Bungie Universe
This topic has moved here: Subject: Bungie's Next Project - Evidence and Analysis - Update 02/11/10
  • Subject: Bungie's Next Project - Evidence and Analysis - Update 02/11/10
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • of 2
Subject: Bungie's Next Project - Evidence and Analysis - Update 02/11/10

UPDATE 2: Certain aspects of Halo: Reach, particularly the Space Combat sequence in Long Night of Solace, may provide an indication of what could possibly feature in Bungie's next project. Therefore will be covered in Version 2.

UPDATE: Version 2 (V2) is currently under construction. It will include new evidence, as well as some old evidence which fell under the radar. It will also include a more in-depth analysis.

Over the past year, Bungie and their partners have dropped several hints, as to what their next project consists of. I've scourged the Internet for nearly every hint, and attempted to deconstruct its meaning.

Hope you enjoy.

Evidence:

1. Now, in a recent interview with IGN, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft Game Studios Phil Spencer stopped just short of confirming the speculation that it would be an MMO. When asked about whether Microsoft looked at the MMO and free-to-play markets as something it would like to bring to the console, Spencer replied with an unprompted mention of Bungie:

"On the MMO point, I think that's really a business model question of how many can you support on one platform. I think MMOs do have a future on consoles and TV. I know my friends at Bungie -- I don't know if theirs' is an MMO or not - but I know they're pushing with Activision to do something interesting in the online space which is good. I think you'll see that come to TV in a more interesting way than it has in the past."


2. After lamenting that Bungie spent ten years creating a mega-universe that players only experienced for six to eight hours at a time (he's only talking about the single-player campaign here, of course), he dropped this wonderfully cryptic springboard for debate: "Wouldn't it be great if we could make a world that was always there for you?"

3. - Senior Engine Programmer -

Required Skills

* Professional experience programming in the game industry (3+ years)
* Experience building and maintaining a game framework for generalized simulation
* Strong working knowledge of C/C++
* Proven ability to independently design and maintain large software systems
* Good understanding of the fundamentals of a modern game engine
* Experience working on a team and excellent communication skills
* Passion for great games and great technology

Nice-to-have Skills

* Experience as a senior engineer on a large team
* Experience working with modern console architecture
* Double points for PlayStation 3 experience
* Experience with any interpreted scripting language integrated into a game engine
* A love of close quarters combat


4. During an interview with IGN this afternoon, Activision COO Thomas Tippl dropped a few hints about when the studio will pull the curtain back on its game.

"We are super excited about the project that [Bungie] is working on, which they will start talking about once Halo: Reach is out the door," Tippl said. "It's a very ambitious and phenomenal project, and in our view, matches very well with what gamers expect these days and where the industry is going."

"Bungie wouldn't have signed if they didn't come to the conclusion that we have by far the best online capability between what we've be doing in Call of Duty and the expertise and institutional knowledge that sits at Blizzard."

When asked if Bungie fans should expect an announcement next year, Tippl teased the game will likely be revealed at E3 2011.

"Probably next E3, I would guess," he said. "You'll hear more about it."


5. - Senior Server Programmer -

Create, champion, and control some of the most load-intensive server-side game features the world has ever witnessed by taking on the role of a Senior Server Programmer at Bungie. Previous experience might include platform-wide Matchmaking services that successfully dispatched hundreds of thousands of concurrent combatants or massive back-ends that cut a brutal swath through a merciless horde of high-load multiplayer features. If you accept our challenge, you WILL be responsible for design and implementation of multiple large, awesomely innovative features. Proven ability to work in code and databases of your own design is essential. Godspeed.

Bungie's Senior Server Programmers work across disciplines to determine the desired behavior of server-side game features. They also design highly scalable systems with the flexibility to adapt to evolving game design, write clean C# code to implement these original designs, design and implement databases that scale without predetermined limit, investigate and keep up with new technology to identify where our projects can benefit from its use and work with the Operations team to ensure stable performance of your features in the datacenter.
Required Skills

* 6+ years game development experience required.
* 4+ years experience with C# and SQL Server.
* Experience with .Net Web Services or WCF.
* Experience writing and shipping production server code for a large-scale online game or platform.
* Solid understanding of database performance and tuning.
* Strong familiarity with Windows server platforms.
* Ability to do self-directed work as well as work alongside a team of other developers.
* Working knowledge of C++.
* Passion for making great games.
* Bachelors Degree in CS or related field.


