www.bungie.net | halo.bungie.net | bungiestore.com

Don't Suck - Succeed
Posted by Evil Otto at 10/11/2002 9:32 AM PDT

Don't Suck --Succeed!

By Evil Otto
October 11, 2002

The Seventh Column has grown faster than we initially expected, with thousands of people from all over the world signing up to create their own chapters and help spread Bungie's message of love across the globe. However, this unchecked expansion of the Seventh Column has had a couple of negative side effects. As with anything deemed "cool," "hip" and "underground" by the elite tastemakers who comprise Bungie's core fanbase, there are the inevitable hangers-on who create their own Seventh Column chapter because it's seen as a cool thing to do, or simply because they can. Once they've created their chapter, they don't have the work ethic and creativity of true chapter leaders; they make a few sparse updates to their chapter page before leaving it to rot. Others have the willingness to build their chapter into an exciting and dynamic force but don't know how to get started; they long to attract new members but aren't sure how to go about it. There's nothing to be done about the first problem, but in this article I'll discuss some possible solutions for the second. What makes a Seventh Column chapter cool, the sort of group that other people want to join? And once they've joined, how do you keep them there? Read on for some ideas.

Start with an Idea

The best chapters seem to be those that are started as a means to a definite end. The people who found the chapter have a clear idea of what they want their chapter to do. Even if it's as simple and unadorned as "I want a chapter so my friends and I can have a place online to plan LAN parties," it's better than nothing. Don't just start a chapter because you think it would be cool to have one. Don't think "Wouldn't it be cool to start a chapter that became really huge and popular?" Start with smaller, definite, concrete goals. Know what you want to do with your chapter, and follow through.

The Name Game

For those of you who perhaps haven't created a chapter yet, learn from the mistakes of others and give some thought to the name of your chapter. If you browse through the Seventh Column chapter lists you'll see a fair number of names that all run together after a while. You want your chapter to stand out, right? Why pick a chapter name that blends in with a bunch of others that sound so similar as to be fairly indistinguishable? Or worse, why pick a chapter name that sounds like some sort of lame advertisement? There are chapters with titles like "FOR HALO ACTION JOIN!!!" and I don't see many people in those chapters. When you dream up your chapter name, think about how other people might react to it: if your chapter sounds like it was named by an 8-year-old (and not one of those Doogie Howser brainiac 8-year-olds, either) people are going to think twice about joining. Dream up something creative. And spell-check it too.

Distinguish Yourselves

Quick: guess how many chapters have some variant of "Mess with the best, die like the rest" as their chapter motto, or a few empty words like "we rule at Halo" for their chapter description? Answer: If you think I'm going to count them all, you're nuts. If you've got a solid idea for your chapter, you should be able to explain it concisely in the Description section. The whole point of the description section is to give people the essence of your chapter in a nutshell; if you don't have something useful or at least interesting in that space, they probably won't bother to read the rest of the page - and that's where all the interesting stuff is. Don't waste this opportunity; make your chapter description sing. The same goes for your motto: why use the same motto as another chapter? Think up something evocative, cool, and unique. If you have an undistinguished entry in a long (and growing) list of chapters, what's going to convince people to join yours?

Use Your Tools

There are all sorts of weird little database goodies available to Seventh Column chapters of which you can and should avail yourself. They allow you and your chapter members to collect important data and express yourselves. Many chapter founders know about these features but never really figure out how to use them to their advantage. You should definitely look at some of the other chapters and learn from those who have learned to use the databases. Not only do you have pre-set database types for everything from favorite game types to movie reviews, but you also have the Custom Database option in case you want to think outside the box and do your own thing - which we heartily encourage you to do. Think about your chapter, what it represents, what you're striving to do - then use the databases to help make it happen. It's part of how you give your chapter character - and it's character, more than anything else, that will convince people to join up.

Stay Active

If you really want your chapter to grow, you need to nurture it - and that means staying involved. You can't just announce the creation of a chapter and expect other people to join up and somehow magically make it cool. You have to set an example. Keep your chapter site updated, be proactive in searching for new members, and get the ball rolling on LAN gatherings. You don't have to be responsible for everything, and in fact getting other members of your chapter to shoulder some of the work is a good way to make sure other people are as involved as you are. You shouldn't try to do too much at once, or jump straight into a massive project like a huge state-wide LAN party - start with a few simple things and build up a head of steam. It's important to build a stable foundation first, and that means figuring out how to have fun with the six other people who joined your chapter before you worry about putting on a LAN party for 600. As your experience and confidence grow, so will your ambition. In the meantime, keep your chapter moving. Keep posting, keep planning, keep meeting, keep playing.

