Halo 1 & 2 for PC
This topic has moved here: Subject: Official Halo 2 PC Suggestion Thread
  • Subject: Official Halo 2 PC Suggestion Thread
Subject: Official Halo 2 PC Suggestion Thread
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Suggestion

For team games such as Capture The Flag or Team Slayer, have a setting on the server to allow the game to go into sudden death overtime if the score is tied when the timer runs out. I don't know of many sports or games in the real world that are allowed to end in ties.

  • 12.01.2006 11:21 AM PDT
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Posted by: Kyle_W
Suggestion

For team games such as Capture The Flag or Team Slayer, have a setting on the server to allow the game to go into sudden death overtime if the score is tied when the timer runs out. I don't know of many sports or games in the real world that are allowed to end in ties.

People, before you put in a suggestion, make sure that what you suggest isn't already in the game before submitting your post, because fyi, dude, there is already a Sudden Death feature in the game.

[Edited on 12/1/2006]

  • 12.01.2006 11:29 AM PDT
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Suggestion

Have a setting on the server to enable the Active Camouflage to make you invisible on radar as well as to the eye. When radar is enabled in the original Halo PC, most people are so adept at using it now, that the Active Camouflage becomes worthless.

It might even be nice to be able to be invisible on radar when walking in crouched mode.

Another idea would be to have some sort of weapon like a small device that can be placed in key areas to temporarily jam enemy radar within a certain radius of the device.

  • 12.15.2006 3:27 PM PDT
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Theres 1 thing I want. PLEASE BUNGIE BRING RANKS BACK IN H2V!!! I WANNA SEE HOW I RANK AGAINST ALL PC PLAYERS!!!!!!!! HaloPCs players were apread across at least 30 different sites, making it impossible to see who is the best. You will definately get my purchase if theres ranks.

  • 12.16.2006 4:56 PM PDT
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Posted by: Kyle_W
It might even be nice to be able to be invisible on radar when walking in crouched mode.

It's already been done.

Posted by: Mav3r1ck
Theres 1 thing I want. PLEASE BUNGIE BRING RANKS BACK IN H2V!!! I WANNA SEE HOW I RANK AGAINST ALL PC PLAYERS!!!!!!!! HaloPCs players were apread across at least 30 different sites, making it impossible to see who is the best. You will definately get my purchase if theres ranks.

I'm afraid that's unlikely. It was announced in the Bungie Weekly Update that there will not be a matchmaking system, I believe. Therefore, a ranked system seems unlikely due to its probably unreliability admist a game lobby of custom games.

Unless, Bungie sets up its own ranked servers, where one person can join and have the game counted towards his/her rank.

  • 12.17.2006 3:49 PM PDT
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Master Kim, are you saying that the feature is approved for Halo 2 Vista or that the feature exists in the original Halo PC? If it's in the original Halo PC, I haven't seen any servers set up that way, which seems unlikely since it would be a desirable setting. Either way, where are you getting your information? If there is a list of confirmed features posted somewhere, please post a link.

Thanks

  • 12.21.2006 3:16 AM PDT
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I see now that you are referring specifically to be invisible on radar when crouching. I had heard rumors that this works in the original Halo PC, but my own personal testing seemed to indicate that it doesn't work.

  • 12.21.2006 3:19 AM PDT
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1. New vehicles and weapons for multiplayer.
2. No Aim-Assist, or anything like that, at all.
3. H2EK Singleplayer support.
4. Widescreen support.
5. Top notch graphics, or at least, better than the Xbox version.

  • 12.21.2006 4:26 AM PDT
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I disagree with #1 halo2 is currently balanced and adding new weapons such as.. should i dare say it the fuel rod.. will totaly un-balance the game like halo1 and just ruin it tbh; and with vehicles what more do you want? A hog coloured pink and fires rockets that can't hit anything?

#2 Controllers do need aim assist

#3 I could'nt care less :S

  • 12.21.2006 7:01 AM PDT
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Posted by: Kyle_W
Master Kim, are you saying that the feature is approved for Halo 2 Vista or that the feature exists in the original Halo PC? If it's in the original Halo PC, I haven't seen any servers set up that way, which seems unlikely since it would be a desirable setting. Either way, where are you getting your information? If there is a list of confirmed features posted somewhere, please post a link.

