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Destiny

Discuss all things Destiny.
Edited by Your MOM is MC: 2/16/2013 3:02:21 PM
38

The Darkness is ending... Or is it? (*A Commentary on Bungie's method and form of Story-Telling and it's future*)

-[b]An open letter to fellow fans and to Bungie at large[/b]- [i]Okay, think about it...[/i] Destiny has been a secret part of us, the community (and the studio obviously) for so long. For about 3 years now we've heard strange tales of Bungie's newest creation, and for those 3 years we've made our own ideas of what the story will be about, what factions we want to join simply based on their logo and we have hyped the game up so much for ourselves that I feel like I don't want the climax to hit just yet. Destiny has been, and forever will be, a big part of our history as avid fans of Bungie. Destiny was and IS their universe, but also ours. Even though we knew nothing of it, people speculated, created crazy idealist threads spawning discussions, arguments, theories, etc. That is the fun of Bungie, they never always give all the information. In the end, for the true followers, they always purposefully leave us hanging there for a bit, letting us try to guess what comes next. Good ol' Snakie (for those of you who remember him, an old, very frequent, forum visitor a few years back) said it best to me last time we talked: [quote]"The reason Halo 4 doesn't work for us is because it's filler. It's crap. It's supposed to be unknown. This 'plot' that this new baby of a writing team is putting together is just butchering the best part of a Bungie game's lore, [b][i]The Mystery[/i][/b]"[/quote] For those avid followers of Halo canon like myself, we all know the true value of secrecy when it comes to what we look deepest into. We never truly found out what the Legendary Planet was, we never truly found the origin of the Flood, we never truly found the origin of the Forerunners and we never truly found what happened to them. We only found out what we were told by the folks who felt like picking up the pieces. Regardless, this talk isn't about Halo, it's about what we're leaving behind, but also about what we will soon gain in return. Marathon, Halo, Myth, Pathways, all of these games have tons of mystery involved. There are some things in these games that will never be understood. That's how Bungie satisfies those who look so much into the story. It's always fun to play in a land that is pre-imagined and there for you to experience, but the thought of building onto that land on your own, the openness for fan-fiction and even fan games (which are a frequent occurrence now, for fans to develop unofficial sequels to games or spin-offs)... That allows the pre-imagined world in front of you to become yours in a way. Half the fun of the analysis of a story is working to find something out. There's always that "Oh my god! That's what that means?!" moment or, "Woah, that's how this happened, which will eventually cause this to happen but it's not made apparent to the common player?!". You find these things out that cause major shifts and revelations in the given story and it changes the whole playing field which gives you that "WOW" factor. You dig, dig, dig and dig and you finally find something that changes the game. You begin to know that feeling well after reading into different stories, analyzing plot points and memorizing historical events in the universe while trying to dig up the thematic elements of the story as well the symbols, themes themselves, etc. Once you do all of that, you tend to want to create something just like that. Bungie lets you do that. Bungie lets you do EXACTLY that. When they don't say something, that's your chance to butt in. That's your chance to create part of the Universe. Of course nothing created by the fans is ever official, but sometimes it's too good to not be considered official. Sometimes people start believing that what the fans write is true lore. The lore that the fans write is usually akin to the original story's style, simply because so much has been put into reading into the main story and trying to figure out every little bit about the game's universe. Once that's put together, it's hard not to base your expansion off the same style that the original work used. This similarity in style begins to make readers believe, after a while, what they have just read is true lore. That amazing event in the community is what I love most about us and Bungie. They set it up so that we can make it our own, not even just through mystery, but through gameplay, social interaction and the story itself. These key elements and aspects of a video game in today's video game culture are what built Halo, but I feel that with Halo, we simply saw the beginning of the development of what Bungie really has in mind... Halo started off as a game that imbued the player in a world they had never imagined. This evolved, suddenly and interestingly, into a movement of story telling through multiple mediums in video games. Bungie has always been about story, that's why I love them so much. With Halo 2, they wanted to develop social stories as well as obviously continue the main story arc of the player's character in the first game while adding a few new twists and turns. Halo 3 became that first real game where Bungie realized they wanted to do something different... They got the ideas down solid on how to allow social experiences to develop, expanding the player's involvement and immersion in the story and add that final shred of mystery that Halo always had, yet that mystery was always teased as a coming attraction. From there, it's easy to see that Bungie knew what they wanted to do apart from Halo. They knew they wanted something new, something that had never been done before utilizing the elements of social gaming to tell true stories in a fictional universe and cooperatively with the real world. While this is happening, they have perfected that mystery that has always been so intriguing to us hardcore fans. That portal that allows us to develop our own story. Destiny is the perfect storm for story telling, and to me, the biggest part of it, is the mystery. There will be many things that we won't know even after Destiny has been out for a year. There will be many things for us fans to dig and find. There will be many things for us to see, read and realize in the coming time. Something I am really looking forward to... The fans telling the real stories. Usually you have to hire a few writers to make short stories in different story universes, with an MMO, you make your own stories. With Destiny... I have a feeling we'll be making our own story universes inside the universe itself. Be them out of adventure, out of action or out of mystery, stories will erupt. And they will explode. I can't wait for that part of Destiny, and most of all, I can't wait to be put back into the darkness of the story's best kept secrets. Love, A fan P.S. New Monarchy ftw [see what I did there ;) ]

