- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Why would Ballmer make up Halo 3 and use it as a reference at a Microsoft Office press conference unless he had, at the very least, heard about it's development in house?
First off, I don't think Ballmer just made it up. I DO think he misspoke in that he didn't research his sources or verify information (super secret or otherwise) before mentioning it when speaking in public. That's what he has a history of doing - check the links I posted in my earlier reply to verify.
I would hazard a guess that some people working at Bungie AND at Microsoft HAVE talked about Halo3 AND the XBOX2. Most of us on these forums have. That doesn't mean it is going to happen the way we think. If Stosh, Shiksa, Sketchfactor, and Frankie all get together and talk about Halo3 over a beer, it doesn't mean anything. Replace those names with those of Microsoft VP's & Board Directors and it still doesn't.
Ballmer I'm pretty sure sits through TONS of committee meetings and manager meetings. During these, topics of all sorts come up. He may have been half-asleep (or distracted) at one of them involving game development and heard Halo3&XBOX2 mentioned, and he remembered it. What he probably didn't remember is that these were theoretical or VERY preliminary talks. While Halo2 & Bungie are central issues on these forums, realistically they are very minor in the big scheme of things within the realm of all things Microsoft.
I really think Bungie would have addressed this issue if Ballmer had really let the cat out of the bag. Instead, as already pointed out, the only Bungie response I've seen did NOT corroborate Ballmer's commment.
Take care,
Cavmn