Bungie: "Our Publisher Is Microsoft"

As millions of Bungie fans try to take in the disappointment and rage of Bungie's recent press release stating that their announcement for their new game has been cancelled, Luke Smith - Bungie employee and former 1UP employee - has spoken to Neogaf, revealing the mysterious publisher.

[Chad Warden]

Wow I'm so surprised.

[Breakfast]

Im surprised at you...havent seen you in the longest while.

[Overr8ed]

really? am not. Bungie is a get supporter of Microsoft, their relationship is like Insomniac and Sony.

[PirateThom]

If Bungie is such a great support of Microsoft, why did they break their contract so they could be independant again?

[Ogrekiller]

good to see you back man, we needed a change from QueefyB. Almost missed your flaming.

[Bnet343]

When I read the title, I WTF'd in real life. WOW I am uhhh .. speechless WTF?!

[meepmoopmeep]

less restrictions and more freedom i believe.

[Qbanboi]

i hope u r been sarcastic. We all saw this coming.

[The Lazy One]

also more financial freedom. Considering they're a developer that WILL make money, I'd want to have control over surplus profits too. As it stood, if halo sold an extra 3 million, nobody at bungie would really see much off that.

[solidsnakus]

well can you really blame them? would you like them to just anounce a game thats well over a year away ala sony. or just tell us when its closer to launch.

[pandabear]

Yeah thats right - so they announce FFVIII instead which won't be out til 2010 - Go M$!!!

[FPS nut]

I see him on youtube and gametrailers all the time getting owned and made fun of

[pwnsause]

WOWZER NO WAI, so unpredictable! /end sarcasm

[UnSelf]

is that japanese?

[pwnsause]

iie.

[QueefyB]

obviously since it is only microsoft that publishes flops google too human for more insight

[FPS nut]

Has any PS3 game sold 8 million copies? Has any PS3 game sold 5 million copies? Did MGS break any of Bungies sales records?

Answer: no, so I would be carefull what you call a "flop" when none of the games on your system of choice hasn't even come close to that achievement.

[QueefyB]

i wonder why they didnt show this game maybe the graphics are too last gen or something

[QueefyB]

no wait i got it they were waiting to see killzone 2 so they could copy from it like they copied apple tv sony and nintendo yesterday yes that is the answer

[Overr8ed]

Using you Bubbles well huh QueefyB?

[Mausenheimmer]

Dude, Killzone 1 sucked. Why do you think Killzone 2 will be a blessing from heaven? Also, Too Human hasn't been released yet. It has been delayed a few times, but so was BioShock and it turned out all right.

[Kleptic]

^^ you obviously know nothing about Killzone 2...It is very likely to be the best game shown at E3 this year...its already guaranteed for best visuals...

[25]

when someone brings up the awesomeness that is killzone 2, someone is right behind bring up killzone 1, a last gen game, and how it was bad.

[morganfell]

The first Killzone was great considering the hardware it was on. Greatest weapons animations ever.

And Too Human? Well all I can say is welcome to your own personal 360 version of Haze. Enjoy it because that game is pure crap.

[Mausenheimmer]

I'm confused. Were good games on the last-gen impossible to make? Because God of War, Halo, and Metal Gear Solid are gonna be pissed to hear that.

As for Too Human sucking, the most anyone could've played is a demo. So I really wonder how you were able to extrapolate less than one level of play into a review of a game.

If the first Killzone was so great, how come its average score was 24 points lower than God of War (same hardware) and 25 points lower than Halo 2 (same genre, equal hardware- unless you want to argue the PS2 was inferior hardware)?

Or are you guys just drinking that much of the Sony Kool-Aid?

[morganfell]

I played enough to know - the demo is on LIVE - that the AI isn't going to suddenly get smart in all the other levels. The enemy will ignore them and wait to come after just you.

The enemy AI is dumb as hell and do not like stairs. BTW, there are a lot of stairs in the game. The level up menu is ridiculous. Invisible walls are likely in every level. The autocamera is likely broken in more levels than just this one demo level. The controls as idiotic as they are and will be the same for all levels. The aiming mechanism is likely broken for more than just this one demo. I played enough for it to be enough.

