I agree it would benefit both Microsoft and the consumer to release Halo4 on Nex-Box as a launch window title rather then on the 360 so past its prime!
However their is a very big problem with doing this. 343 did hire developers to begin work on a next gen Halo title years ago, the problem is many things changed within Microsoft since those job postings were made. Kinect was launched and Microsoft was obviously ready to have a new X-Box ready if it failed. However Kinect was a smashing success that kept 360's flying off the shelves and maintained much of the momentum that was eroding.
From everything 343 has said Halo4 was developed as a 360 title. Microsoft obviously expected the next generation to be delayed longer then it has been. Had Microsoft known towards the beginning of development that WiiU would launch in 2012 (Which they should have been able to guess) and the fact that Nex-Box would likely be revealed in 2012. I'm sure the game would have been started for the Nex-Box from the get go instead of 360.
That being said, what do we know about Halo4? It was announced for 360 but we have seen very little along the lines of actual footage or game play. All 343 has revealed is concept art and a lot of talk about the direction they are taking with Halo4. This begs the question is it really in development for 360 at all? Keeping in mind Microsoft began hiring next gen staff years ago to work on a future Halo title. There is a decent chance that the game was always being built for Nex-Box.
Sorry to go all conspiracy theory on your ass but it is very possible that Halo4 will not come to 360. Microsoft could easily pull off a last minute "We are shifting Halo4 to our upcoming platform" and nobody would be the wiser to the fact the game was always intended for that platform.
So why would Microsoft lie and tell everyone its coming to 360? Credibility 343 needs to show consumers that Microsoft is okay without Bungie. MS couldn't afford to leave a gap not revealing anything about the way 343 was going with the franchise. Build up hype for Halo4 on 360 then last minute shift it to Nex-Box all those gamers will likely purchase a Nex-Box to get the title which they have such a vested interest in.
In the end I'm not saying Halo4 is coming to Nex-Box because if it was actually developed for the 360 from the get go and remains in development for 360. A Nex-Box version would lack the finesse needed to woo gamers on a new platform, Microsoft needs to build the first Nex-Box Halo game from the ground up for that hardware to take full advantage of its capabilities. However it is very possible and would make business sense for Halo4 to never have been in development for 360 at all, the lack of footage, screens and in game content screams that the game might not be headed to 360 at all.
I expect Microsoft to announce Nex-Box at E3 2012 possibly but highly unlikely even earlier if Microsoft holds its X12 convention like it has sometimes in the past. There are a few other possible venues though even less likely then an official Microsoft conference. In the end I think Microsoft will keep the next X-Box under lock and key until E3. At which time a possible announcement about Halo4 being a launch title might be made.
Also don't assume Nex-Box is coming in 2013 it could very easily come next fall/winter. The product has been in deep development a very long time and leaks from Sony indicate the next PlayStation is also nearly ready for unveiling and the market. With WiiU launching next winter Microsoft's whole strategy of being first to market is shot their is a good possibility they would consider launching the console alongside WiiU since they obviously can't beat Nintendo to the market.
Don't think its possible, remember the Slim's release? The day it was announced it was available to the general public. Microsoft managed to hide that from everyone to the point nobody expected it to come that very day. If Microsoft was able to keep retailers quite and ship all those Slim's without arousing suspicion or springing a leak they are very capable of having a new X-Box on the market by fall 2012. In fact considering how ninja they were and how ninja Nintendo has been in the past. I wouldn't be surprised to find out developers have had dev kits for awhile now, remember leaks earlier this year and last year that suggested dev kits were in developer hands? Those rumors were quickly squashed officially, but considering how good MS and other console manufacturers have been at keeping secrets those leaks could have been somewhat factual.
| yo_john117 said: NO! I want Halo 4 on the 360 so I can play next year. Halo games don't get delayed BTW. |
Hey no smiley face or indication you are actually joking. Halo titles have been delayed several times especially prior to an official release date. Can't delay a game that has no release date, 343 could give a very good excuse for the game to come in 2013 without delaying anything officially.
P.S your forgetting that Halo 3 was promised by Bill Gates for the launch date of the PS3 November 11th 2006. The date was not met and the final product arrived on shelves September 25, 2007. They missed the launch date by almost an entire year, if you don't consider that a delay I don't know what you would.
-JC7
"In God We Trust - In Games We Play " - Joel Reimer
