Kikizo is offering a 26-minute video interview with Microsoft's Robbie Bach about the upcoming Xbox 360 console. The only mention of Halo is listed in their text summary as follows:
The same Halo 3 / PS3 spoiler question we asked J - as much time as needed...
In the absence of real information, outrageous rumors about Halo 3-- a game that hasn't even really been announced officially by Bungie-- are circulating far and wide. Since Bungie probably isn't going to shoot them down just now, I thought I'd take aim and do some Halo 3 Rumor Control in the latest Narc's Retort.
We've seen this set of rumors, supposedly coming from someone whose uncle works at Bungie (oh dear God not again--Ed.) several times in the past few days. They were even translated into French at Halo.fr.
Given that Bungie seems to be enduring some kind of self-imposed silence bordering on self-denial with regards to the very existence of Halo 3, even to the point of failing to confirm or deny the existence of the game after it was referred to by no less a personage than Microsoft chairman Bill Gates.
That, plus the fact that historically Bungie, like other game studios, usually doesn't comment on rumors, means that regardless of the particular situation right now, these rumors would no doubt spread unchecked anyway.
Gamestop says Halo 3 is due out June 1, 2006. This is pure speculation on their part, as the game hasn't even been announced beyond Bill Gates remark at E3, which seems more inaccurate for each day Bungie is silent on their new project. Thanks Kotaku.
Ender Illes made a short photo essay and writeup about the Bungie booth at E3 2005, where the next five multiplayer maps were available for play. SketchFactor has put it up at Bungie.net.
What's most interesting is the quote by Bungie in response to Gates' Halo 3 "announcement":
We are very flattered. Its hard to believe that a man as powerful as him holds Halo in such a high regard. He places a lot of faith in us, and it's flattering.
According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Microsoft senior vice president and chief Xbox officer Robbie Bach all but says that Bill Gates misspoke himself at E3 when he referred to Halo 3 being used to blunt Sony's launch of the PlayStation 3.
Last week's What's What Update by Frankie at Bungie.net was inaccessible to us for awhile over the weekend, as was all of Bungie.net; however, we can load it now to point out the response to Bill Gates' announcement at E3 that the Sony PlayStation 3 launch would "run right into Halo 3", despite remarks in the previous WWU that Bungie's next project would not be announced for some time.
The question and answer in full from the update:
So, Microsoft lets the bomb drop this week that the Xbox 360 will be backwards compatible-- sort of. That "sort of" should include Halo and Halo 2, according to Newsday via HBO.
Much has been written, here and elsewhere, about backwards compatibility for gaming consoles, both with regards to the Xbox's successor, Xbox 360, and to consoles in general.
We asked our readers if backwards compatibility for the new Xbox was important; 43% of you said you wouldn't buy one if it wasn't, and only 17% of you thought it wasn't important or wouldn't affect their purchase decision.
Bill Gates says Halo 3 will be out in time to counter Sony's PlayStation 3. Frankie said, just last week, not to expect announcements from Bungie anytime soon, and they aren't even exhibiting at E3.
What's going on? Everyone knows Microsoft would be crazy not to make a Halo 3; but could it be that Bungie will not be the studio to make Halo 3?
Bill Gates is quoted in this month's Time Magazine, featuring the Xbox 360 on the cover, as saying that when the PlayStation 3 launches, it will "walk right into Halo 3."
In last week's Weekly What's What Update, Frankie said:
We're quite some time away from announcing what our next game is and for which platform.