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Bungie teases new game as world learns of doomed Halo MMO

• By Jack Loftus
• September 23, 2008 11:21 AM PST
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Bungie was teasing a new game announcement today, even as the world learned of a doomed Halo MMO that will never see the light of day due to the demise of Ensemble Studio.

'Pardon our dust,' Bungie says.

Bungie was at it again today with a new rumor/cryptic announcement over at Bungie.net.

In this case, it's a conversation between Dare and the heavy cruiser "Say My Name."

There are explosions. There are conversations. There are thoughts of death and destruction. There are more questions than answers. Again.

It helps to read this next bit with the original Bionic Commander communicator squawk going off in your heads:

<\\> UNSC OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE

<\\> TAC-OPS LOGISTICS DATABASE

[ONI.SEC.PRTCL-1A]

<\ * PRIORITY! * RESOURCE RE-ALLOCATION REQUEST

>> SENT: [DARE.V.500341(S1)]

>> RECEIVED: HEAVY CRUISER SAY MY NAME

[SMN.ACTUAL]

\ PARTIAL VTT TRANSCRIPT AS FOLLOWS...

[SMN.ACTUAL]: The situation on the ground isn't my concern.

[DARE.V.500341(S1)]: I understand, Admiral. But I need --

[EXPLOSION (4.0098s)]

[SMN.UNKNOWN]:[UNINTELLIGIBLE > PANIC(?)]

[SMN.ACTUAL]: Empty archer pods six through twelve!

[SMN.ACTUAL]: Ready the MAC, and come about!

[SMN.UNKNOWN]:[UNINTELLIGIBLE > INSUBORDINATION(?)]

[SMN.ACTUAL]: It may have passed us, Lieutenant, but it's still in range.

[SMN.ACTUAL]: Come about. And shoot it in the ass.

[EXPLOSION (2.3482s)]

[STATIC (3.8761s)]

[SMN.UNKNOWN]:[UNINTELLIGIBLE > COMPLIANCE(?)]

[DARE.V.500341(S1)]: Admiral, about my squad?

[DARE.V.500341(S1)]: I've forwarded their NCO's name to your --

[SMN.ACTUAL]: Enough, Captain!

[SMN.ACTUAL]: If I survive this attack..."

[SMN.ACTUAL]: I will deploy per my orders from Fleet HQ!

[DARE.V.500341(S1)]: Sir. I don't report to Fleet.

[DARE.V.500341(S1)]: And the men I want? Now they don't either.

[DARE.V.500341(S1)]: Please. Read my request.

[STATIC (2.8179s)]

[EXPLOSION (3.0194s)]

[STATIC (7.4501s)]

[SMN.ACTUAL]: Didn't think you S1 types ever left your cave.

[DARE.V.500341(S1)]: Desperate times...

[SMN.ACTUAL]: Alright, Captain. You've got your squad.

[SMN.ACTUAL]: If I survive the attack."

[EXPLOSION (2.9016s)]

[SMN.ACTUAL]: And right now? That'll take a genuine act of God.

[DARE.V.500341(S1)]: I'll see what I can do.

\ ~ REQUEST COMPLETE

\ DATABASE CLOSED \>

Hopefully, this latest round of Halo teasing will finally materialize into something (we have no doubt that it will).

In related news, we learned a bit more today about the shocking closure of Halo Wars developer Ensemble Studios. At the ES web site, boss Bruce Shelly provided a little more insight into the how's and why's of the studio's end:

"Everyone at our studio was shocked, and I think remains very disappointed that this is going to happen," he wrote. "I believe we thought we were immune to shut-down talk because our published games have done so well and have been so profitable. Plus we felt we had built a really stable (low-turnover), talented, hard-working, and creative team, which is not easy to do. We thought we were among the best studios in the world, and that may be true, but we dont fit in the future plans of MGS as an internal studio so were out."

Even more shocking, perhaps, was the fact that ES had a secret project canceled when the closure was announced. That game? A Halo MMO, reports Gamasutra.

OK, so how about some happy Halo news in this post? How about this: a bevy of new "mythic" Halo 3 achievements have launched, and are ready to be beaten and bragged about by you. Check that link for more information from Bungie itself.

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