HaloCombatEvolved, Remastered Edition, for the PC. That is the question. Because I have looked around a popular auction portal in my area and secondhand HaloCombatEvolved PC-CD boxes go for about 13€. That is actually a lot for a game released in 2001~2003AD. That is roughly the cost of a remastered edition bought on a digital distribution platform a year or two after the publication. I have a saying which goes that expensive and rare things are typically unworth it, while the secondhand purchase of HaloCombatEvolved PC-CD does look like such the current moment. There are also two other things. First, I do not want to get disappointed, especially if to add to it the awareness of having overpaid. Second issue is that I have a conviction Microsoft will one day give the PC players a proper representation of the classic Halo, starting - most reasonably - with the CombatEvolved, as it is also the most often mentioned title among the community when asked about the favourite Halo release, unless the Microsoft aims to make an instant Halo classic already any day.
Maybe the sentiment does play a role in naming HaloCombatEvolved the best Halo game, but if the original grabbed the hearts of so many players, statistically speaking there must be something advantageous about it. Nonetheless, modernday is modernday. That is why I would rather wait. But also I want to make it clear and official I am hoping for the remaster, instead of buying secondhand and then rallying all around the place with how overrated the thing is against the competition of back in the days. Besides, Microsoft, do you really want people to spend money on a secondhand market instead of investing yourself that little bit of cash to get the work done and grab the resultant profits, arguably catching two ducks with one arrow, as I am almost sure it does not cost that overly much to make the first Halo installment stand on both feet again, next to finally getting done what so many people have asked for and await for, finally to their appreciation.
Besides, I believe a remastered edition can be even cheaper than 13€, with or without multiplayer, albeit I think there should be an active multiplayer, even if just for the sake of it being there. I speak it from the position of a multiplayer nonbeliever, meaning, the multiplayer is in heavy decline, though it will take time for the industry to notice and adjust. Whatnot, to some people, it is a must go for sure. If you do it multiplayer, then cross-platform check even when it comes to inclusion of STEAM in the network, if it goes to STEAM that is. Multiplayer needs community and by splitting the playerbase along the platform differences you basically sabotage the success of your creation and question your efforts even in making the multiplayer option included at all. Unless if just for making a dummy working towards better reception.
I know the theme of this rant is old like the old chops, but I think once in a while someone has to bring it up that there is some PC audience still waiting for the classic Halo releases to be brought back facelifted, brought back to PC, to be understood. Perhaps Microsoft draws sick satisfaction from the PC guys begging them for a bit of Halo, but this will one day be over. Times change, franchises loose their magneticism and adequacy in terms of past achievements. Look at the classic isometric RPGs which are Fallouts [1997~1998AD]. Historical masterpieces, correct, but this is it, the gameplay is obsolete beyond mere remastering. If the clockwork is adequate, a twenty year old game, technically speaking, is on a good highway to clinical death, meaning it is either the threshold time to give it honors or think perhaps only of a total reboot later in the future, which consumes much more effort and much more money, also risking it falling short in an unavoidable comparison against the magic of a predecessor. If you come up with a remaster on about the twentieth anniversary of CombatEvolved, you can still make a reboot on the thirtieth one.
Perhaps you skip it because it is so strongly connected to the Bungie, like you feel it is not something you truly own or anything that represents your genuine efforts? Otherwise, you may think remastering the old classics would take away either your attention or the attention of the community from the newer Halo creations. When it comes to yourself, worry not, observing Waypoint discussions, I conclude working upon the classic Halo would not get you spoiled. When it comes to publishing, you may temporarily keep the division, classics for the PC, newer for the XBOX and that would be the mechanism the things proceed, only in advancingly shorter timespans when it comes to what we consider a “classic”, ultimately meaning the PC just gets some delay compared to when the game appears on XBOX.
The clock is ticking, so count the cost whether you can afford to loose the opportunity of gaining some cash and getting some expected job done in favour of waving impressions originating in pride, which in turn are hard to get boiled down to numbers of income. Otherwise, be bold and tell people to get their secondhand copies if they want it, because what they ask of you will never happen as long as your current long term policy holds up. I know you can afford to loose it, Microsoft, but think whether this is an example of good management decision and franchise ministering. Unless you do think CombatEvolved is subpar and expect only negative feedback, thus wanting to spare us and spare yourself some disappointment?
To add, a field of view slider. Narrow FOV is a brandmark of console games and many PC players get sick of it as soon as they see a tank slot range in a first person perspective shooter, especially if the action is dynamic, resulting in chaotic gameplay experience, minding the practical quickness of mouse and keyboard controls set.