Hot damn! Sometimes the reaction in our studio to your mail is like a pin-prick at the end of a finger. Every once in a while, for reasons I have yet to discern, your questions open a jugular vein of community love. Check out the virtual riot mob who lined up to bleed out their wisdom and sardonic nonsense for your reading pleasure this week.
Jonty Barnes, Production Director
Chris Butcher, Engineering Lead
Derek Carroll, Designer
Andrew Davis, Artist
Mike Forrest, Engineer
Tyson Green, Designer
Josh Hamrick, Designer
Alexis Haraux, Engineer
John Hopson, User Research Lead
Andy Howell, Test Lead
David Johnson, Engineer
Dave Matthews, Art Manager
Troy McFarland, Artist
Jim McQuillan, Visual ID Director
Dan Miller, Designer
Mat Noguchi, Programmer
Chris Owens, Test Engineer
Matt Sammons, Designer
David Shaw, Producer
Austin Spafford, Engineer
Michael Strein, Engineer
Alan Stuart, Engineer
James Tsai, Designer
Just look at that panel, teeming with chatty developers! I think I just set back the reveal of our game another month. At least we get to open the Sack.
So, Bungie Community, now that we’re all here, what shall we talk about?
Achilles1108 #Dragons
Oh, c’mon! Are you guys still forcing that flaccid attempt at a meme down our throats? Give it up. It’s not gonna become a Thing. All you’re doing is angering the Forum Ninjas. In fact, every time one of you stuffs a mention about dragons into a conversation where it doesn’t belong, Foman assassinates a noob.
realcommando8426 Let’s talk about the new games you guys are gonna make.
Wow. You new here? Have a seat - I’ll get to you in a minute. If you overhear someone talking about dragons, I recommend you run for your life.
DE4THINC4RN4TE How would you make the world a better place? (realistically)
I would revamp the Driver’s Education curriculum in the State of Washington to place more emphasis on urgent freeway merging and how to negotiate a four-way stop – but these are just selfish musings of a recently transplanted, overly-aggressive motorist. I am sure our panel can do a better job of healing the world…
I’m struggling to come up with an answer that balances equality, individual achievement, mutually beneficial shared sacrifice, environmental stewardship, fairness, kindness, and happiness without being politically divisive or controversial. So… cats?
James Tsai
In an effort to reduce crime (or at least create more intelligent criminals), each city gets one cell for its jail. If you commit a crime in that city and are caught and sentenced, you wait out your time in that cell. Should you reach the end of your sentence, you are free to go. Should another criminal in the same city get caught and sentenced to jail time, you, being the cell’s inhabitant, is executed. I think most criminals have faith in their own skills (believing they won’t get caught), but few have faith in other criminal’s skills. If nothing else, we would end up creating a legion of super Criminals. Harsh? Yes. Effective? I think so. Oh yeah, did I mention I’m a manager at Bungie?
Dave Matthews
Help people have intrinsic motivation in their work.
Jonty Barnes
I’d like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony.
John Hopson
Have everyone spend some time re-evaluating their beliefs and goals. A day or two would probably do it.
Derek Carroll
Be nice to those I interact with, and give what I can to help those who are in need.
David Johnson
Be excellent to each other.
Dan Miller
Get rid of money.
Alexis Haraux
Wait.
Mat Noguchi
So that was YOU at the four-way stop this morning!
defnop552 You're running for "Mayor of The Universe", what 3 policies will you introduce if voted into power?
1. The Spice must flow.
2. We will push our boundaries and explore other dimensions.
3. Free towels for all citizens.
Dave Matthews
1. The ability at the age of 16 to choose 3 super powers.
2. The ability at the age of 18 for your parents to choose 2 powers to take away.
3. The right of the intergalactic space government at the age of 21 to apply one random super power to you.
Andy Howell
When confronted with so much possibility, all I could come up with is making it mandatory for people’s actions to always be in the interest of helping or entertaining others.
Jonty Barnes
1. Earth is home base.
2. Pluto is out of bounds.
3. You’re it
Alan Stuart
1. Don't be a jerk.
2. Don't be a jerk.
3. Don't be a jerk.
Austin Spafford
1. Transformers are a real thing.
2. Everyone gets a puppy.
3. No more pants.
James Tsai
1. Mandatory corporate naptime.
2. Require that proper spelling and grammar be demonstrated before a license to the Internet can be obtained.
3. Universal ice cream Thursdays for everyone.
David Johnson
I am officially volunteering to be Johnson’s campaign manager. Unfortunately, before we can start kissing babies, we'll need to establish dominance over the whole universe so that we can actually elect a Mayor.
Thrasher Fan Any hidden talent(s)?
I am a former improv actor and I love to sing.
Andy Howell
The ability to pick my nose in public and suffer no embarrassment whatsoever.
James Tsai
Come find me on the track and I’ll show you.
