Updated: 07.20.14
JD’s Guide to HALO: CUSTOM EDITION
This guide is meant to help introduce newcomers to some of the basic features that Halo: Custom Edition offers. For those who want a more complete guide please visit: Halo PC Editing Reference
What is Halo: Custom Edition?
> The Halo Custom Edition game (Halo CE) is a free unsupported upgrade and standalone program that will install alongside of your Halo PC game. Unlike Halo PC, The Halo CE game allows you to play and/or create custom maps. You must own a licensed copy of Halo PC, and have the license key in order to install this game.
>
> Source: http://hce.halomaps.org/
PC System Requirements: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/829479
Installing Halo: Custom Edition
Step 1) Download and install Halo: Custom Edition. Be sure to have your Halo PC product key handy during the installation process. You may also download versions in other languages.
Step 2) Download and run the latest patch for the game. The latest patch is v1.0.10 which has removed GameSpy server support. http://hce.halomaps.org/index.cfm?fid=6798
IMPORTANT: OpenSauce currently does not support 1.0.10 so you will need to download the 1.0.9 patch instead.
Playing custom content
Step 1) Visit http://hce.halomaps.org/ and download any custom content such as custom single-player campaigns and multiplayer maps.
Step 2) Open Halo: Custom Edition’s directory
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo Custom Edition and locate the folder named maps. Modern PCs will likely have a directory more similar to this: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Halo Custom Edition
Step 3) Place the .map or .yelo file from your download into the maps folder. Make sure there isn’t already a file with the same name in that folder. Even if they are a .map and .yelo file.
What is the difference between .map and .yelo?
OpenSauce is required in order to play a .yelo file as it takes advantage of the extension’s various features. A .map file can be played without having OpenSauce installed.Step 4) If you downloaded a custom multiplayer map then you should now be able to play it. If you downloaded a custom single player map then there are two ways to run it. You can launch it directly through the developer console covered by steps 5a and 6a, or through a custom User-Interface (recommended) covered by steps 5b and 6b.
Step 5a) To enable the developer console right-click on your desktop shortcut, select properties, and type -console -devmode at the end of the target line and apply your new settings. Make sure there is a spaces between the end of the target line and -console, and that its outside of the quotations. Your new target line should now appear similar to this:
“C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo Custom Edition\haloce.exe” -console -devmode
Step 6a) To play that file through the console go to the multiplayer menu where you select your map, find the name of the single-player map, and press the tilde (`) key usually located below the escape key. This will bring up the console. Type map_name followed by name of the .map or .yelo file and press enter to execute the command:
> map_name <insert map name here>
Other console commands can be found in the official resource.
Step 5b) Visit halomaps’ Custom UI page and download any custom UI with the Campaign menu option available such as the Ryno or Universal UI. You will notice that a UI is also a .map file like all other custom content.
Step 6b) Place that ui.map file in the same maps folder as you would for other custom content. There MUST be no more or less than 1 UI file in the maps folder at all times.
Optimizing with OpenSauce
IMPORTANT: OpenSauce does not yet support v1.0.10 of Halo: Custom Edition so you will need to download the 1.0.9 patch instead.
What is OpenSauce?
“OpenSauce” is a collection of projects (both C++ and .NET based) produced by Kornner Studios that have been used in development of Project “Yelo”.
OS for Halo: Custom Edition extends the functionality and the graphic capabilities of the decade-old engine such as introducing phong-based specular highlighting on dynamic objects and post-processing systems.
OS targets three types of end users: developers, modders, and gamers.
-
Developers have access to the project’s source code, enabling them to come up with new engine features or to add to the custom tool set.
-
Modders use the HEK extensions to create new custom tags, as well as make use of new upgrades and settings. Modders supply Gamers with new content.
-
Gamers have access to settings which are specific to them (eg, in the Halo1 edition they can change their in-game weapon views). Gamers feed Developers with new goals.
Source: Google Code Archive - Long-term storage for Google Code Project Hosting.
Step 1) Download and install the latest version of OpenSauce. The latest version of OpenSauce is v3.1.0 which introduces the ability to download custom content right from the server browser. Now you will never need to leave the game to download any mods being played on the servers.
Step 2) Check to see if OpenSauce installed correctly by opening Halo: Custom Edition. On the main menu you should see the version number of OpenSauce in the lower-left corner of your screen.
Step 3) With the latest OpenSauce now installed go to the settings menu, video setup, and you may now set Halo: Custom Edition to play with your native screen resolution.
Step 4) Use the console to enable/disable various OpenSauce features listed. It is recommended that you read OpenSauce’s Getting Started guide before use.
