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Subject: Why would M$ let bungie free?

HALO 2 will rule 4ever. It is Halo and it is enougth. Thanks Bungie, our life will never be the same.

Once in a while I like to return to B.net and this is an interesting topic.

Why would MS let Bungie be independent again?

I dont know if someone can confirm me this but I think that Halo IP was owned by Bungie, because if I remember it correctly Halo Wars was being supervisored by Bungie, because it was the owner of the ip regardless the fact that both studios were part of MS at that time.

Also as far as I can remember Bungie was trying to do something more than Halo and they public admitted it even before the release of Halo 3, but MS as a company that seeks profit, wanted more Halo games, so they traded Halo IP (or the freedom to do as many Halo games as they wanted) for Bungie independence. Another think that Bungie said at the time but or they changed that deal or it wasnt true, MS would still a close company to Bungie.

  • 06.30.2011 6:48 AM PDT

Posted by: masterbarata
Once in a while I like to return to B.net and this is an interesting topic.

Why would MS let Bungie be independent again?

I dont know if someone can confirm me this but I think that Halo IP was owned by Bungie, because if I remember it correctly Halo Wars was being supervisored by Bungie, because it was the owner of the ip regardless the fact that both studios were part of MS at that time.

Also as far as I can remember Bungie was trying to do something more than Halo and they public admitted it even before the release of Halo 3, but MS as a company that seeks profit, wanted more Halo games, so they traded Halo IP (or the freedom to do as many Halo games as they wanted) for Bungie independence. Another think that Bungie said at the time but or they changed that deal or it wasnt true, MS would still a close company to Bungie.
Almost nothing you posted is true.

  • 06.30.2011 7:27 AM PDT

HALO 2 will rule 4ever. It is Halo and it is enougth. Thanks Bungie, our life will never be the same.


Posted by: Big Black Bear
Posted by: masterbarata
Once in a while I like to return to B.net and this is an interesting topic.

Why would MS let Bungie be independent again?

I dont know if someone can confirm me this but I think that Halo IP was owned by Bungie, because if I remember it correctly Halo Wars was being supervisored by Bungie, because it was the owner of the ip regardless the fact that both studios were part of MS at that time.

Also as far as I can remember Bungie was trying to do something more than Halo and they public admitted it even before the release of Halo 3, but MS as a company that seeks profit, wanted more Halo games, so they traded Halo IP (or the freedom to do as many Halo games as they wanted) for Bungie independence. Another think that Bungie said at the time but or they changed that deal or it wasnt true, MS would still a close company to Bungie.
Almost nothing you posted is true.


Sorry my memory must be tricking me! Can you enlighten me? The only thing where I made an assumption was if MS was able to release more Halos against Bungie will.

  • 06.30.2011 7:37 AM PDT

Posted by: masterbarata
Sorry my memory must be tricking me! Can you enlighten me? The only thing where I made an assumption was if MS was able to release more Halos against Bungie will.
Simple. When Microsoft bought Bungie, they bought Halo. From that point onward, Bungie no longer owned the rights. Any input they provided to the franchise was their own development, or oversight because they were the experts.

When they departed from Microsoft, I doubt there was ever any question at all what the fate of Halo would be, other than the particular details about the transition.

  • 06.30.2011 7:47 AM PDT

DMH-Always Loaded
My name is Tyler. Computers and Video games is what I love to do.

Their contract with Microsoft is up, besides, thats why Microsoft created 343i; to create more halo. At least if the new trilogy is bad Bungie won't be to blame.

  • 06.30.2011 7:50 AM PDT
Subject: Why would ms let bungie free?
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Posted by: Xplode441
They got Halo out of it.
Also, Bungie's contract with M$ was up.

MS has owned Halo since 2000. Bungie willingly sold themselves to MS. Bungie was allowed to go independent probably to avoid what happened to Infinity Ward. What use is it in owning the company when all the talent is gone?

  • 06.30.2011 7:52 AM PDT
Subject: Why would M$ let bungie free?

HALO 2 will rule 4ever. It is Halo and it is enougth. Thanks Bungie, our life will never be the same.


Posted by: Big Black Bear
Posted by: masterbarata
Sorry my memory must be tricking me! Can you enlighten me? The only thing where I made an assumption was if MS was able to release more Halos against Bungie will.
Simple. When Microsoft bought Bungie, they bought Halo. From that point onward, Bungie no longer owned the rights. Any input they provided to the franchise was their own development, or oversight because they were the experts.

When they departed from Microsoft, I doubt there was ever any question at all what the fate of Halo would be, other than the particular details about the transition.


Probably I didnt explain myself correctly! After the departing they hah and they have anything to do with Halo besides Halo reach that was in development, my point was the power they had over the Franchise before they got independent.

and yes nightspark it could be done to avoid IW fate and a sign of respect from MS to Bungie!

