Editing War Games

{{Era|Post|RW}}

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

'''UNSC War Games''', often shortened as '''War Games''', is a form of [[UNSC]] combat training carried out in specialized locations. While its frequently undertaken by [[Spartan]]s,<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> War Games events are also held for non-[[Biological augmentation|augmented]] personnel of the [[UNSC Armed Forces]] for inter-service training.<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|right|250px|Red team ready for [[Breakout]].]]

War Games chambers<ref name="New Blood">'''[[Halo: New Blood]]''' ''- Chapter 15''</ref> 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>  

Simulated training can be watched by via cameras or specialized areas spread out around the fields,<ref name="New Blood"/> and some facilities even have a AI, such as [[Jeff Steitzer|one]] that manages the War Games simulator on the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} 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 sometimes introduce "balancing" to several weapons and AI units. A notable example is the [[M6_Spartan_Laser#Selene.27s_Lance|M6/E Selene's Lance]], where balancing adds extra recoil to the weapon.

[[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IV]] fireteams routinely train in War Games simulations 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>

Before the end of the Human-Covenant War, War Games were mostly live training in locations such as the [[Military Wilderness Training Preserve]] before the planet's fall.<ref name="BTSDMP"/> By 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> 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> On January 28th [[2555]], [[Anvil Station]] saw heavy use of experimental technology in use between [[Sangheili]] and Spartans in War Games simulations.

Many locations house War Games combat decks, among them 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"/>

Most of the Simulated War Games 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>

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>

*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]]"

[[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]]''. [[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]].

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