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Bungie Hiring PC Developers
Gamespot reports that Halo-maker Bungie Studios is seeking PC developers for an unnamed project. From the article: "Taken in and of themselves, the listings are merely interesting. However, the wording of the graphics programmer job description has many positively convinced that Bungie is porting Halo 2 to the PC, in-house. 'This is an opportunity to influence the direction of Windows gaming technology in MGS [Microsoft Game Studios],' reads the post after first teasing, 'Want to work on the biggest franchises for Microsoft Game Studios?' Since becoming part of Microsoft Game Studios, Bungie has worked on only one franchise for the division--Halo."
maybe they'll actually finish it this time.
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This is silly. My bet is that they're hiring PC developers to not only port Halo 2 but also because PC developers are better suited for next gen consoles. Current gen console developers have dealt their whole lives with limits waaaaay under next gen, while PC games are already there. Just like PC companies like Valve hired movie people when they first started working on their high end next gen content (HL2), a developer like Bungie would have an interest in people who are experienced with advanced technology just around the corner.
Against stupidity the Gods themselves contend in vain.
But more importantly, why would they need to hire someone new to do this? Windows DirectX and Xbox DirectX have been converging all along, and they already ported Halo - but if anything, porting Halo 2 should be easier.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
The first part of your comment was correct. However, the last part is incorrect. You already said they are hiring Windows developers, not "PC" developers, then say you need to write a Linux version to be a "PC" developer. If you want a true "PC" developer, then write in Java. Otherwise you are a Windows developer or a Linux developer, or BSD, Solaris, etc.
And, FWIW, I really hope Halo 2 comes to the PC. They bumped up the graphics for Halo 1 and playing online with a full screen was lots of fun.
Unfortunately commercial games written for Linux are still a pain as they don't usually get written in such a way as to keep working across major kernel versions. Probably just as well to just write an XBox emulator for Linux.
At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
This is also news to the fairly large group of people that unfortunatly purchased Gearbox's incredibly horrible port of Halo 1. Most of those people would likely breath a large sigh of relife to know that Bungie will do Halo 2 PC in house.
So, given your inability to parse the relevant information out of that headline and assosiated blurb, I have to wonder why you even care. If gaming news does not interest you, simply block it, don't come in here and troll around as AC.
If forums teach us anything, it is that logic and critical thinking should be required courses in the public schools.
Never mind that Halo PC started outselling Doom III at a time when Halo PC had been out for months, and Doom III for weeks. Halo PC was one of the crappiest ports ever, and it still did quite well.
English is easier said than done.
A little while ago, MS made this huge deal about a thing called XNA. I don't know exactly what it does or how easy it makes game development, but I do know that it was supposed to further bridge the PC-Xbox platform development gap. With Carmack doing most of his development on the 360, a Windows developer would be right at home making a game on the 360, right?
They're probably hiring people to work on their next game for the 360, I doubt MS would be too thrilled that resources are being spent on a PC title. But then again, I didn't check the link so I could be way off.
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Bungie is planning an MMO based in the Halo universe. In order to make the game successful, they will need both PC and Xbox 360 clients. The game will be more action based than most MMOs and will take advantage of integrated voice.
P.S. I'm full of crap
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The reason for a Halo2 port seems obvous: The goal is to sell more Xbox 360's. So far, there is no killer app for the console. Halo 3 is the obvious current front-runner. But only gamers who own an Xbox or with friends who own an Xbox have been able to play Halo 2. So the excitement is curently limited to customers who are already fans of the Xbox. If Halo 2 is available for the PC, however, then the audience for the game opens up. If the PC version is done well, it can drive more people to the franchise. Which means that the number of people who anticipate Halo 3 increeases, the buzz increases, and hopefully more hype means both more console and title sales and the stealing of PS3's thunder. The timing of hiring developers now, however, makes me question when they would expect to ship Halo 2 PC. If Halo 3 is coming out 'the day PS3 ships', then I doubt the port will be ready to ship before Halo 3. So I'm suprised they are hiring people this late. I think a Halo 2 port to the PC is a no brainer. So is selling it at a loss-leader price, like $30, to increase sales and therefore the potential Xbox purchaser market. But the timing, that's throwing me a bit. i'd expect this to be almost ready to ship by now. That would the product to hit the shelves a month or two before Halo 3, and work the buzz. Unless MS knows something about PS3 that we don't.
Always remember, Bungie has never been in the business of "making Mac games." Their business has always been "Total world Domination." If 'shackling' themselves to the biggest software company on Earth furthers the goal, then so be it.
For Bungie, "selling out" would be throwing off a Mac port on which they lose money.
Take care,
Mark
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