Jump to navigation
Advertisement

"Maddie" still appearing in Halo 3 Recon News

Xbox 360 News by Ellie Gibson

10 October, 2008

Bungie has said a character called Maddie could "potentially" feature in the new Halo 3 expansion pack - but confirmed there's no connection with missing five year-old Madeleine McCann.

Controversy kicked off last month after a trailer for what's now known to be Halo 3 Recon featured the message, "Maddie, where are you?"

Speaking to Eurogamer at the Tokyo Game Show, Bungie writer Luke Smith described the incident as an "unfortunate coincidence", adding, "Because of that coincidence, we've pulled that slide."

However, said PR and community manager Brian Jarrard, the content of the expansion pack will not be changed. "We're not altering the game, the fiction, the story or the script," he stated.

"There will potentially be a character named Maddie that has something to do with our game, but just to respect the sensitivities around this issue... I mean, I've read the Eurogamer forums. I've seen how polarised with this issue.

"It was regrettable," he continued, "But hopefully it's behind us. Next time people might want to do a bit more diligence." A bit more Googling, perhaps? "Yeah, maybe."

Halo 3 Recon is down for a release in autumn 2009. For more from Bungie, including what we can expect and why it'll probably cost more than a tenner, read the full interview.

Advertisement

Are you excited about Halo 3: ODST on Xbox 360?
View Eurogamer readers most anticipated games

Thanks!

Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!

Comments: 1-32 of 32 in total

Poster
Comment Low-scoring comments hidden. Log in to see them!
evilashchris
10/10/08 @ 01:42
#1
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Fluffy has Maddie, they have tea parties because he doesn't like proper games.
disc
10/10/08 @ 02:43
#2
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Since it's a year until you release the game, couldn't you just rename the character? Surely you haven't finished the voice over recording yet?
Royal Fool
10/10/08 @ 04:15
#3
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
I honestly do not understand the anger over this. Did someone copyright the Maddie name and now it can't be used for anything again ever without being considered a rude and insensitive reference to that one kidnapping case? Really?
stevetuck
10/10/08 @ 04:46
#4
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
:3
IMO
10/10/08 @ 05:01
#5
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Why should they rename the character?
t8yman
10/10/08 @ 05:01
#6
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
I didnt see any controversy other than the tabloid style writings from EG staff.
what a shite premise for an article.
more click = more cash eh EG?
the_dudefather
10/10/08 @ 06:20
#7
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Can't they change the backstory of the character in the game so she is actually Maddie?
CreepinJesus
10/10/08 @ 06:22
#8
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
@dream - you got it spot on. And somehow, my post comes up before yours.
Edited 1 times, most recently on 10/10/08 @ 07:22
m0thr4
10/10/08 @ 07:06
#9
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
"I've seen how polarised with this issue."

What you say? Engrish please.
m0thr4
10/10/08 @ 07:08
#10
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Who exactly is offended by this anyway? I haven't seen any comment from the McCann family who, in my opinion, are the only people that have any right to be offended.
monkeylite
10/10/08 @ 07:33
#11
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
mothe4, why exactly should the Mccanns be upset for? They do not own the name Maddie.

This news is shit, just tabloid style reporting about nothing.
DFawkes
10/10/08 @ 08:03
#12
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
This isn't news. It is not news. Oh, and it IS NOT NEWS.

Shouldn't someone publish a list of the names of all children who have went missing, so we can avoid using them ever again in films, games and TV? No, because then you'd end up with few names useable and a society of morons who get offended by everything. I for one am offended by apostrophes.

Edit: Why are dream, Mentalist, Evolution and curtliikes meat all time stamped 9:10am and laterr, considering the time is only 9:07 (or whatever it says in the "Time Edited" bit).
Edited 1 times, most recently on 10/10/08 @ 09:07
Triggerhappytel
10/10/08 @ 08:36
#13
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
EG, you are yet again reporting on a story of little or no consequence. This is, what, the third or fourth news piece you've got from this? It really doesn't warrant all this attention.

I agree with Royal Fool's comment.

""There will potentially be a character named Maddie that has something to do with our game, but just to respect the sensitivities around this issue... I mean, I've read the Eurogamer forums. I've seen how polarised with this issue."

EG, either someone has quoted that wrong or yer man cannot speak.
Riggers
10/10/08 @ 08:45
#14
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
"Since it's a year until you release the game, couldn't you just rename the character? Surely you haven't finished the voice over recording yet?"

Actually, depending on their schedule, they may have already completed the script and started localisation, or started voice recording. And besides...why should they rename the character? If the character is a little girl who's been kidnapped on holiday, then yeah, it'd be insenstive, but somehow I doubt it, unless Halo's had a change in direction...
Brodie
10/10/08 @ 08:52
#15
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
In other non-news, the Royal Family were completely uninterested in the "singer" Fergie sharing a name with the erstwhile ginger monstrosity married to one of their sons.

