Activision Lawsuit Has Details on Bungie’s Next Game

@skelington_ said:

@bingbangboom said:

I think this gives us a better idea that a new "Xbox" console won't be coming till at least 2014. This game is scheduled to debut on the Xbox 360 in 2013. It could be a year where there maybe a overlap with a new console coming out but one would think Bungie would want to work and concentrate on the new hardware.

This is pretty much what i was thinking. Perhaps it's worth bearing in mind that the contract dates back to April 2010, so there's a possibility things have shifted around since then (as Klepek stated), but it basically sets up a vague "2014" release window for new consoles in my mind, which near enough aligns to the whole 10-year console lifespan philosophy touted a few years ago.

This paragraph sticks in my mind:

"Per the agreement, Destiny would be an Xbox 360 exclusive released in fall 2013, with a sequels arriving on new hardware platforms from Microsoft, Sony, and a version on PC. It specified four games, with sequels coming every other year."

Could the next-gen 'sequel' to the 360 exclusive be a launch-window game? If Bungie's next project is that big a deal to Sony et al., could we theoretically see a new console being released in 2015 rather than the year before? Hypotheticals, of course, and that does seem rather extreme, so alternatively, is it perceivable that Bungie could move their goalposts capitalize on the arrival of a new hardware platform(s)?

It could also be possible that the 360 game will be a different sort of game that sets up this new universe. Especially if the new game does have MMO like features. MMOs have changed radically since the consoles were first launched, with many going Free to Play. I could see Bungie/Activision wanting to act on this and charge $60 for the game but have a ton of added items and such that would be optional but developing a game around DLC.

I soiled me britches a bit when I read Marathon reboot

@Kyle said:

@drewmaw said:

Codename Destiny, i.e...

Actual title: Smhalo

Starring: Smaster Chief

Slogan...Finish the smite.

Well done Bungie, well done.

And you're reading that from the codename "Destiny?" So, are you psychic, or are you just operating under the world's most invented logic?

Haha, clearly I was being serious... ;)

So does that shed more light on why Microsoft doesn't do exclusives? It's like Mass Effect, perhaps they published the first one, knowing it would have a continuing story line, then dropped the sequels because they were clever enough to see all original fans would have to continue to play on said system. Maybe I'm reaching a bit, but that's the first thing that came to mind when reading this?..

They're probably regretting leaving Microsoft, right about now...

Activision is using the dumb-as-hell, never-gonna-happen name of Xbox 720 in a legal contract? So weird.

Sounds Hacktivision enough.

@drewmaw said:

Codename Destiny, i.e...

Actual title: Smhalo

Starring: Smaster Chief

Slogan...Finish the smite.

Well done Bungie, well done.

And you're reading that from the codename "Destiny?" So, are you psychic, or are you just operating under the world's most invented logic?

Some other website said it'd be on PS3 too, just a year later so Bungie could figure it out better. Think that was IGN actually haha

@klinkcow said:

@Mumrik said:

“codename Desiny.”

That can't be right...

Honest question - do you choose to write with spell-check turned off Pat?

is that really an honest question?

I actually meant it. I'm curious because there is no way "desiny" wouldn't have had a fat red line under it. I've also seen people do it in the past.

Codename Destiny, i.e...

Actual title: Smhalo

Starring: Smaster Chief

Slogan...Finish the smite.

Well done Bungie, well done.

@leebmx said:

@RVonE said:

The interesting thing to me is that already in April of 2010 it was expected that the x360 would be a viable platform in fall of 2013. This gives me the impression that this "extended" life span of the current consoles has been in the works for a long time and isn't necessarily the result of strong sales through 2010 and 2011.

I was just listening to some old Bombcasts from 2008 and they were talking about the 'ten year cycle' then. So I think its always been in Microsoft/Sony's minds that this generation would last until 2013.

This is absolutely true and has been a thing since Sony realized how well received the PS2 was. That system ended up literally being produced on a mass scale for nearly ten years.

That said, I think all three major console producers have extra justification to hold out on the next systems thanks to a less-than-ideal economy from 2008 until the present (US/Europe/Japan).

@cgeare said:

The reason I could never get into Halo is that it was a dumbed down version of a brilliant series:

Marathon

Bring it on

As someone who likes all of the Halo games thus far (even Wars, a little bit) and has played all three Marathon games and beaten the second one?

Yeah, I agree with you up to a point.

Very weird the first would be an Xbox exclusive.

A new Marathon, that is sooo cool.

Man is it really an MMO? MMOs are bad :(

I clicked on this story with excitement at the thought of finding out more about Halo 4.

Then I remembered.


Now I'm sad...

“codename Desiny.”

That can't be right...

Honest question - do you choose to write with spell-check turned off Pat?

@Aaron_G said:

Very weird the first would be an Xbox exclusive.

Not really considering their parting agreements.

@klinkcow said:

@Mumrik said:

“codename Desiny.”

That can't be right...

Honest question - do you choose to write with spell-check turned off Pat?

is that really an honest question?

You're right. The answer is pretty clear.

@algertman said:

@Toug said:

@algertman: Reviews have know for YEARS that metacritic scores are looked at to determine bonuses. Many have decried it. Any reviewer worth their salt knows that and HAS to put that out of their mind or they'd never be able to do their jobs.

