Halo-Wars
Latest
E308: Halo Wars '5 Long Years' trailer [Update 2]
Update 2: Release date for 2009 has been confirmed. Update: According to a tipster who is glued to his television set stuck on G4TV, a developer for Halo Wars has said the game will release in Spring 2009. We have yet to hear an official comment on the matter. Halo Wars, the upcoming real-time strategy game from Ensemble Studios is inching closer to release. When that release is, we don't know. But it's coming! Need something to hold you over? How about this new Halo Wars trailer for the upcoming title. Showing off a battle described in the video as "the five long years it took to get Harvest back," reveals the victory and defeat of the human species against the Covenant. [Thanks, Macedonia M. for the release date tip]
And so it begins: New Halo Wars screens and art
With E3 beginning so soon the news is really starting to flow, and over the next few days things'll be moving pretty fast around here. The first thing we've got are a few new Halo Wars screens along with a bit of concept art and info. Apparently Ensemble has worked hard to make sure to get all sorts of little things from the Halo universe into the game. We'll be seeing Sentinels in one or more forms (with a least a single variant that aids you if you gain control over its factory), and while the developers are coy about it, it's extremely likely the flood will show up in some fashion. After tomorrow's press conference there'll likely be much, much more on Halo Wars. Including, if loose talk is to be believed, some news on a demo. %Gallery-23398%
A trio of new Halo Wars screens
click to embiggen After sinking tens of dollars into research and development, our attempts to accelerate time and start E3 early have failed. As we can't force time to go faster -- not for lack of trying -- we'll just have to settle with a few digital hors d'oeuvres to tide us over in the meantime. And, since Halo Wars is definitely one of the must play games on our list, why don't we make those digital snacks some fresh, hot out of the capture station screenshots? We only have three new shots but, again, since we cannot change the irrevocable flow of time, they'll have to do. Enjoy them in the gallery below. %Gallery-23398%
Microsoft E3 2008 press conference: Let's play bingo!
#bingochart { border: 2px solid #111; border-collapse: collapse; } #bingochart td { padding: 1px 0px 1px 0px; border: 1px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; margin: 0; font-size: 80%; line-height: 90%; } #bingochart th { padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; margin: 0; } #bingochart a{ filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Alpha(opacity=100); -moz-opacity: 1;} #bingochart a:hover { filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Alpha(opacity=80); -moz-opacity: 0.80;} XNA GamesLaunch Deets Fable 2Online Co-op Alan Wake Demoed SecretRare Game 60 GIGHard Drive Gears 24 player Co-op HaloChronicles Too HumanXBLM Demo Rock Band 2On Stage Bungie TalksNew Game DashboardReborn J AllardReturns FREE SPACEAvatars! Cliff AppearsWith Lancer Metal GearOnline Xbox 360Price-Cut 'LIPS'Revealed Halo WarsRelease Date EternalDarkness 2 Third PartyXbox 360 Xbox LiveGoes Free DishwasherReleased NewX360 SKU MotionController Top SecretXBLA Games var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/Microsoft_E3_2008_press_conference_Bingo'; In anticipation of next week's E3 Media and Business Summit, we've prepared bingo cards for each of the big press conferences, filled with some likely (and some not-so-likely) predictions for what each of the big three console makers intends to announce at arguably the biggest trade shows of the year.Today's card is for Microsoft (special thanks to X3F). We're going out on a limb and giving Avatars away as the free space. Click on each of the slides above for more information about our predictions. Microsoft's E3 press conference is scheduled for next Monday at 10:30 am PT (that's 1:30 pm Joystiq Time / ET). As always, we'll be liveblogging the event, so you can play along in real-time with us.Stay tuned for more press conference bingo cards in the days leading up to the conference. (Also: check out our bingo card for Sony's press conference.)Download a copy (PNG file) and play along!Update: Only hours after we post this ... N2, you hit my battleship!
