Microsoft didn't want Halo as flagship title

Microsoft never planned for Halo to become its flagship title, according to Microsoft VP of game publishing Ed Fries.

"We didn't know what was going be our biggest title," Fries admits. "There was a lot of negativity around Halo, actually, mostly coming from the games press. We showed it several times publicly, and we got pretty negative feedback."

[Anon1974]

I have to admit, the Covenant weapons are very Fisher Price, but that game rocks. I can't believe the people they showed it to at the start had issues with it. All they had to do was play it for an hour to realize there was nothing like it on consoles at the time.

[Natsu X FairyTail]

Why you writting this in the Open zone?

[ukilnme]

Maybe he is banned or maybe he just does not want to get caught saying anything slightly positive about an Xbox game from fear that his fellow Sony loyalists will see it. I guess we'll never know.

[Anon1974]

You got a problem with open zone?

Alright, I'll put it in the Gamer Zone. Picky...picky.

At any rate, I'm a gamer, first and foremost. I really couldn't care less if Sony fans have a problem with me liking games like Gears, Halo, Fable...etc. I've never hidden my love for those games. They're excellent. If some Sony fans can't accept that some gamers like to play on both consoles then they're simply missing out.

[ukilnme]

"At any rate, I'm a gamer, first and foremost."

Is that right? Then why so much hate for MS?

[Anon1974]

And it puzzles no one more than me. Where have I ever said I hate Microsoft? My gamertag's right on my profile, anyone can see I'm a 360 gamer as well as a PS3 gamer, I just happen to prefer my PS3. There's nothing wrong with having a console preference.

See, what most people confuse as my being anti-Microsoft is me just not being 100% pro-Microsoft. Just because I'm an owner and a fan of both systems doesn't mean I'm not critical of both systems. In my opinion though it seems that there's a lot of negative press directed towards the PS3 as US game sites pander to the larger 360 audience there while actual game news often falls by the wayside. I just try to add a little realism to the debate, and that more often than not finds me opposite a lot of fanatical 360 fans.

Just look at my posting history. Look at my story submissions. I say what I like and don't hesitate to criticize any company when I think they're deserving. If you think I'm only 100% pro-Sony and anti-Microsoft you're only seeing what to you want to see.

[commodore64]

lol!

Don't kid yourself, darkie....
You are the biggest ps3 fanboy around.
and deep down... you know it.

end of.

[TheColbertinator]

I think Halo received some of its negative feedback from the fact that it was a console FPS and not a PC FPS.I'm sure many within Microsoft didn't want Halo to go on the Xbox because rarely did FPS fare well on the consoles apart from the Rare shooters.

[Arsenic13]

The title is misleading. They didnt not want it to be the flagship title. They just didnt expect it to become that.

[GWAVE]

Correct. I'm sure they didn't expect the first game to be their flagship, as was apparent by their average marketing campaign for it, but once Halo 2 was announced it was obvious that they were going to use the Halo series for all it was worth, what with the advertising campaign of Halo 2 being bigger than the US Government's military budget.

[STK026]

while they didn't expect it to be their flagship title, it was probably the most likely candidate.

I sure as hell they didn't expect Blinx to be the next big thing. And, when you think about it, many of the new franchises they created on the Xbox weren't exactly great, games like Brute Force and Fusion frenzy were good, but not system sellers like halo was. Also, some of the better games from MS only came late in the console's somewhat short life cycle, games like Fable.

So really, when you think about it, Halo, a game released at launch, with mass appeal (shooters are pretty popular it would seem) and great multiplayer for it'S time, had everything needed to become their flagship title.

[Cherchez La Ghost]

Microsoft didn't "EXPECT" Halo as flagship title.

[ps3d0]

true but still its a interesting bit of info

[commodore64]

lol.

You are certainly right about the title.

However, I am sure MS is mighty glad that Halo DID become the flagship title.

;)

[Omega4]

Well no one knows what title will become popular until its released its not something which can be forced. If its a well made game and people enjoy playing it and tell others that then it will become huge.

[Skynetone]

halo two is a different story, LOL, cant comment on 3 until i pickup a 720 with bc

[socomnick]

Halo 3 is the most technologically rich game this gen. While not the most impressive graphically it does have the most impressive lighting, the most amazing features such as video replays, video rendering from 360 to pc, screenshots, massively detailed online stats, Forge a level editor, 4 player co-op in the campaign, and the most robust and complete multiplayer in any game this gen.

