Halo: Ruined FOREVER

"It's hard to help but think Bungie keeps doing what people ask and getting yelled at for it. People wanted a deeper story so they gave that in Halo 2 and people didn't like it. People wanted a powerful pistol and an MC-centric campaign, they did that in Halo 3 and people didn't like it (albeit the Halo 3 pistol is just a bad idea in general). People (not as many as for some of the other changes) wanted a toned-down or more personal Halo experience and a new character to play as and they were given that in ODST (and Reach although less so) and they didn't like it. People wanted a powerful pistol again, more atmosphere, and more challenge, and were given that in Reach, and still weren't satisfied. What was that quote from a vidoc around a year ago about spinning plates? I totally agree."

- General Vagueness, HBO Forums

Fans] realize something Microsoft does not, that robust decade-old multi-million-dollar franchises, while seemingly healthy, are in actuality as fragile as two bricks tied together with tissue paper. One mistake, one bad mis-step will cause the entire thing to shatter and fall apart; and Halo would be ruined forever.

Fortunately, there is hope. The Halo fanbase has resolved to remain ever vigilant against something that could Ruin Halo Forever, and call out warning if they see something that could potentially do so.

Some Halo conservationists suggest a more extreme approach, that Star Wars should abandon all attempts at re-invention and instead cater exclusively to the old-school fanbase. Though attractive, this approach may prove impractical as a long-term solution.

Ruined Forever remains a serious threat to Star Wars now and in the foreseeable future, though it's possible a proposed initiative requiring all Star Wars fans to purchase an annual "360 offset" could ensure our fragile brand's existence through the mid-21st century.