Unlike you who resorts to scores to see if a game is any good I have a brain and I actually go play them myself.

SCORE:

Me - 1
you - 0

[Mausenheimmer]

Because we all know that demos are the finished product and that the AI on the first level of the demo is exactly the same as the rest of the game.

I haven't had a chance to play it yet because I don't have a gold subscription (it is odd that you would have a Gold subscription on 360 and a PS3, but anything is possible). I will judge it for myself when it is available for all 360 owners. I've read reviews ranging from "Loads of fun" to "Broken pile of crap". So I don't know what to think.

Also, Metacritic isn't a perfect judge of games, because everyone's taste in games in unique, but more often than not it is a good barometer of quality. For instance, I would argue that Gears of War was more fun than BioShock but both were fun games. And the Metacritic, while not exactly agreeing with me, reinforces the point that you should probably try both games. Even under-appreciated gems like Psychonauts and Beyond Good & Evil have good scores.

P.S. Giving yourself a score is kinda lame.

P.P.S. Camera Control is an easy problem to solve, since according to IGN, there is a camera re-center button.

[morganfell]

Let me explain something you don't know. Final code is set a minimum of 5 weeks before publishing. Minimum of 2 weeks for Q&A by the publisher, more if the publisher and the console maker have to do Q&A, and then 3 weeks for publishing and reproduction.

Yes there is a camera recenter button. You think a lot about hitting the Left shoulder button in the middle of combat...not. Remember, I have played it and obviously you have not. Here you are bragging on something you haven't played. Can anyone say blind obedient acolyte? I can. And you are.

Keep those blind faith hopes alive. The same thing happened with Haze, "Oh that is demo code, it isn't final" Yes it is. This isn't a beta, it is a demo. Read em and weep pal. Oh by the way, Square just said no FF13 until 2010. Boo hoo. Enjoy being on the losing team ha ha ha.

[Mausenheimmer]

So let me get this straight, because you didn't want to use the button to fix the camera in combat, you whine about the camera? I'm sorry your too dumb to tap the Left Bumber. CoD 4 must've been hell for you, since you couldn't throw flash bang grenades. Like I said before, and since you clearly have reading problems let me state again, I'm waiting to play it before I judge it. I like the story premise.

Also, you thin skinned bigot, I wasn't bragging about it. I merely stated I wanted to try it myself before I listened to someone I don't know who claims it is a pile of crap.

Also, it's a bit dim of you to think I care about FF 13 one way or another.

All your complaints about Too Human seem like they could be explained by user error. I could be wrong. I haven't played it yet. But I'm not going to agree it's a pile of crap because you say so. That would make me a blind acolyte.

P.S. I don't really know if you played. All I know is that you said you played it. As far as I know, you could just be basing your beliefs off what other people said and exaggerating.

[PirateThom]

So, a new Bungie game being published by Microsoft and thus exclusive, ignored at their press conference in favour of Singstar, Buzz and Eye Toy?

What happened to Microsoft?

[Xi]

they saw the sony and nintendo press conference and are deciding to keep this new title hidden until later.

[u got owned]

@ Xi

Exactly. After Sony and Nintendo's showing there's no need for this surprise right now.

[Aqua]

WOW, I just looked at your comments in your profile, and you have been commenting for 11 HOURS straight. Seriously WTF Go find something else to do.

[Ogrekiller]

hes just a front for many PS3 trollers, all distilled into one single account of blazing hate and fury. Hence his ability to comment on every single issue in a matter of moments and the huge number of bubbles- all the trolls are pumping it/him full from their multiple accounts. Also accounts for how he is so calm and collected when the FFXIII bombshell hit- all the ps3 owners take turns flaming while the others bawl their eyes out. Of course, this is all speculation.
Edit: wow that was fast, looks like i was right

[25]

lol

[morganfell]

Sorry but PS3 owners are not the ones bawling. Microsoft and the 360 are the ones that just had the sap knocked out of them.

They are crying so hard MS stopped the Bungie announcement. Reminds me of HD DVD having to cancel at CES after Warner went blue.

I think the number 256 just caved in their collective heads. I can hear it now, "Aaaarrgh!!!! 256! Ahhhh! Back to the drawing board!"

