Microsoft Jealous of Call of Duty Release Schedule

[Prof. Monkeypox]

Game developers can pour their heart and soul into a project, and have all the best intentions for the story, setting, characters, game play, etc.

But it's all for naught if ham-fisted publishers extrapolate exactly the wrong message out of success. People didn't buy Halo in huge numbers because they'll buy anything with the Halo brand on it (though, there is a subsection that will), they bought it (probably) because they were long running fans of the series and wanted to see how it all ended.

Now, I guess, we'll suffer through a thousand same-y shooters every year (to go along with all the other same-y shooters released every year), until the series goes the way of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Seriously. Is money the only thing these people can understand?
This is a bad long-term investment strategy. If you really insist on keeping the franchise around, the worst thing to do is to cheapen the IP. This announcement only serves to remind us how much care and attention the corporate suits really give to their titles.

 

[Last Valiance]

They should definitely wait for the next gen of consoles for another Halo game. In the mean time, let 343 either make some sort of DLCs for Halo: Reach (preferably some more campaign missions), and gain for themselves the kind of affection that bungie has form it's fans with it's good games and quirky little jokes, then when the next gen of consoles comes out, have Halo there as microsoft's biggest launch title.

Dear god leave it for now, or at least just do expansions.

 

[SelectivelyEvil13]

They should definitely wait for the next gen of consoles for another Halo game. In the mean time, let 343 either make some sort of DLCs for Halo: Reach (preferably some more campaign missions), and gain for themselves the kind of affection that bungie has form it's fans with it's good games and quirky little jokes, then when the next gen of consoles comes out, have Halo there as microsoft's biggest launch title.

Dear god leave it for now, or at least just do expansions.

That is quite a fair deal, I think. If we cannot bury Halo with dignity after the Bungie era, then the focus should be on expanding upon Halo's apex. Along with the natural multiplayer additions, I think that you're onto something with providing more single player content for the game. I only fear that it could evolve into Microsoft using extra content as an ODST type of situation that would allow an easier "Call of Duty" approach to releasing games.

Considering the entire campaign is (apparently) short, I would love to see expansions for Reach in single player because so far it is a blast.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

It is balanced but a certain game that follows the "One installment every year" model hasn't had an incredible track record on that front with their last installment.

Ah I see. A game of the Modern Warfare variety I assume.

 

[Forgetitnow344]

Did anyone watch the Halo 2 video diaries that came in the special edition? The biggest part I remember was when Bungie kept talking about deadlines and how there was so much more that they wanted to do if they could just have a few more months.

Of the three games I have reserved this year (Rock Band, Fallout, and Assassin's Creed), I would not mind if they pushed back all the release dates by six months for the sake of making the game that much better. FUCK restricting deadlines. I want a good game, not a fast game.

 

[Irridium]

As I said in the other thread, this is why I consider the Halo series done now that Bungie's moved on.

 

[GeneticallyModifiedDucks]

They can do whatever they want to Halo IF it's a quality product, and just as Onyx Oblivion said, the key is having multiple studios working on it, so that it doesn't turn as a rushed piece of crap. I'm still waiting for Microsoft to do it's Halo ports to the PC...

Don't hold your breath for that. Ever since the 360 launched, Microsoft has had this inexplicable grudge against its own platform. It's quite perplexing.

 

[-Samurai-]

...Its because, CoD is a magnet for lil kids, stoners, and people who like to throw money around...and they will keep doing it to link the execs. pockets

Right. And Halo only attracts the mature, model citizens of society. The crème de la crème of humanity.

OT: Activision doesn't have just one studio producing the COD series every year. They have 2 studios making each title for a few years. Each CoD title is worked on for a few years, just like Halo.

 

[108Stitches]

Game developers can pour their heart and soul into a project, and have all the best intentions for the story, setting, characters, game play, etc.

But it's all for naught if ham-fisted publishers extrapolate exactly the wrong message out of success. People didn't buy Halo in huge numbers because they'll buy anything with the Halo brand on it (though, there is a subsection that will), they bought it (probably) because they were long running fans of the series and wanted to see how it all ended.

Now, I guess, we'll suffer through a thousand same-y shooters every year (to go along with all the other same-y shooters released every year), until the series goes the way of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Seriously. Is money the only thing these people can understand?
This is a bad long-term investment strategy. If you really insist on keeping the franchise around, the worst thing to do is to cheapen the IP. This announcement only serves to remind us how much care and attention the corporate suits really give to their titles.

These statements always crack me up. What should a BUSINESS be concerned with? The impact a game has on society? Health care reform? The plight of the african swallow? THEY ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING MONEY! Get over it.

Did anyone watch the Halo 2 video diaries that came in the special edition? The biggest part I remember was when Bungie kept talking about deadlines and how there was so much more that they wanted to do if they could just have a few more months.

Of the three games I have reserved this year (Rock Band, Fallout, and Assassin's Creed), I would not mind if they pushed back all the release dates by six months for the sake of making the game that much better. FUCK restricting deadlines. I want a good game, not a fast game.

Rockband 3 has been in development for quite some time. It has been two years since the release of RB2. Here's the problem with your "delay by six months" thought process. That puts the release window right in the middle of spring, when people start going outside and enjoying things other than video games. I know for fact the number of RB parties we have goes to ZERO when we can take the boat out. Sorry...they're releasing around the holidays because that's when they can MAKE MONEY!

Do you think all of these development houses have herds of slave labor developers that don't need to be paid for their work?

I know everyone would love to think it's about art and what-not, but honestly, if you can sell your idea (and it's a good one) and people buy it, you start to have a bit more power and sway over when you're product will launch (Bungie). But often times the publishers start to get a bit antsy that you're going to lose your key audience (MS / Halo / 14 yr olds turning 24 and moving on to CoD).

