1. Then you should know that outsourced and collaborative development efforts of this magnitude are months in the making. As you'll well know, companies that operate on contractual work begin negotiations and preparations for their jobs months, if not years, in advance. This isn't two programmers from Fiver. This is a massive scale development house for hire. Rarely, if ever, can a large scale contractor of this size take on a top-tier, large-scale project on comparatively no notice. How can they, given how they need to operate? So, given this, and given that they've worked on the project already, what evidence do you have that contracting out for this specific stretch wasn't the plan all along? It's not uncommon by any metric - especially if you know of Microsoft's policies.1. Because I project manage tech developments of all sorts of businesses. Adding developers late in the project is a bad sign, if they worked on it previously under contract why press release now? It's a PR backfire at best.
2. Shouldn't have been done given the timing.
3. Crunch isn't just a gaming specific thing, it's literally any IT project where dev/design, code and test is involved. Gaming just made it fashionable to report on and being a buzzword. 343 could have avoided this by communicating better and with more specificity e.g. more testers inbound, more art assistance etc. Just going with "development mandates" and what appears to be bringing third party devs into a team already known to have ballooned on Halo games before from 400-700+ shows me they're needing specific talents or are attempting to brute force with more staff. It points to being behind on development, poor testing time allocated for launch, lack of transparent communication (343 have touted and worked on for years). There isn't much time left, take the last day of NOV for launch and we see 2 months and 3 weeks remaining for useful work essentially, why? because the game has to go gold weeks/1 month prior to launch to get discs manufactured and shipped around the world. What is not standard practice for the industry is to announce your contractors for crunch time, nobody does that when things are going normal and smooth. Further 343 is known for actively avoiding crunch and having "healthy" work practices.
You can't honestly think it's good PR or good development lifecycle practice to bring in more external staff in month number 57/58 of 60 total (being 5 years in development, current date and launch date assumed for last day of NOV). As I stated in my last reply, it's great for GaaS and post release updates, it's shite for going gold and launch day quality though.
IMO Halo Infinite's development is in a dark place. I hope they pull a Halo 2 that was also in deep dark development hell and turned out to be the best Halo game I ever played; both campaign and multiplayer. Multiplayer shat the bed at launch for H2 and it took a good 6 months to really find its footing, does no one remember the broken live system, rampant cheaters, modders etc. 343 was already behind for years with a new platform introduction, Covid hit and now they're pushing for launch.
Nope, this is just an article now, but they've been doing this since 2019. So it's not late, they've been hired a long time ago.This late in the cycle? Panic stations.
Should have got Ubisoft farcry team imho.
Nope, this is just an article now, but they've been doing this since 2019. So it's not late, they've been hired a long time ago.
Sperasoft Will Support 343 Industries For Halo: Infinite
Maybe the name Sperasoft doesn't tell you much. If we add, animation and Mass Effect Andromeda, right away as an informed player it must have made you tick!www.spieltimes.com
1. Then you should know that outsourced and collaborative development efforts of this magnitude are months in the making. As you'll well know, companies that operate on contractual work begin negotiations and preparations for their jobs months, if not years, in advance. This isn't two programmers from Fiver. This is a massive scale development house for hire. Rarely, if ever, can a large scale contractor of this size take on a top-tier, large-scale project on comparatively no notice. How can they, given how they need to operate? So, given this, and given that they've worked on the project already, what evidence do you have that contracting out for this specific stretch wasn't the plan all along? It's not uncommon by any metric - especially if you know of Microsoft's policies.
2. So, "because I said so"? Sorry friend, you'll need more than that. Any development house tapping into a huge profile project like this is going to want to make sure their efforts are known. Now is the only right time for the press release.
3. 343i could have avoided... what, exactly? Give me specifics. The hypothetical crunch that I alluded to in my post, that may or may not exist? The made-up scenario in people's heads that the only part of the game that exists is the demo? That "Development in a dark place" based on... what? You're jumping to conclusions built off of assumptions. The simple fact is no one but those directly involved know the specifics - and everything we do know says this is just as likely a contractual agreement made well in advance as it is the apocalyptic hail marry by 343i and Microsoft that you seem to want it to be. In reality, it doesn't point to anything other than what the press release states: contractual labour has been brought in to assist on the project. The only reason this is making the rounds is because it feeds the narrative many are pushing, including yourself: 343i are incompetent and Infinite is on fire. I'll shit on 343i all day for the balls they've actually dropped. As of right now, they haven't dropped the Infinite ball, and we won't know if they have until launch day.