Don't Build Fences Unless You Need Them

Some people think the only thing they can do with their Seventh Column chapter is play Halo. This is silly - think of all the other Bungie games you can play! Seriously, the purpose of the Seventh Column is to help pave the way for Bungie's future world domination, but you can't do that by locking yourself in the closet with a copy of Halo. Your chapter should do things that are fun, regardless of whether they're explicitly Bungie-related or not. We've heard of chapters making group trips to amusement parks, paintball fields, ski resorts and the local zoo. We've heard tell of LAN parties where the music, the barbeque and the women were as hot as the Halo multiplayer action. The most important thing is to have fun. Don't artificially limit your options. At the same time, don't let your chapter stray from the Bungie Way. It is easy to find a balance. And while I'm on the subject of "building fences" I'd like to say a few words about intra-Column rivalries. Certain chapters, staffed largely by the young and hot-blooded, find amusement in manufacturing controversy and hostility between their chapter and others. To be blunt, this is a waste of time and a complete travesty of the spirit of the Seventh Column. Friendly rivalries are fun as long as they can be settled on the battlefield at a LAN party, but any chapter that pits itself against another chapter is missing the point. These pissing matches waste time and fragment our majestic organization. Don't let it happen if you can help it.

There's No I in Team, But There's a U in Community

It's important to realize that your Seventh Column chapter is not an entity unto itself but a single thread in the fabric of an organization that circles the globe. Every day there are new members and sometimes dozens of new chapters. The Seventh Column is always growing and we expect the rate of growth to increase in the months and years ahead. If you really want your chapter to grow in membership and stature, you should act as an example to other chapters. Show people how cool a Seventh Column chapter can be and they will either join yours or fashion their own chapter in your image. Keep your public profile high. Keep an eye not only on your own chapter forum but also on The Underground, where all members of all chapters are invited to participate. Involve other chapters in your events when possible. Let us know if you do anything especially cool. Many of the chapters that we've written articles about or put in the chapter spotlight are there because they contacted us to let us know what they were up to. If you have a kick-ass LAN party and five other chapters from your state show up to duke it out, tell us! At the very least you should be sending in news from your chapter to the Seventh Column Week in Review.

Think Globally, Act Locally

As already noted, the Seventh Column is a global organization and some chapters have members in disparate regions. But you'd be surprised how many people you could find in your own back yard (figuratively speaking) who'd probably love to join your chapter if they knew it existed. There are a lot of gamers out there who might know about Halo but haven't experienced the glory of multiplayer because they don't know of other players in their area. True, if they make it to the bungie.net site they can look up Seventh Column chapters by region - but some players never bother to check out our site. Or maybe they've heard of Halo or other Bungie games but never checked them out for whatever reason. Or maybe they're old-school Bungie fans who'd love nothing more than to hook up for some multiplayer games, especially if they could squeeze in some Marathon or Myth along with Halo. These folks are out there, but it's up to you to let them know your chapter exists. The Propaganda section of the Seventh Column site offers flyers you can download, customize, print out and tack up in any area that will have them. If you live in an urban or suburban area you can probably think of half a dozen places near you that have a bulletin board on site. Some of them are places that gamers and creative-minded people frequent - book stores, video stores, the library, your campus computer center, the local coffee shop. You might even want to try places you wouldn't think of as gamer hangouts, like the grocery store. You don't have to drive all over your home state gluing flyers to every flat surface (though one Seventh Columnist did). All you want to do is get the word out to people in your area that your chapter is close to them, active and might be a lot of fun to check out. Once they know, they can check out your site and join up.

Donate Your Brain to Bungie

Well, okay, you don't have to donate it, but we'd appreciate a loaner from time to time. Some of our best feedback comes from loyal Seventh Columnists who have an idea for a site feature or change, or even ideas for things we could do to have fun and improve the community experience in the offline world. If you have a Seventh Column chapter and an idea for making it better that we could help you with, make sure you're also a member of the Chapter Founders chapter. This is a chapter specifically designed to encourage interaction between Bungie and the most fervent members of the Seventh Column. The forum is fairly active and is a sure-fire way to make sure that someone from Bungie reads your idea. (Note that I'm talking about ideas that are specific to the Seventh Column and the Bungie fan community, not your ideas for Halo 2 weapons.) It's also a great way to network and hatch plans with the founders of other active chapters. If you're a chapter founder, you really ought to be paying attention to what goes on in the Chapter Founders group, and contributing when you have something to say.

Don't Forget to Have Fun

This article is just advice culled from what I've seen in the chapters that seem active, fun and successful to me. None of it is gospel to be followed slavishly. Do what's right for you and the other members of your chapter, and don't get so busy that you don't have fun. A key component of the Bungie Way is to never take things too seriously. Enjoy yourselves. When the time comes for Bungie to take over the world, we want the Seventh Column to be the happiest and coolest guerilla army in the history of humankind. Start today.

New Beginnings 

Posted by DeeJ at 1/31/2013 11:45 AM PST

Bungie.net has evolved...

Read Full Top Story

Tags: Community

   

Bungie.net Set to Read-Only Today 

Posted by DeeJ at 1/8/2013 9:07 AM PST

Pardon our dust...

On Tuesday, January 8th, Bungie.net will be set to read-only mode. During this short, preparatory maintenance window, you can browse, but you can’t post. We expect the outage to be brief.

Thank you for your patience. If we don’t make it back, tell your mother we love her. See you on the other side.

Tags: Community

permalink   

Happy Holidays. Love, Bungie. 

Posted by DeeJ at 12/21/2012 2:22 PM PST

Peace on Earth?

Read Full Top Story

Tags: Community

   

We Wish You a Merry Mail Sack 

Posted by DeeJ at 12/21/2012 2:21 PM PST

Goodwill towards mail...



It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Bungie. Our cavernous hideout, usually overrun by artists, coders, and designers, is slowly becoming a place of empty chairs and empty tables. Before our beloved partners in crime could flee the scene in favor of their respective family reunions, we gathered around the very last bundle of community interaction that will be seen this calendar year.

The past twelve months have been home to fascinating developments at Bungie. We are thankful. We’ve marched ever closer toward our fate. There is brilliant light at the end of the tunnel, dear community.

But that is a glorious conversation best saved for another time. For now, let’s look back instead of forward.

Let’s open the Sack.


Frag Ingot What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment from this year?

I made it through...

Ben Thompson, Engineer

I wrote lots of cool things for Bungie.next. Maybe DeeJ will tell you more about that soon.
Tom Gioconda, Engineer

I started building a spaceship in my garage, entirely out of spare lawnmower parts.
Dave Mongan, Senior Writer

Deadlift: 325lbs., Squat: 225lbs, Machine Squat: 360lbs. Also, wrote/recorded 13 songs and remixed 2 songs.
Forrest Soderlind, Technical Artist

Professionally, I built a new back end system that (if it works correctly) will make the online experience better for a significant portion of our playerbase, without them ever knowing it is there. Personally, I went on some awesome adventures with my wife this year and didn't get us both killed, or too horribly lost.
Michael Williams, Engineer

Marriage!
Robert Kehoe, BVT Tester

Creating the next generation of the internal tools for Bungie.Next. They ain’t pretty, but they get the job done.
Alex Loret de Mola, Engineer

And, the following people on the Bungie Panel for this week counted their great fortune in landing a place on the roster of Team Bungie. This delegation represents only a fraction of the parade of noobs that stormed our front door to help us bring you a new game.
Will Edgette, Engineer
Leland Dantzler, Tester
Doug Juno, Artist
Drew Smith, Producer
David Johnson, Engineer
Mike Shannon, Senior IT Engineer
Chris Owens, Test Engineer
Andy Howell, Matchmaking Test Lead


Hylebos How is the Pentathlon shaping up?

As someone who has been honored with an invitation to serve on the Exalted Winter Pentathlon Committee, I'm one of the few people who can tell you that it’s shaping up quite nicely. Our competitors have been partitioned into four warring schools, with Captains assigned to lead each. Events have been chosen, with lieutenants designated to lead each school’s respective charge, and commissioners in place to enforce the rules of battle. As the games draw near, we'll treat you to the usual front-row seat, though I suspect the game I'm most anxious to play this year will be zealously guarded from your eyes.


Elem3nt 117 What is your New Year's Resolution?