6. - Player Investment Designer -

Do you dream about creating worlds imbued with real value and consequence? Can you find the fine line between a reward that encourages players to have fun and an incentive that enslaves them? Can you devise a way for a player to grow while preserving the delicate balance of an action game? If you answered yes to these questions (and you are a passionate work-a-holic game-o-phile) you might want to polish up your resume and apply to be Bungie's next Player Investment Designer.

A Player Investment Designer develops a robust and rewarding investment path, supported by consistent, rich and secure incentives that drives player behavior toward having fun and investing in their characters, and then validates those systems through intense simulation, testing and iteration. At Bungie, you'll design mechanics which drive in-game player reward and incentives, give players long-term goals to invest them in the world and their character, prevent by design griefing or exploiting any of the above systems, run simulations of these mechanics based on expected player behavior and test these simulated results against actual player behavior and tuning the live system.

Required Skills

* Experience with many modes of online play.
* Experience with online incentives (achievements, rewards, economic, etc) and a passion for understanding what drives player behavior within them.


7. Then of course

Bungie Aerospace...

Analysis:

1. Phil Spencer refers to Bungie, while he just so happens to be on the subject of MMOs. If not referring to Bungie's next project as a strict MMO, he could be implying that Bungie are building a Multiplayer component to allow an unparalleled amount of players in one game.

2. Joseph Staten infers that it would be wonderful to have a world that is always there. Something of which defines an MMO.

3. Close Quarters Combat. This could be indicating an entirely new melee system - on the level of Halo: Reach's Assassination mechanic.

4. Thomas Tippl refers that Bungie have the institutional knowledge that resides at Blizzard Entertainment. Blizzard are, of course, famous for World of Warcraft, among other titles. World of Warcraft is considered the absolute definitve Massive-Multiplayer Online game.

5. Not entirely sure what the first section is implying. However, the second section, which states "large-scale online game", could be implying something along the lines of an MMO. Or possibly delivering 100-player matches - of which Battlefield Online has already achieved.

6. "Creating worlds with real value and consequence", is stating the players will be given choices - and will have consequences depending on your actions - throughout the game, something akin to the Fable series but in a strict Multiplayer environment. "Give players long-term goals to invest in the world and their character", this is implying of a Role-Playing Game esque investment feature, allowing players to upgrade their in-game characters. Also, the inclusion of "invest in the world" seems to imply something greater than simply upgrading your own character.

7. By Aerospace, this is implying that the project will focus around Aerial and Space combat. By the sentence "Per Audacia As Astra", meaning "To Boldly Reach the Stars".

Conclusion:

Bungie seems to be developing a project of which is heavily focused on delivering large-scale online gameplay. There is a clear focus on delivering a huge and expansive world, of which the player can influence, and whose choices can change the planet itself. Players can invest significantly in their characters, along the lines of a Role-Playing Game. Gameplay will include a distinct Close Quarters Combat mechanic, of which will feature prominently throughout the game.

(Originally posted on SPARTANxBLUE 1 Topic "The Future of Halo and Bungie".)

[Edited on 11.02.2010 12:42 PM PDT]

  • 10.10.2010 8:59 AM PDT
Subject: Bungie's Next Project - Evidence and Analysis

Don't forget the vidoc announcing the Activision deal where the elusive Jason Jones shows up and talks big the new project.

  • 10.10.2010 9:12 AM PDT

I'm gonna call it right now:

MMO (or at least massively multiplayer) game set in space in a new Sci-Fi universe.

  • 10.10.2010 9:39 AM PDT

Im a Brony, if you want to know more about mehttps://www.facebook.com/randy.norris.95 just ask.


