Halo Wars gone gold

Manager
Saturday, January 24, 2009 | 1:58 PM
20 comments

Xbox 360

Microsoft has announced that Halo Wars is finished and will be released on the 27th of February. A demo will hit the Marketplace on the fifth, and a couple of images from the demo was sent out.

Microsoft press release:
Microsoft Game Studios and Ensemble Studios announced today that “Halo Wars,” the highly anticipated action strategy game based on the legendary “Halo” universe, is finished and sent to manufacturing! Created from the ground up for the Xbox 360 console and controller, “Halo Wars” combines a peerless control scheme and gameplay with an incredibly rich, epic story set 20 years prior to the story told in “Halo: Combat Evolved.” The result is a commanding experience that is a must-have for “Halo” fans and a title that is sure to become a classic amongst fans of strategy games.

As fans eagerly await launch day, a video documentary series announced today will explore defining themes of “Halo Wars” and give viewers a behind the scenes look at the game’s development and some of the people involved in its creation. The premier episode captures key elements that frame “Halo Wars” gameplay: the controls, perspective and strategy. The “Halo Wars” video documentary is available for download on Xbox LIVE and can be viewed at Xbox.com/Halo.

In addition, the recently announced Xbox LIVE public demo for “Halo Wars” will be available beginning on 5th February at 9:00 am GMT on Xbox LIVE in the UK. In the demo, players will be able master Ensemble’s groundbreaking control scheme in optional beginner and advanced tutorials or jump right into the action to experience the beginning of the “Halo Wars” story with the first two campaign missions. The demo will also include “Chasms,” one of “Halo Wars’” 14 multiplayer maps, wherein players can battle it out in Skirmish mode vs. A.I., playing either as the UNSC with Captain Cutter’s leader powers, or as the Covenant with the Prophet of Regret’s own unique abilities. Don’t forget to set your Xbox to download this demo!

“Halo Wars” is rated 16+ PEGI and on 27th February will be available exclusively on Xbox 360 with an ERP of £44.99 for the Standard Edition and £49.99 for the Limited Collector’s Edition, which includes early access to the “Halo 3’’ new, downloadable content called ‘’Mythic Map Pack’’.

Demo images

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jmd749

Commented on 2009-01-24 14:47:17

to those that like the halo universe this game looks to be a treat. maybe halo wars might do for RTSs on consoles what halo did for FPSs on consoles. we'll have to wait and see.

In reply to

Kendoguk

Commented on 2009-01-24 15:29:48

It does look nice, if i like the demo i will purchase the game when its been reduced :)

moroboshi

Commented on 2009-01-24 15:50:04

Ensemble must have been dreading this day. Hopefully they'll all find new work soon.

Megido

Commented on 2009-01-24 15:54:29

Looks nice, what i'm worried about is how it'll play. I just can't imagine playing an RTS game with a 360 controller...or any controller for that matter. Mouse/keyboard is mandatory for this genre.

Dark76

Commented on 2009-01-24 16:50:34

rts+pad = not good for me
i want a pc version with mouse/keyboard

Krilekk

Commented on 2009-01-24 17:30:45 In reply to moroboshi

Posted by moroboshi

They all have a job offering within MS Game Studios. MS just killed the studio, not the jobs.

chewbacaattack

Commented on 2009-01-24 17:44:59

RTS's and console pads dont mix in my head. Will pass.

insane_cobra

Commented on 2009-01-24 18:01:53

Can we get the vid doc, please? I can't find a fully working HD version anywhere on the net.

spacemanjupiter

Commented on 2009-01-24 18:26:00

i want a PC version (mouse and keyboard).

GrimThorne

Commented on 2009-01-24 18:54:28 In reply to Krilekk

Posted by Krilekk

The core group is going to form another studio, Microsoft is moving the rest into MGS posts.

Microsoft has been slowly but surely slicing it's PC gaming arm off. Low sales and piracy have made the desktop a very unattractive platform.

skeetskeet

Commented on 2009-01-25 01:59:06

Looks better than RA3 IMO. Hopefully they make a PC port because I hate console controls.

Baleur

Commented on 2009-01-25 04:38:46

Like the shaders on the final screenshot, on the Covenant base there.
But its still a console RTS, ordering your units around is like trying to eat spaghetti with mittens on your hands :(

BFME2 didnt work for me, nor did C&C3 or RA3. Cant imagine why this would.
When i say "didnt work" i mean that i simply couldnt stand the controls :)

pythxvii

Commented on 2009-01-25 12:23:18

Posted by droezelke

It looks good, although I haven't seen (almost) any gameplay. Maybe it's not cool to say it, but I am so tired of the Halo-franchise. It has reached the point of exhaustion, that I compare with The Matrix Trilogy and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. You have to know when to stop.

lol... it most definitely IS cool sadly... Bungie gets way too much hate, Halo fans are such whiny bitches, and everyone who isn't a fan hates em too. And I bet you wouldn't say the same of franchises like Mega Man, Final Fantasy, Star Wars, etc? There are 3 main games, some novels, and a spin off. Hardly over done... Especially when its a fantastic universe. Also you should check out all the gameplay footage lurking around theweb, its there trust me and it looks really good. Also, Lord of the Rings is timeless and everlasting. Your obviously of diminished intelligence if you don't agree that you can't have enough Lord of the Rings haha <3 No worries though mate, I'm just yankin ya chain. A little bit. Bt still...

