Halo Wars demo out now - impressions thread

But it's for Gold users only :cry: and I can't check it out

edit: I am no longer in pain, and the demo is downloading at the moment : )

13 months of xbl gold is $38.99, and provides MS incentive to keep pushing tons of content out...is $2.99 a month really bank burning?Andrew_Xavier

13 months of xbl gold is $38.99, and provides MS incentive to keep pushing tons of content out...is $2.99 a month really bank burning?Andrew_Xavier

12 months of Xbox Live is $50, however, yes, there are sales/deals (Extra free month, etc.) out there.

Also, Xbox Live Gold is $8 a month, not $3, I don't like these breakdown's we see in SW, since you don't pay that a month UNLESS you buy the whole deal. It's very clear, that if you want a month from M$, it's $7.99.

To answer your question, no, $50 for Xbox Live isn't too bad (or $40 if you find a deal at the right time), but it is like skipping over a game for the service.

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Halo Wars Impression :

It's not very deep, and seems a bit shallow, especially since the 360 hosts a few other RTS's, namely Command and Conqer : Red Alert 3 360, C&C: Kane's Wrath 360, and C&C: Tiberium 360. There's also Lord of the Rings RTS 360, and all have really great controls. Halo Wars controls aren't any better, but they did remove and reduce RTS elements, making the Demo appear very Shallow. The Cutscenes will be nice for fans of that Halo Universe, I suppose.

This poster breaks it down well :

1. Very little micromanagment, and only limited macromanagement. This severely reduces the depth. They are turning it into rock-paper-scissors build an army and watch it fight, not a strategy game..... Will comment again later after I play it.

2. No resource management at all. 1 type of resource and you build it in your base.... No fighting over resources, no war of attrition, no taking risks to go grab this massive pool of resources.... Crap is what that is.... Takes all the strategy out of how to play a match. It literally just comes down to making armies and watching them fight... Woopty dooo! Just take a look at Dawn of War 2. That entire game is a battle over resources. You have to decide if you want to go attack one position to get requisition points or if you want to go hold some energy points or hold the victory point. Because chances are that you won't be able to do them all at once. It is picking and choosing, fighting a war of attrition with limited units and limited resources(at times). Tactics are everything, and the strategy is extremely deep there(but also very different which threw off a lot of people who were complaining at first). Starcraft 2 has the base expansions where you have to decide if you want to devote resources and time to build a new base that you will need to defend so that you can get a new income. Also, the addition of High Yield Crystals even expands that dynamic as it becomes more pressing to go grab those high value places.

Halo Wars has none of that. You build a thing in your base and it provides constant income. How many you build is an extremely shallow resource management mechanic.... and that is all Halo Wars has. Will comment on it again later.

3. Controls hinder the viability of multiple fronts. Having a 2-3 prong attack is almost impossible with the controls from what I have seen. There is no way you will be able to pull off maneuvers where you have one group come in from one way, as another is attacking from the primary front. That is unless you just stop managing one main group, letting it play itself. Hardly any strategy there.

All the really STRONG points about strategy games are stripped from the game. It may very well be fun(and almost certainly is), but calling it a good strategy game would be an ignorant comment from someone without any significant RTS experience.

Happy? I gave 3 very strong reasons why it is perfectly valid to call Halo Wars shallow. Doesn't make it a bad game, but it does make it a lesser RTS.

horrowhip

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EDIT from the FUTURE :

THIS TOPIC has been changed, these posts were relevant, so please stop quoting people and asking why everyone went off topic. They didn't.

It's on Marketplace when you browse the titles, under letter H. It said that I must upgrade my membership before I can download.Salt_The_Fries

[QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"]13 months of xbl gold is $38.99, and provides MS incentive to keep pushing tons of content out...is $2.99 a month really bank burning?Salt_The_Fries

I get that people will claim I'm fanboying, but, I'm also a QORE subscriber, which is the same thing, you pay a bit a year, you get exclusive demos, it's easy.

I know it should be free..but come on.. is just like $40/35 euros per YEAR.McdonaIdsGuy

[QUOTE="McdonaIdsGuy"]I know it should be free..but come on.. is just like $40/35 euros per YEAR.killerfist

I was going to correct him, but you caught it. There are of course deals out there, but they are by no means the official price.

