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Gearbox Announces Halo Custom Edition PC Add-On

Posted by simoniker on from the cut-out-middleman dept.

Thanks to GameSpy for its interview with Gearbox Software's boss Randy Pitchford regarding Halo: Custom Edition, a "Gearbox-created add-on that includes a little of everything: editing tools, tutorials, technical updates, and more", and will be "free to Halo PC customers." Following previous controversy over alleged "Bungie/Microsoft testing and approval delays" of Halo PC patches, it seems Gearbox has arranged a direct route, and "will provide [technical] support", for the content, which includes "'Fast Shaders' (improves performance up to 60% on pixel shader hardware), improved network code (reduces the incidence of player 'warping')", as well as the Halo Editing Kit (HEK), a "package of tools, source material and tutorials that will allow modification makers to bring their own visions to life within the Halo engine", all due out "very, very soon."

9 of 34 comments (clear)

  1. how about coop? by gl4ss · · Score: 4, Insightful

    because that's what made the xbox version fun.. ..and lack of which made pc version boring.

    it's not a 'big' thing but it matters a lot!

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    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    1. Re:how about coop? by SphericalCrusher · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Lack!? It's called Multiplayer. You can NETWORK PCs just as you can XBox's, OR you can play ONLINE.

      At least there is a Banshee in the PC version's coop. ;)

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      "Instant gratification takes too long." - Carrie Fisher
    2. Re:how about coop? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Yes, you can network PC's and play online, but not cooperatively. The current multiplayer setup does include cooperative playing in story mode, which is what many people are looking for.

  2. Re:If you're anything like me... by gl4ss · · Score: 1, Insightful

    unfortunately it reads like "umm. it seems like awful lot of work, maybe some modders will do it!"

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    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  3. Mod tools. by Roshin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Mod tools coming 'very, very soon'? Gearbox has actually been saying that since *before* Halo PC was released, so I'll take this with a pinch of salt and see it another attempt to get some attention for a dead title.

  4. Re:Better performance? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    The reason Halo PC performance seems so slow is that they used version 2.0 pixel shader programs, among other things. You need a high end graphics card to play at decent frame rates with full graphics quality. The -use14 or -use11 command line options speed things up a bit for lower end graphics cards.

  5. Re:Better performance? by obeythefist · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The humble truth is that Halo got such great reviews for XBox because it's the closest thing the XBox had to looking like a PC game. On the PC, Halo looks just like all the rest.

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    I am government man, come from the government. The government has sent me. -- G.I.R.
  6. *deep sigh* by __aafkqj3628 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    And the mac players just sit, giving the evil looks out.

  7. Re:Better performance? by the_greywolf · · Score: 2, Insightful

    the current shader code is very, very slow. that's why such a huge boost is expected. but if you use -useff you'll see how fast the engine is. it's actually not all that hot on its own. it's the shaders that make it so interesting.

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    grey wolf
    LET FORTRAN DIE!