Halo On Windows Vista

Hello everyone! I'm Chris, the Map Editor Specialist for Hired Gun and I'd like to show you three of my newest creations for Halo 2 that I developed using the Map Editor. I currently have a dedicated server up called "Nitrous Customs" running these three maps. These maps didn't take very much effort to make and it just goes to show that with a little dedication you too can make awesome Halo 2 maps.


Beach Battle





A Halo-based coastal battleground. Here, you'll find a lush, natural environment complete with no shortage of rocks and trees, as well as plenty of sand, hills, ledges and ancient Forerunner structuring to provide cover.

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As water flows down the slopes, it cascades down onto a huge aqueduct which then transports it across the terrain and then finally dumps it into the ocean, causing a huge waterfall that fills the entire scene with sound.



The aqueduct is not accessible on top, but it does provide a lot of cover for those trekking it across the beach to the opposing team’s base. At the base of the large waterfall you'll find a yummy drop off of weapons including a sniper rifle, some grenades and even a Warthog.



On the bottom half of the level, directly under the aqueduct in the grass, you'll find another nice horde of weapons including two Needlers, a Brute Shot, more nades and a Rocket Launcher not too far away.



On either side of the map there is a simple but efficient base. Mostly circular, the base is accessible only by ramp which is located in the rear of the base. There is also a teleporter set inside the rear portion of the base on the ground level.



The teleporter will digitally transport your matter to the center ledge of the map directly under the aqueduct near the stationary turret.



Be careful, because both teams exit the teleporter at the same location, so you could easily find yourself in the center of a circle of angry, trigger happy cyborgs hungry for your flag, or maybe even more so, your blood. Use the teleporter wisely.





Earthcity




Earthcity is (obviously) an Earth based urban environment set on a blocked off section of road. Earth is being invaded by the Covenant, and the player is well aware of this due to the huge drop ship hovering in the sky as well as the intense battle that can be heard in the distance.



The main strip is a battle torn road that has been blocked off for security reasons. There are fires visible from the street, ambience of chaos fills the air and all sorts of debris, destruction and military paraphernalia line the entire scene. In the center of the map, there is an abandoned car accident complete with wreckage, vehicles, fusion coils and a Warthog. Tossing a grenade in the middle of this mess has some pretty entertaining results...



There is a base in opposing corners of the map which is home to each team's flag. Nothing is stopping the other team from simply leaping up onto the ledge and grabbing it, so security must be tight! Check the back alleys and passageways for power weapons. Look behind boxes and debris for the good stuff.



On each side of the map there is a closed store front with columns in front of it, separating it from the street. This proves to be an awesome sniping point and also is home to a hill in KotH games. Close quarter battles happen in here quite often. Be prepared.



All in all, Earthcity is a small and chaotic map that proves to be fun in smaller games, but 16 man rocket games are a blast as well. Go on and hop into the server and check this one out!!


Example




Ah, the famous "Example" map. Too small to play on, too plain to look at, too basic to hide in, but man, does this map give hours of chaotic fun! As small and simple as it is, it's a blast to frag on. It's mere purpose is to give the end user something to muck around with if they don't have the necessary 3D applications to make their own maps. It's also a simple testing base for those of you who want to explore the toolset and the power of it. The map consists of two levels. The bottom level has two open top rooms with a tunnel connecting the two.



At the far end of the map on each side is a gravity lift that boosts you up to the top level.



On the top level, right at the landing point of each gravity lift, you'll find a stationary turret. There is a different one on each side of the map. one side has a Covenant turret, while the other has a Human one.



On the top level in the center, there is a plethora of canisters and fusion coils that block both your travel path and line of fire. They provide awesome cover as you charge your way to the opposing side of the map. Also, in this mess of store containers, there is a brand new weapon that Halo 2 multiplayer has never before seen. Go find it!



Although the Example map is crazy small and simple, it's still fun to play a few games on.


I hope you guys (and girls!) enjoy my latest creations! There's plenty more to come so keep your heads up!

Thanks for looking!!

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- Christopher Gaffney
- Hired Gun - Map Editor Specialist

They look like very nice maps Nitro! Can't wait to try them out... once I get Windows Vista and Halo 2

And a new weapon?!?!

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Awesome maps btw, I had a helluva lot of fun on each of them. Example is crazy as hell!

WTF? It won't let me join. I always get an error saying to try in a moment, but it still never works.

These are all very great maps. Too bad I cant play them till June 1st :(

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Thank you fellas!

 

Good to see you again Mike.  How's the kids?

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- Christopher Gaffney
- Hired Gun - Map Editor Specialist

I can see me in some of them! I had fun taking the  shots with ya nitro. I like that shot of me killing that guy with the carbine! YOU SHOULD BE A PHOTOGRAPHY! [/sort-of off-topic]

All-in-all, they are really fun maps. I especially love Earth City. It seems like one grenade will set off a massive explosion in the middle due to all of the cars. :)

CARmakazie:

WTF? It won't let me join. I always get an error saying to try in a moment, but it still never works.

Still having problems with this server. In fact, having problems with many of the servers. I cant join any with custom maps being played. Nitrous, how do I play?!?!

Example has a sort of UnrealTournament feel to it. Very condensed and shoot first hide later vibe.

Admittedly Halo's more about the usage of cover given the power of the shield mechanic.

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Conroe 2.4GHz 4MB Cache, 2GB 4-5-4 DDR2-800 Dualchannel, GeForce 7900 GT
LG 20.1" HDCP-compliant TFT-LCD, Logitech G15, X-Fi Platinum
SATAII WD 320GB 16MB Cache, SATA Raptor 74GB, PATA 250GB Caviar, Asus P5W DH

Are you trying to join with a silver account?

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- Christopher Gaffney
- Hired Gun - Map Editor Specialist

NiTrOuSoXiDe:

Are you trying to join with a silver account?

I have a gold account and I can join your server WITHOUT you in it. Sometimes when you are in the server it says please try again later. But then when you arent, it works. Weird.

Na, I've been Gold for almost 2 years now. I can't figure it out. It shows nobody in the server, and I always get an error when trying to join a match with custom maps. I guess I'll try again in a while. Right now, I'm scoping out a place to get Shadowrun =)

Two things to check.

 

One, check your parental settings.  It's possible that your account has been limited by a parent to not allow custom content. 

Also, if the game is already in progress, you won't be able to download the map.

 

The custom maps server is no more as of yesterday afternoon.  Keep your head up to see if Hired Gun puts it up again (probably with a different name).

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- Christopher Gaffney
- Hired Gun - Map Editor Specialist

NiTrOuSoXiDe:

Also, if the game is already in progress, you won't be able to download the map.

May I ask why this is? It's no fun to join the server, only to have to wait 15 minutes to be able to download the map. :/

Other games have it set up much better, where you can join the server, download the map, and join the game at any giving point during the game.

I can also see this as a potential problem for clan matches that are trying to get started, but not everybody has the map.

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I figure a setting would be decent, but its pretty obviously designed to negate lag for people.Would be zero fun if dozens of people tried to download the map.

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Conroe 2.4GHz 4MB Cache, 2GB 4-5-4 DDR2-800 Dualchannel, GeForce 7900 GT
LG 20.1" HDCP-compliant TFT-LCD, Logitech G15, X-Fi Platinum
SATAII WD 320GB 16MB Cache, SATA Raptor 74GB, PATA 250GB Caviar, Asus P5W DH