Halo Studio on the future of the franchise

Microsoft reckons Halo, its most important first-party franchise, can eventually be as big as sci-fi behemoth Star Wars. Sound like a story beamed in from far, far away? Halo Studio lead producer Jason Pace, a man VideoGamer.com caught up with at a recent Halo Wars event, is as serious as the Master Chief himself. Read on for a glimpse into the future of one of gaming's most beloved and popular franchises.

[GWAVE]

I hope this "Halo Studio" doesn't turn the Xbox brand into a one-trick pony. Yes, Sony and Nintendo each have their share of uber-popular brands, but they don't RELY on those brands. Take Gran Turismo from Sony and you still have a dozen others. Take Zelda from Nintendo and you still have a dozen others. Take Halo from Microsoft and you have...what?

[Hiruma Youchi]

"I hope this "Halo Studio" doesn't turn the Xbox brand into a one-trick pony"

1-Liar we all know you dont like the xbox and you're a sony fanboy.

2- From all of the comments I saw you post in the last 3days I can clearly see that you hope the worst for MS

3-You can't compare Sony's Franchise and Nintedo's because they both been here since the 90's and they had time bulding their brands. MS just started to really understand the whole game industry.

4-they have halo , Ninja Gaiden,Dead or Alive ,Splinter Cell ,PGR,PerfectDark,Blue Dragon,Mass Effect , CrackDown,Fable,Forza,Gears,In finite Uniscovery,Kameo,Lost Odyssey,Naruto Rise of Ninja series ,Ninety-Nine Nights,Viva Pinata,

[Half-Mafia]

3 of them games u listed r good, and its not halo.

and all the others r not massive brands.

[InMyOpinion]

The gamertag(WISE_FWOM_YOW_GWAVE) you gave me didn't exist.

[JokesOnYou]

I loved to see more Halo themed games...as long as they make sense and stay true to the Halo Universe, I'm a huge Halo fan but I don't think theres a person on earth who wants to see Master Chief whoring himself out in "Halo Cart".

JOY

[pwnsause]

-Ninja Gaiden,
-Dead or Alive
-Splinter Cell
-Naruto Rise of Ninja series

These games you just mentioned are from 3rd party companies. these games can go multiplatform in a NY minute.

[GWAVE]

@ Hiruma

I hate Microsoft, but that doesn't mean I hate the 360's games. As a gamer, that would be silly. I own a 360, by the way, even though I prefer the PS3. I guess it's easier to write someone off as a "fanboy" than to face the facts and respond to their comment, huh?

@ Jenzo

Try WISE_FWOM_YOW_G then. Like I said, I'm no longer a Live member so I'm not sure if that will affect my tag. Can't say I'm surprised that you checked just to see if you could level some ammunition against me. ;^)

[InMyOpinion]

Nah, I just had a feeling you were full of sh!t. That gamertag didn't exist either. You don't remember the name of your gamertag that you see everytime you boot up your 360? C'mon dude...

[GWAVE]

@ Jenzo

Considering that I left Live mid-June last year, considering that my gamertag was different than my PSN and various PC tags, and considering that I haven't connected my 360 to the internet since....mid-June last year, you'll accept my "pardon me" for not remembering it. It was something like WISE_FWOM_YOW_G.

But I really don't owe you any explanation. I'm giving it as a courtesy. Even if you DID find my gamertag, it's not going to change your perception that I'm some sort of raging Sony fanboy, so why even bother?

[Dark_Vendetta]

sorry but there's something wrong. It doesn't matter how long ago you connected to live with your gamertag, you can't "forget" it if you turn on your 360 (and don't tell me you did it the last time half a year ago), because it's one of the first things you see when trying to play a game (as stated above). You don't have a 360

[GWAVE]

@ Dark_Vendetta

Erm, nice detective work there, but my new gamertag is Goodblock. The 360 I used to have got the wonderful RRoD so MS sent me a refurbed model. It's pathetic how people are trying to discredit what I say based on whether or not I have a 360. Any other brilliant deductions?

[Man_of_the_year]

When you send in your xbox because you got the RROD - you are informed that you need to unhook your HDD and keep it - that is what stores your gamertag info and game saves - when you reconnect it you are then presented with your gamertag info. The console that the HDD has nothing to do with changing your gamertag as the info is stored onto your HDD. Also your gamertag is attached to your .passport so you can pull it up buy putting in your passport info.

You are full of lies. U thought you could outsmart them but you just kept digging a bigger whole.

There is no way you could have a) forgotten it b) needed a new one because you received a referbished 360 and c)not be able to reactivate it using your .passport.