Thanks



Kyle_W

We are discussing suggestions for H2V not a upgraded version of HPC. Most of the features you suggested are allready in Halo 2. ;)

Reply back or PM if you still don't understand. I am more than happy to help you. :)

My suggestion's

1. Record game demo's. Like in counter strike. If someone wants to watch a gameplay. You should be able to record the game into like a 5mb file and be able to open the file and watch the game using the H2V Engine. BF2 also does this. It would be very helpful in many ways. Because most people lost alot of FPS when trying to record with fraps/other programs for a movie. This way it wont hurt your fps while playing. Then you can go into the file later and record what you want. From different camera views and so on. If this was implemented into the game it would make alot of things much easier for everyone that wants to do these types of things.

2. Spectator mode. Be able to join a server and spectate without actuly being in the game. Including free roam came and chase cams for the players. And be able to watch from other players POV. Now that would be cool.

3. Take out the melee lunge. The melee lunge is was seperates halo 2 from fiction to just plane stupid / redicules.

4. For the love of all things. DONT PUT IN AUTO AIM. Im talking about the controler here, I want to have even a little bit of satisfaction when I kill someone please :(

5. Have a option to optimise the game for Multicore support. Unless you have allready. I would like to have my 4 cores running the game for a smoother, faster, more enjoyable experiance. :)

6. Let guns fly a tiny bit further than 2 cm when you grenade them. Maybe not as much as Halo PC but enough for skillful nade points.

7. Grenade jumping. In Halo 2 xbox, only the host could do this. It would be neat if this was fixed so all players can grenade jump and not just the host.

I was too lazy to read the whole thread so most of these suggestions have most likly been done. Sorry if they have. :)



[Edited on 12/21/2006]

  • 12.21.2006 8:34 AM PDT
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I disagree with #1 halo2 is currently balanced and adding new weapons such as.. should i dare say it the fuel rod.. will totaly un-balance the game like halo1 and just ruin it tbh; and with vehicles what more do you want? A hog coloured pink and fires rockets that can't hit anything?

#2 Controllers do need aim assist

#3 I could'nt care less :S


#1 They could dumb down the fuel rod, so it is balanced. Maybe add the Rocket Warthog.
#2 Halo 2 Vista is for the pc, Mouse+Keyboard does NOT need Aim-assist. Even if they add Aim-Assist for the controller someone would make a mod to be made availible to the Keyboard and Mouse users, which gives a totally unfair advantage. So NO.
#3 For the Mod community, it does.

[Edited on 12/21/2006]

  • 12.21.2006 12:46 PM PDT
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- New weapons
- New maps
- Including vehicle framework in the editor so we can create new vehicles and use them online.
- Better net code than Halo 1
- The ability to plan on a LAN network.
- More physics
- New vehicles


Here are some ideas for new vehicles :
-A new human tank with multiple weapons
-A new human mech with multiple weapons

  • 12.21.2006 2:47 PM PDT
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Suggestion

Have the ability to add a server to favorites.

  • 12.21.2006 5:00 PM PDT
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Posted by: DJThnikaman
Have the ability to add a server to favorites.

Assuming we will have a game lobby system like the one in Halo PC, I'm all for that idea. Or we could do that with Xfire, maybe. If that happens, I'd also like a friend's list, Live Anywhere associated or not.

  • 12.22.2006 8:26 AM PDT
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Most of my suggestions come from a competitive gamer's standpoint.



1) FULLY FUNCTIONAL CONSOLE. Lots of commands. Demos. FOV. More tweakable sensitivity/net settings than in the menus. On and on and on....

2) NO AUTO AIM. If Bungie insists on implimenting it, then at least have a server-side command to toggle it on and off. Auto-aiming in a PC game will kill any realistic competitive community.

3) DEVELOPER SUPPORT. I was absolutely appalled at the lack of developer support for HaloPC/CE. I dont believe GearBox to be a bad software company, but their attempt at porting the first Halo game to PC was an utter failure. The game was shipped with so many bugs and netcode problems (which brings me to point 4). For up to a year, the game was not updated with any major bug fixes or added features. GearBox originally said they couldnt release updates because Bungie and MS were being very protective of the game and not allowing them to do so, but even when CE came out there was still a huge lack in updates. Obviously, from what I've heard, Bungie has no intentions of fully supporting a competitive community, but many servers are ran by teams and having a game played at large tournaments is great for profit. Without implimenting certain features after some time or releasing regular game patches, this wont happen.

4) SERVER AND CLIENT SIDE NETCODE. HaloPC/CE's netcode was absolutely horrendous because its all server-side. GearBox says this is to minimize cheating, but it became a huge burden to the players; especially competitive players. Even playing the game on LAN in tournaments was horribly laggy. Sending warthogs 443584 feet into the air only to have them warp back down and continue driving on a LAN game is absolutely rediculous.




