Joyswag: Win one of five 'Halo Wars' demo codes

by Xav de Matos on Feb 2nd 2009 1:00PM

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Since the beginning of time, man has attempted to unlock the secrets of two ancient mysteries: 1) The meaning of life and 2) how the hell you make an RTS both intuitive and enjoyable using a console controller. On February 5, Halo Wars will attempt to answer the second of life's greatest mysteries when a demo for the title releases on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Will it succeed where others have failed or will it too suffer a tragic fate of mediocrity? We don't know, but this week you have a chance to find out by winning an advanced code for the demo courtesy of Jade, Jake and the entire Xbox Canada Community Blog.

Here's how you win:

Leave a comment conveying your completely accurate (even though you've never played it) review of the Halo Wars demo.

You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec)
Limit 1 entry per person
This entry period ends at 5:00PM EST, today (February 2, 2008). We'll randomly select 5 winners at that time to receive an Xbox Live Marketplace code to download the demo of Halo Wars (ARV: $0.00). Please check your e-mail!
For a list of complete rules, click here

Tags: demo, ensemble-studios, fanswag, halo-wars, joyswag, xblm, xbox-live-marketplace

Reader Comments (451)

It looks like a really great game and hopefully they can make a RTS that works well on consoles.

I've spent exactly 0 hours on this game but I can already tell it is going to be great. My only worry is how long the single player campaign might be...

Demo of the millenium. Best graphics of any RTS to date, and maintains the Halo franchise integrity.

The demo recalls my early 'Battletoads' days of videogames. When blisters on my palms came from something besided autoerotica. Is the game hard? God almighty yes. Hard like a teenage boy at a Victoria's Secret model wet t-shirt contest.....front row and center. But who doesn't want a good challenge or the opportunity to launch your controller across the room as you yell, "Fuck this game....fuck it in the ass!!"

The day I spent playing Halo Wars will always be remembered in my house as the day "Daddy hurt the television". Sure my foot went into the screen of my over large LCD (just four more payments left Best Buy!), but accidents do happen and besides, I never liked the TV being up on the wall anyway.

Okay, so I only played the demo for a few minutes before cursing it out and blacking out in a blind alcohol infused rage. I probably shouldn't continue typing, my divorce lawyer is advising against it.

Halo Wars is the first game to make playing an RTS game on a console as enjoyable as one could imagine it would be on a PC. With gorgeous pre-rendered cinematics that tell the story of the fall of Harvest and the fates of the majority of the participants of the Spartan-II program Halo Wars is not only a successful RTS game but manages to make make a meaningful contribution to the Halo universe.The experience of the team that toiled away at cracking the console RTS nut is felt throughout each mission and respect for the source is lovingly delivered with each cutscene. Halo Wars is a defining game for RTS and one that the staff of the soon-to-be-closed Ensemble Studios can look on as the culmination of all their experience and hard work.

Now we wait and see if it can live up to that! -Intangible 360

Halo Wars = OMGWTFBBQODST!!!

Halo Wars looks amazing and is a welcome addition to the RTS collection currently available on the Xbox 360. Crisp graphics, great game play and custom control scheme make this game a must have for any Halo fan or RTS lover alike. I can't wait to get my hands on this game.

Best demo since the release of Space Quest II !

10/10

This is a preview of my review of a non-yet-released demo. It's pretty good. Pretty, pretty, pretty good.

From Social Outlaw @ Feb 2nd 2009 1:05PM

"This demo makes you wish Microsoft hadn't shuttered Ensemble and given Bungie it's walking papers. Here's hoping the powers that be don't screw the Halo franchise up like almost everyone expects them to"

I give that review of a game Social Outlaw has never seen a 100% rating. It is the Halo of unplayed demo reviews.

GOTY.

:) Sweet!

The best game ever has arrived! 15/10

Halo Warz gets a 9/10 for being being the best Colsole RTS ever.

Nega-Review: "...Halo Wars is perhaps the worst console RTS made in history it gets a -2/10..." ~OFFICIAL PS-117MAGAZINE

The AI is good. The Spartans need more life.

