[PC Vista] Halo 2 - Out in SA

[Ruslan74]

taken from here. (http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/687/687236p1.html)

The whole mambo jambo :

""Halo 2," the game that redefined first-person combat and multiplayer action for millions of gamers worldwide, is set to explode onto PCs exclusively for Windows Vista. "Halo 2" for Windows Vista will be developed by a dedicated Microsoft Game Studios team in partnership with Bungie Studios.
Only for Windows Vista, "Halo 2" will offer gamers both the single-player campaign and multiplayer experience of the original, as well as the additional maps offered in the "Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack." Gamers will also have the exciting opportunity to build, create and customise their own multiplayer levels.

"Halo: Combat Evolved" and its sequel, "Halo 2," have achieved phenomenal success on the Xbox video game platform as gamers around the world follow the saga of Master Chief in his battle against the Covenant forces. In 2003, the original "Halo" roared onto Windows PCs. In "Halo 2" for Windows Vista, the action picks up where the first game ended. Master Chief, with the help of a small group of marines, has destroyed the religious artefact and artificial world known as "Halo," and is making his way back to Earth. There, he and the last surviving Earth forces will mount a titanic struggle against the marauding Covenant enemy. To date, the Halo franchise has sold more than 14.5 million games worldwide with over 600 million hours of multiplayer action logged across Microsoft's Xbox Live online gaming service."

Kinda funny... i wonder if they will at least add some proper high res textures to this Xbox title to take advantage on our rigs...

[doobiwan]

They've got the Hi-Res Textures from the 360 'upgrade', so it shouldn't be a problem.

[Ruslan74]

Some new info on the Halo 2 shooter coming this weekend to SA :




Achievements: If you are looking for something fun that adds another level of fun and challenge to the Halo 2 world, this is it. We have said it before, and we will say it again - Microsoft hit a gold mine with the notion of achievements. No sooner than when we finished a multiplayer deathmatch did we rack up a total of three achievements. Meleeing five people from behind (and thusly earning the Ninja achievement) was nice, but Meleeing someone who already had the Ninja achievement (and thus earning the Flaming Ninja achievement) was even better. We have the achievement to prove it. For those wondering, yes, the achievements you earn in Halo 2 for Vista (or any other Games for Windows game) is counted towards your Xbox Gamerscore.

Dedicated Servers: This is huge. In fact, I didn’t realize how huge it was until we experienced it first-hand. Microsoft had 24 dedicated servers available that we were able to test. To those that always wished they didn’t have to go through matchmaking because they wanted to play a specific map or game type, this is your answer. The Halo 2 for Windows Vista disc includes an installation for installing server software on a PC of yours too, and you can then have your own dedicated server available for which you can set playlists, game types, and permissions. We only wish this feature was available for the Xbox version of the game, and we can only assume that Halo 3 will have this functionality built-in.

Custom Multiplayer Maps: Oh, sweet nectar of the heavens. Did you realize that Halo 2 for Windows Vista includes map editor software? The software includes tools that allow you to take textures and geometry that you create in an external 3D program, import them into the editor, and then manipulate them to create your map. You choose placement of weapons and spawn points, and it uses the in-game engine so that your map visuals are as close to the “real thing” as possible. Once complete, you can invite others to play on your new creations over LIVE.

LIVE Interation Built-in: As mentioned earlier, since this Halo 2 for Windows Vista has achievements as a feature, it had to be LIVE aware. This is where Games for Windows LIVE comes in. The PC version of Xbox Live works great, allowing you to access key Dashboard features like your gamer profile, Messages, Friends List, Players, Private Chat, and Personal Settings - and navigating it is so much faster than using the “real thing” on the Xbox 360 itself. The best part? If you are already an Xbox LIVE Gold member, your Games for Windows LIVE account is included free.

Peripheral Support: We have seen no better use for the Xbox 360 Controller driver that allows you to use the controllers in Windows Vista. That means that for those of you who don’t want to change from your learned behavior, you can use the Xbox 360 controller. The improvement, however, is that you can choose to use a keyboard and mouse instead of the Xbox 360 controller. Word on the street is that the keyboard/mouse combo is the best way to play a first-person shooter, and now Windows Vista users have the pleasure of using that very control scheme in Halo 2. Something tells us that there will be a lot more headshots raining down in this one…

Improved Graphics: Like, much improved. We can now see why this game is only available on Vista. The game features much higher resolution, and higher LOD models. Everything just feels more realistic, especially when you crank the resolution up to 1680x1050.

Disrict and Uplift Maps Included: You know those two new Blastastic maps released on Xbox Live for Halo 2 for $4.00? Well, the District and Uplift maps are included as a free part of the package in Halo 2 for Windows Vista. You save yourself $4, and you walk away with better looking versions of the areas.

