Microsoft names internal Halo label?

Source: See below. What we heard: The intermittent efforts of the proprietor of Superannutation to sift through the slurry of often-unreliable information on the Internet has yielded another data diamond. The blog has posted a link to a July 17 US Patent and Trademark Office filing by Microsoft for...

Source: See below.

What we heard: The intermittent efforts of the proprietor of Superannutation to sift through the slurry of often-unreliable information on the Internet has yielded another data diamond. The blog has posted a link to a July 17 US Patent and Trademark Office filing by Microsoft for the term "343 Industries" for use with "computer programs, namely, game software for use on computers and video." Other than Microsoft's address and attorney of record, no other information was given.

Though the number "343" might mean nothing to many gamers, it has major significance to fans of the Halo series. First and foremost, it is the name of 343 Guilty Spark, one of the series' most humorous, enigmatic, and--ultimately--lethal foes. An artificial intelligence housed inside a diminutive-but-powerful metal shell (pictured) built by the Forerunner race which constructed the game's titular ringworlds, 343 was worshipped as "The Oracle" by the multiracial interstellar theocracy known as the Covenant--the game's primary antagonist race. Unfortunately, for much of the Master Chief story arc, the machine is focused on activating the Halo arrays and destroying all life in the galaxy.

The name "343 Industries" also sounds less like a game and more like a label--a label that would be perfectly apt for the internal division of Microsoft Game Studios dedicated to the Halo franchise. The group, which currently has no distinct title, has drawn some notable names to its ranks, including former Kojima Productions producer Ryan Payton and Bungie alum Frank O'Connor. The Halo series' creator, the now-independent Bungie Studios, is still developing new installments, such as this fall's Halo 3: ODST and next year's Halo: Reach.

The official story: "We have nothing to announce at this time." --Microsoft rep.

Bogus or not bogus?: While thin, it's looking not bogus. Unless Microsoft is planning some sort of Railroad Tycoon-type manufacturing simulator, 343 Industries is almost certainly not a game. And if it's an internal studio--which many publishers give distinct identities to foster talent--the number points squarely at the Halo franchise.

[UPDATE] At Comic-Con, Microsoft announced 343 Industries is indeed a new division which will oversee the creation of Halo books, clothing, collectibles, and other content as well as liasing with studios such as Bungie on games.

176 Comments

  • Poison_1vy

    Posted Jul 27, 2009 12:20 pm PT

    Halo didnt revolutionize anything for me wow run and gun other game like r6 were 10x better than halo

  • geedotherodian

    Posted Jul 25, 2009 3:14 pm PT

    @lord chancelor that isn't how the game ends

  • lordchancelor

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 11:45 am PT

    the end stinks. WHAT kind of ending was that?

  • cptpeg

    Posted Jul 22, 2009 6:39 am PT

    @SalarianChemist

    My mistake, I thought it was only being released as a large DLC expansion, I hadn't heard that they were releasing it on disc.

  • SalarianChemist

    Posted Jul 22, 2009 5:15 am PT

    @parhar67:

    You are correct.

    Gamespot recently wrote an article explaining that the newly released Killzone 2 was already being outsold by Halo 3 on a monthly basis -- even though Halo 3 had been on the market for 21 months.

  • SalarianChemist

    Posted Jul 22, 2009 5:07 am PT

    @cptpeg:

    Halo 3: ODST is definitely a "full game."

    Halo 3: Orbital Drop Shock Trooper is its own "independent" game. You don't even need to be an owner of Halo 3 in order to play Halo 3: ODST; although, Halo 3: ODST does come with all 21 maps from Halo 3, plus 3 new maps.

    The developers and publishers of Halo 3: ODST have repeatedly said in interviews that although the game may have started out with the idea of becoming an "expansion" to Halo 3, it eventually grew in size and scope to becoming a full game. This is the reason why the game originally was named Halo 3: Recon, but was then renamed Halo 3: ODST.

    Halo 3: ODST keeps the "Halo 3" name simply because it is taking place at the same time as Halo 3 -- which looks at things from the point of view of the Spartan soldier named Master Chief.

    Halo 3: ODST is the size and length of a full game -- it has just as much depth, if not more than the majority of games on the market today. In fact, Halo 3: ODST has a new Co-Op mode called "Fire-Fight" which is similar to the Horde mode found in Gears of War 2.

