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In addition to looking at the lighter and weirder side of the game industry, System Update provides the latest information on weekly console updates, DLC, game-specific updates, and other game-industry flotsam and jetsam.

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Halo Wars figured out by McFarlane

As low-key as Microsoft has been about the real-time strategy spin-off to its Halo franchise, rest assured that Halo Wars will arrive alongside a wealth of marketing tie-ins, one more of which was revealed today. McFarlane Toys, maker of the Halo 2 and Halo 3 action figures, is continuing its partnership with Microsoft for Halo Wars.

Given that Halo Wars operates on a much larger scale than its first-person progenitor, it would be impractical for collectors to replicate the game's massive battles with McFarlane's original line of full-sized Halo action figures. Instead, the Halo Wars toys will stand 2.5 inches tall and feature waist articulation.

The first series will consist of four bundles with three figures each. Three packs will include Spartans and Marine infantry units in a variety of colors and poses, while the fourth pack will include two Covenant Elites and a Grunt. Each pack will sell for $10.

The toys will be available in spring 2009, while the actual game Halo Wars has a more vague "early 2009" launch window. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

59 Comments

  • MiLDracuLA

    Posted Sep 14, 2008 5:21 am PT

    DogBen

    Posted Sep 12, 2008 12:47 am GMT

    The master chief hero should be able to take out the whole covenant by himself if this game were realistic compared to halo 3

    What you've gotta know, is that an RTS isn't like an FPS. In Halo, Master Chief dies, and then you re-spawn. That's not gonna be the case with an RTS. Because Master Chief himself is so powerful, he won't re-spawn. Re-spawning in the FPS makes the Master Chief look indestructible, but think about how many times you've died in the game...in real life, or an RTS, when your unit dies, it stays dead.

  • Biohazard080608

    Posted Sep 12, 2008 11:28 am PT

    Lets see how they look first

  • DogBen

    Posted Sep 11, 2008 4:47 pm PT

    The master chief hero should be able to take out the whole covenant by himself if this game were realistic compared to halo 3

  • YoJim8obaJoe

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 5:59 pm PT

    Detail dont seem as good as some of his other ranges

  • jimmy_jamain

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 2:33 pm PT

    anyone can collect figures. alot of people do. so hush

  • shaun_mcwayne

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 12:18 pm PT

    any word on new gears figures?

  • VenomRitual

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 11:57 am PT

    I have an unopened FMA of alphonse and joker Long Halloween from the TPB. I prefer them for look so sorry Mcfarlane, I go for quality and size. i don't need them to move.

  • Durhamster

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 11:37 am PT

    Halo action figures? Wow, a lot of people must really be willing to give up their dignity

  • AZisBack

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 10:41 am PT

    GodsPoison "Huh, i can already see the more nerdy type turning this into some kind of Warhammer strategy type board game with the figurines......" They already have it is called Halo Clix.

  • n3ck

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 9:38 am PT

    my 3yr old boy loves Halo3, he calls it Guerrilla. He has the toys, his fav figure is the Scout Armour chief

  • robotecha5

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 9:28 am PT

    @raahsnavji, Im 18 and I still collect action and so does my father for that matter as well as plenty of other adults, In fact the vast bulk of action figure collectors are 18+

  • ahmedbilal1993

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 7:56 am PT

    perfectly agree with raahsnavj

  • raahsnavj

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 7:00 am PT

    May I make a slight aside for a moment... what 17+ year old is buying 2.5" action figures of Halo? Remember this is an M rated game here... collectors items? may I remind you of the amazing 'collective' nature of the Halo helmet that came with Halo 3...

    This should be proof enough that the 'M' on games is a wasted and worthless venture that doesn't keep kids from playing them. The ESRB should be scrapped so devs can quit paying out fees for this wasted red-tape. Factor in yesterdays thread about 'halo boy' that shot himself while acting out the game if you need more proof that the 'M' doesn't mean anything.

  • ThAdEa82

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 6:27 am PT

    Many girls prefer larger...

    Anyways, the question still remains...in the box or out

  • madonnawayne

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 5:40 am PT

    I like the idea of these...$10 for a few small figures isn't any worse than $12 for a 5.5" P:
    I collect gashapon & trading figures primarily versus action figures so I would love to get one of the Spartan/Marine packs to go on my desk, amongst my collection of various Japanese trading figures. I need some Western to spruce it up a bit.

    "Toys." Hahaha. I do not get offended by that. Sure some people openly mock myself and other collectors like me for being interested in such a "useless hobby as toys" but that's what people tell me about liking video games and comic books too. Hahaha.

  • 0011992288

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 5:02 am PT

    raverrozza:
    That's what she said!

  • -HCMF-

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 5:00 am PT

    Yeah, more crap that won't sell!