[Ogrekiller]

Well, at least Xbots HAVE heads to crush, unlike the cauliflower things those droids have. And the Bungie thing will still roll, and once again the PS3 boys will bawl their eyes out in sorrow when Bungie's latest, and greatest crushes the competition.
Edit: 256? 13's all we need

[morganfell]

So great they are afraid to show themselves or their product? Right. Look out but here comes the big black hammer and there isn't a thing all the hoping and wishing will do to change it. Talking about Bungie's invisible game won't help. Boo hoo, too bad so sad.

Playstation means gaming and that intergalactic freight train is mowing down 360's like last years weeds.

[jluth3]

i been on here 4 like 10 minutes and every good dam article he has like 5 comments i mean seriously get a dam life

[darkdoom3000]

why?

MS's conference was pretty lackluster. they really should have shown it off.

@3.
yes so true. whoes actually going to buy thoes things, the ones who are probally have a Wii or mabye Ps3 already.

[QueefyB]

hahaha http://www.nouvelordremondi...

[Overr8ed]

=D hahaha

[Bladestar]

Microsoft wants to leave some for later.... I think the new Bungie game may share too much light into some new features for the fall update microsoft is not ready to share... X08 or Tokyo Game Show...

After Sony's pathetic conference today, Microsoft already showed enough... showing this new game will trigger sony to show another CGI of a game they are yet to start working on and that may be released in 2011... just like they did today with the new massive multiplayer battles new game to counter Huxley and the video marketplace to counter xbox live video marketplace...

[Kassanova07]

The new bungie game was cancelled.

[power of Green]

I agree after thinking about it for 3 seconds.

MSFT probably was saving this as an ACE just incase Sony showed more than what XBL has done for years (and still better to this day as of now!) and CGI movies as always.

MSFT could have shown CGI movies of games *still on the drawing boards* as Nintendo could have as well; most likely not even at a developmental stage worthy of showing off.

MSFT rarely shows of work in progress projects so early in developemnt it is not even valid.

[Bladestar]

"The new bungie game was cancelled. "

I take you can't read.

They said, "their announcement for their new game has been canceled" they said are referring to the "announcement" not the game genius.

[morganfell]

The reason MS didn't show CGI movies of games is well, they didn't even have that. No games, no imagination, no vision, and no hope of surviving the impending Playstation annihilation machine. They didn't bother to wake the Master Chief from cryo because it wouldn't have mattered.

And you act like MS has never shown CGI movies. Weren't you just crowing over FF13 CGI? Sure thing bubba. If you want to survive, you had better take a year's supply of 360s, disconnect from the internet, grab a copy of HALO and Gears of War and crawl into a bomb shelter deep underground.

BTW, given current death rate of 360s a years supply is about 17. You may want to take an extra copy of your games with all the disc scratching the 360 causes.

[DaChinPin]

Seriously why bash Sony? What the hell does Sony have to do with a game that MS is publishing? Why do Xbox fans always stoop to bashing Sony and any game that Sony publishes?
You Xbox fans all bashed FFXIII and now that it was announced for 360, it's "better than Fable 2...What game is that anyways..."...It's sad really.
MAG is at a late enough stage that they know they can handle 256 people in one server. They have clearly been testing an early version of the game internally at Zipper for some time now. And I bet that's the project they started after Socom 3 was released because we all know they weren't supporting Socom 3 during all this time lol. Either way stop hating on CGI videos of games because I remember a bunch of fanboys all screaming and hyping a certain game called Halo 3 because of it's CGI trailers and when it came out, it was a lot less than what they expected.
Don't be hypocrites and it's all cool. CGI movies or not, Sony's conference was the best at E3 this year just like last year and everyone has to accept it, move on, and be happy with what's coming out for their own console. The fact is E3 sucked ass this year and noone showed anything really mindblowing.

[spartan112g]

Just in case you can't read, this could have been peaceful if QueefyB had not started talking crap. All of E3 was lame. The only interesting thing Sony had to say was at the end. Microsoft had a good beginning and end and Nintendo had Animal Crossing which is all I really wanted them to say. All 3 were boring, all 3 were lame, all 3 were somewhat dissapointing. Nobody should be proud.