Hey, why doesn't everyone own GeoW2? I got my personal copy for $15! I should post on SW that GeoW2 is $15 now! lol.

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Yeah, I've been getting 1000 in Soul Calibur 4,and playing lot's of SF4 in the arcades. Time flies! :)

[QUOTE="McdonaIdsGuy"]I know it should be free..but come on.. is just like $40/35 euros per YEAR.killerfist

Or like 39,90 EUR per year :P

[QUOTE="McdonaIdsGuy"]I know it should be free..but come on.. is just like $40/35 euros per YEAR.killerfist

13 months of xbl gold is $38.99, and provides MS incentive to keep pushing tons of content out...is $2.99 a month really bank burning?Andrew_Xavier

[QUOTE="killerfist"][QUOTE="McdonaIdsGuy"]I know it should be free..but come on.. is just like $40/35 euros per YEAR.Andrew_Xavier

Or like 39,90 EUR per year :P

That's a sale. Right now, AMAZON has Xbox Live 40%, but it's not the normal price, like that gentleman was trying to pass off.

[QUOTE="killerfist"][QUOTE="McdonaIdsGuy"]I know it should be free..but come on.. is just like $40/35 euros per YEAR.McdonaIdsGuy

Of course there are deals for these things, but they are by no means the standard.

Xbox Live is on Sale, that's all. No one is disputing that, I already knew about the sales, but it's not accurate to make a blanket statement like,

"It's only $40 Euros per year" because that's just a temporary price, at the right website.

Just because I bought my 360 fopr $100 doesn't mean I can now go to websites and claim 360's are $100.

[QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"]13 months of xbl gold is $38.99, and provides MS incentive to keep pushing tons of content out...is $2.99 a month really bank burning?skrat_01

[QUOTE="killerfist"][QUOTE="McdonaIdsGuy"]I know it should be free..but come on.. is just like $40/35 euros per YEAR.Andrew_Xavier

Or like 39,90 EUR per year :P

[QUOTE="McdonaIdsGuy"][QUOTE="killerfist"] More like 60euros per year. -- Glad to see you again SolidTy.:) You need to post more often.SolidTy

Of course there are deals for these things, but they are by no means the standard.

Xbox Live is on Sale, that's all. No one is disputing that, I already knew about the sales, but it's not accurate to make a blanket statement like,

"It's only $40 Euros per year" because that's just a temporary price, at the right website.

Just because I bought my 360 fopr $100 doesn't mean I can now go to websites and claim 360's are $100.

[QUOTE="killerfist"][QUOTE="McdonaIdsGuy"]I know it should be free..but come on.. is just like $40/35 euros per YEAR.SolidTy

More like 60euros per year.

--

Glad to see you again SolidTy.:) You need to post more often.

I was going to correct him, but you caught it. There are of course deals out there, but they are by no means the official price.

Hey, why doesn't everyone own GeoW2? I got my personal copy for $15! I should post on SW that GeoW2 is $15 now! lol.

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Yeah, I've been getting 1000 in Soul Calibur 4,and playing lot's of SF4 in the arcades. Time flies! :)

Indeed, 60euros is still the official price, special offers/deals whatever you want to call it don't count.

People are looking for ownage over Ps3's pricetag for that same reason.

Man, I wish I had an arcade nearby..well I have, but they're generations behind with games like Crazy taxi 3...(not saying the game is bad tho:P)

12 months of Xbox Live is $50, howeverSolidTy

[QUOTE="SolidTy"]

[QUOTE="McdonaIdsGuy"] E-bay is your friend and even here in gamespot shows the links to get it for 35euros.McdonaIdsGuy

Of course there are deals for these things, but they are by no means the standard.

Xbox Live is on Sale, that's all. No one is disputing that, I already knew about the sales, but it's not accurate to make a blanket statement like,

"It's only $40 Euros per year" because that's just a temporary price, at the right website.

Just because I bought my 360 fopr $100 doesn't mean I can now go to websites and claim 360's are $100.

And I always get Xbox Live Gold for Free, but that's not the price.

Xbox Live is neither Free nor $40.

