Destiny Writer Quits as Bungie Talks Master Chief's Influence

Senior writer Dave Mongan departs from Bungie after three and a half years.

[WeAreLegion]

Sad to see him go. I wish him all the best in the future.

Still can't wait to play Destiny!

[KingKevo]

Why is it sad? Why do people always say it's sad if someone leaves a company?

I mean, if you read his tweet then you'd know that his work on the game was done. He finished his writing on the game and then left because there was nothing for him to do there anymore, it's quite normal actually and it's not like he had to go or something went wrong or whatever, he just did his job and as a writer he sometimes has to be more flexible and has to find a new project in order to make money and maybe express some of his other ideas.

I'm actually really happy for him.

[raWfodog]

Maybe people are just sad to see people leaving a great team. He didn't say that anything bad happened, just that he was sad to see him go. Granted, that seems like he knows him on a personal level...

But you can still be sad even if the person is happy. When some cool people leave my job and are moving on to better things, I'm happy for them but still sad to see them go.

[KingKevo]

@raWfodog:

Plausible, but not likely. I mean yeah, Bungie is great and that guy is probably too, and he was a part of that team, but I'd still say that he was not a key member or part of that team, being on a team for such a short time for one project only suggests that he was hired just for that game, so it's not that surprising.

And I highly doubt Anonymous up there knew him, seems more like he's trying to get some bubbles. He probably just read the title and has learned that saying 'sad that he's leaving' and 'all the best for him' will do the job for him after some recent stories were people got fired or had to leave for other reasons.

People have contracts and leave companies, normal, but no reasons to be sad about a guy who only worked there for 3.5 years and you don't even know any of his work on the game, like we don't know anything about if his writing is good or not, but that's not the point, even though it's probably good imho.

I just wanted to point out that people need to look into these kind of things and read a story before commenting, and that they should not be commenting for bubbles only, because that guy's comment is pointless but people, as always, agree. Because it's nice to say such things and they like Destiny and look forward to it, like me, but don't get or don't care what the real story is.

Nobody knows the guy, he's not a core part of Bungie, so don't be sad for him or Bungie, and of course he'll find a new job, he seems to know his business and worked for a big company on a big game. Guys like Legion should stop being such hypocrites.

@CorndogBurglar:
And I do totally agree on that. Like the Amy Henning case, that's a different story and even though we do and will never know what happened, she left for different reasons. It might have been creative differences or how the game went into a different direction than she intended it to go in, same with Justin Richmond. It's especially sad because they left during the project and writers/directors that just tells you that something must have happened. Also they have been associated with ND for a long time.

However in this story, the guy was just hired for Destiny, maybe had the option to stay but didn't take it, who knows, but his work was done and the project was finished. The game will release in a few months, but the writing part for the main game (or whatever he wrote, maybe more) is already done so the guy left after completing all of his work. And why wouldn't you want him to leave? We don't even know if the writing is exceptional or not. Maybe in a few months you can say it's sad that he left, or maybe not, who knows how many writers they have for the game (he was the senior writer btw). And no one did ever associate the guy with the game. Nothing against him, but I have nerver herd of him at all and he's not a known key member of Bungie or so, it was his first game for them.

But why am I even trying, ignorant people are ignorant. I'll just wait for the Beta and won't care about who wrote or didn't write something an does or doesn't work for Bungie.

[CorndogBurglar]

Thats actually a really good way of looking at it.

As fans, sometimes we may want people to stay where they are because we like them or their work, but thats kind of a selfish reason, even if its understandable.

[WeAreLegion]

Well, that was taken too far.

It's sad to see him leave a great team. I was looking forward to his future work with Bungie. Nothing more. Jesus. It's too early in the morning to be blowing things out of proportion.

[morganfell]

It doesn't matter what level of involvement a person has at a studio. They could be the Creative Lead or the janitor. If they leave the studio the business and the project is doomed. Period. DOOMED I tell you. Just ask IGN...

[Patrick_pk44]

Some people believe these developers are actually real life friends of theirs, it has become really creepy. For example, some no name man leaves a development company, "I wish him all the best, he was such a great man who loved to spend time with his family. I can't wait to see what he has up his sleeves."

[Priestwithgun]

in this age of feigned sympathy and facebook lawls and awws,expect such comments

[chrismichaels04]

This is the point i was making last week after Sonys studio Naughty Dog lost a couple of developers. Big studios are all losing key employees....not just Sony. The newest departure happened in Bungie. The gaming landscape is changing and evolving. It seems like only Sony is losing so many people because they have a lot of studios.