[socomnick]

Yea its safe to assume gwave has never had a 360. Thats the main difference between ps3 and xbox fanboys. Ps3 fanboys usually only own a ps3. While xbox fanboys own both.

[No Way]

Stop trying.. Ha.

They obviously proved you wrong, what, three(3) or four(4) times now? Ha.
Sorry, but it also seems to me that your full of sh!t.

[BRACHATTACK]

Microsoft are so arrogant...

[redbadger]

Does anyone care about this?

[InMyOpinion]

I do, cause I think Halo is awesome.

[Tony P]

Well, yes actually since it's not another opinion piece. It's actually news and new information.

[ChampIDC]

Halo has a lot of potential in its universe. I think they still have a lot they could do with it, such as a Ghost Recon style game with marines.

Also, I'd like to see a game that makes Master Chief as hardcore in gameplay as he is in cutscenes. Probably need a third-person game for that, though.

They definitley need to dump the current gameplay. It feels so last gen. Worked great on the Xbox, but the 360 can do so much more than that old machine.

[No Way]

Obviously.
Haha.

[MURKERR]

.. seriously i hope they dont rinse and ruin the great franchise ironically look what happened to star wars

[InMyOpinion]

Halo and Half-Life are the best fps series of all time.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

If you EVER say Halo comes anywhere close to Half-life again...

...I will personally destroy your Xbox.

That's a promise.

[Half-Mafia]

how the hell can u compare half life to halo, that like comparing mario kart to GT lmao.

halo is such a crap game and i cant believe people buy it. i must admit i did buy it cause of the stupid hype but never started the singleplayer and only played about 4 hours of online which is rubbished compared to ther FPS games

[JokesOnYou]

Halo and HL just about made me into a huge console FPS fan, right now I would say Halo3 and COD4 are the two best shooters I have played this gen....and yes I have played them ALL.

JOY

[InMyOpinion]

I'm not comparing them, I just think they are the best fps series ever made.

@JokesOnYou - I love COD4 in multiplayer, but the enemy AI in the single player campaign is weak as hell. Scripted enemies who keep spawning until you move forward.

[somekindofmike]

Sorry but Halo and Half Life are not even in the same league as each other. They aren't even similar sorts of games.

Half Life is an epic single player experience, Halo3 is mainly a multiplayer game.

Half Life could be argued as the best FPS series of all time, but Halo for me personally doesn't match up! in fact I personally struggle to think of anything which compares to Half Life's quality. COD4 is the next closest thing, but Call of Duty as a series is let down by COD3 and COD5.

EDIT... I realise they aren't the same games, I mean they aren't in the same league quality wise. (in my opinion Halo doesn't compare)

[L-a-i-n]

He was not comparing them to each other he just said they the best FPS ever made.

[UnwanteDreamz]

I wont disagree because the following these games have has to mean something. I will say however that any fan of this series should pray it does not go the way of Star Wars. Great for the people making games and toys but bad for fans of what is hailed as one of the best FPS ever.

I mean how many of the last 10 Star Wars games were must haves? As much as you guys support Halo you should be wary of oversaturation.

Just my 2 cents in all honesty the devs seem to care what you guys think and that is a good thing. It is the mindless corperate suits that you have to watch out for. As a gamer I have seen more than one of my favorites whor*d out for profits.

[ChampIDC]

My thoughts exactly, bud. Bubbles up.

Halo definiltey needs to only put out strong games to not become a dry series. I see nothing wrong with waiting years between the games for a quality product.

[No Way]

Who's comparing? He said they were the best. No comparision.

@LeonSKennedy4Life - Halo has your panties up ina bunch, doesn't it?

[somekindofmike]

This is only Bad news for Halo fans,

The first 3 star wars films are all time classics,

But we all remember the 4th film released, Episode 1 the phantom menace was poor! and the next two films were no where near the quality of the original trilogy!

So judging by this comment is it all downhill from here for Halo?

EDIT:

Are people seriously disagreeing with me because they don't think the Star Wars Films went downhill after the original trilogy?

or do they think I was having a dig at Halo? because if I didn't make myself clear, I hope Halo doesn't go the way of the Star Wars Films, and I hope it not only continues to be good, but just gets better. I just think it was a strange comparison to compare Halo to Star Wars franchise.

[ChampIDC]

Yeah, let's hope Halo games don't go in the kid-friendly direction that Star Wars went.

[DJ]

I know some people see this as "Microsoft milking the franchise", but they only have this perception since Microsoft doesn't have many exclusive franchises.