"No-one was shocked that someone had a similar name somewhere in the entire world" said a Palace spokesman. "It is after all, a big place."

The Daily Express stated "Fergie? Who cares. But if some rapper slut calls herself after Diana, our People's Princess, there'll be an outcry."

No missing children have ever been called Fergie. It is a dog's name.

The_Inquisitor
10/10/08 @ 08:58
#16
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Is this still news?
squarejawhero
10/10/08 @ 09:16
#17
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Look what you've done, EG, you've outraged the comments tards. ;) CAN'T GET ANYTHING RIGHT.

It's news because Bungie read the EG forums, anyhow. Suck on that, buttmonkeys!
Mentalist(air)
10/10/08 @ 09:23
#18
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
They were planning to rename him Lucky, but then it turned out that get them in just as much trouble...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1514...
Evolution
10/10/08 @ 09:25
#19
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Polarised? Really? Is there really an issue here?

spudsbuckley
10/10/08 @ 09:28
#20
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
The quality of reporting on EG has really taken a nose dive lately what with crap like this getting reported numerous times and poorly written articles like the one comparing the big three consoles downloadables the other day which omitted numerous big titles for the PS3 for no good reason.

Plus some of the reviews of games lately have been atrocious, with the text not relating to the final score awarded at all.
curtlikesmeat
10/10/08 @ 09:43
#21
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Please stop reporting stuff like this, is this The Sun?

Absolute bilge.
sneetch
10/10/08 @ 09:48
#22
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
@disc
"Since it's a year until you release the game, couldn't you just rename the character? Surely you haven't finished the voice over recording yet?"

Why? Because of a dozen or so people who can't see past the "unfortunate coincidence"? Who are trying to make a mountain out of a molehill? There has been no national outcry over this, unless it happened when I was in the shower or something. Frankly I'm amazed they (Eurogamer) are continuing to run with tabloid crap. I'm surprised that Ellie didn't refer to her as "tragic tot Madeleine McCann"; if you're imitating the Sun you should go all out.

@DFawkes
"I for one am offended by apostrophes."

Getta load of this then: ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''.
MGG
10/10/08 @ 11:12
#23
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Oh great, here comes the UK tabloid "our problems are more important than anythingggggg". Are we no longer allowed to use the name "Maddie" cos some poor scouse kid was the victim of terrible parenting (sue me)? Get off your fucking high horse and stop this non-story shit reporting that is bringing this site down. Fast.
m0thr4
10/10/08 @ 11:24
#24
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
@monkeylite

"mothe4, why exactly should the Mccanns be upset for? They do not own the name Maddie. "

I wasn't saying they should, I was just saying that they are the only people who could conceivably be upset by the original "Maddie, where are you?" advertisement.

But I agree with everyone else who says this whole thing is a ridiculous non-story cooked up by the gutter press.
metalangel
10/10/08 @ 11:28
#25
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Since when is the real Maddie five?

Heck, given Halo: Recon takes place in what, 2552, does that mean the Daily Express of the future will still be searching for "tragic tot Madeleine McCann, aged 549?"

There might also be room for a few articles on Princess Diana... perhaps debate whether she'd have died had she been in a Warthog instead of a Mercedes, if she'd crashed in a tunnel in New Mombasa instead of Paris...
RustyBullet
10/10/08 @ 11:44
#26
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
@the_dudefather Man you are a real fukwit. Think its funny do you? Or are you a jaffer? Lets hope you are never blessed with children.I couldent give a shit how old you are either. TWAT
Totoriko
10/10/08 @ 13:14
#27
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
So, there should only be one Maddie in this world? That McCann girl isn't even called Maddie.

If it hurts them, don't play the game. But as it's already been stated above, we haven't heard the McCann complain about it.
Edited 2 times, most recently on 10/10/08 @ 14:15
theindustrialone
10/10/08 @ 18:37
#28
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
FFS
haldier
10/10/08 @ 21:25
#29
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Thing is, if they rename the character what should they rename her to, Eva Braun, you are allways gonna have coincidenses like this, shure this is a little close in time (all respects) but they canīt rework a hundreds of hours just becaus of a name.
Razorus
10/10/08 @ 22:52
#30
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
HOW DARE THEY? It's like when Peter Jackson has the sheer AUDACITY to call Lord of the Rings 2 "The Two Towers" after 9/11. These people make me sick.

Sarcasm ftw.
Dark_Wolf_1991
12/10/08 @ 09:38
#31
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Fucking madie story...... give it a fucking rest... It's just another kick ass game game from bungie geeez.......... Before you know it. It will be illegal to call your kid maddie.
$olokid
30/11/08 @ 04:52
#32
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Who the heck is Maddie!?!

Comments: 1-32 of 32 in total

Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!

X View gallery