Case in point, Gears of War and Halo are two of the biggest known xbox franchises. But when Epic lost Cliff Blezzinski or Bungie lost Dave Mongan, it didnt look bad on MS because they dont own those studios and farm out most of their games through 3rd party studios.

Same thing if tomorrow Dead Rising 3 studio Capcom or Titanfall studio Respawn hypothetically announce losing people. My point is we cant make a big deal about studios losing people because that is just the unfortunate nature of the industry.

[Gamer1982]

A lot of people are leaving a lot of big teams lately.. I'm smelling a new team lead by a very rich backer coming..

[WeAreLegion]

There's always someone around to take your simplistic comment and make it into some sort of over the top socioeconomic evaluation. Why do you do this crap?

[TheDevKit]

Stop taking it so literally.

[Matt666]

See I in two minds about Destiny, it might be amazing because bungie being involved but it might turn out total rubbish because of activision, but I guess we have to wait and see

[candy_mafia]

Creative differences, or his work is complete on 'Destiny' project....not the fall of another studio.

Are we paying attention fanboys?? Lulz

[3-4-5]

Basically, the story is complete.

No need to show up to the office everyday for NOTHING.

Makes sense.

No he can put this game on his resume and get paid more for his next job.

Good for him, looking forward to the game and story.

[Yaay4me]

Destiny is my most anticipated game followed closely by The Order. I dont remember the last time i was this excited for a FPS. Not sure why he left, i wish he would have stayed with bungie.. Surely he will b missed

[raWfodog]

"Not sure why he left, i wish he would have stayed with bungie.."

From the actual article:
"After 3.5 yrs @ Bungie my work on #Destiny is done! Immensely proud of this project. It will change the gaming world."

Mystery solved.

[wsoutlaw87]

lol what, you actually read the article?

[Yaay4me]

I actually read the articles. But that statement leaves a lot to the imagination

[SITH]

Lmao! I am going to stick this bubble in you whether you like it or not.

[monkeyDzoro]

Damn... something odd is going on there right ? No... no, you don't think so ? Ok.
LoL

[rdgneoz3]

He was a writer for the game. His tweet says "After 3.5 yrs @ Bungie my work on #Destiny is done!" Seeing as the game is coming out in Sept (5 months to go, probably 4 months till it goes gold), the story portion is most likely done. Not like he left in the middle of his work.

[Funantic1]

He's basically saying Destiny is based off Halo. That isn't a bad thing but it's nothing new.

[ramiuk1]

the game is way to much like halo imo,infact its so much like halo im suprised MS havent complained about it,with it being on ps4 too

[UltraNova]

If I want to play halo I'll do so by -guess- play Halo. If this turns out to be anywhere near haloish I'm canceling my preorder.

[OpieWinston]

MS isn't run by ignorant petty douchebags like Jonathan Blow. They're more focused on creating experiences LIKE Destiny to get people pumped.

If anything we may get a Halo version of Destiny with multiple factions to play as. (Covenent/Humans) fighting off against Heritics/Brutes/Rebels/Flood/P rometheans.

[Shadonic]

How is it like Halo ? because of the sci fi aspect thats been in countless games before? I mean none of us have played it and yet were saying that its like Halo because of some of the visual architectural designs remind us of Halo or because Bungie made Halo.

[ramiuk1]

im not bashing halo,i love halo.
but the enemies in destiny for a start,infact im not even explaining the similarities as there is loads.

dont take too similar as an insult to the game,it wasnt.
but you can tell that its made by the same developers instantly

[DoubleM70]

Why should they complain about that? Microsoft still own stock in Bungie LLC. It was part of the deal if they wanted to branch out and do other things. The reason why PS4 footage has been shown the most or seems like it's been the lead in. Is because Bungie is trying to distance themselves away from Microsoft.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/m...

[wsoutlaw87]

how did you get that its based off halo? The only thing they talked about was the design of the character and the fact that he would be wearing a helmet like master chief.

[SITH]

To halo gamers it was disgustingly obvious. I have spent the past months after destiny was announced laughing at all the sony gamers who hated on halo, and praise destiny today without even touching the game once.

Looking at destiny, it is obvious bungie ported over the animations from halo, and used plenty of art design from halo. That is especially apparent in the armor. Not that it is a bad thing. If it works it works. And halo worked very good.

