Wed, Oct 12, 2011 | 00:07 BST
Halo dev: Players only get bored of boring games
343 Industries isn’t worried about franchise fatigue with the Halo series, because it’s not just pumping out sequels.
“I think that people get bored of things when things get boring,’ 343 Industries’ Frank O’Connor told Ausgamers.
O’Connor pointed out that there are over 100 different Mario games available, and people still enjoy them.
“So if these products keep bringing something fresh and keep bringing something new… you know, Halo’s got five or six games total,” he said.
“We always plan to make sure that we’re innovating and that we’re putting fresh story in and that we’re putting something new in there and that’s how you avoid franchise fatigue. I think if you start making boring stuff, people are going to get bored and that’s what you have to avoid.”
“There’s no such thing as phoning it in for us,” colleague Chad Armstrong chimed in.
“We’re not simply like ‘you know, we’ve got seven different Halo titles out now, we don’t really have to think about it because people will buy anything with the name Halo on it’. Every project, from the beginning up to the end, is something that people bleed for really.
“We work really hard and do everything we can to make sure that quality comes first. Our primary goal is to continue to make great games. The fact that they’re all in one franchise just makes some things easier and some things more difficult.”
O’Connor also noted that despite its status as a flagship franchise, Halo doesn’t come under pressure from Microsoft executives.
“The cool thing about Microsoft period, whether it’s Bungie or 343 or Turn 10 or whoever, they just respect what we do and what we think is best for the Universe. So I don’t ever have executives from Microsoft ordering us to do certain things or build certain products.”
Remake Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition releases exclusively for Xbox 360 in November, with Halo 4 due towards the end of 2012.
Thanks, Shack.
15 
Posted in: Microsoft, Shooter, Xbox 360
Tags: 343 industries, Chad Armstrong, frank o'connor, halo 4, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition
15 comments
#1
LOLshock94
12/10/11, 12:11 am
just like halo reachs campaign
#2
bpcgos
12/10/11, 12:24 am
another smell of milk!
#3
LOLshock94
12/10/11, 12:31 am
@2 just like uncharted and god of war?
#4
Erthazus
12/10/11, 12:32 am
“We always plan to make sure that we’re innovating and that we’re putting fresh story in and that we’re putting something new in there and that’s how you avoid franchise fatigue. I think if you start making boring stuff, people are going to get bored and that’s what you have to avoid.”
I hope it’s a corporate joke.
#5
ultramega
12/10/11, 12:55 am
@3
What?
#6
blackdreamhunk
12/10/11, 1:50 am
by the way even Atari founder says this will be the last genertion on consoles
GDC Online 2011: Games guru says there’s no need for another Xbox or PlayStation, Facebook games are “too stupid to live,” and recalls wanting to fire early Atari employee Steve Jobs
Atari founder on the end of consoles
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6338994/atari-founder-on-the-end-of-consoles
#7
gamb1t
12/10/11, 2:34 am
@3
sounds a little bitter about playstation having more and better exclusives
ooooOOOooOoO halo (space marines straight rip off of doom)
gears of war (not bad but 1 was so awful how did they even make a sequel oh yeah thats right they had nothing else going for them) then again when was the last time epic made a decent game? ut2k4? AND YES ive tried gow1 over 5x and just god i cant keep playing its so boring. but im giving 2 a try if that doesnt work ill just go straight to 3
no im not a fan boy of anything well besides pc we all know thats superior to all but i actually prefer 360 over the ps3 (mainly the controller and online support)
#8
G1GAHURTZ
12/10/11, 3:30 am
It’s true.
That’s why hardly anyone plays Battlefield: Bad Company 2 any more.
Proof is in the pudding.
#9
Ireland Michael
12/10/11, 3:59 am
@8 That’s funny. I got bored of Black Ops before level 10.
Your observation is a logical fallacy of the highest order.
“People don’t play boring games. Less people play Battlefield than Call of Duty. Therefore Battlefield must be boring.”
In this case it’s a fallacy known as “Appealing to the People” In the simplest terms, this is the assumption that popularity = quality.
It doesn’t.
As has been proven to you countless times.
#10
Ireland Michael
12/10/11, 4:10 am
It’s also a scientifically proven fact that the human brain consistently prefers and adapts better to repetitive tasks and similar visual stimuli… and becomes more prevalent in people the lower their IQ.
As for what constitutes as “boring”, that’s entirely relative.
How the fuck can a Halo game talk about about diversity and variety anyway? It’s been essentially the same game since Halo 1.
#11
gamb1t
12/10/11, 4:18 am
#10
is that why ive been wanting more new IP’s
#12
Ireland Michael
12/10/11, 4:22 am
@11 You’re obviously not most casual gamers then. if you want new IPs. That’s a compliment.
Most casual gamers are more than content with their regular dose of Halos, Gears of Wars and Call of Duties, and little else.
#13
DarkElfa
12/10/11, 4:37 am
@6, Bushnell is a known fool and he’s too far out of touch with today’s consumer to understand today’s console race.
#14
gamb1t
12/10/11, 4:56 am
@12 yeah good to know there are people out there that like quality games over junk
its ashame the console generation is just flooded with the same crap that was never good to start with, seems like whatever the company advertises and forces down your throat is what the casual gamer likes unlike pc gamers.
#15
DaMan
12/10/11, 11:44 am
#10 It’s a proven fact too that you need to practice and do the same task to get better at it. That’s what videogames ‘ve been about since the days of Breakout and Galaga. Casuals are the ones who try the multiplayer for a couple of days, go negative in every single game and proceed to another release.
If you want new IPs regularly then you’re the definition of a casual gamer. Because it’s obvious you are equally average at every single one you play. Well, that is unless you just aren’t into competitive games or if you prefer story driven ones.
diversity and variety anyway? It’s been essentially the same game since Halo 1.
If you read the article they never mentioned gameplay changes there.