[Edited on 06.30.2011 7:57 AM PDT]

  • 06.30.2011 7:56 AM PDT
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Posted by: Jujubes

Posted by: Alex the Awesome
Halo has (nearly) always been owned by Microsoft, Bungie was just a tool.

Just the day Microsoft bought Bungie, was the day Microsoft OWNED Halo. I think Microsoft got a damn good deal out of using Bungie. But Bungie also got in the limelight because of Halo, and will move on the GREATER stuff.
Bungie is not a tool. Anyone who says so is a tool!

/angry face

OT: Whatever the arrangement, Bungie stayed Bungie and is now out on their own doing cool stuff.

MS owned Halo. They used Bungie to make Halo games. Bungie was MS's tool to make Halo games.

  • 06.30.2011 8:01 AM PDT

The bible is the best book Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AM A PROUD CHRISTIAN. HALO IS AWESOME BUT GOD IS MUCH BETTER!!!!!!!!
Did you knew that JESUSdied for you?

If was Ms bungie would be dong halo 4 right now. Or at least their next game would be an xbox exclusive.

  • 06.30.2011 8:17 AM PDT

READ IT.

I won the Star. With this on Week 18.


Posted by: Jujubes

Posted by: Alex the Awesome
Halo has (nearly) always been owned by Microsoft, Bungie was just a tool.

Just the day Microsoft bought Bungie, was the day Microsoft OWNED Halo. I think Microsoft got a damn good deal out of using Bungie. But Bungie also got in the limelight because of Halo, and will move on the GREATER stuff.
Bungie is not a tool. Anyone who says so is a tool!

/angry face

OT: Whatever the arrangement, Bungie stayed Bungie and is now out on their own doing cool stuff.

/facepalm

I said they were used like a tool when making Halo... considering Halo 2's released was up to Microsoft, and not Bungie.

  • 06.30.2011 8:30 AM PDT

When he was younger, he was the one who always had the jokes and riddles that would keep the spirits of the Spartans high. Over the years however, his lifetime of combat had hardened him, as it had all of the Spartans. Within Will, John thought, something special had been lost.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There seems to be some dissent here. I was under the impression that the "union" of M$ and Bungie (aka being bought by M$) resulted was what put them into the sorry position. They owned Halo up to the point where they merged with M$. Leaving the M$ household came with the stipulation that their, "baby" as they've affectionately described it, couldn't go with them.

Posted by: Tartan 118
I'M SO COOL AND SICK I'MA SPELL MICROSOFT WITH A DOLLAR SIGN BECAUSE IT'S A CAPITALIST CORPORATION AND THEREFORE REQUIRES MONEY TO SUCCESSFULLY RUN AS A BUSINESS VENTURE AND IS THEREFORE -blam!-.

And you...
M$ is a business, nothing more. Don't know where your fanboyism comes from, but they can do nothing good for this series but beat it into the ground. They are a corporate machine without a creative vision or respect for said works. (there is a vidoc about this linky) They don't care about Halo or doing it right they just want to make as much money as possible. Hence, the "M$" reference, and need we go into their business practice in the market place. Hmm, let's sell like four different version of our operating system or let's sell three different versions of sub-par gaming hardware, and charge up the but for storage. They make the version that should be their standard at which all versions up from there should be better than. Except that that standard is the "premium" choice, and it ranges from that downward to crap. For them it's not about delivering the best product it's about making the most money. It shows in just about everything they do.

Seriously watch that vidoc please. I may be a Bungie fanboy, but it's not for no reason. They have earned some serious respect from me over the last several years of my life. It's not right to see the Halo universe used like this.

  • 06.30.2011 9:04 AM PDT

Posted by: Will 043
M$ is a business, nothing more. Don't know where your fanboyism comes from, but they can do nothing good for this series but beat it into the ground. They are a corporate machine without a creative vision or respect for said works. (there is a vidoc about this linky) They don't care about Halo or doing it right they just want to make as much money as possible. Hence, the "M$" reference, and need we go into their business practice in the market place. Hmm, let's sell like four different version of our operating system or let's sell three different versions of sub-par gaming hardware, and charge up the but for storage. They make the version that should be their standard at which all versions up from there should be better than. Except that that standard is the "premium" choice, and it ranges from that downward to crap. For them it's not about delivering the best product it's about making the most money. It shows in just about everything they do.

Seriously watch that vidoc please. I may be a Bungie fanboy, but it's not for no reason. They have earned some serious respect from me over the last several years of my life. It's not right to see the Halo universe used like this.
And what is Bungie? A charity organization?

What makes them any more suited to do well by the Halo franchise than Microsoft?

  • 06.30.2011 9:23 AM PDT
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Gray socks are best socks. White is second, black third. Every other sock color is simply horrible.

