"will tap into the power of Live Anywhere, a service similar to Xbox Live, to deliver online matchmaking for PC gamers."
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"will tap into the power of Live Anywhere, a service similar to Xbox Live, to deliver online matchmaking for PC gamers."
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For the record, that damn wall has a real foul sense of humor, and it pulled the last straw with me when it started cracking on my new loafers...
Hello all!! Some of you know me (obviously from the above posts). For those who don't, I am an average no-namer who set out to create a cool Halo 2-inspired mod for Halo CE, along with the help of a select few buddies, and proved to be lucky enough to hit the big time with Bungie over in Kirkland working on Halo 2 Vista.
I'll try to answer a few questions you guys have without violating my NDA.
The reason for the "Press X to pick up n00brifle" is for exactly what is being speculated. A lot of the testers over here prefer to use USB Xbox 360 controllers in their tests. They like the familiar feel, and I assure you, the controls and feel are identical to that of Xbox, so rest assured Xbox fanboys, this game suits you too.
As you could imagine, the game is not yet done and the shaders are still being worked on every day. The screenshots you see, although still beautiful (took some of those myself, TVM =P ), they only display the current state of the game. Most inaccuracies you see will/have already been fixed. Every day when we all go and grab the newest build, there is always at least one visual thing in the game that makes you say "Oooh, that came out nice!!". This game is visually STUNNING when seen in person, and played at high-res. It runs particularly well on the systems we have over here at Bungie, and I see no problems on the horizon for performance. At least a few times a day, one of the Xbox guys will come over, and become mesmerized by the beauty being displayed on my screen. I have an Xbox debug kit on my desk as well, and it is always running Halo 2 in high-definition on a kick-ass TV, and Halo 2 Vista puts it to absolute shame. Halo 2 Xbox just doesn't compare, even when in high-def. Screenshots will NEVER do this game justice. Do not judge it by simple in game shots.
Yes, Elites are still a multiplayer option. They just didn't seem to be used in that playtest. I guess no one fealt like being one *shrug*
The map editor!!!11!111 I wish I could just spew out information to the masses about it, but I have a red dot aiming on my forehead as is!!! Just be sure that Halo 2 Vista is going to revolutionize what we know about Halo. Halo CE ain't got nothin' on this, and you can quote me on that. You'll never go back. Welcome to your new lifestyle, ladies.
I'll drop on in here and answer some questions when I can. Please don't bombard me, and DO NOT ask me to do anything that would jeapordize my job.
Cheers!
- Nitrous
Well that will make machinima making easier for the PC, and now I don't have to check my Typing before hiting "Enter" and Now I can really Add that Real LOL too all of my Funny Deaths, oh and yes, Welcome Nitro, nice to see you, Plz feel free to Tell us to Wait a Few more months longer for some more Updates on Halo 2 Vista.Quote:
Originally Posted by MereCatfish
;_; /me wants h2v
Yea dont we all mr reaper.
And we know that halo2 vista will be better than halo2 xbox.
Take some UI pics :O
Okay some questions.
Is there a ranking system?
Does the needler have the holes modeled in or is it just me?
Are there any vehicles ingame yet?
Alright, let me try to address this, because some of you guys are saying things that don't make sense.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZephDidn't see this post earlier, but I AM complaining. For a title that can output at 1900x1200, the detail is terrible; both first person ans slightly third. Even though the bump map system is supposed to make things look 3D, it cant make up for such flat geometry. Bump mapping should be done for texture details, not replacing geometry.
edit: Although I started this argument based on things like the needler, fp arms, and walls close up, I found a great example of how the geometry needs desparate overhaul to make the game look like it warranted a port to PC.
First of all, bump mapping is bothed used for shader enhancement and geometry substitution. See, in a game, especially one as graphically enhanced as Halo 2, the developers need to make sacrifices to keep the game running as a decent framerate. Completely redoing those trees to replace the bum pmapping with actual geometry would be an extremely expensive (meaning performance-wise, not money). We would be turning a simple tree that is maybe a few hundred polys into this massive mesh of a several thousand polys. Something like this that has such an insignificant visual impact would not be worth the massive performance hit. All of the trees in that scene probably total around 1,000 polys. Now imagine EACH TREE being several thousand polys. No thanks, I'll take the bump mapping, which looks nearly just as good unless you sit there and study it. :)
Please don't be so quick to judge and say the detail is 'terrible', because it definately is not. See, this is a direct Xbox to PC port, and the detail in this game by FAR exceeds was is expected for an Xbox title. Halo 2 is more like a game that originated on the PC, and ended up on the Xbox, due to the amount of careful visual detail.
The game definately does not need a graphical overhaul, although it is getting one. Like I said earlier, a lot of this stuff is very early and the shaders are intensely under the knife at the moment. So far, there have been some graphical improvements to some weapons. I don't know exactly which ones are finished yet, because it's not my area, but for one I can take a look at the Battle Rifle in FP and get a little tingly feeling...
I think you're being a little too critical. Please don't be so quick to judge.
- Nitrous
<3 the new hi-res normal maps and textures... total freakin win
No, this isn't Halo 2.5. This is Halo 2 on a hardware up to hundreds of times better on resolutions up to 30 times larger, costing the consumer 3/4 to 2 and 1/2 times as much (assuming the TV and computer hardware are not factored in. Basically saying that you have to buy the xbox/OS and the game).Quote:
Originally Posted by Boo Diddly
Not only that, but the decision for the game to be put on Vista was a developement decision. Vista is much greater for gaming, so why is the geometry still simple boxes with a texture mapping system designed to make lower resolutions look much better.
Edit: Didn't see the second page with Nitro's posts.
First off, good to see you again Nitro. GBX was black and brown last time I talked on a board with you. I do agree that it would be rather costly to redo the geometry, but I was under the assumption that was part of the graphic overhaul. Yeah, if you were to enhance the above mentioned trees, the polycount would skyrocket. I pointed out the trees simply because they're an extreme. I was more focused about the fp objects.
Yea I understand what your saying Nitro.
Something as small as a tree, being thousand polys, wouldnt make sense, but to ahve it 100 polys and a nice bump map, looks almost the same. But for a weapon, bump maps wont cut it, expecially in first person. Thats one of the most studied objects really, so yea imo scenery = mostly bump map, weapons = mostly geometry.
