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Gnop! and the beginnings of Bungie
Posted By: GrimCleaverDate: 7/20/11 9:49 a.m.

I was browsing through the Gnop resource fork a couple of weeks ago and I found some interesting numbers (Note that this version of Gnop is from the Marathon Trilogy CD)...

The “vers” resource says; “Version 1.0.0 - Development” (This can be one of four options -- Development, Alpha, Beta, or Final). Why isn't it tagged as “Final” if it's the final version? It could simply be an oversight, or, it could mean there is actually a later version of Gnop!

Another resource, called “PONG”, contains the following information:
Gnop, version 0.4 ßeta, October 23, 1990 ©1990 Bungie Software

Most likely, this was left in from a previous version (v0.4) of Gnop. But, whoa, check out that date -- 1990!

Now, take a look at the “Creation” and “Last Modified” dates (obtained by “getting info” on the application itself):
Created: 11/27/90 8:05 PM
Modified: 11/29/90 2:37 PM

So, Gnop was in development for at least a month, from version 0.4 to 1.0 (10/23/1990 - 11/29/1990). Interesting... But, what about that date -- 1990?

According to Bungie's History, on Bungie.net and the Marathon Scrapbook, Bungie wasn't started until May 1991. The Marathon Scrapbook is even more specific than that -- It gives us the order of events:

1) Seropian decides to start game company (1991).
2) Gets a programing book (Think C).
3) Names Bungie, “Bungie”.
4) Takes his “first shot at glory” (Gnop).

According to this, the whole thing started in 1991... Is this really the way it happened? Or, is it merely the article configured in a way to provide the best reading experience?

We know for sure that the name “Bungie” was chosen before Gnop was created (or at least, before Gnop was completed), so, at least that part matches up. (Gnop, version 0.4 ßeta, October 23, 1990 ©1990 Bungie Software)

But, what about the dates? If Bungie really wasn't started until 1991, why was there a five month period between the completion of Gnop (11/29/1990) and the alleged founding of Bungie Software (May 1991). And, more importantly, how was Gnop copyrighted by Bungie Software in 1990, if Bungie wasn't started until 1991?

I guess the simple answer could be that Bungie wasn't “officially” started until 1991, but, why wait five months to release a completed game?

What does it all mean? Will we ever know the Tru7h? ;)

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Pre-2004 Posts

Replies:

Gnop! and the beginnings of BungieGrimCleaver 7/20/11 9:49 a.m.
     Re: Gnop! and the beginnings of BungieMrM12LRV 7/20/11 5:48 p.m.
           Re: Gnop! and the beginnings of Bungiepoenadare 7/21/11 9:11 a.m.
           Re: Gnop! and the beginnings of BungieGrimCleaver 7/21/11 10:25 a.m.
                 Re: Gnop! and the beginnings of BungieMrM12LRV 7/21/11 5:31 p.m.
                       Remember, folks...Bob-B-Q 7/22/11 7:20 a.m.
                             Re: Remember, folks...GrimCleaver 7/22/11 8:23 a.m.

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Pre-2004 Posts

 

 

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