We are just guys that know people, or look for deals, or know people that look for deals.

I know it should be free..but come on.. is just like $40/35 euros per YEAR.McdonaIdsGuy

is $2.99 a month really bank burning?Andrew_Xavier

[QUOTE="SolidTy"]12 months of Xbox Live is $50, howeverAndrew_Xavier

That's EXACTLY what M$ wants us to think.

Also, Donuts aren't expensive, and neither is Cheerios. How much have I spent on Corn Flakes My entire life?

Guess what, in all the years that Xbox Live has been around, I've invested over $600 for it.

Time = Money.

When it's all said and done, you can break it down, and write it off, but it's still something that tends to get bypassed.

On the flip side, sure, it's really not that expensive. but when I look back since 2002, HOW MUCH Xbox Live has actually Costed, It adds up, as we are in 2009.

[QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"]is $2.99 a month really bank burning?nethernova

[QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"]is $2.99 a month really bank burning?nethernova

I would pay $100 a month to breathe air, but not a cent more, lol. :)

Also, concerning the charges on using my hands.

I don't use my pinky finger THAT much, so I don't want to pay a dollar to use each finger, it's not that expensive, but I am trying to save money in this economy.

I also am starting to dislike paying for parking in my own garage, but it's not THAT expensive, so I don't care.

[QUOTE="nethernova"][QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"]is $2.99 a month really bank burning?Andrew_Xavier

You'd be surprised at how much of OUR money does NOT go towards Xbox Live Funding.

It would be great if GeoW2 for instance, had Real Servers, but it's a rare event on Xbox Live.

[QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"][QUOTE="SolidTy"]12 months of Xbox Live is $50, howeverSolidTy

That's EXACTLY what M$ wants us to think.

Also, Donuts aren't expensive, and neither is Cheerios. How much have I spent on Corn Flakes My entire life?

Guess what, in all the years that Xbox Live has been around, I've invested over $600 for it.

Time = Money.

When it's all said and done, you can break it down, and write it off, but it's still something that tends to get bypassed.

On the flip side, sure, it's really not that expensive. but when I look back since 2002, HOW MUCH Xbox Live has actually Costed, It adds up, as we are in 2009.

[QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"][QUOTE="nethernova"] I love this argument. No, of course it's not. Would you pay $1 a month to be able to use your controller? No, you wouldn't. Because you should not have to.SolidTy

You'd be surprised at how much of OUR money does NOT go towards Xbox Live Funding.

It would be great if GeoW2 for instance, had Real Servers, but it's a rare event on Xbox Live.

[QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"][QUOTE="nethernova"] I love this argument. No, of course it's not. Would you pay $1 a month to be able to use your controller? No, you wouldn't. Because you should not have to.SolidTy

You'd be surprised at how much of OUR money does NOT go towards Xbox Live Funding.

It would be great if GeoW2 for instance, had Real Servers, but it's a rare event on Xbox Live.

You could always start a new gold account just to play it.Blue-Sky

I was wondering about this myself.

I did the same thing for the RE demo.

Not the most ideal solution but at least I got to download the demo.

But it's for Gold users only :cry: and I can't check it out, unless it's on Japanese marketplace where I still have valid trial (I think).Salt_The_Fries

Except it does, those fast download speeds for servers/downloading? Those aren't air. The content update after content update? Not free. XBL support staff? Not slaves. Have you ever downloaded a game update from psn? Compare.Andrew_Xavier

As much as a good service it is, you should not be paying for it per month; especially at its current price. Besides, updates are free....... as they should be (you paid for the product so you expect support for it). Support staff? Really now. So I guess you pay that extra ($10AUD) royalty on all your 360 games (even royalties on all DLC) for just the call center staff, or Q&A teams right?

Sure PSN is not as good, however its hardly a justification of the rediculous price tag.