I'll divorce your disingenuous linking of "good PR" to "good development", as it damn well should be, and focus on the latter. Typical application development lifecycle practice dictates that the amount of work per development phase can vary the number of participants within that phase. You need more people for fullscale development than pre-production, and potentially more still for final round of QA if the QA overlaps with the final push of fullscale development. Typically, for game development, your team is the fattest right before the master cutoff. Game development 101. So, if 343i believe the polish and QA phase of the game's development requires more effort than their inhouse can provide and have undertaken contractual labour to achieve that goal, I see nothing wrong, nothing out of the ordinary, and certainly nothing alarming, with that approach. You think Halo Infinite's development is in a dark place... despite not knowing anything at all about its development except a press release. Me - I just think Halo Infinite is in development... because it is, and that's all we know.
When Press Sneak Fuck drops a tell all that paints a different picture of Infinite's development, I'll happily go along with a different narrative.
1) Maybe just more people, or the contract was one year long and they renewed it?1.) it does not make it better news (especially a PR to supposedly re state facts that have not changed since 2019: did the contract and mandate change? If yes why? If not why send a PR out now?)
2.) you may want to see if you can find a quote that does not tie ME: Andromeda and animations ... although are they the ones called in to try to fix that a bit?
I found it funny don't be meanThis is a terrible and embarrassing attempt at being funny, are you 12?
1. Then you should know that outsourced and collaborative development efforts of this magnitude are months in the making. As you'll well know, companies that operate on contractual work begin negotiations and preparations for their jobs months, if not years, in advance. This isn't two programmers from Fiver. This is a massive scale development house for hire. Rarely, if ever, can a large scale contractor of this size take on a top-tier, large-scale project on comparatively no notice. How can they, given how they need to operate? So, given this, and given that they've worked on the project already, what evidence do you have that contracting out for this specific stretch wasn't the plan all along? It's not uncommon by any metric - especially if you know of Microsoft's policies.
2. So, "because I said so"? Sorry friend, you'll need more than that. Any development house tapping into a huge profile project like this is going to want to make sure their efforts are known. Now is the only right time for the press release.
3. 343i could have avoided... what, exactly? Give me specifics. The hypothetical crunch that I alluded to in my post, that may or may not exist? The made-up scenario in people's heads that the only part of the game that exists is the demo? That "Development in a dark place" based on... what? You're jumping to conclusions built off of assumptions. The simple fact is no one but those directly involved know the specifics - and everything we do know says this is just as likely a contractual agreement made well in advance as it is the apocalyptic hail marry by 343i and Microsoft that you seem to want it to be. In reality, it doesn't point to anything other than what the press release states: contractual labour has been brought in to assist on the project. The only reason this is making the rounds is because it feeds the narrative many are pushing, including yourself: 343i are incompetent and Infinite is on fire. I'll shit on 343i all day for the balls they've actually dropped. As of right now, they haven't dropped the Infinite ball, and we won't know if they have until launch day.
I'll divorce your disingenuous linking of "good PR" to "good development", as it damn well should be, and focus on the latter. Typical application development lifecycle practice dictates that the amount of work per development phase can vary the number of participants within that phase. You need more people for fullscale development than pre-production, and potentially more still for final round of QA if the QA overlaps with the final push of fullscale development. Typically, for game development, your team is the fattest right before the master cutoff. Game development 101. So, if 343i believe the polish and QA phase of the game's development requires more effort than their inhouse can provide and have undertaken contractual labour to achieve that goal, I see nothing wrong, nothing out of the ordinary, and certainly nothing alarming, with that approach. You think Halo Infinite's development is in a dark place... despite not knowing anything at all about its development except a press release. Me - I just think Halo Infinite is in development... because it is, and that's all we know.
