No, it doesn’t exist. Frankly, it is clear to see we have all been thoroughly misled by Matt Casamassina. However, he may have also been misled himself.

Earlier in the year, Matt posted on his IGN-blog that he had actually had the opportunity to play a finished build of a game called Halo DS. He said that the game had neared completion, but the project was regretably cancelled due to ego. Fast forward towards the end of 2007. Matt takes the opportunity to post some gameplay video on his blog to finally prove what he had said back in January. People watch it. And people still do not believe.

And with good reason.

The video of the game (which we were originally told was cancelled near completion) was clearly the form of an alpha or pre-alpha game. In the video, they even describe that the game currently consists of a single level, and that there is no single-player campaign. Numerous flaws in the video including display errors (scores are not updated, game moves differently than player’s motions) and load times (Matt gets into a multiplayer gamer with Bozon, who doesn’t appear in the player’s list, within seconds).  So, it appears that Matt did lie to us. Not about whether the Halo DS demo actually existed, but about the progress in development.

In his January blog entry, he told us it was cancelled when it was nearly complete. Recently, Bungie has come right out and said “This rumor has been circulating for a while and as you know we even saw some real life screens and assets this week. Ultimately it’s up to Microsoft to decide if and when they take Halo to a different platform. That particular demo was in fact created and I believe it was an unsolicited pitch a long time ago but nothing ever came of it.”

Bungie emphasizes two things: the game shown by Matt is not even a real demo, but part of a pitch to Bungie to create a multiplayer game and this pitch was unsolicited, meaning whoever made the demo was not commissioned by Bungie to do so.

When you examine the engine, you notice surprising similarities to Goldeneye: Rogue Agent for the Nintendo DS. The HUD is the same, the weapons are the same, even some of the sounds are the same. Due to these striking similarities, it is likely that EA/Tiburon, developers for Goldeneye: Rogue Agent, made a pitch to Bungie/Microsoft to see if they would be willing to collaborate on a portable Halo venture. Ultimately, Bungie said no. And somehow, the results of this “fragment of an idea” ended up in the hands of Matt C. at IGN, who assumed that the game was further along than it was upon cancellation. In reality, the game never existed, and is as much of a reality as the Spaceworld Zelda that preceded Wind Waker.

What Matt should have done is posted gameplay video in his initial announcement (to reduce skepticism) and then never bring it up again. No one dwells on the absence of the Spaceworld Zelda game because Wind Waker has become such a quirky title. The only reason people continue to call Matt a liar is because his method of presenting Halo DS has made it seem like he is bullshitting everyone. I believe that the pitch existed, but I do not believe that the game was ever in development, nor will it ever be in development.

So Matt, just shut it already. State clearly that the game was not actually in development. Acknowledge that it was a pitch. The idea intrigued you. And you wanted to share these feelings with everyone. That’s it. Stop trying to make it sound like it was really far along. Stop trying to make it sound like this game could ever exist. The idea was scrapped. You need to let it go.

Also, try to display the level of maturity expected from someone of your age and station. Matt and numerous IGN editors are insulting and teasing people who are commenting on Matt’s blog, referring to them as idiot children and similar such nonsense. How old are you Matt? Stop acting like you’re a ten-year old in the school yard with his gang of cronies, picking on some younger kids.

Good grief. I have to say that the reaction of IGN editors to this whole fiasco is the most embarassing and frustrating thing of all.