Bungie.net Community
This topic has moved here: Subject: What is your favorite Bungie allusion?
  • Subject: What is your favorite Bungie allusion?
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • of 2
Subject: What is your favorite Bungie allusion?

This is the way the world ends,
This is the way the world ends,
This is the way the world ends;
Not with a bang but a whimper.

No, not illusion. All of their games are illusions. Allusion. As in reference to some other literary work, historical event, place, myth, etc. For example, Bungie's vidoc "O Brave New World" is an allusion to either The Tempest (Shakespeare) and Brave New World (Huxley), but given their track record, I'm guessing it was to the former. Some of Bungie's allusions are even to past games.

Most of you have probably noticed by now that there is seldom a Bungie update, mail sack, ect. without some sort of an allusion, so my question that I pass unto you is "Which is your favorite?" As for me, I liked the reference to Henry V by Shakespeare (well, it could also be a Star Trek reference, but I doubt it). You know, the vidoc titled "Once More Unto the Breach."

List of known allusions:
O Brave New World The Tempest* Act V Scene I by William ShakespeareO, wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't!

Once More Unto the Breach Henry V Act 3 Scene I by William ShakespeareOnce more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.

Urk King Lear Act I Scene V by William Shakespeare (defnop552)The reason why the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason
Mail Sack Julius Caesar Act II Scene I by William ShakespeareBut I am constant as the Northern Star,
Of whose true fixed and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.

Mail Sack Total RecallI have this recurring dream about journeying to Mars in which I become the hero of a colonial community of mutants by defying an oppressive regime and activating an ancient alien relic that ends up producing a breathable atmosphere.
Halo 2: High Charity Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Lobster Fish 2)Once More, with Feeling

List of possible allusions:
Bungie's IP Medieval History (SPAR7ANB71 and cortana 5)My name is Cortana, of the same steel and temper as Joyeuse and Durendal.
Halo 3:ODST Divine Comedy by Dante (Danves and IRISH 249)No short reference available.

Notice: If you link to the allusion, I will post it in the OP and credit you.

*This could also be an allusion to Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

[Edited on 08.12.2012 12:37 PM PDT]

  • 08.10.2012 2:21 PM PDT

"No, Hoobla. No."
~DeeJ

Not sure if this counts, but I LOVE their formal Declaration of Independence! It looks so Colonial!

  • 08.10.2012 2:24 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Well, here we are. I guess that it was destined to come to this.

Call me lowbrow but I get as much of a kick out of allusions to the classics as I do when they make current pop-culture or even older pop-culture references.

So for me, even a dated and lame Ren & Stimpy allusion is fun to spot.

  • 08.10.2012 2:25 PM PDT

Check out my Soundcloud account to hear some of my music.
Here's my twitter, in the off-chance you want that too.

Community Joe Interview: defnop552
Bye.

"The reason why the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason."
-King Lear

  • 08.10.2012 2:27 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Positive vibes.

Wow. I never realized how unoriginal they were until now...

Only joking.

In all seriousness, I don't really know. Truth be told, my literary knowledge only stretches so far. That you even detected these similarities amazes me. :)

  • 08.10.2012 2:28 PM PDT

This is the way the world ends,
This is the way the world ends,
This is the way the world ends;
Not with a bang but a whimper.

Posted by: Recon Number 54
Call me lowbrow but I get as much of a kick out of allusions to the classics as I do when they make current pop-culture or even older pop-culture references.
You're low-brow. There, I said it. Nah, just kidding. Those types of allusions make me laugh the hardest.

@rascal cat: Sorry to damage your faith in Bungie's originality.

[Edited on 08.10.2012 2:36 PM PDT]

  • 08.10.2012 2:35 PM PDT

Old School Gamer and Proud Member of the Seventh Column

I remember a thread created when ODST came out describing the game as a play through of (I think) Milton's Paradise Lost. I wish I could find that thread. It was fascinating.

  • 08.10.2012 3:05 PM PDT

I'll have the roast duck . . . with the mango salsa.

My favorite was the Howard Dean Scream they put in Halo 2. You only had a small chance of ever hearing it when a marine died. Not exactly an allusion but damn funny.

  • 08.10.2012 3:12 PM PDT

I dont really know if I have a favorite one.

  • 08.10.2012 3:15 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Positive vibes.

No need to apologize, my friend. I was merely joking. The allusions that you pointed out are actually quite fascinating. Perhaps you could develop a list of all of them?