When Press Sneak Fuck drops a tell all that paints a different picture of Infinite's development, I'll happily go along with a different narrative.
Nope, this is just an article now, but they've been doing this since 2019. So it's not late, they've been hired a long time ago.
Sperasoft Will Support 343 Industries For Halo: Infinite
Maybe the name Sperasoft doesn't tell you much. If we add, animation and Mass Effect Andromeda, right away as an informed player it must have made you tick!www.spieltimes.com
At least on Gaf I don’t think anybody has white knighted this abomination.So 343i can admit (albeit indirectly) that the game isn't in the best state, but you still have xbox fanboys online who have been defending this like their life depends on it?
1) Maybe just more people, or the contract was one year long and they renewed it?
2) Because no studio can get better at their work... Andromeda is 3 years old.
But no wonder you think this is "bad" news.
No, because you are a Sony fanboy. Not the whole community. This isn't news to you, right? I'm an Xbox fanboy, obviously, so I'll look at things with pink goggles on. There's really nothing wrong with them getting another studio to help out. But you are trying to spin it into something bad, as if the people of that studio are shit at their job.Oh yeah, it is a SonyGAF conspiracy... . C’mon man...
Whoa. This is extreme mismanagement and it sounds like 343i just isn't capable. "The Mythical Man Month" springs to mind here, and it must be in BAD shape if MS is taking this approach. Clearly MS knows adding new people to a project tends to slow it down and make it worse, so yeah ... Kiiiiiinda shocking.
I Wonder how much this will add to that already Insane budget500 million spent and they need another studio...
As i covered in my video on this, the signs of everything point to the same engine, if not they have spent a great deal of time to limit themselves from the legacy of the old one. I discussed this in that video but have a full analysis of it coming this weekend.Its the same engine?
NXGamer did you get some insider knowledge that the engine is infact the same engine?
Because, im pretty sure 343i said its a new engine.....were they lying or were you assuming its the same engine because it doesnt look better than their last engine?
Xbox One utilizes Xbox Live Cloud Compute (built on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform), which enables speed and computing muscle once unimaginable in gaming. “This was our chance to rewrite the game engine from the ground up and make some big creative bets,” said Holmes. “We decided to make the most robust campaign and multiplayer experience ever created.”
As i covered in my video on this, the signs of everything point to the same engine, if not they have spent a great deal of time to limit themselves from the legacy of the old one. I discussed this in that video but have a full analysis of it coming this weekend.
Also, you only have to recall what was said about Halo 5 and It's "ground up new engine" close to launch of that, such as this:-
The making of 'Halo 5: Guardians'
Read the inside story as told by the creative team behind Xbox's signature franchisenews.microsoft.com
This is nothing new, PR is PR it needs to happen and does in all companies, but never take it as fact if you have repeats before, as we now know the above is not true and they admitted post launch that the tech debt was high and they did not allow the team to re-write the Halo 5 engine.
How embarrassing for the Halo franchise to have third-party janitors come in and turn your turd into a retail-ready product.
Which AAA game announced third-party janitors coming in to "help" just after a massive PR failure? The field of applicable AAA games shrinks considerably.Which AAA game do you know that doesnt have outsourced labor?
They are already helping since 2019... Try to keep upWhich AAA game announced third-party janitors coming in to "help" just after a massive PR failure? The field of applicable AAA games shrinks considerably.
Which AAA game announced third-party janitors coming in to "help" just after a massive PR failure? The field of applicable AAA games shrinks considerably.
Woah a whole year? For a AAA launch title that has been rumored to be going through dev troubles from the beginning? From a studio that has troubles with every Halo game it touches?They are already helping since 2019... Try to keep up
Why announce what has already been announced a year ago? Look, if you want to have blind faith in 343i and Microsoft's mismgmt of the Halo IP, by all means. Go ahead. I know how it feels to have faith in a franchise beyond all hope, but the writing has been on the wall for several years, for several games.None come to mind but you tell me, maybe Call of Duty 2020 but it was an internal team who took over so I guess not that.
I dont know clue me in.
Because, Sperasoft have been working with 343i on this game for a very very long time just like every AAA dev has outsourced talent working on stuff.
