo to use that "War chest" because it isn't going to happen.
Either way, it is MS's lost and al Bungie's gain. From a PR stand point alone, MS has effectively lost their golden developer. Even though they have held on to the IP, an IP a game is not. MS could milk the same engine and gameplay, but without the controlling vision behind it, it just wouldn't be the same. I doubt Bungie does any of that imparting wisdom stuff that Miyamoto does.
Bungie wins. They are already rich, potentially rich enough to self publish, even if not, got the kudo's to get almost any publisher to do it for them. They are not longer slaves to MS. They can work on what ever dream project they want. Corporate deadlines and milestones are gone. They are no longer constrained by the demographic of the console they work with.
Post by: UERD on October 06, 2007, 03:04:05 PM
Post by: Kairon on October 07, 2007, 08:52:27 AM
Post by: Adrock on October 07, 2007, 12:22:08 PM
Post by: Kairon on October 07, 2007, 12:48:38 PM
Post by: Adrock on October 07, 2007, 01:21:47 PM
Post by: Arbok on October 07, 2007, 01:41:10 PM
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Originally posted by: Adrock
I was under the impression that Bungie could potentially develop for other platforms and that ROFR referred to the publishing of Bungie's future titles. So, for example, if Bungie made a Wii game, Microsoft can opt or refuse to publish the game though they'd probably refuse since they'd have to pay licensing fees.
Adrock has this mostly right.
Essentially, rights of first refusal in this case means that Microsoft gets first dibs on publishing rights for anything Bungie creates. If they choose to not publish the product, then it's open to other publishers to step up to the plate.
It's worth noting that, if Microsoft was inclined to make this difficult, they could greatly delay the overall process if it was in their best interest and depending on what the original documents relating to this state.
Post by: ThePerm on October 07, 2007, 02:50:22 PM
Post by: Dirk Temporo on October 07, 2007, 05:08:41 PM
Post by: Kairon on October 07, 2007, 05:10:40 PM
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Originally posted by: Dirk Temporo
Oh boy, a mediocre game developer is third-party. Hooray.
You're not GoldenPhoenix.
Post by: Shift Key on October 07, 2007, 09:38:18 PM
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Originally posted by: KaironQuote
Originally posted by: Dirk Temporo
Oh boy, a mediocre game developer is third-party. Hooray.
You're not GoldenPhoenix.
GP is too busy playing Halo 3, so he's the temp.
Post by: Djunknown on October 08, 2007, 05:24:23 PM
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I'd say that there was a significant chance that some of Bungie's developers were threatening to leave and form their own studio, especially because they were afraid that MS would turn them into the 'Halo factory'. By pre-empting that, MS retains some control over Bungie's assets.
After every Halo game was completed, some staff members left. Maybe after this one, a great deal of them would have jumped ship had MS didn't have the foresight?
Quote
Essentially, rights of first refusal in this case means that Microsoft gets first dibs on publishing rights for anything Bungie creates. If they choose to not publish the product, then it's open to other publishers to step up to the plate.
MS has done this before. Psychonaughts was originally and Xbox exclusive, MS game studios dropped them because they didn't think it would sell. I believe Majesco then offered their publishing hand. I'm sure if Bungie's next project doesn't gel with MS's vision, MS would just walk away from this one, prior history be damned.
It seems awfully similiar to what David Jaffe did. He's now an independent developer, so what are his next 3 projects? All Sony related...
