Poll: Halo Wars, and the Console RTS phenomenon

[obliterate]

The only RTS I like is a actually the only one that can be called a STRATEGY...it's warhammer 40k the dark crusade to be precise...I know it's for pc but I am telling you all other RTS are the same you build some stuff to get other bigger stuff...only in warhammer have I seen STRATEGY...Everyone who has played the game knows what I am talking about

 

[Eagle Est1986]

Red Alert 3 could have done it on the Playstation, but they declined to use the mouse & keyboard support option.
Halo Wars seems a bit too dumbed down for my liking, if I want to play an RTS, I want it all to be there. What it did, it did fairly well though.

 

[Nazulu]

The only RTS I like is a actually the only one that can be called a STRATEGY...it's warhammer 40k the dark crusade to be precise...I know it's for pc but I am telling you all other RTS are the same you build some stuff to get other bigger stuff...only in warhammer have I seen STRATEGY...Everyone who has played the game knows what I am talking about

Because that has everything to do with this threads topic and your OPINION is above all.

On topic, I haven't played Halo Wars but I really did enjoy playing C&C back on N64, so I agree RTS games are good on consoles. Probably requires a bit of extra practise for the gamers who usually play RTS games on computer.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Command & Conquer

C&C Red Alert

Warzone 2100 (this one is free to play on PC nowadays, I strongly suggest you do)

All excellent RTS games, all on PS1. 2100 was full 3-D as well, it was fantastic.
They all used variations on mouse/cursor controls mapped to a controller. It worked fine, they even had micro management short cuts in the form of button combos.

As far as current console RTS's go, they won't work commercially. Even Halo Wars, with the marketing brand name juggernaut attached has been a modest rather than big success. It certainly didn't stop Microsoft laying off all the developers and gutting the studio.
No-one is rushing to make a Halo Wars clone, the way everyone and their dog has gone in for Halo (or Silent Bomber if we're being pedantic, which I am) style regenerating health-limited gun-voice in your head fps games.

It also hasn't erased the world's memory of innovations made before it the way Halo did, so it's not seen as new by the console gamers and it's seen as too shallow by the PC crowd.

I honestly don't think RTS games suit the consoles, or rather the console's players. RTS players tend to be older and more methodical than most console gamers. I can't see 11 year old getting obsessed with tactics.
Halo Wars was about as simplified as you could get before you started getting dumb and it still didn't hold player's attention, I can't see anyone else doing any better.

 

[FallenJellyDoughnut]

I just spawned two scarabs and then I wonned... not a hard game.

 

[Geamo]

It *can* happen, but it doesn't mean it honestly should. I understand that you could play one on a console, but I still would prefer a mouse and keyboard any time.

 

[Zac_Dai]

The original C&C Red Alert worked really well on the PS1, mostly due to the fact it had a working drag-select, something most other console games seem to be shying away from.

I was thinking the same thing.

Can't see why the modern C&Cs wouldn't work now considering they haven't actually changed in the last 15 years.

 

[walls of cetepedes]

The original C&C Red Alert worked really well on the PS1, mostly due to the fact it had a working drag-select, something most other console games seem to be shying away from.

I was thinking the same thing.

Can't see why the modern C&Cs wouldn't work now considering they haven't actually changed in the last 15 years.

Maybe due to the fact the map can be rotated, and they can't be bothered to find a way to make it work with a 3d camera?

 

[Zac_Dai]

The original C&C Red Alert worked really well on the PS1, mostly due to the fact it had a working drag-select, something most other console games seem to be shying away from.

I was thinking the same thing.

Can't see why the modern C&Cs wouldn't work now considering they haven't actually changed in the last 15 years.

Maybe due to the fact the map can be rotated, and they can't be bothered to find a way to make it work with a 3d camera?

Good point there, didnt really think about it.

 

[Anton P. Nym]

You just cant play RTS without a mouse

They said the same about First Person Shooters in the '90s, and then Goldeneye came out.

It's all a matter of control scheme and play design. No, you're never going to get Warcraft/Starcraft level micromanaging on a console RTS, but I do think you can get a good tactical RTS if you go the route of Endwar and take the lessons taught by Halo Wars. Someone else mentioned the Natal controller as a possibility, and keeping in mind it does track voice as well as gesture that could be a "killer app" for Natal's hardcore gaming appeal. (Imagine an RTS with the Minority Report interface... though I don't know if Natal can be quite that precise and responsive, we'll have to wait and see.)

-- Steve

 

[Sassafrass]

I quite liked the control system of Halo Wars. Quick and easy to use. I however have yet to finish it as i found it a wee bit boring. i have also played a couple of RTS games on PC and enjoyed them.

 

[joystickjunki3]

It's impossible RTSes are made for PCs console RTSes suck ass.

You know what doesn't suck ass, though? Grammar and proper punctuation.

OT: Console RTSs can totally work. I thought that Halo Wars was a step in the right direction, and Endwar had some highlights. They're both much better than Starcraft 64.

 

[Proteus214]

The next console generation will have mouse/keyboard peripherals.

Problem solved.

 

[Anton P. Nym]

The next console generation will have mouse/keyboard peripherals.

Problem solved.

Because it's so easy to use a mouse while sitting on a couch in front of your TV. Sheesh.

-- Steve

 

[Simalacrum]

I haven't played Halo Wars myself, but I found that Tom Clancy's End War was a very good console RTS. Though the voice controls didn't always work ("unit 6" "unit 7 here" "no, 6! SIIIIX. Argh...." was often what happened with me), but generally speaking they were very good and helped to alleviate the disadvantage of having to use joy sticks.

 

[Shadowfaze]

my favourite rts on console is Dune for the ps1. i dont know why it works, but i find it more accesible than most pc rts games

 

[KSarty]

It can easily be successful, and I think several games have toed that line if not achieved it. However the relative success of console RTS does not mean it can really compete with the PC in terms of quality. Everyone who plays RTS knows that they are best on PC because of how the interface works. The interfaces designed for console RTS games certainly work, but they are merely substitutions for the traditional keyboard/mouse and they always have to make compromises.

TBS games on the other hand work great on consoles, especially titles like Valkyria Chronicles. Whereas games like Fire Emblem or Advance Wars would still play better with the point and click interface of a mouse, I think Valkyria Chronicles is truly a console experience due to how it transitions into a 3rd person action/shooter once you select the unit you want to move.

The TBS genre can and will continue to improve on consoles as will RTS, but the great RTS experiences will remain on PC if you ask me. Because everything happens in real-time you need a quick, smooth interface to control multiple units/characters spread out across a large map and split up into many different groups, which is something a console's controller cannot provide at this time.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Project Natal.
And also Halo Wars worked slightly and endwar had commendable execution, project natal could well save rts.

It could save Console RTS's. Remember, The RTS genre on PC has pretty much been perfected.

yeah i meant console rts but as we were onabout halo wars i didnt really think it needed mentioning

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

It works for more simplistic games like the C&C games where you can win a map with only mass production of conscripts. Not saying C&C series is crap, but that was really it.

Or when you capture an enemies barracks inside their base and then start massing conscripts while your attack force distracts the defenses. Its a nice 'adding insult to injury' strategy. .

I dunno, it really is based on what the persons preference of RTS is to be honest.
As Halo Wars was good for what it did, but didn't have the staying power for me to likes of starcraft and Warcraft 3. The reasons why are because is missions were not challenging enough (even on the highest difficulty) and were infrequent. The online play got irritating as it was basically a gamble at how you started off. With many strategies that could wipe you out quickly with little resistance.

Halo wars not challenging? You must be alot better than me >.>