Halo 1 & 2 for PC
This topic has moved here: Subject: Halo 2 should not be marketed for VISTA
  • Subject: Halo 2 should not be marketed for VISTA
Subject: Halo 2 should not be marketed for VISTA
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Link does not work. It says that the page doesn't exist or something like that...

  • 04.11.2006 3:45 PM PDT
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It's just the original Halo2 screenshots, he's being a smartass. I mean I want Halo2 PC screenshots, they're going to look better than Halo2 on Xbox I thinks...

  • 04.11.2006 7:42 PM PDT
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It will look better because its in high definition. A standart tv resolution is like 640x400 or something. Even 800x600 resolution on a computer monitor will be better. So think about running it at 1280x1024 or even 1600x1200 with all kinds of extra features like anti aliasing, filters, and turning visual effects wayyyy up. Itl look alot better than it will on xbox....even on an xbox hooked up to a hd tv.

  • 04.11.2006 8:12 PM PDT
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You know, you guys think too much about resolution, sure it may clear up and add more detail to te picture, but the same can be done for textures. You guys have to think about textures as well. Remember by the time Halo 2 PC comes out their textures will be 3 or maybe even 4 years old. For example, even in dx7 on a low resolution of 800x600 Call of Duty 2 looks one of the best games ever, becasue my textures are on high, they make the game look beautiful. My card is a geforce 440 mx. Now take another game say Halo PC, and compare the textures on high with the same card and same resolution, and it looks terrible and bland. You guys may think Halo 2 PC's textures are great now, but if they don't update it, it'll look horrible and bland.

Also as a side note, you'll see how important textures are, besides all the resolution and dx madness, when you compare a dx9 and dx7 screenshot of a game such as Call of Duty 2, in the same settings. You'll barly see a difference, besides special effects. Textures are what make a game graphically amazing and beautifully in low resolutions. People ignore textures, when in graphics have you heard of someone saying anything about textures.

[Edited on 4/11/2006]

  • 04.11.2006 8:16 PM PDT
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Right, Dx10.

Currently graphics cards are released saying "yup, Dx9 graphics card" - however the guidelines as to what makes a graphics card compliant at the moment is very loose, not every Dx9 graphics card actually supports every feature and function of Dx9 (or any other previous version for that matter), this is because a lot of the features are currently considered optional. This means you end up with hundreds of different cards out there all with their own different features and methods of doing things. To developers this is a massive kick in the face.

Dx10 puts a stop to this, the standards have been considerably tightened, so when a developer writes a game for DX10 they can take advantage of EVERY feature without having to worry about incompatibility/issues.

Also, while Dx10 does cut backwards compatibility Vista DOES have a software layer to emulate previous versions, this potentially means that games will run slower than if they were on compatible hardware, however due to increasing computer specifications and such chances are people won't even notice the hit. In other words, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PLAY DX 9,8,7,ETC GAMES ON VISTA.

In short - DirectX 10 is more stable, considerably faster and more accessible to developers.

Why does Halo 2 need DirectX 10? maybe just for the added stability, or maybe they're doing a graphical overhaul of the game - who knows, until Bungie themselves release more information about it I think everyone should stop speculating, -blam!-ing and moaning, there are so many possible reasons for Bungie choosing Dx10 and as a result Vista that to make assumptions without any information would make you look silly.

  • 04.12.2006 8:58 AM PDT
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OpenGL runs faster than DX. But then DX belongs to Microsoft. A graphical overhaul would be great.

  • 04.12.2006 11:15 AM PDT
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DX9 cards will probably be able to emulate dx10....If you guys remember the later versions of dx8.1 cards can emulate dx9 so I'm assuming itl be the same for dx9 to dx10.

  • 04.12.2006 11:30 AM PDT
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Posted by: TMH1988
DX9 cards will probably be able to emulate dx10....If you guys remember the later versions of dx8.1 cards can emulate dx9 so I'm assuming itl be the same for dx9 to dx10.


I can't imagine Dx9 will be able to emulate any Dx10 features, but the first batch of games for Vista may well be built to run on Dx9 hardware but have Dx10 features availible for people with the hardware.

Just speculation though, we'll see.

[Edited on 4/12/2006]

  • 04.12.2006 11:42 AM PDT
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I don't think Dx10 can be emulated. You have to support it or you don't. There is no in between.

  • 04.12.2006 1:21 PM PDT
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Posted by: m3talc0re
It's just the original Halo2 screenshots, he's being a smartass.


Give the man a cookie.

They're not going to be drastically different. Don't get your hopes up too much.

  • 04.12.2006 2:07 PM PDT
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Thats not fair Omnio. DX 10 hadn't been given out to developers when PO started. They may change to DX 10 considering their time frame. There are currently no games using DX10 that can be shown right now. You wait a few months after Vista launches and I will show you some. DX 10 won't nesscesarily make games look better than DX9, but it will make them faster, using more optimized code. Strict regulations mean more optimization is possible, which means you can pump alot more out of a card.

