Halo: Spartan Assault(MCD please enter)

[maxy]

What is this?

[Cerveza mas fina]

Xboner exclusive!

[maxy]

Nope.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-06-04-halo-spartan-assault-is-a-top-down-twin-stick-shooter-for-windows-8-devices

Halo: Spartan Assault is a top-down twin-stick shooter for Windows 8 devices inspired by classic arcade shooters Robotron and Total Carnage.

The spin-off is a co-production between 343 Industries and Gatling Gears developer Vanguard Games, and is due out in July 2013 for $6.99 (the UK price is yet to be announced).

Spartan Assault will run on any device that runs Windows 8, including the Surface tablet, Windows 8 phones and Windows 8 PCs. Your progress is saved across multiple platforms, so you can start on Surface, for example, then continue on a Windows 8 Phone.

While the game has been optimised for touch devices you can use a mouse and keyboard if your device supports it. Xbox 360 controller support for the PC version will be added a couple of weeks after launch, 343 executive producer Dan Ayoub told Eurogamer at a recent briefing in London.

Spartan Assault uses virtual thumb sticks on either side of a touch device. The left controls movement of your Spartan, the right controls the direction of fire (there's a subtle lock-on assist to help you out). You can throw grenades, switch weapons, melee and jack ground vehicles using taps of the screen - but you can't jump, and there are no flying vehicles. The adaptive virtual thumb sticks move with you as your thumbs slide about the touch device.

The story is set between the events of Halo 3 and Halo 4 and revolves around Commander Sarah Palmer's rise from ODST to Spartan. The 25 missions are UNSC Infinity simulations of past battles against the Covenant, and Ayoub reckons it should take "upwards of two hours" to work through the entire campaign. There are multiple mission types, including protection, escort, survival and seek and destroy.

As in Halo 4, in Spartan Assault you can customise you loadout, choosing your primary and secondary weapons, and toggle skulls and boosters. In-game you earn experience points and Achievements, and you'll unlock new abilities and weapons, including some entirely new to the sci-fi series. You can also unlock exclusive emblems for Halo 4. "Looking forward you're going to be able to unlock some other things as well," Ayoub teased.

There's no multiplayer at launch - 343 will consider adding it after the game goes live - but there are leaderboards and weekly challenges designed to keep you coming back for more.

And, predictably, there are in-app purchases. You can grind to earn upgrades, or you can speed up your training, as Microsoft puts it, by buying credits for boosts, unique weapons and armour abilities with real-world money.

[mjemirzian]

"What is this?"

That just about says everything right there.

[MCD]

MS is finally acknowledging their own mobile OS.

Good. Now bring on the rest of your 1st party games to WP, MS.

[Phoenix Dark]

We're getting closer and closer to Halo Kart

[bork]

ANNOUNCE NEW CONSOLE

ANNOUNCE HALO

HALO ANNOUNCEMENT ENDS UP BEING TV SHOW AND MOBILE GAME

MICROSOFT™

[Great Rumbler]

[MCD]

They are trying to clear the non Xbox One news before E3.

[Joe Molotov]

Halo finally returns to PC.

[MCD]

It's a Windows 8 "app". GFWL is dead, for real this time.

[Brehvolution]

No W7
Games for Windows Live Exclusive
59 us dollars

No :crazybron is borderline criminal.

[bork]

Halo finally returns to PC.

 

[ManaByte]

Microsoft:

[Fifstar]

Who cares, Halo is shit anyway.

[Cerveza mas fina]

Uuh maxy its a twin stick shooter. Im sure ms will poop this out on the boner too

[ManaByte]

Uuh maxy its a twin stick shooter. Im sure ms will poop this out on the boner too

At launch

[Great Rumbler]

Twin-stick shooters are a dime a dozen these days.

[mjemirzian]

Another game sent to die on Surface tablets? :'(

[MCD]

It's for all Windows 8/RT/Phone devices.

[Sho Nuff]

But will they beat Skulls for the #1 spot

[ManaByte]

It's for all Windows 8/RT/Phone devices.

It'll be a launch title on Xbone. At E3 they'll proudly announce a Halo game at launch, and it'll be this.

[Tasty]

A no-multiplayer (at launch) Halo game, now I've seen everything.

[pilonv1]

WP8 support