Halo 3 Public BETA; New Halo 2 Maps

[giga Veteran]

Wow, thanks for posting the Halo 2 picture with the new screen, that's a HUGE difference!

Not a problem. Indeed it is a large difference and I don't understand how people can't see it.

And we're only talking about pre alpha stuff here. I'm glad that Bungie has the confidence in their game to show it this early.

[Trong]

I think he means, taking the maps to the xbox so they can be used on Halo 2 there.

How the heck is he going to do that? Is there like a 360 to Xbox transfer system?

Many thanks to Giga for the amazing full resolution map shots. They look much better than I expected for pre alpha stages.

[-Anthony]

This is exactly why I hate Microsoft, forcing people to upgrade to their ****ty new console so we can play new maps ??

But I blame myself for not seeing this after what they pulled with Halo 2 for Vista ONLY.

[Trong]

This is exactly why I hate Microsoft, forcing people to upgrade to their ****ty new console so we can play new maps ??

But I blame myself for not seeing this after what they pulled with Halo 2 for Vista ONLY.

It's just like Windows 98 and Windows XP SP1. You have to draw the line of when you want to stop supporting such old kajigers.

[magik]

Well why wouldn't that work? How did we pay for the others before tho on Xbox? The credit card info stored in our profiles? I forget but i think it might be a bad idea for the maps. PLaying online with all those original Xbox owners they wont be able to join those games and thus limiting the playing field a lil. Granted alot of people have a 360 but how many are still playing halo? I know i am but (still in my disc drive now) are there that many still playing? On the Xbox it's still one of the more fun games out there for that console but for the 360 there's GOW and other games that have taken it's crown. I guess with the release of the maps a lot of people will be downloading and load up their Halo 2 disc again.

Yea, you'd be surprised. According to the weekly Top 10 Live Games from MajorNelson.com, every week since the launch of the 360 if you combine the top 10 Xbox games with the top 10 Xbox 360 games then Halo 2 would still lead both lists followed by the rest of the 360 list. It really is amazing.

This is exactly why I hate Microsoft, forcing people to upgrade to their ****ty new console so we can play new maps ??

But I blame myself for not seeing this after what they pulled with Halo 2 for Vista ONLY.

Actually, they are working on getting it in the hands of classic Xbox owners. So go troll elsewhere thank you. :yes:

Not a problem. Indeed it is a large difference and I don't understand how people can't see it.

[imgs snipped]

And we're only talking about pre alpha stuff here. I'm glad that Bungie has the confidence in their game to show it this early.

Thank you Giga! That's exactly what I've been trying to say since the Halo 3 Trailer first came out! :yes:

I absolutely can't wait for this beta, it's so awesome that they decided to do a public beta! I love Bungie. :wub:

[SecretAgentMan]

This is exactly why I hate Microsoft, forcing people to upgrade to their ****ty new console so we can play new maps ??

But I blame myself for not seeing this after what they pulled with Halo 2 for Vista ONLY.

Nobody is forcing you to upgrade to their "****ty" new console -Anthony. :rolleyes:

I also don't like the fact that Microsoft is making Halo 2 a Vista only game but throwing in the "****ty" jab is nothing more than a lame attempt to troll another thread. :sleep:

Edited November 16, 2006 by SecretAgentMan

[Neo003]

Not a problem. Indeed it is a large difference and I don't understand how people can't see it.

And we're only talking about pre alpha stuff here. I'm glad that Bungie has the confidence in their game to show it this early.

Sorry I have been living under a big rock, havn't seen those picture the truly look a lot better then the one bungie released.

What I am saying is that 360 can do much better the the current stage it's on.

[d3nuo]

Not a problem. Indeed it is a large difference and I don't understand how people can't see it.

you don't understand how people can't see it because it's those people who also believe that a next gen console (Wii) is capable of next gen stature whilst negating to include any hd-type stuff, nor the ability to play dvds, etc)...

that concludes my sarcasm, because although i honestly say that wii comment, i'm not trying to start a flame war here, because the wii has it's market (kids and people who dont care about HD goodness as well as those whom possibly can't afford the stuff to utilize HDTV) but i was just attempting to amplify the stupidity of the comment that Giga had replied to.

And Giga, you're right.. it's a very hard thing to understand why some just cant grasp the significant change from Halo2 to this, and being simply alpha status, i'm absolutely blown away and excited beyond belief to even just get to see more screenies as development progressed, let alone actually being lucky to get my paws on a copy when it's released.

thanks a bunch for posting this news, looks very very sweet!

I absolutely can't wait for this beta, it's so awesome that they decided to do a public beta! I love Bungie. :wub:

ditto and amen to that. the one game that can really get me excited (which is hard to do as i am very realistic and am aware that its just a game)!

[IceBrewedBeer]

Looks a bit cartoon-like. I'm glad this is only alpha, and I hope the final strays faraway from the cartoon-like textures.

[-Anthony]

Actually they are, I actually enjoy Halo 2.

I would really love to hear the technical reason behind this decision because personally I think its a marketing move. It just shows their desire to stop supporting the classic Xbox. Even though I was getting a X360 anyways soon for 150 dollars might I add, I find this troubling.