Also, looks really really accurate, which makes me happy, but I wish they would stop the fucking boarding animation bullshit. Its not as bad as the butchery of Lord of the Rings in Conquest (firey swords and ninja's??? WTF???) but it goes way too far. I far prefer the simple, effective, quick, sensible, practical way its done in the main games. You don't need to make the spartans look like miniature King Kongs smashing wraiths into oblivion before they can get in. And certainly not after they just did a fucking back flip double spin something or other just to get on >.< Other then that the game is sticking to the material really well. I am especially excited to try the hogs out and see just how they control. Love the visuals too, very Halo. I am confident they can pull off the controls though, considering the game Ive had the most troubles with controls as far as console RTS's go is End World, and that was with voice, I don;t think its QUITE as big a deal as people make out. Yes, mouse is far superior, I am 100% for PC owning consoles, but its certainly doable, and then some, so i'm not worried, especially when it looks like they know what their doing on that regard.

[quote=droezelke]It looks good, although I haven't seen (almost) any gameplay. Maybe it's not cool to say it, but I am so tired of the Halo-franchise. It has reached the point of exhaustion, that I compare with The Matrix Trilogy and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. You have to know when to stop.[/quote]
lol... it most definitely IS cool sadly... Bungie gets way too much hate, Halo fans are such whiny bitches, and everyone who isn't a fan hates em too. And I bet you wouldn't say the same of franchises like Mega Man, Final Fantasy, Star Wars, etc? There are 3 main games, some novels, and a spin off. Hardly over done... Especially when its a fantastic universe. Also you should check out all the gameplay footage lurking around theweb, its there trust me and it looks really good. Also, Lord of the Rings is timeless and everlasting. Your obviously of diminished intelligence if you don't agree that you can't have enough Lord of the Rings haha <3 No worries though mate, I'm just yankin ya chain. A little bit. Bt still...

Also, looks really really accurate, which makes me happy, but I wish they would stop the fucking boarding animation bullshit. Its not as bad as the butchery of Lord of the Rings in Conquest (firey swords and ninja's??? WTF???) but it goes way too far. I far prefer the simple, effective, quick, sensible, practical way its done in the main games. You don't need to make the spartans look like miniature King Kongs smashing wraiths into oblivion before they can get in. And certainly not after they just did a fucking back flip double spin something or other just to get on >.< Other then that the game is sticking to the material really well. I am especially excited to try the hogs out and see just how they control. Love the visuals too, very Halo. I am confident they can pull off the controls though, considering the game Ive had the most troubles with controls as far as console RTS's go is End World, and that was with voice, I don;t think its QUITE as big a deal as people make out. Yes, mouse is far superior, I am 100% for PC owning consoles, but its certainly doable, and then some, so i'm not worried, especially when it looks like they know what their doing on that regard.

jioann00

Commented on 2009-01-25 14:24:35

i just dont think its gonna be that fun.

halo is fun because of its gameplay, this is a console RTS with a halo theme which shares non of the halo games gameplay.

not intrested at all, dare i say anyone who is, imo is probobly just excited because of its link with halo. but i think it should be treated as its own game, and judged only on its own merits as a game.

WinterSnowblind

Commented on 2009-01-25 16:39:46

Well, I'm interested in the game mainly because of the Halo name. I've always loved the universe, especially the vehicles and units, etc that you get to see. Making a game that's completely about controlling warthogs and scorpions was a great idea. (after all, Halo was originally going to be an RTS).

Redneck

Commented on 2009-01-25 16:52:47 In reply to WinterSnowblind

Posted by WinterSnowblind

...opinions..

I like the Halo-universe but I would not buy a RTS because of it.

I also can't stand when a franchise is milked to death, but as long as coming Halo-games are from bungie and offer the experience I expect them to offer, I'm on it!
So bring ODST!

omniscient

Commented on 2009-01-26 00:56:52 In reply to jmd749

Posted by jmd749

Honestly RTS's on console have already been proven to work CIV REV, EndWar, Command and Conquer and a few others

Isomac

Commented on 2009-01-26 08:00:56

CIV is not RTS game.

I am kinda interested to see how the game is. I'll try the demo at least. I am not buying it, too many other great RTS games coming.

RC_Master

Commented on 2009-01-26 20:09:49

Wow, a lot of people writing this off before they've even tried it.

Before Goldeneye, then Halo, people wouldn't have considered FPSs on consoles, but now its one of the most popular genres on consoles.

They've stressed many-a-time that they (ensemble) have found a good control scheme for Halo Wars with a gamepad, so people should at least give the demo a try to see what (if anything) they've managed to accomplish.