The production of the MMO shooter Destiny took on epic dimensions. Activision CEO Hirshberg even drew comparisons to The Lord of the Rings. However, such epic proportions are not always appropriate.
Bill Gates and Steve Jobs crossed paths with Bungie
A major feature from Wired outlines the history of the game studio Bungie, which is launching a huge project with Destiny and has previously succeeded as the creators of the cult shooter series Halo. Names like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs come up multiple times in the report. They crossed paths with Bungie. Bill Gates is said to have asked, “Who is your Mario?” when Halo was being secured for the Xbox. Gates understood the power of a front figure – from his own experience.
Steve Jobs was reportedly annoyed that Bungie struck the deal with Microsoft. After all, Halo was one of the prestige titles that was supposed to demonstrate that the Mac was also suitable for gaming.
How do you build Destiny for eternity?
The current deal with Activision, who is the publisher behind Bungie but grants the team freedom, is also mentioned. At Activision, they are aware of the epic dimensions that Destiny takes on. CEO Eric Hirshberg told Wired: “Bungie does not think short-term. They plan on a ten-year scale. They are thinking about a narrative arc in Lord of the Rings dimensions. About something enduring. But how do you plan something like that from day one?”
Bungie’s entire approach to Destiny differs from the way companies develop other “franchises,” large series with their own universe. There, they often think from episode to episode, following the momentum.
“Epic” is not appropriate in every situation
The massive work that Destiny requires, demanding unusual means and taking on colossal dimensions, has recently been discussed by The Guardian in a report, which we presented. Wired now provides further details.
A large portion of Bungie’s staff had returned from a vacation after finishing their work on Halo: Reach. After the vacation, they saw their massive new workplace for the first time – a converted multiplex cinema. Here, a small core team, which had previously worked on the concept of Destiny in top secret, outlined what lay ahead for them in the coming years.
One developer reportedly said, “Look at the space. You need 400 people to fill it somewhat!” Today, 500 are working on Destiny. Almost all the rooms are occupied. In the last still-vacant room, Wired knows, Halo action figures were stored.
The working conditions sometimes had qualities of a “cathedral.” The restrooms were enormous and quiet. Every clap could be heard. To give employees some privacy so that everyone didn’t hear the toilet noises, Bungie played the Halo soundtrack in the restrooms for a while.
However, that turned out to be a bad idea. Employees complained: The epic soundtrack gave the bathroom visits an “unintentionally urgent” feel.