Posted by: xXIHAYD0IXx
Posted by: Recon Number 54
Call me lowbrow but I get as much of a kick out of allusions to the classics as I do when they make current pop-culture or even older pop-culture references.
You're low-brow. There, I said it. Nah, just kidding. Those types of allusions make me laugh the hardest.

@rascal cat: Sorry to damage your faith in Bungie's originality.

  • 08.10.2012 3:27 PM PDT

“Oh, it’s a little bit of everything, it’s the mountains, it’s the fog, it’s the news at six o’clock, it’s the death of my first dog, it’s the angels up above me, it’s the song that they don’t sing, It’s a little bit of everything.”
- Dawes, A little bit of everything

Good artists copy, great artists...create a multi-billion dollar video game franchise.

There seem to be quite a few Shakespeare allusions, many that I have probably missed, but the few I've caught have made me grin.

[Edited on 08.10.2012 3:33 PM PDT]

  • 08.10.2012 3:31 PM PDT

This is the way the world ends,
This is the way the world ends,
This is the way the world ends;
Not with a bang but a whimper.

Posted by: a rascal cat
No need to apologize, my friend. I was merely joking. The allusions that you pointed out are actually quite fascinating. Perhaps you could develop a list of all of them?
Finding all of them could take some work, but I'll put up the ones I know off the top of my head and add to the list as people post.

  • 08.10.2012 4:21 PM PDT
  •  | 
  • Fabled Legendary Member

I understand nothing because my life is a conspiracy.

Jason Jones in the boxers.

  • 08.10.2012 4:34 PM PDT

The reference to Buffy with "Once More, With Feeling" is one my mind pointed to.

-Here's a link to the part of the Halo 2 Mission (High Charity).
-Episode 7, Season 6 of Buffy.


[Edited on 08.10.2012 4:54 PM PDT]

  • 08.10.2012 4:42 PM PDT

This is the way the world ends,
This is the way the world ends,
This is the way the world ends;
Not with a bang but a whimper.

Posted by: a rascal cat
No need to apologize, my friend. I was merely joking. The allusions that you pointed out are actually quite fascinating. Perhaps you could develop a list of all of them?
A short list is up (only four) but I'll add more as I think of them and as people post them.

  • 08.10.2012 4:50 PM PDT

Old School Gamer and Proud Member of the Seventh Column

I was mistaken. Here is a thread discussing ODST and it's similarities to Damte's Inferno.

It's a good read.

  • 08.10.2012 5:02 PM PDT

We are soffish, Soffish are we. We look like real fishies when we're thrown into the sea.

I don't have a favorite, I like them all equally.

  • 08.10.2012 5:28 PM PDT

Old School Gamer and Proud Member of the Seventh Column

Here is a much better thread on Dante's Divine Comedy and ODST
Posted by: IRISH 249
I was mistaken. Here is a thread discussing ODST and it's similarities to Damte's Divine Comedy.

It's a good read.


[Edited on 08.11.2012 8:38 AM PDT]

  • 08.10.2012 7:38 PM PDT

"No, Hoobla. No."
~DeeJ


Posted by: Recon Number 54
Call me lowbrow .

Lowbrow!

  • 08.10.2012 7:39 PM PDT

Known by some, but not by all.
Soffish: Do not eat!
TWP Assistant Director.

Well they say that there is nothing new under the sun. In some way or fashion when publishing something, you will allude to something, classic or not.

~Delta

  • 08.10.2012 7:43 PM PDT
  •  | 
  • Fabled Legendary Member

I understand nothing because my life is a conspiracy.

"From then to now, Bungie's long and winding road."

  • 08.12.2012 10:54 AM PDT

There's so many I don't think it's going to be possible to list all of them. It's too overwhelming for me to pick a favorite. And assuming it's true, I think the whole Joyeuse, Durandal, Cortana theory counts as an allusion.

  • 08.12.2012 12:20 PM PDT

This is the way the world ends,
This is the way the world ends,
This is the way the world ends;
Not with a bang but a whimper.

I listed that one as a possible allusion because it has yet to be confirmed.

And lime, if you can link to who made the original post, I'll add that to the OP.

EDIT-I added yours too, Lobster Fish. Sorry for the delay.

[Edited on 08.12.2012 12:37 PM PDT]

  • 08.12.2012 12:28 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

I dream of gold text.

  • 08.12.2012 6:07 PM PDT

Posted by: AngryBrute1
Oh yeah, since somebody does not believe what YOU believe; that makes us vapid...
I cannot grasp that what you call "Something happened to nothing, and that nothing became something, and it was smaller than than a period."

I love their Shakespeare allusions.

  • 08.12.2012 7:19 PM PDT

  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • of 2