Freelance
1st May 2004, 10:49
http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/halo-combat-evolved/509885p1.html
"Halo Custom Edition" coming soon
-Fast shaders (+60% performance)
-Editing Kit
-Better Netcode
-Possible co-op later
-"new executable and set of data"
Time to see if it's in the bargain bin yet. i may well buy this now.
[edit] additional:
- General Questions -
When?
Within the next week or two.
Can you guys please release it now?
No. Soon. Very soon.
So none of these fixes will be for Halo PC?
That is correct.
Have you written HaloCE from scratch or just edited Halo PC?
HaloCE is based off of Halo PC 1.04.
Will fast shaders be in this?
Yes.
Will the netcode be fixed?
Depends on what you consider wrong with it. There are a couple things we did that should improve client player warping and aiming for the rocket warthog.
Any new GB made maps?
Not in the inital release.
Will there be a way to have friends?
Actually there is a new feature we like to call "Show Bros". It's bound to F3 I believe, unless we remapped it. It toggles the names of all your teammates over their head.
Will HaloCE be a seperate and completely self sufficient game? Do I have to have the original HaloPC installed for it to work?
HaloCE is completely stand alone. You do not have to have retail HaloPC installed. However, you MUST have a retail Halo disc to install and play HaloCE.
Will the dedicated servers with custom maps push out the newly made maps to the client PCs?
No, we will not force download a map you do not have. The maps are to large for this feature to be possible. Especially for a 56k user.
What happens if you don't have the map the server is using? Will there be an option to download?
Unfortunately, no. You will get a message saying you don't have the map and will be sent back to the main menu. Our hope is that someone will create a HaloCE map repository site which can host/rate/recommend new maps.
How big will HaloCE be?
170 MB for HaloCE.
Will the original Halo be compatible with HaloCE?
No, retail HaloPC and HaloCE are not compatible. Meaning you will not see the other's games in the game browser.
Will Gearbox patch Halo CE for non-editing things, like netcode, etc...?
HaloCE has a built in autoupdate feature for introducing new features and fixes.
How about active camo for us NVidia users?
Not in the inital release. It is high on the first patch list.
Will HaloCE eventualy be supported by MS, or have they given up completly and left your guys all on your lonesome?
HaloCE is and will remain a Gearbox release.
Will there be any more updates to HaloPC?
Not likely. HaloCE will be the home for all non-critical features and fixes.
Currently you need two copies of HaloPC to play 1v1 on a LAN. Will this change with HaloCE?
Sorry. No.
Do you plan on working with Microsoft again on any future products?
Without a doubt. The amount of freedom Microsoft/Bungie have given us with this release is really unprecedented. They have been great throughout this process.
So HaloCE is effectively going to be the new HaloPC... the version that has development concentrated on?
This is our hope and goal.
What are your predictions on how CAL might change?
It is really to early to tell right now. We're just focused on getting this initial release done.
Will automatic server messages be possible? Like the server rules poping up in the chat box, for example.
The dedicated server will feature a message of the day, server chatting, and server logging.
- HEK Questions -
Will we be able to create new vehicles? Will there be an option that allows users to create new characters, or even a total conversion?
The HEK was deisgined for multiplayer maps. However, I wouldn't rule out someone figuring out how to make characters and vehicles. We'll have to wait and see what people figure out.
When custom designing a level can we create objects, ex. trees, rocks, etc. or will we be limited to default objects to choose from?
You will be able to create whatever you want.
Will we be able to change the track the camera is on?
If you mean like how the game knows to switch you to 3rd person on the back of the warthog and 1st person if you are the passenger then the answer is yes. This is controlled in the vehicle tag.
Is Gmax going to be supported?
No, we do not support Gmax. You must use a version of 3DS Max to create your content. Gmax was in the works, but Discreet charges developers a ton of money for the "right" to release a gmax plugin. However, we do have Max 3, 4.2, and 5 versions of the exporter.
Is it possible that someone could unoffically make a gmax plugin?
Anything is possible.
What filetypes will the HEK import?
3DS Max.
So, we're gonna need to somehow get our maps put into 3D Studio to get into the HEK, then?
Exactly. All maps are created in Max, exported using a custom exporter and populated with various tools. A complete tutorial will be included with the HEK.
How big will the HEK be?
260 MB.
Will there be any updates for the HEK itself or will it be open source?
Any updates to the HEK will come from Gearbox only.
How extensive are the developer console commands going to be?
You will receive all command that we used during development.
So putting a map into HaloCE shouldn't be that hard. Just put it in, populate it with items, then release it? How will textures work? Will we be able to use multi-sub object textures as well as uvw's?
Yes and Yes. We'll be releasing the tutorial very soon.
So is there a learning curve to HEK? How many tutorials from you guys will be released?
There is definitely a learning curve. Biggest thing is learning Max. The tutorial is one big extensive lesson on creating a map from scratch.
Are Character Studio tools usable?
Yes, the exporter allows exporting animations.
Does the game support baked lighting maps and multiple Map Channels?
Yes, you can bake in lightmaps using the radiosity command in Sapien.
Does the max plugin work with 3ds max 6?
We haven't recompiled the exporter for 3ds max 6 yet, but if there is enough demand we'll add it to our list.
Can you specify ambient sounds in given areas?
Yes.
"Halo Custom Edition" coming soon
-Fast shaders (+60% performance)
-Editing Kit
-Better Netcode
-Possible co-op later
-"new executable and set of data"
Time to see if it's in the bargain bin yet. i may well buy this now.
[edit] additional:
- General Questions -
When?
Within the next week or two.
Can you guys please release it now?
No. Soon. Very soon.
So none of these fixes will be for Halo PC?
That is correct.
Have you written HaloCE from scratch or just edited Halo PC?
HaloCE is based off of Halo PC 1.04.
Will fast shaders be in this?
Yes.
Will the netcode be fixed?
Depends on what you consider wrong with it. There are a couple things we did that should improve client player warping and aiming for the rocket warthog.
Any new GB made maps?
Not in the inital release.
Will there be a way to have friends?
Actually there is a new feature we like to call "Show Bros". It's bound to F3 I believe, unless we remapped it. It toggles the names of all your teammates over their head.
Will HaloCE be a seperate and completely self sufficient game? Do I have to have the original HaloPC installed for it to work?
HaloCE is completely stand alone. You do not have to have retail HaloPC installed. However, you MUST have a retail Halo disc to install and play HaloCE.
Will the dedicated servers with custom maps push out the newly made maps to the client PCs?
No, we will not force download a map you do not have. The maps are to large for this feature to be possible. Especially for a 56k user.
What happens if you don't have the map the server is using? Will there be an option to download?
Unfortunately, no. You will get a message saying you don't have the map and will be sent back to the main menu. Our hope is that someone will create a HaloCE map repository site which can host/rate/recommend new maps.
How big will HaloCE be?
170 MB for HaloCE.
Will the original Halo be compatible with HaloCE?
No, retail HaloPC and HaloCE are not compatible. Meaning you will not see the other's games in the game browser.
Will Gearbox patch Halo CE for non-editing things, like netcode, etc...?
HaloCE has a built in autoupdate feature for introducing new features and fixes.
How about active camo for us NVidia users?
Not in the inital release. It is high on the first patch list.
Will HaloCE eventualy be supported by MS, or have they given up completly and left your guys all on your lonesome?
HaloCE is and will remain a Gearbox release.
Will there be any more updates to HaloPC?
Not likely. HaloCE will be the home for all non-critical features and fixes.
Currently you need two copies of HaloPC to play 1v1 on a LAN. Will this change with HaloCE?
Sorry. No.
Do you plan on working with Microsoft again on any future products?
Without a doubt. The amount of freedom Microsoft/Bungie have given us with this release is really unprecedented. They have been great throughout this process.
So HaloCE is effectively going to be the new HaloPC... the version that has development concentrated on?
This is our hope and goal.
What are your predictions on how CAL might change?
It is really to early to tell right now. We're just focused on getting this initial release done.
Will automatic server messages be possible? Like the server rules poping up in the chat box, for example.
The dedicated server will feature a message of the day, server chatting, and server logging.
- HEK Questions -
Will we be able to create new vehicles? Will there be an option that allows users to create new characters, or even a total conversion?
The HEK was deisgined for multiplayer maps. However, I wouldn't rule out someone figuring out how to make characters and vehicles. We'll have to wait and see what people figure out.
When custom designing a level can we create objects, ex. trees, rocks, etc. or will we be limited to default objects to choose from?
You will be able to create whatever you want.
Will we be able to change the track the camera is on?
If you mean like how the game knows to switch you to 3rd person on the back of the warthog and 1st person if you are the passenger then the answer is yes. This is controlled in the vehicle tag.
Is Gmax going to be supported?
No, we do not support Gmax. You must use a version of 3DS Max to create your content. Gmax was in the works, but Discreet charges developers a ton of money for the "right" to release a gmax plugin. However, we do have Max 3, 4.2, and 5 versions of the exporter.
Is it possible that someone could unoffically make a gmax plugin?
Anything is possible.
What filetypes will the HEK import?
3DS Max.
So, we're gonna need to somehow get our maps put into 3D Studio to get into the HEK, then?
Exactly. All maps are created in Max, exported using a custom exporter and populated with various tools. A complete tutorial will be included with the HEK.
How big will the HEK be?
260 MB.
Will there be any updates for the HEK itself or will it be open source?
Any updates to the HEK will come from Gearbox only.
How extensive are the developer console commands going to be?
You will receive all command that we used during development.
So putting a map into HaloCE shouldn't be that hard. Just put it in, populate it with items, then release it? How will textures work? Will we be able to use multi-sub object textures as well as uvw's?
Yes and Yes. We'll be releasing the tutorial very soon.
So is there a learning curve to HEK? How many tutorials from you guys will be released?
There is definitely a learning curve. Biggest thing is learning Max. The tutorial is one big extensive lesson on creating a map from scratch.
Are Character Studio tools usable?
Yes, the exporter allows exporting animations.
Does the game support baked lighting maps and multiple Map Channels?
Yes, you can bake in lightmaps using the radiosity command in Sapien.
Does the max plugin work with 3ds max 6?
We haven't recompiled the exporter for 3ds max 6 yet, but if there is enough demand we'll add it to our list.
Can you specify ambient sounds in given areas?
Yes.