Halo Wars Controls Better than PC RTS?

[Emabulator]

Computer and Video Games has interviewed (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=201863) Ensemble's Graeme Devine about their upcoming RTS for the Xbox 360, Halo Wars. They covered many topics including Graeme's confidence in how well the controls work. You say the controls are better than PC RTS games. That's quite a bold claim...

Graeme Devine: Yes I realise that, and you're going to back that up for me when you play the game. It's a brash thing to say but I wouldn't say it if I didn't believe it.

We spent the first year of this project just working on the controls. There was no Halo IP, there was no concept of this becoming a Halo game. Without the controls working it's pointless even doing the game.

So we actually took Age of Mythology and we set ourselves a target. One of our testers, who's a hardcore RTS PC guy came over and told us that it's easier to play with the controller than it is with a mouse and keyboard.

At that point, we gave ourselves the green light. It took about 12 months of playing with the controller to hit that milestone so at that point I felt it was ready. I've seen enough people converted to be pretty confident about it.

[Phinor]

It's the same people claiming you can play fps games with a gamepad better than with a mouse/keyboard. Now, I know you can make RTS controls "work" with a gamepad, but you most certainly can't make them rival a simple mouse control. Way too many compromises needed.

[modeps]

It's the same people claiming you can play fps games with a gamepad better than with a mouse/keyboard. Now, I know you can make RTS controls "work" with a gamepad, but you most certainly can't make them rival a simple mouse control. Way too many compromises needed.

They discussed Halo Wars on the latest Idle Thumbs podcast. While they said it controlled well, it was still an RTS on a console... implying that RTS games on PCs still control better.

[Vandenh]

Probably apples and oranges. I like both mouse/keyb and controller for FPSes. So I guess you can get used to good RTS controls as well. Why do we even have to compare this stuff all the time?

[Kweli]

If your dealing with smaller amounts of units i can see this working out fine...

But say.. a World in Conflict, or Company or Heroes... i dont know how you could do this.. Every unit having 1-3 special abilities, battles happening at different points on the map... Sometimes i cant keep up with a mouse

[Frogleg Special]

I thought all the Ensemble guys got fired. Of course he's gonna say that when there's a Damocles sword above his neck.

[Roc Ingersol]

As with shooters, keyboard/mouse will always be more precise.
But, as with shooters, it just doesn't matter.

As soon as the controls are good enough that the games are fun, that's all that matters.

[Khash]

hahhah yea fucking right.

[Mr.Green]

hahhah yea fucking right.

Thanks for this deep, thoughtful analysis.

[Steve_Erhardt]

Thanks for this deep, thoughtful analysis.

Honestly, I think Khash gave the subject all the deep, thoughtful analysis it warranted.

It's a good thing they are able to do RTS on a console at all, but let's be reasonable here... that gamepad just isn't the equal, much less the better, of a KB/Mouse setup. Will it work? Sure; the same way I can use the fat end of my plumbing wrench for a hammer in a pinch. That doesn't mean it's the right tool for the job, let alone a better one.

[Chimp]

Honestly, I think Khash gave the subject all the deep, thoughtful analysis it warranted.

I have to agree. Even trying to argue that the controls are at parity is a joke.

It's like the controller vs. kkb/mouse argument for shooters. I remember how one of the PC gaming magazine crews played Halo vs. some console gaming magazine crew. The console guys played Halo all the time hardcore and were talking shit about how they were going to rape the PC guys, who were Halo novices and had only the advantage of the mouse/kb combo.

Needless to say, the PC guys won handily. While you can play shooters on a console, they are nowhere near as precise as KB/mouse. Period.

[Froggy]

I like when people argue for or against these claims before they've had the opportunity to try it. I like it because it reminds me that people are still stupid and easy to control. :)

[Steve_Erhardt]

I like when people argue for or against these claims before they've had the opportunity to try it.

You have a point, but in all truthfulness, some things are, in fact, no-brainers. Game Console Contoller < KB/Mouse for RTS is one of them. It's as clear as Dogshit < Chocolate Pudding for taste. You can claim some pile of dogshit is the tastiest confection in the history of ever, but plainly, this is just not possible.

[Venkman]

I'll believe that when I try the demo. These games require demos before purchase.

I've yet to see a console RTS do this stuff well. Civ Rev was OK, but it was hardly the fast paced game that Starcraft or Halo Wars are.

[TJF33]

Is this going to be a cheap way to make money off the halo name, or will Halo Wars be an epic RTS that's actually fun?

[trip1eX]

IT's "easier to play" because the game is watered down.

IT's not like they reinvented the analog stick or put 100 buttons on the gamepad.

[Johan]

Honestly, I think Khash gave the subject all the deep, thoughtful analysis it warranted.

I agree. What a load of crap. Better than PC RTS controls? Right...