MS: We'll "Explore Not Exploit" Halo

With a spin-off RTS game, multiple novels and an expanding range of figurines all on show this week at Comic Con 2008, Microsoft has insisted that its strategy is to "explore not exploit" the Halo universe.

Frank O'Connor, who oversees the franchise at Microsoft Games Studios, headed up the Halo Universe panel at the geek-packed San Diego event, in which representatives of Halo Wars developer Ensemble, Bungie and toy manufacturer McFarlane joined Halo novelists to discuss the future of the franchise in front of a packed audience of ecstatic fans.

Speaking to Eurogamer immediately after the session, O'Conner, former Bungie community manager, said that content so far had only scratched the surface of what is possible.

[DA_SHREDDER]

But it is the worst most overhyped game I have ever played.

[La Chance]

is the most overhyped game on planet earth.

@radientflux below : lol , looks like were the only people onn plet earth to think that FF7 was a bit overrated.I think FF9 and even 8 were better than 7.

[RadientFlux]

FF7 has always been my choice for most overhyped game

[n00bzRtehgey]

has clearly never played lair or haze, or half of the psturd games library.

[Pain]

LMAO Surrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeee eeeeeeeeeeee M$ we Believe! just like the US in winning...

edit.. um how did my post get hear?

looks at time stamps... up then down ....hmmm

[smokeymicpot]

Good Luck. Hopefully they will not but some how they will

[deeznuts]

Uhhh, Burger King Halo? They've already exploited it, they're just "exploring" how to do it further now. Nothing wrong with exploiting your own IP. Make that money!

[StephanieBBB]

Ohhhhh so thats what it's called now... I heard Nintendo is also doing some grand "explorations" of it's franchises. *hint* *hint*

[NO_PUDding]

Everyone knows it's exploitation pure and simple. I would have accused had they not brought it up.

It's not like there's much to explore in the Halo Universe it's kind of shallow.

[xionpunk]

ummkay

[TheColbertinator]

Courtesy of the Internet

http://youtube.com/watch?v=...

[ravinash]

Warm up those udder because its time to milk that cash cow.

[potenquatro]

sun shines, grass grows, Halo, Mario, Snake, etc get explioted

[RadientFlux]

Well I always found the storyline to be excellent in the Halo series. Sure some of it is generic (aliens attacking earth), but underneath that there are a lot of unanswered questions about the precursors and humanity.

[matchgrade]

Questions which Bungie has never even thought about until now when they're running out of ideas. I once read a magazine feature about Master Chief and his suit and from the answers Bungie gave, it was obvious they were getting every bit of Halo history out of their asses on the spot. It's just not thought out. Up to Halo 3 they've been winging it, which is why the stories and the endings suck.

[Monchichi025]

I LOVE HALO!!! Give us more, as we want More!! (And to all the Haters, I'm talking about the MILLIONS of us out there who Love Halo and don't care what you think!)

We'll continue drinking the delicious Kool-Aid!!

[Mr BlueScreen]

You have problems.

[rhood022]

The last time a large group "drank the Kool-Aid" it made national news.

[iHEARTboobs]

Was it Heaven's Gate?

[rhood022]

why yes it was

[dcbronco]

I own all three Halos. I loved the first. One of my favorite games ever. @ was not as good. 3 was average. When they release the next one, I'll wait to try it first. I won't spend money until I see what it 's like.

[Mr BlueScreen]

Is there difference? No.
Ether way its to much.

[mindedone]

they are the same word, explorar. I'd like to see the translation on a blog site for that one.

[La Chance]

Not sure what they mean by that.
Anyway , I perssonaly think they should not come out with a new Halo (FPS, not talking about spin offs) too often

They should use it like Square uses FF : one main game evry 3 years and 1 spin off in between the main Halo games (a RTS or 3rd person shooter etc).

If the use it too much they will lose the "big game" effect it has because it will become a bit banal.

That said I think Square are milking the FF franchize WAY WAY WAY too much.Hope MSFT dont go the same way with Halo.

[Aclay]

Square is not milking the Final Fantasy franchise because almost every FF game offers something different in terms of story and characters. When it comes to another new Halo, there's only so much that you can do in a FPS game and make it stand out from anything else.

