The Art & Scenery of the Multiplayer Maps.

Games Other Halo
1

First time creating my own thread, and I figured I would make it on something I am very passionate about. The environment in which our multiplayer maps take place. One of the biggest complaints about Forge World? It was boring having every environment with the same tan rocks, green grass, blue sky, and grey structures. Now I know the map’s layout is more important than how it looks, but as was the case with Forge World and some other Halo maps, reusing the same color schemes and atmospheres make for some uninteresting and flat out boring maps to play on from a visual stand point.

The Halo standard is to have a canyon, covenant, human/city, snow, tropical/beach/island, forerunner, and UNSC map in each game. So we can expect those for sure, and so far we have 4 of those themes represented in Halo 4.

What I want to discuss, is all the possibilities we could have when it comes to the other 6 yet to be revealed, as well as the 9 DLC ones. It’s boring to see the same thing over again, so let’s talk about some other options.

Swamp:

Currently, Backwash from Halo 2 was the only map to take place in a swamp environment. Definitely would love to have this setting back, but used with a better layout. Murky water, fog, rotting tree stumps, and some atmospheric lighting…you have a very unique setting.
http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/242/3/3/swamp_by_blinck-d2xmqep.jpg

Desert:

We had Santrap and Sandbox in Halo 3, both which are pretty well liked. However, I think the actual environment can be done much better. More rocks, cactus, brush, and a couple trees would definitely fill out the map more, and provide some natural cover rather than all structure based.
http://crazy-frankenstein.com/free-wallpapers-files/nature-wallpapers/deserts-wallpapers/desert-oasis-libya-wallpaper.jpg

Jungle:

We’ve had Guardian from Halo 3 in a jungle like setting up in the trees. The jungle setting has a wonderful atmosphere, throw in a few structures and a greenhouse and you could have an awesome environment for another great Halo map.
http://www.wallpapersdb.org/original/1583/

Woods:

Timberlands is the closest map to come to mind, even though that’s in a a lush green forest setting. When I think woods, I see an autumn like setting in the woods. Reds, yellows, oranges, browns, leaves on the ground with sunlight peaking through the trees.
http://www.textnovel.com/cover_images/6407/TheWoods.jpg

Volcanic:

There has yet to be a map in Halo in this setting, but with the footage of Spartan Ops taking place in a volcanic environment, has my hopes up we will see a multiplayer map in a similar setting.
http://www.volcano-facts.com/volcano-wallpapers/volcano-wallpaper-3.jpg

Underwater:

This has yet to be done in Halo. I envision a nice underwater backsetting as seen in the picture below, but actually taking place inside an underwater facility so it would still be indoors of course. Lots of glass openings like an aquarium at the zoo, so you can see all the nice visuals.
http://www.raphael-lacoste.com/Matte_Paintconcept/dossiers/matte_SITE/images/underwater_leb.jpg
http://creativefan.com/files/2010/02/Underwater_Tunnel_by_Dolore-500x333.jpg

Ghost Town:

Not the Halo map from Halo 3, but an actual abandoned ghost town that’s tattered, dirty, surrounded in tall grass, plant life, and rocks etc.
http://th04.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2010/203/e/8/ghost_town_by_jOuey_.jpg

Ice/Glacier:

There’s a difference between snow and glacier. When I think snow I think Containment. When I think glacier I think mostly just ice. Like an ice cave and high ice walls etc. More akin to Sidewinder, but even more ice.
http://th03.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2010/035/4/4/Ice_cave_by_PE_Travers.jpg

Cave/Cavern:

Waterworks instantly comes to mind. Underground, with little to no natural light, surrounded by rock and maybe a source of water.
http://susantuttlewrites.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Susan-Tuttle-Author-cave-roadway-soundcloud-com.jpg
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/photogalleries/river-caves-photos/index.html/images/primary/06-pollack-laos-461sp101608.jpg

Those are the main environments I would love to see. We don’t need to see 4 maps sharing the same color schemes and scenery. Give us some variety, and keep us visually engaged. So far, the 5 revealed, all look fantastic!

How about you guys? Any thoughts?

2

I’d love to see a map set in a crystalline cave like this. I’d also like to see a lava-based map, but I think it would give too much of a color advantage to Red Team. Maybe a fire and ice-based symmetrical map, with one side’s base set into a blue-tinged glacier and the other side’s base set into a volcano with lava flows running down to even out the whole “blending in with the background color” problem.

3

> I’d love to see a map set in a crystalline cave like this. I’d also like to see a lava-based map, but I think it would give too much of a color advantage to Red Team. Maybe a fire and ice-based symmetrical map, with one side’s base set into a blue-tinged glacier and the other side’s base set into a volcano with lava flows running down to even out the whole “blending in with the background color” problem.

Yes, the crystalline cave would be awesome. The fire vs. ice idea was said to be what was originally the plan for Longbow, but they said their map variety was already good so they just went with the snow/glacier like setting. Which leads me to believe they will have a volcanic setting for another map.

4

> > I’d love to see a map set in a crystalline cave like this. I’d also like to see a lava-based map, but I think it would give too much of a color advantage to Red Team. Maybe a fire and ice-based symmetrical map, with one side’s base set into a blue-tinged glacier and the other side’s base set into a volcano with lava flows running down to even out the whole “blending in with the background color” problem.
>
> Yes, the crystalline cave would be awesome. The fire vs. ice idea was said to be what was originally the plan for Longbow, but they said their map variety was already good so they just went with the snow/glacier like setting. Which leads me to believe they will have a volcanic setting for another map.

