I just read in a blog, and a business weekly article that Today is the official split of Microsoft and Bungie. Now anyone who programs, plays video games, or develops games know what I'm talking about. The article here the article says "The split was amicable, according to a joint statement by the companies" So, what do you think this means for the future of Xbox360, Microsoft, Bungie? Does anyone have anything to say about this statement? I say since Microsoft was able to keep the IP (Intellectual Patent) then Microsoft was just using them to make a quick $300,000,000.00 which is a lot. I'm only saying this both parties seem for this to be, and both parties are at a neutral agreement here, and more importantly I didn't read anything about a lawsuit, but that doesn't mean that there won't be one. [Edited by - Numb3rz on October 5, 2007 8:44:59 PM]

My best guess:


2000:

MICROSOFT: Great job on Halo, guys!
BUNGIE MANAGEMENT: Hell yes!
BUNGIE GRUNTS: Hell yes!
MICROSOFT: Here, have a bunch of stock.
BUNGIE MANAGEMENT, A SUBSIDIARY OF MICROSOFT CORPORATION: Hell yes!
MICROSOFT: Now, keep making Halo games forever!
BUNGIE MANAGEMENT, A SUBSIDIARY OF MICROSOFT CORPORATION: Hell yes!
BUNGIE GRUNTS: Sure, why not.

(seven years pass)

MICROSOFT: Keep making Halo games forever!
BUNGIE MANAGEMENT, A SUBSIDIARY OF MICROSOFT CORPORATION: Hell yes!
BUNGIE GRUNTS: You have five seconds to rethink that or we will all quit.
BUNGIE MANAGEMENT: Bye, Microsoft!

I've read a lot on it today myself, and gathered a bit of info. The situation with the IP is that Microsoft still owns Halo, Myth and Oni are owned by Take2, and Bungie still owns Marathon. They are, of course, free to create new IP.

Microsoft is still their current publisher, they're familiar with the 360's hardware and, more importantly, they are happy with the development experience on the 360. They also have very close ties to Microsoft's internal development resources and other prominent high-tier developers like Team Ninja. Basically, I think they're very happy with the position they're in from a development standpoint, so I don't really expect to see their stuff show up on the other consoles any time soon. I presume that there's also some period of Xbox exclusivity in the terms of the deal, after which they will technically be free to produce content for other platforms.

As for the reason behind the move, Bungie has always behaved very independently. After being located in the MGS offices after the buy out for some time, they moved to their own space completely away from Microsoft in order to have more independence. They've said time and again that they find some of Microsoft's practices to be stifling, such as management and hiring requirements. I read a post earlier from an MS employee who stated that Bungie had to fight constantly to keep the independence they had been given -- presumably someone in management set their eyes on Bungie, trying to reign them in and get credit as their 'leader' or whatever. The gist of the separation is to grant Bungie explicit and irrevocable freedom from Microsoft interference and, aside from that, doesn't really change the working relationship between the two, at least for the foreseeable future.

Bungie and MS will continue to work together, and continue to make gobs and gobs of money for both parties.

It is probably a good thing.

Bungie can still develop games for the 360 and they can still develop sequels to Halo (If they use microsoft as their publisher for those games atleast as MS owns the Halo IP).

More importantly however, Bungie can now develop their own IP once more and choose to use another publisher or multiple publishers (Which would mean the ability to publish their games for non-microsoft platforms).

I think they want to step back from the cram of Microsoft's "Let's market Halo to push out the other game companies" ambition.

Really, Bungie needs a break from the hussle and bussle of it all. This move will give them MUCH more flexibility. In 2000, Bungie had fewer resources to work with, and could honestly use the help of a corporate enterprise to fund them. Nowadays, they've got all the experience, people, equipment, and skill they need to develop video games.

It's not a true separation either, it's just allowing Bungie to return to their normal way of composing their beautiful art, which we like to call "video games."

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Original post by dbzprogrammer I think they want to step back from the cram of Microsoft's "Let's market Halo to push out the other game companies" ambition. Really, Bungie needs a break from the hussle and bussle of it all. This move will give them MUCH more flexibility. In 2000, Bungie had fewer resources to work with, and could honestly use the help of a corporate enterprise to fund them. Nowadays, they've got all the experience, people, equipment, and skill they need to develop video games. It's not a true separation either, it's just allowing Bungie to return to their normal way of composing their beautiful art, which we like to call "video games."

Yes, I agree with this. Microsoft can seem to have business techniques that many other businessmen, or companies agree with. It's that whole let us rule as much of a single market share that we can possibly rule. When I heard Microsoft announcing they were going to make video games I was honestly just waiting to hear them announce that they would soon start contracting with Ford, and start making their own cars, but who knows what is down the line for Microsoft, for them nothing is impossible.

And yet, somehow Microsoft's stock went down the day they set a new sales record. Go figure.

I agree with the ravyne2001's assesment of Bungie and their behavior. I've never really seen them as part of Microsoft and they were very lucky their Halo success granted them immunity to that corporate culture. Now if we could just get someone to turn that Zune into a mini xbox so I can work on achievements on the road...

Yes, I guess they don't fit into the "Microsoft Culture" of greedy developers trying to take over the Universe with software, and worry about nothing but how much control they have over what they do.

I just hope this means that Bungie will make more recognizable games that are successful than just Halo, and Microsoft won't just rely on one company to produce hit games for their console. And, I do believe Microsoft needs to work on their PC Games a little bit, but that is just me. I believe they really don't have anything going for them in the PC Game Genre, but besides that they're doing alright. Oh Geeze, that sounded like I am for Microsoft, oh well, whatcha gonna do?

Granted, I'm not a huge Halo Fan... but i know that this is the last of Halo! Microsoft probably started Huge Support with Halo 2 just from the amazing reaction of Halo. so they joined up! Then with the reaction of Halo 3 Release, being that people bought brand new 360's and XBOX Live Gold Memberships and every other thing needed for the best of Halo. Since it was the end of the Halo Madness, Microsoft stopped working with Bungie... (Microsoft's Next Possible Move: Epic Games and the Gears Of War Series!

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Original post by speewave2012 Granted, I'm not a huge Halo Fan... but i know that this is the last of Halo!

Not by a long shot I'd guess. There's still talk of the Halo movie as well as Halo Wars (the RTS). Microsoft still owns the Halo IP so they can just get some other developer to make it.

Quote:

(Microsoft's Next Possible Move: Epic Games and the Gears Of War Series!

Microsoft already owns the Gears of War IP I believe. And a buyout of Epic would be nearly impossible. Epic, unlike Bungie when it was bought out, is a gigantic name in games being the makers of the Unreal Engine.