Editing Halo Wars E3 2008 Demo

{{Title|''Halo Wars'' E3 2008 Demo}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
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During [[Electronic Entertainment Expo]] in [[2008]], [[Ensemble Studios]] showcased '''a demo of Halo Wars''' to several media outlets, and the work-in-progress build was available at the ''Halo Wars'' booth at E3.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.gamespot.com/videos/halo-wars-e3-2008-stage-show-demo/2300-6194807/|Site=GameSpot|Page=Halo Wars E3 2008 Stage Show Demo|D=27|M=5|Y=2021}}

==Overview==
Unlike [[Halo Wars E3 2007 Demo|the pre-recorded demo from E3 2007]], a work-in-progress build of ''Halo Wars'' was presented by Dave Pottinger, the Lead Designer at Ensemble Studios. 

Ensemble Studios showcased a game of [[Skirmish]] on the map ''[[Labyrinth]]'', during which the player has access to the [[Firebase]] and its buildings, including the [[UNSC Airpad|Airpad]], [[UNSC Barracks|Barracks]], [[UNSC Field Armory|Field Armory]], [[UNSC Reactor|Reactor]], [[UNSC Supply Pad|Supply Pad]], [[M5 Talos]] base turret, and the [[UNSC Vehicle Depot|Vehicle Depot]]. Pottinger explained the basic real-time strategy gameplay and user interface, both of which have been streamlined for console. Notable additions to the RTS genre include Leader powers, which allow players to call in [[carpet bombing]] or [[Heal and Repair]] their units, and special abilities unique to each unit, such as Spartan-IIs [[Naval boarding|hijacking enemy vehicles]].

Certain features that appeared in the demo were cut from the final build. In one demo, the controller scheme could be seen on the top left of the screen.{{Ref/YouTube|r2wAnOqzwAw|IGN|Halo Wars Xbox 360 Video - E3 2008: Live Wire Demo|D=28|M=5|Y=2021}} Ambient life like the [[thorn beast]] appears on the map, but it was cut from the final release, along with [[Cut Halo Wars units#Ambient AI|other ambient units]].

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==Sources==
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{{Halo Demo}}