Halo Wars screenshots show lots of progress
A fresh batch of four new Halo Wars screenshots have been provided to use thanks to Ensemble Studios and we'll be the first to praise them on how visually stunning the game is turning out. For serious. Simply compare the new screens with some of the older ones and you'll instantly see what we mean. Both the units and the environments look much more polished and clean. Thankfully, Ensemble promises to let us give it a go at E3, because we've been getting sick of their constant screenshot teases. Anyway, back to the screenshots. You view all four new and all the older Halo Wars screenshots in the gallery below. Yummy yum!%Gallery-23398%
'Several' Halo Wars demo stations at E3
Ensemble Studios' Bruce Shelley says that "several demo stations" of Halo Wars will be available at E3. This is generally considered good news, because it means Halo Wars has gotten to the point where it's no longer held in captivity by the developers who don't want anybody to touch a thing. It also eases our fears of further delays following Ensemble's "when it's done" quote from last month.We will certainly have hands-on impressions of the game at E3 and with luck, we'll be able to nail down a more solid release window. We keep hope alive that Halo Wars, built from the ground up for the Xbox 360, could finally figure out the RTS genre for consoles.[Via X3F]
Ensemble: "Several" Halo Wars demo stations at E3
Excitement for Halo Wars has been palpable of late, what with a recent GamePro cover story and Ensemble finally allowing a few details to hit the tubes (even from the official Halo Wars website, no less). It wasn't long ago that Ensemble made it known that they would "hopefully" have a playable build at E3. Considering no one outside of Ensemble and a few lucky journalists have laid their hands on the game, it was pretty exciting news. Prepare to be even more excited, as the "hopefully" part of the equation seems to have shifted to definitely. According to Ensemble's Bruce Shelley, as noted on his blog, there will be "several demo stations set up and a large number of media representatives will be getting a chance to play." Smiley face to that. There are other details about the game in the blog but, frankly, we sort of blanked out after the playable bit. There was this: "This is not a strategy game where you don't interact with your opponent for the first 15 to 25 minutes. Many games are over by that point." E3 can't get here fast enough.
New Halo Wars info: the UNSC Firebase and Warthog
Halo Wars fans will know that updates to their would be favorite game are few and far between, especially on the official Halo Wars website. Well, fret no more, because the beginning of the recently promised roll-out of new information has officially begun. Specifically, today we have new images, video, and information regarding a UNSC structure called the Firebase and the ever popular Warthog vehicle. The Firebase, from the sound of things, is a portable UNSC base of operations and presumably the first structure players will start with. It is capable of constructing vehicles and deploying troops. The base also features a 'lock down mode' which you can see on the left of the image above. The Warthog sounds as you would expect, though a few new details are revealed. For one, Warthogs are available in three flavors: unarmed, chaingun, and gauss cannon. The unarmed variant is the most basic unit, whereas it sounds like the others will have to be acquired via upgrades performed at the Firebase. Good stuff. Here's hoping we'll get new information on a more regular basis from now on. Hit the source link for more images and even a short Flash video of the Firebase in action.
Ensemble: Halo Wars "hopefully" playable at E3
The latest Halo Wars monthly update is live and, while it doesn't contain a mountain of new information, it does give us hope for the future. Why is that? It's because Ensemble Studios hints that we might see Halo Wars at E3 and, furthermore, it might be playable by the press. According to the update, "A lot more of the game will be visible and hopefully we will be able to hand over the controller to let people try it for themselves." The update also has a few words about the UNSC Cyclops unit (think the power loader from Aliens) and notes that more information (and updates to the Halo Wars website) are on the way. So, we'll just be getting in line now then.
GamePro Halo Wars article now online
With the GamePro Halo Wars cover story on shelves for a while now, the magazine has seen fit to post a (less robust) preview on their website. It's a good read for anyone who can't get their hands on the magazine (or those who don't care to do so). While a good portion of the article is spent rehashing the genesis of the game and how hard Ensemble is working to make it true to the Halo universe -- seriously, we get it now -- there are a few choice nuggets to be found. Units have both primary and secondary fire modes for one. As an example the article notes that marines typically use assault rifles but can also toss grenades -- on command -- if the situation calls for it. Also, the article notes that micromanagement of the in-game economy -- a common practice in most RTS games -- is basically non-existent thanks to the all-consuming unit of currency, which is simply dubbed 'supplies.' Finally, another nod to streamlining the genre for consoles, Ensemble notes that it took 10 minutes to create a sizable force in early builds of Halo Wars, whereas now it takes "about 10 seconds."We're fairly sure we're not alone when we say that we really hope there's a playable build of Halo Wars at E3 next month.