[Kassanova07]

Relax, I was just hyping Bungie so that Sony can buy them HAHA.

[chavafx]

x360 can install games on youre hdd so it means one install and you are done blu ray you install first then again and again and again the guess what againg just like in mgs4 ooops dvd wins

[Bladestar]

I would like to add to your observation that games on the xbox 360 will not be installed they are copied to the hard drive... this is the reason why once the fall update comes.. you will be able to copy your existing games into your hard drive and use it from there... Games on the PS3 are actual installs... You know like those Setup files that you use to install programs into your computer? You can't run install files.. the xbox 360 games will not be install into the hard drive.. but simply copy over into a different storage (from DVD -> hard drive)... this is way superior than the PS3 installs... The game will fully run from the hard drive unlike the PS3 that most of the game will run from the disc... the biggest most important benefit of microsoft approach it's not it's optional... but it works for all games! including the games you currently own... increasing loading times dramatically...

Once again microsoft show consistency in features across all games. If you are one of those people that want your games running from your hard drive.. then do so.

The xbox 360 DVD -> hard drive feature will trully improve loading.. I can't wait fro multiplatform loading comparisons when games are completely loaded from the hard disc... ohh yeah.. optionallly... since on the PS3 this is a developer workaround to make the games playable.

[DaChinPin]

Ok and are copying games going to make that much of a difference if you need the game inside the console either way? Installs help games work smoothly and I for one don't mind them.
But I know why MS is implementing this copying games to the hard drive thing to the 360s. It's to avoid or to try to fix the problem that is the RROD...And crazy as it sounds, it's actually a good idea since the 360s would get less heat built up inside them...Let's hope the HDDs don't cause even more heat than the disc drives...

[hotshot127]

are you really trying to hint at the fact that just because killzone 1 sucked, killzone 2 will suck?

have you not read the multiplayer details? have you even played killzone 1? if you have and you look at killzone 2, there is an obvious difference and im not talking about graphics.....

and then you even mentioned a game that has already flopped in previews....lol

EDIT:@BELOW. maybe i was to harsh on him but that doesnt change the fact that what he said was ignorant and i just basically said that killzone 1 was wack anyway along with alot of other ps3 games that i say are wack. anyway, i took out the harsh bit but im still leavin the rest.lol

[thekingofMA]

whoever said that was clearly saying how the extremely hyped killzone 1 sucked (even if you're a hardcore sony fan, you can't deny that it was a mediocre-at-best- game)

guerrilla and the killzone franchise has a lot to prove before it can be considered a "halo killer," let alone a great game...

so we'll just have to wait and see if KZ2 can live up to the hype and not suck-in the meantime, i suggest you stop defending the game with such ferocity-remember, your just purchase the game-you're not the developer, you're not the publisher-don't feel a need to defend a game...

[25]

i actually enjoyed the game. the controls left something to be desired, but i liked the atmosphere and story. i just wish they kept the 4 man squad for the sequel. it was cool to play in different perspectives.

[Mausenheimmer]

I hope Killzone 2 works out for you. I really do. I'm just saying they hyped the last Killzone to be the greatest thing since sliced bread and it was mediocre. Now they're saying the same thing about Killzone 2 and everyone is calling it the messiah again. Don't you have to earn that kind of reputation first?

[power of Green]

Thats strange MSFT would do this how can it be possible MSFT did not know Bungie wanted to reveal this game and if MSFT did not know, is it because it will clash with other titles we know of and titles we don't?.

LOL at the PS3 fan fucs trying to track this matter like scared little girls.

[Aclay]

Wow, why am I not surprised.

Even though Bungie is no longer under Microsoft, they will probably be just like Insomnaic and stay independant while releasing games for just one company. Insomniac has already said that they are going to be releasing games ONLY on the PS3 and PSP this generation, and the same thing can probably be said about Bungie, they'll stick with Microsfot because the partnership is already there.

Bungie should have came out to save Microsoft's pretty lackluster showing at E3, but I guess it took a PS3 game coming to the 360 in order to save Microsoft's entire conference.

[OOG]

ah fudge...I wanted to see what they had.....damn countdown timers!

