Halo2,5 To Xbox2

[AlNom]

I sure wouldn't mind higher resolution bumpmaps and higher poly counts on models along with 720p. I just wish they would have put an option to select between a vertical or horizontal split screen. Having an 8:9 ratio for co-op just sucks.

With a faster dvd drive, the texture popping should be lessened...right

 

[Megadrive1988]

any Xenon version of Halo 2 would need at least the following:

*720p / 1080i
*60 frames per second
*higher polygon models
*higher resolution textures
*no texture popup or any popup
*levels that got canned
*weapons that got canned
*Xbox Live & System Link co-op


I didn't buy Halo 2 yet, and am still debating (my money went towards the Ace Combat 5 Hori Flight Stick 2 bundle) so I like the possibility of a Xenon edition. I will wait awhile to see if there is any possibility of a Xenon version before buying the Xbox version.

 

[Brimstone]

I don't really care about Halo2 being ported/updated. Seems like a total waste of time and resources to me. Although getting people shell out extra money for a harddrive might be difficult. This could be a good gimmick to get mainstream gamers to adopt a harddrive. It would be neat if they made it so Xbox Halo 2 owners could play online against Xbox Next Halo 2.5 players.

They'd need to do more than that, I think. What about the possibility of requiring the hard drive for Live? Anyone who wanted to play online would then have to get the HDD version (which is probably what existing Live users would've bought anyway), and developers wouldn't have to worry about making DLC for Live users with nowhere to download it to.

Thats a great point about the possibility of having a HD requirment for LIVE. This however would prevent the subscribtion strategy of giving away 2 months of LIVE free with certain games. If that person doesn't have a hardrive and a important download becomes available, like what recently happened with Halo 2, confusion would spread because only HD owners could upgrade the patch. I guess they could offer online storage space when you set up a LIVE account.


I personally don't mind the idea of having multiple versions of the Xbox Next as long as the base entry level console has lots of RAM.

 

[cthellis42]

No surprise here. I said a while back I expected a move like this, and it's almost exactly what I expected. ^_^ Provided it pans out, of course.

 

[passerby]

No surprise here. I said a while back I expected a move like this, and it's almost exactly what I expected. ^_^ Provided it pans out, of course.

Of course some of us knew long ago that a 2.5 must be at Xenon launch. If only we were as prophetic when buying the lottery

 

[AlNom]

*60 frames per second
*levels that got canned
*weapons that got canned

The game's internal clock is fixed at 30 Hz ala Halo. Not sure how much more work would be needed to change it (while making sure that nothing screws up in single and multiplayer). No point in doing 60fps otherwise.

Canned levels and weapons should be in their own section, IMO. They were canned for a reason or two.

For a 2.5 version, Bungie should only really be updating the look. Otherwise, they should be working on Halo 3.

 

[Brimstone]

I'm still waiting for some new maps for Halo 2. Playing online via LIVE is one of the best things going right now as far as console gaming goes.


When the Xenon is launched, I figure Perfect Dark Zero online would be enough for me at first. I'd rather have a new experience rather than the same game with a fresh coat of paint.

 

[passerby]

Let me make another prophecy - Halo 2.5 will have a Halo 3 demo.

 

[one]

Where's the built-in flash drive in Xenon which was reported MS was interested in? Preloading it with Halo2.5 as a bundle just like the Metroid demo NDS bundle seems to make more sense to gain in the install base of Xenon itself than increasing the HDD install base in the Xenon users. Hell, even "Halo 3 Chapter 1" or something like that will be enough for that.

Also, HDD is more vulnerable to piracy than other proprietary devices. You can load a full game in an HDD and can play it? Now it's a bit suspicious IMO.

 

[Fodder]

Given that Bungie have said they're working on something other than more Halo now, I don't like the odds of both H2.5 and H3 (even just a demo) early in the X2 lifecycle. Unless of course they shelve their current project like they did the one between H1 and H2.

 

[cthellis42]

Of course some of us knew long ago that a 2.5 must be at Xenon launch. If only we were as prophetic when buying the lottery

Lottery chances are MUCH more minute than this one was, though. Even a Pick 3.

Let me make another prophecy - Halo 2.5 will have a Halo 3 demo.

Didn't Bungie essentially state they would be working on a different license after this point, though? I could see them working out a Halo/Halo 2 retooling for Xenon with some extras, but think their primary effort will be going into a title that isn't Halo 3 (and certainly wouldn't be ready by launch). H3 could always be moved to another developer, of course, but I think even Microsoft would be more concerned with letting Bungie do what they think is best (and it will probably be a part of the same universe anyway--in that Marathon-to-Halo way) instead of corrupting the quality (and potentially messing up Bungie's plans as concerns their future titles) by foisting it off to a second-rate developer just to cash in on the name. Halo fans will follow Bungie to their next title no matter what the name.

 

[Kill_Jade]

I sure wouldn't mind higher resolution bumpmaps and higher poly counts on models along with 720p. I just wish they would have put an option to select between a vertical or horizontal split screen. Having an 8:9 ratio for co-op just sucks.

With a faster dvd drive, the texture popping should be lessened...right

from what i know if your Xbox is set to widescreen in the options menu you will play co-op vertically. if it isnt then you will play horizontally.

 

[GwymWeepa]

I sure wouldn't mind higher resolution bumpmaps and higher poly counts on models along with 720p. I just wish they would have put an option to select between a vertical or horizontal split screen. Having an 8:9 ratio for co-op just sucks.

With a faster dvd drive, the texture popping should be lessened...right

There's still a way to change it, just select the type of TV set you have in the xbox's menu. For widescreen the game goes for vertical split, for normal sets it'll do a horizontal split. If you choose normal set and play on an HDTV it won't letterbox the sides.

 

[Farid]

Canned levels and weapons should be in their own section, IMO. They were canned for a reason or two.

The canned level and the "unexpected" end have been, i must admit, honestly explained by Bungie.

Either we're going to have to cut back on the story, [or we'll have to] dramatically simplify some things and cut some things out wholesale. Lord knows we already did a lot of that-I think the original script was cut down by 100 pages over the course of the project. [Basically] we have a big story to tell, and the game isn't big enough for that story. So we're going to try to bring it to the climax of a certain arc of the story, which I think we do, but we're going to leave it at that, and wait for the next generation.

As soon as we made the decision that this was the game we were making, we were conscious of the fact that the ending wasn't as strong as a game that had a complete story arc. We certainly don't try to defend it, we don't say "We don't think we made a bad decision at all!" That's a terrible thing. It drives me nuts when I see developers do that...a good developer is conscious of everything developed in the game, and one thing we're conscious of is that the ending isn't really the ending, it's a "Hold that thought, we'll come back to it. Hope you enjoyed the game, but that's the game."

 

[AlNom]

from what i know if your Xbox is set to widescreen in the options menu you will play co-op vertically. if it isnt then you will play horizontally.

There's still a way to change it, just select the type of TV set you have in the xbox's menu. For widescreen the game goes for vertical split, for normal sets it'll do a horizontal split. If you choose normal set and play on an HDTV it won't letterbox the sides.

I just wish they would have put an option to select between a vertical or horizontal split screen. Having an 8:9 ratio for co-op just sucks.

"They" as in Bungie. Not "they" as in Microsoft.

The canned level and the "unexpected" end have been, i must admit, honestly explained by Bungie.

I read that days ago

This was my main point:

For a 2.5 version, Bungie should only really be updating the look. Otherwise, they should be working on Halo 3.

The levels and the ending were canned or cut short due to time constraints. Why make the wait for Halo 3 longer by focusing on a Halo 2.5? Same reasoning for Halo 1.5. Bungie outright asked rhetorically whether or not they should work on an online component for Halo:CE or work on Halo 2.

 

[AzBat]

My take on this story is two-fold. There's the Xbox2 rumor and the Halo2.5 rumor.

First, the Xbox2 rumor makes me think that there will only be one Xbox2 console, but it will have the option for a removable hard drive. I can see how they might want to require a hard drive for Live, but I don't see it happening. There should be enough local storage to support Live without the need for a hard drive or they could go for server storage. I believe it's main function is to provide iPod music capability and possibly to initiate their foray into a downloading games service ala Xbox Live Arcade and Phantom. The Halo2.5 bundle is just a way for MS to entice people to purchase it. Knowing that they could possibly get those same people to purchase games or music via Live. We might see a new take on offering episodic content like EA/Origin did with Wing Commander Prophecy and their Secret Ops weekly download.

Second, the Halo2.5 rumor tells me MS is not planning on backward compatibility at launch or ever. I can see them still providing the remainder of the first-person story to Xbox1 Live subscribers for a fee($5-$20) at the same time they launch the Xbox2. So I'm not convinced this is a dirty handed tactic for Microsoft to get all the Halo2 owners to buy the Xbox2 with hard drive at launch. Though I could see some Xbox2 owners having a hard time deciding on which version they might want.

I'm not real sure we will hear the full story next week, but it's possible we will get a hint. Halo2.5 info might have to wait till GDC or E3.

Tommy McClain

 

[Inane_Dork]

Too bad TXB's insider knows what no other leaking insider knows.

 

[kyleb]

There's still a way to change it, just select the type of TV set you have in the xbox's menu. For widescreen the game goes for vertical split, for normal sets it'll do a horizontal split. If you choose normal set and play on an HDTV it won't letterbox the sides.

If it doesn't letterbox the sides that is because the tv is stretching the image to fit the screen. Unfortunately the game doesn't simply doesn't support horizontal split widesreen. Also in fullscreen the HUD is just stretched to fit, they did a really poor job with the widescreen support in Halo2 all around.

 

[overclocked]

Either we're going to have to cut back on the story, [or we'll have to] dramatically simplify some things and cut some things out wholesale. Lord knows we already did a lot of that-I think the original script was cut down by 100 pages over the course of the project. [Basically] we have a big story to tell, and the game isn't big enough for that story. So we're going to try to bring it to the climax of a certain arc of the story, which I think we do, but we're going to leave it at that, and wait for the next generation.

That´s bull, it only required one more map after the "climax" too feel completed. It´s like a movie the ending can/will destroy the whole experience.
I still don´t get why you should play as the Arbiter, it was cool one map..