  • xMADxDOGx

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 4:28 am PT

    toy soldoier

  • Dreski83

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 3:46 am PT

    I guess thats kind of cool... but I rather McFarlane focus his mountains of booko cash on bringing Spawn back to the big screen! It doesn't even have to be live action, try what the recent Star Wars 3D animation did or even a Final Fantasy type of digital-fest, something along those lines dammit!!

  • azurik15

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 1:42 am PT

    Cool!

  • raverrozza

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 1:35 am PT

    I would prefer a 6-7 inch range...

  • ssjdagas

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 11:58 pm PT

    I rather spend my money on the game than some action figures. Never understood American's fascination with action figures, no offense.

  • Elann2008

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 11:03 pm PT

    Personally, McFarlane Toys are no match for NECA and DC Unlimited. I have purchased action figures from all three companies (I have Halo Series 1 Master Chief), NECA and DC Unlimited has far superior quality and attention to detail. Surely, McFarlane focuses more on articulation but I dont need articulation! You only need articulation if you plan to "play" them as toys. I have them standing in a showcase as collectibles. McFarlane also likes to make his "toys" smaller than everyone else, standing at 5-5.5 inch tall, whereas, NECA and DC Unlimited are in the 6-7 inch range, which I much rather prefer. I wish NECA made Halo collectibles instead.

    Enough with the puns already!

  • xerxes5678

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 9:40 pm PT

    Sounds interesting. McFarlane did some really good dragon stuff, and I think his Military series was excellent.

  • Sendmn23

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 8:56 pm PT

    Toys? Toys? Thats what lifes all about. I mean if you really think about it. Its a toy no matter which way you slice it. My X-box 360 is my toy? My car is a toy! My chic is a Toy! My t.v. is a toy! my p&n@a#% is a toy! everything in this world is a toy! Halo is not a damn toy!!!! The one who dies with the most toys wins right?

  • johninthebox

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 8:29 pm PT

    how dare they call my action figures "toys"

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 7:27 pm PT

    cool to bad that ensemble is over.

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 7:27 pm PT

    cool to bad that ensemble is over.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 7:26 pm PT

    I'm going to have to pass

  • mankeyador

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 7:06 pm PT

    they seem more like stands than action figures

  • blowtrees

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 6:37 pm PT

    A+ McFarlane Toys are marvelously detailed. Not many spawn survived my childhood, but I can attest to their durability as well. My Datsyuk and Zetterberg sit on my bookshelf always playing keep away with the puck.

  • ktwq

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 6:33 pm PT

    Toys sounds so.... childish. They're called action figures

  • earlthecannibal

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 6:32 pm PT

    In other news Halo tooth brushes hit the production line.

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 6:29 pm PT

    -HaloHitman- Posted Sep 9, 2008 5:40 pm PT Why do people collect these TOYS?
    ~~~
    And games, computer games, are not really toys to amuse ourselves with...different strokes for different folks.

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 6:18 pm PT

    Fail to understand this concept is failure to understand 75% of the money that Star Wars has generated, never mind the money McF collectibles have brought to the table.

    Like it or not Lucas is still king of that...and MS is not stupid.

  • videosk8er657

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 6:17 pm PT

    i think it is just a way to make MORE MONEY!

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 6:12 pm PT

    This just reminds me of Warhammer 9000 and the first time i walked in on some kid and his mom painting some characters, then leaving and walking back 6 hours later to see them doing the same thing at the store ... um ... theres only so much you can do with static action figures.

  • Ra-Devil

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 5:51 pm PT

    I loved McFarlane figures, but their recent Halo ones are almost too small, they needed to be about an inch taller. These could be cool if you got a lot of them together, and at a price of $10, it's not a terribly bad idea... and this kind of stuff is only for people who are into putting figures on a shelf, so if you're not into that, then I can understand your whole "TOYS" set of ideals. I have a few on one of my shelves now, and they're only there because I want them to be, and no other reason. My uncle's wife gets him tons of anime chick ones all the time, it's actully really funny. There's a whole bunch just sitting on the shelves in both the living room and his bedroom.

  • mjk_1

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 5:47 pm PT

    no thanks.

  • -HaloHitman-

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 5:40 pm PT

    Why do people collect these TOYS?

  • Chico_Azteca

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 5:29 pm PT

    Altair figure likes to be alone with Tifa....thanks

  • -E-N-E-M-Y-

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 5:25 pm PT

    Halo, no, Gears of War, yes.

  • DrKill09

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 5:18 pm PT

    Yay, another lame pun! Thanks Gamespot!

  • miniku

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 5:12 pm PT

    They're totally toys. People just happen to collect them. =)

  • the_real_VIP

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 5:06 pm PT

    They're not toys people, they're collectibles. There's a difference.

  • QualityJeverage

    Posted Sep 9, 2008 5:04 pm PT

    @keithajackson

    Ever been on Xbox Live? I'd say most Halo players would be happy to get a "Halo Playset with REAL MELEE ACTION!"

    Of course, I think these figures are more intended for the collectors. So for them, this is good news!

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