Dave Matthews
All my talents have been revealed and tested since joining Bungie, or they’re hidden from me too.
Jonty Barnes
I can lick my elbow.
Derek Carroll
I can write backwards, both in print and in cursive. This is useful only for signing things in funny ways and writing “Help, I’m trapped in the whiteboard!”
David Johnson
I can whistle with my mouth wide open without moving my lips by shaping my tongue against the roof of my mouth.
Alan Stuart
Yes, but they are hidden for a reason.
Dan Miller
I can eat six saltines in under a minute with reasonable reliability.
Austin Spafford
I can become invisible (but only for 1/240 of a second).
Alexis Haraux
xfuzzlex Did you play Halo 4 at PAX?
Yep. It’s looking sweet. Thanks to Angel for letting me jump the rope, and thanks to Wu for giving me the courage to do so.
Brusah Would you say that the build of your new game looks decent yet?
Yep.
Xd00999 Have Bungie employees ever donated to Kickstarter projects?
I was a Teenage Michael Jackson Impersonator.
Troy McFarland
Guts of Glory (
STILL GOING!)
Josh Hamrick
Derek is the master of Kickstarter contributions.
Jonty Barnes
I don't consider it "donating", but I've backed a number of projects since Kickstarter, um, started. You can see my history
here. I'm very happy with my rate of return (measured in tchotchkes, t-shirts, games, etc.), but I really enjoy helping other creative people bring their ideas to fruition.
Derek Carroll
antony X1000 What is your favourite fictional weapon in a video game?
The Drunk Missiles from Rise of the Triad. They just go everywhere without warning - great 90’s games fun! Also, of course, the “birthday party” skull from Halo. Don’t try to tell me it’s not a weapon.
Andy Howell
Zhang He wielded some badass claws in Dynasty Warriors. Simple, elegant, deadly.
James Tsai
Portal gun: It’s more of a tool than a weapon, but damn it would cut down on my commute times.
Dave Matthews
Zin’rokh, Destroyer of Worlds.
John Hopson
A
fully-powered-up bomb in Bomberman.
Derek Carroll
Of all time? Probably the Tachyon Cannon from Wing Commander: Privateer. Good damage, speed, energy drain and re-fire rate. And a pretty sweet price point as well.
Michael Strein
The Super Sheep in Worms: Armageddon.
David Johnson
It's not strictly a weapon, but you can't go wrong with the
Slicecycle from Dead Rising 2.
Mike Forrest
Quake 1 Rocket Launcher.
Dan Miller
Shooting from the hip: Land Shark Gun.
Austin Spafford
RCP90 in Golden Eye N64.
Alexis Haraux
WSTE-M5 Combat Shotgun.
Tyson Green
Kr1egerdude What's your favorite car chase scene? My favorite is from The Blues Brothers.
James Tsai
Jim McQuillan and Troy McFarland
Dave Matthews
Derek Carroll
Chris Owens
Michael Strein
Mike Forrest
Alan Stuart
Dan Miller
AxJARxOFxDIRT Now that everyone is "officially" back at school, what was your favorite class throughout all your school years? Coloring, US History, Advanced Petroleum Engineering? Could be anything.
DRAMA! It was great after stuffy classes to cut loose and just be silly.
Andy Howell
The computer class where I used the school network to get about thirty people to play Quake every day while one person in the class did all the work for everyone.
Josh Hamrick
Anatomy. The human body is a fascinating structure.
Chris Owens
Math or Physics – I also really liked band.
Michael Strein
Outside of my major, I’d have to say that I loved every class of Spanish that I ever took.
David Johnson
Although I’m an engineer, my favorite class was drama class. Change a few, small variables in my life and I might have been Bruce Willis.
Alan Stuart
Visual Communications (Broadcasting).
Dan Miller
Linear Algebra, with Ceramics following close behind.
Austin Spafford
“Oops I didn’t hear my alarm clock” 101.
Alexis Haraux
Tech Ed, which was like an introduction to engineering, metalworking, and mechanics all in one. We made everything from hot air balloons to actual get-you-expelled swords.
Tyson Green
In college, I took an elective ice skating class where you got an A as long as you showed up, and the instructors were all sorority girls. Kind of a no-brainer when compared against my engineering classes.
James Tsai
Colingo If Bungie started selling action figures based on employees, what cool accessories would your action figure come with?
A Mig welder, Mocap markers, and my Bungie ammo bag from Reach.
Troy McFarland
A bunch of exaggerated, fancifully colored guitars with gouges and scratches all over them from years of rough play. Maybe some leopard print underwear. And no pants.
James Tsai
Either a black t-shirt or a Gnome.
Josh Hamrick
Shorts, hackey-sack, Day-Glo yellow hoodie, and about 100 flaming skulls.
Derek Carroll
An Aussie hat, a wardrobe full of videogame-related shirts, and a narwhal.
David Johnson
An even smaller action figure of itself and a six pack of Diet Mountain Dew.
