More Questions. More Answers. More Bungie.
Welcome to the first mail call of the new year. On this occassion, I have broadened the conversation to include some fellow teammates. Your curiosities ran a wide range of topics. To tackle the broad spectrum of interrogatives, I got by with a little help from my friends.
ExquisiteDragon When is the next major B.net update?
As soon as I finish sorting through these questions, I will update the site with some answers. How's that?
Onyx81 What did the Bungie team do to celebrate the Holidays?
We
sacrificed a turkey at the altar of
Rooster Teeth.
The Storm Can we have a community ride along on a game other than Halo?
HOOBLA 911:
Didn't we have a CoD one recently?
I am the one answering the questions around here! Community Ride Along events will showcase the games that we are playing while Bungie is dark. What are you playing? Tell us all about it on the forum. Start a group with the other people who play it. Play it together. Make enough noise, and I am very likely to come knocking with a ticket to ride.
Sir Killalot33 Why are you on Bungie.net fraternizing with fans and not completely leaving us alone for the holidays? We must deteriorate your sanity on some level.
I gave up my last vestiges of my sanity when I accepted the challenge to manage the fanatical hoard that is the Bungie Community. I no longer had any use for it anyway.
JBSpudster Who would win in a fight between the Millennium Falcon and Godzilla? By answering this, you would be settling a 5 year debate with my best friend.
For an answer that is better than the one I could give, I have wrenched a laptop that is blistering hot from running Star Wars: The Old Republic for 12 hours straight from the death grip of resident graphic designer Halcylon, who says:
“I think it's pretty clear that, although Godzilla has radioactive breath and strength, the falcon can still make .5 past light speed - and can make the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs. That should be adequate enough to escape a giant lizard that needs sunlight to warm his cold blood. Space is cold. Lizards are slow in cold, as illustrated here...”
We hope this lays the issue to rest. Five years is a very long time to be debating such things.
Malfar If Bungie were a test pilot, what type of test pilot would they be?
Only the very best test pilots can
land a plane that is on fire.
Supernova33221 Do you have to be part of a group to be part of a community ride-along?
You do not have to be part of a Private Group to be drafted to ride along, but it does up your chances. When I am planning these events, I try to match a notable persona with a group from Bungie.net that shares their interests. From time to time, I might flash-mob a board on our forum for random participants, but those occurences will be far from predictable.
antony X1000 When are we likely to see the next site update?
This question again? I will update the site in a minute. These questions don't answer themselves, you know.
ExquisiteDragon Why does Stosh hate toast?
You people are killing me! This question is so
2011.
Moose427 What kind of snacks are you all eating these days?
All of them.
xgeua How many employees can the new Bungie Headquarters house?
All of them.
Blue Jesse How many people standing on each other’s shoulders would it take to reach the ceiling in the main (largest?) room at the new digs?
All of them. Actually, we have not had to stoop to such crude tactics to reach the ceiling, thanks to our rock wall.
ECOH Cam Any word on if the Average Joes interviews are coming back?
That’s was urk’s beat. While I will continue to find new and exciting ways to recognize the pillars of our community, those celebrations of particular individuals may not be packaged in the ways that you have come to expect. In other news, I am also changing the name of The Flood to “Mr. Giggle’s Happy Time Explosion Zone.”
HOOBLA 911 When will stosh be accepting Avatars and Themes again? I know many people wish to know this.
The discussion thread that was used to solicit these contributions was four years old. To save me the confusion of trying to figure out where stosh leaves off and I pick up, I have shut it down. The fanbase crowdsourcing department is
back in business, under new management and with a new challenge in play.
lord of dahorde Who is your favourite normal user on Bungie.net?
As soon as I find a normal user, I will raise them up on a pedestal as my favourite. Each of you displays a dangerously abnormal love for the playing of great games. For that, we are eternally grateful, and cautiously terrified.
YahwehFreak4evr A few years back there was a Bungie baseball cap in the Bungiestore. Can we please see that make a return?
I passed this question along to Christine Edwards, the content coordinator who (among other awesome things that keep you entertained) stocks the Bungie Store with sweet offerings that let all of you express your commitment to our goal of world domination. She said:
“We are definitely planning a grand return of baseball hats to our store in the near future. We’re currently tweaking our designs and testing out the best production methods to make these hats as awesome as possible, so stay tuned!”
Izak609 What level are you in Skyrim?
Zero. I used to play Skyrim, until I took a job offer from Bungie to the knee. Actually, I have never played a moment of that game. Many of my coworkers would be ashamed of me for not dabbling in their current favorite digital excursion. I tend not to play games that lack firepower, spaceships, or Ferraris. This is just one gamer’s opinion, of course.
GPK Ethan Are there any new Aerospace games coming out in the near future?
I went straight to the oracle for an update on the Aerospace front. Please allow me to introduce you to Bernie Yee, the producer of our mobile applications portfolio. When grilled for comment, Aerospace Actual got all philosophical on me:
"Even for smaller games, the process is like giving birth. Not that I would know, since all I did was stand next to my wife while it happened - ready to help in whatever way necessary. I should have gotten a producer credit. The short answer is “Yes.” We’re working on a couple of small, interesting (and, as of yet, unannounced) projects, and some more ambitious ones. When they are ready, you will be the first to know, and download, and play."
Bob Bobinson What is best in life?
Being on the original
Team Conan.
borrowedchief Any chance of a Pentathlon preview?
