E308: Bungie responds to 'hoax' speculation

Bungie.net has been updated. No, nothing was announced. That was canceled, but the update has come in the form of a quick-n-dirty Q&A regarding the situation. Responding specifically to internet claims that Bungie was masterminding a plot to trick fans only to later reveal an 'OMG-megaton,' Bungie's Luke Smith posted an update today -- and please, really listen.

"As much as fans wanted to believe otherwise, this is in fact, the truth and not a cruel hoax or prank. E3 is winding down and there are no plans to make a surprise announcement later this week," Smith wrote.

Smith does assure fans that everyone at Bungie is aware of their disappointment and even share in it as "a metric ton" of work was done to create and showcase something special at 7:07am this morning. Smith also does well by the community by answering some of the more controversial questions later last night.

Smith revealed that Bungie learned of the postponement near 7pm and for the sake of tradition timed the release that that time. The splash image was not removed for people who were not online during the situation and went to Bungie the next morning looking for details. Finally, Luke Smith assured fans that former tester Harold Ryan is the current president of Bungie LLC.

Reader Comments (19)

Even though this sucks, I still

at least MS leaked that its a halo game... or that there is a halo game

I'll bet it's a new IP, actually. As big as Halo has been for Bungie, this seemed a bigger deal than just another sequel/prequel. Plus the whole "Superintendent" character didn't seem to fit into the Halo universe. I'll bet it was a gameplay concept different from any previous Bungie game, and that's why they were so excited about it...

So when will we find out??? Damnit MS!!! This was your one fuckup!

It sucks that this happened but not a lot Bungie can do about it. If their publisher (MS?) says they can't reveal what it is yet, then theres nothing they can do but keep quiet until they are allowed.

That's kind of shitty of them. If there was any kind of decent communication between Bungie and MS this wouldn't have happened.

Personally I think Halo's pretty average so this isn't breaking my heart, but I know there are a lot of disappointed fans out there.

I wonder if Bungie would be able to/considering postponing the project for a while as a strike against their publisher. I mean if they have spent a few months prepping up the ARG and all the team working extra hard to get it ready then the publisher to say cancel! wait a while. Surely Bungie will want some extra pay to cover for the extra work. Just a thought :)

What ARG? "Superintendent" wasn't an ARG. There was a countdown. That isn't an Alternate Reality Game.

Oh sorry :D I thought they had one going in the forums? Well sorry I just mean all the effort they have put in to hype it up even little things in the webcams etc

I'm guessing they have no right to complain/stop work (contract already signed with the publisher) just they aren't going to be very happy as they are very passionate guys. Bungie.net could be a little shakey on information in the coming weeks depending if this becomes a dispute or if the reason was seen as valid by Bungie.

As people have said before, if this is MS then they could of been using Bungie as a backup if Sony or Nintendo had anything special to show at E3 and as they didn't have too much MS will leave Bungie for a while and use there other titles as publicity.

Hopefully there is a good reason for all of this and Bungie staffers won't be too angry with the decision and continue to work for an even more spectacular announcement. Sorry for the confusion Xav de Matos, I should of really said random viral advertising? :)

I guess Bungie isn't as "Independent" as they thought they were...

Looks like leaving MS has really helped Bungie out. They are still making the same kind of fuck ups they did when they were with MS.

People, people.

MS only postponed the announcement 'cause after seeing the Nintendo and Sony press briefings there was no need to reveal their Ace.

Wait until PAX. I'm sure they'll do it then. To steal the thunder from any announcements the competition might have.

If that's seriously the case, then that's even crappier. I don't give a crap about one uping the other guy. If Bungie had an announcement coming, and everyone was sitting around waiting for it, then you don't just come in and say, "No! Not yet!" It's too late for that crap. We all knew something was coming. MS should have swooped in before we had any idea what was going on. Now you just have a bunch of pissed off fans. And that's never good.

I for one agree with Microsoft's delay, E3 is too small, Microsoft had a good showing and whatever Bungie has got is like an ace in the hole, best save that card for when you need to cover up a huge fuck-up...

Stupid mistake by microsoft. Even though sony didnt have a strong enough showing at this E3 to truely need something bigger than the news of FFXIII, they should of still completely pwned the opposition by giving a sneak glipse at a future title..a future exclusive at that. Especially with the already existing marketed build up for it.

They're in danger now of having a Halo overkill at their next main showing... this, halo wars, peter jacksons halo.

Besides the fact that they already messed up and revealed it is indeed a new halo game, so whats the point in holding back an official announcement that Bungie have actually spent time and money getting together if microsoft are going to let out what it is anyway?? Crazy.. just when you think microsoft are starting to "get" this console business.

I find it somewhat amazing that people are so upset over this. It's not like Bungie was about to announce to solution to global poverty and Microsoft told them no.

It's just a game from a mediocre franchise, and it's not even like anyone knows anything about it. Ergo, nothing was lost.

All the people falling on the floor and having toddler-tantrums over this need a frontal lobotomy.

"a metric ton" of work was done to create and showcase something special at 7:07am...this is pretty depressing, lol but the announcement will happen eventually though...omg i cannot wait!

Here is MS's official excuse...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/07/halo-bungie-e3.html

"Don't make a girl a promise... if you know you can't keep it"

E308: Bungie responds to 'hoax' speculation

Reader Comments (19)

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 4:03PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 4:15PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 5:14PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 4:30PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 4:31PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 4:35PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 4:48PM MaxiLive said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 4:58PM Xav de Matos said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 5:08PM MaxiLive said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 4:51PM Munkcy said

Posted: Jul 17th 2008 2:32AM dargis49 said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 5:01PM shenlong77 said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 5:42PM anoffday said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 5:14PM Kamizar said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 6:31PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 7:19PM Sentox said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 8:20PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 16th 2008 11:55PM Clatu6 said

Posted: Jul 17th 2008 12:42PM (Unverified) said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning had to sell 3M 'just to break even,' RI governor says

Featured Stories

Editorial: 38 Studios and the Dunkin delusions

Our own Alexander Sliwinski talks 38 Studios with Fox 25 News

The politics of making games: Disconnect between 38 Studios and Rhode Island in quotes

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW