OniGalore

Timeline of development: Difference between revisions

(added two more expected release dates)
(a little more clarity on release dates; it's safe to reject the late Mac GM date because there's really nothing supporting it except a statement which was probably not intended to refer to a recent event but simply giving the status of the Mac version)
 
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{{Hatnote|For the full story of Oni's development, see [[Oni]]. For detailed information on the continued updates for Mac after release, see [[History of Mac Oni]].}}
{{Hatnote|For the full story of Oni's development, see [[Oni]]. For detailed information on the continued updates for Mac after release, see [[History of Mac Oni]].}}
The [[Oni]] project started development in April of 1997 and ran for approximately 3 years, 9 months, ending in January of 2001. Through this time, the [[Bungie West]] team ran into unexpected technical and design hurdles, resulting in a much longer development period than planned. The initial internal deadline for the game, October 1999, was gradually pushed back quarter by quarter until the game was finished in the time period from November 2000 to January 2001, depending on the platform.
The Oni project started development in April of 1997 and ran for approximately 3 years, 9 months, ending in January of 2001. Through this time, the [[Bungie West]] team ran into unexpected technical and design hurdles, resulting in a much longer development period than planned. The initial internal deadline for the game, October 1999, was gradually pushed back quarter by quarter until the game was finished in the time period from November 2000 to January 2001, depending on the platform.


