Xbox Addict

Halo Wars Dated

Microsoft Game Studios has set a semi-firm date for the release of its upcoming real-time strategy game Halo Wars. Both the limited and standard editions are set for release in February 2009.

Priced at $79.99, the Limited Collector’s Edition of Halo Wars will include the Mythic Map Pack for Halo 3, making gamers who pony up the extra cash for Halo Wars the first to play the three brand-new maps online.

Here’s a full breakdown of what the Limited Edition will contain:

* Three New "Halo 3" Multiplayer Maps - Be one of the first to experience the Mythic Map Pack from Bungie which includes three new maps, "Assembly," "Orbital" and "Sandbox"
* Halo Wars: Genesis - a beautiful graphic novel by Phil Noto, Graeme Devine and Eric Nylund chronicling the first military campaign against the Covenant. The novel centers around the Sprit of Fire on a mission to discover why the Covenant are so interested in the world of Harvest
* Unique In-game Vehicle - "Honor Guard" Wraith
* Six Leader Cards - Leaders possess elite skills which can turn the tides of battle
* Spirit of Fire Patch - Start the journey as an official Spirit of Fire crew member

Gamers who pre-order Halo Wars will also get a card with a code to download an in-game Warthog vehicle with flame decals.

Halo Wars is a real-time strategy game that puts you in command of UNSC forces during the events preceding the story of Halo: Combat Evolved. The game has been created exclusively for Xbox 360 by Age of Empire developer Ensemble Studios.