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Oni: Difference between revisions

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Oni (view source)

Revision as of 20:45, 4 October 2008

336 bytes added ,  4 October 2008
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:''This is about the game. For the Japanese demon, see [[Oni (demon)]]. For the [[Halo]] entity, see [[ONI]]''
:''This is about the game. For the Japanese demon, see [[Oni (demon)]]. For the [[Halo]] entity, see [http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/ONI ONI]''
::''Actually, the final logo looks more like O<small>N</small>i than Oni, but what the [[blam]]
::''Actually, the final logo looks more like O<small>N</small>i than Oni, but Bungie writes it as "Oni" on [http://www.bungie.net/Projects/Oni/default.aspx their page] for the game.


The game was developed by Bungie West, a division of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bungie_Studios Bungie Studios], and released in January 2001. It was Bungie West's first and only game, as it was disbanded after Oni's release: some Oni developers went on to work on the Halo series, while others ended up at independent game studios (Wideload, Certain Affinity, etc).
The game "Oni" was developed by [[Bungie West]], a division of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bungie_Studios Bungie Studios], and released in January 2001. It was Bungie West's first and only game, as it was disbanded after Oni's release: some Oni developers went on to work on the Halo series, while others ended up at independent game studios (Wideload, Certain Affinity, etc).
[[Image:Oni_logo.png|right|180px]]
[[Image:Oni_logo.png|right|180px]]
=Influences=
=Influences=
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The general reaction to the game was inconsistent; Oni did receive some high praise, most notably the E3 1999 Game Critics Award for "Best Action/Adventure Game".
The general reaction to the game was inconsistent; Oni did receive some high praise, most notably the E3 1999 Game Critics Award for "Best Action/Adventure Game".


However, many felt cheated because the game did not deliver on all of its promises. In hindsight, much of this was due to the advance hype of one programmer ("She made a lot of boastful claims about what the AI would end up being able to do that she couldn't deliver on."). For example, it was claimed that the AI would intelligently dodge incoming fire and work together in groups. Also, a [[Iron Demon|large mech]] visible in the trailers, and keenly anticipated as a boss in the game, was nowhere to be seen. As [http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/10/01/1651219&tid=211 other game designers] have discovered, it is dangerous indeed to promise ground-breaking features while a game is still in development. Finally, it was clear from a perusal of the [[GameDataFolder|game files]] that there were at least five missing levels, as if the game were incomplete.
However, many felt cheated because the game did not deliver on all of its promises. In hindsight, much of this was due to the advance hype of one programmer ("She made a lot of boastful claims about what the AI would end up being able to do that she couldn't deliver on" -- [[Credits|Hardy LeBel]]). For example, it was claimed that the AI would intelligently dodge incoming fire and work together in groups. Also, a [[Iron Demon|large mech]] visible in the trailers and keenly anticipated as a boss in the game was nowhere to be seen. As [http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/10/01/1651219&tid=211 other game designers] have discovered, it is dangerous indeed to promise ground-breaking features while a game is still in development. Finally, it was clear from a perusal of the [[GameDataFolder|game files]] that there were at least five missing levels, as if the game were incomplete.


Perhaps the biggest blow to the game's reception was that there was no multiplayer option. Combined with complaints about the AI, players wanted to be able to play against other humans, but this option, although developed internally at Bungie West, was not included in the release due to the constraints of Internet gameplay latency at the time. The public, comparing Oni to FPS titles with multiplayer such as Unreal and Quake, and failing to recognize that melee combat over the Internet was nearly impossible at that time, viewed this as another sign of the game's incompletion. (Although it isn't known why Bungie did not at least include LAN play functionality, since it was being used in their office for netgames and can be seen in use about 30 minutes into [http://hl.udogs.net/files/Gaming/Bungie%20Related%20Movies/MWSF%202000/Bungie%20TV/MWSF%202000/bTV_day2_big.mov this video].)
Perhaps the biggest blow to the game's reception was that there was no multiplayer option. Combined with complaints about the AI, players wanted to be able to play against other humans, but this option, although developed internally at Bungie West, was not included in the release due to the constraints of Internet gameplay latency at the time. The public, comparing Oni to FPS titles with multiplayer such as Unreal and Quake, and failing to recognize that melee combat over the Internet was nearly impossible at that time, viewed this as another sign of the game's incompletion. (Although it isn't known why Bungie did not at least include LAN play functionality, since it was being used in their office for netgames and can be seen in use about 30 minutes into [http://hl.udogs.net/files/Gaming/Bungie%20Related%20Movies/MWSF%202000/Bungie%20TV/MWSF%202000/bTV_day2_big.mov this video].)
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=The Future of the Property=
=The Future of the Property=
When Bungie was bought by Microsoft in 2000, they sold Myth and Oni to Take-Two Interactive, who hold the rights to these and many other game IPs to this day. Take-Two was initially eager to ride the wave of hype for Oni by promptly turning out an Oni 2 (PS2), but when the reception to Oni turned out to be lukewarm, the game was [http://sttnw.blogspot.com/2007/10/18-canceled-games-you-never-knew.html canned]. Neither property has had a sequel released by Take-Two, as is the case with many of the their IPs. Some IPs have been sold off by Take-Two, although there is no evidence that Oni is one of them. With the recent separation of Bungie and Microsoft, there has been fervent speculation about new games based on Bungie's old properties (since, after all, Bungie could buy back an IP from Take-Two if they desired). In an interview, Bungie's CEO, Harold Ryan, was asked specifically about Oni:
When Bungie was bought by Microsoft in 2000, they sold [http://www.bungie.net/Projects/Myth/default.aspx Myth] and Oni to [http://www.take2games.com/ Take-Two Interactive], who hold the rights to these and many other game IPs to this day. Take-Two was initially eager to ride the wave of excitement for Oni by promptly turning out an Oni 2 (PS2), but when the reception to Oni turned out to be lukewarm, the game was [http://sttnw.blogspot.com/2007/10/18-canceled-games-you-never-knew.html canned]. Neither Oni nor Myth has had a sequel released by Take-Two, as is the case with many of the their IPs. Some IPs have been sold off by Take-Two, although there is no evidence that Oni is one of them. With the recent separation of Bungie and Microsoft, there has been fervent speculation about new games based on Bungie's old properties (since, after all, Bungie could buy back an IP from Take-Two if they desired). In an [http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/trans/4players_hr_sk_interview.html interview], Bungie's CEO, Harold Ryan, was asked specifically about Oni:


:;4Players
:;4Players
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::(laughs) Oni isn't currently one of those projects we're looking at, but one should never say never.<br> We'd be happy to work with the individuals who made Oni.
::(laughs) Oni isn't currently one of those projects we're looking at, but one should never say never.<br> We'd be happy to work with the individuals who made Oni.


One thing is certain: the current Bungie staff has little in common with the Bungie West that produced Oni (there are eight members still working at Bungie* at the time of this writing). There is probably little sentimental or monetary incentive for Bungie to produce a sequel.
One thing is certain: the current Bungie staff has little in common with the Bungie West that produced Oni (there are eight members* still working at Bungie at the time of this writing). There is probably little sentimental or monetary incentive for Bungie to produce a sequel.


However, there are [[Oni2|fan projects]] which may or may not become unofficial Oni 2s.
However, there are [[Oni2|fan projects]] which may or may not become unofficial Oni 2s.


:(*)Butcher, Dunn, Wu, the McLees, O'Donnell, Sinclair, and Staten.
 
<small><nowiki>*</nowiki>Butcher, Dunn, Wu, the McLees, O'Donnell, Sinclair, and Staten.</small>
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