xbox 360
Sexy New Halo War Box Art, Screens
Posted by Brian Crecente at 3:20 AM on August 26, 2008
Bungie may be unveiling a new map for Halo 3 at Penny Arcade Expo later this week, but don't forget that's not the only Halo goodness coming our way.
Microsoft Games Studios recently unveiled this fancy new Halo Wars box art and three pretty enticing screens for their upcoming Halo-themed real-time strategy title.
Hit the jump for the screens.




Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
supafrench
Posted 4:17 AM 26/8/08
the very few people ** @
supafrench
sargemat
Posted 4:17 AM 26/8/08
I am really looking foward to Halo Wars. The new screens look great and its nice to see how far the game has come. The Box art looks really nice as well.
Should help to sell copys.
sargemat
supafrench
Posted 4:16 AM 26/8/08
@FrigidAir44: Do people realize that it's largely the goal and purpose of this game to prove to the industry, developers, and players that an RTS can work well on a console with a controller. (Although, that RTS will surely have less total depth than it could on PC.) But get off complaining about the controller; they very few people who have had a chance to experience the control scheme have had nothing but praise for it. Wait until you can do the same to judge.
supafrench
Gunhaver
Posted 4:15 AM 26/8/08
@LittleBigPlaneteer: and it could very well make a new RTS fan out of that guy. God knows the genre needs more than South Korea to hold it up...
Gunhaver
SolidEyeSystem
Posted 4:15 AM 26/8/08
Boxart looks nice.
SolidEyeSystem
Gunhaver
Posted 4:13 AM 26/8/08
Hyyynnnnhhhh.....
Gunhaver
FrigidAir44
Posted 4:13 AM 26/8/08
@Thwick: Haha... nice comeback sir.
FrigidAir44
FrigidAir44
Posted 4:12 AM 26/8/08
I like the box art. However... a RTS on a console using a controller? Seriously?
I'll wait till this is released on PC if the game is any good.
Also, trolls both ways (for it or against it): stop bickering. Its just a game.
FrigidAir44
KenogaBrave
Posted 4:08 AM 26/8/08
One night only!
This Sunday at the Covenant Fair Grounds, it's "The Halo Three"!
Performing such classics as; "Flood is Thicker Than Water","I Ain't No Prophet","Graveminds Think Alike", and many more!
KenogaBrave
spacecoffin2
Posted 4:08 AM 26/8/08
@TOWER_JUNKIE: Yeah and they will say no plans for a PC port till the day before they drop the " Halo Wars RTS coming to PC with more features " press release.
spacecoffin2
dae_giovanni
Posted 4:04 AM 26/8/08
@theTOMSTA666: *raises hand*
dae_giovanni
OrionnoirO
Posted 3:58 AM 26/8/08
@Thwick:
If one were to read about the story, it is timed before the first Halo game, when the spartan army and covenant army first start going at it. So, obviously there is more than just "Master Chief", there is an army of spartans still... I personally cant wait for this game, I like RTS games and love Halo, so this is a sure bet for people like me.
OrionnoirO
theTOMSTA666
Posted 3:57 AM 26/8/08
Meh... Who's with me?
theTOMSTA666
kilikafinal
Posted 3:56 AM 26/8/08
@Ad-hominem: i would say. think chess. but without turns
kilikafinal
GwennBlackfeather
Posted 3:56 AM 26/8/08
Still on the fence about this, but it looks excellent. And I've needed a good RTS.
GwennBlackfeather
TOWER_JUNKIE
Posted 3:56 AM 26/8/08
@Anaralia: Ensemble has confirmed that they have no plans to make a PC port.
TOWER_JUNKIE
Thwick
Posted 3:55 AM 26/8/08
@supafrench: Except I own all the halo games and frequent this site. It was joke you nub.
Thwick
I_Hate_This_Place
Posted 3:54 AM 26/8/08
@Ad-hominem: You explain it as a game where you build massive armies full of various tanks and hi-tech weaponry that you control on the battlefield. You iterate that YOU control the entire army on the battlefeld in attemtps to totally annihalate your opponent. You also explain how all of this unfolds in front of your eyes in real-time.
Using RISK as an example would just bring a mental image of a blank map with some plastic figurines you push around that never truly fight each other. I think people would be more interested in RTS if they realized everything that you can do. Yes, the games are mainly strategy games, but there are extremely fun moments in the destruction part of these strategy games compared to something like RISK, imo.
I_Hate_This_Place
supafrench
Posted 3:53 AM 26/8/08
@Thwick: You're the uninformed Halo fan so many people are talking about.
supafrench
Thwick
Posted 3:51 AM 26/8/08
How can they make a Halo RTS? It would be one master chief on the side of the marines and the entire convenant/flood on the other side. not much of an rts.
Thwick
Anaralia
Posted 3:50 AM 26/8/08
Wake me up when they announce the inevitable PC port. Trying to play RTS games on a console is like trying to wash your clothes using a turd.
Unless that turd happens to be called Command and Conquer 3.
Anaralia
spacecoffin2
Posted 3:48 AM 26/8/08
@Ad-hominem: Google.
spacecoffin2
Darascon
Posted 3:47 AM 26/8/08
Be nice to see the "zerg rush" done with the flood... if and when they're announced.
Wonder if those same stereotyped halo players with their pre-pubescent verbal diarhea will migrate over to this, or if HW would be a game I actually turn my headset volume up for.
Darascon
excaliburps
Posted 3:47 AM 26/8/08
@Mit: Well they are trying to emphasize that it is a Halo game. Yeah I know it's already named Halo...Or maybe they're just lazy? I dunno.
@Ad-hominem: Kotaku should hold a poll or post something concerning this when the game gets released no?! I imagine a lot of Halo Wars will be at second hand stores by people's "blind-buying".
The graphics are nice from the previews I've seen. Not sure about the controls. Though they've been emphasizing that all units are easily controlled by one button,etc.
excaliburps
CarbonFalcon
Posted 3:46 AM 26/8/08
@david78: @Fluffy22:
Trolls are very apparent. Please, if you feel the need to criticize, at least give your rationale for why you don't like it. Oh wait! Trolls aren't rational.
CarbonFalcon
Ad-hominem
Posted 3:45 AM 26/8/08
@I_Hate_This_Place: How do you propose describing an RTS to somebody who has no experience with PC's, and only minimal connection with consoles?
Ad-hominem
ZetaCrossfire
Posted 3:45 AM 26/8/08
nice box art
ZetaCrossfire
spacecoffin2
Posted 3:44 AM 26/8/08
" Halo Wars invented teh RTS for console!!! Its bester then clunky uncool game like Warcrafting or Mooncrafts Te Heeee PC not a real game machine like the xbox360 Commands and conqures on 360 was suck cause tank rush and to many units...Halo Wars the only RTS worth playing!!! Its the first next-generation RTS!!! The 7.5 reviews just dont get the game, it a RTS not a FPS that the only reason not get 10 out of 10!!! For RTS it 10 out of 10 game!!! Bugs and glitchs just means the game will keep getting better with updates!!!!!! "
I...can't.....wait for the game to come out :/
spacecoffin2
I_Hate_This_Place
Posted 3:42 AM 26/8/08
@LittleBigPlaneteer: Only mom's who know nothing about video games wouldn't be able to tell this isn't an FPS. But I guess that was just an under-handed joke about Halo fans.
@sqoon: Don't you love gamer stereotypes. I like the Halo series, but don't think it's the greatest game on earth. I bet we play a lot of the same games, but because of your moronic pre-judging of someone who likes Halo we would never find out.
I_Hate_This_Place
zanzibarlegend
Posted 3:42 AM 26/8/08
RTS is a genre that is for the dedicated or hardcore. will be interesting to see if the game will fly off shelves.
zanzibarlegend
supafrench
Posted 3:41 AM 26/8/08
Good box art and more gorgeous screens.. it's too bad this game is so far off. We'll see at least 10 huge games this fall, and surely several next spring, maybe even God of War III, before Halo Wars. ._.
supafrench
TradePro
Posted 3:40 AM 26/8/08
It looks like a nice simplified RTS for consoles, the halo moniker might help the genre take off.
TradePro
I_Hate_This_Place
Posted 3:39 AM 26/8/08
@Ad-hominem: That's a horrible way to describe an RTS. No wonder you got that response.
I personally cannot wait for this game. I love RTS's, and I like Halo lore. I can't wait to spam scorpion tanks onto some grunts.
I_Hate_This_Place
salthegeek
Posted 3:39 AM 26/8/08
@Aye Mak Sicur:
you wont believe how many times i had that conversation
salthegeek
Aye Mak Sicur
Posted 3:37 AM 26/8/08
I LOVE HALO
I HATE HALO
I HATE YOU
SHUT UP
^^^
That's every single discussion of Halo ever.
Aye Mak Sicur
salthegeek
Posted 3:37 AM 26/8/08
@LittleBigPlaneteer:
i can already see all the angry threads on halo forums now ....
salthegeek
DugDawg
Posted 3:37 AM 26/8/08
I like the box art, and I'm looking forward to Halo wars in general. So far, it appears to be faithful to the series and the graphics are pretty impressive for a RTS game.
DugDawg
Fluffy22
Posted 3:34 AM 26/8/08
All halo box art is rubbish, this one included.
Fluffy22
fenderfuel08
Posted 3:33 AM 26/8/08
The box art looks nice. Also, the game looks really cool too.
fenderfuel08
sqoon
Posted 3:32 AM 26/8/08
@LittleBigPlaneteer: same. speaks volumes about the fans.
sqoon
david78
Posted 3:32 AM 26/8/08
awful box art. Mind you, so do all Halo games.
david78
jonathan.
Posted 3:31 AM 26/8/08
@LittleBigPlaneteer: Yeah, there will be plenty of "shocked" blind purchases. I expect to see tons of these ready to be sold used at Gamestop within the first week.
Then again, I wonder how many people will blindly buy this and end up liking it.
jonathan.
elsteveo
Posted 3:30 AM 26/8/08
I hope they release a demo for this. i have liked there work in the past. really would like to try this before i make a buying decision
elsteveo
rob61920
Posted 3:30 AM 26/8/08
damn i need to get my xbox fixed or buy the rumored one with the motion controller
rob61920
LittleBigPlaneteer
Posted 3:30 AM 26/8/08
@Ad-hominem:
Exactly!
LittleBigPlaneteer
TOWER_JUNKIE
Posted 3:30 AM 26/8/08
Not crazy about the box art, but the screens look gorgeous.
TOWER_JUNKIE
LittleBigPlaneteer
Posted 3:29 AM 26/8/08
I wonder how many people are going to buy this thinking it's a new Halo FPS. Many people don't follow news like we do, and even with the screenshots on the back, I'm sure some will "blindly" buy it thinking it is a new FPS.
LittleBigPlaneteer
Ad-hominem
Posted 3:28 AM 26/8/08
It really looks interesting, but I remember the discussions I've had with some non-hardcore gamers about it after I brought a GameInformer to school.
Them: "Wow. Is that Halo? It looks cool."
Me: "Yeah, it is. But, it's not going to be like normal Halo's. It's a Strategy game. I guess the easiest way to describe it to people who haven't played it is "Playing Risk without taking turns."
Them: "Oh. That doesn't sound that fun. Where's the shooting?"
And that happened every time.
Ad-hominem
Aprotosis
Posted 3:27 AM 26/8/08
@Mit:
And if they did change the font / logo then you would have even more people complaining about that. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I believe they took the high ground on this one.
Aprotosis
Archaotic
Posted 3:27 AM 26/8/08
@TRT-X:
This is what happens when your main character has literally no distinguishing characteristics whatsoever from any others in his profession.
Archaotic
DigitalHero
Posted 3:27 AM 26/8/08
Sweet, I've been waiting for this. Nice cover that should at least give the fps Halo fans a look.
DigitalHero
TRT-X
Posted 3:26 AM 26/8/08
Ensemble: "Hey guys. Look! It's TOTALLY Master Chief on the cover. THREE Master Chiefs even!"
TRT-X
bakalhau
Posted 3:25 AM 26/8/08
Amazing screens. It's like if Bungie had done all the graphics for this game. Every artistic detail is as good as in Halo, good job Ensemble. Knowing your past record I know the gameplay will also be great. Looking forward to this one.
bakalhau
Mit
Posted 3:25 AM 26/8/08
That's all they could do for the logo? Use the same font and add Wars to it? Come on now.
Mit
tok1879
Posted 3:25 AM 26/8/08
love halo, not a fan of RTS's, so...meh...
tok1879
jonathan.
Posted 3:23 AM 26/8/08
Hm. That box art is really, really nice. I love it.
I'm still not sure if I'm going to pick this game up, though. The graphics are beautiful, too.
jonathan.
givetozim!
Posted 3:22 AM 26/8/08
Looks cool, love the huge battles
givetozim!
Foxstar Sixtail
Posted 4:42 AM 26/8/08
I'm so waiting for this. One more nail in the stupid "RTS's can only be properly done on the PC." debate and there's no way this is shipping half done, or their will be public floggings at MGS's.
@FrigidAir44:RTS's have been playable with a controller for some time. It's not unheard of, you just can't get up to "Korean Starcraft Player" speed without a mouse and controller. But they work just fine with hotkeys and waypoints.
Foxstar Sixtail
emeraldgsl
Posted 4:41 AM 26/8/08
@david78:
except number 2
emeraldgsl
symphony_of_the_night
Posted 4:37 AM 26/8/08
That´s the real box art? O_O
they need to hire a new graphic designer, the logo is a joke ...
i hate halo but i love rts so i will give this game a chance when it comes to pc ( with a new cover please )
symphony_of_the_night
Mit
Posted 4:26 AM 26/8/08
@Aprotosis: Well, I guess the font isn't as big a deal, but they did nothing to try and unite the two words to make a new logo. Like a metal background behind them, or, something. It looks like something a fan would mock up right now.
Mit
neoyaku
Posted 4:26 AM 26/8/08
what's sexy about the art box?... nothing particularly stunning about it.
neoyaku
KaneRobot
Posted 4:24 AM 26/8/08
I'm going to try to force myself to like this. I generally don't like RTS games, but I do like the Halo storyline. Hopefully there is a demo.
KaneRobot
TRT-X
Posted 4:24 AM 26/8/08
@jonathan.: Though I know many who play Halo and can enjoy more "strategery" in their games...the majority of Halo players I know absolutely HATE these types of games. Or will pretend to enjoy them but get incredibly frustrated because they "don't get it".
TRT-X
HaydenTenno
Posted 4:19 AM 26/8/08
Very nice. I'm more excited for this than I was for Halo 3.
HaydenTenno
enewtabie(wants a job at Insomniac Games in NC)
Posted 4:59 AM 26/8/08
I'm going to play Halo Wars,but I really don't like the boxart.Maybe just the logo with a planet behind it.I don't think Spartans on the covers gives the best idea(even though you use Spartans in the game)
enewtabie(wants a job at Insomniac Games in NC)
zanzibarlegend
Posted 4:57 AM 26/8/08
@spacecoffin2:
i have seen disemvoweling..... but damn homie, what you wrote in that post was just straight up disorienting. mission accomplished i guess.
:)
zanzibarlegend
Sandvich
Posted 4:57 AM 26/8/08
@Foxstar Sixtail: I can't keep up with "Korean Starcraft Player" with 6 keyboards, 8 mice (mouses?) and a roomful of clones of myself. Those guys are amazing.
Sandvich
icarusprime
Posted 4:52 AM 26/8/08
@tok1879:
LOVE HALO, not a fan of RTS style games, so... yeah .... I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS GAME! LOL!
will this be the game that turns me into an RTS fan, doubtfully. will i put up with the fact that it is an RTS so I get another entry onto the Halo-verse? Yes! Just really hope its not completely unplayable to me and I dont get frustrated or feel like its a chore.
icarusprime
NewSpecies
Posted 4:46 AM 26/8/08
Halo for some reason has always reminded me of a less cartoony version of "Army Men" mixed in with some sci-fi. Does anyone else feel like the units they show here look a little too much like plastic toys?
NewSpecies
dowingba
Posted 5:28 AM 26/8/08
I can't wait for tons of frat-boy type halo fans to migrate over to this. So I can own them online.
dowingba
cap-n-crunch
Posted 5:27 AM 26/8/08
@LittleBigPlaneteer: Alot of my friends at work are talking about this game. They dont even understand what a RTS is. All they see is Halo in the title. Boy are they in for a shock.
Way to waterdown the franchise and at the same time confuse and alienate your fanbase Microsoft.
cap-n-crunch
Tr4iLbLaz3r
Posted 5:10 AM 26/8/08
Looking forward to this game.
Tr4iLbLaz3r
phantam
Posted 5:09 AM 26/8/08
all i can say is DAMN THIS GAME LOOKS GOOD< if they make the explosives look good and the framerate rock solid im sold hands down.
phantam
flukielukie
Posted 5:08 AM 26/8/08
Screens look really impressive, wasn't a demo suppost to come out like a few months ago -.-
Oh well I like the box art except the font on the wars.. it looks I don't know out of place.
Should play as fantastic as CnC3.. maybe even better. Console RTS controls finally work.
flukielukie
Quicksilver4648
Posted 5:55 AM 26/8/08
@Archaotic: But that is part of the charm of the Master Chief. Bungie decided not to ever reveal his face because in an artsy way we are all Master Chief while playing the game. I know that sounded pretty bad, but its true. In Gears of War you play as Marcus but in Halo you ARE the Master Chief. And to the concern of why he looks like the other Spartans, it well, because he is an average Spartan. We just follow his story.
Quicksilver4648
anNIALLator
Posted 5:46 AM 26/8/08
I can't imagine that the UNSC will be as fun to play as the covenant.
anNIALLator
dowingba
Posted 5:42 AM 26/8/08
@XbhaskarX: I was hoping for a "when you walk in tiberium you turn into a flood" type of thing, personally.
dowingba
XbhaskarX
Posted 5:36 AM 26/8/08
Looks great. All they have to do now is unveil The Flood as the third playable race.
XbhaskarX
sokhead
Posted 4:56 AM 26/8/08
ima HUGEhalo fan but not an RTS fan, looks cool tho.
ill hav to check out the demo when it comes out
sokhead
NYKnicker
Posted 3:41 AM 26/8/08
I really like the box art and Halo Wars is looking better every time I see it.
NYKnicker
tek_nic
Posted 6:08 AM 26/8/08
Does anyone else see a resemblence here? I saw the screens, and thought: OMG! The protoss are battling with master chief!
tek_nic
Shockadin
Posted 6:31 AM 26/8/08
Sold.
Shockadin
maraxusofk
Posted 7:12 AM 26/8/08
oh snap the original spartans! i hope this game follows the storyline of the novels and not the games, cuz the games dont allude to the other spartans as surviving.
yeah this game does look sorta like starcraft (covenant - protoss, humans - terrain, flood - zerglings) but if this game is good, thats all that will matter.
maraxusofk
kylo4
Posted 7:34 AM 26/8/08
@TRT-X: It reminds me of the Terminator, how they're all like Arnie. Master Chief is a soldier/spartan, that is the suit they wear. The entire army would then wear one like that. Not much of a stretch.
kylo4
aulzon
Posted 7:47 AM 26/8/08
For some reason this cover reminds me of the Mass Effect cover. HOpe this game is good.
aulzon
zaagis
Posted 8:14 AM 26/8/08
Please microsoft bring this to the PC.
zaagis
rbpnmn
Posted 9:09 AM 26/8/08
Isn't Master Chief like the last surviving Spartan or something like that?
rbpnmn
JenovasWitness
Posted 9:05 AM 26/8/08
@TRT-X:
I'm not too knowledgeable on the Halo story, but those are Spartans. There is only one Master Chief.
JenovasWitness
el_rezzo
Posted 10:17 AM 26/8/08
@LittleBigPlaneteer: I'm certainly glad I don't work at a games store, will be plenty of grief with angry returns. Should be a good game though, very graphically impressive.
el_rezzo
belo
Posted 10:08 AM 26/8/08
@rbpnmn: supposedly, yes.
Halo Wars is a prequel to Halo.
belo
belo
Posted 10:07 AM 26/8/08
game looks ALOT better than the stuff they showed at e3
belo
Jonn
Posted 11:39 AM 26/8/08
@Fluffy22: I'm sorry, you just insulted the Halo 3 box art. Pistols at dawn, sir.
Jonn
Zrorro
Posted 11:49 AM 26/8/08
man I can't wait, I already have the game paid for at my local gamestop since earlier this year.
Zrorro
Ice-9
Posted 2:02 PM 26/8/08
uhh a RTS for FPS twitchy console tards?
I dont think so
Will sell for being Halo branded
some ppl are going to be pissed
Ice-9
Grandreaper999
Posted 4:17 PM 26/8/08
Makes me thing alot of the Gears of war box art... Dunno.. Just kinda-- *tilts head and squints" --Does..
Grandreaper999
CTU_Kyoto
Posted 6:43 PM 26/8/08
This game has Metal Gear AC!D written all over it -- unsuspecting buyers who don't look past the franchise branding returning the game in droves when they realise it's teh slow.
Mind you, I loved MGA and MGA2, and was pleased that both games were so abundant in the pre-owned section that they were available relatively cheaply, so maybe more informed gamers could benefit from waiting a few weeks to buy Halo Wars.
CTU_Kyoto
newave
Posted 2:26 AM 27/8/08
will the real master chief please stand up, please stand up.
newave
NESSter
Posted 11:26 AM 26/8/08
@Aye Mak Sicur:
I DO IN FACT ADORE HALO, SO SHUT UP!!11
NESSter
Moar_pr0nz
Posted 4:29 AM 26/8/08
The grahpics are simply awesome, probably the best RTS graphics IMO. I really liked how they streamlined the game to make it run quickly on a console, without sacrificing any of the realy strategy in the game. From wat I've seen, the game plays and looks Halo, and I'll probably end up buying this game. It looks too fun to resist.
Moar_pr0nz