The development of the game was accompanied by unexpected events such as a financial blow to Bungie from the Myth II uninstaller bug, a partial buyout by Take-Two Interactive, turnover on the staff and a change of project lead, and then a complete buyout by Microsoft. Only a sustained crunch period at the end of development, pushing Bungie West to their limits, allowed the game to be finished to a degree where it was ready to ship, and cuts to the game were still required such as the removal of multiplayer mode.
The development of the game was accompanied by unexpected events such as a financial blow to Bungie from the Myth II uninstaller bug, a partial buyout by Take-Two Interactive, turnover on the staff and a change of project lead, and then a complete buyout by Microsoft. Only a sustained crunch period at the end of development, pushing Bungie West to their limits, allowed the game to be finished to a degree where it was ready to ship, and cuts to the game were still required such as the removal of multiplayer mode.
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|event9date=Sept. 29, 1999
|event9date=Sept. 29, 1999
|event9text=Sell sheet gives "Q1 2000" as release date{{ref|note=See [[:Image:Info sheet.jpg]]}}
|event9text=Sell sheet gives "Q1 2000" as release date{{ref|note=See [[:Image:Info sheet.jpg]]}}
|event10date=Dec. 20, 1999
|event10date=Nov. 19, 1999
|event10text=Brent Pease leaves the Oni team{{ref|note=[https://carnage.bungie.org/oniforum/oni.forum.pl?read=1410 Oni Central Forum: "Brent Pease leaves Bungie?"]}}
|event10text=GameSpot email gives "summer 2000" as release date{{ref|note=[https://carnage.bungie.org/oniforum/oni.forum.pl?read=1129 Oni Central Forum: "New Oni Preview Coming Up..."]}}
|event11date=Jan. 5, 2000
|event11date=Dec. 20, 1999
|event11text=Oni appears at Macworld SF; on BungieTV, the game is demonstrated in multiplayer mode by Bungie staffers{{ref|name="mp"}}
|event11text=Brent Pease leaves the Oni team{{ref|note=[https://carnage.bungie.org/oniforum/oni.forum.pl?read=1410 Oni Central Forum: "Brent Pease leaves Bungie?"]}}
|event12date=Feb. 20, 2000
|event12date=Jan. 5, 2000
|event12text=Oni's release date is listed as "summer 2000" by Take-Two{{ref|note=[http://oni.bungie.org/newsarchives/2000/feb00.html#take2 Oni Central: News for February 2000]}}
|event12text=Oni appears at Macworld SF; on BungieTV, the game is demonstrated in multiplayer mode by Bungie staffers{{ref|name="mp"}}
|event13date=May 13, 2000
|event13date=Feb. 20, 2000
|event13text=The announcement is made that multiplayer mode has been canceled{{ref|note=[https://carnage.bungie.org/oniforum/oni.forum.pl?read=3216 Oni Central Forum: "Rant here... I think its a good rant ;)"]}}
|event13text=Oni's release date is listed as "summer 2000" by Take-Two{{ref|note=[http://oni.bungie.org/newsarchives/2000/feb00.html#take2 Oni Central: News for February 2000]}}
|event14date=Jun. 19, 2000
|event14date=May 13, 2000
|event14text=Microsoft purchases 100% stake in Bungie and Take-Two gains full IP rights over Oni and Myth{{ref|note=[https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/20/microsoft-buys-bungie-take-two-buys-oni-ps2-situation-unchanged IGN: "Microsoft Buys Bungie, Take Two Buys Oni, PS2 Situation Unchanged"]}}{{ref|note=[https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/946581/000112528202003845/b320556.htm SEC 10-K filing for Take-Two Interactive]}}
|event14text=The announcement is made that multiplayer mode has been canceled{{ref|note=[https://carnage.bungie.org/oniforum/oni.forum.pl?read=3216 Oni Central Forum: "Rant here... I think its a good rant ;)"]}}
|event15date=Aug. 28, 2000
|event15date=Jun. 19, 2000
|event15text=Oni enters beta phase of development{{ref|note=[http://carnage.bungie.org/oniforum/oni.forum.pl?read=4556 Oni Central Forum: "New news groups?"]}}
|event15text=Microsoft purchases 100% stake in Bungie and Take-Two gains full IP rights over Oni and Myth{{ref|note=[https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/20/microsoft-buys-bungie-take-two-buys-oni-ps2-situation-unchanged IGN: "Microsoft Buys Bungie, Take Two Buys Oni, PS2 Situation Unchanged"]}}{{ref|note=[https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/946581/000112528202003845/b320556.htm SEC 10-K filing for Take-Two Interactive]}}
|event16date=Nov. 4, 2000
|event16date=Jul. 25, 2000
|event16text=Creation date on game data files in the Windows retail release
|event16text=Gathering of Developers email gives "October 2000" as release date
|event17date=Nov. 17, 2000
|event17date=Aug. 28, 2000
|event17text=Oni is gold mastered for Windows{{ref|note=[http://oni.bungie.org/newsarchives/2000/nov00.html#xbox Oni Central: News for November 2000]}}
|event17text=Oni enters beta phase of development{{ref|note=[http://carnage.bungie.org/oniforum/oni.forum.pl?read=4556 Oni Central Forum: "New news groups?"]}}
|event18date=Nov. 20, 2000
|event18date=Sept. 11, 2000