Mike Forrest
A giant coffee mug, a motorcycle helmet, an Xbox controller, and a picture of my wife.
Alan Stuart
A french baguette and a saucisson.
Alexis Haraux
Red Bull and Trident Gum.
Dan Miller
A boonie hat, and perhaps a shotgun.
Tyson Green
spawn031 If I keep my question less to than 140 characters, is it more likely to get answered?
The people at
twitter believe that brevity is the soul of wit. We’re not so strict about enforcing a standard for chatter here on Bungie.net. I pay a visit to twitter a few times a day to invite people to the party we host here, and to drop-kick the poor lost souls who are complaining to the wrong people about their Halo: Reach bans.
GoatGuy1 My goat gave birth to two twin males today. If you were to name them, what names would you chose for these baby goats?
Frank Capezzuto and Travis Brady.
James Tsai
Romulus and Remus.
Austin Spafford
Kodo and Podo.
Andy Howell
Pantysgawn and Brunost.
Dave Matthews
Milk and Cheese.
Josh Hamrick
Chewy and Han.
Jonty Barnes
HELLO and JPG.
Derek Carroll
The Furry Commodore and Captain G.
Chris Owens
Mister and Chief.
David Johnson
Kurt Göatel and Vincent Van Goat.
Mike Forrest
Farnsworth and Wommack.
Matt Sammons
Goat and Sir Samuel Franken Marbleberry III Esquire.
Dan Miller
Diablo & Mephisto.
Alexis Haraux
Vexlar the Insatiable Maw and Omnimagnus.
Tyson Green
arzeik If you could choose a fictitious world to live in, which one would it be?
The fan boy in me says Game of Thrones, but the realist in me says Futurama. Wait… is that backwards?
Andy Howell
Rama.
Austin Spafford
Valhalla – fight all day long, then drink ant party at night… rinse and repeat… how awesome!
Dave Matthews
The Culture (“Duh!”)
John Hopson, Tyson Green, and Chris Butcher
The world of The Diamond Age is pretty cool. Most fiction has good places for certain people to live in, and the nature of drama means that not everyone has it so good.
Derek Carroll
The Quentin Tarantino Universe.
Chris Owens
Harry Potter, hands down. That world seems like it has all the perks of living in modern times plus all of the awesome bits of being able to use magic.
David Johnson
Azeroth.
Alan Stuart
Tron.
Dan Miller
In the Smurfs’ village.
Alexis Haraux
Sloanus When will we be getting a new podcast?
I don’t know. Do people listen to those anymore? Seriously. Someone asked me that question just this week.
St Major Dan What would be your Utopia?
A wise man once told me that our utopias are unknown – meaning to say that the concept is always just out of reach. That might sound a little cynical, but that dude saved my ass in a lot of combat on Xbox LIVE, so I trust his insight. Maybe our panel can dream up an impossible dream. That is what most of them do for a living, after all…
Cybertron, before the war.
James Tsai
Scuba School in Shark Alley.
Jim McQuillan
Calm seas, and the
wind to guide me.
Dave Matthews
On the beach in Maui with my family.
Alan Stuart
Bellevue.
Dan Miller
Rama, before it was ruined by the second book.
Austin Spafford
A world without money or Mondays, and with a lot of cheese.
Alexis Haraux
coolmike699 What is your favorite season?
New video game season, of course! It’s also the most expensive time of the year (sigh).
Andy Howell
Season 2 of Community.
Josh Hamrick
Snow season. The world is better for the white blanket and me skiing all over it.
Jonty Barnes
FOOTBALL SEASON!!! (Go 9ers!)
Chris Owens
Any season that comes with a Steam Sale.
Michael Strein
Season 3 of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
David Johnson
Season 5 of “Breaking Bad,” but I’m really looking forward to season 6.
Alan Stuart
I prefer Ground Pepper.
Dan Miller
Plain Ben Are there any quotes from fellow employees that have stuck with you?
“Whatever the situation, dual plasma pistols are not the answer.”
John Hopson
"I just need 20 seconds to finish watching this video of the world's tallest cat standing up."
Derek Carroll
“Sure, I’ll call your All-In.” (Pre-flop, with a 7-2. He won.)
Chris Owens
“It is always an easy problem to solve when you aren’t responsible for the solution.”
Alan Stuart
“Always be closing.”
Dan Miller
"Blam!"
Austin Spafford
“We have a lot of potential to put spiders on the other side of that river. And I am committed to delivering on that potential.”
Tyson Green
DesertStormer27 Will we have another fun challenge like we did last week? (Please say yes, PLEASE)
Some of you have a bizarre opinion about the notion of “fun,” but okay. Those of you get a rush from beating your head against a brick wall of maths will be delighted to know that the same puzzlemaster from the last Sack is back with another “misssinglink”:
The clock is ticking, and we are curious to see if you can
beat your time from last week.