I dont have a beta version of Vista, but I would love to help with multiplayer ideas and issues that will be brought up by the competitive community as soon as the game is released. If anybody wants to chat, just ask.


- Andrew Dahm (adahm@cs.iastate.edu)
- Former member of United 5 gaming. 4th @ CPL Winter 2003 World Championships for HaloPC and sponsored by nVidia.

[Edited on 12/22/2006]

  • 12.22.2006 5:58 PM PDT
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Well said Andy I agree with everything you said :O but I really cannot see Bungie/ Hired gun creating the game so demos/ spectator mode can be done... it would deffintly help the competitive halo scene by cutting out cheaters and being able to watch the game from a spectators point of view for lans.. it would be nice but we will see soon enough I guess :/

  • 12.22.2006 6:34 PM PDT
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1) For controllers, instead of having only one speed of movement and eight directions of movement, have many different movement sensetivities and directions just like on Xbox. If you've ever played Halo PC with a controller, you'll know why, movement is extremely awkward only being able to move one speed and in only eight different directions.

For clarification purposes, when I talk about auto-aim, I divide it into two categories: reticle magnetism, which is the ability of the reticle to "stick" to an opponent, and hitboxes, which are the boxes in which a projectile can land and still do damage to an opponent (I know you guys at Bungie already know this, but I like to clarify it so the other people reading can differentiate between the two). This clarification will help with my next couple suggestions.

2) Keep reticle magnetism for controllers, but not as much as there is in Halo 2 Xbox. Make it lighter, the level of reticle magnetism found in Halo (1) Xbox would be ideal. Somehow at least try to find a way to keep this reticle magnetism away from keyboard and mouse players. I have a possible solution to this that may or may not have techincal or practical difficulties: Implement suggestion #1 of my post, detect how the player is moving, and base reticle magnetism on how people are moving, since keyboard and mouse players can only move at one speed and in eight directions. Just a possiblity.

3) Decrease the size of the hitboxes from Halo 2 Xbox at least a little bit.

4) Please don't add anything like flamethrowers and fuel rod cannons. That will mess up the balance of the game, especially with weapons not respawning cyclicly (how's that for a tounge twister?). If you do decide to add them, please don't make them on the map by default, have them as an option. Please do the same with vehicles, if you're going to add them, please make them an option (even though the new vehicles already are an option in Halo PC). To the people who are asking for the rocket warthog: we don't need a rocket hog, there is already a guass hog in Halo 2, which is actually better than the rocket hog.

5) I know new maps are already confirmed, but please don't make all the new maps big like in Halo PC. Give the competitive players some new small and medium maps to chew on.

6) Show a real, numerical ping value, instead of the five bar colored meter on Halo 2 Xbox. A numerical ping value for LAN games would also be nice.

Suggestions on the first post of the thread that I agree with (explanations for asterisks found below the list):

#1*, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #9, #12**, #15, #16***, #18, #19, #20, #22, #23****, #24, #25, #26, #27, #28, #29, #31, #32*****, #34, #35, #36, #37, #38

* Have an option for a server to be 56k only, broadband only, or both.

** Only under the condition that it takes at least 2/3 or 3/4 majority to kick/ban a player. 1/2 majority is not enough. Also make it required for the person who suggests the kick/ban to supply a reason so everyone can see why and agree or disagree. I didn't include suggestion #13 in my list because it can tie in with #12.

*** Only if it continually refreshes connection speed throughout the game. Someone might have either a burst or what I would call a 'choke' in connection speed in the beginning of the game, they shouldn't be stuck with that connection speed setting the whole game.

**** This one is kind of iffy, some volunteers would definitely abuse their powers. Ideally, it's a great idea.

***** As much as I'm used to using button glitches on Xbox, they need to go.





  • 12.24.2006 1:09 PM PDT
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Now that I read the above poster's comments, I do have other issues to discuss for H2V.

What are the item respawns like? In HaloPC they were on timers. However, the timer wasn't activated when the item was picked up. I believe (its been a long time) the timers were activated when the map started. So it was possible to pick up, lets say, a sniper rifle and have another sniper rifle respawn immediately after pickup instead of having to wait for it. Also, the timers were only reset on a full map reload, not a simple restart. Teams with server rcon could go live knowing they could grab two of a particular item right away if they timed it correctly. I would also highly recommend server-side commands to change item respawn times to balance maps more for competitive play.

I rather liked the larger maps and really liked the maps released exclusively to HaloPC (Timberland, Ice Fields, Danger Canyon, etc). The 5v5 Assault mode that was used by CPL was incredibly fun to play, watch, and allowed for some pretty interesting strategy. There should definitely be smaller maps though because all the game types are fun to play.