I resolve to be a little bit more open and transparent with you. If that has you excited, please note that my track record for keeping these annual promises is less than impressive. Let’s see if my co-developers are more or less disciplined. What do you have planned for yourselves in 2013, Bungie Panel?

Decimate the competition in the Pentathlon or die trying.
Drew Smith, Producer

Draw more.
Doug Juno, Artist

Finish building that spaceship in my garage! Or, give up the ridiculous idea already and waste my free time more wisely.
Dave Mongan, Senior Writer

To get up earlier!
Andy Howell, Matchmaking Test Lead

Deadlift: 495lbs., Squat: 405lbs, Bench 250lbs.
Forrest Soderlind, Technical Artist

Write a book, plant a tree. I can already imagine blank pages and a bare yard.
Christian Diefenbach, Engineering Lead

Don’t get suckered into anymore of those crazy “End of the world” doomsday prophesies.
Ben Thompson, Engineer

Create more, consume less.
Michael Williams, Engineer

To finally fulfill my resolutions from the last 8 years.
Mike Shannon, Senior IT Engineer

I resolve to be better, stronger, faster.
Chris Owens, Test Engineer

To not make any more New Year’s Resolutions.
Alex Loret de Mola, Engineer

Be less tempted by Bungie’s free snacks. Who am I kidding?
Leland Dantzler, Tester


Ninja Blue Wolf Does Marty do lessons?

You mean music lessons? No. Marty does teach us a lesson from time to time, but they are more in the vein of knowing when to hold ‘em – and when to fold ‘em. If you don’t get the reference, that’s an old song about Poker, written by a gambling purveyor of Fried Chicken.


WestCoastRonin If you could remake any Christmas movie and give it a sci-fi setting, which movie would you choose and what would it be like?

I’m pitching a starside reboot of A Christmas Story. My hero, Ralphie_9.6, is an astroclone incepted on an off-world colony who dreams of owning a Red Ryder x-ray cannon. As part of his coming of age, he learns to face off against the Academy’s most dreaded bully. Comic relief ensues when he tricks his best friend into sticking his tongue to the cooling towers of the main reactor. For the grand finale, a hoard of feral tusk-wolves make off with the sandtrout that was prepared for the solstice feast of the seventh moon.

The joy of editing this feature is the chance to hoard the best and most obvious answer for one’s self. However, in the event that Hollywood rejects my screenplay, here are some alternatives from the Bungie Panel…

If you ask me, Rocky 4 is begging for a sci-fi remake. It’s got it all: Good versus evil; hi-tech versus old-school; national pride versus personal determination. Everything is on the line, and it all comes to a head on Christmas Day. Simply set it in an interstellar society, with humans versus aliens and… Ba-da-bing ba-da-boom! Instant, updated holiday classic.
Dave Mongan, Senior Writer

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a cyborg sent back through time to Santa’s workshop (circa 1995) to protect Santa Claus. Sam the Snowborg is on a mission to kill him and alter the future so that Snowborgs rule over all mankind – and Christmas is permanently destroyed. To save the day, Santa and Rudolph must go to the Isle of Misfit Toys Asylum to rescue Mrs. Claus, who was arrested after encountering Rudolph in the prequel.
David Johnson, Engineer

It’s a Wonderful Star Trek Life. I know they kind of already did it in TNG. I guess I just want Star Trek for Christmas.
Andy Howell, Matchmaking Test Lead

As Life Day approaches on Tatooine, Emmet Otter and his Ma decide to compete in the Cantina's talent contest. Watch as they face corrupt Hutt judges, and challenge the Empire's most deadly musicians, "The Boba Fett Sarlacc Band". In the end they will learn the true meaning of Life Day, and the true power of the Force.
Michael Williams, Engineer

Mine is more based on a TV show than a movie. Theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Doctor Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator - and vanished. He awoke to find himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that looked a lot like Santa, and driven by an unknown force to change Christmas for the better. His only guide on this journey is ELF, an observer from his own time, who appears in the form of a hologram that only Sam can see and hear. And so, Doctor Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to replace bad presents with amazing presents and hoping each time that his next leap… will be the leap home.
Chris Owens, Test Engineer

I have a visual of people opening their Christmas presents to find face hugger aliens inside.
Robert Kehoe, BVT Tester