    I'm excited for Halo 3: ODST because it looks at things from the point of view from a Shock Trooper rather than a Spartan.

    I made sure to preorder my copy of Halo 3: ODST from Gamestop as soon as Gamespot reported that you can get a special "token" that allows you to play as Sgt. Johnson! Gamestop is the only store offering this promotion. It doesn't cost anything to preorder, but you do need to place a $5 deposit.

    Halo 3: ODST is going to be fun with all the new multi-player and co-op modes, along with the awesome graphics!

  • parhar67

    Posted Jul 22, 2009 2:25 am PT

    yeh halo 3 does suck....thats why there have been over a BILLION matches online right? Where will killzone 2 be in 2 years....probably dead they will shut the server down because nobody will use it anymore

  • cptpeg

    Posted Jul 22, 2009 2:01 am PT

    At the end of the day if you don't want to play another Halo game, don't buy it!

  • cptpeg

    Posted Jul 22, 2009 1:57 am PT

    @STZ513
    To be fair ODST isn't a full game it's an expansion, but I do see your point. I also agree that Halo games aren't the best games in the world and they do have their faults, but it doesn't make them any less enjoyable and I'm sure any additions to the series will be just as fun.

    Although what I'm saying is what difference does it make if 4 games come out in 4 years, 4 months or 4 decades. If the developers have put the effort into it and made a quality game it shouldn't matter how many games from the same series are released. The reason people continue making games from the same series is because they have been proven as successful in the market, so especially when the economy is in the state it's in, a lot of developers are not going to want to try something new at the risk that no one will like it.

    I know it kinda sucks always seeing the same faces and names appearing across the gaming world but we should be happy with the fact that we a getting a constant flow of good playable games and they aren't always knocking out crap.

  • benashley

    Posted Jul 22, 2009 12:01 am PT

    oops sorry BenBenBen93 should of read yours before posting, never mind hay! great minds think alike

  • benashley

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 11:59 pm PT

    you can tell just by looking at bg_fernandez's killzone avatar pic, that hes a PS3 fashionChav fan boy, who will bad mouth anything Xbox does. Milking it? how many MGS titles are they going to churn out, not to mention FF. Do us all a favour and go away little boy.

  • BenBenBen93

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 7:01 pm PT

    @okassar. i would happily see a new halo game every year than see one every 4 years. at the momment its HALO milked this halo milked that. well MGS. and mario and sonic and Call of duty and hum lets see oh yer the new final fantasy 13 franchise. but its ok because sony is milking it not the xbo.

  • BenBenBen93

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 6:55 pm PT

    so instead of bungie doing the game their gong to do a hostile take over of bungie an disband it and create a new studio called 343 industries? i suppose its good for the halo franchise but certainly not good fo anything else

  • okassar

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 5:47 pm PT

    I watched just watched the video GS posted on this article,brings back good memories Man I love Halo,you just cannot deny how epic it is.

    I'm sure you wouldn't mind if I say that MGS and Mario are being milked...right?

    Get out of here.If it is called milking,then hell Bungie,give me all the milk you can make.

  • sleath_hunter33

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 5:24 pm PT

    alright both sony and mircosoft enjoy milking their games because it gets them money. mgs and halo r world know games true mgs has been around longer and halo gain a rapid fan base the point is u choose to pay for the game and to keep the money flowing companies make sequels if the game failed their would be no sequels after a while games take a dive. halo is the same thing over and over again shoot stupid A.I.s while avoid death and mgs is hide or die in truth gets boring after playing the same thing 100 times but the name gets people to buy thats y fps are dieing and almost no one makes spy games y did the mission impossible and bond games fall out of favor something over and over. for the frst 10 times its fun after a while u dont think about it i have all 3 halos and only play it online when im bored other wise i play rpgs. but its ur money that drive this games to success not the game if no one buys them their thrown out

  • facistinabag

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 5:15 pm PT

    @ acsam12304

    Once again I have no clue what you are saying. You have a period in the middle of a sentence that made no sense in the first place.

