Halo 3 Pre-Release Discussion

[Flawless]

Re: Halo 3: Behind the Scenes

Bungie Weekly Update

Multiplayer, single player, you name it, folks are playing it. The lab formerly known as the multiplayer lab is now also the single player lab, where folks may go in at just about any time and start playing through a selection of single player Campaign missions.


At this point, they're testing out the new AI and encounters as much as anything else. The graphics range from completely untextured placeholder surfaces, too brilliantly lit and detailed objects. But again, this is a gameplay test, not a graphics one. Lots of folks focus on what technology can do for the appearance of a game - but the 360's prodigious horsepower can also be applied to AI - the behaviors, movements and reactions of computer-controlled characters. That counts for your human allies, but it's more noticeable at this early stage in the behavior of your opponents.

http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?cid=8517

[Beantown]

Re: Halo 3: Behind the Scenes



Sounds like they're actually working on gameplay...that's freaking awesome.

[Flawless]

Re: Halo 3: Behind the Scenes

Bungie Weekly Update

As it stands now, the interface is designed to make it very simple to get to a "lobby" and make all necessary changes from there - so that you can customize your experience, appearance, and more importantly, really specific game types from anywhere.

Folks who've played a lot of custom games know that it is very frustrating when the "Quick Options" selection just isn't enough to get all the options you want in a game type. You won't have to worry about that from now on. And you can also change your controller setting from anywhere, at any time. That one was a given, right?

This is obviously the barest kernel of what to expect from the new UI - and there will be a lot of goodies added to it between now and then.

The making of the Halo 3 trailer which we released on Bungie.net a few weeks back, should be available in 720p, with surround sound on Xbox Live Marketplace next week - although don't hold me to that, since these things have a way of changing. We will also get a "fixed" version of the Halo 3 announce trailer itself, on Marketplace shortly thereafter.

http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?cid=8544

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[Flawless]

Re: Halo 3: Behind the Scenes

Bungie Weekly Update

He did however introduce a couple of new maps into the rotation for test, while polish is applied to the graphics of the already playable maps. Now most of them are starting to look roughly the way they will when the game ships in 2007. One of them however, was a lighting fan's dream come true. The use of HDR lighting is incredible, with a vibrant, radiant sunset on a map location that will look familiar, but not identical to an old favorite.

Of all the multiplayer maps I've seen so far, this is the one where I sort of gasp and say, "Wow, now that is next-gen Halo." The lighting is especially impressive when you step from a dimly lit interior space onto a red-gold burnished parapet and the contrast changes instantly and dramatically. One of the challenges is balancing the shift in light for multiplayer so that you're not "blinded" when you step out into the sun and the auto exposure kicks in. It has to be smooth enough to seem "realistic" and quick enough so that it doesn't ever impact gameplay. And that level is still barely polished or decorated. Many of the textures are placeholder.

In the multiplayer playtests now, there's a race to grab one of the few HD sets, just so that you can gape and marvel at the detail, but the fact is that even on our crappy 4:3 sets (we are testing to ensure the game looks amazing for everyone, not just Richy Rich), the lighting model is so robust that certain moments look more like video than gameplay - although Halo's graphics are stylized rather than photo realistic.

There's also some very nicely finished trees in one of my favorite mid-sized levels, complete with the now obligatory tree animation. It's one of those levels where you look around and say, "Hey, this would be a nice spot to picnic," but then somebody blasts you from a Banshee. It's also one of the favorite levels for one of our new gametypes, thanks to its obvious defensible positions and creepy, narrow hallways.

In single player news...

Max Dyckhoff says, "I am working on the AI for something quite large." Actually, he told me what it was and I realized we simply can't mention that yet. I would do a smiley or a wink here, but I am liable to be stabbed or headbutted at PAX.

http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?cid=8718

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[Dispatch]

Re: Halo 3: Behind the Scenes

This is my most anticipated game of 2007. You can't even count the amount of hours I put into Halo 2 online. I have a feeling when I put this in my 360 it may never come out.

[Flawless]

Re: Halo 3: Behind the Scenes

Bungie Weekly Update

I also got the chance to try out not one, not two, but three new levels on Halo 3 this week. And play through somewhat "complete" campaign missions. The new AI is sick. It does things that are at once video gamey and fun, yet occasionally eerily realistic. The trick is making bad guys behave in ways that are challenging and fun, while instilling enough illogical aggression to make an encounter frightening too. There are some very neat moments where the behavior of bad guys alters as you even the odds in combat. It means that battles never become repetitive "pockets" of action.

