Ensemble already 'looking into' Halo Wars DLC

by Dustin Burg { Jan 28th 2009 at 3:30AM }

Even though Halo Wars has already gone gold, Ensemble Studios isn't sitting back twiddling its thumbs and drinking celebratory martinis. In fact, the developer is busy plotting post-launch plans and even kicking around the idea of Halo Wars DLC.

"We are committed to supporting the franchise," studio producer Jason Pace told Electricpig in a recent interview. Pace admitted that while the studio doesn't have definite plans, "additional downloadable content is something we're looking into." We just hope that Ensemble's studio closure doesn't factor into the DLC decision. And if we end up receiving additional Halo Wars content, our only requirements are that it be cheap, expansive, cheap, story driven and well ... cheap. Get our drift?

Tags: dlc, ensemble, ensemble-studios, halo, halo-wars, microsoft, rts, strategy

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Foggy Bottoms @ Jan 28th 2009 3:40AM

sounds like gears of war 2... i hate that i've been made to think this way. damn you cliffyb, you floppy haired bastard.

i also miss x3f :-(

Mike @ Jan 28th 2009 3:39AM

We can all thank microsoft for closing the best RTS making studio in the world.

I hope they can get that DLC out though!

UNSCleric @ Jan 28th 2009 3:41AM

I miss X3F too, this sucks.

Dustin Burg @ Jan 28th 2009 4:03AM

I'm still here, it'll be okay =D

UNSCleric @ Jan 28th 2009 4:05AM

Your presence comforts me little Dustin, but I am still sad.

finnith @ Jan 28th 2009 1:25PM

What exactly do you miss about it?

I actually like the changes cause now I don't have to have a bazillion tabs open.

Teabag @ Jan 28th 2009 3:55AM

Hmm, i hope they do put out the DLC. But they are closing right? So how come?

P.S- Yes, i miss X3F. Don't like the news being 'shared' between two sites.

Premature ejaculation man @ Jan 28th 2009 4:19AM

I'm beginning to really hate DLC. Its not that I don't look forward to the content - its the cost that I have to pay to get it. I don't mind paying for things. But a lot of the stuff could be made cheaper.

There's two things they can really do for DLC, add the flood for MP or add more maps. Both of which will be costly especially since its: Halo, Microsoft owned.

Phillip @ Jan 28th 2009 5:30AM

The flood's already in the game, no DLC required. Watch till the end of the trailer on xbox live. =D

Premature ejaculation man @ Jan 28th 2009 6:03AM

Not as a playable faction in SP or MP ;p

RJ @ Jan 28th 2009 4:32AM

Wish I had money to buy or rent the game, dunno when i'll get to play it.

Premature ejaculation man @ Jan 28th 2009 4:47AM

Demo!

DarkNightRJ @ Jan 28th 2009 3:05PM

This is true...lol

Matt @ Jan 28th 2009 4:33AM

Is anyone else getting pissed off that devs are working on DLC for titles before the game is even out the door? It's like releasing the game unfinished on purpose to cheat stupid people out of their money. Just get it done and put it on the damn disc.

Enzemo @ Jan 28th 2009 4:36AM

Its totally true!
They purposely don't put things in the game just to get aftersales.
Half the time the DLC is finished when the game, they just want to rake in more cash.
It shouldn't be allowed.
They could at least do what Bungie did and give away the old DLC for free when the new stuff is out.

TheTjalian @ Jan 28th 2009 7:00AM

Uhh, it's called project management. You can't hold a game off every time you want to think of new stuff. Stock holders and other investors want to see results. Plus, your budget can only be stretched so thin. The budget they were given was for the game, which they successfully completed. However, they would then have to propose the idea of DLC to their publisher (i.e. Microsoft) and ask for a new sum of money.

DLC gives developers the chance to add in stuff they wanted to do add in near the end of the development cycle, but couldn't due to monetary reasons.

Lord Negatron @ Jan 28th 2009 9:03AM

I am with Tjalian on this one.

For the others ok, so the disc has "everything on it", you beat it, the multiplayer (if it has) is bland...Now what?

No replay value which hurts many games. DLC can be looked upon as some type of money scheme, which it can be but, it is also more than that.

Tephlon @ Jan 28th 2009 11:57AM

I'm going to have to also agree with the last few commenters here.

I think far too many people are looking for conspiracies where they don't exist. While it's certainly possible to try to milk the DLC cow, I truly don't believe this is the case 95% of the time. There's only so much content devs can conceive, create, integrate, and test to go in their shipped product. Some DLC may have had their roots started before the final game shipped, but if they were 'done' they would've been on the disc.

Think of DLC like this- it's extra features on the end of a dvd. In the days of VHS, all those cool features, deleted scenes and bloopers never made it to the viewer. It was completely wasted. Then DVD saved that content.