Ah rumors... This isn't the politics section of the forum, we work with facts here.Woah a whole year? For a AAA launch title that has been rumored to be going through dev troubles from the beginning? From a studio that has troubles with every Halo game it touches?
The announcement can be read on the site:Ah rumors... This isn't the politics section of the forum, we work with facts here.
SonyToo™ lives eternal.Apparently even sony had contracted Sperasoft for developing its games. So, time to move on ?
Can't beleive people ignore the content of the article they keep referencing from 2019:They have been involved since 2019. Cant believe people ignored it on the first page, so I will post it again
Sperasoft Will Support 343 Industries For Halo: Infinite
Maybe the name Sperasoft doesn't tell you much. If we add, animation and Mass Effect Andromeda, right away as an informed player it must have made you tick!www.spieltimes.com
Why announce what has already been announced a year ago? Look, if you want to have blind faith in 343i and Microsoft's mismgmt of the Halo IP, by all means. Go ahead. I know how it feels to have faith in a franchise beyond all hope, but the writing has been on the wall for several years, for several games.
Keep that glorious torch burning, just don't get upset when bystanders ask why you're cupping your hand in front of a low-fuel zippo.
2019 is not few months before release.SonyToo™ lives eternal.
Can't beleive people ignore the content of the article they keep referencing from 2019:
Sperasoft will take care of the motion capture and participate in the realization of the levels.
So they're going to work on motion capture and build up the levels.... a few months before release? Oh right, GAAS.
ITT: people claiming doom and gloom and that halo is in development he’ll because they just brought this team in with 3 months to release
Not ITT: the fact that this studio has also been working on halo infinite for at least the last 8 months lol
well done guys. Concern trolling at its best.
Your article states they're working on motion capture and level design.2019 is not few months before release.
The persecution complex is getting out of hand. "My ilk".Because its something that we(your ilk) can spin into a negative, naturally we would have a thread about it.
Sperasoft work on a ton of games, they dont necessarily have the right to talk about their involvement before a certain date, alot of outsourcing house dont talk about the games they are working on till close to release......as in with Halo Infinite being 4/5 months out.
Sperasoft is also working on AC: Valhalla, there wasnt a thread for that because it isnt really news that we can hate on, but if AC: Valhalla had more drama tied to it or console warriors you can guaragoddamtee there would be a thread about Ubisoft hiring an outsourcing studio.
Look im not downplaying that Infinite graphically isnt up to snuff, im not hiding from that fact, I dont think anyone really thinks graphically Infinite is what we expected from a Halo title graphically especially after Halo 4 lastgen and Halo 5 this gen.
Gameplay wise it looks fine to me, its more Halo...which is all I wanted.
If Sperasoft is putting more work into the rendering side of things I dont see this as anything but a positive.
Im not burning my torch for my own sake.......its mainly to get people like you informed, this isnt news that needs to be spun into a negative and theres a chance you just didnt know this is how AAA development works.....you outsource but keep your outsourcing studios NDA'd till date X.....that date has probably lapsed now for Sperasoft and they can talk about their involvement
Sperasoft Will Support 343 Industries For Halo: Infinite
Maybe the name Sperasoft doesn't tell you much. If we add, animation and Mass Effect Andromeda, right away as an informed player it must have made you tick!www.spieltimes.com
.
We dont even know what exactly Sperasoft is working on, but if its on the graphic side of things, im all in.
Since when is "work to do" development issues. Keep on spinning and try to move the goal post.The announcement can be read on the site:
Sperasoft Collaborates with 343 Industries on Halo Infinite Development - Sperasoft | Game Development
USA, San Jose – August 4, 2020 – Sperasoft, a Keywords Studio, is collaborating with 343 Industries and Xbox Game Studios to develop Halo Infinite – the nesperasoft.com
And 343i acknowledged less than a week ago that they have "work to do" to polish up the game. Both of these facts are available in the OP.
So which is it? Is 343i working to improve the game before launch and correct issues?
Or are those issues totally imaginary and Sony Ponies are just trolling the sacrosanct Halo brand?
A quick glance over the thread shows me you've been tirelessly handwaving, so I don't expect anything I say will turn that trend around.