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  • I just want Destiny books already

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  • Agreed. Oh, and Necro.

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  • I 100% agree. I am super excited for destiny and its mysteries. Allow me to go off on a tangent about Halo... While I don't like dissing 343 all the time, I think that all those awesome theories and discussions within community concerning the mysteries of Halo went to waste since the information was revealed to us. I miss that feeling of thinking about the things that were so much bigger than the Halo games themselves and the players. The forerunners, the flood, the precursors. Time scales so vast that it boggled my mind. The fact that everything in the Halo universe sort of became connected and was at the point of almost coming together in Halo 3 was such a great thing. The Rainbow theory, the origin of the flood, the nature of the precursors. The only thing that ruined it, was the fact that it all came together (and is supposed to come together even more) with this 'Reclaimer trilogy'. A story being concluded that should not be concluded. A build up events so suspenseful it should never be resolved. When those terminals in Halo 3 from the Medicant Bias said that he would send the Master Chief back to his creators, that is no doubt a 'cliffhanger', but it doesn't mean someone needs to continue that story. The idea of the forerunners building these elegant structures called 'halo's. Where did they come from? Who are they? What do they look like? Any rendition of their being would be a disappointment, unless it was a mystery. I'm definitely rambling right now... but you know what I mean.

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    • As much as I love the Halo series, I'm looking forward to a new universe to really get into the story. I love Bungie's storytelling and the sense of mystery that they leave you with. I miss that feeling in Halo now that 343 has control.

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    • If any of you guys are apart of the [url=http://www.bungie.net/7_New-Monarchy-Faction/en-us/Groups/Detail?groupId=39503]New Monarchy[/url] faction and love it then join this group by clicking on the link.

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    • Edited by moofant: 2/17/2013 1:05:24 PM
      I totally agree with you. I absolutely loved the Halo 3 ending, the mystery of it, and the mystery that is part of any story in a Bungie game. Figuring out Halo has always been amazingly fun, and I can't wait to have a new universe to discover. Although I joined this site around the release of Halo 3 in '07 sometime, I missed most of the initial speculation and theorycrafting involved with the Halo 3 story (IRIS campaign, that AI account messaging foman123, that "Where in the World is Master Cheif" thread and so many other amazing things). I'm looking forward to being part of the mystery and the speculation in this new universe. I remember Lord Snakie also! He made some amazing theories (Rainbow Theory I believe, among soo many others). He commented on one of my theories in the Universe forum once. I hope he writes more on this new Universe! Along with others like Wolverfrog (so many great theories). There was also another great writer, can't remember his name though, but one of his threads was "Halo 4 in plain Sight: 'something'", and it wasn't the thread about Halo 4 and Bungie's cycle of storytelling by Cortana 5 (which is also epic). Come to think of it, there was so much amazing content, especially on the Universe forum top threads section. It would be a shame for it to just fade away. (unless there's some way to access it via this new website.. which I'm quite clueless to!) Anyway I'm just rambling now! I can't wait for this new universe with new mysteries to solve. edit: so many ! but I'm so excited I dont care

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    • Great post! I have never really been very vocal in the community, but i have been a hardcore fan for 11 years. I kinda feel sad that i never made myself more known and acted more social, still i've always felt like i was a part of it all. Reading posts like this makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :) Halo 4 for me was one of the weirdest experiences i've had with gaming.. I knew it was suppose to be a Halo game, but i felt extremely alienated. None of the Bungie magic were present. I really have a hard time understanding how old school hardcore Bungie-Halo fans have been able to like it...