[ukilnme]

Some don't always know how to recognize a diamond in the rough. Props to MS and Bungie for moving forward with Halo anyway.

[Nelson M]

Don't Blame em
It Suck's

[ukilnme]

One thing is for sure whenever Halo is mentioned. All the Droids asses start twitching.

[TheMART]

The only thing sucking here is you. Sucking Kaz's d!ck and balls that is. PS3 fantards on the G@ystation, they remain funny.

[UnwanteDreamz]

You fuc*in guys are pathetic and I stopped by just to let you know.

Droids? Fantards? G@ystation?

LMFAO you guys sound worse than my kids with your funny little pet names for one another. Grow the phuck up man, millions of people in the world think gamers are stupid kids and you guys do your best to reinforce those thoughts.

Pathetic!

[ukilnme]

@ UnwanteDreamz

You seem to have taken this stuff too seriously. Relax, it's the Open Zone. Everybody knows anything and everything goes in here. The same thing was explained to me a few months back when I tried to reason with some people in the Open Zone. Kick back and have a little fun. For the record, the people that think gamers are stupid surely have their own faults and probably don't pay attention to N4G anyway.

Now in the spirit of the Open Zone, I can't speak for the others, but I really don't give a sh1t what you think about me. If you don't like what happens in the Open Zone, keep your punk ass out of here.

Again that was all in good fun man. Don't take it seriously.

[Nelson M]

It's just a Bit of Fun Lighten up
Dont need to take it personally(well a few do)

[JonnyBadfinger]

open zone was clearly started for verbal bashing of one another. Anyone who take it seriously is well.......... not the brightest light globe on the Christmas tree.

Sure Nelson M is a d*ck but you gotta admit he is funny as hell. gets me giggling like a school girl sometimes.

[UnwanteDreamz]

Okay got it. The open zone was created for fa**ets like yourselves. It's a relaxed place where you can ride each others d*cks without fear of being judged. Then here I come with the reality ruining all the fun.

My bad

Ukilinme

If you gonna call me a punk ass take my d*ck out of yer mouth first.

[ukilnme]

@ UnwanteDreamz

LMAO, that was great. Glad to see you get it now. As for your d*ck, I don't roll like that. Unlike you, I am not facinated with d*cks. Never have been, never will be.

[Saaking]

Halo literally carries the xbox brand on it's back. The fanbase for this game is just incredible and amazing. Without Halo MS wouldn't be here today.

[u got owned]

Agree. Halo carried the first Xbox. I remember my brother had an Xbox for almost a year and no Halo, i gave him Halo for christmas and oh boy what a gift. Halo is been with us since then now all my four brother and each respective friends own a X360 and the Halo series including Halo Wars. Halo is a fantastic franchise and i hope MS continue delivering great Halo games for us to enjoy.

[Ninjamonkey]

Considering people pick up on the tiniest things, how did it get through with that title? Didnt expect =/= didnt want.

Also I thknk its the colour scheme which made it look different. And probably helped gain the sakes it did.

[Double Toasted]

MS was actually pushing for some other title they were releasing, to be the entity that Halo is today.

[FantasyStar]

The question that now needs to be asked: Did Microsoft think much of Halo before they bought Bungie or after?

[No_NaMe]

ahah

Halo >>> ALL Ps3 exclusives!

[Teh Cell]

This man speaks the truth

[Poopface the 2nd]

I was looking forward to halo on PC and when it went to xbox I hated Xbox for it. I changed my mind when I got an xbox and halo, and started playing some co-op with my fellow FPS fiend friends.

[Grandreaper9999]

Well I can remember asking a friend how playing the original Xbox was, and all he was talking about was Halo. Must not have been long before MS saw that it was selling and THEN started heavily backing it. But then again, they did seem to be behind it since the beginning, so I dunno. I think MS knew Halo was something that would make them a good amount of money to begin with. Didn't they fund the development of the original to be a launch title?

I would really like to know what else MS planned to have as their flagship title. Like what did they expect to be their system selling game?

