Bungie undecided on lead platform for new IP

[The Sith]

Bungie undecided on lead platform for new IP

Tuesday 11-May-2010 7:15 PM Despite 'intimate relationship' with 360



Bungie has told CVG that it is yet to make up its mind over which platform will lead development for its new IP.

Little is known about the unannounced franchise - except it will be an 'action universe'. Activision has snapped up exclusive publishing rights to the IP for the next ten years.

It will be Bungie's first major multi-platform title after working exclusively on Xbox 360 with its Halo series - but won't be shown at E3.

"We obviously have a very intimate relationship with the 360 - we've had a great partnership with Microsoft for ten years now and we continue to as we work on Reach, launch Reach and continue to support Reach together," community boss Brian Jarrard told CVG.

"That relationship isn't going to go away at all, but we're certainly excited about the prospect of being able to share our new stories and universe with an even bigger audience and bring it to different devices and platforms and create new and interesting ways for our fans to engage."




He added: "It's a little bit too early for us to say which console we'll lead on. We're going to exactly figure out what's the right way to lead into our new universe and what's the right way to extend it. It's too early for me to say which console is going to be the first out of the gate."

Bungie's current IP, of course, is Halo Reach - which went into open beta earlier this month. Over a million people signed up to the beta in its first 24 hours.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=246139


Tim Ingham

[VintageElise]

So do they lead on the 360 which they are more familiar with? Or lead on the PS3 that would ensure a good port on both ends?

[ddPLaNeT]

I prefer them to lead on PS3 since this is the way to have the best results on both platforms. Criterion did it and it worked, EA also for many of their games and all future games are gonna lead on PS3 so i guess overall it's the best way to go.

But in the end as long as both hd consoles get a great port, Bungie can opperate the way they want.

[Rapture]

I believe they should lead on the PS3.

[Blackout'08]

I just hope that they are making a new engine again for the new IP because translating the Reach engine to the PS3 would be a pain and I don't think the results would be too great.

[skulpt]

I just hope that they are making a new engine again for the new IP because translating the Reach engine to the PS3 would be a pain and I don't think the results would be too great.

Well, considering that they had been working with Activision on this deal last year, how much do you want to bet that the Halo Reach Engine might already have been built towards a multiplatform slant? I'm sure at the very least they've started thinking Mplat while working on Reach and tweaked parts of the engine/middleware with the PS3 in mind. They have a lot of work to do to get up to speed with the PS3 and other consoles if they choose. I highly doubt they will be starting from scratch.

[Metfanant]

Well, considering that they had been working with Activision on this deal last year, how much do you want to bet that the Halo Reach Engine might already have been built towards a multiplatform slant? I'm sure at the very least they've started thinking Mplat while working on Reach and tweaked parts of the engine/middleware with the PS3 in mind. They have a lot of work to do to get up to speed with the PS3 and other consoles if they choose. I highly doubt they will be starting from scratch.

except that the Reach engine is, by Bungie's own admission a gutted version of the Halo 3 engine...I dont think it will translate well to multiplatform development...

as long as they don't use the Call of Duty engine i'm cool...

[Blackout'08]

Well, considering that they had been working with Activision on this deal last year, how much do you want to bet that the Halo Reach Engine might already have been built towards a multiplatform slant? I'm sure at the very least they've started thinking Mplat while working on Reach and tweaked parts of the engine/middleware with the PS3 in mind. They have a lot of work to do to get up to speed with the PS3 and other consoles if they choose. I highly doubt they will be starting from scratch.

I highly doubt that, they aren't going to compromise the game by making adjustments to the code at this point in the development of an exclusive, and if they did that it would still be a bad idea because there is still legacy code left over underneath the new tools of the overhauled engine.

Their Halo engines are specifically designed for what they need them for, and they rebuild each time for any new challenges they face on a game by game basis.

I don't see why they wouldn't do the same for this new game, granted it is still going to be a rebuild of the Reach engine most likely, but Bungie throws out everything they can from their engines each time and starts fresh so I am sure they will optimise it for MP development.