The behavior of the good guys too, has to be carefully balanced, and not just for difficulty. They have to feel like they’re helping you, without making a mission too easy. You need to be the bad-***, after all. I can already tell you their driving skills have improved greatly over the last game. Maybe they went to driver's ed.

http://bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?link=24minutesdude

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[Flawless]

Re: Halo 3: Behind the Scenes

Bungie Weekly Update

And yet, it's been a very exciting week. I have been playing through Campaign mode purely for kicks. Exploring, in fact. There's lots of the feel of the original Halo, where you'll find yourself in a huge (dangerous) and intrinsically fascinating environment and just want to go tool around and check things out.

At this stage in development, the encounters are very carefully placed. Sometimes that means you're in frantic firefights (on a significantly bigger scale than in Halo 2, although all I will confirm numerically is at least one more Grunt.) but there's also time for exploratory reflection and the, "Oooh, maybe I can climb up there and check that thing out," sort of play.

Don't get me wrong. It's not GTA - it's still Halo, but there's a bigger feeling scope to some of these levels that has me reminiscing about the original game. And yet, conversely, I'm super excited about the new stuff. Using the debug menu, I dropped in a couple of items of new equipment. Maybe they’re for killing, maybe they’re for getting around, maybe they're for both. Who's to say?

http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?cid=8787

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[Flawless]

Re: Halo 3: Behind the Scenes

Bungie Weekly Update

It includes Bungie's first ever podcast and the Halo 3 logo. The changes to the logo are subtle, but it reflects the final chapter in the Halo trilogy, which is going to be darker and more somber.

Podcast Info:

It’s a cavalcade of audio fun and includes the first ever brand new sound effects from Halo 3, as well as interesting interviews, features, special guests, news and reader mail (including the first ever realtime “Waaahmblulance). We want you to download it, listen to it and give us your feedback in the forum link at the end of this update. We’re excited, but we never did this before, and we’ll take all the advice and input you can give.

Update:

http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?link=BungiePodcast01

Podcast:
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo..._Episode_1.mp3


Quote from the podcast

"With the X06 show next week, a lot of people have been tied up with that, myself included... I will just sort of go out on a limb right now and say that our post X06 show is going to be very juicy."

[chippered]

Re: Halo 3: Behind the Scenes

I've never played halo, mainly because I never had an xbox, but after getting my 360 a couple of weeks ago, i'm certainly excited about this game. Do you guys recommend picking up one of the older versions to get acquainted with the gameplay, or should I just jump into this when it hits? I'm leaning towards picking up one of the first two games used around Christmas time, but I dont know that i'll have time to play it once Gears of War comes out.

[heelsman22]

Re: Halo 3: Behind the Scenes

I've never played halo, mainly because I never had an xbox, but after getting my 360 a couple of weeks ago, i'm certainly excited about this game. Do you guys recommend picking up one of the older versions to get acquainted with the gameplay, or should I just jump into this when it hits? I'm leaning towards picking up one of the first two games used around Christmas time, but I dont know that i'll have time to play it once Gears of War comes out.

I'd recommend picking up a used copy of both. It will get you acquainted with both the story and the gameplay.

[Dispatch]

Re: Halo 3: Behind the Scenes

I've never played halo, mainly because I never had an xbox, but after getting my 360 a couple of weeks ago, i'm certainly excited about this game. Do you guys recommend picking up one of the older versions to get acquainted with the gameplay, or should I just jump into this when it hits? I'm leaning towards picking up one of the first two games used around Christmas time, but I dont know that i'll have time to play it once Gears of War comes out.

Get Halo 2. Its still one of the most played xbox games and its backwards compatable. Just watch out for the ******s that play though cause they can get annoying. I highly recommend it though, one of the best xbox multiplayer games to date.

And get Halo 1 if you want the better single player game. Both are classics though. You can probably get them both cheap if you go to gamestop or something.

[chippered]

Re: Halo 3: Behind the Scenes

Thanks guys, I may pick them up later this week.

[Flawless]

Re: Halo 3: Behind the Scenes

Halo 3 Blowout in Next Month's EGM
Bungie to break their silence on the mega shooter.

EGM Issue #210, which hits newsstands on November 14th, features a cover story exposing Halo 3, which is teased in the back of this month's issue, covered by Epic Games' Gears of War.

And that's not all! In conjunction with EGM's cover story, look for some special Halo 3 videos and features on 1UP during November.

Excited yet?

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3154165&did=1


Bring on the Halo goodness.

[Dispatch]

Re: Halo 3: Behind the Scenes



So sweeeeeeet. I cannot wait for this game to come out so getting this info is going to be awesome.

[Brandwin]

Re: Halo 3: Behind the Scenes

I cant wait for this game. Halo 2 was the most fun I have ever had with a video game. I played hours upon hours. I probably played this the most of any video game I ever owned. It could of been with friends , friends online or just random people...I always had a blast.

Whats the release date?