Posted by: jfull117
I'm gonna call it right now:

MMO (or at least massively multiplayer) game set in space in a new Sci-Fi universe.


Lets hope man, lets hope.:D

  • 10.10.2010 9:42 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Fabled Mythic Member

“Strange,” mused the Director, as they turned away, “strange to think that even in Our Ford’s day most games were played without more apparatus than a ball or two and a few sticks and perhaps a bit of netting. imagine the folly of allowing people to play elaborate games which do nothing whatever to increase consumption.”

The Black Chapter!

Posted by: jfull117
MMO (or at least massively multiplayer)
que?

  • 10.10.2010 9:44 AM PDT

Posted by: TriggersDownisRI
Posted by: jfull117
I'm gonna call it right now:

MMO (or at least massively multiplayer) game set in space in a new Sci-Fi universe.


Lets hope man, lets hope.:D

I wonder if it will be first person?

definitely multi-console.

  • 10.10.2010 9:45 AM PDT

Per Audacia Ad Astra!

Everything about this new i.p seems to prove us that this could be an Sci-Fi MMO,this theory is more and more authentic, and i hope there will be a single player experience in this game...

And you forget this Player Investment Designer this job can explain a lots of things about the new i.p

  • 10.10.2010 9:56 AM PDT


Posted by: jfull117
I'm gonna call it right now:

MMO (or at least massively multiplayer) game set in space in a new Sci-Fi universe.

You could just imagine this huge living world - breathing with life. Exploring vast expanses of countryside, alongside your friends just sharing ideas and completing quests.

  • 10.10.2010 9:56 AM PDT


Posted by: CanineThewolvie
Everything about this new i.p seems to prove us that this could be an Sci-Fi MMO,this theory is more and more authentic, and i hope there will be a single player experience in this game...

And you forget this Player Investment Designer this job can explain a lots of things about the new i.p


Thanks for reminding me. I'm in the process of adding it right now.

  • 10.10.2010 9:57 AM PDT

Posted by: Physco Mandez
Posted by: jfull117
I'm gonna call it right now:

MMO (or at least massively multiplayer) game set in space in a new Sci-Fi universe.

You could just imagine this huge living world - breathing with life. Exploring vast expanses of countryside, alongside your friends just sharing ideas and completing quests.

I was thinking more about exploring the vast expanses of space.

  • 10.10.2010 12:18 PM PDT


Posted by: jfull117
Posted by: Physco Mandez
Posted by: jfull117
I'm gonna call it right now:

MMO (or at least massively multiplayer) game set in space in a new Sci-Fi universe.

You could just imagine this huge living world - breathing with life. Exploring vast expanses of countryside, alongside your friends just sharing ideas and completing quests.

I was thinking more about exploring the vast expanses of space.

If you look at a lot of the evidence, there seems to be more mention of worlds, rather than Space itself. Though, who is to say both cannot be included. It would be fantastic to explore Space, then go even deeper, and explore the planets which exist in the universe.

[Edited on 10.10.2010 12:25 PM PDT]

  • 10.10.2010 12:24 PM PDT

No signature found. Click here to change this.

this is great research, we can almost confirm an mmo, i had a hunch they'd been working on this since around odst and final release of halo 3 maps, i forget what it was specifically, something in the BWU very subtly hinted at a new game

i can only imagine the gravity of bungies universe creating powers applied to an MMO

  • 10.10.2010 12:29 PM PDT


Posted by: AvengerTam1010
this is great research, we can almost confirm an mmo, i had a hunch they'd been working on this since around odst and final release of halo 3 maps, i forget what it was specifically, something in the BWU very subtly hinted at a new game

i can only imagine the gravity of bungies universe creating powers applied to an MMO

Interesting. I'll be sure to investigate it.

