MGS to MGS: Ryan Payton joins Microsoft Halo project; others confirmed on team

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 1st 2008 at 4:30PM }

Microsoft confirmed today that Ryan Payton, the assistant producer on Metal Gear Solid 4 who left Kojima Productions in August, will be working on a Halo game. Microsoft wouldn't confirm to Edge the rumors that Payton is heading the Peter Jackson Halo project, merely that he's on the team working on "upcoming and existing Halo games."

Also confirmed for this team: former Gearbox employee Corrine Yu; her husband and artist from id Software, Kenneth Scott; former Bungie content manager Frank O'Connor; and David Wu, former tech director at Full Auto developer Pseudo Interactive. We can't wait to learn what exactly this team is up to.

Tags: breakingnews, corrine-yu, frank-o-connor, halo, halo-chronicles, microsoft, ryan-payton

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Eggy @ Oct 1st 2008 4:37PM

Maybe there will finally be a Halo game with a decent story.

Neebs @ Oct 1st 2008 4:38PM

If you take in account all the backstory from the novels, Halo has at least a story as good as MGS's, if not better.

Eggy @ Oct 1st 2008 4:43PM

Lots of story does not equal a good story.

Erluti @ Oct 1st 2008 4:45PM

@Neebs

LOL! That's still saying "The plot will definitely be better than Beverly Hills Chihuahua."

Xoviet chiK @ Oct 1st 2008 4:52PM

I've never read the novels, or looked into any Halo related content not included on the game discs other than what was on the Halo 2 LCE DVD, the Halo 3 Legendary / Limited DVDs, and the Halo 2 Map Pack Disc.

Strictly based on what is presented in all three games, the Halo trilogy has a great story, and it is for the most part told very well. At the very least, it has an interesting story. The Arbiter also kicked ass in Halo 2.

Emophia @ Oct 1st 2008 5:42PM

As someone who's read the first 4 Halo books.

The story is decent, enjoyable, interesting, but nothing special.

It's not as convoluted as MGS's, but it doesn't have the memorable characters that MGS does.

Also Payton was the gameplay guy on MGS4, not the story guy/

Snowblind @ Oct 1st 2008 7:06PM

Even without reading into the backstory, the Halo games at the very least have a compelling storyline and some really great characters.

Anyone who says otherwise, hasn't played the games.

Jakka(A tribute to whose who fought and failed during the Epic Flamewar of L.A. Noir and MR.ESC) @ Oct 1st 2008 4:37PM

No? Noooooo? Nooooooooooooooo!

Jakka(A tribute to whose who fought and failed during the Epic Flamewar of L.A. Noir and MR.ESC) @ Oct 1st 2008 4:38PM

Wait, wasn't Kojima in charge of the main story!?

In that case, make it a Yes? Yeeees? Yeeeeeeeeees!

TheAzureKnight @ Oct 1st 2008 4:52PM

MGS4....?

What part of MGS4 did this guy work on exactly?

It depends on the answer as to whether or not this a good thing...

Immortal Technique PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Oct 1st 2008 4:59PM

He was the top dog under kojima ... Assistant Producer

He moved back to the states because of "personal family issues" ... I am glad for Ryan Payton because he is a nice guy and is dedicated to the industry

N-zero @ Oct 1st 2008 5:03PM

he worked on the game being translated from japanese to English. He basically was in charge of the English voiceovers and the lip synching of the characters. He basically was in charge of nothing that would affect gameplay or story in any game. Him being involved in any project as a director would mean that the game would be handled by somebody with no prior experience as to directing a game or even anything that could contribute to gameplay. So I could give a rats ass if he joins the halo team.

Cdelaney @ Oct 1st 2008 5:21PM

@N-zero

Wow. I don't think you could of said anything more stupid and ignorant than what you just said. Ryan payton had a HUGE impact on MGS4 he is the reason why the controls in MGS4 are so fucking good. He introduced the japanese team to more western style gaming. He is the one who was behind the Drebin shop. He helped fix up the story from the last few games, in which those games were made without a sequel in mind.
The guy is brilliant, whenever there was rumour or speculation about the game he came out and gave the press a decent good answer. Very few people who work on games can be found to do that.
I am very sad to see him leave Kojima productions because i think he was such an amazing member of the team. But he needed to move because of his family and now he has a job doing what he loves.
I wish him all the best of luck.

Duke @ Oct 1st 2008 5:31PM

Gotta agree with the above post, N-zero - you have no idea what Payton did for the game. You are seriously underselling him.

Mitochondria @ Oct 1st 2008 4:55PM

Lame, until they announce that they're re-releasing Halo CE with xbox live I'm all Gears.

Cyro @ Oct 1st 2008 4:59PM

Sounds like a good team.

Misfit Toy @ Oct 1st 2008 10:15PM

agreed

Marty @ Oct 1st 2008 5:04PM

So are they hiring him for his past experience and talent, or just because he worked on MGS and them hiring him for Halo makes it look like he jumped ship?

Duke @ Oct 1st 2008 5:34PM

I think he left them in August because he wanted to come back into the states for personal reasons. Then after that he scored the MS job.

Henry @ Oct 1st 2008 5:18PM

"Traitor!!!! how could Payton betray all MGS fans and leave to the enemy!!!! nooo!" that's what fanboys are screaming now... good for him.. he deserves it..all that hard work he put in MGS4 shows his dedication. Props to him. Let's see if he can put Halo to an even higher standard.

DangerMouse @ Oct 1st 2008 5:24PM

He removed the glasses, and we found out that he wasn't master miller after all.

Oh, spoiler alert.

philmcphail (Free Mr.ESC!) @ Oct 1st 2008 5:41PM

"Traitor!!!! how could Payton betray all MGS fans and leave to the enemy!!!! nooo!"

See, the thing is, so far, ONLY YOU are saying it. C'mon man, provoking flame wars is almost as bad as starting it.

Xoviet chiK @ Oct 1st 2008 5:43PM

@philmcphail

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/10/01/mgs4s-payton-joins-a-different-kind-of-mgs/

No, it's pretty much the fanboys who are screaming it as stated.

philmcphail (Free Mr.ESC!) @ Oct 1st 2008 5:54PM

@ Xoviet ChiK

Well of course they would have a fit, Its PS3 Fanboy! What I meant was starting a flamewar here by bringing up the subject, it would be no good.

Henry @ Oct 1st 2008 6:03PM

I am a big Metal Gear Solid fanatic, but in the good sense. What I wrote is the first thing I thought, but at the same time, this is a person's career with a family and aspirations in life, if he can get more money and better himself, by all means.

yojimb0 @ Oct 1st 2008 5:33PM

Dude seriously, who the hell is this guy. He was an *associate producer* on MGS4, how could he possibly have had such an enormous effect like everyone is claiming? I'm honestly thinking he's another Dave Jaffe... not necessarily mad talented but definitely mad loud and self promoting. I can't believe there have been this many articles and this much press on an associate producer.

Duke @ Oct 1st 2008 5:35PM

Try google to get some information. He had the effect he had, whether you think he could of or not.

Xoviet chiK @ Oct 1st 2008 5:37PM

Producers (and associate producers) are generally hands on. They work directly with the core development staff and influence how the game (film, whatever) is produced.

Don't get that confused with "Executive Producer," all they do is dole out cash and please licensors / censors / publishers / studios.