IGN: Halo DS once existed ... but now it doesn't

by Christopher Grant { Jan 5th 2007 at 10:35AM }

IGN's resident Nintendo guy, Matt Casamassina, claims to have played Halo on the Nintendo DS in a post cleverly titled "I Played Halo on DS." In short, the thing was up and running before "egos" conspired to crush the impressive port. Matt waxes wistfully about the Xbox-quality graphics, the Metroid Prime: Hunters control scheme, even the soundtrack before lamenting the death of the would-be megahit.

Who killed Halo DS? Was it the Xboy? Who knows. Of course, since we do know that IGN themselves discredit what's published on their "blogs" -- as opposed to the "site itself" -- we're more than happy to call bull on this one ... especially since we all know portable Halo belongs on the cellphone platform! Even better, we're hoping for a big Gizmondo Halo rollout at CES this year. Make it happen.

[Thanks everyone!]

Tags: Halo, HaloDS, IGN, Rumor

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Chris @ Jan 5th 2007 10:53AM

Pics or it didn't happen

(always wanted to use that!)

32_Footsteps @ Jan 5th 2007 11:05AM

What, is it April first already?

Jackson Pritt @ Jan 5th 2007 12:04PM

ONDORE? IS THAT YOU?

Macuseros9 @ Jan 5th 2007 10:58AM

Matt also had the chance to play GTA SA on the DS.
Still no news on the release though??

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/macuseros9/GTADS.jpg?t=1168012183

ThaGuy @ Jan 5th 2007 10:53AM

first

This was proven to be true. Just go on the ign boards on the ds lobby and he confirmed it.

Ben Friesen @ Jan 5th 2007 11:02AM

Microsoft giving megahit franchises to Nintendo's handhelds would be one of the smartest things they could do - you can almost hear the PSP weeping softly to itself.

x23 @ Jan 5th 2007 11:04AM

depending on locale the date of "January 4th" is written 4/1/2006.

what does the date 4/1 mean in US date style?

Gamer G @ Jan 5th 2007 11:44AM

Microsoft should allow this, imagine how many new Halo fans there would be! 360 sales would hugely benefit come Halo 3 time!

David004 @ Jan 5th 2007 11:11AM

I smell bullshit!

It would have to be dumbed down and would completely destroy any chance of MS releasing a handheld. If they did make it and it was canceled then it's because MS is going to release it on their hamdheld system, yet to be announced.

adolph vega @ Jan 5th 2007 11:20AM

ONLINE PETITION HAS BEEN PUT UP.

http://www.petitiononline.com/haloDS/petition.html

chenry @ Jan 5th 2007 4:52PM

Unless we have some proof, i'm going to call shenanigans on this.

Paul @ Jan 5th 2007 11:27AM

you people are all morons.

Shad Genki @ Jan 5th 2007 11:39AM

IGN is not a reputable enough source for me to believe that this is true.

Player1 @ Jan 5th 2007 11:39AM

I played Halo 2 on the Gameboy Advance and it had xbox quality graphics and everything. Why is this true? Because I said so. I can even confirm it by saying so again if you ask me.

benjamin @ Jan 5th 2007 11:45AM

That's nothing, I played Gears of War on an Apple Lisa.

just_somebody @ Jan 5th 2007 12:10PM

This board's contributors are in rare form.. its like the perfect storm for a great quip.. a fusion of MS & Nintendo, plus a BS story...

Wish I had something funny to say too. No creative juices left on a Friday

Chaz @ Jan 5th 2007 2:19PM

It probably did exist. There was a talk of a Halo on the GBA game for a long while, and Bungie officially denied it. I just doubt it got Microsoft and Bungie's blessings considering Microsoft has licensed some other properties to both the GameBoy and DS (Age of Empires, Oddworld, and I think two others on the GBA). THQ published the GBA ones.

And considering the PSP Fanboy prediction of things to come in 2007, they did mention that Microsoft may license a property for a PSP game. Halo is now coming to the PSP instead?

J8675309 @ Jan 6th 2007 10:04PM

LOL @ #3

lacrossekid01 @ Jan 7th 2007 7:25AM

Man Joystiq really loves to hate on IGN editors.

Rufo Sanchez @ Jan 5th 2007 12:51PM

I think it's BS. Look at the date it was posted on... 1/4, the reverse of 4/1, aka April Fools Day, and how you actually write April 1st in Europe.

"looked exactly the same" my ass...

moofree @ Jan 5th 2007 1:11PM

Hmm... this gives me an idea.
I wonder if we could get Marathon to run on ds.

It's more fun than Halo anyway (especially multiplayer).

Majortom1981 @ Jan 5th 2007 12:46PM

See all the people did not read the actual blog.

He stated he played a Leaked copy. So it most likely can be found on the internet.

Eggman @ Jan 5th 2007 1:43PM

Would you guys seriously just shut up and actually either A. do a little research or B. stop jumping to conclusions based on absolutely nothing.

The project definitely existed. Nintendojo itself reported on when it was first in the works and I know IGN was following it. There were multiple articles on it from various sties at the time.

And the January 4th date thing? How completely out there and stupid do you have to be to actually believe that could really be the case?

Psyclerk @ Jan 5th 2007 1:43PM

This is not quite a joke, just missing some important data. Halo was never meant for the current DS. It IS headed to Nintendo's next handheld, whenever it comes out. Halo will take advantage of the system's new force feedback and other features. The new system will be called the Touch And React DS.

evolgenius @ Jan 5th 2007 2:02PM

It seems that people forget that MS does license their properties (Mechassault) to the DS, so this is definitely feasible.

Jokerswraith @ Jan 5th 2007 2:12PM

This is actually fact. I've been keeping up with the site. He confirmed it a few years ago.

Try to keep an open mind about these things.

moog @ Jan 5th 2007 2:39PM

Halo is such a poor substitute for a FPS, I don't know why anyone gives 2 shakes about the series to be honest. (much less to play it on a itty bitty DS screen)

Player1 @ Jan 5th 2007 2:31PM

Who here seriously thinks that Halo on the DS could look anything like Halo on the Xbox? Someone cited Mech Assault as a Microsoft property brought to the DS. Have you ever seen what it looks like? Nothing like the Xbox, is it? Unless he was totally kidding about that part, this doesn't make any sense.

sploy @ Jan 5th 2007 2:34PM

Microsoft, sony and nintendo will never work together in any way in the gaming industry. It's just stupid... it's like dell funding TV ads for compaq PCs or something... nobody helps out the competition.

crono141 @ Jan 5th 2007 2:43PM

"nobody helps out the competition."

Unless by doing so you make both parties rich. And this would. All the die hard halo fans (who don't currently own a DS) will rush out to buy one and a copy of this game (and maybe a few other games) making nintendo rich, and the software sales from this game on DS would make microsoft rich(er).

I wouldn't call it a match made in heaven, but since MS currently has no handheld console, there's really no reason the project couldn't have gone forward.

The fact it is cancelled highlights either a licensing issue, a hardware capacity issue, or could suggest MS wants to keep this to themselves for a future game playing handheld.

Ben Friesen @ Jan 5th 2007 2:40PM

@ 26

Microsoft isn't in the handheld market. Your Dell/Compaq argument is flawed. Consider also that Microsoft has a history of taking their franchises to Nintendo handhelds, and you just look like an idiot.

CP229 @ Jan 5th 2007 2:58PM

I don't think this is real....

Because they have one in the works for GBA!!!1

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3975561392871931198&q

(I know it's fake)

cynic79 @ Jan 5th 2007 3:32PM

For those asserting that Halo for the DS was, at any point, a reality:

Check the dates on the old articles you keep referencing. Were they dated April 1? Like this one:
http://nikon.bungie.org/news.html?item=15421

farmok @ Jan 5th 2007 5:51PM

Considering how eager Microsoft is to be buddy buddy with Nintendo (Wii60), I would not be surprised if Microsoft would hand its biggest franchise to Nintendo. The big N has already bowed out of the high power console race leaving Microsoft to battle Sony, and what better way to hurt them than to support their competitor.

The only thing I can think of for them canceling it is that they were not happy with how it turned out, since with this liscense, nothing short of excellent will do. Last thing you need is another Burnout DS.

Skyler Jermyn @ Jan 6th 2007 1:39AM

I don't get the hate. I read IGN all the time, as well as Matt C, who is the editor n chief of IGN nintendo, a quite professional at what he does. I've never been deceived by anything he has written, or anyone else on ign for that matter. That's more than i can say about blog news sites like this. No fense, i love Joystiq, its alot of fun. But I trust IGN more.As far as Im concerned this is true. If you dont think its possible, go play Metroid Hunters for DS.