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MS: We'll "explore not exploit" Halo News
Xbox 360 News by Johnny Minkley
With a spin-off RTS game, multiple novels and an expanding range of figurines all on show this week at Comic Con 2008, Microsoft has insisted that its strategy is to "explore not exploit" the Halo universe.
Frank O'Connor, who oversees the franchise at Microsoft Games Studios, headed up the Halo Universe panel at the geek-packed San Diego event, in which representatives of Halo Wars developer Ensemble, Bungie and toy manufacturer McFarlane joined Halo novelists to discuss the future of the franchise in front of a packed audience of ecstatic fans.
Speaking to Eurogamer immediately after the session, O'Connor, former Bungie community manager, said that content so far had only scratched the surface of what is possible.
"The Halo universe is really, really big now," he said. "Literally the Halo games have only covered one year; a couple of months within a year in fact.
"We have a really detailed story bible, we do really have it all planned out. There are so many areas of the universe to explore, the real challenge is picking which is the most exciting area for people. Is it UNSC Marines fighting alongside Spartans against the Covenant? Or is it what happens next after Master Chief's appearance in Halo 3?"
O'Connor and the other panellists, including Tobias Bucknell, author of upcoming novel Halo: The Cole Protocol, spent most of the hour-long session fielding questions from fans, many of whom had squeezed into their favourite Master Chief costume for the day.
"We have a well defined, carefully orchestrated, properly planned universe to explore not exploit," O'Connor added. "And that's the tricky part: what are the things people want to do? We have to pick things that people want. That's what you see with the range of McFarlane toys - people want their armour permutation.
"Give them things they really want and make sure they're high quality is the formula."
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Comments: 1-33 of 33 in total
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kingdumpalot
25/07/08 @ 17:30
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I dunno, I've heard good things about Paper Halo and Masterchief Tennis.
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NegativeZero
25/07/08 @ 18:33
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Halo the T-shirt. Halo the colouring book. Halo the lunchbox. Halo the breakfast cereal. Halo the flamethrower...
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theindustrialone
25/07/08 @ 20:36
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My guess is we will play a game where the UNSC Marines fight alongside Spartans against the Covenant. And possibly find out what happens to Master Chief after his appearance in Halo 3.
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Moonprince
25/07/08 @ 21:02
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Got to be shitting me. Love Halo but that rts looks wank. Of course its cashing in...
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dirk_aircool
26/07/08 @ 10:38
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COOKING HALO with master chef .
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 26/07/08 @ 11:39
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Markusdragon
26/07/08 @ 11:25
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@Smelly
It's been seven years, man! 4 games in seven (eight? When's Halo Wars due?) years is nothing. Even the supposedly unexploited GTA series has had 7 games out in that time frame. |
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Key word in the quote was "exploit". Something tells me when we DO get Halo Kart/Lips (drive! sing! save the world!), they'll be proud to tell us its considered "developing/evolving/exploring/enhancing the property", and so everything will be groovy.
Not gonna exploit the IP? So when Ryu the ninja was fighting a Spartan in DOA that was just my imagination? Or was that in the Bible? "See, the Overmind was grown from a seed planted during the Han Dynasty, and he was protected by a spider as a sapling, so that's why its allied with the Spider Clan and Ryu is its sworn enemy. Ryu starts off fighting the Spartan, but then they become lovers and fall through a space-time warp created by Cortana, almost landing on Marcus Fenix (hilarity ensues). Then the Flood mistook Professor Pester for their God and, following his bidding, infected Pinata Island. Now, only the Spartan, Ryu, Delta Squad and Banjo-kazooie can rescue them!" Something tells me the Halo Universe Bible is a napkin with three words on it: "MILK THIS SH!T" |
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I think this maybe a two edged sword. On the one hand, if the books had not been done for example, there would have been a demand for them, because, for whatever reason a lot of people became engaged in the Halo universe. So attempting to exapnd the story and flesh it out is a good idea.
Making gratuiously bad games for the sake of it is a very bad idea. |
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The Bodybuilder
26/07/08 @ 20:16
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As great as this is from a business prespective, MS should not be crying and wondering why the mainstream view the x360 as a console for the hardcore, not when they push it with the halo juggernaut, a universe aimed solely at hardcore nerds.
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stuarty_2003
27/07/08 @ 00:17
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Stuz359: "I think this maybe a two edged sword. On the one hand, if the books had not been done for example, there would have been a demand for them, because, for whatever reason a lot of people became engaged in the Halo universe. So attempting to exapnd the story and flesh it out is a good idea.
Making gratuiously bad games for the sake of it is a very bad idea." Couldn't agree more. To be fair though, MS have given Ensemble the time they need to not only build a good Halo RTS, but hopefully, give them enough time to develop a good control system for a console - which is the biggest part of the battle (no pun intended) for a console RTS! |
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cyber_nicco
28/07/08 @ 16:01
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You know, obviously some people don't like Halo, and that's fine. However, to the world at large the Halo games have been very well received - receiving high marks from all corners. So, saying stuff like "making another rubbish Halo game" just makes one seem very myopic, or, as is probably the case, disingenuous.
If the games are well made, then there is really nothing to complain about here. My god, it couldn't possibly encroach on the title of most spin-offs that Nintendo holds. Many of the Nintendo spin-offs are good games and are then well received, fairly. Give the Halo games the same courtesy and reserve you judgement for the games themselves.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 28/07/08 @ 17:03
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Comments: 1-33 of 33 in total
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