14 DAY TRIAL // Bungie is pretty sure that the new videogaming universe it is creating to be published by Activision Blizzard will be even better than the Halo universe built in conjunction with Microsoft. The problem for videogame lovers is that the developers are saying they will only be talking about their new franchise at some point in 2011.
Joe Staten, who is the design director at Bungie, told Gamasutra, “We're in a really strong position with, I think, a lot of really good plans. This is an opportunity for us to try to do it all again, but even better and bigger this time.”
He said that the developers learned a lot while working on Halo, adding, “If we look back 10 years ago, we only wish we had this kind of foresight. At that time, we were terrified about shipping a single title for launch for a new platform on time. To be honest, we weren't thinking too much beyond that.”
The first Halo was built as the shooter experience to help sell the first Xbox home gaming console from Microsoft and there was no clear expectation for sequels when it came out. The Master Chief featuring videogame reached a huge audience and spawned two direct sequels, a strategy spinoff in Halo Wars and the standalone ODST experience from last year.
The collaboration between Bungie and Microsoft is ending this year with the launch of Halo: Reach, a prequel to the first game in the series and features a squad of Spartans battling the Covenant in what will be known as humanity's biggest defeat. The multiplayer beta for the game is already live and open for all those who have a new copy of Halo 3: ODST. Bungie has not yet offered too many details linked with the single player but more is expected to be unveiled at the E3 trade show.