Microsoft 'gagged' Bungie to give higher precidence to house titles

[rabbitc]

Xbox-Scene News: 8BitJoystick: Microsoft Prevented Bungie From Unveiling New Halo Game at E3

This is getting dirtier by the day: It turns out that Don Mattrick, head of Microsoft's Xbox division, surprised Bungie at the last minute by ordering them to withhold a 60-sec Halo sequel promo and further E3 discussion because Mattrick didn't want a third-party company overshadowing Microsoft's in-house games.

It's rumoured that Mattrick had said that he didn't want Microsoft's E3 to be 'all about Halo' again and issued the gag-order to Bungie literally hours before they were to make the announcement.

Although Bungie is now independant, they must license the Halo brand from Microsoft if they wish to produce any further Halo games. This means that what Microsoft says, goes as far as Halo is concerned.

Of course, that leaves everyone wondering what the hell Mattrick is thinking considering that this promo could only have helped Xbox shine brighter during E3. This latest development is fuelling speculation that the working relationship between Bungie and Microsoft is deterioration rapidly for reasons that are anything but professional.

If this is any indication of what Bungie can expect from Microsoft for the future - it looks as though this may be the last time we see a Bungie-produced 'Halo' title - and indeed, the last time we will see a Bungie-produced X360 exclusive.

[remixFA]

not so sure on that. Even if theres a bad relationship.. money talks, and MS has it by the cruiseship load, as well as a high attach rate on the 360.

i dont understand the reasoning behind it either, you think it could only help the xbox brand... unless it wasnt an exclusive!

[rabbitc]

i dont understand the reasoning behind it either, you think it could only help the xbox brand... unless it wasnt an exclusive!

Not an option - Microsoft owns the 'Halo' brand hence it will always be exclusive.

[Valkyrie83]

Yes, Halo is owned by MS but Bungie is not; although I have a feeling their contract when they got out of the MS publishing deal included some kind of exclusivity deal with MS for some specified amount of time!

[rabbitc]

Only on Halo I'd wager.
Besides - they could always collapse the company and reform. That's how 3d Realms started IIRC.

[remixFA]

if i remember, they said that any future halo projects were going to stay under MS, other than that, they were free to do whatever they wished...
I still say the fact that MS shut down their primary source of "comming out ot debt" in the gaming department, for other "house titles", means that it was a multiplatform game.
can you really think of any other reason for MS to show bungie such disregard??

[rabbitc]

can you really think of any other reason for MS to show bungie such disregard??

I can think of three: Jealousy, Arrogance and Ignorance.

[remixFA]

Originally Posted by rabbitc

I can think of three: Jealousy, Arrogance and Ignorance.

Exept, we are talkin about a business here, not a bunch of 4th graders


they want $$, power, exclusivity.

if the primary needs are not met, then they may throw a fit and ban you from E3!

eexcluuuuusivity.

[rabbitc]

Exept, we are talkin about a business here, not a bunch of 4th graders

You'd be surprised what I've seen in the upper ranks of corporations - believe me...

[bevo1981]

it's no big deal anyway. whatever Halo project they are working on will be hugely popular just like all the others. and it's not like it's close to being finished or released, probably barely started.

[remixFA]

they said before that their next project probably wouldnt be halo. u guys are sooo 2007!

[rotten_primate]

that's the golden rule hard at work. whoever has the gold, makes the rules.

[remixFA]

si! u are correct

[Blasterpez]

like i said before, they need to bring back myth! it was coo!