Three ex-Bungie vets form Moonshot Games
by David Hinkle 
{ Oct 7th 2009 at 3:30PM } 
Tired of telling the tale of Master Chief and all of those spinning rings in space, three Bungie veterans have packed their bags and left the company, GI.biz reports. The trio -- Michel Bastien, Damián Isla and Rob Strokes -- have decided to embark on their own adventure together as Moonshot Games, a studio based in both the Seattle and Boston areas.There's no word on what the new studio will be focusing on, but with all three having spent years making Halo 2 and Halo 3, we'd say it's safe to assume the studio's new project won't include any AI constructs or multi-billion dollar cyborgs. Well, unless they decide to stick to what they know best ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Michelobius @ Oct 7th 2009 3:33PM
Cool logo, at least.
protofunc @ Oct 7th 2009 5:53PM
/clogs inbox
CH3BURASHKA @ Oct 7th 2009 3:33PM
Good luck, MOONeySHOT GAMES.
HedonisticKai @ Oct 7th 2009 3:34PM
mooneyshot?
Jose @ Oct 7th 2009 3:36PM
I'm so glad I'm not the only one whose mind went straight into the gutter upon reading this name.
CH3BURASHKA @ Oct 7th 2009 3:37PM
Moneyshot...
HedonisticKai @ Oct 7th 2009 3:44PM
no i understood it, i just felt like being an asshole =)
(sorry lol, been a looooooooooong day at work)
dark_inchworm (stronger than never, ever before) @ Oct 7th 2009 3:47PM
Do you receive money shots at work?
HedonisticKai @ Oct 7th 2009 3:53PM
^^ no.. just money to buy shots.
Jose @ Oct 7th 2009 4:03PM
In the eye?
HedonisticKai @ Oct 7th 2009 4:16PM
I tend to aim for the mouth, but accidents can happen
Jose @ Oct 7th 2009 4:41PM
You know, you really shouldn't have to pay for that.
CH3BURASHKA @ Oct 7th 2009 4:42PM
I get 10+ dirty, dirty replies and I get voted down? Eff you people, and stop clogging my inbox.
HedonisticKai @ Oct 7th 2009 5:04PM
Jose, why? You get yours for free?
CH3BURASHKA, you started it.
Jose @ Oct 7th 2009 5:10PM
Heck yeah they're free. All I gotta do is tap on the guys foot in the next stall, no money involved at all.
HedonisticKai @ Oct 7th 2009 5:22PM
Oh, i think i just realized we are talking about two completely different topics..
...... quietly walks away.
Jose @ Oct 7th 2009 5:24PM
That makes your "aim for the mouth" comment all the more precious.
protofunc @ Oct 7th 2009 5:43PM
>.>
MRLN @ Oct 7th 2009 6:19PM
If I bought a shot, I'd hope I aimed for the mouth. Alcohol just doesn't have the same effect dribbling down your shirt.
HedonisticKai @ Oct 30th 2009 9:54AM
MRLN knows what im talking about lol.. thankfully someone does.
kojo87 @ Oct 7th 2009 3:40PM
i have a sneaking feeling they are just going to make more of the same stuff. having never liked Halo i can't say im at all interested in this so far. that said i hope they make something awesome
Space @ Oct 7th 2009 4:32PM
I'd assume they want to do something different but I would also assume that they have a very friendly relationship with microsoft. And microsoft may have something in mind for them already.
TrendGiveAfuck @ Oct 7th 2009 3:43PM
Starship Marathon in true 3D! Wooo!
Deezul @ Oct 7th 2009 3:46PM
"A different take on a FPS" will be their first game.
manyquestions @ Oct 7th 2009 5:28PM
Well there's already a one-up on Halo. ;)
Perhaps they'll make a transition. Start out with what they know, making a game that is essentially an FPS with some interesting twists, then using what they learned from the "twists" part, gradually venture out into different genres. That'd sure be a refresher. Give me that plus multiplatform and you guys will have yourself a loyal customer.
HedonisticKai @ Oct 7th 2009 3:46PM
"Moonshot is pledged to the exploration and development of high-quality downloadable games."
download only?? or what you guys take from this sentence?
www.moonshotgames.com
Wes @ Oct 7th 2009 3:58PM
I take from this that its much easier to get funding for your first few games if you develop small projects as opposed to large expensive products. Companies like to invest in small projects because there's less risk than $30,000,000.00 grandiose blockbuster style projects.
Once they have 5-6 downloadable games under their belt with good sales track records, then they can pitch to publishers or developers, "Hey, remember how we kept asking for $2,000,000.00 and make all those successful projects? Now we need 20 mil."
Jport1975 @ Oct 7th 2009 4:07PM
Perhaps the first title will be a cooking game, main character is Master Chef.....FPS of course. :-/
Drew -- PS360: uphillbothways @ Oct 7th 2009 5:59PM
Frying Pan Skills?
AdamJ @ Oct 7th 2009 3:57PM
As long as the games are good I'm interested.
Katana Master @ Oct 7th 2009 4:12PM
As with any game developers.
