Editing War Games

{{Era|Post|RW}}

[[File:H5 - Beta Red vs Blue.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Blue and Red Teams in competitive War Games.]]

'''War Games''' is an advanced [[UNSC]] combat training simulation most prominently used to train [[SPARTAN programs|Spartans]],<ref name="Grim">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/canon-fodder-3-21-15-marching-on/bbac6734-f6bb-449e-8c79-0098a02c7884/posts?page=2#post23 '''Halo Waypoint''': '''Canon Fodder 3-21-15 thread''']</ref> although similar facilities exist for inter-service training as well.<ref name="vale">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/olympia-vale '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Olympia Vale'']</ref>

[[File:H5-Breakout-Red-Jump.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Red team ready for [[Breakout]].]]

[[File:H5-Breakout-Blue-Jump.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Blue team ready for Breakout.]]

War Games training facilities use a combination of [[Holography|holographic]] projectors, millions of pneumatic risers,<ref name="fieldguide">[http://halo.bungie.org/misc/ExpertZone_Halo4_Guide.pdf '''Halo.Bungie.Org''', ''Halo 4 Field Guide'']</ref> props, and simulated sensory information fed through a [[neural interface]] to generate realistic environments in which combat simulations are initiated.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-beta-late-than-never '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Beta Late Than Never'']</ref> Most of these environments are recreated from either detailed scans, partial records or remote survey data of actual locations around the galaxy, although artistic flourishes may be applied at the simulation designers' discretion. Examples of such conceits include the anachronistic use of given starship, vehicle or emblem designs sometimes encountered in War Games simulations.<ref name="Catalog">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/halo-5-truth/7c25c1e2-29a4-4ef9-bf84-f9912215a0a0/posts?page=1#post17 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo 5 Truth'']</ref> Many locations house War Games combat decks, including several [[warship]]s including {{UNSCShip|Infinity}},<ref name="needle me this">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-needle-me-this '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Needle Me This'']</ref> the corporate-sponsored [[Munera Platform]]s and other combat training orbitals,<ref name="hwp munera">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/munera-platform '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Munera Platform'']</ref> and [[Anvil Station]].<ref name="vale"/> In addition, several terrestrial [[military base]]s also house War Games simulators. The size and scope of each individual War Games facility varies based on the needs and resources of their associated installation.<ref name="needle me this"/> However, problems arose as many departments were stretched thin due to the UNSC's struggle to maintain a cohesive presence across [[Human colonies|colonized space]]. Because of this, the [[UNSC Armed Forces|military]] began the [[UNSC Cartographer Initiative|Cartographer Initiative]] to recruit much needed War Games map designers to help keep the [[Spartan (branch)|Spartan branch]] operating efficiently.<ref name="Close Quarters">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-close-quarters '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Close Quarters'']</ref>

[[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IV]] fireteams routinely train in the War Games simulator to hone their strength and skills. Upon reaching a [[Rank (Halo 4)|Spartan rank]] of level 50, they are given the option to enlist in a [[specialization]] in their field of choice, should they wish, they may also apply for multiple specialist rankings.<ref>'''[[Halo 4 Limited Edition]]''', ''[[Infinity Briefing Packet|UNSC ''Infinity'' briefing packet]]''</ref> Baseline soldiers who perform exceptionally in inter-service War Games events are sometimes picked as potential candidates for the SPARTAN-IV program.<ref name="vale"/> The [[ANVIL initiative]] indicates a number of very select joint training engagements between SPARTAN-IVs and [[Sangheili]] of [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]'s [[Swords of Sanghelios]] aboard [[Anvil Station]].<ref name="Have S'moa">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-have-s-moa '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Canon Fodder: 2-20-15'']</ref> War Games simulations are not exclusively competitive; in some scenarios the participants train against AI-controlled Covenant<ref name="HE1">'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 1|Issue 1]]''</ref> and/or Promethean enemies, and sometimes against AI and Spartans, with some simulations even featuring AI Marines.<ref>'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]] [[Warzone]]'''</ref>

[[Jeff Steitzer|A dedicated AI]] manages the War Games simulator and acts as the games' announcer. [[Sarah Palmer]], the commander of the ship's Spartan contingent, has a low opinion of the AI.<ref name="HE1"/>

War Games simulations add balancing to several of its weapons and AI. A notable example is the [[M6_Spartan_Laser#Selene.27s_Lance|M6/E Selene's Lance]], where balancing adds extra recoil to the weapon.

The [[Military Wilderness Training Preserve]] had a watchtower to watch live target War Games around it before the planets fall.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpsqbTRYRD4 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Behind the Scenes - Defiant Map Pack'']</ref>

In January [[2553]], War Games simulations could not support AI-driven targets yet, forcing the need for live targets.<ref>'''[[Halo: Escalation]] Library Edition''' ''- Commentary''</ref>

On January 28th [[2555]], [[Anvil Station]] saw heavy use of experimental technology in use between [[Sangheili]] and Spartans in War Games simulations. By March 2555, AI-driven targets such as Sangheili had been added to the simulations.<ref>'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''' ''- Chapter 4 Page 80(Physical edition)''</ref>

By February [[2558]], War Game simulations were being used regularly by Spartans on the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}. Sometime after the UNSC encountered the [[Warden Eternal]] in October 2558 it was added to the [[Warzone]] section of War Games simulations.

*War Games Map_Set/: 118-3 "[[Ascension (level)|Ascension]]"

*War Games Map_Set/: 201-7 "[[Colossus]]"

*War Games Map_Set/: 209-4 "[[Relic (level)|Relic]]"

*War Games Map_Set/: 040-44 "[[Foundry (Level)|Foundry]]"

===Gametypes===

[[File:H4-InfinityMode-CareerWelcome.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Introduction to Spartan career in War Games in ''[[Halo 4]]''.]]

War Games was introduced in ''[[Halo 4]]'' as the in-universe framing device for the game's [[multiplayer]]<ref name="first look">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6UL63Zo-uo&feature=player_embedded '''YouTube''': ''Making Halo 4: First Look'']</ref> and is featured in a similar fashion in the subsequent ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' and ''[[Halo Online]]''. [[343 Industries]] writer [[Jeff Easterling]] has suggested that virtually all competitive multiplayer modes throughout ''Halo'''s history could regarded as War Games exercises. However, he notes that fans should not "start splitting hairs about regarding specific time frames and extrapolating implications" from his statement.<ref name="Grim"/> Nevertheless, 343 Industries has assigned canonical War Games-based designations to several ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''[[Halo 3]]'' multiplayer maps, indicating that they are meant to be seen as part of a War Games simulation.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/new-mombasa '''Halo Waypoint''': ''New Mombasa'']</ref>

File:HO-6v1.png|Spartan-IVs on Anvil Station in a game on [[Reactor (Halo Online level)|Reactor]].

*''[[Halo Online]]''

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