Now, with the internet and XBL/PSN, devs can deliver those alternate endings/cut scenes/extra content that they didn't have time to get in the game. You think you're being cheated, but you're actually being blessed with content you would've never seen otherwise.

Again... stop looking for a conspiracy here. There isn't one.

finnith @ Jan 28th 2009 1:30PM

Maybe the DLC is just something that wouldn't have "fit" into the game. As in, it could be a seperate campaign with no relation to the main story, or something like that.

Matt @ Jan 28th 2009 2:10PM

I'm not talking about things that add actual substance to the game and clearly couldn't have been finished in crunch time, I'm talking about things that were most likely done when the game was released and were obviously just held back just to make a quick buck. Nickel and diming is a good way to lose business, at least mine.

Tephlon @ Jan 28th 2009 3:44PM

"I'm talking about things that were most likely done when the game was released and were obviously just held back just to make a quick buck"

Do you have some examples of 'obviously held back'? Cause that sounds like a bunch of assuming and conjecture on your part.
Also, are you implying that is the case here? The game _IS_ 'out the door' already. It's gone gold. They can't touch it anymore. Gathering up the content that didn't make the cut as soon as the game goes gold seems like the perfect time to work on DLC... when the tools and content are still fresh on their mind.
This article doesn't imply that they're going to be shooting out a new campaign a month from launch... they're simply saying that they're formulating their plans for DLC.

I understand getting angry at some of the things EA has done with DLC... but I just don't see how the argument applies here.

bVork @ Jan 28th 2009 5:34AM

How does this even work? They're set to close when the game is done! That means they're either busy making content before the game is out, or the DLC has been outsourced to some random nobodies.

Feedback @ Jan 28th 2009 6:30AM

OR it's already secretly been done and is unlockable from the disc.

Unlikely, but a funny thought.

Snowblind @ Jan 28th 2009 11:10AM

Nobody was actually fired though, they were just merged with other studios (some left to start a new studio) but there's no reason those who are left couldn't continue working on new content for the game.

DLC is fine by me, as long as they aren't just holding back content to sell us, or even worse.. just selling unlock keys.

AwesomeTown @ Jan 28th 2009 7:17AM

Is there an obvious tag?

jesus007 @ Jan 28th 2009 8:05AM

Hey can someone please tell me how to change my avatar. its kinda bugging that its always mario.
I have a damn cool pic i want to use.

Danzaiver @ Jan 28th 2009 8:33AM

http://www.joystiq.com/profile/2476225/

jesus007 @ Jan 28th 2009 8:49AM

Thanks man i've been trying to figure it out for like a week now.

Levi @ Jan 28th 2009 9:36AM

What a joke! You M$ fanboys deserve nothing but sh*t! Why not pony up and buy a real system? All you holier-than-tho fanboys get is gimped gaming!! Enjoy second place losers you'll be there for a long time!!!

jk guys... jk... I kid :P

ryan @ Jan 28th 2009 11:09AM

I saw what yah did there Levi. Here, have a +1heart. :)

Strategy_Panda (Pot & Spoon 4 Life) @ Jan 28th 2009 11:09AM

i chuckled. that's a pretty good impression

Levi @ Jan 28th 2009 11:16AM

Glad a couple people got the joke :)

Richard Mitchell @ Jan 28th 2009 10:15AM

Playable Flood and a Covenant campaign would make my day.

Cole @ Jan 28th 2009 11:00AM

Or Elites who dual wield swords like in the pic :) lol

Alien Lord @ Jan 28th 2009 1:15PM

Cole that might be a hero :)

player66 @ Jan 28th 2009 11:27AM

I'm sure the two guys working there are thrilled to be working on DLC for Microsoft. I hope Ensemble worked in some wicked easter eggs as a thanks to their benevolent former overlords.

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 28th 2009 11:32AM

Halo wars and Halo ODST were the 2 titles that I was most anticipated to avoid this year. After my experience with Halo 3 I decided that Halo series can go f*ck themselves until they show some quality and improvements or at least some bot matches (End Rant).

Okay I could spend an entire lunch break talking how bad Halo 3 was and why I’m staying away from the series but suddenly in the most painful backstab ever MS decided to have Ensemble make a Halo title.

Yes Ensemble one of my favorite developers ever. I have been a long time Ensemble follower starting with Age of Empires I and I have played their best games like Age of Empires II Conquerors to the not so good ones like Age of Mythology.

I say that Ensemble dropped the ball by the time of age of Empires III in fact it committed the error that I’m sure Blizzard will repeat with Diablo III of making graphics slightly better than the previous title but adding anything new or at least new settings.

Now that is sad to see my favorite developers closing first the guys behind the Flying simulator series and now Ensemble even if it is a Halo title this is Ensemble last game so I feel like I should play it. Who knows maybe if I focus enough I can pretend I’m playing Ensemble Battlestar Galactica or Starcraft.