Tom Kalinske, CEO. (tomkalinske.blogspot.com) @ Oct 7th 2009 4:01PM
Activision's next acquisition target?
mgsrocks1 @ Oct 8th 2009 1:45AM
Nah most new studios started by ex employees of a 1st party or a 2nd party studio have a contract with their parent company, in this case Microsoft or Bungie.
Katana Master @ Oct 7th 2009 4:08PM
They are stupid, Bungie is one of the best developers out there and making all the Dosh. (These guys leaving must explain why there was 3 extra spots open in there jobs section on there website, lol)
HedonisticKai @ Oct 7th 2009 4:18PM
look at it this way... now we may have not just 1, but 2 great teams making us more games... at the same time =P
NeoMahi @ Oct 7th 2009 4:34PM
Hey, they've got quite the resume. I didn't like Halo with all the hype and all that crap, though I'm sure their loyalties will still remain with Microsoft, as Microsoft has built them up their whole lives, also considering they had that chance when they left Microsoft the first time, but still made Halo games... If they can do what other Third-Party developers are too hackin lazy to do and build a quality game for the PlayStation 3, well... Then I'm in. But I still think their relationship with Microsoft will be way to strong.
There's a possibility they know something about Natal everyone else doesn't they aren't happy with. But if they really wanted to just make other games, they would have done it at Bungie and would have made a pile of money for their games off the BUNGIE name. I don't know.... This sounds suspicious, something isn't right. Maybe they're a spy network to spy on Nintendo and Sony to learn their stratagy. Maybe Microsoft doesn't have to buy EA, they can fan out their developers and Executives to other companies who relay business stratagy for Nintendo and Sony. Developers do get new hardware for developers games and Motion Control for Sony comes out in the spring and Microsoft doesn't release to the end of the year. Hm...
Bane @ Oct 7th 2009 4:35PM
As a long time fan of Bungie, these guys are irrelevant and I wish them luck. I can name about 20 employees for Bungie and I've never heard of these guys.
kentuckyfried @ Oct 7th 2009 4:40PM
Bring back Marathon!
Drew -- PS360: uphillbothways @ Oct 7th 2009 4:51PM
I always considered Halo to be a spiritual successor to Marathon. A lot of the weapons were similar, and it was space.... and the marathon symbol showed up in Halo... Ok, so there aren't a lot of similarities, but I've always thought it was Marathon's successor nonetheless.
jsmuli2 @ Oct 7th 2009 4:49PM
I am interested in what they have in store for the gaming industry
J.Goodwin @ Oct 7th 2009 5:12PM
Hopefully it will go better than Wideload.
With Stubbs and "Hail to the Chimp" under their belts, I'd say the most they've achieved so far was getting bought out by Disney.
HardBoiled2009 @ Oct 7th 2009 5:21PM
if Bungie left Microsoft why can't they make something for us Playstation 3 ?.. Halo is over hyped and it also wasn't that good it was o.k but if these people split from Bungie then why should they still have to Strongly support Microsoft ? just cause people say Microsoft made them ? i think that's a stupid reason it's not like Microsoft owns their lives VIA Contract.
i really like too see Bungie make a game for Playstation 3 ... anyone else wanna see that ?
HedonisticKai @ Oct 7th 2009 5:24PM
dream on.. bungie is ours... Well give you some bungie if you give us some naughty dog... even though we will probably take that just like we got GTA and Final Fantasy over on our side as well
TJFadness @ Oct 7th 2009 5:54PM
"It's not like Microsoft owns their lives VIA Contract."
But they own the publishing rights...
And why do you care?
"Halo is over hyped and it also wasn't that good it was o.k"
"i really like too see Bungie make a game for Playstation 3"
...?
JACK @ Oct 8th 2009 12:01AM
"bungie is ours... Well give you some bungie if you give us some naughty dog... even though we will probably take that just like we got GTA and Final Fantasy over on our side as well"
lame..
Kevin949 @ Oct 7th 2009 5:41PM
I predict....Octagon!
protofunc @ Oct 7th 2009 5:57PM
Damn you commenting system! I sacrificed my carnal treasure and unborn child to you because you promised you would always do me right!
Above comment was for CH3BURASHKA :(
protofunc @ Oct 7th 2009 5:58PM
Oh gawd i give up.
Mr.ESC @ Oct 7th 2009 6:16PM
"One of these days Bungie, POW! straight to the Moon"
HardBoiled2009 @ Oct 7th 2009 6:35PM
@HedonisticKai NaughtyDog is First Party For Sony Bungie Parted way with Microsoft their's a difference so you can Dream On.
@TJFadness tho Bungie broke away from Microsoft whatever game Bungie Makes is and still can only for Microsoft ? doesn't sound like they split way with Microsoft too me.
Also for the why do i care comment. cause i would love too see them make a game For Playstation 3 and see how it turns out for them. i'm not calling Bungie Bad or horrible but also the team Moonshot games i would love too see Both of them make Sony titles as well. as for the own their lives i mean the 3 who left Bungie .. not Bungie themselves Sorry if i confused you their.