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There's no doubt that Halo Wars has been a bit of a gamble for Ensemble and Microsoft.
Console RTS titles seldom manage to capture the speed and ease of control found with their PC brethren, and whilst many have the best of intentions they can often be relegated to the bargain bin prematurely.
As far as franchises go, it doesn't get much bigger than Halo, so if any game can break open the console RTS market with innovative solutions to clunky controllers, then surely Bungie's iconic title stands a good chance? Lead Designer Jason Pace explains what it's like to work with such an acclaimed title:
Microsoft NZ have alerted us to their latest promotion, which is set to run between 26 February and 26 March this year.
Customers who purchase a new Xbox 360 console will be eligible for a free standard edition of Halo Wars.
For a list of participating retailers, check out this link. Thanks Microsoft!
The Halo Wars demo released to Xbox LIVE on February 6th has quickly set the day-one record for the most demo downloads on the service.
In its first five days, the demo has been downloaded by more than two million Xbox LIVE Gold members around the world.
The Halo Wars demo introduces players to the game’s control scheme through two tutorials, gives a taste of the story with the first two campaign missions, and enables people to experience the action offered via one of the games 14 Skirmish maps. The demo is now available to Xbox LIVE Silver members.
So Halo 3 sold a lot right?
I recently read somewhere that many believe Halo is our generations Star Wars. I personally don't agree with that, but that fact that someone believed it enough to publish it says something.
It is, without a doubt, one of gaming's biggest franchises. While it may not be near and dear to everyone's heart like some Italian plumber (Mario – when will you ever get the gratitude from Princess Peach you deserve?), it still has a place as one of the greats.
Microsoft and Ensemble have invited everyone to meet the Spartans of Halo Wars and the powerful units they will have at their command in their new action strategy game for Xbox 360.
In the second episode of the Halo Wars video documentary series titled “Expanding the Arsenal,” fans can continue their behind the scenes journey with the game’s creators as they explore the unique features of key units and their special battle capabilities.
Just released today, the newest episode of the Halo Wars video documentary series is available for download on Xbox LIVE and ProSource, and can be viewed at the official site.
Microsoft today released three new screenshots from their upcoming RTS Halo Wars.
Created from the ground up for the Xbox 360 console and controller, Halo Wars promises to combine a peerless control scheme and gameplay with a rich, epic story set 20 years prior to the story told in Halo: Combat Evolved. The result is a experience touted as a must-have for Halo fans and a title that will quite likely become a classic amongst fans of strategy games.
Screenshots below - stay tuned for some extensive coverage of this title shortly.
Bungie has today announced that Halo Wars, the Xbox 360 exclusive real time strategy title developed by Ensemble Studios, will be available on March 3rd 2009.
Halo Wars is a strategy game based on the legendary Halo universe. In campaign mode, players will command the armies of the UNSC warship “Spirit of Fire," consisting of familiar and new UNSC units in its initial encounters against the Covenant, an alien coalition threatening to obliterate mankind. Halo Wars will immerse gamers in an early period of the storied Halo universe, allowing them to experience events leading up to the first Halo title for Xbox.
Microsoft Game Studios and Ensemble Studios have announced that the much-anticipated strategy game Halo Wars will be landing at retailers worldwide this February in both a standard and Limited Collector’s Edition format.
Taking the Halo battle beyond the first person, Halo Wars puts players in command of the battlefield and combines the intensity of Halo with a riveting new story that precedes the events of Halo: Combat Evolved.
Developed by Ensemble Studios, the creators of the acclaimed Age of Empires series, Halo Wars was designed specifically for the Xbox 360 and brings a genre that has typically thrived on the PC to consoles. From specialised controls to redesigned resource management and unit command, Halo Wars will give players the fluid strategy experience they’ve been waiting for on a console.
I must confess my trepidation when I heard that a prequel to the Halo series was going to be created in the form of a real time strategy game.
I entered the E3 hands-on session with scepticism. How were they going to make Halo, a first person shooter game, into a real time strategy game? Add to this the logistical nightmare of developing an RTS for a console...
My fears were about to take a Spartan-hurled plasma grenade to the face when this fresh, vibrant scene flickered in front of me in all it’s Halo Universe glory!
“Halo Wars” is a strategy game based on the legendary “Halo” universe. In campaign mode, players will command the armies of the UNSC warship “Spirit of Fire,” consisting of familiar and new UNSC units in its initial encounters against the Covenant, an alien coalition threatening to obliterate mankind. “Halo Wars” will immerse gamers in an early period of the storied “Halo” universe, allowing them to experience events leading up to the first “Halo” title for Xbox.
With the guidance of Serina, a spirited artificial intelligence (AI) persona, gamers will direct legions of UNSC soldiers, Warthogs, Scorpions and more, each group having its own strengths and uses in battle. Adventurous commanders can also call upon ancient Forerunner technology, if they are fortunate enough to find it hidden throughout the battlefield.
Covenant forces are also waiting for players to lead them into battle in multiplayer skirmishes via the New Xbox Experience. Call upon an arsenal of new and familiar Covenant units such as Grunts, Elites, Ghosts and even Scarabs to defeat foes on the battlefield. Strategic-minded players who react well under pressure will emerge victorious.
Features:
- New take on a legendary world. Set in the iconic “Halo” universe, “Halo Wars” predates the original first-person shooter “Halo.” Fans of the franchise will have the opportunity to experience the early battles between the UNSC and Covenant, the far-reaching conflict that has been diligently followed by the masses in the blockbuster “Halo” series. Players join the crew onboard the “Spirit of Fire,” a Phoenix-class colony ship converted for UNSC military use and guided by the AI persona Serina. The “Halo Wars” story line follows the Spirit of Fire’s discovery of an ancient artifact during a journey to the planet Harvest, the first planet to be attacked by the Covenant.
- Strategic command of armies in large-scale combat. “Halo Wars” puts gamers in command of the battlefield over an arsenal of UNSC units and vehicles as they engage Covenant forces. They can counter and crush their opponent by tactically fielding the superior army. Players can also choose among Leaders that possess elite skills which can turn the tides of battle. Using various combinations of Leaders and units, players can create countless strategies tailored to their preferred playing styles and personalized strategies.
- Challenge friends to skirmishes using the New Xbox Experience. See who the superior commander is through multiplayer online skirmishes supporting up to 6 players with the New Xbox Experience. Players can choose to command either unique civilization, UNSC or Covenant, each with unique attributes and strategic characteristics. Ancient Forerunner technology can also be found to create unique units to gain an upper hand in battle.
- Groundbreaking strategy game for the Xbox 360. Since inception, “Halo Wars” was explicitly designed to cater to console gamers and bring to the Xbox 360 a genre that has typically been played on the PC. Gamers can easily command and manage powerful armies, effortlessly control troops and incredible machines, engage in epic battles and expand their empire using an intuitive user interface for the Xbox 360. “Halo Wars” represents the true next-generation experience, combining a masterful control scheme using the Xbox 360 controller with the award-winning strategic gameplay only Ensemble Studios can provide.