That would be nice, but I’m surprised we haven’t seen a map with Covenant architecture yet. We’ve been shown half the maps in the game (Frankie said there were 10, not counting forge environments. Haven, Adrift, Longbow, Exile, and Solace make five), and although I have a feeling that 343 may be saving the best for last, Solace seems to be the most unique in terms of design, and it’s just a simple Forerunner beam tower. I’m hoping we’ll see a lot more variation in environments and architecture from the other maps.

5

Definitely man. I’m really happy with the maps so far. I definitely love the outdoors that show off some variety in nature and scenery, more so than the ones stuck indoors or in a ship in space etc.

With that being said, even Adrift looks really awesome in the outdoor section overlooking a giant sun. The orange lighting over the ship, and all the stars in the background, just looks phenomenal.

I’m also very pleased with Longbow. Great skybox with an awesome background and surrounding setting. I’m a sucker for snow maps though, so it’s definitely visually stunning to me.

Exile looks pretty nice too. I’m not as into the canyon type setting, but I think it definitely has it’s place and iconic feel of the Halo series. The rock formations this time, definitely look a lot more interesting than on BG/Coag/Valhalla.

Haven has some awesome lighting. Love the hazey blue and light yellow it has going on while looking across the map.

Solace is fantastic, and I agree, it is awesome in the visual department. The overall tone and background to the whole thing, and how the nature collides with the forerunner structure just looks great.

6

I want a snowy volcanic map.

7

This is a nice topic. :slight_smile:

I would like to see a map located in an underwater facility. Instead of a “Skybox” you would have a “Seabox”.

Ha ha. I know… That was a bad pun.

8

> This is a nice topic. :slight_smile:
>
> I would like to see a map located in an underwater facility. Instead of a “Skybox” you would have a “Seabox”.
>
> Ha ha. I know… That was a bad pun.

Heh, I agree though. It would definitely look quite stunning.

9

> I want a snowy volcanic map.

anybody up for some Assault on Mt Saint Helens?

10

> > I want a snowy volcanic map.
>
> anybody up for some Assault on Mt Saint Helens?

That leads to even more idea i’d love to have in the game. I want some weather effects. Let it rain, snow, lightning, ash falling, fog etc. Even if it’s just in the background. Morning, day, sunset, night. That plays into variety as well.

11

They could very easily have weather effects. If you go play Firefight on Holdout, you will notice that there is a rain cycle. It’s really quite interesting to sit back and watch the sky change colors and see the pitter patter of rain on the metal, then to watch it stop and eventually start back up again.

Also, I’m pretty sure it snows on Longbow.

12

> They could very easily have weather effects. If you go play Firefight on Holdout, you will notice that there is a rain cycle. It’s really quite interesting to sit back and watch the sky change colors and see the pitter patter of rain on the metal, then to watch it stop and eventually start back up again.
>
> Also, I’m pretty sure <mark>it snows on Longbow</mark>.

Yeah I noticed that as well. Very subtle, but I thought I saw it. It snowed on Lockout as well.

Definitely would love to see this on a few maps. Especially if it was random and sometimes it would be morning, sometimes sunset, sometimes a little rainy etc. Would definitely keep things fresh and awesome.

13

I love all the ideas you’ve posted and I hope they all get considered for future map designs because they look awesome

If I could add another one maybe:

Urban:

is set on high rise with gapping gaps between building with a death zone down below however dust blocks long lines of sight that only sniper weapons can see through or a wrecked city with dust, ash and various other parts of builings all over the place and a piece of a tall building could fall of the top of the map that can do serious damage and alter the terrain
or even a perfect city like you seem to find in most anime cartoon

link 1
link 2

space/moon:
certain moon based enviroments with low gravity and rocks (if you’ve play ME3 abit like the menae mission
space ships with narrow corridors and windows that peering out into the abyss but with airlock breaches (0 g zones)

14

I agree that Halo 4 needs enviromental variety. I made a very similar thread 9 months ago. It’s nice to know that their are others that care about the maps themes.

15

> I agree that Halo 4 needs enviromental variety. I made a very similar thread 9 months ago. It’s nice to know that their are others that care about the maps themes.

Wow, we really did speak from the same mindset. lol

Definitely hope the variety is present.

16

Swamp and Jungle maps would be nice.

Volcanic map would be awesome.

and an underwater map would just be sick! Remember in Halo 2, on the level Regret, when you’re in the underwater structures? Would look amazing in Halo 2 Anniversary! But a Halo Multiplayer map underwater would just be very me gusta!

17

> Swamp and Jungle maps would be nice.
>
> Volcanic map would be awesome.
>
> and an underwater map would just be sick! Remember in Halo 2, on the level Regret, when you’re in the underwater structures? Would look amazing in Halo 2 Anniversary! But a Halo Multiplayer map underwater would just be very me gusta!

omg iv already thought of a few map layouts on how that level would look in multiplayer!

i can see it being something similar to lockout, waterworks (if it would fit better as a BTB map), orbital, or longest walk/elongation.

18

I want to see this:

960×854 136 KB

I know it’s the forge world concept art ,but forge world really should have looked like this.

19

While a Ghost Town wouldn’t canonically fit if it were like that picture, I could see the rest happening and I like the ideas.

Welcome to Waypoint!

20

I would like to see a underwater Forerunner facility. With creatures swimming in the background or something, IDK. Something like Depths from GoW3.