If my memory serves correctly, Bungie had a 10-year deal with M$, when they were bought. M$ got all things Halo, and Bungie got large funds to make the game.

I'm probably completely wrong though.

  • 06.30.2011 9:40 AM PDT
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Join Social Infection For all things Zombies!

Bungie bought themselves (gave Microsoft money) for their freedom.

Microsoft probably thought that if they didn't let Bungie go, all the staff would quit and form a new studio. Microsoft owned the Halo IP they day they bought Bungie.

[Edited on 06.30.2011 9:49 AM PDT]

  • 06.30.2011 9:45 AM PDT
Subject: Why would ms let bungie free?

No signature found. Click here to change this.

You're making it sound like Microsoft gave Bungie to Activision. They didn't.

  • 06.30.2011 10:17 AM PDT
Subject: Why would M$ let bungie free?
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The lion does not concern itself with the opinions of the sheep.

Bungie doesn't make kinect games.

I don't see why MS would be interested in them.

  • 06.30.2011 10:18 AM PDT

Dating Age

For those looking to vent, get proper advice, or give it to those in need.

I wonder this myself. It would be like Sony giving up Naughty Dog or Polyphony to go make Xbox 360 games or Konami letting Kojima Productions go to make Capcom games. It makes even less sense considering how abysmal Microsoft's stable of in-house developers is.

The only thing I could guess is that Bungie had some option to buy themselves back followed by a few years of having to continue to work on Microsoft exclusive games.

Maybe they're going to have to work on future Xbox exclusives next generation. I don't know. No other publisher has ever let their star developer go independent.

  • 06.30.2011 10:44 AM PDT

The bible is the best book Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AM A PROUD CHRISTIAN. HALO IS AWESOME BUT GOD IS MUCH BETTER!!!!!!!!
Did you knew that JESUSdied for you?

Exactly, that seems to be our best guess so far :/
Posted by: Vgnut117
I wonder this myself. It would be like Sony giving up Naughty Dog or Polyphony to go make Xbox 360 games or Konami letting Kojima Productions go to make Capcom games. It makes even less sense considering how abysmal Microsoft's stable of in-house developers is.

The only thing I could guess is that Bungie had some option to buy themselves back followed by a few years of having to continue to work on Microsoft exclusive games.

Maybe they're going to have to work on future Xbox exclusives next generation. I don't know. No other publisher has ever let their star developer go independent.

  • 06.30.2011 11:23 AM PDT

When he was younger, he was the one who always had the jokes and riddles that would keep the spirits of the Spartans high. Over the years however, his lifetime of combat had hardened him, as it had all of the Spartans. Within Will, John thought, something special had been lost.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by: Big Black Bear
Posted by: Will 043
M$ is a business, nothing more. Don't know where your fanboyism comes from, but they can do nothing good for this series but beat it into the ground. They are a corporate machine without a creative vision or respect for said works. (there is a vidoc about this linky) They don't care about Halo or doing it right they just want to make as much money as possible. Hence, the "M$" reference, and need we go into their business practice in the market place. Hmm, let's sell like four different version of our operating system or let's sell three different versions of sub-par gaming hardware, and charge up the but for storage. They make the version that should be their standard at which all versions up from there should be better than. Except that that standard is the "premium" choice, and it ranges from that downward to crap. For them it's not about delivering the best product it's about making the most money. It shows in just about everything they do.

Seriously watch that vidoc please. I may be a Bungie fanboy, but it's not for no reason. They have earned some serious respect from me over the last several years of my life. It's not right to see the Halo universe used like this.
And what is Bungie? A charity organization?

What makes them any more suited to do well by the Halo franchise than Microsoft?


What are you even getting at? They donate to charity, yay.. that's never been something that's made the conscious list, honestly. I'm talking about a studio actually giving a damn about their franchise, and wanting it to be the absolute best that it can be. The simple fact of milking it to death is contrary to that. M$ in house development doesn't have the creative vision to do great things like this or to come up with something original or groundbreaking. Maybe I'm passing judgment early on 343, but everything I've seen so far makes me cringe. It's the same thing with the kind of music I like. If I'm really into a group it's because they don't settle into the genre and get comfortable. They take risks, they have ambition to break molds and introduce new things. The level of quality and sheer polish that goes into the things they make, the depth and level of detail. They push themselves as far as they can go, and then turn around and do it better next time.
Good enough is never good enough. That's what I like best about them. They don't settle for mediocrity, they set trends.

  • 07.01.2011 1:31 AM PDT

READ IT.

I won the Star. With this on Week 18.


Posted by: Dunver
Bungie bought themselves (gave Microsoft money) for their freedom.

Microsoft probably thought that if they didn't let Bungie go, all the staff would quit and form a new studio. Microsoft owned the Halo IP they day they bought Bungie.

No, the ownership contract was 10 years...