So they explains why review score have turned to shit over the years.

Turned? Are we somehow pretending the days where EGM reviewed games they didn't play and wrote stunning, in-depth reviews like "Just another karate game," or internet reviews read like they were written and copy-edited by a fourth grader didn't exist? If you think reviews have gotten "worse," you're probably never paid attention to any games writing ever.

Looks like Activision has Bungie by the balls. Enjoy your new masters, fellas!

Curious to see what this game is. Also only having 5% of the staff on a new marathon sounds like a typical Actvision directive

Good ol' Project Desiny.

@Mumrik said:

“codename Desiny.”

That can't be right...

Honest question - do you choose to write with spell-check turned off Pat?

is that really an honest question?

@leebmx: I forgot about that. That's interesting.

@RVonE said:

The interesting thing to me is that already in April of 2010 it was expected that the x360 would be a viable platform in fall of 2013. This gives me the impression that this "extended" life span of the current consoles has been in the works for a long time and isn't necessarily the result of strong sales through 2010 and 2011.

I was just listening to some old Bombcasts from 2008 and they were talking about the 'ten year cycle' then. So I think its always been in Microsoft/Sony's minds that this generation would last until 2013.

The interesting thing to me is that already in April of 2010 it was expected that the x360 would be a viable platform in fall of 2013. This gives me the impression that this "extended" life span of the current consoles has been in the works for a long time and isn't necessarily the result of strong sales through 2010 and 2011.

Breaking news, Bungie is making a video game.

Seems silly to not release on PS3 since they have been hiring PS3 engineers for the past few years. A Marathon reboot assuming that it is a full disc based game, is to me personally, a terrible cash grab. Halo and Marathon are really similar and rebooting Marathon seems like they are still trying to cash in on Halo.

Given that Marathon started out as an FPS and Bungle themselves made it, I should hope that it shouldn't be too difficult for Bungie to not fuck up the reboot.

You know what's fucking stupid? Console exclusivity to one platform for the first game in a franchise KNOWING THE REST WILL BE MULTIPLATFORM.

That said, I like Bungie, and I look forward to new information on what this actually will be.

@AiurFlux said:

Wait. They're planning on essentially releasing a bi-yearly FPS MMO with expansions every off year? With subscriptions, DLC, microtransactions, and all the other bullshit that come from the ass end of the industry of which ActiVi$ion is very familiar with? WHAT. THE. FUCK.

Why would anyone even want this? This is the typical ActiVision bullshit of shoveling product after product with minimal changes to maximize profit margins. It's great business but horrible etiquette. They honestly have to think people are fucking retarded at this point now right? I mean they've gotten away with it for so many years, might as well continue the trend.

• Activision can terminate the contract without penalty if Destiny doesn't sell at least 5 million units in the first six months, or for any reason they please after the second expansion pack releases.

That little bullet-point should worry people. Not for Bungie but to see how ActiVi$ion has their priorities. I guess Fuckface Kotick really is taking all the fun out of making games.

As others have mentioned, it's way too early for anyone to judge since we don't even know what the hell the game is at this point, aside from the name and a few vague details.

Also, I still don't get all the hate over DLC or microtransactions. Unless they are mandatory purchases (which would basically negate their entire purpose), who cares? The games business is changing, especially in the arena of mulitplayer-focused games.

Greedy little shits.

@Lurkero: my guess is that promising those possibilities is what got activision come on board

All these documents dripping out of this is great.

Please have someone proofread these or use a spellchecker..

The Spartan is the center is all like "Huh?" with tilting his head and all.

@prikk said:

Patrick is to good for spellcheck.

'Too good'.

Wait. They're planning on essentially releasing a bi-yearly FPS MMO with expansions every off year? With subscriptions, DLC, microtransactions, and all the other bullshit that come from the ass end of the industry of which ActiVi$ion is very familiar with? WHAT. THE. FUCK.

Why would anyone even want this? This is the typical ActiVision bullshit of shoveling product after product with minimal changes to maximize profit margins. It's great business but horrible etiquette. They honestly have to think people are fucking retarded at this point now right? I mean they've gotten away with it for so many years, might as well continue the trend.

• Activision can terminate the contract without penalty if Destiny doesn't sell at least 5 million units in the first six months, or for any reason they please after the second expansion pack releases.

That little bullet-point should worry people. Not for Bungie but to see how ActiVi$ion has their priorities. I guess Fuckface Kotick really is taking all the fun out of making games.

2013 is far enough ahead not to worry about, let alone some of that later stuff. I personally don't much like leaks, but they're pretty hard to avoid.

As for the next Xbox 360, I think I've had some kind of epiphany; any name will work. It'll sound stupid when announced but everyone will just get used to it.

Destiny: A Master Chief Tale

Patrick is to good for spellcheck.

Frog blast the vent core!

@KaneRobot: In what way? It seems like that should be the name...

Bungie is still planning on releasing games, CONFIRMED. Cool though.

yearly updates looks bad for Bungie (expansions every other year, main game on the main years)

It would kind of rule if MS was (insanely) actually calling the next console the 720, and Patrick is the one who leaked it early.