Renowned Halo Composer Entering Congressional Race

Former Bungie employee and composer for the Halo franchise, Marty O'Donnell, is now planning to run for congress in the United States. O'Donnell is famous for his work on the Halo soundtracks and the original Destiny with Michael Salvatori, but his time at Bungie came to an abrupt end when he was let go in April 2014.

It has almost been ten years since Marty O'Donnell's departure from Bungie, which led to a series of legal battles and disputes. O'Donnell claimed on Twitter in 2014 that he was fired "without cause" and later won a court case that forced Bungie to return his shares in the company. However, six years later, O'Donnell was found in contempt of court and had to pay Bungie around $100,000 for sharing unreleased musical materials related to Music of the Spheres, an orchestral suite intended for Destiny. Despite planning for retirement, O'Donnell has now decided to pursue a different path.

O'Donnell made a lengthy tweet where he stated he never wanted to be a politician but now aims to be a Republican candidate for Nevada's 3rd congressional district. He hopes to unseat Democratic incumbent Susie Lee. On his campaign website, he mentions founding Highwire Games after leaving Bungie and talks about their game Golem. However, he doesn't mention Six Days in Fallujah, a controversial game that faced criticism from the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Halo Infinite Shooting Foot - And O'Donnell is seemingly attempting to attract those familiar with his work, dubbing any would-be supporters as part of "Marty's Army," boasting a campaign website clearly inspired by Halo's space-faring militarism, and a not-so-subtle donation amount of $117 – a reference to famous Halo protagonist Master Chief, also known as Master Chief Petty Officer John-117

Video Game Peers React To Halo Composer Congressional Run

And O'Donnell is making an effort to attract fans of his work, referring to potential supporters as "Marty's Army." He has a campaign website inspired by Halo's military theme and is asking for donations of $117, a nod to the game's character Master Chief. While O'Donnell embraces the slogan "less lawyers, more composers," caution should be taken not to overly reference Halo to avoid legal issues with Microsoft.

Twitter article posted by Stephen Barton

Some praised the surprising revelation, including Elon Musk, while others in the video game industry expressed disappointment. Stephen Barton, who co-wrote the Grammy-winning Star Wars Jedi: Survivor soundtrack with Gordy Haab, described O'Donnell as a "fine composer" but criticized his political views. Barton accused O'Donnell of hypocrisy and disagreed with his comments on immigration policy, sharing his own negative experience with what he called a "wildly, wildly corrupt and racist" system.

Editor's P/S:

The news of Marty O'Donnell's congressional run is a fascinating twist in the life of a renowned video game composer. While his legal battles with Bungie have been well-documented, his decision to enter politics is a bold move that has garnered both support and criticism. O'Donnell's passion for his beliefs is evident in his campaign website and his outreach to potential supporters, but it remains to be seen whether his background in the entertainment industry will translate into success in the political arena.

The reactions from O'Donnell's video game peers highlight the complexities of his decision. While some have praised his aspirations, others have expressed disappointment and disagreement with his political views. This underscores the potential for polarization that can arise when individuals known for their artistic contributions venture into the political realm. O'Donnell's ability to navigate these challenges and unite a broader constituency will be crucial to the success of his campaign.