Halo Wars release strategy: 'when it's done'
If we had a dollar for every time we've heard the phrase "our game will ship when it's done" from a developer, we'd have enough money to ... buy Halo Wars when it's eventually released. Despite MS tagging the game as one of it's biggies for '08 back in January, the Ensemble Studios developed RTS set in Master Chief's 'hood is seeming a little more iffy for this year.First off, the game missed the recent Xbox Spring Showcase in May. Now Graham Somers, Ensemble's community manager, has uttered the words "when," "it's," and "done" one after another in an interview with Halo Wars Addict. Somers' answer came when asked if the game will hit in 2008 or 2009. We have been seeing a pickup in new details on the game recently – which is promising – and will hopefully have something more solid to go on than those three dreaded words come E3 next month. That said, can someone please put a dollar in the jar labeled "WID" on their way out? Thanks.[Via X3F]%Gallery-1676%
Halo Wars will ship "when it's ready"
The aptly named Halo Wars Addict website recently interviewed Ensemble Studios' Graham Somers regarding the company's upcoming RTS title, Halo Wars (you know, the one based on Halo). While the interview covers a broad range of topics, such as how Ensemble plans to please Halo fans and newcomers alike, we quickly zeroed in on the end of the interview. When asked whether Halo Wars would release in 2008 or 2009, Somers responded, "We're going to ship Halo Wars when it's ready." After missing Microsoft's Spring Showcase, we wondered whether or not Halo Wars would make its projected 2008 release. Now you can color us officially worried.Halo Wars will be shown at E3 this year. Here's hoping someone comes clean on a release date come convention time.[Thanks, Jon B]
Halo Wars to have online co-op, 6-player Xbox Live matches
Some new Halo Wars information has trickled out of the latest issue of GamePro, including news that the game will support Xbox Live multiplayer with up to six players as well as two-player online co-op. The magazine also reveals new UNSC units such as the Vulture, Cyclops and Cobras and the game's current control scheme. Fan site Halo Wars Addict has created a handy chart for your perusal. You can check out the scans via Salad Hats or, better yet, pick up a legitimate copy of GamePro on newsstands. Halo Wars is expected to deploy in October.[Via X3F]
GamePro reveals Halo Wars co-op, new units, controls and more
We reported a few days back that the latest issue of GamePro magazine would include some new Halo Wars details, facts and info. And now we're pleased to make it known that leaked magazine scans have finally made it online and do offer up a rather satisfying dose of Halo Wars newsness.Halo Wars Addict posted scans of all ten pages of GamePro's Halo Wars article (you know, for those outside the States who can't view the magazine's contents any other way ...) and inside we learn about the game's current control scheme, new UNSC vehicles including Vultures, Cyclops and Cobras as well as mention that the campaign will be a combination of human and Covenant worlds. Also, even more exciting is confirmation that Halo Wars will boast six player Xbox Live multiplayer AND feature two person online co-op as well! Purchase a copy of GamePro's July issue to read about all the Halo Wars goodness or ... uhhh ... go here.[Via Grunts R Us]
New Halo Wars and Halo Chronicles info in latest GamePro
GamePro has revealed the cover of their July issue, which contains new information on Halo Wars. According to GamePro's website, the article will feature new details regarding the Covenant and Spartans as well as new vehicles including prototype Elephants, Wolverines and Vultures. While we're certainly excited about the new Halo Wars details, what's even more interesting is that the cover also states that the article will discuss Halo Chronicles. Fans will recognize the name as one of the rumored titles for Peter Jackson's Halo project. Hopefully the article has some real details regarding the game because, thus far, we've got bupkis.