This game was, as expected, 31337sauce. The Floods' new ablitiy to merge their lifeforms into nearby vehicles added an exciting new element to the gameplay while retaining that "Halo" feel. Commanding a fleet of zomgooses around that could devour the covenant into farm animal feed was one of the most satsifying elements of the demo. The control scheme was simply intuitive and meshed perfectly with the xbox 360 controller layout. Graphics were surberb. When I first used the zoom controls, I could see the individual drops of blood on the ground from each wounded solider. Zooming in further, I could see individual pieces of dirt, and ants scurrying about their hill trying to avoid the boulders of blood dropping on them from above. The demo only featured a few levels but each was very unique and obviously made with outstanding quality and dedication. I'm excitedly anticipating the retail release. 5/5 -JD

9.1000!!

Halo Wars is a hell of a game its like if starcraft had sex with halo and they produced an amazing offspring 10/10

Woot can't wait for Halo Wars

so after spending a few hours with this demo i felt like i had just played Starcraft on crack. the game is epic in many senses and makes me really feel that i can control the universe of Halo. Watch out Starcraft II, Halo Wars is the new kid on the block and he's come to kick ass and chew bubble gum.... and hes all outta gum

Halo Wars is awesome!!!

I can haz Halo code?

This game rocks! Go buckeyes!

RTS Demo of the year!*

*Pending my winning this download code of course....

Halo Wars is pretty, but hard to pick up. Sort of like that cute-faced fat girl you hooked up with in college.

the halo wars demo was intense.

ahahahahhah

+ Plenty of online multiplayer options
+ Fleshed out story mode
+ Decent graphics
- The AI is mediocre at best, and provides no real challenge.

7/10

The Halo Wars demo takes RTS and does it on a console. Chock full of gameplay elements and full use of the Xbox 360 controller (sold separately), this demo never fails to deliver a true Halo Wars demo experience.

This RTS game is the best one that is going to be coming out in 2009. Even on the bright side of things.... this game will only cost you $60 compared to the other RTS game coming out this year on the PC, Star Craft 2. That game will be $50 for 1/3 of the game! Why not buy a wonderful full game that is completely done! pic2022 gives Halo Wars a 9/10*.

*This rating was given because the Flood will not be playable. The only downside.

Limited release? Maxim gave it 3.14 out of 5 stars just last month, just barely edged out by Will.i.am's new shooter based pinball extreme karaoke challenge.

BEST GAME EVA

The Demo has smooth controls Cutscenes make telling off the story more intresting and lovely the Mulitiplayer is Beautiful the one (from the demo)map have intresting geography and you can choose your own way to own your opponites in MP and Single player

it has its up and downs but i would have to say it has alot of potenial to be a very exilerating game

what is "halo"?

Halo Wars is a culmination of what makes the xbox so versatile. It blends RTS, smooth transitions, huge battles, and a plethora of customizations to keep you playing this for months.

I think the game was great i had worries but it was better than i thought it would be.

A masterpiece of cinema.

I can sum my review up in three sentences:
You got Wars in my Halo! You got Halo in my Wars! Two great tastes that taste great together!

Fin.

Halo Wars demo is awesome. It's got campaing for you to try out but you can also test the skirmish mode against a bot. The demo gives you a great picture about the full version.

demo was good, tasted like chicken

The Halo Wars demo is like Folger's: Good to the last drop.

full of win.

Ensemble has revolutioned the RTS genre, moving from deer in the AOE series to SPACE DEER in Halo Wars.

As with all other console RTS games, the game is ambitious when it claims that the controls were built, "From the ground up" with an xbox controller in mind. Although Halo Wars arguably does it better than any other RTS on the Xbox 360, it does indeed fall short of perfection. When asked, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg (again) says that keyboard integration is NOT part of the Xbox teams plans. Why? "because everyone has a USB keyboard and mouse at home so we couldn't realistically sell a Microsoft branded proprietary $79.99 keyboard and mouse combo at retail.

Well it has the word "halo" in the title, so it must be a 10. Besides, how could a console RTS not be completely awesome, right?

The controls in this game are so solid it removes the need for opposable thumbs
I give it 2 thumbs up!

demo equals win for Microsoft

WOW amazing! smoother graphics and great game play along side the cool music and we have an amazing halo game

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Joyswag: Win one of five 'Halo Wars' demo codes

Reader Comments (451)

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