I mean this game was made for the Xbox not the Xbox360.

I would also like to know how am trolling.

Edited November 16, 2006 by -Anthony

[magik]

Actually they are, I actually enjoy Halo 2.

I would really love to hear the technical reason behind this decision because personally I think its a marketing move. It just shows their desire to stop supporting the classic Xbox. Even though I was getting a X360 anyways soon for 150 dollars might I add, I find this troubling.

I mean this game was made for the Xbox not the Xbox360.

I would also like to know how am trolling.

They didn't rule out the Xbox

We’ve seen a gradual shift in our online population more and more towards Xbox 360 but I know there are a lot of folks out there who haven’t made the switch yet. Does that mean you’ll never get to play these new Halo 2 maps? We can’t say for certain, but ultimately we hope to find ways to make the maps more accessible to more fans over time. We have in the past, after all.

Bungie

Also, the main reason why it's first coming out as 360-only is because the maps will be optimized for the 360, because as it stands right now, Halo 2 does not run all that greatly on the 360, but they are working on improving that as well:

One positive of all this is that the team responsible for the backwards compatibility on Xbox 360 are going to go back and look at Halo 2 again. Many of you are aware that a few bugs exist when playing Halo 2 on the new platform and we’ve gotten indications that work is being done to try and improve that experience.

This is exactly why I hate Microsoft, forcing people to upgrade to their ****ty new console ...

You're a troll. Simple as that.

[goji]

not really, alle they did was announce a demo late next year and they gave us 1 screenshot.

I was a lot more exited when halo 2 was finally for the first time in my trusty ol' xbox :p

O I was very excited about Halo 2, until I played it :shiftyninja:

No, escaping from the Pillar of Autumn still takes the cake. :p

Did someone say cake?

:p

[Ayepecks]

Final product won't look as good as the trailer eh? Not too far by the looks of it. And it's not even Thanksgiving yet. :rofl:

<snip>

I love how you all always bitch about me bringing it up when you guys bring it up far more.

And, yeah, it looks so amazing right now!

Please tell me you're joking.

The pictures you posted weren't exactly "screenshots," buddy.

[Elliott]

Please tell me you're joking.

The pictures you posted weren't exactly "screenshots," buddy.

Yea, they kinda were. The one where he's standing against the wall is a "screenshot." :rolleyes: It looks good and those textures and models are only alpha stage versions.

[acies]

I love how you all always bitch about me bringing it up when you guys bring it up far more.

And, yeah, it looks so amazing right now!

Please tell me you're joking.

The pictures you posted weren't exactly "screenshots," buddy.

yea the other pictures were actually in game. That screen shot was taken a good while ago(pre-alpha) and the textures (and non existent lighting) will look ALOT better when its actually finished. You really think Bungie would just leave it like that?

[spenser.d]

Actually they are, I actually enjoy Halo 2.

I would really love to hear the technical reason behind this decision because personally I think its a marketing move. It just shows their desire to stop supporting the classic Xbox. Even though I was getting a X360 anyways soon for 150 dollars might I add, I find this troubling.

I mean this game was made for the Xbox not the Xbox360.

I would also like to know how am trolling.

Unfortunately, there isn't a technical reason, and Bungie was straight with that

(On them being 360-only)

That last point is probably going to rub some of you the wrong way. And frankly, we can?t really blame you for potentially being a little upset at this news. We?re really excited that these maps are coming together and we have the opportunity to give our fans some new content over two years after the game shipped but ultimately, when it comes to pricing and timing and distribution and exclusivity, it?s not up to Bungie. We make games and in this case we?re making maps. Microsoft Game Studios is our publisher and they have the final call on the when/where/how part of the equation.

You're right when you say it's all marketing.

-Spenser

[Ayepecks]

yea the other pictures were actually in game. That screen shot was taken a good while ago(pre-alpha) and the textures (and non existent lighting) will look ALOT better when its actually finished. You really think Bungie would just leave it like that?

The most recent "screenshot" may be using the engine, but that does not mean it's in-game. And even if it is, if you notice, it doesn't show much other than Master Chief with his back against a wall. Certainly shows a lot of the engine's capabilities, huh? Ever wonder why that is?

And, the other "screenshot" was a model of Master Chief. Again, may be using the engine, but isn't in-game. And the screenshot I posted is from the same time period as his model of Master Chief.

I'd like you all to get this through your heads: I never said Halo 3 was going to look bad. I don't know how many times I have to tell you guys this before you start comprehending it. I said it wasn't going to look as good as the trailer. It doesn't currently, and it won't. Doesn't mean it won't look good though.

We'll all find out when the Public Beta is released, though.

[Elliott]

I'd like you all to get this through your heads: I never said Halo 3 was going to look bad. I don't know how many times I have to tell you guys this before you start comprehending it. I said it wasn't going to look as good as the trailer. It doesn't currently, and it won't. Doesn't mean it won't look good though.

Will you eat your hat when it does look as good as the target trailer? If Gears of War can already look better (higher quality textures and more detail to the environments) than the target trailer, what's to say Halo 3 won't pull it off?

