Halo 1 & 2 for PC
This topic has moved here: Subject: Guide to Halo PC Map-Making!
  • Subject: Guide to Halo PC Map-Making!
Subject: Guide to Halo PC Map-Making!
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Overview:
* The goal of this guide is to be a resource to beginning map makers and get them set off on the right creative foot. If you have 3D map design experience, and want to contribute your expertise and handy tricks and tips to this guide, please feel free to PM me.
* The guide is organized into 5 different sections: key programs and definitions, program download locations, official tutorials/FAQs, user input (please see above), and a conclusion.

Key Programs & Definitions:
* Adobe Photoshop CS2 (released 2005)
Definition: Adobe’s highly successful image editing program is used by professionals around the world to doctor, drastically modify, and create entirely new images. Photoshop CS2 is particularly handy for editing scanned map concepts.
* Sketchup 3D
Definition: Sketchup is a great way for you to express the more complex elements of your map and get support from more experienced map designers prior to delving into the land of HEK.
* HEK (Halo Editing Kit)
Definition: HEK allows you to create playable, 3D maps for Halo CE. Make by Gearbox Software.
* Halo CE (Halo Custom Edition)
Definition: Created by Gearbox Software as an add-on to Halo PC, the non-Microsoft-supported Halo CE allows you to play multiplayer on custom-made maps created for the Halo engine.
* Halo PC (Halo [for] Personal Computers)
Definition: Released in 2003, Halo PC was created by Bungie essentially as a PC emulator of their hit game, Halo Combat Evolved (for the Xbox console).

Program Download Locations:
* Adobe Photoshop CS2 (from Adobe.com)
* Sketchup 5.0.15 (from Download.com)
* HEK (Halo Editing Kit from Gearbox mirror)
* Halo CE (from Gearbox mirror)
* Halo PC (trial edition: full available for purchase)

Official Tutorials/FAQs:
Here are the three programs which will generate the most questions:
Gearbox FAQ
* http://www.gearboxsoftware.com/index.php?p=support&faq=2
Adobe Photoshop
* http://studio.adobe.com/search/main.jsp (Official Adobe)
* http://www.good-tutorials.com/ (un-official but handy for getting acquainted)
Sketchup
* http://www.sketchup.com/?section=support

User Imput:
Chewy Gumball says (added 10/20/05): You need 3ds max to actually make the model for your map, as far as I know, it and Gmax are the only programs that can export to .jms and that is the kind of file tool uses.
OSDT says (added 10/20/05)
For basic map design I use a program called DROMED. It was created by Looking Glass Studios (later IonStorm) to accompany Theif 2. This and the Thief 2 game can be bought for about £4 ($7) from any good games store. It is good for beginners trying to learn basic 3D modelling although it lacks the tools of more modern programs.

For advanced map design the Unreal Tournament editors are quite good. Halo skins can be added to this program to allow detailed programming. This program is quite complicated and can be a handfull for beginners

A copy of UT 2003 (with editor) can be got for about £12 ($20)
A copy of UT 2004 (with editor) can be got for about £20 ($32)

I would also like to inform you that HEK requires 3DS Studio Max which is quite expensive although I believe it can be downloaded free for a 18 day trial.

Conclusion:
* Hopefully, that helps get a few people into map-making. If you liked this guide or you have some suggestions/comments to make, either PM me or reply. If that wasn't helpful at all, please PM me and tell me what I can do to improve the guide.

Thanks for reading,
Cr0sS Eli73
Guide brough to you by The Gamers Resource

  • 10.23.2005 6:23 PM PDT