Care for some Halo Wars concept art?
Kotaku have bags of unseen Halo Wars concept art right here: http://www.kotaku.com.au/games/2009/03/ensemble_says_goodbye_with_halo_wars_concept_art-2.html
It will probably be the last concept art you’ll see from Ensemble Studios. Interested folks might want to check out other concept art for unreleased Ensemble games here:
http://remember-ensemblestudios.com/?p=229
Some of these concept arts are wallpaper worthy!
Official Xbox Magazine talks to Dave Pottinger about Halo Wars and Robot Entertainment
Official Xbox Magazine (OXM) has interviewed Dave Pottinger who was the lead designer at Ensemble Studios and who has now joined the Robot Entertainment entity of ex-Ensemble employees as lead designer.
You can listen to the podcast here: http://www.oxmpodcast.com/?p=184 Dave is on at 40:00 onwards. Discussing things like the fatality system and Y-abilities that didnt make it to the final Halo Wars build and why there was no Covenant campaign.
IGN talks to Stephen Rippy
In an informative interview you can find out information on how Halo Wars was recorded and more thoughts from Stephen about the soundtrack:
Link: http://uk.music.ign.com/articles/960/960175p1.html
Ensemble says its final goodbye. Halo Wars credits
Special thanks go to Joystiq who today posted the video of the heart-felt credits to Halo Wars. For those who haven’t yet seen the Halo Wars credits it contains the final goodbye from Ensemble Studios thanking fans for the support over the last 12 years. The credits also contain shout outs from everyone who worked on the game (thats everyone in the studio.) Many shout outs honour their family but also thank Ensemble and Tony Goodman for creating a great place to work.
It is clear from these messages that there was genuine love for working at the Studio and demonstrates the number of real people affected by Microsoft’s sad decision to close the studio.
You can watch the credits here:
Halo Wars Universe expanded part 2 now online
This time focusing on the Halo Wars characters and the role they play in the Halo Wars expierence. Check it out here on Xbox.com:
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/viewer.aspx?productId=1898&assetTypeId=2&shotId=10
Halo Wars is number 1 in Xbox 360 chart!
Halo Wars is number 1 in the Xbox 360 charts as tracked by ELSPA. The full Xbox 360 charts can be found below – congrats to Ensemble!
1. (-) Halo Wars (Microsoft)
2. (1) Street Fighter IV (Capcom)
3. (3) Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection (Sega)
4. (-) Silent Hill: Homecoming (Konami)
5. (4) Call Of Duty: World At War (Activision Blizzard)
6. (6) Grand Theft Auto IV (Take 2)
7. (2) Race Pro (Atari)
8. (7) FIFA 09 (Electronic Arts)
9. (14) Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision Blizzard)
10. (9) 50 Cent: Blood On The Sand (THQ)
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C) 2008 ELSPA Ltd
Bonfire Developers blog goes live
It looks like Bonfire Studios will be continuing the Ensemble tradition of having developers blogs on the studios website. You can catch the first blogs here: http://www.bonfire-studios.com/blog/ which are regarding Halo Wars controls.
Stay tuned for more blog updates! Its great to see that post-Ensemble studios are continuing to provide fans with blogs and I hope they continue.
Halo Wars Universe expanded – video 1
The first Halo Wars Universe expanded video is no online at halowars.com it discusses the storyline of Halo Wars and how it relates to some of the novels and the Halo FPS games.
Check it out here: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/viewer.aspx?productId=1898&assetTypeId=2&shotId=9
Halo Wars is out tomorrow (UK)
Tomorrow Halo Wars will be released across Europe and Ensemble’s last game will be revealed to the masses. Its going to be a great ride playing Halo Wars campaigns, skirmishes and of course LIVE matchmaking. Remember Ensemble wishes you good luck and to have fun. This is the last game from Ensemble and it is dedicated to the fans which have supported them for over 12 years. Be sure to watch the credits for a reminder of the great team which worked on this game for four long years.
Hats off to them.
My gamertag is “deanparkr” and I hope to see fellow fans on Xbox Live soon.
Halo Wars fan fiction from Graeme Devine
ES_Paragon has updated the Halo Wars forums with news about Graeme Devine’s Halo Wars fan fiction which can be found on his personal website. Graeme’s work was used to support the development of the game but did not make the final cut. Halo Wars fans should find this interesting as additional support for the Halo Wars story.
Check out Graeme’s Halo Wars website here: http://www.graemedevine.com/graemedevine/Spirit_of_Fire/Spirit_of_Fire.html
We also welcome Paragon for posting again!
Paragons post: http://www.halowars.com/forums/thread/481175.aspx