  • 04.12.2006 2:18 PM PDT
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Posted by: OmniosSpartan
show me a game that runs in DX10 that looks better then project offset, and its a DX9 game running on a single 7800GTX.


The only game which has footage available taking advantage of DX10 that I can think of off the top of my head is Crysis, you can get a video of it at Fileplanet, but regardless of whether or not you think it looks better - DirectX 10 is an improvement over 9 in terms of speed, stability, functionality, etc.

  • 04.12.2006 2:43 PM PDT
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It will be a pain to buy vista, and for many people a whole new computer to run it, but think of all the ups to the new operating system. More stable, more efficient. If you want halo 2 so bad, just buy a used Xbox and get halo 2, thats what I am doing.

  • 04.12.2006 3:29 PM PDT
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Posted by: Chewy Gumball
I don't think Dx10 can be emulated. You have to support it or you don't. There is no in between.



we dont know for sure. Dx8.1 cards can emulate dx9, so why wouldnt advanced dx9 cards be able to emulate dx10?

  • 04.12.2006 4:54 PM PDT
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Because Dx10 is more strict in requirements. If you don't support them all, you can't say DX10 is supported. To me, emulating it just goes against the whole point of that.

  • 04.12.2006 5:26 PM PDT
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Posted by: Chewy Gumball
Because Dx10 is more strict in requirements. If you don't support them all, you can't say DX10 is supported. To me, emulating it just goes against the whole point of that.


well DX9 is more advanced than DX8.1......alot more advanced. And whats the point of emulating? so that you dont have to spend an extra $300 when software can do it for you.

  • 04.12.2006 11:09 PM PDT
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Posted by: OmniosSpartan

that was just going to my point there is NO reason for H2 to be on Vista unless it will use a new graphics engine that uses DX10, and a new physics engine etc, there is absolutly NO reason for it NOT to be on XP, hell it run FINE on an XBOX that uses WINDOWS 2000!


You can't directly compare PC and console hardware/software, it doesn't work that way - try playing Doom 3 on a PC with a 733 mhz processor, Geforce 3 level graphics card and 64mb of ram.

As Bungie haven't actually talked about Halo 2 PC anymore than "it's in development", we have no idea what they're up to. I'm sure Halo 2 could be ported to XP in it's current form, but the fact Bungie have specifically chosen to work it for Vista suggests that they've got a cunning plan.

The best thing to do is to wait for Bungie to announce exactly what it is they're doing with the port, then make accusations.

  • 04.13.2006 7:04 AM PDT
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DX 9 and lower cards don't actually support all DX9 and lower features. Most of them, but not all, which makes it hard to optimize graphics. With DX 10, you will have to support everything to say you support DX10. If you emulate DX10 on a DX9 card, you obviously can't support full DX10 on that card.

Omnio, if you want halo 2 exactly as it is on the xbox on the pc, then yes, there is no need to go to vista. I, however, would like something better. Vista and DX 10 allows for better things. More optimized code, and the faster libraries of DX 10 make it better. I don't know what bungie is doing, but neither do you. They have reasons which we don't know about. Complaining isn't going to get you an XP port.

  • 04.13.2006 8:34 AM PDT
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I don't know, would you sale a product knowing half the people wanting to play it are P***ed of because they won't be able to...?

and i'm worried it's going to kill Halo CE, with all the maps and stuff couldn't they just release official H2 maps for it, or an add-on, like halo CE works?(If this is a stupid idea, don't be rude about it please)

And with vista coming out, i know some people have just got XP (Hell my school only got XP last Xmas, and they are still buying new computers to run it better), the idea of making it for both sounds good, and people keep saying "We don't know enough", Bungie do look at these forums, and even comment on them sometimes, they would know if people were upset about it.

  • 04.13.2006 2:47 PM PDT
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They expected people to be pissed. We are getting a newer engine to mod with. Almost all the CE modders are very excited about it. CE is almost dead anyway, and this will make their creations much more popular.

  • 04.13.2006 3:52 PM PDT
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sometimes I have to wonder about some people. Seriously, why do people insist on being so -blam!- retentive?!? why can no one accept that H2PC will be comming out for Vista on DX10?

  • 04.13.2006 5:27 PM PDT
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Look Mates, you gotta remember that VISTA was delayed for a LONG time and knowing good 'ol microsoft it's gonna be delayed more...

For all we know HALO 2 could be ready to ship for PC with better Graphics and maps ect. but is waiting for VISTA to come out and reformat it for VISTA.

Also HALO 2 would be a good reason for people to switch to VISTA 'cause I think Doom 4 and Half-Life 3 will be likely for it and should also be put in consideration. MORE AND MORE GAMES WILL FOLLOW, MARK MY WORDS!

Then again I think we should all be on Linux. DA PENGUIN RULEZ!

[Edited on 4/13/2006]

  • 04.13.2006 6:49 PM PDT
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No, we should not be using linux. The only reason anyone should be using linux is if your running a server. Linux is terrible for gaming, even worse than a mac. I've tried all the major distro's (red hat, mandrake, debian, and many more), and I wasnt impressed.

  • 04.13.2006 9:57 PM PDT