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Halo Wars: Difference between revisions
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==Development== | ==Development== | ||
===Design=== | ===Design=== | ||
Prior to developing ''Halo Wars'', Ensemble Studios experimented with console control schemes using a modified ''Age of Mythology'' engine for a different project.<ref name="different">[http://worthplaying.com/article/2009/2/22/interviews/59199/ '''Worthplaying''': ''"Halo Wars" (X360) Developer Interview Part 1'']</ref> This was essential at the time, as real-time strategy games were unable to provide control schemes that would deliver a good gameplay experience on a console. The studio eventually concluded the experimentation with the concept of a [[circle menu|centralized user interface]] system and settled for micromanagement and base-building and restricted resource gathering and management to bases. About a year later, these concepts were presented to Microsoft, who strongly insisted that the game be rebranded as a ''Halo'' title instead;<ref name="gamasutra">[http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20835#.UGSN3VG-XlM '''Gamasutra''': ''Q&A: How Ensemble Gets Halo Fans To Appreciate Halo Wars'']</ref> Microsoft doubted that a console RTS game could achieve adequate sales otherwise.<ref name="gameindustry">[http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-09-27-halo-wars-bungie-saw-it-as-whoring-out-franchise-says-ensemble-founder '''GameIndustry''': ''Halo Wars: Bungie saw it as "whoring out franchise" says Ensemble founder'']</ref> | Prior to developing ''Halo Wars'', Ensemble Studios experimented with console control schemes using a modified ''Age of Mythology'' engine for a different project.<ref name="different">[http://worthplaying.com/article/2009/2/22/interviews/59199/ '''Worthplaying''': ''"Halo Wars" (X360) Developer Interview Part 1'']</ref> This was essential at the time, as real-time strategy games were unable to provide control schemes that would deliver a good gameplay experience on a console. The studio eventually concluded the experimentation with the concept of a [[circle menu|centralized user interface]] system and settled for micromanagement and base-building and restricted resource gathering and management to bases. About a year later, these concepts were presented to Microsoft, who strongly insisted that the game be rebranded as a ''Halo'' title instead;<ref name="gamasutra">[http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20835#.UGSN3VG-XlM '''Gamasutra''': ''Q&A: How Ensemble Gets Halo Fans To Appreciate Halo Wars'']</ref> Microsoft doubted that a console RTS game could achieve adequate sales otherwise. [[Bungie]] didn't have the manpower to take on the game, and resented the use of the ''Halo'' IP in a different genre, going so far as to calling it a "whoring" of the franchise.<ref name="gameindustry">[http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-09-27-halo-wars-bungie-saw-it-as-whoring-out-franchise-says-ensemble-founder '''GameIndustry''': ''Halo Wars: Bungie saw it as "whoring out franchise" says Ensemble founder'']</ref> | ||
Using references material previously planned for the [[Halo (film)|Halo film adaptation]], Ensemble had to recreate the game's assets from scratch. The studio focused on ensuring that the individual units are recognizable as being part of the Halo universe from a bird's eye view (a common element in real-time strategy): ''"[UNSC forces] need to fire lead, and [Covenant forces] need to fire plasma"''.<ref name="gamasutra"/> Renovating the game to take place in the ''Halo'' universe required a great deal of effort, despite Microsoft's misconception that the original assets could be simply ''"paint[ed] over with Halo stuff."''<ref name="gameindustry"/> | Using references material previously planned for the [[Halo (film)|Halo film adaptation]], Ensemble had to recreate the game's assets from scratch. The studio focused on ensuring that the individual units are recognizable as being part of the Halo universe from a bird's eye view (a common element in real-time strategy): ''"[UNSC forces] need to fire lead, and [Covenant forces] need to fire plasma"''.<ref name="gamasutra"/> Renovating the game to take place in the ''Halo'' universe required a great deal of effort, despite Microsoft's misconception that the original assets could be simply ''"paint[ed] over with Halo stuff."''<ref name="gameindustry"/> | ||