[L-a-i-n]

You have to be an stupid to even say that Halo is close to what Star Wars is. I believe that it could make an interesting movie though. From what story Halo had it wasn't that bad. If Bungie is not making the future Halo games you will see a major drop in quality.

[DJ]

From Halo 2 to Halo 3. Bungie's complaint was that instead of supporting their work, Microsoft kept intruding during the creative process and negatively affected the final product. By creating a new internal studio to take over this franchise, there’s no telling what the new Halo FPS titles will be like in terms of style or quality since Microsoft will have full control over it.

[xaviertooth]

hahahahahaah!!!

[Ko_Uraki]

Expecially the early anticipated "Halo Chronicles".

[Foxgod]

YEah, i am curious what that title will be like.

[Obama]

Cooking Master Chief?

[gdblose]

I HEARD FROM MY COUSIN'S FRIEND'S BROTHER'S GIRLFRIEND'S LITTLE SISTER THAT THEY HAVE STARTED WORKING ON LEGO MY HALO...AND SHE CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT TO COME OUT.

[Rims]

What a load of garbage. A faceless main character with zero charisma that supported by a cast of more generic characters.

[MerkinMax]

Bubbles... Fading...

[Foxgod]

Cool, thats means MS had started to form its new studio;s.
Now they got about seven or eight again.

Lionhead, Rare, Turn 10, Wingnut Interactive,Xbox Live Productions.
And now Halo studio, and the two new studio;s formed when ensemble closed, one of them will do more age of empires, and the other will do more with halo.

[DJ]

I know the second studio formed is basically tech/online support for Halo Wars.

[Kurylo3d]

halo isnt microsofts only franchise... they do have gears of war.. which im sure will make it to gears of war 10 by the time there done with it.

[Foxgod]

There is whole loads more.
Since MS owns Rare, Ms owns the rights of past titles like Conker, Killer instinct and Battletoads.

Its still strongly rumored MS will use these franchises.

[Kratos215]

I think Epic owns gears of war, I could be wrong though

[MerkinMax]

Halo would be nothing these days if it weren't for Bungie. Halo:ODST will be my last Halo purchase. Microsoft doesn't realize how Bungie created such an amazing community with Halo and this new Halo Studios think that they can do the same? NO! I support Bungie but MS is really making me mad with the way they are treating the Halo franchise.

[Balance]

i disagree a little. i for one would like to see someone else take the extensive and excellent work bungie has done but get a new group to spin some stories in the halo universe. after halo 3 it would be nice to get a breath of fresh air from someone else's point of view. i for one would like to see someone come in and do a more gritty game (ala gears of war look and feel but first person, more realistic graphics instead of the halo cartoon graphics) during say the fall of reach. the halo universe could use some new ideas. i do think halo OSDT is going to rock though.

[MerkinMax]

I just don't want another developer taking the Halo franchise where it doesn't belong.

[gnothe1]

hey check this post out that GWAVE made,
Erm, nice detective work there, but my new gamertag is Goodblock. The 360 I used to have got the wonderful RRoD so MS sent me a refurbed model. It's pathetic how people are trying to discredit what I say based on whether or not I have a 360. Any other brilliant deductions?

he said his 360 RROD an MS sent him a refurbished! what does that gotta do with anything considering you dont send your HDD in with the system to be repaired why would you need to change your name.all you gotta do is slap your HDD back on the system on go. also its widely know that MS CHARGES to change your name on XBL because they have to transfer all of your content licences an points an or CC number to the new name.so he constantly being caught in lies about owning a 360. but why?

[IQUITN4G]

It's funny how people love to slag on Halo like it's somehow a bit rubbish.It's brought up in just about every fps article for a reason

Providing each and every Halo game from now on does justice to the great universe, it wont ever go away - it's far too important to a very large amount of devoted followers

I can't somehow see the same thing happening for Killzone2 or Resistance

If Halo was indeed rubbish like so many Sony pr!cks claim , then it would have simply vanished

[solidsnakus]

halo studio? when did this happen? so bungie isnt making halo games anymore? well i know there making halo recon

[IQUITN4G]

Yet it refuses to die and pops up in just about every fps article there is

Anyway great argument you have there

If Halo was the piece of sh!t you Sony goons forever claim, then it would have vanished by now i rather think - no amount of MS hype can buy what Halo obviously means to the many that adore it

[oldsnayke]

Uh huh. Halo is going to be forgotten in 30 years from now. Star Wars? That's been around since 1977 and there are still people collecting memorabilia based on the series.