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    • The mysteries and secrets of the fictional universe is what keeps me reading, watching, playing science fiction. I feel Bungie are truly talented at developing an engaging universe which drives you to dig further through the lore. Halo is the only video game for which I have read 6 novels, I truly adore having that much depth to swim through when immersed in space opera.

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    • Here we go again Hopefully it will will be a success on the level of halo ce

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    • Edited by Achal: 2/17/2013 2:24:50 AM
      I agree with this. The mystery involved in the Halo series was beautiful in it's complexity and depth. That's what I miss most about Bungie's Halo. I hope Bungie never hands off [i]Destiny[/i] to an inexperienced developer.

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    • This reminded me of Snakie's theory on the origin of the Flood. I loved that thing. This is why I love the universes that Bungie creates.

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    • Are you member of the press? xD

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    • Or another version of [b][i]Story and Story telling[/i][/b]. [url=http://www.bungie.net]Joseph Staten once stated "The books are, for better or worse, part of the canon"[/url], yet it appear fine to ignore this story, the canon, and indeed completely rewrite and re-release complete books. Is this what you meant by "[i]Bungie satisfies those who look so much into the story[/i]" ... and is it so satisfying because you get the original story, and then you get the other story ... yeah, makes it all so clear and enhances that OMG experience - lol

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    • Very good points about Halo 4. I think that mystery is key in what makes Bungie a step above the rest.

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    • Thats exactly what I was thinking when I was playing the Halo 4 campaign. "So I know everything now, don't I?" You get to see Master Chiefs face, you get to see the forerunners. It truly is crap.

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      • Exactly why I believe Halo:ODST was a masterpiece, no matter that it was away from the story arc we knew and loved. It created this sense of wonder, mystery and tension that always kept you thinking what might be next, really pumping your creative juices. Bungie is one hell of an awesome company and I can't wait for what they have in store.

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        • With a game as hyped as this, I have to keep my expectations low.

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            Do you have the recent-ish interview with Joseph Staten? He talks about similar things so I'm wondering if you have the link as it was a good interview I thought. Basically about how he wants to set the foundations for the players to make their own stories rather than have them "consume" a plot.

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          • Citrus raptor is correct, very good read. Video games are truly an art form, what you don't have is just as important as what you do have. Thanks, I knew there was [i]something[/i] about Halo 4 and couldn't put my finger on it. Again good read.

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            Good read and I too am looking forward to what this new universe has in store for us. From Bungie and from this great community. These dark times brought us together and gave us memories to never forget it. Now its time for the next part of the journey. Per Ardua Ad Astra

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          • Good read, agree with a lot.

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          • Edited by psychowarren102: 2/16/2013 10:26:56 AM
            brilliant post.... but one does wonder when bungie leaks an idea of a game (Destiny) does our (community) write the story with our speculation while they pick and choose what works so the full story is never actually known until the end or do they already have it pre-written?....so many questions so many ideas...it must be..."Destiny" ;)

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            • Edited by VIC: 2/16/2013 6:52:14 PM
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              I'm not sure I like people using broad generalizations ("We") to describe how I feel. It comes across as awfully egotistical. I prefer to let the storyteller tell the story. I love fan speculation but I like finding out eventually what the storyteller wanted to tell, rather than letting fans pull theories out from where the sun doesn't shine and push it on others. That being said, I'm also looking forward to be plunged into a new universe.

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              • [quote] P.S. New Monarchy ftw [see what I did there ;) ][/quote] I did see that. And I laughed. Bravo.

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                • I still think there is a Legendary/Alternative Ending in Reach!!! Especially after reading your awesome wall of text :D

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                • Excellent post

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