    @bg_fernadez
    Your trying to tell people that a game is subpar, you fail. All people have different opinions on games, not everyone shares the same belief as you do.
    You make the term "average game" seem bad, an average game is just that, average, theres nothing wrong with it, it may not be the greatest game ever, but it's pretty decent. Theres nothing wrong with buying an average game, sorry, not every game can be amazing godlike.

  • bg_fernandez

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 4:19 pm PT

    wow u guys are in such denial and u guys got me misunderstood me a little...halo was awesome...halo 2 was pretty good...halo 3 was subpar...graphics were like Halo 2 in HD(but i know graphics dont make games), halo wars was meh...now theyre making ODST(an expansion which is priced at 69.99). this just proves that microsoft is milking halo for its money and u all are helping them just because halo is in front of the name. my whole point to this is that halo was good but it took a fall after that but ppl are still buying an average game because of the word halo. @ TheoleDominion
    i agree

  • TheoleDominion

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 3:52 pm PT

    lol...I do it too.

  • werruraz

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 3:50 pm PT

    Hmm i never see the bigger picture until i put my foot in my mouth Thanks TheoleDominion for reminding me.

  • TheoleDominion

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 3:47 pm PT

    Regardless of what your "personal" reasoning are for a title being milk has no bearing whatsoever. A title that SELLS is going to more than likely get multiple "makes." Regardless if we personally feel it's worthy or not in "our minds."

  • werruraz

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 3:37 pm PT

    @TheoleDominion

    First off i was trying to state the reason for the "Milking" of MGS is because its an awesome game.

    Secound i was reffering to your comment about "while we're talking about milking titles, how many Final Fantasies" In the case of FF and might as well say MGS they are heavely story driven and thus often have sequels.

    Basicly i am just defending two excellent series. aswel as offering my support to Halo/Microsoft.

    P.S. Bash KZ2 as much as you wan't, i don't really care for it >_>

  • acsam12304

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 3:30 pm PT

    @godzillavskong

    sure thing man. 1st soruce is teh DVD that came with MGS4 box set. an other clue is when Kojima was talking about MGS rising in E3 he didnt look like all that excited and didnt really wanted to talk. in the Sony press conference he was all excited to talka botu peace walker and that he him self will write the whole script story line and direct it. i did found a lil aritcal about it some where . its all mixed up with my book marks ill send u the link once i find it

  • TheoleDominion

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 3:29 pm PT

    @werruraz..No sir it's you who don't have a clue. And no one ever questioned if MGS was an awsome title or not!

  • werruraz

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 3:27 pm PT

    acsam12304 you call Sony stupid then hit people with a wall of text. Win.

  • acsam12304

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 3:25 pm PT

    @facistinabag that is why when SONY does something stupid and never drop the price for the PS3 till now. and are like becoming a big jerk to all the game companys and are tight wads with the money so they dont want to spend to much money for PS3 games i glorify the PS3 right? that is why u say i M4 so much right? if you know anything i too bash Sony for being stupid with some things and also with the new PSP go for not having a second joy stick. what about yo get your halo game and eat them for not knowing jack $**t about me.

  • TheoleDominion

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 3:23 pm PT

    @bg fernandez..I'm sorry you're either in denial or primarily a PC gamer to make such a remark. For us who primarily play consoles, Halo was the best FPS that hit the consoles since..um maybe Goldeneye on the N64.

  • werruraz

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 3:22 pm PT

    I'm a PS3 owner and supporter but i have played and enjoyed the Halo franchise and i am glad its going from strength to strength! Good Luck.

    awsss
    That maybe so but MGS is an awesome series xD

    bg_fernandez Your an embarresment... people like you should be drowned at birth.

    TripSe7en
    I Agree.

    TheoleDominion
    You cleary have no idea...

    dwd_27
    I assume you mean UT2004

  • dwd_27

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 3:14 pm PT

    I wish this helps the game and modes halo good for multiplayer online and it need's more mode's such as unreal tournament

  • TheoleDominion

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 3:12 pm PT

    Why anyone would mention KZ2 in the same sentence as Halo is beyond me..I acknowledge this and haven't been a fan of the series since Halo 1.

    Good point AWSSS, and while we're talking about milking titles, how many Final Fantasies and Mario games has there been?