 

[Raptorace18]

This is my biggest reason why games should not be released according to some publisher's arbitrary schedule without taking time to edit the game; COOOOOOOOOMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANDOOOOOOOOO!

 

[Gindil]

Is it a good thing that Bungie isn't in-charge of Halo?

Yes. Imagine the backlash that's going to come when Microsoft decides to be more like Activision...

 

[Prof. Monkeypox]

Game developers can pour their heart and soul into a project, and have all the best intentions for the story, setting, characters, game play, etc.

But it's all for naught if ham-fisted publishers extrapolate exactly the wrong message out of success. People didn't buy Halo in huge numbers because they'll buy anything with the Halo brand on it (though, there is a subsection that will), they bought it (probably) because they were long running fans of the series and wanted to see how it all ended.

Now, I guess, we'll suffer through a thousand same-y shooters every year (to go along with all the other same-y shooters released every year), until the series goes the way of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Seriously. Is money the only thing these people can understand?
This is a bad long-term investment strategy. If you really insist on keeping the franchise around, the worst thing to do is to cheapen the IP. This announcement only serves to remind us how much care and attention the corporate suits really give to their titles.

These statements always crack me up. What should a BUSINESS be concerned with? The impact a game has on society? Health care reform? The plight of the african swallow? THEY ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING MONEY! Get over it.

Did anyone watch the Halo 2 video diaries that came in the special edition? The biggest part I remember was when Bungie kept talking about deadlines and how there was so much more that they wanted to do if they could just have a few more months.

Of the three games I have reserved this year (Rock Band, Fallout, and Assassin's Creed), I would not mind if they pushed back all the release dates by six months for the sake of making the game that much better. FUCK restricting deadlines. I want a good game, not a fast game.

Rockband 3 has been in development for quite some time. It has been two years since the release of RB2. Here's the problem with your "delay by six months" thought process. That puts the release window right in the middle of spring, when people start going outside and enjoying things other than video games. I know for fact the number of RB parties we have goes to ZERO when we can take the boat out. Sorry...they're releasing around the holidays because that's when they can MAKE MONEY!

Do you think all of these development houses have herds of slave labor developers that don't need to be paid for their work?

I know everyone would love to think it's about art and what-not, but honestly, if you can sell your idea (and it's a good one) and people buy it, you start to have a bit more power and sway over when you're product will launch (Bungie). But often times the publishers start to get a bit antsy that you're going to lose your key audience (MS / Halo / 14 yr olds turning 24 and moving on to CoD).

Well excuse me for being idealistic, and hoping someone will give a shit about their IP.

 

[Kyogissun]

As long as different studios handle each game and each one is DIFFERENT, rather than being reskins of the previous title (A la what treyarch did with Mw1 to WaW) then I'll be happy.

The first thing that needs to be done? An all space combat Halo game OR Halo: Battlefront.

 

[duchaked]

I like Halo and all, but I gotta say at best I'm like errrghhhh about this

 

[vehystrix]

So...who would you fight in the new Halo game? Flood is beaten (for the time being) and the Covennent is destroyed. M.C. and Cortana are MIA, and the world is finally settling back down. Oh! Can we make the next game about Kelly and the other Spartans trapped on Onyx? PLEASE? That storyline is killing me. Someone needs to wrap it up. Maybe find John on their way back to Earth...?

Next Halo will obviously be a farming/city builder sim, and they'll have you rebould all of the colonies that werelost in the war.

That, or they can just expand on the whole Covenant civil war which is probably still going on for the Elites. They'll have a fight waiting for them on their homeworld(s).
Or if you wanna be unoriginal, they can expand on the MC and Cortana floating to a mysterious planet of space ponies storyline.

For me, I'd prefer the story about the Covenant civil war and the Elites in all this (yeah I dind't mind the Arbiter in Halo 2 either)

 

[Darth_Dude]

Is it a good thing that Bungie isn't in-charge of Halo?

I sincerely doubt it will be. Remember:

Spoiler

At the end of the original trilogy, Master Chief doesn't actually die. Hell, he can even be seen floating towards a planet.

Ten bucks says they will milk this dry.

I'll take that, and raise it a million dollars.

 

[DTWolfwood]

Someone tell the man that COD didnt get to where it is until CoD4. Before that it was just a small group of fans who even knew what Call of Duty was. COD4:MW was the best in the franchise. followed by COD2. everything else is just product branding. and we all know how ez it is to sell something to ppl who are branded. Just ask Steve Jobs and his iProducts [http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/images/iProduct.gif], or EA with its Madden Series [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madden_NFL]

 

[Magnalian]

Is it a good thing that Bungie isn't in-charge of Halo?

I sincerely doubt it will be. Remember:

Spoiler

At the end of the original trilogy, Master Chief doesn't actually die. Hell, he can even be seen floating towards a planet.

Ten bucks says they will milk this dry.

I'll take that, and raise it a million dollars.

There's is no way I can afford that. Do you take cookies as payment? I can get cookies.

 

[Darth_Dude]

Is it a good thing that Bungie isn't in-charge of Halo?

I sincerely doubt it will be. Remember:

Spoiler

At the end of the original trilogy, Master Chief doesn't actually die. Hell, he can even be seen floating towards a planet.

Ten bucks says they will milk this dry.

I'll take that, and raise it a million dollars.

There's is no way I can afford that. Do you take cookies as payment? I can get cookies.

Yes, cookies will suffice. But make sure they arent choc-chip, I hate choc-chip.

 

[Magnalian]

There's is no way I can afford that. Do you take cookies as payment? I can get cookies.

Yes, cookies will suffice. But make sure they arent choc-chip, I hate choc-chip.

*looks at cookies*

Well, shit. Looks like I'm gonna have to save up.