If you haven't heard, game maker Bungie Software, has been bought out by the evil empire, Microsoft. Before the buy out, there were many rumors flying, people panicking, and threats to Bungie. After the official announcement on June 19, there were even more rumors, panicky people, and threats to Bungie. But why?

Marathon

Well, Bungie started out as a small company in Chicago, Illinois. The founders of Bungie made this company out of the love of making video games, a love which remains to this day. They made such games as Minotaur, Abuse, Marathon, and Pathways into Darkness. These games were Mac only for reasons only known to the creators. Finally, the Mac gaming crowd had something to show what their Macs could really do.

After making such smash hits as these, they started producing games for both the Windows and the Mac platforms. Many people thought this was the end of Bungie, because they felt Bungie sold out. But they didn't. They love making video games, no matter which platform they are for.

Myth II: Soulblighter

People started to accept this, and continued to buy great Bungie game after great Bungie game. The Marathon series, the Myth series, and soon to be Oni and Halo. Everyone expected Oni and Halo to come to the Mac. After all, every past Bungie game made it to the Mac, in fact some were Mac only. Not to mention that Bungie has been at every MacWorld Expo in the last few years, showing off their goods, but will they be there this year?

Then the news hit. "Microsoft purchases Bungie." This lit a fire of pandemonium. Everyone asking "Why Bungie, why?" The Mac gaming community turned from very high hopes, to disillusionment in a matter of hours. Everybody wondered if the upcoming games Oni and Halo would make it to the Mac, or PC for that matter. What did Bungie do?

Bungie did what they have always done, continued their love for making video games. They saw Microsoft's X-Box as the next big thing, and jumped on the bandwagon before it got too big. Even so, this left the Mac gaming world in an uproar, wanting answers.

The Bungie staff did interview after interview with dozens of places, all trying to get those answers. They reassured us that Microsoft is letting Bungie do their own thing. They told us Bungie will still decide what platforms to produce games for. But can we believe them? This is Microsoft after all.

Halo

While Oni is still coming to the Mac, the big question on everyone's mind is "Will Halo?" I'm think "Yes, it will." Why? Because Bungie has come very far in this game to completely start over now. To do so would be disastrous. Also, I believe that Bungie realizes that it was the Mac users who took them in with such gratuity when they were such a small company. Without us, there may have never been the Bungie that brought us Marathon and Myth. Bungie, please remember who it was that supported you in your earlier years, and continued to support you during the years after.

So now comes the wait. The wait to see what happens to Bungie, and their great games. Will Microsoft slowly phase out the Bungie staff? Will Bungie ever make another game for the Mac? Is this the end of the Mac gaming world as we know it? Only time will tell.