So Master Chief and Darth Vader walk into a bar – stop me if you’ve heard this one before…
As several rounds of bourbon begin setting in, a noise erupts from the back as a drunken advertising executive starts belting out a broken rendition of “Rhinestone Cowboy.” Both characters simultaneously mutter a seething hatred for amateur karaoke under their breaths, and that shared moment forms a bond that quickly leads to a long conversation. They both represent franchises that have aided expansion by telling numerous stories of varying size from differing points in time. The use of various mediums to accomplish this has fed continual possibilities in expanding their respective mythologies.
But Master Chief wants to expand on the game-play of the series, and reveals that he has an idea about an RTS styled game that could tell a larger story. The difference in game-play landscape presents the opportunity for larger conflicts from the Halo universe, which could be explored in ways not accessible to a first-person perspective. Lord Vader listens with a sympathetic ear, but has a cautionary tale or two to share about his own experiences with that experiment. He stresses the lessons learned regarding the challenge of delivering an immense field of action while still maintaining a controlled game-play environment. The primary focus, he concludes, must be about the player at all times feeling like a participant in large scale conflicts, but never feeling lost in on-screen chaos.
And so, from this chance meeting, Ensemble Studios was tasked with a difficult assignment. They had to not only create an RTS that validated the use of the Halo license, but also tackle two visible stumbling blocks from the outset – the creation of a tight console control system, and the ability to deliver the sensation of large scale action that fits within the confines of the space available. And though the release of Halo Wars also marks the dissolution of Ensemble Studios, the accomplishment of the game proves to be a testament to the skill and artistry indicative of that team.
http://www.torontothumbs.com/2009/03/09/review-halo-wars/
As several rounds of bourbon begin setting in, a noise erupts from the back as a drunken advertising executive starts belting out a broken rendition of “Rhinestone Cowboy.” Both characters simultaneously mutter a seething hatred for amateur karaoke under their breaths, and that shared moment forms a bond that quickly leads to a long conversation. They both represent franchises that have aided expansion by telling numerous stories of varying size from differing points in time. The use of various mediums to accomplish this has fed continual possibilities in expanding their respective mythologies.
But Master Chief wants to expand on the game-play of the series, and reveals that he has an idea about an RTS styled game that could tell a larger story. The difference in game-play landscape presents the opportunity for larger conflicts from the Halo universe, which could be explored in ways not accessible to a first-person perspective. Lord Vader listens with a sympathetic ear, but has a cautionary tale or two to share about his own experiences with that experiment. He stresses the lessons learned regarding the challenge of delivering an immense field of action while still maintaining a controlled game-play environment. The primary focus, he concludes, must be about the player at all times feeling like a participant in large scale conflicts, but never feeling lost in on-screen chaos.
And so, from this chance meeting, Ensemble Studios was tasked with a difficult assignment. They had to not only create an RTS that validated the use of the Halo license, but also tackle two visible stumbling blocks from the outset – the creation of a tight console control system, and the ability to deliver the sensation of large scale action that fits within the confines of the space available. And though the release of Halo Wars also marks the dissolution of Ensemble Studios, the accomplishment of the game proves to be a testament to the skill and artistry indicative of that team.
http://www.torontothumbs.com/2009/03/09/review-halo-wars/