[magik]

The most recent "screenshot" may be using the engine, but that does not mean it's in-game. And even if it is, if you notice, it doesn't show much other than Master Chief with his back against a wall. Certainly shows a lot of the engine's capabilities, huh? Ever wonder why that is?

Why do you think? Because the engine isn't capable of multiple things on screen? You're being ridiculous. Read Bungie's Update and you will see why it's only MC in the screenshot.

A quick note about this shot - this is an actual screenshot taken from the actual game within an actual campaign level of Halo 3. When the MGS PR team asked me to give them a new image for an upcoming issue of Newsweek magazine, this is what we came up with. It's intentionally not meant to really reveal anything - we just wanted to give a glimpse of the latest Master Chief model and I thought the level that environment artist Frank Capezutto was working on provided a great backdrop. What's not to love about next-gen rusty beams and pipes? And best of all, it gives away absolutely nothing. We told you that Halo 3 was still very much in development and work continues on making the game look and play great. I think this is a cool snapshot of where the team is right now. We hope you enjoy it! :)

Wake up man.

[Ayepecks]

Elliott: The target trailer for Halo 3 looked far better than Gears of War does. I notice you guys keep saying Gears of War looks a lot better, which leads me to believe no matter how good or bad Halo 3 looks, you all will say it looks just as good as the trailer. I know it's going to happen like that -- even if the game looked like a golden turd you all would say the graphics are amazing.

magik: Oh, so now Bungie's a credible source again? Guess all that changed when they said that, but unlike when I linked to them stating that the trailer didn't include numerous things like physics or A.I. they were wrong (even though, you know, it's their own game and engine). My point in saying that the screenshot wasn't showing much was likely because they can't make the game too detailed right now without dropping the framerate. I highly doubt it's an indicator of how good the entire game looks like right now.

We'll see during the public Beta, though.

[Elliott]

Elliott: The target trailer for Halo 3 looked far better than Gears of War does. I notice you guys keep saying Gears of War looks a lot better, which leads me to believe no matter how good or bad Halo 3 looks, you all will say it looks just as good as the trailer. I know it's going to happen like that -- even if the game looked like a golden turd you all would say the graphics are amazing.

magik: Oh, so now Bungie's a credible source again? Guess all that changed when they said that, but unlike when I linked to them stating that the trailer didn't include numerous things like physics or A.I. they were wrong (even though, you know, it's their own game and engine). My point in saying that the screenshot wasn't showing much was likely because they can't make the game too detailed right now without dropping the framerate. I highly doubt it's an indicator of how good the entire game looks like right now.

The target trailer really didn't look better than Gears of War. It just had different technical elements that possibly gave it an advantage. The sky wasn't produced by a skybox and all the terrain, even off in the far distance, is rendered in real time. I guess it's hard to compare the two because the art styles are so distinct. Gears of War is more about detail and stylizing, while Halo 3 is about simplistic yet beautiful design.

Also, how do you figure the target trailer is going to look better than the real game? Physics and AI are handled by the Xenon chip, not the Xenos. Basically everything that was being pumped for the trailer was coming from the Xenos chip, give or take some possible procedural textures and geometry. The trailer was actually part of the game, if I remember what Bungie said correctly, so really the only target is getting all the levels to look just as amazing as that one.

[magik]

magik: Oh, so now Bungie's a credible source again? Guess all that changed when they said that, but unlike when I linked to them stating that the trailer didn't include numerous things like physics or A.I. they were wrong (even though, you know, it's their own game and engine). My point in saying that the screenshot wasn't showing much was likely because they can't make the game too detailed right now without dropping the framerate. I highly doubt it's an indicator of how good the entire game looks like right now.

Of course Bungie is a credible source, seeing as how they are the ones developing it obviously! That, added to the fact that Bungie does not have a history of lieing or 'overestimating' things then I don't see why we can't take their word for it? Nobody is saying that the trailer included physics or AI, it was just to show how the final graphics will look even with the addition of physics and AI. The screen doesn't show anything but MC because Bungie doesn't want to give anything away from the story, not because their engine can't handle those level of graphics (which still have a long way to go imo) along with physics or AI. Please, get over yourself. Why is this so hard for you to believe? Bungie wouldn't release a screenshot showing MC at that level of detail if they didn't know full well that their final game will ship with equal or greater quality, that's just the type of company that Bungie is.

We'll see during the public Beta, though.

Yes, you will see. :yes:

[sweetham]

O I was very excited about Halo 2, until I played it :shiftyninja:

Did someone say cake?

:p

That cake looks like a giant oreo with quadruple stuff filliing. Awesome.

[PL_ Veteran]

Guys, look what I found in MASSIVE resolution

http://screenshots.teamxbox.com/screen-hires/54780/Halo-3/

Now tell me the engine isn't working there :woot:

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

Guys, look what I found in MASSIVE resolution

http://screenshots.teamxbox.com/screen-hires/54780/Halo-3/

Now tell me the engine isn't working there :woot:

Just think in 5 years time that will look rubbish! :D

Good find :)