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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
Developer(s)
Ensemble Studios
Publisher(s)
Microsoft Game Studios
Platform(s)
Xbox 360
Release date
Fall 2008
Genre(s)
Sci-Fi Real-time strategy
Mode(s)
Single-player, Multiplayer, Co-op, Xbox Live
Media
DVD
System requirements
Xbox Live Gold Membership (For Online Multiplayer)
Input methods
Xbox 360 Controller
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. Announced during Microsoft's X06 media briefing on September 27, 2006, details of the game first appeared on 1UP.com. A pre-rendered trailer for the game was shown at X06.
Gameplay
Halo Wars is a real time strategy game that uses species and vehicles seen in previous Halo games as well as new units. 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. 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 taking up the whole screen which is used for creating units and buildings. 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", and while resources are still present they also have alternative forms such as time and the number of units present. Some campaign missions will take the focus off resources but skirmish and multiplayer matches still require management of an economy.
Plot
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. 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.
When asked whether it would be possible to play as the Covenant, Ensemble's official response was "stay tuned", however other sources have said the Covenant would be available to play. 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.
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. Because previous console real time strategy games have been criticised for their control schemes, Ensemble developed the controls six months before approaching Microsoft. An update on January 30, 2007 stated that the developers were considering using motion capture. 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. Weekly playtests are held within Ensemble to provide both the art and design teams with feedback on developments. Players have been spotted on Xbox Live playing the "Halo Wars Alpha" sparking speculation and jealousy.
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.
X06
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. 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".
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.
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.
References
^ ab Interview with Graeme Devine. heavengames.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
^ Surette, Tim (2006-09-27). X06: Halo being turned into RTS. Gamespot. Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
^ Smith, Luke (2006-09-27). X06: Ensemble Making Halo RTS Named 'Halo Wars'. 1up.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
^ Halo Wars - FAQs. Ensemble Studios. Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
^ abc Somers, Graham (2008-02-04). Interview with 'Thunder' of Halo Wars, Part 2 when will the game come out. Bungie.net group: Halo Wars RTS. Retrieved on 2008-02-07.
^ Somers, Graham (2008-02-04). Interview with 'Thunder' of Halo Wars, Part 1. Bungie.net group: Halo Wars RTS. Retrieved on 2008-02-07.
^ ab Halo Wars Company Line. Gamespot (2007-07-11). Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
^ Halo Wars FAQ. Ensemble Studios. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
^ Varanini, Giancarlo (2007-12-21). Halo Wars Q&A. gametap.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-11. – GameTap: "It seems like the Covenant will be playable in some form or another. How much work goes into balancing the two factions and making them distinct from each other?" Graeme Devine: "Right now we've been focusing on the campaign and making the Covenant scary..."
^ Halo Wars (video)demo on Monday!. Xbox 360 Rally (2007-08-26). Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
^ ab Halo Wars Update 01.30.07. Ensemble Studios (2007-01-30). Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
^ Kofsky, Devin (2008-04-18). Halo Wars Has Alpha On Live. 360 Sync. Retrieved on 2008-04-20.
^ Halo Wars alpha spotted in the wild. Talking About Games (2008-04-17). Retrieved on 2008-04-20.
^ Bungie Leaving Microsoft
^ The Bungie / Microsoft Split
^ Halo Wars Cinematic Trailer. Ensemble Studios. Retrieved on 2007-01-14.
^ GameSpy's Top 25 Video Game Cinematic Moments. GameSpy (2007-04-16). Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
^ McCaffrey, Ryan (October 2007), "Halo Wars", Official Xbox Magazine: 25
External links
Official Websites
Halo Wars Official Homepage
Profile pages
Halo Wars at Gamepro
Halo Wars at Gamespot
Halo Wars at IGN
v•d•e
Halo series
Main trilogy
Halo: Combat Evolved ·Halo 2 ·Halo 3
Other games
Halo Wars ·Halo: Chronicles
Printed media
The Fall of Reach ·The Flood ·First Strike ·Ghosts of Onyx ·Contact Harvest · Sixth Halo Novel ·Halo Graphic Novel ·Halo: Uprising
Music
Halo Original Soundtrack ·Halo 2 Original Soundtrack ·Halo 3 Original Soundtrack