Hell on this matter I wonder if my last post was not responded to for a similar reason. Because it sucks to be paying for a service, that is totally outdone by another systems (hell its actually free (gold) on the pc). :\

[QUOTE="Salt_The_Fries"]But it's for Gold users only :cry: and I can't check it out, unless it's on Japanese marketplace where I still have valid trial (I think).Floppy_Jim

[QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"] Except it does, those fast download speeds for servers/downloading? Those aren't air. The content update after content update? Not free. XBL support staff? Not slaves. Have you ever downloaded a game update from psn? Compare.skrat_01

Hell on this matter I wonder if my last post was not responded to for a similar reason. Because it sucks to be paying for a service, that is totally outdone by another systems (hell its actually free (gold) on the pc). :\

I didn't comment on the pc gaming because I don't know enough about it, I rarely pc game, the few games I play on my laptop are mass effect, SMT: Imagine (which is f2p, but all good content is expensive), and president forever...and I doubt *anyone* on this forum has heard of 80soft or president forever...
and only Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine is online...and it's premium content fees are unreal! Like $10USD for a gun that falls apart, or $9 for a shirt that offers no protection, etc etc.

If xbl was free, it would be slow and void of content, we all know this. If no one subscribed to gold, the first thing that would go, would be most of the services, then all the other features you like. I said content updates, like the fact new xbla games are out ever week, or all the movies they get licensed, etc etc, it's a very good service. AND THIS IS COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO IS CALLED A COW ON A DAILY BASIS, because I prefer my ps3. Hardly a ridiculous price tag, $14.99 a month would be a ridiculous price tag, 3.89 is not.Andrew_Xavier

2. WHAT services?.
XBL Gold offers access ANY multiplayer component of games you already purchased (the main reason you pay, of course (you are forced too...)), 'true skill matchmaking', access to certain demos a few days earlier than silver subscribers, and (for US Gold subs only) Netflix; though of course you pay you pay for its content ontop of that). Now factor in that you are actually paying to acess content you already paid for in a game, and match making is implemented and free in loads of other games on other systems, and the only thing left that really justifies services is Netflix. And its US only. One expensive DLC movie subscription..... Or do you mean services like your profiles and whatnot? Its a free standard, and free on every other damn platform.

The only thing that is a true gain is the download speeds, which are quite good when there is not heavy traffic. Of course this does not change the fact that the vast majority of client hosting multiplayer games is a real burden.

3. I dont care if you are called a Cow or not really. All I care about is your view on the Gold fee.

4. XBL Gold is not an MMO. You are paying to get access to content you paid for already. Simple. What good is all the online modes on every game you bought if you dont have a Gold free? This is the real incentive to pay for it - pure and simple. Like it or not this is a clear indication of what is a ridiculous price tag.

Again I can re-post my example with subscribing to XBL for 12 months, or buying the Orange box for $20aud LESS.

- Now Xbox Live is a great service, however again, the price tag is not justified; and thankfully most gamers are aware of it. You pay for it because you want the full acess to your consoles and games capabilities, simple as that. If you had the option to play your games online for free, everyone would take it.

4. XBL Gold is not an MMO. You are paying to get acess to content you paid for already. Simple. What good is all the online modes on every game you bought if you dont have a Gold free? This is the real incentive to pay for it - pure and simple. Like it or not this is a clear indication of what is a rediculous price tag.

skrat_01

So, if I buy the boxed version of WoW and don't pay for an account, I can access the content I paid full price for (the box)?

There's no difference, the monthly fees for MMOs are for servers, the low monthly fee for XBL Gold is for servers, if no one (like me) subscribed to gold, they'd cut way back on servers, and we'd end up with hour long updates and more.

I just DLed the halo wars demo in under 5 minutes, for a 1.4gb file, that's what I'm paying for, servers to host all the content and more.

SMT: Imagine (which is f2p, but all good content is expensive), and president forever...and I doubt *anyone* on this forum has heard of 80soft or president forever...
and only Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine is online...and it's premium content fees are unreal! Like $10USD for a gun that falls apart, or $9 for a shirt that offers no protection, etc etc.

Andrew_Xavier

[QUOTE="skrat_01"]

4. XBL Gold is not an MMO. You are paying to get acess to content you paid for already. Simple. What good is all the online modes on every game you bought if you dont have a Gold free? This is the real incentive to pay for it - pure and simple. Like it or not this is a clear indication of what is a rediculous price tag.

