Wild Speculation: Halo 3 Christmas 2006?

[Zanzibar]

This job posting (http://www.bungie.net/News/Story.aspx?link=922A1A73-0B1D-4FA1-8F55-1823A61969BE) at Bungie.net (www.bungie.net) describes a contract position as a writer for possible Halo-related content - that ENDS IN NINE MONTHS.

Frankie writes:

In last week’s update, we mentioned that we were hiring a Contract Writer for Bungie.net. That means we’re looking for an excellent writer, with lots of Halo and Halo 2 knowledge, good gaming skills and the desire to work at Bungie studios. The job posting is now live at our jobs page, so click here to go check it out. You can read the job description below. Applicants should know that this is a contract position, which means you’re contracted to work in this role for nine months.
Of course, this is wild speculation, but with the ilovebees ARG, couldn't we be seeing some groundwork for some Halo 3 hype? Why would this position terminate at nine months unless, oh, say, NOVEMBER meant the end of something...?

Editor: Going back to what Gates said about Halo 3's release coinciding with the PS3 debut, this could be the target launch date.

[StGeorge]

It could also mean that *writing duties* for the game ends in November, and that then actual development begins with the design document.

[Zanzibar]

It could also mean that *writing duties* for the game ends in November, and that then actual development begins with the design document.

Well, this is for Bungie.net, not for the game itself, according to the job posting's Responsibilities:

Create professional, high quality, consistent content for Bungie.net

[mister_slim]

Makes me wonder why they would want to contract a blogger though.

[LilAbner]

Highly doubtful the game will be released as soon as the script is finished.

[Murmillo]

Highly doubtful the game will be released as soon as the script is finished.
Why not? A story line is redrafted, rethought, replanned a hundred times over. Maybe a planned spken line doesn't work when its matched up to the spoken actor. A redesign in the level may change a part of the script. Or the writer has to work with the level designer to get want he "wants" out of that level.

The game designer has a basic idea, gives that to the script writer, who writes the script to match that plan, then you start drawing the levels out and doing the basic voice recording. And as things work and don't work parts of the script are cut and added, and it doesn't end until the the disk goes gold.

edit: and if this is going to be used for an ARG, the same thing applies, but you are writing the script to better match the responces of the people playing the game.

[Kefkataran]

Why not? A story line is redrafted, rethought, replanned a hundred times over. Maybe a planned spken line doesn't work when its matched up to the spoken actor. A redesign in the level may change a part of the script. Or the writer has to work with the level designer to get want he "wants" out of that level.

That's maybe a nice utopian ideal for perfectly connecting strong writing with strong game design, but I don't think that's how it works in real life. The man was right -- it's doubtful the game would be released for sure as soon as writing duties were up. I sort of forgive this post because it's titled "Wild Speculation", but it's still kind of silly.

[aversion2k]

Why not? A story line is redrafted, rethought, replanned a hundred times over. Maybe a planned spken line doesn't work when its matched up to the spoken actor. A redesign in the level may change a part of the script. Or the writer has to work with the level designer to get want he "wants" out of that level.

The game designer has a basic idea, gives that to the script writer, who writes the script to match that plan, then you start drawing the levels out and doing the basic voice recording. And as things work and don't work parts of the script are cut and added, and it doesn't end until the the disk goes gold.

edit: and if this is going to be used for an ARG, the same thing applies, but you are writing the script to better match the responces of the people playing the game.

Doing things this way leads to duke nukem forever syndrome.
Everything has to be nailed down at the start before production begins.

[iamkevin]

Contracts at Microsoft, who owns Bungie Studios, are limited to less than 1 year. End of story.

[KNOTE]

All Microsoft CSG positions are 9 months long.

[Tricky Thumb]

Besides all the things everyone else has pointed out thus far, I highly doubt a Halo 3 that would be finished by this christmas would be very ... good.

[Predation]

anybody forgotten that the halo movie is going to be released in a couple years? what in particular makes the script writer for halo the game and not halo the movie, or maybe even halo the phone game?

[Kefkataran]

anybody forgotten that the halo movie is going to be released in a couple years? what in particular makes the script writer for halo the game and not halo the movie, or maybe even halo the phone game?

It's highly unlikely that Bungie would be handling the hiring a writer for the movie. That's something the studio would handle, if it's not already done by this point.

[earthworm48]

Well this position is for Bungie.net as someone stated not Bungie. So its to do with interwebs more than games.

[Valkyrist]

I'm sorry but the basis for the OP's writing is completely off base. C'mon, I thought this was supposed to be a gaming news site, that was well-informed/attuned to the inner workings of the game industry (as a general whole). Games (other than Duke Nukem and Daikatana) are not developed and programed while the writers are still going at it. It's written out, then developed while minor writting adjustments are made.

And let's not even touch the complete detatchment from reality here. Modern AAA games take several years AT LEAST to develope from start to finish. The fact that they're hiring writers should tell you that, even though we knew it had already begun, Halo 3 is NOT very far in its development. We'll be lucky if we see it by xmas '07.

I mean, correct me if I'm wrong: But wasn't Evil Avatar the same site that had a news posting about a study showing most modern games take 3.5 to 4 years to make? I distinctly remember it, because they were making the point that the PS2 was just hitting its prime because of the development delay, and that the next-gen systems were being introduced prematurely...

[outontheporch]

That series is very not fun, not sure why people like it so much.

[Zanzibar]

I suppose we should nail down whether this is for writing a Halo STORY for the game, or whether this is just writer for Bungie.net content that gets posted concurrent with the game's development cycle.

I'm fairly certain this job is for Bungie.net content, as based on this snippet from the job description:

Contract Writer

Job of a lifetime? Come work at Bungie Studios and witness the creation of its latest masterpiece. Write compelling content for Bungie.net, immerse yourself in the Bungie and Halo universe and help maintain and grow one of the most active, energetic communities on the web.


Responsibilities:
• Create professional, high quality, consistent content for Bungie.net
• Assist with creation and execution of overall ongoing Bungie.net content plan
• Assist with editing, formatting and web deployment of content created by other people
• Help with asset creation and other community team projects as needed

Anyone see anything there that makes you think this is for the script/story for Halo 3 itself as opposed to something more like weekly content or an ARG like ilovebees?

[mister_slim]

I'd say community manager/web PR.

[Zeal]

That series is very not fun, not sure why people like it so much.

Shut the FUCK up.

[Morratut]

That series is very not fun, not sure why people like it so much.

LOL there is always someone.

Next!

[Vandenh]

Well they have been working on something (probably Halo 3) for a year now. End of this year would put dev time at 2 years.... hmmm... that might be a bit short (unless they already did some work on H3 before H3 was finalized). My bet is mid 2007 together with the movie. 2.5 years sounds good.

[doyama]

The 9 month time frame is hardly worth mentioning especially if it's for a writer position. It's obvious that this is for the pre-production phase of the game in order to develop the overall story for Halo3, and probably a first or second draft of dialog. Once the core of the story and dialog are done, then later you can do small tweaks without spoiling the overall quality (generally speaking)

I suspect the 9 month time frame has to do with soemthing much more mundane than the release of Halo3. Its headcount and scheduling.

[Heretic Machine]

This post is a cluster-fuck. The writing position is for someone who would write on the fucking WEBSITE, as people have said a couple of times now in this post. It has nothing to do with scripting Halo 3, or the movie.

[Roc Ingersol]

can we exercise a little editorial discretion on stuff like this?
At least peruse the posting and see if there is any shred of merit?

I realize researching everything is impractical, and wild speculation drives hits/drives revenue - but there ought to be some sort of a line.