Publisher's recent job posting teases new cross-platform, community-oriented project that will unite console, Web, and mobile devices.
Halo creators Bungie may have split off following Halo 3's September 2007 launch, but Microsoft has no intention of letting one of its best-selling franchises lie fallow. The Xbox 360-maker has already announced the Master Chief-free tactical shooter expansion Halo 3: ODST, due out this fall. Now, over the weekend, Microsoft dropped another hint about the series' future by way of a new job listing.
;)
First posted on April 10, the job req is for a software development engineer that will work at Microsoft's Halo franchise studio in Redmond, Washington. According to the listing, the position pertains to a new, cross-platform online initiative focused on "taking the current Halo community and online gaming support system and bringing it to the next level."
"We're looking to blend console, Web, and mobile to create an immersive Halo world that follows the dedicated Halo fan wherever they go," the job req reads. "We need engineers that can build connected technology while working in a startup environment."
The listing goes on to note that the software development engineer will be primarily tasked with delivering "a great out-of-game interactive experience that takes the next step beyond the systems found in Halo 3." Specific duties assigned to the software development engineer include building "user-facing on-console features such as forums, tournament ladders, media libraries, and integrated mini-games."
The new project appears to be in an early stage of development, as Microsoft's job req notes that the team will primarily focus on infrastructure building "for this year." Eventually, the cross-platform project will scale to involve "millions of concurrent users on the service."
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6207805.html