  • iDystopia

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 2:57 pm PT

    @bg_Fernandez

    Well lets think about this.....Does Killzone 2 have 4 player co-op? No. Does Killzone 2 have Vehicles that feel amazing in gameplay? No. I has none. Does Killzone 2 have a MLG section just dedicated to MLG maps gameplay? No. Does Killzone 2 have even HALF as many weapons as Halo? No it has a few extremely generic weapons. Does Killzone 2 have a Theatre mode where you can create any movie/montage you want and upload it?? Can you eve upload screen shoots in KZ2? No huh?? Does Killzone 2 have a Forge/Level editor where you can change any map in the game and even CREATE YOUR OWN. No. lol How many online gamemodes are there in Killzone 2? Arent there like 2?? haha Halo has many, many more than Killzone does. More than a dozen more. Does Killzone have 25 multiplatyer maps to enjoy? No....barely half that huh?Does Killzone have unque gameplay like Halo or is it another Fear 2/ COD clone with not an ounce of originality? There is nothing out there like Halo.

    Does Killzone have a community of millions playing it? No. Does Killzone control as well as Halo? We all know the controls for Killzone aren't as precise.

    Halo is in its own league when it comes to multiplatyer....Modern Warfare is Halo's only competitiion and if you don't understand that....I don't expect you to, you only have PS3 lol. But everyone else knows, Halo and Modern Warfare are in their own league.

  • facistinabag

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 2:09 pm PT

    @bg_fernadez

    I'm talking about halo 1 here, not halo 2 and halo 3, I can voice my opinion on those.

    I liked halo 1 because they focused on the storyline. It felt like it had a legitimate beginning , middle and an end. The multipalyer was just something tacked on.

    Unfortunatly, the focused more on the multiplayer for Halo 2, creating a major dip in quality of the singleplayer. The majority of the game made little sense because the focused on making the game look purdy. If I were bungie, I would have made it so rather than playing one who 'effin level on earth, I would have made it so the majority of the game was on earth. The level that involved the Heretics had little to do with the actual game itself. On top of that they focused on making obscure and random bible references that just ended up confusing me.

    The multiplayer may have gotten better, but the single player dropped WAY down in quality as the game progressed, they focused way to much on gameplay, and not enough on making an actually decent story that lead into the next game.

    I may not be the best at explaining this, as I haven't actually played halo in over 4 months, but IMO it's not the best FPS, Team Fortress 2 and Half Life 2 are

  • scarface_dm

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 1:49 pm PT

    I hope its a new internal studio, that developes new exclusive games
    MS needs more exclusive games damnit!

  • Csalbertcs

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 1:09 pm PT

    Maybe it's a new Halo game for the rumoured Xbox handheld.

    343 Guilty Spark was portable.... therefore it makes sense :p


    PS: Halo is not being milked. There are some game franchises that have over 30 games, such as Megaman and Mario. Halo has what, 4 games out as of Q3 2009? Maybe people think it's milked because Halo is played so often. I mean, there are currently 300k people playing right now. And it's almost 2 years old now. Anyway, that's just a proud Halo player's two cents.

  • bg_fernandez posted Jul 21, 2009 12:48 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    bg_fernandez

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 12:48 pm PT (hide)

    HALO FANBOYS: i just wanna know one thing....what makes halo the best FPS...what makes different from other FPS...does it do anything revolutionary?...i seriously want to know

  • awsss

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 11:53 am PT

    People seem to be laboring under the impression that Halo is being milked. There have been four Halo branded games, with two more on the horizon. There have been nine MGS branded games, with several more on the horizon.

    You tell me which is being milked.

  • solidstein

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 11:44 am PT

    @NickAnguiano to answer your question it was only gonna be a few hours but microsoft basically made bungie make it a "standalone" expansion. imho its really just another game using a story arc from the halo franchise and im sure there will be a sequel to this one to if it does well which im sure it will its freaking halo

  • STZ513

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 11:38 am PT

    @cptpeg yes there have only been four games, however you didn't include the fact that two more are coming out and will make that 4 games in 4 years on the 360. Back in the old days things werent as complicated. It was make the game everyone loves. Mario games are original the first time they are in a new genre but they did milk Mario Kart and Mario Party

  • STZ513

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 11:28 am PT

    I own Halo and think its a really fun game but it is a bit overrated. Everyone thinks that it is the greatest game ever (it isn't). I dislike the fact that more Halo games are being made because: A) Microsoft is being greedy as usual and is trying to make as mauch money off a product as possible. B) Halo is an amazing franchise. I want it to end on a good note, not a bunch of cash-ins. C) People need to start playing games other than Halo!

