Halo Wars

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This article or section contains information about an unreleased video game. The content may change substantially as more information becomes available. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details.

Halo Wars is an upcoming real-time strategy video game that will take place in the fictional Halo universe. The game is being designed by Ensemble Studios and set for release exclusively for the Xbox 360.^[3] Announced during Microsoft's X06 media briefing on September 27, 2006, details of the game first appeared on 1UP.com.^[4] A pre-rendered trailer for the game was shown at X06.^[5]

[edit] Gameplay

Halo Wars is a real time strategy game that uses species and vehicles seen in previous Halo games as well as new units.^[6][7] The controls use the A-button primarily for selecting via 3 methods; tap to select one unit, double tap a particular unit to select all units of that class on screen or "paint brush" which selects all units that the "brush" is dragged over.^[8] Selecting a unit gives the player the option of commands and selecting certain buildings brings up a "circle menu", said to be the most important menu in the game^[8] taking up the whole screen which is used for creating units and buildings.^[8] The game's lead developer, Graeme Devine, has said that the emphasis is more on combat than economy; it is necessary for the player to "manage a battle instead of watching it",^[2] and while resources are still present they also have alternative forms such as time and the number of units present.^[7][9] Some campaign missions will take the focus off resources but skirmish and multiplayer matches still require management of an economy.^[9]

[edit] Plot

A development screenshot showing over 120 combatants including Grunts, Jackals, Hunters, several varieties of Elite and vehicles.

Halo Wars is set in 2531, prior to the events of Halo: Combat Evolved which is set in 2552. It follows the story of the UNSC's discovery of a Forerunner artifact and the first battles with the Covenant after the fall of the first planet, Harvest, to the Covenant.^[10][11] It will allow the player to control the crew and vehicles of a UNSC ship, CFV-88 Spirit of Fire, and receive instructions and commands from its AI Serina.^[8]

When asked whether it would be possible to play as the Covenant, Ensemble's official response was "stay tuned",^[12] however other sources have said the Covenant would be available to play.^[11] In an interview on December 21, 2007 Devine explained that Ensemble was concentrating on differentiating the two factions in the single player campaign, but did not confirm or deny that the Covenant would be playable when prompted.^[13]

[edit] Development

A small demonstration of Halo Wars was revealed to gaming media at E³ 2007 on July 10, 2007 and a demo video narrated by Halo Wars' Lead Designer was released on the Xbox Live Marketplace on August 27, 2007.^[14] Because previous console real time strategy games have been criticised for their control schemes, Ensemble developed the controls six months before approaching Microsoft.^[7] An update on January 30, 2007 stated that the developers were considering using motion capture.^[15] Photos of the test posted on the website show mocap being used, however it was not confirmed whether it would be included in the final release of the game.^[15] Weekly playtests are held within Ensemble to provide both the art and design teams with feedback on developments.^[9] Microsoft employees were spotted on Xbox Live playing the "Halo Wars Alpha" in April 2008 sparking speculation and jealousy among the gaming community.^[16][17] Ensemble later confirmed that the Alpha version was a tutorial and multiplayer version with limited features. Ensemble employees frequently played against others seeking aspects of the game to improve.^[18]

Bungie Studios has had little involvement in the making of Halo Wars. Since the splitting of Microsoft and Bungie Studios, Bungie will only be helping Ensemble Studios, the main developers of the game, and Microsoft in areas including the environment and the general "feel" of the Halo universe. ^[19][20]

[edit] X06

The Elites as depicted in the X06 Halo Wars trailer, with Banshees flying in formation overhead.

The trailer shown at X06 was created by Blur Studio and shows a group of Warthog vehicles searching for a missing unit of soldiers. The recon patrol is killed by camouflaged Elites who de-cloak and advance into battle supported by Banshees. The battle features various human and Covenant vehicles and foot soldiers and ends displaying Spartan Group Omega wearing their MJOLNIR armor.^[21] The trailer was listed as twenty-fifth of GameSpy's Top 25 Video Game Cinematic Moments for displaying "the world of Halo on a much grander scale".^[22]

[edit] Playable Demo

In the October 2007 issue of Official Xbox Magazine, there was a sentence under the preview of Halo Wars on the same page that read: "Play Before You Buy." Devine has announced that there will be a playable demo of the game before it is released.^[23]

[edit] Demo video

The video was narrated by Graeme Devine, the lead designer of Halo Wars. It is a compilation of game play footage that was previously seen at E³ 2007. Controls and other gameplay features such as vehicles, user interface and special weapons were highlighted, along with new creations. The footage also showed off a UNSC base consisting of an airbase, vehicle depot, missile silo and several other buildings that can be created while playing Halo Wars.^[8]

[edit] References

[edit] External links