Andrew_Xavier

So, if I buy the boxed version of WoW and don't pay for an account, I can access the content I paid full price for (the box)?

There's no difference, the monthly fees for MMOs are for servers, the low monthly fee for XBL Gold is for servers, if no one (like me) subscribed to gold, they'd cut way back on servers, and we'd end up with hour long updates and more.

I just DLed the halo wars demo in under 5 minutes, for a 1.4gb file, that's what I'm paying for, servers to host all the content and more.

Ahem I buy, Gears of War 2 - for $99 AUD in full, I don't have any access whatsoever to the multiplayer component, under my account unless I pay for Live Gold.

That is a whole component of a game I ALREADY PAID FOR, that is barred from be using because I am not subscribed. If I want to play GeOW2 or ANY OTHER game I ALREADY OWN in my collection ONLINE AT ALL for 12 months I HAVE to pay another $90AUD ontop of it for access.

It does not matter if Epic developed Gears 2, or Bungie developed Halo 3, or ANY game in my collection.

Microsoft is stopping me from accessing content in games I already bought, unless I pay THEM up front for acess.

I have been gaming online for over a decade now, and it astounds me that people are justifying this price tag.

[QUOTE="Andrew_Xavier"][QUOTE="skrat_01"]

4. XBL Gold is not an MMO. You are paying to get acess to content you paid for already. Simple. What good is all the online modes on every game you bought if you dont have a Gold free? This is the real incentive to pay for it - pure and simple. Like it or not this is a clear indication of what is a rediculous price tag.

skrat_01

So, if I buy the boxed version of WoW and don't pay for an account, I can access the content I paid full price for (the box)?

There's no difference, the monthly fees for MMOs are for servers, the low monthly fee for XBL Gold is for servers, if no one (like me) subscribed to gold, they'd cut way back on servers, and we'd end up with hour long updates and more.

I just DLed the halo wars demo in under 5 minutes, for a 1.4gb file, that's what I'm paying for, servers to host all the content and more.

Ahem I buy, Gears of War 2 - for $99 AUD in full, I don't have any access whatsoever to the multiplayer component, under my account unless I pay for Live Gold.

That is a whole component of a game I ALREADY PAID FOR, that is barred from be using because I am not subscribed. If I want to play GeOW2 or ANY OTHER game I ALREADY OWN in my collection ONLINE AT ALL for 12 months I HAVE to pay another $90AUD ontop of it for access.

It does not matter if Epic developed Gears 2, or Bungie developed Halo 3, or ANY game in my collection.

Microsoft is stopping me from accessing content in games I already bought, unless I pay THEM up front for acess.

I have been gaming online for over a decade now, and it astounds me that people are justifying this price tag.

:P

Justification comes in the form of the millions ( and growing ) who choose to participate. Now I know you feel it is your mission to knock XBL pricing whenever you can and sure, I and everyone would choose free but....

:P

SecretPolice

Because simply

Besides, I will always be there too knock Gold's pricing, however i'll always be there to advocate Live as a perfect example of an almost flawlessly intergrated online system to a console.

I dont redicule peope for paying for it; hell I used to myself.

You are better off being aware of what you are paying for, when you do so then convincing yourself otherwise.

You can be well aware Microsoft is taking total advantage of the Gold subscription fee, and still pay for it yearly with a smile on your face as you play another round of infected in Halo 3 with a bunch of friends.

13 months of xbl gold is $38.99, and provides MS incentive to keep pushing tons of content out...is $2.99 a month really bank burning?Andrew_Xavier

4. XBL Gold is not an MMO. You are paying to get acess to content you paid for already. Simple. What good is all the online modes on every game you bought if you dont have a Gold free? This is the real incentive to pay for it - pure and simple. Like it or not this is a clear indication of what is a rediculous price tag.

So, if I buy the boxed version of WoW and don't pay for an account, I can access the content I paid full price for (the box)?

There's no difference, the monthly fees for MMOs are for servers, the low monthly fee for XBL Gold is for servers, if no one (like me) subscribed to gold, they'd cut way back on servers, and we'd end up with hour long updates and more.

I just DLed the halo wars demo in under 5 minutes, for a 1.4gb file, that's what I'm paying for, servers to host all the content and more.