[hotshot127]

if sonys show was poor then there must'nt be a word to describe microsofts sorry excuse for a conference. i mean if you really wanted singstar, eye toy, and nintendo mii's I MEAN lips, vision camera, and microsoft avatars then you should've been gotten a ps3.

but somehow im not so sure thats what won it for you is it? im sure its the fact that they announced a game that we already have going multiplatform. so if thats the case....then it sounds like you wanted a wii and ps3 all along which means that all that BS that you spoke before wasnt true which leads me to believe all this BS you speak now isn't true either.

man bladestar, you really fooled us, making us think you were a 360 fanboy all along when in reality your just a hardcore nintendo wii and ps3 fan..... how cute.....

[Bladestar]

lol... right... haha.. did you miss the part where you will be able to use your avatar to play actually games... unlike nintendo miis that you don't do crap with?... avatars are just 3D versions of Gamer pictures that you will be able to carry into some games like Uno... just an extension to gamercards, gamescore, achivements, etc that Nintendo wii is completely missing and Sony is trying to catchup to...

did you also miss the part where you can private chat, organize, schedule to play with up to 8 players? Are you saying that you can private chat on the PS3... because last time I checked the PS3 can not even private chat with 1 person...

How about the ability to watch a movie using Netflix with other friends in your group? share pictures? don't compare this to the rip off of 2nd life that Sony is trying to come up and will probably continue to delay who knows for how long... You are talking about the wii which lack many of these features... and the PS3 which is yet to deliver...

With the PS3 you can receive text while playing a game... and with the xbox 360 you will be able to voice chat, play the same games with up to 8 players... yeah I see the similarities... lol!

[juuken]

Well...Microsoft does seem to have infinitely large pockets so I'm not surprised. But there will come a day when the money flow does run out.

[juuken]

Lol, good luck with that. Let's just hope the 360 doesn't crash when it's all said and done. And your insider information doesn't faze me one bit.

[rhood022]

I'm sure it is MS and everyone knows of their professional relationship, but why not just say it instead of being so ambiguous with the publisher? It leads to all kinds of speculation.

Also, is that guy who posted on the forum actually who he says he is? I mean, its kinda easy to pose as someone or even hack people's accounts and post things.

I'm not saying that's the case here. It's just odd that they would post it on a forum yet be so ambiguous in a press release. Especially if people already assume it is MS.

[25]

was there ever any doubt that it was microsoft.

[fashionfreakj86]

They probably didn't want to let their big gun out of the bag to early....they want to raise the hype because if its out to early over time people will get tired and lose interest in the game.....for example: huxley....many people were expecting this to come out soon with all the gameplay shown but since it takes so long to come out, alot of people moved on to bigger and better games.

[CNIVEK]

...still sucking on MS' hind teet. :p

Memo to Bungie: If you TRULY want to be "independent" from MS, DON'T CONTINUE TO LET THEM PUBLISH YOUR GAMES. Dumbasses. :O

[Odion]

so what do you say to Insomiac?

[25]

insomniac was never bought by sony

[FantasyStar]

I'd say Insomniac was never once bought by Sony, then seperated again, just to stay exclusive to Sony again.

I don't think you can compare Insomniac to Bungie. Try again.

[Enigma_2099]

We're an independent developer... we just don't make games for anybody else...

I was hoping for Oni 2....

[Gold3nStat3KID]

...

[Enigma_2099]

... something with a FPS flava, am I right, you clucking bass?

[FantasyStar]

Otherwise no one would care what other games this company made, especially a 2nd Party Company that develops exclusively.

[pumpkinpunker]

Bungie had a great reputation before Halo and won a bunch of awards for games like Marathon, Myth, and Oni. They didn't just fall out of the sky and create Halo.

[FantasyStar]

The rest of the world can't identify Bungie with any other game than Halo. In fact, it was because of Halo that the majority of Bungie's fanbase was formed and it was then that they started taking notice of Bungie's game portfolio.

Halo is the definitive game of Bungie. I'm quite aware that Oni was developed by Bungie: played it on the PS2 and liked it. I'm merely speaking on behalf of the entire gaming population, and not just the Bungie horde. Bungie IS Halo and Halo is what the gamers will expect out of Bungie. If Bungie were to try anything else, it'll be one of those risk-assessments all over again, which explains why Bungie would choose Microsoft as the publisher: Financial security.

