Bungie's Confirmation of MMO Was a Joke

[Tom Goldman]

Bungie's Confirmation of MMO Was a Joke

A report that said Bungie had confirmed it was working on an MMO was apparently the misinterpretation of a joke.

While it was thought that Bungie had confirmed [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108231-Bungie-Officially-Working-on-Massively-Multiplayer-Action-Game] its current project as an action-based MMO, this confirmation has now been unconfirmed. Bungie says its recent comments at GDC 2011 were only a joke.

In a GDC panel, Bungie lead network engineer David Aldridge made mention of a "massively good online game" and reportedly said it wouldn't be "World of Warcraft [http://www.amazon.com/World-Warcraft-Battle-Chest-Mac/dp/B000H96C9M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1299430638&sr=8-2] in space." This was interpreted as a confirmation of a future Bungie MMO.

On Bungie.net, Bungie says that Aldridge was playing off of rumors [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/104158-Bungie-Teases-a-Game-That-Never-Ends] and didn't actually confirm anything. A post on the site reads: "In rehearsal Aldridge was convinced that everybody got the joke. It was all in the delivery, he assured us, and he was certain it was clear that he was playfully riffing off of the recent rumors."

This could be a double misdirection, or Bungie might just not be working on an MMO. You'd think if Bungie actually was, it would make sure that everybody knew to keep it under wraps, even joke-wise, until the official unveil. We'll find out the truth, eventually.

Source: Bungie.net [http://www.bungie.net/news/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=30859]

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[Harbinger_]

There seem to be quite a few game companies doing the whole "This was a joke, honest guys!" thing lately.

 

[civatrix]

This is why I never believe anything unless it is also accompanied by a press release posted on the companies website.

 

[Irridium]

How about we just let halo die? Halo 1>2>3>odst>reach That's not in release date order, that in progression of how each one was worse than the last, albeit 1>2 could be debatable..

Notice a recurring theme here?!

What does Halo have to do with this article or news story?

Anyway, I doubt they're working on an actual MMO. My bet is that they're building a massive mythos, and will end up using all that background and lore as points for games. Although one of those games could potentially be an MMO.

 

[Geo Da Sponge]

How about we just let halo die? Halo 1>2>3>odst>reach That's not in release date order, that in progression of how each one was worse than the last, albeit 1>2 could be debatable..

Notice a recurring theme here?!

Yeah, Bungie should totally stop working on Halo. They should give up the rights to the IP and sign up with a completely different publisher who will have them work on something else altogether.

Oh wait, they did.

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

I met indefinitely - like EVERYONE, if we just all ignore it, it might stop..

You're operating under the assumption that most people really want it to stop.

Anyway, I doubt they're working on an actual MMO.

I don't. Well, I do, but I don't think they're not.

After all, a bunch of rumours about their possible MMO were circulating long before this.

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

I thought everyone was generally a bit sick of the series..?

More than 3 million copies of Reach were sold in the first month.

Most definitely not everyone is sick of it, then.

 

[Irridium]

Maybe I'm wrong in saying a while ago there was an article that it would be an MMO based in the Halo universe?

That was a project being developed by Ensamble studios, the guys who made Halo Wars. It was scrapped many years ago.

 

[HobbesMkii]

Exhibit A: Why game developers should not be stand-up comedians.

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

you had no more of an advantage than anyone else

Until one of you got the power weapon.

Then all balance immediately flies out the window.

 

[darthricardo]

Okay, honestly: What is with the recent trend of everyone and their dog making an MMO? This is getting kind of ridiculous. And yes, I did read the article, so I know that Bungie probably isn`t, but it`s still telling that everyone honestly thought that a Halo (or vaguely Halo-inspired) game was feasible. Really, with WoW still dominating the scene, why do these companies try? To me, it looks like there`s a lot more potential in the single-player market. OR even better: Local multiplayer. That`s something we haven`t seen much of in the last little while.

 

[Don Reba]

As always, the truth is somewhere in the middle. My bet is that Bungie is making an MMO, but it actually IS "World of Warcraft in space".

 

[Makon]

I met indefinitely - like EVERYONE, if we just all ignore it, it might stop..

You're operating under the assumption that most people really want it to stop.

I thought everyone was generally a bit sick of the series..?

Yeah...the whole fact that Halo Reach was the third best-selling 360 game of last year (behind Madden and BLops), made $350 Million in sixteen days after launch, and has sold AT LEAST over 3.3 Million copies...yeah, people want it to go away.

 

[manythings]

There seem to be quite a few game companies doing the whole "This was a joke, honest guys!" thing lately.

Mostly because it's retarded. I want companies to try the "Good writers" route.