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real time strategy
Halo Wars Is In Control
Posted by Michael McWhertor at 5:40 AM on July 23, 2008
Halo plus real-time strategy plus gamepad controls may sound like a recipe for a franchise misfire, but Ensemble Studios has polished Halo Wars to the point of an immediately playable console title. While some may argue that, like first person shooters, RTS games should only be played on a mouse and keyboard, Ensemble has done an admirable job of nailing the controls. We got a chance to go hands-on with the game at E3 and came away surprisingly pleased.
You'll move around the map with the left analogue stick, zooming in and out with the right stick. Unit selection is done with the A button — hold A to select groups via a circle — but you can select all units on screen or every unit in your army with the right or left bumpers, respectively.
Your units will fire on enemy units with X, with an alternate firing mode tied to the Y button.
Unit special abilities and building options can be chosen from a pop up radial menu, giving you quick access to things like air strikes or expansion building choices. The control experience is relatively easy to wrap one's head around, thanks to a clean, quickly loading interface.
Building management is similarly straightforward stuff. We started out with a pre-built base, one with a series of "slots" that additions like barracks and vehicle factories can be built upon. You'll also have access to defence towers, but Halo Wars won't devolve into a turret defence mishmash. Base support feels like less of a focus than team-to-team field combat.
On combat, you'll have more than just Warthogs, Scorpions and Vultures to inflict damage on the UNSC side, a Spirit of Fire colony ship orbited overhead, allowing for called-in airstrikes via MAC cannons. Things get hairy? Call in some giant laser fire.
Halo Wars has some impressive visual pop to it, more colourful than when we last saw it. The game's visual effects, in motion, look spectacular. It may not have the immediate visual sex appeal of something like Halo 3, with it's micro-sized units and overhead perspective, but it looks good.
Keep your eye on Halo Wars, even if you're not a fan of the franchise or traditionally an RTS fan. It looks and feels like a console strategy game should. When we get our hands on the Covenant next time, we'll have a better understanding of how well it stacks up.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
GorbyGipper
Posted 9:22 AM 23/7/08
All that and a co-op campaign. Yeah, I'm down with Halo Wars.
GorbyGipper
Sammo21
Posted 9:13 AM 23/7/08
@Providence:
Are you trying to say Company of Heroes is an FPS with RTS controls? Because if you are, and I don't usually say this, an idiot. No faction diversity? No precise controls?
I'm not sure though as you keep citing 'CoD' (Call of Duty?). I hope you aren't trying to say all of those things about COH because people who have actually played both CoH games might disagree with you a tad. Then again, you may not actually be talking about CoH, because if you are your points are all factually wrong.
Sammo21
Providence
Posted 8:43 AM 23/7/08
@Strangelove:
Could not disagree more. CoD is an FPS with RTS controls.
Here's what CoD does NOT offer:
1. Precise controls that rely on skill rather than luck.
2. Faction diversity.
3. Unit lethality.
4. Diverse builds.
5. Long-term community and e-Sports support.
Yeah, it looks cool. But CoD is basically THE RTS for non-RTS players. That is to say, it's not a good RTS.
Providence
goldwings
Posted 8:33 AM 23/7/08
So it's a dumbed down RTS in terms of control (limited)?
goldwings
excel_excel
Posted 8:28 AM 23/7/08
@neoraul20: and who are you? Jeez grow up
excel_excel
neoraul20
Posted 8:12 AM 23/7/08
@Lot Krotan:
"This looks to be one of the best new RTS' to come in years." Just to you buddy.
Who are you?
Some blog commenter.
neoraul20
Slothboy
Posted 7:58 AM 23/7/08
I have heard this before.
"No, seriously. This RTS works great on a console!"
We'll see. I hope it does. I like RTS.
Slothboy
Jest
Posted 7:56 AM 23/7/08
Mmm, this actually piques my interest more than the FPS series. Here's to hoping a demo comes out.
@usfslacker: Just letting you know that I actually understood your points. Not quite sure about the % being that high, but I get what your saying.
@Llost: You, however, don't get it.
Jest
Polterg3ist
Posted 7:53 AM 23/7/08
@Strangelove: Completely agreed, my friend.
When I see this game in action, I can't help but feel like console gamers are getting the short end of the stick, gameplay-wise. The graphics look dated, and the squads who don't react to enemy fire just seem ridiculous thanks to CoH and the like.
Polterg3ist
Pbombas
Posted 7:48 AM 23/7/08
the gameplay footage and graphics seem great, and on top of that its made by ensemble and its halo. im pumped for this game, w00t
Pbombas
Strangelove
Posted 7:43 AM 23/7/08
@Flawless101:
CoH is in my opinion the best RTS ever made, bar none. There have been other RTSs I've enjoyed over the years, most notably Age of Empires II, Empire Earth, Black & White 2, and even Sins of a Solar Empire, but I just keep coming back to CoH. The way the resources are spread around the map into victory points is just brilliant, and the way the units react/take cover/rear armor shit/etc. makes the experience that much better. Then, you call in a V-1 rocket and it's just fucking awesome. Whatta great game.
Strangelove
Strangelove
Posted 7:40 AM 23/7/08
@tslothrop:
It'll have full keyboard/mouse support a year later when it's released for PC (hopefully not exclusively to Vista like Halo 2 before it).
Strangelove
Flawless101
Posted 7:21 AM 23/7/08
@Llost: and more recently, Company of Heros which any RTS fan will know kicked ass. -
Flawless101
Llost
Posted 7:20 AM 23/7/08
@traced: I see your point now, I agree it'll probably be a limited amount of hot keys but as you pointed out there's also a limited amount of units and only 1 base so there won't need to be many.
Llost
traced
Posted 7:15 AM 23/7/08
Although maybe for this type of game they're not as necessary. I don't know, maybe I'm speculating too much.
traced
traced
Posted 7:14 AM 23/7/08
No I like hotkeys, just that from what I understand Halo Wars has a limited number of them.
traced
Woylez
Posted 7:13 AM 23/7/08
I was hoping this would be crap...Because i can't afford all these games!!!! I'll have to get it when there is a drought..
Woylez
Llost
Posted 7:12 AM 23/7/08
@traced: I agree it looks limited in unit count but that's not really a bad thing. The most fun RTS games I have ever played were Warcraft 3, Starcraft and the Warhammer 40k titles which all had small unit counts. Age of empires also used a low unit count but that was a good game too.
Does it matter how many bases you get? Is hotkeys suddenly a bad thing? I see them used all the time in RTS and MMO's because they are more efficient and now they're suddenly bad just because it's on a console.
Llost
Treize
Posted 7:10 AM 23/7/08
Not to nitpick, but orbital MAC cannons don't fire lasers. According to the books, they fire massive, magnetically-accelerated slugs of superheated metal (tungsten or something like that?). I wonder if it will be portrayed as such in the game, or if it will be a laser? I know that Bungie is pretty specific about Halo canon. I didn't really take notice in the E3 gameplay video.
Treize
traced
Posted 7:09 AM 23/7/08
I mean, through no fault of it's own, the game can't have robust micro, macro, or multitask depth. I can't see how it would work well in multiplayer. Hm. At least the campaign will probably be fun.
traced
Anton P. Nym
Posted 7:07 AM 23/7/08
@Quilt: Because it's awkward to use a mouse and keyboard when you're sitting on a couch in front of a TV. KB&M is a fine control scheme for a desktop PC, but if you don't have a large, flat surface handy KB&M is more frustrating than useful. Anybody who's tried to use a laptop on the road has probably experienced the "joy" of lap-mousing...
-- Steve
Anton P. Nym
traced
Posted 7:06 AM 23/7/08
I'm a big fan of RTS games and though I'm sure the control scheme is very adapted and intuitive, I can't imagine how it would be anything better than a watered down PC RTS. It looks like you get 1 base, control 1 army, limited hotkeys, less unit control, 2 races...
Who knows, though.
traced
I_Hate_This_Place
Posted 7:05 AM 23/7/08
If this wheel is like the wheel used in C&c3: Kane's Wrath, then I am ecstatic. I love that interface, and it was really easy to work with.
I_Hate_This_Place
Llost
Posted 7:01 AM 23/7/08
@Sammo21: Well it depends on your tastes I guess, I like stories and so I often continue the trend but I'm not stupid and blindly buy games either. I'm probably going to not get Resident evil 5 just because it looks boring to me. They've killed what I liked about the games (dark and scary survival horror with zombies and not weird spanish or african men with parasites in them). And I've enjoyed Resident evil since the first one.
My point is that sequels are normal and everyone gets them.
I'm sure lots of people get a PS3 just because it has the playstation name on it but I guess a £40 purchase of a game rather than a £300 console is the real injustice. It's just a game and if they buy it without looking at what it is then they are idiots. there is idiots in every fanbase though, I hear people squealing over a 30 second god of war 3 video that showed absolutely nothing. I don't care though because it's up to them what they like.
Llost
KEELr
Posted 6:56 AM 23/7/08
Going with the 360 version just because of LIVE & my friends list... and those pesky achievements
KEELr
Llost
Posted 6:55 AM 23/7/08
@usfslacker: Well it's odd that you consider the majority of fans of a game ignorant. It's like saying if killzone got an RTS the majority of the ignorant fanboys of the game would suddenly pounce on it and become dissapointed. Your assuming the fans of the game are stupid, I'm pretty sure they can look at the back of a case and decide if a game is for them or not. It doesn't have that sort of audience at all, Halo 3 was largely overhyped and then criticised for it's failings. There's fans no doubt but I doubt they'll claim it's GOTY just cos it has Halo on it.
Well I can see that your mostly a fanboy of either Sony or Nintendo since your overly critical of the Xbox and it's bigger franchises (halo in this case). Star wars KOTOR, Ninja gaiden (and NG black), Panzer dragoon orta, Halo (even if you don't like Halo the original was considered a great title and even better than it's sequels), Kingdom under fire and more were good on the XBox.
Llost
Numerous
Posted 6:53 AM 23/7/08
I am intrigued by this game since Halo was originally going to be an RTS on the Mac. (As I'm sure is stated above me somewhere.)
Now, about all the folks wanting keyboard/mouse support on consoles. Please keep your control schema out of my games. I don't like keyboard/mouse controls, that is why I play games on a console instead of on my computer.
Numerous
Sentouki
Posted 6:53 AM 23/7/08
One button to select all units! woo that's such awesome micro!
Sentouki
lionkitten
Posted 6:51 AM 23/7/08
They had a hands-on filmed for the 1up Show, and it looks pretty fun, with fairly slick controls. I am looking forward to it - even beyond my sick fascination with the Halo universe.
I have played Command and Conquer and Battle for mIddleearth on 360 and have been waiting for someone to get the controls down and manageable. This seems like a step in the right direction.
lionkitten
Sammo21
Posted 6:49 AM 23/7/08
@TheLegendof_Erick: Considering I have been playing RTS for the same time period, whatever. I played RTS from the guys at Relic, Creative Assembly, and Stardock...but you know, they aren't anything special I suppose.
@Llost:
I have never purchased a game JUST because it was a sequel. The only game I bought by namesake alone was Shadow of the Colossus.
Sammo21
okrangerbob
Posted 6:47 AM 23/7/08
"Click Y To Out-BR The Enemy"
"Click X To Camp In The Corner Of The Room With An Energy Sword"
Winn :D
Really looking forward to this :D
okrangerbob
usfslacker
Posted 6:46 AM 23/7/08
@iLov3: @Llost:
Not saying anything about the prospect of RTS games on the console, just the problem of throwing the word Halo on something that does not appeal to the majority of the brands ignorant following. Does Halo have a "hardcore" following that will eat this up and no doubt hype it to GOTY status? Sure.
But the other 95% of the brand's fanbase has never heard of Kotaku, have the attention spans of common pets, and only updated their 56k dialup connections so that they could play Halo 2 (one of only 3 games they actually owned for the Xbox, with Halo 1 and Madden rounding out the bunch). These people will NEVER play an RTS and (whether you like it or admit to it or not) make up most of the GTA, Halo, etc fanbase.
P.S. Pikmin awesome, can't wait for 3. My point was, a lot of the people buy Mario games because Mario is in it, and if they got an RTS and not a platformer they would be pissed.
usfslacker
TheLegendof_Erick
Posted 6:45 AM 23/7/08
@Sammo21: I've been playing RTS since Westwood was making games, if you think anyone else should be in the upper echelon for developing these titles by all means throw a name in the hat - dont hate cause it says Halo
(IMO I think ur mad cause no PC love)<--emotionaldemons
TheLegendof_Erick
notoriousEIC
Posted 6:45 AM 23/7/08
@usfslacker:
I happen to be a Halo and RTS fan, and I know I'm not the only one. And honestly, it's not the Halo part that's going to have me interested in this game. Having enjoyed Age of Mythology quite a bit, I'm more interested to see what Ensemble can do with a console RTS.
notoriousEIC
Llost
Posted 6:42 AM 23/7/08
@Sammo21: Yeah cos buying a game of a series you like is terrible, not like sequels are ever successful or anything. neither are spin offs and spiritual successors.
Are you saying you never buy any of those things? Or are you just being an anti halo troll?
Llost
Burguois
Posted 6:42 AM 23/7/08
One of the cool features is that units aren't really static sprites or objects that are just a representation for numbers, they can actually be affected in a meaningful way by the terrain etc.
In one of the Bungie podcasts they were pretty impressed by how the game was coming along and how in one demo they saw, a Warthog failed to make a jump across a gap in the terrain which is pretty unique in RTS games that a unit could have such presence.
And to the naysayers, nobody really believed a console could handle an FPS meaningfully until Halo blew the idea out of the water. RTS games will eventually get their Halo, which I guess is the last standing unique facet of PC gaming.
Burguois
sir_carrot
Posted 6:42 AM 23/7/08
@usfslacker: Funny thing - Bungie originally was developing Halo as an RTS. And then they went all FPS blockbuster with it.
Though I guess, as your post implies, your average Halo fan isn't going to know or expect this intersection.
As with any huge franchise, there's going to be people picking up whatever is on the shelf with the name slapped on it - your 'mainstream' or 'casual' market if you will - but I think most, even casual gamers, would pick up the box - look at it - and say - hey. This isn't a shooter. This is something else. It would have to have incredibly ass-backward marketing and package design to not convey that fact.
If someone is buying a game for themselves and doesn't have any idea even what genre it is... well, then I consider that their fault.
And if Nintendo decided to produce an RTS title in the Mario universe... you can bet it would be unique and innovative. Not a Warcraft clone. Nintendo is the sort of developer that can make incredible titles in genres you would never associate with a certain mythos. They modify the perceived 'rules' of that type of game - they did it both with the RPG and fighting genre, and look how those turned out (Smash, the various Mario RPGs, etc).
sir_carrot
Talryyn
Posted 6:39 AM 23/7/08
Looking forward to this, not for the Halo, but an RTS on a console that works!
The only thing I dislike as an RTS fan is the lack of ability to plop down the buildings where you want them. The Halo Wars style will keep it easy, but you will not see huge cities that you have to figure out how to defend.
Talryyn
adragonfang18
Posted 6:39 AM 23/7/08
I hope its not one whre you just build as many units as you can and rush them. I didnt really like C&C3 I really prefered sup com and CoH. then again, they were mostly for PC.
adragonfang18
skrame ☆
Posted 6:37 AM 23/7/08
@Sammo21: Thanks for calling us Halo Junkies instead of fanboys. I'm sick of having to be a fanboy just because I enjoy a game.
Seriously.
skrame ☆
Sammo21
Posted 6:37 AM 23/7/08
@Shandy706:
"Balance and competetive play is what these guys are known for, the only other RTS dev in their league is Blizzard. "
yeah, there you go.
Sammo21
Shandy706
Posted 6:36 AM 23/7/08
@Sammo21:
Try reading. He said same/similar league..not the standard. Maybe glasses would help.
I really didn't care for Halo 3..sold it within a few days of getting it, but I am interested in this. It looks like a very unique way of approaching the RTS genre (I'm talking gameplay, control setup, building style) on consoles.
Shandy706
iLov3
Posted 6:33 AM 23/7/08
@usfslacker: Nintendo did make an RTS of sorts; Pikmin. It didn't have mario in it, but it is the best example of how to do an RTS on a console so far - throw the rule book away.
iLov3
OmegaKulu
Posted 6:32 AM 23/7/08
looks like C&C for a sec there.....
OmegaKulu
Quilt
Posted 6:30 AM 23/7/08
Why does noone make keyboards or mice for consoles? I don't get it.
Quilt
DigitalHero
Posted 6:29 AM 23/7/08
@Dauragon C. Mikado:
I thought Sion Barzhad killed you? How are you alive!? =P
DigitalHero
Sammo21
Posted 6:28 AM 23/7/08
@TheLegendof_Erick:
lol, these guys are the standard for the league, not Blizzard eh? OK.
And like I've said before, this game is made for people who will buy anything with the words 'Halo' in it, proof being you telling us how awesome that CG trailer was.
Sammo21
TheLegendof_Erick
Posted 6:23 AM 23/7/08
@Providence: What have you been watching? The one preview walkthrough with one of the devs playing looked phenomenal LAST YEAR - not to mention the uber-awesome Halo CG cutscene from E3 - anyone else see the elite dual-wieldin energy swords??
Balance and competetive play is what these guys are known for, the only other RTS dev in their league is Blizzard.
TheLegendof_Erick
Baboon
Posted 6:21 AM 23/7/08
More power to it. Not sure I will ever get it though. I am pretty sure Starcraft II is going to be all the RTS I need for a good long while.
Baboon
Llost
Posted 6:21 AM 23/7/08
@Providence: Well gameplay footage can be misleading. Alot of a titles value is in the fun of the game and the feel, you can guess the feel and get a rough idea but if gameplay footage was all we went by (and not the articles that suggest the game is good that follow on from it) then alot of games would be missed. Too human for example looks awful when on gameplay footage, the reason is the game doesn't have high production values so doesn't look interesting but that doesn't mean it doesn't play well (which I found it quite fun).
I do agree the gameplay has looked off in some ways though (I get bored of RTS where you just keep getting the next most powerful unit and that can kill anything below it).
Llost
sir_carrot
Posted 6:20 AM 23/7/08
Looks like we'll finally get a chance to play Halo as Bungie first intended it.
Except... this isn't designed by Bungie, is it. Then again. I did spend a lot of childhood hours on the first Age of Empires.
I'm not sure. It's been a while since I've been wooed by RTS - turn based gameplay kind of stole the tactical division of my heart.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see, like always.
sir_carrot
Playstation
Posted 6:20 AM 23/7/08
Im not a fans of RTS but I'd definitely get a copy for this one. It's looking good.
Playstation
Wolfers
Posted 6:20 AM 23/7/08
I'm no RTS fan, but I might still give it a try. It can't be as hectic on a console, right? Right? Oh who am I kidding...
Wolfers
Pezdispenser
Posted 6:20 AM 23/7/08
I seem to recall seeing the Warthog fishtailing everywhere in the first trailer, is it still swerving like crazy or have they reigned it in a bit?
Pezdispenser
Dauragon C. Mikado
Posted 6:19 AM 23/7/08
@DigitalHero: bwehahaha
WELCOME
to the DARKSIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAAHH!!!!!!!
*dramatic close up while lighting cracks directly behind him*
Dauragon C. Mikado
Yonderboy
Posted 6:19 AM 23/7/08
I can't really imagine learning a new RTS with Starcraft 2 on the horizon.
Yonderboy
DigitalHero
Posted 6:18 AM 23/7/08
@Boboh:
Does the troll want a biscuit?
DigitalHero
Flawless101
Posted 6:18 AM 23/7/08
@Boboh: Sigh, I remember when trolls tried harder.
Flawless101
Providence
Posted 6:17 AM 23/7/08
Gameplay videos have not been kind to this game, which is saying a lot.
We'll see when it's released though. I highly doubt competitive play and balance is on their minds, so I doubt this one will last.
Providence
antialias02
Posted 6:16 AM 23/7/08
This game was originally slated for both PC and 360. I was really disappointed that this game got dropped for PC; RTS games are far superior with a keyboard/mouse combination... even if they are "built with the controller in mind." It's still going to be like night and day; and I suspect that a Venn Diagram of the intersection of Halo Players and RTS Lovers is very slim. That's probably what I would consider truly hardcore, actually...
antialias02
ComradeStalin86
Posted 6:16 AM 23/7/08
@TheLegendof_Erick: I concur. When I see Ensemble, I know there's quality afoot.
ComradeStalin86
Llost
Posted 6:16 AM 23/7/08
@usfslacker: Since FPS and RTS were generally the core experience delivered on the PC and 360 is a console very similar to the PC in it's game choices and fanbase I don't believe they'll be so shocked. 360 is generally a console for more hardcore gamers anyway so a little RTS gameplay is most likely not gonna slap a guy in the face.
Maybe cos mario isn't suited to RTS where Halo is?
Llost
FP_slomo788
Posted 6:15 AM 23/7/08
@Boboh: Wow.
FP_slomo788
TheLegendof_Erick
Posted 6:15 AM 23/7/08
Ensemble can do no wrong with me - the fact that they are attached to a Halo project gave me wet dreams for weeks - these screenshots may cause a relapse in that behavior
TheLegendof_Erick
DigitalHero
Posted 6:12 AM 23/7/08
Looks good. I bought a 360 over the weekend for Halo Wars and Gears of War 2. Yes, I feel dirty buying a 360. Don't worry, my PS3 isn't neglected. =P
DigitalHero
FP_slomo788
Posted 6:12 AM 23/7/08
@Delano_J: If you fuck up a Halo story, you deserve to DIE!
Looking good though, can't wait.
FP_slomo788
DorkimusPrime
Posted 6:10 AM 23/7/08
@usfslacker: Too many Marios, build more Mushrooms!
DorkimusPrime
DorkimusPrime
Posted 6:10 AM 23/7/08
@phantam: That's how I like my ladies!
DorkimusPrime
usfslacker
Posted 6:10 AM 23/7/08
Regardless of whether this game is good or not, this title will be one HELL of a clusterfuck. Halo fans and RTS fans have a VERY small intersect, and there is a 0.000004% chance that a random Halo fan picks up Halo Wars and is not violently angered by what loads up. RTS is by far the LEAST casual oriented genre in the history of mankind and Halo is a giant casual orgy. Why do you think we haven't gotten a Mario RTS yet? He's already BEEN in everything else.
usfslacker
Boboh
Posted 6:09 AM 23/7/08
RTS Halo on the RROD-Box...no thanks. I can't wait for Starcraft2, tho.
Boboh
Lot Krotan
Posted 6:06 AM 23/7/08
@Sammo21:
That didn't kick anyone in the nuts since your opinion holds no weight in most peoples minds. Who are you? Some blog commenter.
As a fan of Ensemble Studios and the Halo IP, I think this games is looking great. Everytime a new video comes out for this game, something new is shown off that impresses me a little. This looks to be one of the best new RTS' to come in years.
Lot Krotan
hahnchen
Posted 6:06 AM 23/7/08
While I trust that Ensemble will have done a sterling job given their past library, I'm not entirely sold on this.
The problem is, that with this, and every other screenshot of the game. Where's the cover? The whole thing looks flat, swathes of perfectly flat plains, with discrete elevated sections access through well marked corridors. The terrain looks nothing like the Halo games, I wish they had gone for a more naturalistic look, more Total War than C+C.
hahnchen
Elly
Posted 6:05 AM 23/7/08
Army Men RTS did a good job getting the controls right, so there was no doubt in my mind that a studio like Ensemble could pull this off. I hope this has a good (long) campaign mode though, cuz I'm not quite ready to give up AoE as my multiplayer favorite.
Elly
Sammo21
Posted 6:03 AM 23/7/08
@tslothrop:
Microsoft's policy is they will never allow mouse/keyboard support.
Also, this game looks like a generic SciFi RTS with a Halo skin downloaded for it. No offense to Halo junkies as I'm sure that kicked them in the nuts.
Sammo21
phantam
Posted 6:02 AM 23/7/08
@Atheist Jew: well from what they've said (ensemble) with this done since day 1 for the gamepad, it fits perfectly, this isnt a port this is a day 1 to rtm 360 title.
phantam
Leobebes
Posted 6:01 AM 23/7/08
@tslothrop: Its a console. It's meant to be played with a controller. If you love K&M support play on your PC.
I have my 360 in my living room. Where would I put my mouse and keyboard? On my coffee table? I guess I would have to put it on a computer desk, so then GET A COMPUTER!
Leobebes
phantam
Posted 6:01 AM 23/7/08
this is a major want for me, all the reviews have come down to one thing... fun and good looking, thats what i like to hear
phantam
Gray665
Posted 6:00 AM 23/7/08
@tslothrop: Well they built Halo Wars from the ground up to use the 360 gamepad so it should not need a mouse/keyboard.
Gray665
Lot Krotan
Posted 6:00 AM 23/7/08
@tslothrop:
there is no mouse support for the 360, and instead of making another useless accessory that is used with only a game or two (cough nintendo cough) they decided that it'd be better to create the game from the ground up to be played on a console. It worked for BFME2 and C&C3 to an extent, it sounds like they're doing a lot better on this one though.
Lot Krotan
Atheist Jew
Posted 6:00 AM 23/7/08
I understand why Microsoft is releasing this for the 360 what with the installed Halo fanbase, but why not release this game on the platform best suited to handle the genre? I expect at some point it will be, but by then I'll probably have ceased to give a damn.
Atheist Jew
enewtabie
Posted 5:58 AM 23/7/08
I admit I was really down on Halo wars and then I saw some it in action. It looks pretty good technically,the graphics aren't there,but it's early and I'm kinda looking forward to playing it.
enewtabie
Aflack: Likes slushies
Posted 5:58 AM 23/7/08
Not a RTS fan, I'd prefer another FPS Halo but I can see why that would get old. We can't have another Halo FPS every year.
Aflack: Likes slushies
Topchickenz
Posted 5:57 AM 23/7/08
@tslothrop: it allows keyboard for the most part, cause i play with it on FFxi
Topchickenz
tslothrop
Posted 5:56 AM 23/7/08
Does the 360 not allow for keyboard/mouse support?
Seems like they'd want to integrate that feature if they're making a RTS game out of their premier IP.
tslothrop
z3ntn3l
Posted 5:54 AM 23/7/08
Hmmm...
z3ntn3l
Delano_J
Posted 5:54 AM 23/7/08
Sounds, good. Hopefully, the story doesn't drag on...
Delano_J
Topchickenz
Posted 5:53 AM 23/7/08
omg, sweets
Topchickenz
notoriousEIC
Posted 9:34 AM 23/7/08
@usfslacker:
Wow, now Halo fans are ignorant and have incredibly short attention spans. Never mind that there are enough Halo fans out there interested enough in the series to read the books and make them best sellers. Or that their attention span has lasted long enough to be interested in 3+ games (and countless hours of online play).
BTW - 95 percent of any brand's fanbase has never heard of Kotaku, and I've got about 25 games for my 360, not including the ones I've traded in. There are a lot of people out there who happen to like Halo and plenty of other games.
notoriousEIC
gaijira
Posted 9:31 AM 23/7/08
Inc Flood rush! Zeeeerrrrrgg!
gaijira
SenileProfessorOak
Posted 10:21 AM 23/7/08
@neoraul20: Some blog commenter, and presumably, a consumer. Therefor, since the consumers ultimately decide the success or failure of a product, I'd say his opinion is pretty important. =p
SenileProfessorOak
Paradox460
Posted 10:44 AM 23/7/08
@Sammo21: Oh really? Then how come any old USB keyboard works as an input device (Like my $15 logitech). Sure, most games dont support it, but it works for the keyboard. Ever wonder how some people got such long descriptions on their H3 Fileshares?
Paradox460
T-man
Posted 11:10 AM 23/7/08
Those who think consoles can't do RTSs have never played Herzog Zwei.
T-man
Spiffyness
Posted 10:59 AM 23/7/08
@usfslacker: Actually, you're completely wrong. RTS isn't nearly as "niche" or "hardcore" as you think. I'd say at least 50% of the "non-gamer" males I know play Starcraft. We're talking the socialites, the sports players, the "ignorant" Halo-and-Guitar-Hero-playing barely-gamers, they all play or have played Starcraft. They may not know what "RTS" means, but once they understand that Halo Wars is "like Starcraft" they'll eat it up.
@notoriousEIC: I totally agree. Just because Halo is popular people think that all its fans are total idiots and if you like it then you're an idiot and don't play REAL (read: PC) games. Can't a person love games like Shadow of the Colossus, Metal Gear Solid, Starcraft, Grim Fandango, Counter-Strike, Sins of a Solar Empire, Mario, Metroid, Zelda, Half-Life, etc..... and STILL think Halo 3's the best shooter on 360 (especially now that all the idiots migrated to CoD4)? Oh wait, that would make me ignorant with a short attention span. Sorry about that.
Spiffyness
Sammo21
Posted 10:53 AM 23/7/08
@Paradox460:
I was referring to the use of keyboards in games, like RTS. Otherwise it doesn't matter as I'm not going to plug the keyboard up to send text messages only. UT3 on Ps3 supports both the controller and Keyboard/mouse configurations, and I'm hoping that games like Sacred 2 will support keyboard and mouse as well.
I understand keyboards work on the 360, but not in terms of gaming or web browsing.
And no, I never cared about Halo3 file shares, lol.
Sammo21
usfslacker
Posted 12:29 PM 23/7/08
@Spiffyness: @Llost:
I feel as if its necessary to clarify, as it is quite obvious you two have missed the point so entirely that you most likely DO fit into the category I described, as you didn't read the post well enough to understand it. The public, at large, is a bunch of idiots. If you can argue with that, you must not have ever been to America and live in Geniusylvania. No game on this PLANET has sold 8 million units in a year and not sold to at least 5 million of these idiots. Not Halo, not Mario, especially not GTA.
I am not against any of the consoles as the xbox will get Tales of Vesperia and Star Ocean, PS3 will get LBP, and Wii will get all of Nintendo's stuff. Now, will I purposely avoid one of these machine's online services because its more packed with idiots than the larger WoW servers? Bet your ass I will; all multiplat online games I will always buy for the PS3. Well, at least until voice chat becomes omnipresent and the "general public" migrates over.
On topic though, I have personally educated a good 9-10 people that used the line "Man, I can't wait for Halo Wars" that the title was the exact opposite of what they were expecting only for them to react in disgust. You can defend your bland, personality and character-less Master Chief idols all you want while the rest of us go play CoD4.
usfslacker
notoriousEIC
Posted 1:35 PM 23/7/08
@usfslacker:
"On topic though, I have personally educated a good 9-10 people that used the line 'Man, I can't wait for Halo Wars' that the title was the exact opposite of what they were expecting only for them to react in disgust."
Were these 9-10 people friends of yours? If so, and you think they belong in the "idiot" group, maybe you need new friends. And 9-10 people isn't a large enough sampling to claim that millions of idiots play Halo.
And don't use Call of Duty games as an example of plot-rich, character-heavy games. None of the characters you play as are ever developed beyond giving them a name, and I've encountered just as many "idiots" playing CoD4 on-line as you seem to have encountered while playing Halo.
notoriousEIC
ldrn
Posted 1:22 PM 23/7/08
Finally, I'll be able to kick my friends and sibling's collected asses at a Halo game. I hope.
ldrn
belo
Posted 2:05 PM 23/7/08
i want a demo before i pass judgement
belo
TedStokes168
Posted 6:16 PM 23/7/08
@belo: I want to see it this decade before I pass judgement. Considering I downloaded the trailer for it back in 0ctober 06 it's not asking a lot ;-)
TedStokes168
Crawl to China
Posted 11:21 PM 23/7/08
@Treize: They can also fire a round clean through a Covenant cruiser. On the gameplay video it couldn't even finish off a Wraith. Lame.
Crawl to China
kyriannagyan
Posted 8:02 AM 23/7/08
Well at least the controls were proven to be good via UaW.
kyriannagyan
rivetmonkey
Posted 7:56 AM 23/7/08
hmm, so they basically copied the control scheme from Universe at War? Nothing new or innovative there, guess we'll have to see how it plays out.
rivetmonkey
rivetmonkey
Posted 7:53 AM 23/7/08
Hmm, looks to me like they simply stole the contol scheme from Universe at War. Nothing new or innovative... guess we'll have to see how it plays out.
rivetmonkey
Bcoolbyte
Posted 6:36 AM 23/7/08
@TheLegendof_Erick:
What about Relic?
------
I dunno, while this has potential to be "the" RTS game for the 360, after having watched a few of the videos it looks like the combat just boils down to each teams units charging up to each other, standing still and firing until one kills the other. I suppose you could accuse a lot of RTS's of this (at least Company of Heroes had a cover system to make battles a little more interesting).
Bcoolbyte
cihx
Posted 10:20 AM 23/7/08
@usfslacker:
yeah i agree. halo is for the mouth breathing and the frat boy fan base. i thought it was odd as well that they made a rts game.
i don't care for rts on console myself , but if anyone can do it right it's ensemble.
cihx
Providence
Posted 8:13 AM 24/7/08
@Providence:
As an addendum, for all of those who care about RTS:
Company of Heroes:Dead or Alive :: Starcraft:Virtua Fighter 4
Company of Heroes:Life :: Starcraft:Chess
Providence
Providence
Posted 8:08 AM 24/7/08
@Sammo21:
Woops, CoD --> CoH.
The only reason CoH got such high scores from reviewers is because it's got amazing presentation. Sorry, but strip away all the visual candy, and CoH is nothing but a dumbed down WH40k. Then again, Supreme Commander got great scores too, but that game died online within a month of its release.
And you can call me an idiot all you want, but the game speaks for itself. The online competitive scene is nonexistent. Competitive play is repetitive and boring--don't blame me for being the messenger... it's just true. Even a completely broken game like CNC3 has outlived CoH in terms of community support... and that's really saying a lot, because CNC3 is broken to all hell.
Then again, I wouldn't expect you to understand this. Casual gamers usually don't ;O
Providence
Strangelove
Posted 10:35 AM 24/7/08
@Providence:
You're completely wrong on all counts.
1) You're just talking out of your ass with this one. The controls are just as precise as every other RTS ever made, which is to say if you click on something, something happens.
2) The British play completely differently than any other faction. They can pick up and move any of their major bases to wherever they want and can build trenches which no other faction can. Depending on which doctrine you use, each faction can play completely differently even from itself.
3) Unit lethality? Have you seen what anti-tank guns do to tanks? Mobile artillery barrages? What a V1 rocket does to anything?
4) Diverse builds? It's set in WW2. You only have so much you can do with history. I know, they should have had hover tanks, just like Hitler's super secret Panzerfuzz division.
5) There's online rankings and you level up with each faction as you win. E-sports I couldn't give a shit about because I don't live in Korea.
Saying CoH, which won multiple game of the year awards and universal critical appeal (Metacritic score: 93 Universal Acclaim) is a bad RTS just because you're stuck on Starcraft is just ridiculous.
Strangelove
DestinyGuy
Posted 12:38 PM 23/7/08
Looks pretty cool! Haven't heard anything about this game for a long while, it's nice to get a reminder that it exists.
DestinyGuy
Darth_Xehanort
Posted 7:25 AM 23/7/08
Keep milking Halo, Microsoft. Keep milking it.
Darth_Xehanort