Halo MMO prototype details uncovered

Details of a MMO have been uncovered due to Ensembles closure once Halo Wars is complete

by Xbox OZ360:

©2008 Grant Smythe:

MS’s will be closing their Ensemble Studios once Halo Wars is finished and on shelves in the 1st quarter of 2009. Many already know this, but of late, evidence has surfaced showing a MMO that was underway at Ensemble for the Halo Franchise. It’s also been reported that many staff have been offered various incentives to stay on until the game finally ships. But whether they do or not is a personal matter for those concerned.

I suppose working for a game you now know has no future (regarding further iterations with the studio) and with a studio you know is doomed to close would make one lose a certain amount of enthusiasm for thejob-at-hand. I know it would with me, no matter how good the job or task was, there would be a certain feeling attached with it.

So the studio have been doing what is needed to keep those involved on board until the very end.

Detailed screens of characters, UI (user interface) and various special effects were found and have been posted on Gone-Is-Gone’s Flickr page.

(we have the images below as well.)

Why Ensemble is being closed is anyone’s guess, as their latest game, Age Of Empires III for the PC was a great commercial success, so what makes a studio close when running off the back of a successful game, and while working on a game that is sure to have a huge fan-base following it . . ?

Now we’re not saying that the game is completely off the face of the gaming world, as there is still the likelihood that the game’s IP could well see the light of day under a different development studio with MS financing it.

Microsoft’s Halo Franchise is a huge part of the Xbox Platform, and one they do not want to just shed at the drop of a hat. The MMO was officially canned in mid 2007, and now that Ensemble will be closing its doors after Halo Wars drops, it’s great to find out that other IP’s based around the Franchise were and are under consideration.

As you can see from the pics, the UI is similar to those in Warhammer and even WoW. Showing that MMO can and do work on consoles.

The various weapons and character designs are excellent ideas and could well work in such a c=game. I think the game will see the light of day, at some stage, but as to who will be behind it, and as to when, well that is just something none of us really know.

Halo MMO Prototype Art/Screens

Click any image for larger view

Sources: Massively & Gamesutra

©2008 Grant Smythe:

Filed under: Console gaming, Editorial, Industry News, Microsoft Games, New Game Information, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 News Tagged: | Ensemble halo wars, ensemble studios, Halo 3, halo mmo, Halo RTS, halo wars, Halo Wars RTS, massively