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E3 2008: Bungie ditches teaser campaign, reveal

[UPDATE] After Halo maker gates Web site with countdown timer, the developer abruptly cancels, apologizes for errant tease.

A week ago, Bungie relaunched its long-dormant podcast in style, offering Halo fans more than 90 minutes of analysis as well as a tantalizing teaser about the studio's next project. In a bit of banter to close out the show, show hosts Brian Jarrard and Luke Smith hinted that Bungie had "something going on" July 14, a day that just so happened to coincide with Microsoft's E3 Media & Business Summit press conference.

With rumors of a Ghost Recon-like Halo spin-off swirling the weekend before E3, Monday came and went without any substantive peep out of Bungie. What the developer did do, however, is gate its Web site with a teaser image. The gate flashes a litany of warning messages that range from "Please remain calm" to "Final notice: bill past due" to "Pardon our dust" to "Proceed with caution."

Along with the messages, the page displays a countdown timer, with an end date of Wednesday, July 16 at 7:07 a.m. The time isn't at all an out-of-the-ordinary selection, considering that Bungie has gone out of its way to incorporate the number seven ad nauseam in its popular Xbox 360-exclusive Halo franchise.

[UPDATE] Not a minute after this story was posted, Bungie updated its Web site, saying that it has decided to cancel its plans laid out above.

"For the last several months, we've been building toward a reveal of something exciting that Bungie is working on," said Bungie's Harold Ryan in a statement posted to the developer's site. "We were looking forward to sharing that with our fan community during the week of E3. However, those plans were just changed by our publisher. We realize that many of our fans are disappointed by this turn of events; members of the Bungie team share that disappointment. When the right time comes, we look forward to sharing this exciting announcement with you. Until then, we appreciate your continued support and patience."

201 Comments

  • Xeuton_Mojukai

    Posted Jul 27, 2008 12:38 pm PT

    I don't see what the big deal is. Sure, Bungie didn't explain what their big secret was, but then why should that dominate our thoughts? This E3 saw some pretty awesome announcements regardless. Between Fallout 3 and Lord of the Rings: Conquest, I don't see what any 360 users are missing out on.

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  • Jackyll87

    Posted Jul 27, 2008 2:12 am PT

    Bad Bad Bungie !

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  • scorch-62

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 7:41 pm PT

    Microsoft's reasoning behind the delay sucks...I was hoping for something awesome from Bungie this year

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  • xTheExploited

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 9:03 am PT

    When they do decide to announce the game or whatever it is, I hope it stays in first person. A third person halo game would be too wierd.

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  • leofiregod

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 8:31 pm PT

    seems par for the course with them

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  • TehFuneral

    Posted Jul 19, 2008 1:09 pm PT

    Not what i expected from you, bungie.

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  • Macgyver40

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 12:40 pm PT

    not good

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  • cooldude03

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 4:33 pm PT

    Bungie you have our attention when ever your ready. Just know that we exspect alot of quality and I know sometime that takes time. SO whenever your ready we will still be here.

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  • lettuceman44

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 2:02 pm PT

    Too bad

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  • mikewalsh69

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 1:24 pm PT

    i would actually be surprised if it wasn't a halo game

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  • killenu

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 1:21 pm PT

    dude...the peter jackson project is a halo movie, not a game, so chill out. It's also been postponed indefinitely.

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  • FallenOneX

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 12:55 pm PT

    But will it still be exciting by then?

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  • Intrakitt

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 12:42 pm PT

    Why does everyone keep mentioning "Peter Jackson's Halo Project"?! Does it even exist? Furthermore, what past experience does Peter Jackson have making videogames to warrant the slightest bit of excitement in the first place? The King Kong game? hah...I'm starting to think the "PJ Halo Project" is just vaporware created to fuel anticipation for something else Halo...that's probably all it is.

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  • GodLike500

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 8:13 am PT

    Is this the new type of marketing after viral marketing campaigns? How LAME!!!

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  • grambyte

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 6:05 am PT

    lol, Bungie is NOT in control... lol

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  • TurambarGS

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 4:08 am PT

    Booooo! It's not like Bungie to stick something up prematurely and then cancel it - they're normally spot on. Still, I definitely subscribe to the "do it right, rather than fast" theory, so if whatever it is they're working on takes longer, so be it - as long as when it rolls out it's an awesome product in tip top shape.