  • 10.10.2010 12:39 PM PDT

"Bet you can't stick it"-Cortana
"GiggityGiggityGoo"-Quagmire

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! I can't -blam!- believe that Bungie is gonna be the next -blam!-s in MMO bull-blam!-. WOW is a sad excuse for game and is more like a virtual land of -blam!-. Where bungie goes with this is their decision, But there will be more disappointed fans than welcoming arms. They better be ready to take a large financial hit when their die hard fans are disgusted with them.
Dboi420 and IM PISSED.

  • 10.10.2010 12:40 PM PDT

Posted by: drummerboi420
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! I can't -blam!- believe that Bungie is gonna be the next -blam!-s in MMO bull-blam!-. WOW is a sad excuse for game and is more like a virtual land of -blam!-. Where bungie goes with this is their decision, But there will be more disappointed fans than welcoming arms. They better be ready to take a large financial hit when their die hard fans are disgusted with them.
Dboi420 and IM PISSED.

So you want something that is as close to Halo as possible without breaking copyright laws?

its time to move on.

[Edited on 10.10.2010 1:34 PM PDT]

  • 10.10.2010 1:33 PM PDT

01000001 01101100 01101100 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 01110010 00100000 01100010 01100001 01110011 01100101 00100000 01100001 01110010 01100101 00100000 01100010 01100101 01101100 01101111 01101110 01100111 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01110101 01110011

Great observations and all that, good work on the research and structuring too. But it doesn't "confirm" anything. Calm down people. While the OP makes some interesting and seemingly likely observations, we have no official word, and well let's be honest, the fans are almost never justified or accurate in their fears or theories.

Nothing is impossible, but don't jump to conclusions just yet.

  • 10.10.2010 1:40 PM PDT

Owners Of the Katana

Click the link, and join the greatest b.net community around

Bungiepedia talks about the MMO production that happened awhile back, even shows a screen of what it was " supposed " to look like. Idk if your info is true, or if i would even support a MMO game, however i am sure it would be great. Bungie will be looking to break out of the halo mold..

  • 10.10.2010 10:09 PM PDT

Addict of Halo. Back to the Future nut.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/zzthejimzz

http://favstar.fm/users/zzthejimzz

Awesome read. Can't wait to see what happens.

[Edited on 10.12.2010 2:36 PM PDT]

  • 10.12.2010 2:36 PM PDT

It'd be nice if it was an MMO that wasn't an MMO.

A question that troubles me: I love the Halo universe dearly.
Will Bungie be able to replicate the appeal, draw, etc without copyright infringement?

[Edited on 10.12.2010 2:43 PM PDT]

  • 10.12.2010 2:43 PM PDT

Per Audacia Ad Astra!


Posted by: Hysterical Joker
It'd be nice if it was an MMO that wasn't an MMO.

A question that troubles me: I love the Halo universe dearly.
Will Bungie be able to replicate the appeal, draw, etc without copyright infringement?


Bungie can't do that, because they doesn't own the rights of Halo, Microsoft wil not let them doing something like this... what they can perfectly make is create something new, with a different background and new elements of gameplay.

  • 10.13.2010 1:38 AM PDT

Nice, I can't wait to hear more.

  • 10.13.2010 2:12 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Exalted Heroic Member

you're naut cookin'

Posted by: Hysterical Joker
It'd be nice if it was an MMO that wasn't an MMO.

A question that troubles me: I love the Halo universe dearly.
Will Bungie be able to replicate the appeal, draw, etc without copyright infringement?


I believe that Bungie are going to be fully able to create another Universe that is thick with intrigue. Marathon before Halo was, some would say, even more jam packed with story and background.
Given that Bungie will be fleshing out the entire story themselves with no input from Activision/Blizzard (or previously, Microsoft), I think we can expect an excellent story.

  • 10.13.2010 2:39 AM PDT


Posted by: zzthejimzz
Awesome read. Can't wait to see what happens.

Thank you. Took a while, but well worth it.

  • 10.15.2010 2:01 PM PDT

Good post, lots of good evidence. I think it just proves that it is going to be an RTS.

  • 10.16.2010 9:08 AM PDT

Very, very nice thread that I hope stays updated. Kudos to OP.

  • 10.30.2010 11:48 AM PDT

  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • of 2