|event18text=Creation date on game data files in the Windows demo and Mac retail release (in .sep format)
|event18text=A GameSpot UK article covering the European Computer Trade Show reports a show floor statement that Oni's release date is March 2001,{{ref|note=[https://carnage.bungie.org/oniforum/oni.forum.pl?read=4699 Oni Central Forum: "What the...?!?"]}} which is then disputed by Bungie employees and others; in the end it turns out to be accurate for the European releases but not the North American release
|event19date=Dec. 15, 2000
|event19date=Nov. 4, 2000
|event19text=Bungie West officially moves to Microsoft's headquarters at Redmond{{ref|note=[https://web.archive.org/web/20010413012240/http://www.haloplayers.com/features/haloupdates/index?976977146 HaloPlayers.com: "Matt's Halo Update - December 15, 2000"]}}
|event19text=Creation date on game data files in the Windows retail release
|event20date=Dec. 17, 2000
|event20date=Nov. 8, 2000
|event20text=Windows demo released{{ref|note=[http://carnage.bungie.org/oniforum/oni.forum.pl?read=7479 Oni Central Forum: "ONI DEMO!"]}}
|event20text=Gathering of Developers announces the final North American release date of January 29, 2001 for all three platforms{{ref|note=[https://web.archive.org/web/20001213051800/http://www.imgmagazine.com/news/story.php?ArticleID=1400 IMG News: "Oni Release Date"]}}
|event21date=Dec. 20, 2000
|event21date=Nov. 17, 2000
|event21text=Oni is possibly gold mastered for Mac, based on the date on the retail application and the release of the Mac demo{{ref|note=See [[:Image:Classic Mac Oni Get Info window.png]]}}{{ref|note=[https://carnage.bungie.org/oniforum/oni.forum.pl?read=8045 Oni Central Forum: Mac Demo News]}}
|event21text=Oni is gold mastered for Windows{{ref|note=[http://oni.bungie.org/newsarchives/2000/nov00.html#xbox Oni Central: News for November 2000]}}
|event22date=Dec. 21, 2000
|event22date=Nov. 20, 2000
|event22text=Mac demo released{{ref|note=[https://www.insidemacgames.com/historical/news/story.php%3FArticleID=1744.html Inside Mac Games News: "Oni Demo Released"]}}
|event22text=Creation date on game data files in the Windows demo and Mac retail release (in .sep format)
|event23date=Jan. 2, 2001
|event23date=Dec. 15, 2000
|event23text=Second possible date of Mac gold master{{ref|note=[http://oni.bungie.org/newsarchives/2001/jan01.html#gold Oni Central: News for January 2001]}}
|event23text=Bungie West officially moves to Microsoft's headquarters at Redmond{{ref|note=[https://web.archive.org/web/20010413012240/http://www.haloplayers.com/features/haloupdates/index?976977146 HaloPlayers.com: "Matt's Halo Update - December 15, 2000"]}}
|event24date=Jan. 22, 2001
|event24date=Dec. 17, 2000
|event24text=Oni is gold mastered for PlayStation 2{{ref|note=[https://web.archive.org/web/20010128150200/http://www.dailyradar.com/news/game_news_6691.html Daily Radar: "Oni Gets SCEA's Approval ", Jan. 22, 2001]}}
|event24text=Windows demo released{{ref|note=[http://carnage.bungie.org/oniforum/oni.forum.pl?read=7479 Oni Central Forum: "ONI DEMO!"]}}
|event25date=Jan. 29, 2001
|event25date=Dec. 20, 2000
|event25text=Official release date for Oni in North America on Mac, Windows and PS2{{ref|note=[http://oni.bungie.org/newsarchives/2001/jan01.html Oni Central: News for January 2001]}}{{ref|name="GOD release"|note=[https://web.archive.org/web/20010617133132/http://www.godgames.com/main.php?section=news&page=press&pr=ONI_Ships Godgames.com: "Gathering of Developers Ships Oni Nationwide for the PC and Macintosh"]}}{{ref|note=[https://www.gamespot.com/articles/oni-receives-final-approval/1100-2676645/ GameSpot: "Oni Receives Final Approval"]}}
|event25text=Oni is gold mastered for Mac, based on the date on the retail application and the release of the Mac demo{{ref|note=See [[:Image:Classic Mac Oni Get Info window.png]]}}{{ref|note=[https://carnage.bungie.org/oniforum/oni.forum.pl?read=8045 Oni Central Forum: Mac Demo News]}}
|event26date=Dec. 21, 2000
|event26text=Mac demo released{{ref|note=[https://www.insidemacgames.com/historical/news/story.php%3FArticleID=1744.html Inside Mac Games News: "Oni Demo Released"]}}
|event27date=Jan. 22, 2001
|event27text=Oni is gold mastered for PlayStation 2{{ref|note=[https://web.archive.org/web/20010128150200/http://www.dailyradar.com/news/game_news_6691.html Daily Radar: "Oni Gets SCEA's Approval ", Jan. 22, 2001]}}
|event28date=Jan. 29, 2001
|event28text=Official release date for Oni in North America on Mac, Windows and PS2{{ref|note=[http://oni.bungie.org/newsarchives/2001/jan01.html Oni Central: News for January 2001]}}{{ref|name="GOD release"|note=[https://web.archive.org/web/20010617133132/http://www.godgames.com/main.php?section=news&page=press&pr=ONI_Ships Godgames.com: "Gathering of Developers Ships Oni Nationwide for the PC and Macintosh"]}}{{ref|note=[https://www.gamespot.com/articles/oni-receives-final-approval/1100-2676645/ GameSpot: "Oni Receives Final Approval"]}}
}}
}}
<br>
<br>