I only doubted they would do that for the simple fact that I thought the game would be coming sooner but considering it's a good two years away I am sure they will rebuild again for whatever it is.

@MET-Yes there is definitely legacy code underneath but it is still a new engine. It wouldn't be difficult for them to rewrite it like they always do to work on the PS3 but porting it is another story.

[Metfanant]

@MET-Yes there is definitely legacy code underneath but it is still a new engine. It wouldn't be difficult for them to rewrite it like they always do to work on the PS3 but porting it is another story.

agreed...i just dont think trying to re-work the current engine to the PS3 is the best way to go about things....

just too much to change that you might as well dump all the legacy code altogether IMO...passing things like AA off to the SPU's like in GoWIII...

[Blackout'08]

agreed...i just dont think trying to re-work the current engine to the PS3 is the best way to go about things....

just too much to change that you might as well dump all the legacy code altogether IMO...passing things like AA off to the SPU's like in GoWIII...

We will see what they do but Bungie doesn't seem like the kind of company that would allow one version to suffer over another. It's just not something they themselves would be happy with.

I don't think it will be a problem.

[BioSonic]

Dear Bungie,

Please lead on the lowest common denominator, thus ensuring that all aspects of the game will be exactly the same, so that we do not have 500 threads about minute differences between the platforms.

In other words, lead on the Wii.

BioSonic

[Sino]

Dear Bungie,

Please lead on the lowest common denominator, thus ensuring that all aspects of the game will be exactly the same, so that we do not have 500 threads about minute differences between the platforms.

In other words, lead on the Wii.

Wrong answer. It'll be the Mac. Plus all the Apple fanboys will forgive them about jumping ship.

[Blackout'08]

Wrong answer. It'll be the Mac. Plus all the Apple fanboys will forgive them about jumping ship.

I don't think they will ever forgive them.

People's reaction back then was like when FF became PS exclusive, they were pissed.

[TDbank24]

I think they'll obviously lead on the Ps3. If Bungie has been paying attention to how much better lead Ps3 games run.

[Metfanant]

Should lead on the PS3 if they want to make the best possible first impression for PS3 owners...

[Roadside]

Screw 'em both. Lead on PC and port down from there.

[Metfanant]

Screw 'em both. Lead on PC and port down from there.

awesome way to alienate the PS3 owners on your first time out...brilliant business decision...

[Roadside]

Why not? We already get alienated by every other 3rd party dev out there. I, for one, would like to see Bungie go all out on the PC and maybe dethrone Crysis. As long as they stick with the consoles, that's never going to happen.

[Metfanant]

Why not? We already get alienated by every other 3rd party dev out there. I, for one, would like to see Bungie go all out on the PC and maybe dethrone Crysis. As long as they stick with the consoles, that's never going to happen.

Bungie has shown themselves to be a console dev....they can go ahead and go all out on the PC version if they want....but their money will be made on the consoles...so it makes sense to lead with the PS3...

[Roadside]

And rightly so.

[Serinous]

should be on ps3.... but either way both gets their game

[coolguy]

I wonder if Bungie would ever make any future cod games. now that IW is done

[Metfanant]

I wonder if Bungie would ever make any future cod games.

i would say the chances of that are about.....

.000000001%

Bungie wants to make their own games...not take over and work with some other dev's games...

now that IW is done

since when?

[higgos22]

haha peoepl saying "They should d it on PS3" obviously these forums majrity say that

Well I reckon they looking at it from point of view
'Lead on 360 which we know and are use to make a game we know we can make with fair ease, or lead on PS3 plenty of potential new challenge for us but not as familiar with the technology'

[A7MAD]

Personally I'd make lead whatever console sells more software in general.

If Bungie are making a FPS I'd go with whichever console makes more in sales with FPS and if it' an RPG follow the same rule of thumb.

That'd be the best business decision, however that is me and I'm looking at it from a financial standpoint.