An epic showdown will be described in graphic detail. Newbies will clash with Grizzled Ancients. Middle School will battle Old Skool for dominance and bragging rights. Puzzles will be solved. Cars will be raced. Gunfire will be exchanged. Yours truly is leading a competitive shooter team to the front lines of battle. Hanging in the balance is a place in history, engraved onto a sweet, sweet trophy. Achronos calls it a "cup," but it is clearly a trophy.
IliKEpOPtaRTs54 Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?
Uhhmmm… No? Having read that question four times, I took a guess. Don’t hold me to that.
Kboyz07 If one offered to lick a window in bungie studios clean, would they be given a full free tour?
No, but we would provide them with a tour of Bellevue, WA in an ambulance that would deliver them to a hospital to have their stomach pumped clean.
NobleBeat Is Martin O'Donnell (Marty) good playing Halo?
I thought he was pretty good
the other night.
UnderTheKnif3 What music genre is seen as the most popular at Bungie?
The last time I opened the Mail Sack, one of you asked what is the most popular game at Bungie. Allow me to set the record straight. Bungie is not unified by a singular mind. Our big, happy family is more like a multi-headed hydra with colliding opinions and conflicting passions. There are hundreds of us. While we can all agree on many things, there is no way we can settle on one genre of music.
Butane123 Which class should I play in Dark Souls?
I don’t play Dark Souls. You know who does? Multiplayer Design Lead, Lars Bakken. If you have paid attention when Bungie has marched employees in front of the camera to talk about their work in our ViDocs, you would recognize him. When reached for comment on Dark Souls, Lars said:
“I would recommend starting as a Warrior class. Your initial gear is really quite good, and, most importantly, the shield you get early on will help immensely. If you really want to try magic, but still want to have access to good weapons relatively early, you could also try a Pyromancer. The great thing about Dark Souls is that your starting class is just that. You can mold your character in any direction you want over the course of the game. Good luck!”
Kr1egerdude How pumped are you for future Community Carnage and what are some of you plans for it?
I am most definitely pumped about
The Community Carnage events that members of Bungie.net host for one another. However, the plans are not mine to hatch. That is a fan-owned and fan-driven event. I have received some interesting messages from leaders of Private Groups that want to form a network of event management that keep the action in the Bungie Community steady, but I will leave that for them to announce. Anyone who wants to know what they have planned, or throw their weight behind their movement, should join the group. They host a great party.
talon2000 What’s the atmosphere like in the studio at the moment?
It’s a mix of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide; with minute, but pungent traces of methane.
Sven Nietzsche This is more for Lee Wlison: Can we expect any "ass shots" in the next IP's cutscenes? (I know you wont answer this)
Shows how much you know, Sven. For this priceless pearl of wisdom, I went straight to the source that was cited in your interrogative. Lee R. Wilson, the cinematic design lead who is hard at work in our Spandex Palace, had the following tease for you:
“Absolutely. With our advances in character rigging and performance capture you can expect truly dynamic and expressive asses.”
Anyone who thinks they have what it takes to assist in this process should check out
one of the newest job postings on our careers page.
Butane123 What does Marsellus Wallace look like?
What? I will answer your next question in the same way, even if you double dare me.
MetalxTongue When will there be sleepovers on bungie.net?
Bungie.net never sleeps, friend. Our servers are as constant as the Northern Star. Our network of Ninjas is global. The sun never sets on our virtual domain.
Insane Monx Do Bungie Employees (other than the Webteam) ever get on B.net? I know there is a few that do, but it seems like the majority of Employees don't even know we're here. That makes me :(
Don't be :(
Someone is always watching. You might see some of us some of the time. You might see all of us some of the time. You will never see all of us all of the time.
RigZ Boi What is your current stance on t-bagging?
Standing
straight up.
MilesDude32 What was the first game you've ever played?
Space Invaders. It was a game that told a story very similar to Halo, only with better music.
t0ast n jam Can I rap battle the urk? Please?
I didn’t just approach
any urk with this invitation. As requested, I approached
the urk with a track suit and some wicked bling to prepare him for your rap battle. Alas, your passive approach didn't inspire the legendary freestyle fury that he uses to fill our studio with sick rhymes at the drop of a hat. The urk said:
“Asking someone if they'll allow you to battle them is like asking a basketball if you can dunk it.”
Moral to the story? There is no "please" when requesting a rap battle. You have to step up and just bring it!
burritosenior Do you have any more as-of-yet-not-unveiled plans to keep us occupied until the darkness is over?
Yes. They are, as-of-yet, unveiled.
burritosenior If I sent you another 50 PMs and finally got you to send me one back saying to leave you alone, does that give me the right to say we're best friends and I talk with Bungie Employees all the time?
I will never tell you to leave me alone. I might ignore you. And, you have the right to say whatever you want. As to whether or not you are telling the truth? Well, that is another question entirely.
ctjl96 Will our questions still be read even though this is the 8th page?
Yes. Whether or not they will be answered is another question entirely.
IonicPaul What happens if I ask a question that's already been asked?
I answer the version that is asked most eloquently, unless both questions are equally unanswerable, in which case I commit them to the dark void that is my desktop recycle bin. On this occasion, you won.
MetalxTongue Can you ask me a question?
I can and I will. What motivates you to visit the website of a developer that has sworn to keep all of its secrets until a time at which they can be told?