Reactions: More Halo News!
Developed, published, and whored out by 343 Industries
Lots of Halo news this week, folks.
Hidden in the announcement for the new Halo anime, Halo Legends, was the news that Microsoft now has their own internal division dedicated to everything Halo, and it’s called 343 Industries. There was some speculation earlier in the week when it was revealed that Microsoft trademarked the name, and now it’s confirmed.
As Kotaku points out, one of the defining factors of this new division is their involvement in everything Halo. Not just the games, but all of the merchandise that will spawn forth from the revered franchise. As Microsoft puts it, “343 Industries is the publisher of the blockbuster “Halo” series of videogames and, as part of Microsoft Game Studios, oversees the ‘Halo’ franchise, including novels, comics, licensed collectibles, apparel and more.” Did you hear that? “And more!”
And it looks like 343 Industries will probably be working on the next Halo game as Bungie recently announced that Halo: Reach will be their last Halo related video game… on the 360 at least.
In an interview with CVG, Lars Bakken, senior designer at Bungie, had this to say when asked about Reach being their last Halo game for the 360: “In terms of a platform for Halo games made by Bungie, yes. I can’t answer that question for Microsoft though. Whether they have something in the works or not, I don’t know if they’re actually ready to talk about it yet, but in terms of Bungie-produced Halo games, ODST and then Reach is probably all you’re going to get.”
I’d actually like to see this be Bungie’s last Halo game ever. Don’t get me wrong, Halo’s great and Bungie does a great job with it, but let’s see what else they can do.
6 Comments to Reactions: More Halo News!
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Here I am still convinced the whole Halo universe should have been nothing more than the first game and your imagination. Oh well.
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I’m really sick of people complaining about Halo whoring out. It’s a great universe. Should Star Wars stop putting out new material? No. Sure, you get some shit in all the exploitation, but you also get some really good stuff that would have never been. I say bring on more Halo games. Buy what looks good and don’t buy the bad ones.
I’m glad to see Bungie moving on though. It’s time for them to make a new IP and have new developers come in and give a fresh take on Halo. I wonder whatever happened to Gearbox working on Halo 4?
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Well, first off, the idea that the Halo universe and the Star Wars universe should even be compared like that is such a stretch that it sort of annoys me. But hell – why not. Star Wars is a gigantic behemoth of a franchise that started with a superb trilogy of movies and evolved from there – branching into the video game realm among countless others.
Halo, on the other hand, started in the video game realm with a great first game and so-so second and third games to cap off the trilogy. Now, maybe I’m insane, but much like it was a HUGE deal when Star Wars Episodes 1 & 2 were released and weren’t that good, it should be just as big of deal if Halo video games get released and suck. You know why? Because that’s where the franchise was born. What you’re saying is the equivalent of saying “I wish George Lucas would just spawn a shitload of Star Wars movies. Sure you get a few bad ones in there, but just go for the ones that look good.”
I mean c’mon. I never thought I’d be the one taking the integrity angle in an argument with you, but it sure looks that way. Again, I never thought Halo should have been a franchise. But now that it is, it should be managed in a responsible way that shows a bit of class. Not mass production of shitty games hoping for a gem along the way. If they want to make bad movies or books, or art, or any other form of media based on Halo in huge quantities – that’s fine, that’s fine. But as the franchise was BORN in video games, it deserves to stay classy in that area at least.
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I don’t think the Star Wars/Halo comparison is a stretch–many people consider Halo the Star Wars of video games. I’m not in that boat, but hey, it’s out there.
But anyways. Despite the quality, or lack there of of Halo 2 and 3′s campaigns, their stories were still good. I’ve enjoyed the story in every Halo game, I just think they haven’t presented it in the best light all the time. So yes, the trilogy analogy works fine.
And no, I’m not saying George Lucas should pump out a shit load of Star Wars movies for a few jems. But what’s so wrong with someone else taking the reigns with some of his guidance and making completely independent Star Wars movies in that universe? I’d watch those, just the same as I’d play a Halo game developed by someone other than Bungie.
What it all comes to for me is that Halo is one of the richest universes in video games, and it’d be a crime to leave it at one game. There are so many stories to tell there that could spawn any number of genres. I certainly don’t want it to be exploited purely for financial purposes, which is likely the case, but I think some great stuff could come out of that universe.
As a side note–why are there no Star Wars movies without Lucas mucking them up!?! He needs to stop being such a one-trick pony, loosen up on the rights, and allow some other people to bring their visions to that universe in a film. Star Wars horror movie. It would be awesome.
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I love Halo and am always game for more, but Bungie is capable of more and I am pleased to see them moving on. Halo is a great franchise that no one saw coming and can’t wait to see what it brings us, good or bad.
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The Halo world is large…there is so much story potential that could happen in it. That’s why they are making Halo Legends…not primarily to make tons of money, but to continue on with the storyline. It’s good Bungie is moving on…maybe we’ll get some updated “Marathon” or some other. But maybe 343 industries will continue on with the storyline of Halo.
Like Tolkien’s work…there is a vast world filled with an endless amount of stories. If he had finished at The Fellowship of the Ring, it would be pretty lame.
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