Tag Archives: frank o’connor

Frank O’Connor, Microsoft’s franchise development director, has said the secret of Halo’s critical and commercial success is “that is has something for everyone.”

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Shit just got real.

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As Microsoft’s go-to mascot, Master Chief’s got his face iconic visor on everything from Slurpee cups to jewelry. But, believe it or not, Halo handler 343 Industries doesn’t want Master Chief mania to get out of hand. In fact, 343 boss Frank O’Connor’s quite frightened by the prospect.

“I worry about that constantly,” he told Joystiq.

Concerning Halo merchandise, he added:

“All of that stuff has existed in the past, and it exists because of one simple reason, which is demand. We wouldn’t make it if we weren’t continually being asked for it. We obviously turn down almost infinitely more stuff than we actually produce, but when we produce it there’s a good reason and a good plan and a strong demand.”

O’Connor offered Halo’s spin on the classic boardgame Risk as an example. Apparently, boardgame manufacturers had received requests for the twisted spawn of Halo and Risk, so 343 happily obliged. “Even if there is a demand,” O’Connor added, “if it doesn’t actually make sense and it’s completely crazy, we won’t do it.”

Now, would a Halo-themed version of one of those grabby claws – called, of course, “The Halo Reach” – be considered “crazy”? Because we’re willing to negotiate rights for the patent.

According to a report over on USA Today, Halo 3: ODST has moved 2.5 million units in the past two weeks, with sales reaching $27 million.

Earlier today, it was reported that games, comics, videos, books and action figures are planned for the next six years, which will add more money to the Halo franchise as a whole.

All of this is expected to tie the franchise together, according to Frank O’Connor, head of Microsoft’s 343 Industries.

More through the links, via Joystiq.

Frank O’Connor, head of Microsoft internal Halo-handler 343 Industries, has told USA Today that the Halo franchise has been planned out from now until 2015.

“We do have a plan that goes out at least six years,” he said.

“Eventually, it will become very apparent that there is a plan for the way the canon all ties together and the way the comic books and the novels all tie together.”

Games, comics, videos, books and action figures all add up to the final solution, but detail on where everything’s going to go is vapourous as yet.

Read the full thing through the link.

343 Industries’ Frank O’Connor was on hand at Comic-Con, and while there, he provided a few more details regarding Halo Waypoint.

Waypoint will feature access to audio and video content, community features, the ability to follow your “Halo career”, track the Halo games you play along with the achievements you unlock and other aspects not directly tied to “Halo 3, Halo Wars, and Halo, reports Kotaku.

It can be accessed from the Xbox 360 dashboard, will be a place to interact with others, and the first place to see episodes of Halo Legends which will be labeled as “events” instead of being placed in the video marketplace.

“There’s a lot more to Waypoint than just watching movies and listening to podcasts,” he said. “Maybe you just want to see a really old Halo trailer from E3. We’re going to aggregate everything that you would want to watch from the Halo universe on that site. But it’s a lot more ambitious than that. It’s going to evolve in features and functionality to make it the prime destination for the Halo fan.

“You’ll be able to see [Legends] episodes in their entirety via Waypoint in a staggered schedule. Those events will be global—it will be in every Xbox territory—and we’ll make those things sort of ‘come participate’ events.”

As far as a launch date is concerned, O’Conner reiterated that it was scheduled for a fall release, but will arrive sooner rather than later that season.

With pricing, Microsoft has yet to determine if Silver Member will have to pay to access the service or not.

“Certainly, if you’re a Gold member you’re going to get access to all of that experience,” he said. “We want everyone to have this same experience, but the question is, if there’s multiplayer features that are technically connected to Gold, it’s easier to deal with. There’s a lot of reasons that [tying it to] Gold makes sense.”

More through the link.

Microsoft’s formed a division named 343 Industries to take control of the entire Halo brand, according to the LA Times.

Ex-Bungie man Frank O’Connor’s heading it up.

“If you look at how George Lucas held on to Star Wars, not just to make money from action figures but to control the direction the universe went in, you can see why we think it’s pretty vital,” said O’Connor

“Luckily, Microsoft has the resources to enable us to do that.”

That link? Hit it. Then this one.

Remember that Halo Wars: Expanded Universe thing we told you about earlier? The one that’s releasing on March 2?

The first part’s after the break.

It’s lots of people talking about Halo in general, including everyone’s favourite Halo person, Frank O’Connor.

What the Sam Hell are you waiting for?

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Speaking to Eurogamer at Comic Con, Microsoft’s Frank O’Connor has said the platform holder has no plans to wring the Halo Universe dry.

“We have a well defined, carefully orchestrated, properly planned universe to explore not exploit,” he said. “And that’s the tricky part: what are the things people want to do? We have to pick things that people want. That’s what you see with the range of McFarlane toys – people want their armour permutation.

“Give them things they really want and make sure they’re high quality is the formula.”

The ex-Bungie staffer added: “The Halo universe is really, really big now. Literally the Halo games have only covered one year; a couple of months within a year in fact.

“We have a really detailed story bible, we do really have it all planned out. There are so many areas of the universe to explore, the real challenge is picking which is the most exciting area for people. Is it UNSC Marines fighting alongside Spartans against the Covenant? Or is it what happens next after Master Chief’s appearance in Halo 3?”

More through the link.

Blimey. Frank “Frankie” O’Connor’s confirmed that he’s leaving Bungie to join Microsoft, but will continue to work on the Halo franchise.

Frank is/was Bungie’s content manager, and has been the “voice” of Halo for years. From here:

Dear BungieFans,

It’s not you, it’s me.

In many ways, you’re too good for me. You can find someone better. Maybe a little hairy dude. Maybe a Hungarian Unicyclist. I just know that I don’t deserve you, and that this is just as hard for me as it is for you.

Yours truly,

Frankie.

I am leaving you. I am off to work more closely with Microsoft on the Halo franchise, so I shan’t be too far away, but I wanted to take this last chance, appropriately enough in a Weekly Update, to tell you a very fond thanks. Thanks for being the most energized, enthusiastic, loyal, faithful, creative, imaginative and incredible community any video game could ever have.

Thanks for being patient when things went wrong, when playlists didn’t work, when matchmaking broke, when bugs were being fixed. Thanks for the mail, the screenshots, the movies, the machinima, the models, the paintings and the sheer enthusiasm and talent you’ve shown me over the years.

Thanks for not following through on the death threats.

Thanks for sticking with us through thick and thin and thanks for the loyalty you’re going to show Bungie over the coming years.

I shared a hotel room with Frank the very first time I went to E3 in 1999. He took me out for my birthday to some club full of Hollywood producers and walked us past the queue because he used to work for Larry Flynt. We went to Fatburger at about 3am. I forget nothing, O’Connor. Good luck with the new job.