The first two Die Hard movies could be convincingly set on an inter-planetary colony and a spaceport, respectively. The plot of the second movie even becomes more much plausible in a spaceport.
Tom Gioconda, Engineer

White Christmas. It’s the year 2196, and Lt. Commander Wallace is performing a holiday space symphony for our troops fighting against the mysterious arachnid alien species that has invaded our solar system. He finds himself caught in a web, and about to be eaten by said aliens, before Ensign Davis runs over in the nick of time and saves his life. Their friendship comes to a head years later when their old Fleet Admiral is discovered running a failed tourist vessel orbiting Jupiter. They decide to bring their interstellar cast and crew to revive his chances of success. The plot really doesn’t have to change much at all! I suppose one of their love interests could get vaporized by a stray phaser blast as they defend the tourist ship from space raiders.
Alex Loret de Mola, Engineer

Yeah, Alex. Because nothing gets people in the Christmas spirit faster than vaporizing love interests.


irishfreak Why won't you return my calls?

Mostly because, for the first time in the years (and years) since I left college and joined The Work Force, I don’t have a phone on my desk. That took some getting used to. I remember asking about this on my first day at Bungie. Urk answered my question with a question of his own. “Who would you call?” That stopped me in my tracks. Hello, Internet? It’s me, DeeJ.


EZcompany2ndsqd If Santa came down your chimney and you were awake what would you do?

I’d handcuff him to the gas starter, light a candle, and have a long chat about all those years I got ugly sweaters instead of the video games that had been released that season. Perhaps the Bungie Panel will be more forgiving than I…

See if he wanted to play some Farcry 3 coop.
Drew Smith, Producer

I would thank him for giving me a brand new fireplace.
David Johnson, Engineer

Offer him a drink.
Doug Juno, Artist

Release the Krampus!
Forrest Soderlind, Technical Artist

Demand gifts as payment for intrusion.
Leland Dantzler, Tester

We would then engage in mortal combat - Bungie wood n00b sword vs. Santa Sack. Spoiler: Christmas would lose.
Andy Howell, Matchmaking Test Lead

Borrow his ride!
Christian Diefenbach, Engineering Lead

Ask if he had a couple hours to babysit.
Ben Thompson, Engineer

Wager my soul against a golden fiddle in a Settler's of Catan match. Santa does that right?
Michael Williams, Engineer

Scream like a little girl and run around in circles until the bad man left. Sadly, that’s how I deal with most situations.
Chris Owens, Test Engineer

Offer the man some milk and cookies for installing a chimney in my apartment.
Will Edgette, Engineer

Probably offer him a beer. Cookies and milk probably get old.
Tom Gioconda, Engineer


DarthCarrick If you could give the Community a present, what would it be?

An exciting new place to call home. Since such things cannot be wrapped, that gift will have to serve another occasion.


Xd00999 You can now un-cancel one television show. What do you choose?

When I do make it to my television, I’m more than likely using it to battle the Internet though the construct of my favorite game. Thus, I am transferring my vote to the Bungie Panel. Have at it, people. What do you wish was still on the idiot box?

I used to work in TV, so that’s like asking me to resurrect only one of my deceased friends. Too cruel. Instead, I’ll bring to life a baby that was never born: a pilot I wrote called “The War.” Imagine the grittiness of “The Wire,” set on the coke-frenzied Sunset Strip of the 1980s. It was an intense roller-coaster ride of sex & drugs & rock-n-roll… or at least it would have been, had it ever seen the light of day. Oh well…
Dave Mongan, Senior Writer

I’d pick one of the following:

Ben Thompson, Engineer

Bring back Firefly!
David Johnson, Engineer

Firefly, Duh. (Says the Star Trek fan… I know.. I know..)
Andy Howell, Matchmaking Test Lead

Firefly.
Will Edgette, Engineer

Can I choose two? 1) Firefly 2) Farscape.
Christian Diefenbach, Engineering Lead

Firefly.
Michael Williams, Engineer

I’m sure this is the first time someone mentioned this show, but Firefly.
Chris Owens, Test Engineer

Answers other than Firefly are wrong.
Tom Gioconda, Engineer

Wonderfalls!
Alex Loret de Mola, Engineer

Better Off Ted.
Leland Dantzler, Tester

Carnivale on HBO.
Doug Juno, Artist

Arrested Development.
Drew Smith, Producer

Deadwood, so I can open a can of peaches.
Forrest Soderlind, Technical Artist


A Pimpin Lady Why will you not answer my question? I want to know where Bungie hires their non-gaming personnel. Last time I asked this question, you sent me to the job listings page on B.Net. In all my years here, I have never seen non-gaming related listings. I know you guys have to have accountants, HR, health educators, etc. Will you please tell me where the job listings for these people are found?