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  • Exile07

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 1:48 am PT

    They will announce Halo as an Hepatology! (Which is 7 games based on the Halo storyline) Come on it makes perfect sense, Halo 1-3 repeatedly kept saying that there were 7 Halo rings and only 3 have been discovered in the storyline. And with Bungie day on 7/7 (July 7) and them making their announcement at 7:07 pm it makes sense they will announce a new Halo game and extend the franchise all the way to Halo 7.

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  • 00Joseph00

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 12:33 am PT

    Their publisher is retarded because instead of continuing the announcement we got in our systems, we're just irritated and expecting the now delayed announcement.

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  • MCE01

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 6:31 pm PT

    So far we know that it's published by MS, it's on the 360, and it's a Halo that's not Halo Wars or the Pater Jackson game. I guess that leaves the squad based ODST game.

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  • Jedi_Osborn

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 6:14 pm PT

    typical bungie...NOT ms. just read ANYTHING frankie ever wrote before he left It was all the same crap. Frankie "this is the greatest thing EVER. You're all going to love it!!!'
    us "what is it"
    Frankie "I can't tell you.

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  • stillereize posted Jul 16, 2008 6:06 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    stillereize

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 6:06 pm PT (hide)

    Maybe their servers caught the Red Ring of Death.

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  • Hokkie

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 5:33 pm PT

    I was looking forward to what the next project might be. Lets hope not sharing the current info is worth the wait

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  • revczar

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 5:25 pm PT

    bungie and microsoft position is that anything bungie wants to make they can and microsoft has first dibs on their IP but they can make games for other consoles (most likely Wii and DS) just like RARE can

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  • Gamer4Iife

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 4:53 pm PT

    Booo, Microsoft ! I just hate broken promises.

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  • ghost_shelly

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 4:43 pm PT

    What happend again? i dont understand....

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  • Hungry_bunny 

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 3:59 pm PT

    I thought i heard the cries of a million fanboys.... I just didn't understand why until now.

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  • GhostOfSparta21

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 3:12 pm PT

    kind of slapped their fans across the face, didn't they?

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  • chinchilla16

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 1:50 pm PT

    Everyone keeps going on about how bungie will release games on PS3 but i thought Bungie went from 1st party to a 2nd party for microsoft so that in theory they can make whatever game they want but Microsoft publishes it for them. Before Microsoft would make Bungie create Halo games only now they can branch out a bit. Like how Naughty Dog is for Sony i think. Plus Microsoft owns the Halo IP so we'll never get a Halo game on another system without MS's permission. On the story i hope this game will Like a GRAW/halo thing or even a bit like the Star Wars Battlefront games and i don't think it would have hurt MS's other big news announcements to reveal this game aswell.

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  • LivingDeadNinja

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 1:44 pm PT

    I hope that next game is not published by Microsoft. Bungie plainly said they were dissapointed by their publishers canceling their reveal like that. If Microsoft is that one publisher, talk about a nasty move to do to the developpers that represents one of the main reason of your success...probably just because they wanted the crap they had for E3 to have a bigger impact not overshadowed by Bungie's game.

    Of course if Microsoft aren't publishing the game it's ok. No problem, nothing wrong. But if it's from Microsoft.....goddamned dirty!

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  • polsci1503

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 1:38 pm PT

    not good. It's not nice to tease fans like that and back out at the last possible minute.

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  • bulletwaster

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 1:37 pm PT

    A$$$$$$$$$!

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  • planetpib

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 1:18 pm PT

    Sounds interesting, hopefully this game will be different.

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  • aragon245

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 1:03 pm PT

    As long as they're still working on it, that's good. Still sucks that their publisher canceled...

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  • Civfan333

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 12:46 pm PT

    This..........sucks.....

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  • Gadeos

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 12:42 pm PT

    Jhon 7:7: "The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil" (7:07am... hm)
    Man I don't believe I'm falling for this Bungie's Bible stuff. Anyway, I really hope it's about the next Halo 'cause I want to know what's with the tech-planet (a-la-death star) that appears in Halo 3's final scene...