Microsoft Game Studios' 2008 in Gaming: A Yearbook
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/2008_Yearbook_Microsoft_Game_Studios'; Interested in seeing what you'll be playing on your Xbox 360 in the coming months? X3F has compiled the 2008 Microsoft Game Studios Yearbook for you, a list of this year's exclusive graduating class with a detailed account of each title's current status and the stories surrounding them.The 2008 Microsoft Game Studios Yearbook chronicles the graduates, like the soon-to-be released Ninja Gaiden II, and the titles that didn't make it to grad, like Alan Wake. Yep, he had to be held back for a semester or two. Or maybe three, we just don't know yet.Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to introduce the 2008 Microsoft Game Studios graduating class ...
2008 Yearbook: Microsoft Game Studios
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/2008_Yearbook_Microsoft_Game_Studios'; After a solid year for the Xbox 360 in 2007 many thought the system could never showcase the same amount of quality exclusives in a single year.In the 2008 Microsoft Game Studios Yearbook, we've compiled a list of this year's graduating class with a detailed account of each title's current status and the stories surrounding them.From heartbreaking cancellations, surprise feature announcements and expected sequels, the 2008 MGS Yearbook is filled with fun facts and information on your soon-to-be favorite titles. Also included in the yearbook are special joke awards given to each title that releases in 2008 that poke fun at the details most commonly argued about in the comments.From Ninja Gaiden II to Alan Wake, the 2008 Microsoft Game Studios Yearbook will have something for everyone.Ladies and gentlemen allow us to introduce the 2008 Microsoft Game Studios graduating class ...
Halo Wars Alpha is over, new info in July GamePro [update]
click to enlarge Update: The Halo Wars website has made a correction regarding the GamePro cover story. It turns out the story is in the July issue, not the June issue. The latest Halo Wars monthly update has been posted and, as usual, we're treated to a smorgasbord of information that is completely devoid of the kind of meaty details for which we so longingly hoped. There is, however, one small glimmer of hope for some new details in the near future, as the update mentions that the cover story for the June July issue of GamePro will center on Halo Wars. The magazine got a chance to actually play a recent build of the game, so we're hopeful that we'll finally get some concrete details about the game (preferably regarding playable Covenant and Flood ... pleeeeease!).Also, the Halo Wars Alpha, about which we reported last month, has concluded and the devs at Ensemble Studios are apparently very pleased with the feedback gained from testers. According to the update, the much vaunted control scheme was well-received and testers had little difficulty in quickly understanding it. Let's hope so.Finally, Ensemble has posted a high resolution version of one of the screenshots revealed last week. Click the headline image above to view it in all its glory.
Tiny new Halo Wars screens with Scarab action
The folks over at Gamecenteronline posted a pair of new Halo Wars screenshots (they claim three, but one we've seen previous) featuring a nighttime banshee battle and some Scarab-tastic destruction. The only problem is that the screenshots are super tiny little with no high res source in sight. So, enjoy what you can see in the two new screens. Also, if you haven't already done so today, send a prayer to the release date gods that Ensemble can get their Halo RTS out the door sometime in 2008. Its non-appearance at the Spring Showcase has us a bit worried.
No show: Halo Wars and Alan Wake miss Microsoft's event
When asked why neither Halo Wars nor Alan Wake were at the Xbox Spring Showcase, Microsoft Game Studios general manager, Shane Kim, told us the games weren't suited for the event (he wasn't offering specifics). When pressed to confirm if either would make a 2008 release (like every other game on display at the event), Kim insisted that neither have had release dates announced.Oh? Don Mattrick – Senior Vice President, Interactive Entertainment Business, Entertainment and Devices Division (ie: the big boss) – sent out an internal memo back in January that seemed to indicate both titles would find loving homes in 2008. We're going to take it as a sign that the company simply wanted to focus attention on Rare's two new titles as opposed to discussing any potential delays to other would-be 2008 releases. We hope ...
