Firstly I know versus threads are generally frowned upon and don't really need you to tell me so. Hopefully this discussion will be less flamable as it compares two less-than-highly anticipated titles. In the interest of not burning it should be known that while PC controls are no doubt superior for RTS's that these two might change that and therefore an admission of the possibilty would be appreciated in any comments concerning the mouse and keyboard in comparison to the headset and/or gamepad. Similarily Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 shouldn't be compared and should be mentioned sparingly if at all.
Now for some background:
Both are console RTS's that intend to revolutionize the console RTS with superior controls, hopefully making the genre a console staple as many previously PC-only genres have become.
Halo Wars is a prequel spin-off to the Halo series developed by the soon to be late Ensemble Studios. It's story begins immediately after the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) reconquers the planet Harvest from the Covenant. It tells the story of the crew of the UNSC Spirit of Fire, a conlony vessel modified to be an enormous combat troopship.
Gameplay-wise it is a fairly traditional RTS with a focus on combat. Base-building a resource gathering are present but in a simplified and more streamlined form than Age of Empires (for example). Bases are built in specific locations and are assembled automatically after purchased, "sockets" around the base provide space for resource collection, unit construction, and other specialized buildings.
Controls are similar to EA's various console RTS ventures at least in comparison to EndWar. The in-game menu so essential to the traditional RTS is arranged in a circle to eliminate time-wasting scrolling and there is a control for quickly jumping between places of interest on the map.
Official Site [http://www.halowars.com/]
GameSpot Page [http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/strategy/halowars/index.html?tag=result;title;0]
Wikipedia Article [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_wars]
Tom Clancy's EndWar is set in the near future during World War III. It is can be classified under the "Real-Time Tactics" subgenre as if forgoes base-building and resource collecting all together.
The primary control input is voice commands. EndWar is meant to simulate being a real general commanding a real army. As such units don't respond to specific directions so much as follow your orders. Ubisoft believes this voice commmand system will compensate for a gamepad's lack of speed and accuracy in comparison to a mouse.
Official Site [http://endwargame.us.ubi.com/]
GameSpot Page [http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/strategy/tomclancysendwar/index.html?tag=result;title;1]
Wikipedia Article [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Clancy%27s_EndWar]
Achievement List [http://www.achieve360points.com/game/endwar/]
Trophy List [http://www.ps3trophies.org/game/tom-clancys-endwar/trophies/]
Now for the discussion: which do you believe will be better and why? Which are you anticipating more? What are the strengths and weaknesses of their respective approaches to controls? Which is the better approach and why? et cetera
Also, it seems very obvious that I've been following Halo Wars more closely and any suggestions to expanding my background on EndWar would be appreciated.
Now for some background:
Both are console RTS's that intend to revolutionize the console RTS with superior controls, hopefully making the genre a console staple as many previously PC-only genres have become.
Halo Wars is a prequel spin-off to the Halo series developed by the soon to be late Ensemble Studios. It's story begins immediately after the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) reconquers the planet Harvest from the Covenant. It tells the story of the crew of the UNSC Spirit of Fire, a conlony vessel modified to be an enormous combat troopship.
Gameplay-wise it is a fairly traditional RTS with a focus on combat. Base-building a resource gathering are present but in a simplified and more streamlined form than Age of Empires (for example). Bases are built in specific locations and are assembled automatically after purchased, "sockets" around the base provide space for resource collection, unit construction, and other specialized buildings.
Controls are similar to EA's various console RTS ventures at least in comparison to EndWar. The in-game menu so essential to the traditional RTS is arranged in a circle to eliminate time-wasting scrolling and there is a control for quickly jumping between places of interest on the map.
Official Site [http://www.halowars.com/]
GameSpot Page [http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/strategy/halowars/index.html?tag=result;title;0]
Wikipedia Article [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_wars]
Tom Clancy's EndWar is set in the near future during World War III. It is can be classified under the "Real-Time Tactics" subgenre as if forgoes base-building and resource collecting all together.
The primary control input is voice commands. EndWar is meant to simulate being a real general commanding a real army. As such units don't respond to specific directions so much as follow your orders. Ubisoft believes this voice commmand system will compensate for a gamepad's lack of speed and accuracy in comparison to a mouse.
Official Site [http://endwargame.us.ubi.com/]
GameSpot Page [http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/strategy/tomclancysendwar/index.html?tag=result;title;1]
Wikipedia Article [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Clancy%27s_EndWar]
Achievement List [http://www.achieve360points.com/game/endwar/]
Trophy List [http://www.ps3trophies.org/game/tom-clancys-endwar/trophies/]
Now for the discussion: which do you believe will be better and why? Which are you anticipating more? What are the strengths and weaknesses of their respective approaches to controls? Which is the better approach and why? et cetera
Also, it seems very obvious that I've been following Halo Wars more closely and any suggestions to expanding my background on EndWar would be appreciated.