Things that have Ruined Halo Forever in the past
•1999
 * Bungie ignores the thundering cries of its fanbase for a Marathon sequel, deciding to make some FPS with a weird name.
 * 2001
 * Halo: Combat Evolved is released, earning critical acclaim, forever ruining the Halo franchise.
 * No online player? Ruined forever, even if practically no other games had pioneered it yet.
 * The pistol is an overpowered godkiller, ruining the experience of countless people playing a game in their parents’ basement forever.
 * The AI is innovative and intelligent, pre-emptively ruining Halo forever when sequels fail to live up to it.
 * 2003
 * Halo: The Flood is rushed into production, William C. Deitz’s fantastic portrayal of the Marine struggle and shedding light onto the Covenant proving insufficient for his portrayal of the Chief as a gung-ho space marine not to ruin the franchise forever.
 * 2004
 * The highly awaited sequel to the original game, Halo 2 is released, ruining Halo forever even more.
 * Halo 1 was perfect, so a sequel will automatically ruin everything we ever loved about it.
 * We don't care about the Arbiter, god, get back to the Chief! What do you mean, that's it?!
 * The original Pistol, which was perfect in every way, is replaced by the Battle Rifle.
 * Dual wielding means that accuracy can be thrown right out the window, ruining the experience for all “pro” players.
 * The Brute AI consists of you forced into a corner, looking for that soap you dropped on the floor somewh-OH GOD NOOO!!!
 * The Covenant speak English? Why must you ruin Halo forever, Bungie?
 * If we wanted a cliffhanger, we’d watch Cliffhangar.
 * Online multiplayer is introduced bringing the experience of Halo 2 to thousands of people for whom it shall be ruined.
 * 2007
 * Following the well-received Halo 2, Halo 3 rounds off the trilogy of the Master Chief, and apparently goes out not with a bang, but a whimper.
 * Everything looks too different! Why can’t you keep everything the same but make them better Bungie? Why?
 * What do you mean no Elites to fight?
 * Not enough Earth levels.
 * Too many Earth levels.
 * Equipment? FFFFFUUUUUUUU-
 * Post-credits spoiler? Why must you mock us so?
 * 2008
 * Halo Wars is announced. Being developed by the award-winning Ensemble Studios, it is instantly ruined forever just by not being Official Bungie Canon. They also shut down Halo
 * Halo 3: ODST is announced, reusing the Halo 3 engine. Bungie begin the buildup to the announcement, which is then postponed – the fanbase reacts with raucous abuse.
 * 2009
 * Award-winning developer Ensemble Studios releases Halo Wars, a real-time-strategy game, becoming the first external developer to ruin Halo forever.
 * Why must you bring your Japanese Animes into my Halo?
 * The Spartan Laser is too early! Even though nobody ever said it was a new weapon!
 * Spartans that go missing? The armor looks different? And they have shields? Does Microsoft even care anymore?
 * Flood? In my game? It’s more likely than you think!
 * WTF Serina isn’t half-naked? You’re ignoring like ninety percent of your key demograph people! Gawd!
 * New vehicles? How dare you expand the sandbox to make balanced playable factions!
 * 2009
 * The glorious nation of Bungie secedes from the despotic Microsoft Empire, selling Halo in exchange for their souls.
 * Microsoft announce the creation of 343 Industries to oversee the development of the Halo franchise, prompting coughed declarations of “cash cow” among many.
 * Halo: Uprising is released after appalling publishing delays. It may have a good story, and awesome artwork, but it is still a sign that Microsoft doesn’t care and never did!
 * Halo 3: ODST is released.
 * We should be fighting Elites, not Brutes! Canon is ruined!
 * Why are there no Battle Rifles?
 * Playing as ODST homage’s to Firefly? I don’t care, I want my Spartans!
 * Firefight? If I wanted to kill Covenant, I’d play campaign.
 * No new multiplayer? What is this heresy?
 * The Halo Encyclopedia is released, shedding light on darkened corners – though with so many errors that it is declared to have ruined Halo forever all on its own.
 * 343 Industries announce and begin to release Halo Legends, abandoning American animators and planting the flag of Halo on Japanese shores.
 * 2010
 * Halo Legends is released on DVD.
 * WTF don’t you even know what Forerunner ruins are meant to look like? And Spartans don’t have long hair!
 * Elite anatomy doesn’t work that way! Good night!
 * Gundam clone.
 * Another Gundam clone.
 * Cute Spartans? CQB? Ralph-303The number is too high? This is blasphemy! This is madness!
 * NO YOU'RE SHOWING THE FORERUNNERS HOW DARE YOU!
 * Humor? In our Halo? Its more likely than you think!
 * Halo: The Fall of Reach is rereleased with bonus content and minor tweaks. The original was perfect, and it has now been ruined forever, even if it was nearly a decade old and out of date.
 * Halo: Reach, the final game to be lovingly crafted by Bungie, is released.
 * The Elites aren’t scary!
 * Spartan-III’s? Where’s the Master Chief!
 * OMG you're ruining the canon people Reach fell in one day why can you not do this right!
 * Armor Abilities? If I wanted to sprint, I’d play Call of Duty.
 * Jetpacks? FFFFFUUUUUUU-
 * Armor Lock is overpowered.
 * The perfect Battle Rifle is replaced with the DMR.
 * Halsey knows about other Spartans? Cortana’s still on Reach? Keyes makes a landing we didn’t hear about in that book that got released nine years ago? Don’t you even care about Canon anymore?
 * Why do you hate us Bungie? Were we not good enough? Did we not love you enough? Why are you leaving us?
 * 2011
 * Halo: Cryptum is released, staying at #22 on the New York Times Bestseller list for two weeks. It deals with the Forerunners culture and history, and thus ruins an ancient enigmatic race forever.

Things that will no doubt Ruin Halo Forever in the future

 * A Halo MMORPG.
 * More Halo short films.
 * More Halo books.
 * Halo 5
 * Rereleasing past Halo novels in new editions, with bonus content and canonical maintenance. You’d think that would be a good thing, but no. Just no.
 * Really, anything 343 Industries do at this point, whether they deserve it or not.