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April Fools: Bungie docks the Pimps at Sea on Facebook
Bungie's classic Pimps at Sea series has seen its highs and lows during its storied history -- Pimps at Sea 64, Call of Pimps: Sea Warfare, Ar Tonelico Navale: Pimps of Ar Sea El -- but fans are assuredly in for a treat with the company's latest iteration: PimpsVille for Facebook! Bungie COO "and trans-media marketing guru" Pete Parsons explains the new project by saying, "I was talking to Mark Zuckerberg yesterday – who just so happens to be a really close friend of mine – and he said Facebook has something like 500 million users. I'm thinking if we can get one dollar from every one of those guys, we can easily make a billion dollars." Truer words, Pete! No time has been given for the launch of PimpsVille, but we imagine that Bungie will wanna get out ahead of kids going on summer vacation. Or it'll never come out, because it's totally fake, but you never know. Weirder things have happened, right?
Interview: Bungie discusses Activision, its 'new universe,' and what happens to Reach
If it seems like all you've read about today is Bungie, well ... that's probably not far from the truth. Whether it's information about the highly anticipated Halo Reach beta – whose early "friends and family" access began today (giveaway here!) – to some unique Halo Reach swag to the news that the now independent developer has partnered with headline hogger Activision, it's Bungie's world today. We spoke with Bungie's Brian Jarrard and Joseph Staten about everything from their choice of Activision, to their plans to support Reach post-release, to their transmedia plans for this "new universe" they keep talking about. Read on for the entire interview! Joystiq: What would you tell fans that worry about Activision's annualized business model and how that might affect the culture at Bungie? Brian Jarrard: The great news is that whatever business model Activision might have internally or applied to their first-party studios or their other properties isn't really relevant to our partnership and our plans for what we're going to do with our next, big universe. We have a specific deal that really allows Bungie to focus on what's most important to us which is remaining an independent company and owning our new IP and having creative control to really execute our vision of how we want this universe to play out over the next 10 years. We already have those plans pencilled in; we've already gone through a schedule with real dates and, sort of, real stuff with Activision at the outset of these discussions and we both have a plan that we agree on and that's exactly what Bungie's vision is for our next big universe. Did you guys seriously consider relationships with any other publishers before signing on with Activision? Joseph Staten: Sure, absolutely. We've been in negotiations with Activision for about nine months but we've certainly been planning for this conversation since we spun out from Microsoft in 2007. Over the years, I guess, we really talked to ... imagine any major publisher that you can think of and we've probably talked to them over the years. Activision, at the end of the day, was far and away the best deal.
Bungie's next game is like, 'totally different'
One of Bungie's many skills is to talk up future projects without saying much at all, with the latest edition of the now independent company's podcast providing a sterling example of vague vocalizing. In a discussion between Luke Smith, Frank 'O Connor, Brian Gerrard and lead designer Christian Allen, we learn that Bungie's next title will be "totally different" to what you may have envisioned. Though it's early days yet, we're assured the work-in-progress is looking "very cool." As an adventure involving armor-clad tough guys gallivanting across mysterious space hoops is almost certainly ruled out (we're not mad about it), what do you think is nestled within Bungie's chiffon sleeve? %Poll-9154%[Via Eurogamer]
Reminder: Bungie Day goodies on XBLM tomorrow
Tomorrow is Bungie Day for the Halo 3 developer, as they've celebrated every July 7 in recent memory. Since it will be 2007 (i.e. 7/7/07, or triple 7s), there is some "extra special content" coming to Xbox Live Marketplace, according to the developer's website, in addition to new content on Bungie.net itself.As to what the goodies will be, exactly, Bungie isn't saying -- "don't get too excited, it's not Halo 3," said the newsbrief. We're predicting gamertag pictures, themes, and the like, of either Halo, Marathon or their long-running joke Pimps at Sea.Regardless of what the content is, there's only a small window of opportunity, as the mysterious content will only be available from 5:00 am ET until 3:00 am on Sunday. [Via X3F]
April Fool's Alert #7: Bungie announces Pimps on Film
Chronic pranksters Bungie Studios launched into their April Fool's Day jokes in their usual manner. Not that there's anything wrong with that. ("No, not at all," he said.)From Bungie.net we have a "leaked" poster from the upcoming Pimps at Sea movie. Little is known about the film except what we are given on the poster. Michael Bay will direct the film, which based on the novel by Sylvia Plath based on a screenplay by Stanley Kubrick and Alex Garland. Allen Murray, Ron Booth, K. Jong Il and Allan Peter Parson will produce, while Shane Kim, Peter Moore, Ron Howard and Jon Travolta will executive produce. The film stars Sir Anthony Hopkins, Damon Wayans, Pam Grier and David Scully; Martin O'Donnell will provide the music and Beyonce Knowles will be lending her voice to the song "Yo-ho-ho." It will be rated R. Like we said, very little bit is known about the project.Also found were early drafts of the screenplay with notes intended for Microsoft's eyes only. "You can run, bitch, but I'll have what's owed before this day is done. Or I ain't the pimp my mama raised!"
Halo 3 reminder: commercial and public beta today [update 1]
As Bungie announced in the lame strategically timed early-morning web update, Master Chief will appear in a Halo 3 commercial during tonight's Monday Night Football. Today also signals the registration frenzy to try to score a slot in the Halo 3 public beta (a.k.a Pimps at Sea); check the Halo 3 site for details. (The site wasn't yet updated when this post went live, but we expect a "many will enter, few will win" scenario.)The 60-second commercial will air on ESPN sometime between 5:50 and 6:20PM PST in North America. The rest of the world can download the commercial at Xbox.com beginning at 9:00PM PST (04.00 GMT). The ad is a mix of live and computer-animated footage, but it won't include any in-game shots. Only North American gamers are currently eligible for the Halo 3 beta. [Update: Direct from Bungie: "Don't panic. The Halo 3 Beta will be available in the US, Europe and elsewhere in the world." Thanks, Matt and azesino!]
Pimps at Sea (Halo 3) sighted on Live, yar!
Savvy Live denizens spotted some Bungie employees enjoying Pimps at Sea yesterday. Pimps at Sea is sort of a running joke with Bungie -- they even claimed that was the game they would develop after Halo 2. The Bungie employees showed this text on their Live status:"Playing Pimps at Sea (Alpha).Sailing, Yarr!"It's more than likely that this refers to the alpha of Halo 3's multiplayer component, which 1UP got to sample last month. Still, we honestly hope that Bungie bites the bullet and actually makes Pimp at Sea someday. The idea of high seas pimpage is just too good not to develop. Come on, Bungie, get to it (yarr!). Now that you have true next gen power at your disposal, you can finally realize the dream that is Pimps at Sea![Via Joystiq]
Pimps at Sea players spotted on Xbox Live [update 1]
Several Microsoft employees have been spotted on Xbox Live playing Pimps at Sea (Alpha). When questioned, the players slyly replied, "What's a pimp?"The obvious explanation is that Halo 3 multiplayer testing has begun, under Bungie's oft-used moniker. In fact, 1UP is "totally 100%" sure of it. As for Joystiq, we're a reserved 99.9% sure -- still holding onto some tiny inkling of hope that Pimps at Sea is indeed Bungie's long-rumored Xbox Live Arcade game.Update: added screenshot [via flickr].