Since it seems that voice over IP is confirmed, I would recommend the option of turning it off and not having to still receive that server information. A lot of games with voice, even if disabled, will still send your client the packets and it creates some unnecessary lag.

Maybe throw the Mongooses in for some new maps? They were supposed to originally be for Halo 2, but a balance couldn't be found. I take it that balance has been found for Halo 3 already? It would be a great rival for the ghosts.

I haven't played around on Halo 2 Xbox in some time. I should take a look to see if I have any more suggestions (I realize the goal is to port the game and not make a new one, but it would be nice to have some options, off by default, and ability to change server and client cvars to set up a more suitable competitive format instead of having to wait for someone to mod one).

And of course, NO AUTO AIM and NOT JUST STRICTLY SERVER-SIDE NET CODE. If there is any auto aim whatsoever, I (for one) will not purchase the game.

  • 12.24.2006 8:41 PM PDT
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Megabit -

Halo 2 Vista is a PC game, and many of the fans that are interested in it are PC gamers like myself, who do not own an X-Box or Halo 2. While "some" of the features I've suggested may be in Halo 2, certainly "most" are not. For the record, I have looked through most of the information posted here on Bungie.net regarding the X-Box version of Halo 2. Besides, since many of the features in Halo 2 Vista are likely to be different from those in the X-Box version, just as the case was with the original Halo, I intend to voice my opinion for the features I want to see in Halo 2 Vista.

Also, I frankly find it a bit comical that you make a point of complaining about "most" of my suggestions already being in Halo 2 (without citing anything specific), and then in the same post you make the following statement regarding your own suggestions:

"I was too lazy to read the whole thread so most of these suggestions have most likly been done. Sorry if they have. :) "

Anyway, if you want to say something just to try to irritate someone, you might be taken more seriously if you learn to use a spelling checker. I counted eight spelling errors in your post.

Thanks

  • 12.25.2006 6:49 AM PDT
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Suggestion

Regarding the Race game type, it would be nice if the driver in a hog could see extra waypoints on his HUD which show the next point on the map needed for both the gunner and the passenger. This would enable the driver to select the most efficient path to hit all the map points needed by everyone in the vehicle. In fact, it would be nice if the passenger and gunner could see the extra waypoints for the others in the vehicle as well.

  • 12.25.2006 7:08 AM PDT
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What are the item respawns like? In HaloPC they were on timers. However, the timer wasn't activated when the item was picked up. I believe (its been a long time) the timers were activated when the map started. So it was possible to pick up, lets say, a sniper rifle and have another sniper rifle respawn immediately after pickup instead of having to wait for it. Also, the timers were only reset on a full map reload, not a simple restart. Teams with server rcon could go live knowing they could grab two of a particular item right away if they timed it correctly. I would also highly recommend server-side commands to change item respawn times to balance maps more for competitive play.

http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/h2respawntimes.html
Read the top and the very bottom of the page for an explanation. Powerups respawn after a certain amount of time after they're picked up. "Power" weapons respawn after a certain amount of time after they disappear from being dropped. When "power" weapons are dropped when they are empty, they disappear immediately. "Regular" weapons I think respawn on a timer, but nobody really pays attention to them. ^__^

I rather liked the larger maps and really liked the maps released exclusively to HaloPC (Timberland, Ice Fields, Danger Canyon, etc). The 5v5 Assault mode that was used by CPL was incredibly fun to play, watch, and allowed for some pretty interesting strategy. There should definitely be smaller maps though because all the game types are fun to play.

Yes, we know Bungie will release some big maps, that's just how Bungie rolls. I just wanted to make sure they release plenty small and medium maps too. Competitive gametypes on Halo 2 Xbox are not played on big maps. And in case you didn't know, competitive Halo 2 is HUGE, particularly MLG. MLG knows what they're doing with competitive Halo 2 by not using big maps.

Since it seems that voice over IP is confirmed, I would recommend the option of turning it off and not having to still receive that server information. A lot of games with voice, even if disabled, will still send your client the packets and it creates some unnecessary lag.

Agreed.

And of course, NO AUTO AIM and NOT JUST STRICTLY SERVER-SIDE NET CODE. If there is any auto aim whatsoever, I (for one) will not purchase the game.

Get a friend that's roughly of your skill level and play a 1v1 on Halo 2 (Xbox of course) with battle rifle starting weapon, don't use nades. Then, do the exact same thing on the same level except with both of you on the same team. There's no reticle magnetism and hardly any hitboxes when you're shooting at your own teammates. You'll quickly realize why controller players need just a little bit of reticle magnetism. It's not unfair as long as they keep the reticle magnetism level at a fairly low level. I agree that having the reticle magnetism found in Halo 2 Xbox might be unfair.

