New article just published on GamesIndustry.biz with an interview of Bungie COO Pete Parsons. TL;DR synopsis: - Committing to a brand-new IP for the next decade requires a lot of resources and certainly a lot of confidence. While Parsons would not disclose budget to us, he made it abundantly clear that Bungie and Activision are shooting for the moon. The goal is to create something fans are so passionate about that it surpasses even Halo. - "[W]e want people to put the Destiny universe on the same shelf they put Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter or Star Wars." - While Bungie's dream is to reach a Star Wars-like frenzy for Destiny, the studio is making a game first and foremost. There are no plans to create novels or comics or movies... yet. If the property gets as big as Halo, though, Parsons isn't opposed to it so long as it truly does enhance the universe Bungie is creating. - At a quick glance, someone watching Destiny may think it looks quite similar to Halo, but the game's focus on social connectivity takes the experience another step beyond Halo. It's really just an evolution of what Bungie set out to do as far back as Marathon. - Parsons doesn't want people to think of Destiny as an MMO, however, just because people are coming together in the game's public space. Indeed, this social aspect may be the "killer app" of next-gen gaming, if you ask Parsons. Everyone knows that games look pretty nowadays. Improving the social connection, though, could be the next big step.