Latest revision as of 15:54, 21 March 2026

For the full story of Oni's development, see Oni. For detailed information on the continued updates for Mac after release, see History of Mac Oni.

The Oni project started development in April of 1997 and ran for approximately 3 years, 9 months, ending in January of 2001. Through this time, the Bungie West team ran into unexpected technical and design hurdles, resulting in a much longer development period than planned. The initial internal deadline for the game, October 1999, was gradually pushed back quarter by quarter until the game was finished in the time period from November 2000 to January 2001, depending on the platform.

The development of the game was accompanied by unexpected events such as a financial blow to Bungie from the Myth II uninstaller bug, a partial buyout by Take-Two Interactive, turnover on the staff and a change of project lead, and then a complete buyout by Microsoft. Only a sustained crunch period at the end of development, pushing Bungie West to their limits, allowed the game to be finished to a degree where it was ready to ship, and cuts to the game were still required such as the removal of multiplayer mode.

The dates below are sometimes approximate but are mostly supported by hard evidence, as seen in the citations.


Apr. 2, 1997
 Engine quietly begins development under Brent Pease per dates in source code
Projected release date is "October 1999"[1]

July 1997
 Bungie West announces they are hiring[2]

Dec. 31, 1997
 Bungie West gets their content authoring pipeline working[3]

May 28, 1998
 Oni is announced along with Myth II at E3[4][5]

Dec. 28, 1998
 Myth II uninstaller bug is discovered, costs Bungie about $800,000[5]

May 14, 1999
 Oni appears at E3 with hands-on demo running in multiplayer mode[6]
Release date is estimated as early 2000[7]
"Blam" project is shown three days later to a select group behind closed doors[8]

Jul. 21, 1999
 Oni appears at Macworld NY running in multiplayer mode[6]
Halo is announced[9]

Aug. 12, 1999
 Take-Two Interactive announces that it will purchase 19.9% stake in Bungie, becoming the distributor for Oni and Halo;[10] purchase occurs in November[11]
Oni's stated release date is "before Christmas" 1999[10]

Sept. 29, 1999
 Sell sheet gives "Q1 2000" as release date[12]

Nov. 19, 1999
 GameSpot email gives "summer 2000" as release date[13]

Dec. 20, 1999
 Brent Pease leaves the Oni team[14]

Jan. 5, 2000
 Oni appears at Macworld SF; on BungieTV, the game is demonstrated in multiplayer mode by Bungie staffers[6]

Feb. 20, 2000
 Oni's release date is listed as "summer 2000" by Take-Two[15]

May 13, 2000
 The announcement is made that multiplayer mode has been canceled[16]

Jun. 19, 2000
 Microsoft purchases 100% stake in Bungie and Take-Two gains full IP rights over Oni and Myth[17][18]

Jul. 25, 2000
 Gathering of Developers email gives "October 2000" as release date

Aug. 28, 2000
 Oni enters beta phase of development[19]

Sept. 11, 2000
 A GameSpot UK article covering the European Computer Trade Show reports a show floor statement that Oni's release date is March 2001,[20] which is then disputed by Bungie employees and others; in the end it turns out to be accurate for the European releases but not the North American release

Nov. 4, 2000
 Creation date on game data files in the Windows retail release

Nov. 8, 2000
 Gathering of Developers announces the final North American release date of January 29, 2001 for all three platforms[21]

Nov. 17, 2000
 Oni is gold mastered for Windows[22]

Nov. 20, 2000
 Creation date on game data files in the Windows demo and Mac retail release (in .sep format)

Dec. 15, 2000
 Bungie West officially moves to Microsoft's headquarters at Redmond[23]

Dec. 17, 2000
 Windows demo released[24]

Dec. 20, 2000
 Oni is gold mastered for Mac, based on the date on the retail application and the release of the Mac demo[25][26]

Dec. 21, 2000
 Mac demo released[27]

Jan. 22, 2001
 Oni is gold mastered for PlayStation 2[28]

Jan. 29, 2001
 Official release date for Oni in North America on Mac, Windows and PS2[29][30][31]


References

  1. ↑ See Oni/Positioning
  2. ↑ Marathon Story Page: Blasts from the Past. Note that this copy of the Bungie West job ad is stated to have the wrong date at the bottom of the page.
  3. ↑ Inside Mac Games: "Sneak Preview: Oni"
  4. ↑ Marathon Story Page: Blasts from the Past. Note that this official press release was months late.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chicago Reader: "Monsters in a Box"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 See Multiplayer for video evidence
  7. ↑ IMG: "Feature: The E3 Report - Page 2"
  8. ↑ IMG: "Feature: The E3 Report"
  9. ↑ Bungie: "Halo Brings Action Gamers a World Without End"
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 IGN: "Take-Two Take Bungie"
  11. ↑ SEC 10-K filing for Take-Two Interactive
  12. ↑ See Image:Info sheet.jpg
  13. ↑ Oni Central Forum: "New Oni Preview Coming Up..."
  14. ↑ Oni Central Forum: "Brent Pease leaves Bungie?"
  15. ↑ Oni Central: News for February 2000
  16. ↑ Oni Central Forum: "Rant here... I think its a good rant ;)"
  17. ↑ IGN: "Microsoft Buys Bungie, Take Two Buys Oni, PS2 Situation Unchanged"
  18. ↑ SEC 10-K filing for Take-Two Interactive
  19. ↑ Oni Central Forum: "New news groups?"
  20. ↑ Oni Central Forum: "What the...?!?"
  21. ↑ IMG News: "Oni Release Date"
  22. ↑ Oni Central: News for November 2000
  23. ↑ HaloPlayers.com: "Matt's Halo Update - December 15, 2000"
  24. ↑ Oni Central Forum: "ONI DEMO!"
  25. ↑ See Image:Classic Mac Oni Get Info window.png
  26. ↑ Oni Central Forum: Mac Demo News
  27. ↑ Inside Mac Games News: "Oni Demo Released"
  28. ↑ Daily Radar: "Oni Gets SCEA's Approval ", Jan. 22, 2001
  29. ↑ Oni Central: News for January 2001
  30. ↑ Godgames.com: "Gathering of Developers Ships Oni Nationwide for the PC and Macintosh"
  31. ↑ GameSpot: "Oni Receives Final Approval"
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