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  • Exile07

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 12:30 pm PT

    Well their publisher has to be Microsoft, since Microsoft doesn't want Xbox 360 and Halo fans to get over excited in an announcement about possibly a new Halo game. Besides, if Bungie did announce a new Halo game, the Final Fantasy XIII announcement would have been overshadowed (I guess) with a new major announcement from Bungie. Take your pick, a new teaser trailer for Bungie's new game or an announcement of FF XIII coming to the 360 at the end of Microsoft's E3 press conference?

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  • FremenSquid

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 11:54 am PT

    AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

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  • Henninger

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 11:52 am PT

    Sucks 4 all u Halo fans out there.

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  • SalarianChemist

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 11:50 am PT

    Bungie's games will never ever arrive on Playstation 3.

    Playstation 3 can't even get companies like EA and Sega to release Real-Time Strategy games like Command & Conquer 3, Battle for Midearth 2, Red Alert, or Universe at War.

    Playstation 3 can't even get companies like Square Enix to release RPG games like Infinite Undiscovery or Star Ocean on the Playstation 3.

    When Bungie talked about going to different "types" of platform and reaching a larger audience, they were strongly suggesting that they would support the Nintendo DS.

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  • epking

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 11:39 am PT

    micksy wrote: "This shows the strength of the 360, publishers quite litteraly can't afford to ignore the system with the largest fan base especially with the cost of making a next gen game."

    this is a very good analysis. totally agree. GTAIV sales basically 2 to 1 on x360 and just under that worldwide....and it's a simple fact that developers HAVE to go to x360 , and 9 out of 10 times the 360 is the lead development platform.

    as for Bungie, I'm sure the next game will be 360 at launch, but I'm almost positive it will arrive on the ps3 after 6 months or so. I could have sworn Bungie said that was one of the primary reasons they wanted independence....so they could have creative control and so games can reach a larger audience on multiple platforms.

    anyways, a squad based Halo game would be absolutely SICK!!!! I'd also love to see a Marathon remake.

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  • NoseWeed619

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 11:38 am PT

    That just frickin sucks. I was kinda curious as to what that was going to be. Might of been something great, like the Halo franchis.

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  • ck02623

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 11:37 am PT

    Haha what a buzzkill

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  • playstation_wii

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 11:08 am PT

    It wasn't much, but I loved it.

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  • swamptick

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 10:43 am PT

    Bungie will deliver and honest gamers will probably be pleased with the result. Bungie has not failed us yet in my opnion. While I am a little let down at not finding out sooner what is going on, I don't hold it against Bungie. These things happen. In Sony's case again and again and again and again and again.

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  • Chris_555_TK

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 10:28 am PT

    Hey Gamespot, how about a link to the article where MS confirms a new Halo game being made by Bungie?

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  • JoshChambers

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 10:07 am PT

    and bungie starts to unwind.

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  • micksy

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 10:06 am PT

    Anyone hoping for a multiplatform is going to be disapointed I think, Microsoft will have a very strong contract with bungie concerning their separation that gives MS a very strong hold on the studio. Either that or i could see MS re-buying bungie if they had to. Also I'm not suprised Sony is loosing exclusives all over, why? FF13 was announced very soon after MGS i'm betting they looked at MGS sales compared to GTA and thought theres no way we giving up that much money by sticking with sony. This shows the strength of the 360, publishers quite litteraly can't afford to ignore the system with the largest fan base especially with the cost of making a next gen game. Whilst people like Bungie receive support from MS that sony can only dream of giving publishers. Not to mention the fact that microsoft owns studios are making some amazing games a feat again which Sony hasnt mastered (this generation at least)

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  • tbolt_88

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 8:58 am PT

    Bungies the best company out there at causing so much hype by doing very little. They put up a teaser and everyones in a frenzy wanting to know what it is. Then they take it down and everyone wants even more to know. Bungie loves being so sneaky and tricky with how they operate.

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  • 360player_eq12 posted Jul 16, 2008 8:44 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    360player_eq12

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 8:44 am PT (hide)

    Fail for Bungie... my guess it was not a exclusive title and Microsoft didnt like it.

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  • Shooterdown

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 8:38 am PT

    If it is anything with Halo, then it will not be PS3. MS still has a hold of the title. Supposedly that was apart of the MS deal. Anything else can be open game. And for money purpose why would it not be.

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