Unless another new Halo First Person Shooter can offer everything that's in Resistance 2 (60 player Online), Killzone 2 (First Person Cover System), and COD4, another new Halo FPS will be just another first person shooter in my book.

[NO_PUDding]

Both of you are in denial...

The huge 'XIII' beside the recent Final Fantasy shoudl tell you, it's milked.

And as for Halo... there was nothign really to explore ever. It will easily be milked, becuase it's the only original IP Microsoft has done well with. And it's purely becuase of their marketing and when the series was introduced.

You be surpised quite how much of an effect 9/11 had. It also impacted GTAIII.

[gameforall]

then they are being exploited

[ChampIDC]

So you're saying Square exploits Final Fantasy? No wai!

[iHEARTboobs]

All the games have their own stories and charachters.

[ChampIDC]

Indeed, and that's why the Halo franchise won't be exploited if they move on to different areas of the lore.

[incogneato]

Yea, releasing Halo books and stickers and Mountain Dew drinks sure is exploring, not exploiting.

/sarcasm

[Mcrmarcher]

I have no problems with this, if they make good games then i won't complain, same goes for every other game including FF.

[mgbass13]

FF12 was fantastic - way darker and more creative than the MASSIVELY OVERHYPED FF10. NEways, MS will exploit the bloody hell out of this cash cow. Here's to Master Chief mini-toys from Burger King. Cheers!

[mgbass13]

Something about Halo lunchboxes, pajamas, pencils, notebooks, etc...just kinda ruins any integrity this game or story might have had. It works the same way for any IP across any media format. Can't wait for the Master Chief/Miley Cyrus Duet on XBLA next month. I'm so DVR-ing that...

[William Gates]

You Bots Are as Dumb as i think you are

AHHAHAHAHAHAHAA

[pp]

Its coming soon .I could smell the fear in sony driods

[InMyOpinion]

I don't care what they call it, as long as I get more Halo games I'm happy. Really like the universe and it's characters.

[kai_h]

They could've fooled me.

[rawd]

Shane Kim say, "Too rate"

[TheExecutive]

"We are exploring not exploiting the Halo name", said the MS employee at HaloCon.

[Megaton]

Just a wee bit too late guys. Your Halo 3 ad campaign showed just how ugly capitalism can be. Burger King Halo, Mountain Dew Halo, comparing Halo to a real war...

[Boldy]

Pirates of the Caribbean Burger King. Indiana Jones Dr. Pepper. Cars pencils, lunchboxes, back packs, happy meals at McDonald's.

If movies can do it why not video games? You guys should be happy that video games are starting to become more mainstream, not criticizing them.

[Megaton]

Yeah totally, cause things only get better when they become more mainstream right?

[beavis4play]

right now there is: an RTS halo being developed; the peter jackson halo project; and the new bungie halo product being developed. on top of halo 1, halo 2, and halo 3. all in a span of less than 6 years. then there are the multiple product connections and top it off with this article on how they can use the "halo universe" in other ways.
this sure sounds like exploitation to me. but to be fair; this is ms only real strong property besides gears. they're gonna milk these like nintendo leans on mario and zelda. they don't really have many options.

[GVON]

can't wait to see msoft follow their e3 strategy with this.

expect Halo golf,tennis,and kart to be announced at the next big event.

If were lucky we might see a fighting game with all the msoft stars, imagine banjo vs master chef and,um,conker,yeah conker.

Don't attack me I'm just messing.

[Monty_The_Great]

so much hate brought to these boards when something about Halo is brought up. That alone should tell you how great it is, because in order to be great, there has to be haters and well, Halo has plenty. As far MSFT doing anything with Halo, I just want Bungie to be behind it and I am in.

[DA_SHREDDER]

But its always the same as the last. Probably why everyone I know calls halo gaylo.

[DFresh]

Too many Halo Games.
When will it ever end?
Halo 1 = awesome
Halo 2 = cool
Halo 3 = ok
Lego Halo = pushing it
Halo Wars = interesting
Halo 4 (WTF?)
I thought Halo 3 was the last game in the trilogy.
Microsoft is so exploiting Halo it's ridiculous.

[JasonX43]

a corporation saying they won't exploit something that makes money!

[jinn]

exploring can be dangerous