Halo was bought at the same time as Bungie. But Halo was permanently apart of Microsoft's trademark registration.

  • 07.01.2011 1:56 AM PDT

READ IT.

I won the Star. With this on Week 18.


Posted by: Vgnut117
I wonder this myself. It would be like Sony giving up Naughty Dog or Polyphony to go make Xbox 360 games or Konami letting Kojima Productions go to make Capcom games. It makes even less sense considering how abysmal Microsoft's stable of in-house developers is.

The only thing I could guess is that Bungie had some option to buy themselves back followed by a few years of having to continue to work on Microsoft exclusive games.

Maybe they're going to have to work on future Xbox exclusives next generation. I don't know. No other publisher has ever let their star developer go independent.

1999-2009 owned by Microsoft.

They had already started on Halo 3 ODST and Halo Reach before they 10 years of ownership were up.

  • 07.01.2011 1:58 AM PDT

When he was younger, he was the one who always had the jokes and riddles that would keep the spirits of the Spartans high. Over the years however, his lifetime of combat had hardened him, as it had all of the Spartans. Within Will, John thought, something special had been lost.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just wanted to get the dates right, and I came across this..

Under the deal, Microsoft will publish and distribute Halo, one of the most anticipated titles of this year for the PC, while Take Two will acquire all rights to Bungie's Myth franchise, the upcoming action game Oni and its license, and the right to use the Halo engine in two future games.

I had no idea they got a hold of the rights to Myth and Oni too. Kinda makes me sad. I hate big business I've decided.

  • 07.01.2011 9:59 AM PDT

ISU Cyclones!

I was under the impression that while Microsoft had a lot of rights with Halo that Bungie still owned at least some of the IP before separating and that they gave what part they owned to go free from Microsoft along with buying themselves out.

I think Microsoft let em' go because honestly to the general public the Halo name is what's recognized the most, not Bungie.

They figured that they could do a good enough job making Halo games to keep the money coming in and Bungie are confident that they can continue being profitable without the Halo name.

Plus neither side wanted some kind of long drawn out issue that got anywhere near court.

  • 07.01.2011 10:11 AM PDT


Posted by: Alex the Awesome

Posted by: Vgnut117
I wonder this myself. It would be like Sony giving up Naughty Dog or Polyphony to go make Xbox 360 games or Konami letting Kojima Productions go to make Capcom games. It makes even less sense considering how abysmal Microsoft's stable of in-house developers is.

The only thing I could guess is that Bungie had some option to buy themselves back followed by a few years of having to continue to work on Microsoft exclusive games.

Maybe they're going to have to work on future Xbox exclusives next generation. I don't know. No other publisher has ever let their star developer go independent.

1999-2009 owned by Microsoft.

They had already started on Halo 3 ODST and Halo Reach before they 10 years of ownership were up.


There was no 'ownership contract'. In any event Bungie bought themselves back from MS in 2007, like a week after Halo 3 came out, not in 2009. Read Big Black Bear's post on the front page, he covered it pretty well.

[Edited on 07.01.2011 10:28 AM PDT]

  • 07.01.2011 10:25 AM PDT

Posted by: Great_Pretender
Case and point: don't worry about it. Girls start getting boobies pretty soon, and then you'll have plenty of other things to think about. Being an Inheritor is not a life goal.
-TGP-

Posted by: Big Black Bear
Posted by: Xplode441
Also, Bungie's contract with M$ was up.
I really wish people would stop pretending they know what they are talking about when they clearly do not. It does nothing but confuse others and de-rail topics.

Bungie did not have a contract with Microsoft. They were owned by Microsoft.

On-topic: What did Microsoft get out of it? Money. Bungie bought themselves back from Microsoft.

Keep Halo. Get paid. Seems like a bit of a win-win situation, especially at a time when creative differences between Bungie and Microsoft were starting to escalate.

I really wish people would read the entire pages posts before making assumptions.Posted by: Big Black Bear
Almost nothing you posted is true.
Calm down bro.
On a on-topic note.
You're practically right, they got money from Bungie for their freedom and Halo, yes, they had Halo to begin with, but now they have free reign to do whatever they want with it.
Posted by: Vgnut117
I wonder this myself. It would be like Sony giving up Naughty Dog or Polyphony to go make Xbox 360 games or Konami letting Kojima Productions go to make Capcom games. It makes even less sense considering how abysmal Microsoft's stable of in-house developers is.

The only thing I could guess is that Bungie had some option to buy themselves back followed by a few years of having to continue to work on Microsoft exclusive games.

Maybe they're going to have to work on future Xbox exclusives next generation. I don't know. No other publisher has ever let their star developer go independent.

I like this idea.

[Edited on 07.01.2011 10:32 AM PDT]

  • 07.01.2011 10:29 AM PDT

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