Tray & Play: We believe that Halo 2 for Windows Vista is the first game to use the new “Tray and Play” technology. For those who are unaware, most PC games require you to fully install the game before you can jump in and start playing. With Tray & Play, after you insert the disc and enter your activation key, you can start playing while Halo 2 finishes up the installation in the background. Once it’s installed, you don’t need to have the game in your DVD drive anymore, as it runs completely off your computer system.

Voice Communications: PC gamers have never had the level of voice chat support that is enjoyed on the Xbox platform. With Games for Windows LIVE, that changes, and Halo 2 for Windows Vista is the first game to take advantage of it. With no separate software to install, gamers can now inititate and participate in both in-game and out-of-game voice chat with friends across both Windows Vista PCs and Xbox 360. Same goes for text messages using the Guide.

Sets The Bar for Games for Windows LIVE: We must say, we are very impressed with the way that Halo 2 for Windows Vista has come off. Everything mentioned above is something that stands out to us as an improvement or added value, and that is the way to come out of the corner swinging. We know that Shadowrun is next, but after that, expect many more Games for Windows LIVE titles. If they all mimic what Halo 2 for Windows Vista has done with the service, Vista gamers are in for a treat.



link (http://games.gearlive.com/playfeed/article/q207-top-ten-improvements-in-halo-2-for-windows-vista/)

For those who missed it the Halo series are a trademark of the Xbox console, the PC version of the original Halo was kinda lacklustre as it was released a year after its original console counterpart.

Be warned this game is Vista ONLY.

[WingNut]

demmit...I've been trying to put off crossing over to vista... hmm,wonder how it will run in a Vista Virtual PC? :p

[Ruslan74]

It has slipped till the 11th June for SA :




Microsoft has let fly that Halo 2 for Windows Vista will now be available on 8th June.

It had been previously expected as early as 18th May, but the publisher turned a blind eye earlier in the month when retailers forecast a date slip.

Halo 2 Vista is a PC remake of the phenomenally successful Xbox title from 2004. It will feature new maps and an editor to create your own, as well as some graphical spit-shine and other tweaked bits and pieces. Your health bar is no longer visible on-screen, for instance, and your health will now regenerate slowly if you're not being mutilated.

There's also an expanded selection of vehicles to zip around in, and more than 14 human and alien weapons to do the killing with. Multiplayer fiends can enjoy the deathmatch thrills on Live Anywhere, something Microsoft hopes will become as popular as Halo 2 on Xbox Live was, no doubt.

It's bound to be a faithful remake of a great game, but with Halo 3 just around the corner, we can't help but think it's little bit insignificant.


Darn. Hope its out before Halo 3. :p

[WingNut]

hmm, I can download a "trial" copy on newshost... but I seriously doubt I'm going to install Vista just to give it a test-drive...

[Ruslan74]

Seems like boobies are to blame for the delay :




In an e-mail statement sent to Next-Gen, Microsoft said, "It has come to our attention that an unfortunate, obscure content error which includes partial nudity was included in our initial production of "Halo 2" for Windows Vista. As such, we have updated the initial game packaging at retailers with a label, so customers are aware before purchasing the game. Additionally, we've developed an online update which can be downloaded from www.halo2.com to remove the content.


At least it aint hot chocolate. ;)

[TG]

You mean coffee right? :p

[Ruslan74]

Yay! Somebody did understand what I meant! :rofl:

[Ruslan74]

Some issues with the game & Vista's UAC apparently :



During recent testing of Halo 2, a game developed by Microsoft and built exclusively for Vista, several issues were found. Vista's User Account Control (UAC), a security feature intended to make the OS safe, has become the number one most hated new feature. As the UAC tries to verify every program, in some cases numerous times, with an endless barrage of highly annoying "Do you want to install/run this program" windows. Virtually every power user and gamer deactivates the UAC within 5 minutes after installing Vista.. Sadly, it requires the UAC be enabled in order for Halo 2 to operate. Furthermore, the game will not run until one completes the registration for a Games for Windows - Live! account (more on this later). Simply bypassing the process causes the game to shut down.


Cannot comment until it arrives in SA on the 13th.

[SlappY]

I wanna see these boobie.

[Ruslan74]

Got the game last night, installed it and downloaded an update via LIVE on the PC. So now you can use LIVE via the Guide button on the PC, although it doesnt allow a simultaneous connection on the X360 & PC it has exactly the same functionality in being able to chat to friends & invite them to matches you host in Halo 2. For now there isnt a marketplace blade on the PC version but I expect it to arrive sometime soon allowing PC game demos to be downloaded to your PC.

The game itself is just like the Xbox version and brings back fond memories, spiced up visuals include special particle effects & slightly higher res textures plus extra content in terms of maps & a map editor. You also can install a dedicated H2 server during the game install.

Once I got the game installed I jumped straight into searching for online matches, found over 40 international servers with an average ping of 350-450 ms which isnt too bad during gameplay to my surprise! Overall not too shaby as you can play the online portion as a means to practice for H3's arrival in September.