“Ma’am! I answered your question! I answered the darn... I’m cooperating here!” -Jerry Lundegaard, Executive Sales Manager, Gustafson Motors

It’s almost as if our whole team is devoted to the singular cause of making a game. We do have a few people at Bungie who mind the shop while we make the toys. In all your years here, none of them have quit. They really like their jobs. We see to that, personally. If we end up needing more of them, the curious onlookers who pay attention to our Careers page will be the first to know.


Marcellos007 What was the funniest present you´ve got for Christmas?

My father and my sister succumbed to the allure of a home shopping offering on television. One toll-free conversation later, our entire family received the gift of decorative swords. Mine was so decorative, the blade folded under the weight of its own haft when I sank it into the soil of the back yard in a dramatic reenactment of the ending to my favorite Scottish revolution film. Care to recall your own comedic lumps of coal, Bungie Panel?

My dad used to rewrap the board game Balderdash every year and give it to a random member of the family. That was always funny. Plus, it’s a good game.
Drew Smith, Producer

Many years ago, a boss of mine gave me the menu for an adult-entertainment venue called The Chicken Ranch. I never visited the establishment, but I got a lot of laughs out of reading the names of their various “Dishes.”
Dave Mongan, Senior Writer

One year, my friends thought it would be a good idea to all get me Hello Kitty themed gifts, including bubble bath that came packaged with warnings about urinary tract infections. Also included was a lantern that had a warning to “not look directly at.” So, all of the Hello Kitty gifts where deadly in one way or another. But really, isn’t anything to do with Hello Kitty?
Andy Howell, Matchmaking Test Lead

Our family has had a habit of wrapping gifts in bizarre ways. I've seen bizarre polyhedral shapes, boxes nested in boxes, and gifts wrapped in twine that has been spliced so there was no end to untie.
Michael Williams, Engineer

A 20 pound wheel of cheese (I used to be a much larger man who loved his cheese).
Chris Owens, Test Engineer

A Rubik’s Cube shaped like Homer Simpson.
Alex Loret de Mola, Engineer

My dad gave me Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders. I was 8 and my mom was furious. Dad and I played the heck out of it, though.
Leland Dantzler, Tester


Halo biggest fan For all the artists at Bungie: Do any of you frequently go to figure drawing sessions to stay sharp on your traditional drawing skills?

Is this really a question about art? Or, is it more a question about naked people in our studio?


CoRaMo Where is the strangest place you have ever played a video game?

Like so many of you, I was waiting anxiously on the sidelines while Halo: ODST was preparing to drop. Through some magic wielded by the Hand of Urk, I vaulted to the front of a very long line and was the first kid in my zip code to play Firefight in the belly of a military transport vehicle. Moral to the story: Always be nice to your Community Manager. Beat that, Bungie Panel!

The Experience Music Project in Seattle during the Halo 2 launch party. The science fiction museum had only recently gone into the building, and the whole experience was pretty surreal and awesome.
Michael Williams, Engineer

At the Podiatrist, while I was having an ingrown toenail removed. I needed a distraction.
Andy Howell, Matchmaking Test Lead

You mean like the backseat of a Volkswagen?
Mike Shannon, Senior IT Engineer

Backseat of a Volkswagen.
Robert Kehoe, BVT Tester

I played Inception – The App while I was in Erfoud, Morocco just to unlock the Africa chapter. My wife rolled her eyes, but the camels didn’t seem to mind.
Forrest Soderlind, Technical Artist

On the set of a movie.
Chris Owens, Test Engineer

In a van heading across the country to get to PAX – part of a caravan called the Cross Country Super Trip. We wired it up to a TV that was fixed into the ceiling, and played it on our two day long trek.
Alex Loret de Mola, Engineer

I played Pokemon Silver in an unmarked van, in Ireland, stuck at a sheep crossing while thousands of fluffy things crossed the road for more than 15 minutes (true story).
Leland Dantzler, Tester

Do iPhone games on the porcelain throne count?
Dave Mongan, Senior Writer

To most of you, playing in an arcade is probably pretty strange. More people play video games on the toilet via their phones than play in arcades now.
Tom Gioconda, Engineer

With gaming on cell phones, it doesn’t get much more strange than gaming in a public restroom. I’m... not the only one that does that, right?
David Johnson, Engineer

Some of you are sick. Suddenly, that line that forms outside the Bungie men’s room is much less a mystery. Pull your pants up and get back to work. You can launch birds out of slingshots on your own time.


coolmike699 Does Bungie do a secret Santa? Has anyone gotten anything really weird?