  • Inferno9778

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 11:18 am PT

    343 guilty spark is such a douchebag

  • TripSe7en

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 11:17 am PT

    I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Fanboys. Are. Gay

  • Barighm

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 11:11 am PT

    Shortly after Halo 3 came out, when Bungie broke away from Microsoft, the job postings on Bungie's website exploded. They lost a lot of people, including some of Bungie's key figures in developing the Halo franchise. I've been saying for a long time now that MS took those people so they can develop their own in-house development studio devoted to Halo and nothing but Halo. Being the Xbox's flagship franchise, it's simply good business to keep the franchise under MS' thumb. Bungie is still doing Halo games, for the money I guess, and MS' move is very sensicle and even predictable.
    This evidence that suggests MS has given a name to this development division-related to Halo-is not surprising to me. I

  • smzel

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 11:07 am PT

    Halo rocks!!! and also xbox fanboys u can't say **** about ps3 fanboys coming here bashing on halo.The 360 fanboys do it alll the time if u dont want it to happen here stop doing it in the PS3 ones.

  • syarko

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 10:57 am PT

    i really hate people capitalizing words that shouldn't be capitalized.

  • bencarps41192

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 10:43 am PT

    I really hate it when Fanboys of both Xbox and PS3 go at each other just because the game is exclusive. It is stupid. I think the PS3 has great exclusive and i own a 360. One of my favorite games is Halo(all 3). And for the people who are saying that people dont play it for the story well i play for the story and the online. If ppl want to take that stand and say it is only for the Multiplayer i could say the same thing about Resistance and Killzone 2.
    So please if you are not here to discuss the topic in an educated matter please leave. I dont want to hear any little boy and girls whining just because this is an exclusive game ok.
    Now back to the topic.
    I think this will probably just be some sort of division of Microsoft that works with Bungie but it could also turn out that it was coincidence that 343 is the Number they are using.

  • eo_the_shaman posted Jul 21, 2009 10:09 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    eo_the_shaman

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 10:09 am PT (hide)

    people are only getting halo for online so why waste their time with storyline

  • NickAnguiano

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 9:56 am PT

    Is Halo ODST still only gonna be 3-4 hours? I thought, after they increased the price to 59.99, they also mentioned the main story would be like 10+ hours.

  • Spartan-1657

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 9:53 am PT

    I love how instead of a discussion, all the halo bashers came here to rip on Halo.. great discussion you losers. You really must be super bored, and a huge loser, to have to troll anything Halo related just to throw in your two cents: "Halo sucks!"
    That has absolutely nothing to do with the article so gtfo.

  • bg_fernandez posted Jul 21, 2009 9:27 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    bg_fernandez

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 9:27 am PT (hide)

    @snake289
    you got that right

    @Dtrav
    even a full priced expansion(ODST) is gonna sell well because of the word "HALO" in front of it. and halo 3 did sucked...its just that ppl were to blind to see that. halo>halo 2>halo 3

  • snake289 posted Jul 21, 2009 9:10 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    snake289

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 9:10 am PT (hide)

    @ Dtrav

    Because its Halo thats why.

  • TripSe7en

    Posted Jul 21, 2009 9:10 am PT

    I think Halo is quite often overlooked. While I am not going to praise it as the best game ever, because it is not (imo), it has earned the right to be amongst the group of best games. It has possibly the best multiplayer mechanics which is why it has maintained its top position through the years. The original HALO was a moniker of multiplayer games and really brought the genre forward in the same kind of way Goldeneye did years before and the way Modern Warfare is now ( I remember playing Goldeneye with all my friends in HS because it was the bomb, and then Halo came along while I was in college and brought the same fun back to getting infront of a TV with a bunch of friends; albeit there was much more alcohol and other stuff involved then..)... Hate it or Love it, we should all be happy the series came about because it forced everyone else to be better i one way or another.

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