Halo Wars, which we took an extended look at recently during E3, is taking the future created by Bungie into the realm of real-time strategy. At Comic-Con International 2008, we're going to see what else is in store for the Halo Universe.
2:15 P.M.: The panel hasn't started yet, but Halo fans (generally 15 and under) are posing for pictures with Bungie's Frank O'Connor. Graeme Devine is also milling about, so we'll probably get plenty of game info, and not just stuff related to novels, card games, novelties and so on.
Here we go, a distinctive Halo theme is playing and panelists take the stage. Heh, one of them says that the music is just horrible. A soundtrack producer somewhere is crying his eyes out. Frank apparently woke up just a half-hour ago. Microsoft and Bungie apparently like to party at Comic-Con!
Panelists are introduced. Graeme Devine from Ensemble Studios. Frank O'Connor from Microsoft Game Studios. Joe Statton, director of cinematics for Bungie. Responsible for cinematics and writing for all three Halo games. Eric Nylund, a hell of a writer and pretty good with the ladies. Toby Buckell who works with Tor Books. Jon Goff and Corinne Robinson from McFarlane Toys are here with action figures and toys. They have some prizes for the audience, which the avid collecting audience cheers for.
2:20 P.M.: The panel is discussing Graeme Devine's long history in the industry, which began when he started working at the age of fourteen. That's right, one-four. He ported Pole Position to the PC, wow. As co-founder of Trilobyte, he was responsible for 7th Guest and 11th Hour. He also helped with Quake III: Arena, and now he's at MS-owned Ensemble, the team behind the "Age of" series of strategy games.
2:23 P.M.: Graeme begins, "How do you expand upon the Halo universe? Halo Wars takes place at the beginning of the conflict, and is the story of the two-and-a-half kilometer ship "Spirit of Fire."
He drops some info about the cinematic. This opening cinematic covers the five long years after the Covenant's initial attack. It's a blasted arctic wasteland after this attack, and where our story starts.
