Bungie - A One-Trick Pony?
Some game developers pride themselves on meeting new challenges and delivering new experiences. Others are content with retreading sequel after sequel of a single brand.
After announcing their fifth Bungie-developed Halo game, we wonder if Bungie has maxed out their potential? Of course, when you have a juggernaut of a brand like Halo, one would be foolish to neglect a blue chip in lieu of new, untested intellectual property (IP). But that is not to say that game companies should be conservative with their portfolio. There are no growth, no rewards without risk.
On the contrary, game companies like Epic, Sucker Punch, Naughty Dog, and Insomniac have leveraged the success of former franchises into the next, and in some cases kept both franchises alive on a rotating schedule.
Epic made their name with Unreal and yet successfully timed the launch of new IP along with the 360 launch -- namely Gears of War, which has since gone on to rival the success of Unreal and may have penetrated further into society's gaming and mainstream consciousness than ever did its predecessor -- all on the merits of continued innovation [Note: there has been talk of a Gears movie adaptation]. Even so, Epic remains devoted to Unreal, which remains a viable product for them.
Sucker Punch made a trio of beloved Sly Cooper games and recently launched another critical and commercial hit with Infamous. Naughty Dog gained notoriety with Crash Bandicoot, then Jak and Daxter, and now Uncharted.
Alongside Naughty Dog, Insomniac is perhaps one of the most accomplished developers and their creativity seems evergreen. They cornered the PlayStation with their mascot Spyro games, transitioned to the PS2 with their Ratchet and Clank series, and forged ahead with Resistance at the launch of PS3. Now Insomniac trades off releases between Ratchet and Resistance, satisfying new and old fans alike. Rare with its venerable stable of classic IPs, continues to set benchmarks higher with new IP like Viva Pinata and Kameo and even reinvented beloved IPs, like with Bango-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts.
With so many examples of great game developers who've time and again successfully launched new franchises, it begs the question why Bungie can't seem to gather the courage to step out from their comfort zone and give gamers a new experience, even if in between Halo releases. From this standpoint, it's fair to ask whether or not Bungie is indeed a one-trick pony, with their creativity hanging by a rope.
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Comments
JoeBob
- June 16, 2009 6:40 AM
Make that a three trick pony. Marathon and Oni are also Bungie IP's :)
Bungie is working on things other than Halo
- June 16, 2009 6:44 AM
MS and Bungie stated many times that there are secret projects other than Halo they are working on. We have not seen them show it, because they are not ready to show it.
Bungie themselves stated that the reason they wanted to become independent was that they did not want keep working on just Halo, because some of the staffs wanted to develop new things. So the writer assumption that they just want to make Halo because they don't know how to do other things is not accurate.
Remember Myth the Fallen Lord on the PC? It was one the few RTS games that captivated me during that generation. Bungie made that.
Three things that keep the Halo games alive in their pipeline:
1) it's their big baby, some staffs are still passionate about doing more work on it.
2) as an independent studio, they need to be sure they can pay the salaries. Halo is their secured rice bowl. Got to keep everyone well fed before you let them lose to tinker with other stuffs.
3) MS wants them to keep making Halo games. And many Halo fans want to see more of Halo.
MS has to be carefull with the pacing of new Halo annoucements. Too much too soon will create a franchise burnout effect.
Certainly, I am more excited about Bungie's non Halo plans. I am not that big a fan of shooters. My guess is we will hear more before next E3.
Guy
- June 16, 2009 7:36 AM
WFT?
Are you familiar with games like Oni? Myth? Marathon? Bungie knew a few tricks long before Halo...
But when you make such a good game series, people expect to see more of that. Do you consider Infinity Ward (COD series) to be a one trick pony as well?
Nate
- June 16, 2009 8:47 AM
Stop living in the past Joe and live in the now.
Yes Bungie is currently a one trick pony. Name 1 game other than Halo the made in the last 10 years...thats right, you can't. Hell, they were working on Halo since before it came out in 2001.
Like the author stated, other companies are venturing out but Bungie is scared to, at least right now they are. I know they are working on a new ip, possibly several but they will forever be know as the Halo guys, not that thats a bad thing, I guess.
zerosrossing
- June 16, 2009 12:00 PM
ok Micro Soft owns Bungie so its only profitable for them to rehash halo games
and halo is the ONLY great game they have made on the xbox/xbox 360 so it only makes sence to keep making halo NOMATTER HOW BAD IT GETS BECAUSE THE BRAIN DEAD FANS WILL KEEP BUYING ANYTHING THAT SAYS HALO! so theres the answer to your qwestion.
check yo facts
- June 16, 2009 12:21 PM
when bungie broke away from microsoft they signed a contract that stated that they would make 2 more halo games exclusively for xbox. those 2 my guess would be odst and reach. after this they are free from microsoft's clutches to do what they want
dcbronco
- June 16, 2009 6:13 PM
Like JoeBob mentioned, I think this is about money. Microsoft took the lion's share of the Halo money and Bungie needs financing. They make two or three Halo games and they have a lot more money than most developers are working with. It makes a lot of sense for them. During a time when it's hard to get money from a bank, why not make your own.
Careful Dave
- June 19, 2009 6:24 AM
I would have to agree. Bungie and MS are one trick ponies.
Fairly good game but it feels tired and wrung dry now
They need fresh blood and new ideas....