[cfc83]

I didn't bother with Halo. I played Halo 3 for a level or 2, and i just didn't see what the big deal was supposed to be. If Destiny is like Halo, i'd have no problems not buying it. Mass Effect 4 is the game i'm anticipating the most.

[Ron_Danger]

Now people are leaving Bungie?! Now Bungie iz teh doomz!!!

That what kids these days say for no reason, right??

[giovonni]

I'm a fan of Bungie, but something about this game doesn't excite me. Even in the demo it was missing that big bang. It looked and played like your average FPS. I'm still excited because Bungie has built a place in my gaming history, but games like The Division have me more excited

[Shadonic]

I think your just looking at the barest of the bones when it comes to destiny. Base wise yes it uses the laid down basic templete of a FPS but with its own things here and there. What you really need to be looking at is the features, the amazing open world, the blending between single player and multiplyer ( like in the Division ) I'n a sense a lot of the things that are going on in the Division are going to be things that you will see in Destiny though in a different setting and play style.

[LexHazard79]

The Division? When I was reading your comment I was thinking Borderlands fir some reason!

[kewlkat007]

You can take bungie away from master chief but you cannot take master chief away from bungie...

[xx4xx]

I can see the Halo comparisons in the character design. But as far as gameplay I totally see this as Borderlands without the cell shading or humor (not a bad thing). :)

Either way, it looks like a blast and I'm sure I'll purchase.

[CorndogBurglar]

I don't see the similarity to Halo. Halo wasn't the first sci-fi FPS. Everything about Destiny looks different. You can aim to fire, its not all hip firing like Halo (except scoped weapons). It looks like a FPS because GASP! it IS an FPS. But to say it looks exactly like Halo is a little too much.

Not only that, but the entire basis of the game, and the online play is totaly different.

The online portion looks very innovative. I personally cannot wait.

[xDHAV0K24x]

If Titanfall is a COD clone, then Destiny is a Halo clone

[CorndogBurglar]

I never said Titanfall is a CoD clone....

[Flutterby]

Yes corndog but someone else did say titanfall was a cod clone so in xbox fanboy eyes everyone said it, but only when they want to use the hypocrisy card, if a lot of people say titanfall is boring they seem to forget that fast enough. Or that forza was a downgraded shell of itself that's also forgotten but one person says something they can use as a hypocrisy leverage and it goes into their file draws for ever.

[Gh05t]

Maybe because no one is saying that it's just because the setting is science fiction and the genre is first person shooter. I mean really who says that is why they are similar? That's like saying destiny just reminds me of Chex Quest or Doom.

Destiny does have the same feel as halo for many people because there are a lot of art and mechanic similarities. That is probably because they were designed by the same people GASP!

It comes down to small things like the assault rifle having a bullet counter that looks similar (they weren't the first to do it but they both have it)

Also the floating annoying talking light thing from halo one and also from the destiny wall trailer. (Again they are different but similar and not the first)

The creatures have a similar feel but with another set of arms and different head. (I'm sure there are a lot more differences in these particular creatures)

As someone who stopped playing halo a long time ago seeing a destiny trailer does bring back memories of halo.

I'm not saying it's good or bad but to just generalize it down to its a Sci Fi fps so people think it looks the same is a huge logical falicy.

[LexHazard79]

Nice pic man, I was watching SpaceBalls the other day. One of my favorite flix!

[CrossingEden]

Misleading title. He didn't quit. His work on the title is literally finished and he's moving on to other endeavors. Kinda like finishing a final essay. The tweet is here.
Dave Mongan @DaveMongan
Follow
After 3.5 yrs @ Bungie my work on #Destiny is done! Immensely proud of this project. It will change the gaming world. #OntoTheNextAdventure

"My work on Destiny is done"

The difference here is that he didn't leave in the middle of the project and has been like some other developers have recently.

Stop with the flamebait titles! ಠ_ಠ

[JustPlay4]

Doesn't matter if it at the start or the end he left and that what people care about

[_FantasmA_]

Somethings going on at M$. Prepare for doom articles!

[JustPlay4]

Bungie doesn't work for ms any more

[SITH]

Wow... you had one bubble.

A little slow on the gaming news eh?

[Geekman]

First I realize I'll never play Halo 5, now this. I have to be the only person who frowns when he sees the Master Chief.