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This topic has moved here: Subject: Hang 'Em High/High Noon is a Massive Forge Environment
  • Subject: Hang 'Em High/High Noon is a Massive Forge Environment
Subject: Hang 'Em High/High Noon is a Massive Forge Environment

I decided to spend more time on this theory I have. Some of you frequent forum-goers might have seen my post from two days ago, but I decided to revamp it, with specific evidence, links to gameplay videos, etc. Please note that 343i has already revealed that lots of the map is Forgeable with an unspecified amount of new objects, but other than that they have been tight-lipped about this map.

My theory is that High Noon, formerly known as Hang 'Em High, is a large Forge environment.

Here are the links to the videos that I will reference, which I recommend you skim through before continuing. Mostly pay attention to the map, not the combat.

High Noon Gameplay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fthwBbP11QA
High Noon Presentation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YnWqmQVEqs


Things to note at the start of the gameplay:

The Loadout cam gives us a great shot of what continues past the HEH (Hang 'Em High) remake. This map is beautiful in a style we rarely see in Halo. This could just be an impressive amount of added scenery, it could be because the boundaries of the map are include these details. Either way, I'm impressed with 343i.

Notice the large distant wall, which is actually part of a pair of symmetrical walls that could be the boundaries of the map. You can see that they go way past the wall with the shield doors that makes up the edge of HEH.

Right when the game actually starts in the gameplay video, look at the nearby surrounding scenery. This is definitely baked into the map, shown by the complex textures, random grass, and especially by the callout, Blue Base. This could be a genius strategy by 343i. I think that they knew that to make us still love High Noon as not just a Forge environment but as the remake of the classic map, they add some fixed parts of the map so that some of it doesn't look Forged, like the bases.

If High Noon is a Forge environment like I say it is, then this area that the HEH remake is in seems to be specially for symmetrical maps, as it has a symmetrical blue base and bunker and red base and bunker. Besides a few other fixed details though, like the Trench, the rest of the map is called simply the Central Area.

It appears that the common prism/block in this map, shaped like a Covenant weapon crate, has a couple different appearances. This can mean a couple things: it could mean that there are some fixed blocks and some Forgeable ones (we know there are some Forgeable blocks). This can also mean that there are selectable textures for certain objects, which is something people have asked for but is highly unlikely. And the third is that there are just a couple different types of blocks, just like there might be with pathways.

At 0:25 of the presentation video, the camera looks up at a vast space that is absolutely perfect for Forge, with great detail, part of a tower to attach floating maps to, and excellent rocks. This is a very important because even if horizontally the map does not extend past what we see, there is seemingly nothing other than maybe some soft-kill barriers keeping us from Forging in all that vertical space.

Right after the shot of the space above HEH, 343 decides to show off the portal that the map's 2 huge main walls sem to be supporting somehow. This is the best skybox I've ever seen in Halo, which is saying quite a bit. Though the other Anniversary maps look great, this one already shows off so much more extra detail than the others that it must mean something.

At about 0:39 the camera has moved down from shooting the portal to looking at what is creating the portal, and this, once again, has so much detail. Also notice the bowl that the Portal "projector" is coming out of; this is a perfect Forge space, which Bungie hasn't done yet somehow.

Pay close attention to the large shield doors keeping us away from the portal. They are mostly blue, but have a little orange, which I just don't understand but will assume the orange blocks off the area past it.

Visible mostly in the gameplay video are blocked off doors. While watching the video, look at the walls that make up the perimeter of the map, and you will notice a couple, including some with glass covers where a passageway can be seen beyond the glass (5:17). Seems like a real waste of time to do such things without the passageway being playable in some form.

Look at the huge window at 5:22. It's hard to see, but there is something past it, seemingly enough space for another Forge zone. That glass may be Forgeable, the equivalent to a Coliseum Window form Forge World.

At 6:30 there is a shot of a doorway leading towards the portal/bowl area, and there is a way to get there from the Trench as well. These many doorways mean that a large BTB map could be Forged on this, using multiple regions. I would speculate that all vehicles are available to be Forged in for this map, because it is open air and already has enough room for a Scorpion, Falcon, Wraith, Banshee, etc.

This map could make an unbelievable Invasion map with a Forerunner architectural theme. This is something I've always wanted.

The wall between the portal and the played area is made of two complicated but not too oversized pieces that could maybe even be Forged out, as well as even the wall connecting them to the two main walls. Other cool Forge objects are the hopefully Forgeable Forerunner blue projections on this map. They look beast.

Though a single shot of this map was released awhile back, barely any info has been given about this map since before Oct 17. 343i saved the best for last, and this made sense anyways if you wanted to conceal a detail about a map so it can be a surprise.

I feel like I have demonstrated my case well enough. Comment with evidence, ideas for Forge, or just your excitement for the new maps. It won't be long before we see if I, and a couple other people sharing my idea, are correct. I'll see you all at High Noon on November 15. And remember where you heard this... I'm excited to see if I am right.




[Edited on 11.04.2011 10:53 PM PDT]

  • 11.04.2011 10:22 PM PDT

I really really hope you are right. Because if you aren't I'm going to feel disappointed.

  • 11.04.2011 11:12 PM PDT
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Posted by: Horse Repairman
RC RuNz the internet. Like the superintendent.

Posted by: SouthPoIe
Clone is an internet God.

Posted by: DerpRoids
RC Clone is the anti-thesis of a lurker.

Posted by: OniLink147
I really really hope you are right. Because if you aren't I'm going to feel disappointed.

Reach is Disappointment: The Videogame

  • 11.05.2011 12:08 AM PDT

Can you please stop reposting this every hour? All of your points have logical answers:

1) "The blocks look different" - It's been proven that most/all of the tombstones are forgeable. As are most ramps and bridges.

2) "There are passageways covered by glass" - These are opened for the High Noon version of the map...

3) Even if you can forge upwards, I highly doubt there's anything that is outside the map other than graphics, and the ability to work upwards does not make it a forge world, it makes it Tempest-like. And that's assuming you can still add all those buildings.

  • 11.05.2011 3:32 AM PDT

Posted by: RC Clone
Posted by: OniLink147
I really really hope you are right. Because if you aren't I'm going to feel disappointed.

Reach is Disappointment: The Videogame

I'm actually perfectly satisfied with Reach.

  • 11.05.2011 2:24 PM PDT
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Always up for REACH customs!

As I said before, Forge objects cast no shadows, but the scenery in this map does...

  • 11.05.2011 5:32 PM PDT

Quit -blam!- stalking me you weirdo.

I think timberland is going to have a sky bubble.

I like your theory better.

  • 11.05.2011 6:12 PM PDT