[pumpkinpunker]

so they probably figured to hold onto this announcement for awhile.

[Qbanboi]

Best Key note? Yeah i forgot that every 360 owner are waiting for FFXIII i wanted a new game. But no, they don't want to show it.

[pumpkinpunker]

Bungie was going to announce a 700 player at once multiplayer shooter game with 100 squads of 7. Show a quick pre-rendered trailer. Tell everyone it's temporary name is BFOS (Big F$ckin Online Shooter). And call it an E3...but then OH SNAP! Sony dropped the megaton called MAG so now they're returning to Redmond with their tails between their legs.

[Mayle]

well if its the big announcement at Leipzig I wont hold it against them.

[n00bzRtehgey]

sorry, droids.

no good games for you.

[juuken]

360 lemmings: No FFXIII game for you until 2010.
Go cry some more.

[pumpkinpunker]

http://www.joystiq.com/2008...

nice try, though.

oh wait, how many square-enix titles are coming exclusively to the 360 this year? oh yeah, TWO. how many are coming to the PS3? ZERO. NONE. ZILCH. NADA.

However, don't fret...I hear MAG is coming out in 2011. Oh boy, taht game looked lame....err, i mean exciting!

[juuken]

Laaaaame.

AND WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT, THE LINK WORKS FOR ME. The site probably was going through some problems yesterday, like most sites do when they're either overloaded or people are doing maintenance.

"When Microsoft revealed yesterday that Final Fantasy XIII was coming to Xbox 360, they were only telling half the story. At a Q&A session with Square Enix after the press conference, we learned the truth.

The Japanese developer won’t even begin working on the Xbox 360 version until the PS3 version is finished. The Square Enix representatives were frank on this point: porting the game will take a long time. And after it’s ported, it’ll still have to be localised.

Realistically, that’ll mean a gap of around a year between the two — and the PS3 version is still a long, long way off. There is little hope for FFXIII landing on the 360 this side of 2010.

This whole venture is a last-minute development; the decision to port to 360 was only made a few days ago.

Another aspect of the FFXIII development process that’s been largely overlooked is that Square Enix already has the game running on PC. They have yet to decide whether they’ll release it on that format, however. They may just be using it as a development environment at this stage.

Another factor to consider: FFXIII is being created for PS3 with Crystal Tools (formerly known as The White Engine), Square Enix’s proprietary technology for PS3 development. A whole new engine may be needed to get the game working on the 360."

Ports do take a good while dear. What makes you think Square will finish your port in their so-called timeframe? :D

And you dumbasses reported the story because you don't want to face the facts that this may be true. You have approved stories from this site a few times so I don't see why you guys are screaming fake all of a sudden.

[n00bzRtehgey]

awwwwwwww, no one is gonna read what JEWkin said because she's a crying little b1tch who got owned hardddd.

[karlostomy]

I have to chuckle and remind myself to excuse her trollish behaviour, because she IS a girl with 24/7 PMS.

Now wonder she single, fat and angry.....

Diet Still not working princess?

[dkgshiz]

You act as if you never heard of KZ2, little big planet, or GOW 3. Go back to your shanties or ask your dad to shoot you for being in huge denial.

[The Mikester]

That's b/c he loves being a dumb a** and can't accept the fact that he's stupid and in denial.

[DFresh]

I was reading with my friend on some game forums and I found out that Bungie got f***ed over by Microsoft.
Microsoft bought out their company and took their franchise characters name all for themselves.
Remember Master Chief he now belongs to Microsoft.
Also notice how this new Halo isn't being made by Bungie but by Microsoft Studios and by Peter Jackson.
I think Bungie makes great games but MS really screwed them and hard.
Since Bungie are now free developers they can work with any console they want and seeing how they got f***ed by MS we might just see a new franchise by Bungie over at Sony's PS3.

[FPS nut]

Well that was about as clear as you can get.

[perils]

Bungie "our publisher is microsoft"...........er thanks for that nugget of info there bungie. Heres on from me "i don't give a toss". there now were equal