[Anon1974]

I have to admit, the Covenant weapons are very Fisher Price, but that game rocks. I can't believe the people they showed it to at the start had issues with it. All they had to do was play it for an hour to realize there was nothing like it on consoles at the time.

[siren]

I was at Microsoft back during the early development of Xbox and Halo. During what they called "Deep Gameplay Testing" a lot of people internal to Microsoft didn't even like Halo.

Most of those people sat down in the early usability studies with just the single player and complained left and right about lack of keyboard and mouse. They never returned.

A small group of us loved it and picked up on the controls very quickly. Over the following two months we would run over the offices that were used for Xbox and would site in a little square room with 4 big screen CRT tvs and play multiplayer modes for hours and hours about two to three times a week. They actually had us running their multiplayer test scenarios at one point since we were over there so much in the evening.

I think it was at that point that all of us, the Bungie reps on-site, and some of the Microsoft people started to realize just how addictive the game was.

[Another One]

been a hell of a time.

And I knew the colors of Halo would come up. lol. It always does. I'm kind of shocked people want everything to be so dull and boring. I remember back when colorful was a good thing. Most of the great old games had a lot of color.

[iceman06]

In the beginning, it was a pretty generic FPS. I can remember a magazine that ran the usual "preview"(when it was set to be a PS2, PC, XBOX title). The journalists weren't very excited either. I guess this is what a little focus and polish can do for a title. Nobody could have guessed that HALO would be the all consuming, "genre defining" (according to it's fans) phenomenon that you see today. It became the reason for people to be proud Xbox owners and carried Microsoft into THIS console generation. By the way, I have NEVER owned a MS system...but I give props where props are due. Congrats MS...keep up the competition.

[steck67]

I wonder what the flagship title be if it wasnt Halo.

[Cajun Chicken]

Crimson Skies was pretty good.

[Mcrmarcher]

I think MS has done really well this gen in terms of games, compared to last gen they really stepped up their game.

[Dead_Cell]

She doesn't even play first person shooters.

[sGIBMBR]

lol, your mother sounds awesome :)

[Wurider]

I think that people unfairly get on Halo 3 about its graphics. I have played them all. Halo 3 has some really good, clean graphics. The lighting and the physics are awesome. I have been a gamer for 20 years AND whether its NES, SNES,N64, Dreamcast, PS1, Ps2, Ps3, Xbox, or Xbox 360-- Halo 3 ONLINE mulitiplayer is the most fun I have ever had playing a video game. I mean 2 years later and I still play it like crazy. that is testament to how good the game is. These glorified tech demos on other systems lack a soul and the fun factor. A GAME HAS GOT TO BE FUN TO PLAY!!!! Any fan boy that says different is a goddamn liar!!!

[jesterlives]

Microsoft didn't want Ed Fries.

[AngryTypingGuy]

Well I'm glad Xbox got Halo.

Halo never would've caught on with the PlayStation crowd because Master Chief doesn't have long, flowing locks, nor does he wear eyeliner.

[pushergreen]

With your statement I award you the internet! Seriously though you type the truth!

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

...the value of the 'gaming press' at times.

I thought Bungie was gold with Marathon.

[PS360PCROCKS]

Without Halo the xbox would be dead.

[gameman]

it's also on the PC

[-Mezzo-]

Come on you gotta be kidding me, that how to disrespect a title that has brought in tons of MULLA, now that you have juiced all the suckers with HALo and when it's time to put HALO to rest you say this...

Lets face it Microsoft never had any flagship title not back then not now.

[-Mezzo-]

The heading is highly misleading. but this isn't from HHG.

[Ldubbz]

Yeah I still remember when the Xbox first came out. I was interested in seeing what they were bringing to the table like anyone else. One of the first games I ever saw was at a Virgin Megastore, and it was that Yakuza game (was that what it was called?). Anyway, it had great visuals, but the game was crap.

Fast forward some time, and I was super hooked, and I mean HOOKED, on GTA 3, which I was playing on my bro's PS2. One of my friends was going on and on about Halo, and I was stuck on GTA 3. When I finally went over to play it with four of us, two on each TV (the good ol LAN days..er, System Link AKA Crossover Ethernet Cable...lol), that was it. Went out, bought an Xbox and Halo, and spent many many nights playing against my friends. The rest is history....

So yep, Halo definitely brought me into the fold.