Our Secret Santas give presents to the people who need them the most. This year, our tree was decorated with dreams passed along to us from our friends at the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We love making dreams come true at Bungie – the weirder the better.




Duardo What was the best gift ever given to you?

I have everything I want in life: a gaming console, a patient wife who lets me spend a lot of time with it, and a clan of willing killers to carry me to victory. Bungie Panel, can you do a better job of celebrating the spirit of giving?

Not to get all sappy, but a couple years back, my wife gave me a pretty non-traditional Christmas present: a pregnancy test that read positive. Now, a few years earlier I would’ve freaked out; but timing is everything, and instead I was super excited to know we were expecting a little gamer of our own.
Dave Mongan, Senior Writer

The generosity of my friends. I can be demanding and a bit eccentric/neurotic, but they are all super accommodating.
Drew Smith, Producer

My life, by my mom and dad. (I know, suck up...)
Andy Howell, Matchmaking Test Lead

My first thought was to say “my daughters.” Then, I realized they’re more like Trojans taking over my world: making me work harder to get them the best life I can, eating away at my idle time with child’s play and E rated games, pushing me to better myself and… Yeah, my daughters.
Christian Diefenbach, Engineering Lead

My family once commissioned a custom art piece from one of my favorite artists based on a fictional character of mine. The effort and subtlety needed to gather the information for the commission was as precious as the artwork itself.
Michael Williams, Engineer


Mike Shannon, Senior IT Engineer

The gift of laughter! Yeah, right! That’d be my original 8-bit NES with the Gold Zelda Cart.
Chris Owens, Test Engineer

My wife built me a cabinet with a mini-fridge, snack drawer, and movie theater style popcorn popper for my home theater room was pretty damned impressive last year.
Tom Gioconda, Engineer

The gift of life! Hahaha, no. In all seriousness, the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was the beginning of what got me here today.
Robert Kehoe, BVT Tester

Being able to work at Bungie.
Alex Loret de Mola, Engineer

Dethklok: Dethalbum II on vinyl.
Forrest Soderlind: Technical Artist


Will Edgette, Engineer

Hope.
Leland Dantzler, Tester


spartain ken 15 Do you guys ever think you would sell some Bungie-themed Christmas cards?

If you refresh the front page of our website, you can have one for free. There ain’t any cash in it, but it’s still a sincere expression of our love and devotion. Of all the gifts that we’re to receive in the coming days, very few will make us as happy as your unshakable friendship.

And, thus, the Sack is empty. With its closure, we bring to an end another year of community love. This next year promises to be a more exciting one. Between now and then, do take care of yourselves. May your travels by safe, and your holiday loot plentiful.

To all a good night.

Tags: Community

permalink   

Friendship of Mythic Proportions 

Posted by DeeJ at 12/20/2012 4:21 PM PST

Lean on me...

The Bungie Community is constantly astounding us with their creativity, and their solidarity. Recently, some ancients (who were playing Bungie games before some of their contemporaries were born) banded together to produce a piece of art that would steady a friend in need as he took steps toward a new challenge. Behold the intersection between passion for games and compassion for one's fellow gamer.

Miguel writes: Folks, here's a link to the whole Soulblighter Sword Cane saga, how it came to be, why we did it, etc. It all started back at the tail end of August (right before PAX Prime!) and is finally done now. The man has his uber-cane! Thanks of course to all of you for creating a wonderful environment for us to form such lasting friendships. Man, are we getting old.



 Cheers to the big hearts at Bungie.org.  

Tags: Community

permalink   

Tags

  • Careers

    Help us achieve World Domination.

  • Breaking In

    Find out more about Bungie’s Top Men and Women.

  • Publications

    Insight into building games the Bungie way.

  • Community

    Juicy gossip from or about the Bungie Community.

  • FAQs and Info

    You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers.