Halo Wars

Image: The spirit of Fire

Halo Wars is an upcoming real-time strategy video game set in the Halo universe, developed by Ensemble Studios for the Xbox 360 game console. It is the last project to be developed by Ensemble Studios.

Gameplay

Units are built, buildings upgraded, and special abilities utilized by using resources that are simply known as supplies. Supplies may be found on the battlefield and claimed, but the bulk of supplies are generated by building special structures at bases. The more supply pads (for the UNSC) or warehouses (for the Covenant) a player has, the more income. Some buildings and upgrades may also require additional tech. When playing the UNSC, tech is acquired by building Reactors. Each reactor gives 1 tech level, however reactors can be upgraded to provide 2 tech levels. The Covenant gain tech by advancing ages using the structures called Temples. Ages are advanced just like any other technology with the use of supplies.
Each base has only a limited amount of building space, so players must balance their resource buildings with other facilities, like those used to create vehicles. The number of units and vehicles a player can bring to the field is constrained by a population limit; more powerful units cost more than one population unit. Upgrades can increase the maximum population.
Combat in Halo Wars is balanced by a "rock-paper-scissors" mechanic common in many real-time strategy titles. Ground vehicles are powerful against infantry, infantry is stronger against aircraft, and aircraft are exceptional at destroying vehicles. Each unit has a special ability accessed by using the Y button; for example, human Marines throw grenades while vehicles called Warthogs run over enemies. Each faction can also bring in special hero units, which impact what abilities and units players can access. The humans also have access to their ship, the Spirit of Fire, and its special abilites; these include a powerful coilgun, the Magnetic Accelerator Cannon or simply the MAC. The Covenant have more powerful units led by Leaders who command units on the battlefield and have special abilities of their own they can use to turn the tide of battle.
Built from the ground-up specifically for console, Halo Wars uses the Xbox 360 controller's A-button primarily for selecting units and the X-button for moving to or attacking a target. Selecting a unit gives the player the option of commands and selecting certain buildings brings up a "circle menu", the most important menu in the game, which is used for creating units and buildings and researching upgrades.

Setting

Halo Wars is set in the 26th century in the year 2531, about 20 years before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved.

Development

Halo Wars was first announced at X06. Announced during Microsoft's X06 media briefing on September 27, 2006, details of the game first appeared on 1UP.com.
A small demonstration of Halo Wars was revealed to gaming media at E3 2007 on July 10, 2007 and a demo video narrated by Halo Wars' Lead Designer was released on the Xbox Live Marketplace on August 27, 2007.Because previous console real time strategy games have been criticized for their control schemes, Ensemble developed the controls six months before approaching Microsoft. An update on January 30, 2007 stated that the developers were considering using motion capture. Photos of the test posted on the website show mocap being used, however it was not confirmed whether it would be included in the final release of the game. Weekly playtests are held within Ensemble to provide both the art and design teams with feedback on developments. Microsoft employees were spotted on Xbox Live playing the "Halo Wars Alpha" in April 2008 sparking speculation and jealousy among the gaming community. Ensemble later confirmed that the Alpha version was a tutorial and multiplayer version with limited features. Ensemble employees frequently played against others seeking aspects of the game to improve. In the October 2007 issue of Official Xbox Magazine, it was mentioned that there will be a playable demo of the game before it is released.
Bungie Studios has had little involvement in the making of Halo Wars. Since the splitting of Microsoft and Bungie Studios, Bungie will only be helping Ensemble Studios, the main developers of the game, and Microsoft in areas including the environment and the general "feel" of the Halo universe.

The Elites as depicted in the X06 Halo Wars trailer, with Banshees flying in formation overhead.
The game was announced at X06 with a pre-rendered trailer. The trailer was created by Blur Studio and shows a group of Warthog vehicles searching for a missing unit of soldiers. The recon patrol is killed by camouflaged Elites who de-cloak and advance into battle supported by Banshees. The battle has various human and Covenant vehicles and foot soldiers and ends displaying Spartan Group Omega wearing their MJOLNIR armor.
A video of gameplay footage narrated by Graeme Devine, the lead designer was shown at E3 2007 and later made available online. Controls and other gameplay features such as vehicles, user interface and special weapons were highlighted, along with new creations. The footage also showed off a UNSC base consisting of an airbase, vehicle depot, missile silo and several other buildings that can be created while playing Halo Wars.
On September 10th, 2008 it was announced that Ensemble studios would close after the completion of Halo Wars. A new studio formed by Ensemble employees will not only continue to support Microsoft Game Studios, but will also provide post launch support for Halo Wars.
Devine described the main challenge of the game being to get real-time strategy players to play a Halo game, and Halo fans to play an RTS.
Early in development, Ensemble considered making the Flood a playable race, but this idea never made it past the concept stage. According to Devine the main issue was that in order to balance the Flood with the UNSC and Covenant, the Flood would have to have been similar to StarCraft's Zerg, which did not mesh with the Flood's role in the games, to be "the single scariest thing in the galaxy."
The playable demo for Halo Wars is now available to the public, which became available for download on February 5. Also, redemption codes were handed out for early access to the demo starting January 29.

The ship

Exitus Acta Probat

CFV-88

Constructed: 2473

Class: Phoenix

Captain: Cutter

A.I.: On board - "Serina"

The Spirit of Fire was originally a colony ship, transporting equipment and colonists in the UNSC's expansion efforts. In 2520 the ship was refit with a Magnetic Accelerator Cannon and other armaments to serve as a warship. Huge storage bays that used to house machine parts now carry everything from Warthogs and Scorpion Tanks to construction supplies for fire bases in hot spots in front line engagements or in rearguard actions.
The campaign in Halo Wars follows the Spirit of Fire and her crew as the UNSC deals with the first deadly encounters with the Covenant.