If there is no reticle magnetism for controllers, I will strongly consider that when deciding whether or not to buy Halo 2 Vista.

Oh yes, I forgot to include this in my first post and almost forgot to include it in this one. Although I think controllers should get a bit of reticle magnetism, I think hitboxes should be even across the board for every device. Having one device with hitboxes bigger than the other would give the one with bigger hitboxes an unfair advantage in a laggy situation.

[Edited on 12/25/2006]

  • 12.25.2006 11:40 AM PDT
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http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/h2respawntimes.html
Thanks for that information. Thats useful stuff :D However, I wouldnt be so sure that H2V will follow it exactly. HaloPC didnt follow the original Halo for Xbox's respawn patterns. I was merely pointing out the flaw in the item timers for HaloPC. I think all weapons and items should follow the powerup spawn rules. Or at least have the option for it.

Yes, we know Bungie will release some big maps, that's just how Bungie rolls. I just wanted to make sure they release plenty small and medium maps too. Competitive gametypes on Halo 2 Xbox are not played on big maps. And in case you didn't know, competitive Halo 2 is HUGE, particularly MLG. MLG knows what they're doing with competitive Halo 2 by not using big maps.
I know all about MLG. However, I am not a console competitor; I am a PC competitor. PC team games usually run on much different rules; especially by all the major events (CPL/ESWC/WSVG/WCG). For example, when the CPL held its HaloPC tournaments, they did not find many of the standard competitive formats for Xbox competitions very spectator friendly. A lot of these PC competitions try to look from a non-gamer spectator point of view as their goal is to bring more people into competitive gaming and not just please current gamers. They want things to look more organized and round based. Theres definately a lot of strategy involved in the Xbox competitions, but specators usually cant see it unless they know what to watch for. The 5v5 Assault type the CPL used (slightly different than the Assault type released with HaloPC) was really really fun and made for some interesting situations. I would be very confident in claiming that none of the major PC events will use a game type other than such.

  • 12.25.2006 6:04 PM PDT
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Get a friend that's roughly of your skill level and play a 1v1 on Halo 2 (Xbox of course) with battle rifle starting weapon, don't use nades. Then, do the exact same thing on the same level except with both of you on the same team. There's no reticle magnetism and hardly any hitboxes when you're shooting at your own teammates. You'll quickly realize why controller players need just a little bit of reticle magnetism. It's not unfair as long as they keep the reticle magnetism level at a fairly low level. I agree that having the reticle magnetism found in Halo 2 Xbox might be unfair.

If there is no reticle magnetism for controllers, I will strongly consider that when deciding whether or not to buy Halo 2 Vista.

I think gamers with controllers should be allowed *some* level of reticle magnetism should Bungie stand firm in implementing it. I cant imagine anyone arguing that a controller isnt an inferior I/O device for gaming than keyboard/mouse. However, this makes for two issues. Any major tournament, should they choose to hold a tournament for H2V, probably wont allow controllers unless that option can be turned off. Also, eventually someone will develop a hack which allows you to use keyboard/mouse AND whatever reticle magnetism is implemented. I dont see why Bungie wouldnt just leave it out. If you want to play Halo 2 with a controller, chances are highly likely that you have it for Xbox and youre not going to drop $250 to play it on PC.

  • 12.25.2006 6:05 PM PDT
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Oh yea... how could I forget this...?

Let us adjust the size of the crosshair so we dont have to use that mammoth thing to aim at people. The crosshairs in HaloPC were almost the size of the Halo ring itself...

  • 12.25.2006 6:28 PM PDT
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No favoritism in the code based on input devices! This is the PC world and if someone wants to play on the PC with an X-Box controller, they deserve to get P-W-N-T! Let them learn to use the mouse and keyboard or go back to the X-Box if they don't like it. If they want to entice X-Box players to buy Halo 2 Vista by giving them a handicap in the code, they will probably cause a larger number of PC gamers NOT to buy the game. I doubt that controller players could be competitive against mouse/keyboard players even with reticle magnetism, but if it did turn out that reticle magnetism was implemented and some of the controller players were able to beat me with it, I would quickly lose interest in playing and mothball the game because I would feel that I had been beaten by an algorithm instead of a person. I play multiplayer to play against humans. If I want to play against AI, I'll play the Campaign.

Whew! I feel better now. :)

  • 12.26.2006 1:07 AM PDT