What should be in a Halo: CE 20 Year Anniversary?

Games Halo: The Master Chief Collection
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Let’s say that 343 came out with a second anniversary for *Halo:*Combat Evolved. What would you like to see in it?

The Halo: CE 20 Year Anniversary that I would’ve liked to see would have various upgrades. Making it closer to the OG Halo by fixing the Gearbox port goofs, and fixing some of the additional blunders that we saw in HCEA would be huge, but it could be even better if they added new components and expanded on old ones.
Campaign

  • Blur Studios for cinematics. - Assets correctly sized so that the new geometry perfectly coincides with the old geometry. - Correctly applying assets such as texture filtering, bump mapping, transparent shaders, etc. (assets that Gearbox left out of the port). - Level lighting consistent with the first CE to maintain the classic atmosphere, ambiance, mood, and tone. - Toggle between Classic and Anniversary sound effects and music. - Improve shadow realism and remove shadow grid pattern. - 60 fps, 4K - Cinematic and in-game refresh rate matches frame rate with animation interpolation. - Tap to pick up weapons, rather than hold the button to pick up weapons. - Untie magnum accuracy from frame rate. - Keep the magnum shot spread identical to the original CE magnum, among other weapons (This overlaps with multiplayer as well).Multiplayer

  • A real multiplayer with updated graphics (not the Reach engine!) - Remove sticky crouch found in the Xbox MCC. - Training mode for new player that shows spawn points and random spawns for each map, nav points for powerups, rockets, sniper, and med packs. - Let us use a separate Xbox One console to host a match in order to remove the host advantage on LAN. - File share support, including game type sharing. - Port a community favorite map pack for casual and/or competitive matches. (Downrush, Imminent, Overflow, and Tinker for example) - Ability for players to port maps from Halo PC to Halo: CE 20 year anniversary or to MCC. - Customs lobby that includes player-made maps - LAN party capable. - Implement lockstep networking for LAN and custom matches online. - Toggle region lock for low-populated areas. - Intelligent ban system that boots players who grief those wanting to play the game for real. - Fix teleporter physics.* - The on-screen clock should persist on the player death screen.** - The original Xbox versions of the maps for the ranked 2v2 playlist.**** The minimum re-entry distance for teleporters is broken: in the original, when going through a two-way teleporter, the player needs to move away a certain distance before he can re-enter the teleporter. On maps where both teleporter entrance and exit can be seen from the same viewpoint, players can sometimes be seen warping in a straight line from teleporter entrance to exit, then spinning in place in the teleporter before exiting.

** In its current state it is unreliable, and players are using external timer apps to track item spawns. This is an emergent gameplay mechanic with roots in the competitive scene in the early 00’s. As long as players are incentivized to use external timer apps, new or inexperienced players will be at a disadvantage.

***Currently the Gearbox variants are in use for Halo PC and MCC. 343 has made some modifications to mimic the Xbox maps’ player spawns and item positions, however some major issues lie with changes to the map geometry (aka “BSP”). Changes include but are not limited to: the trench lip on Hang ‘Em High, the teleporter configuration on Sidewinder, and the red base windows and blue base rooftop on Battle Creek. Other scenario-based discrepancies include the overshield location on Prisoner (in the original, it is possible stand behind it by holding back against the wall) and the location of the tree next to the camo spawn on Battle Creek (not possible to pass between the tree and the cliff on the original version).
For best results I recommend using the original Xbox .scenario and .scenario_structure_bsp tags (some minor adjustments may be required in order to render the files compatible with the MCC build of CE, but some community tools already exist for this purpose). I hope they use the original Xbox versions of the maps for the ranked 2v2 playlist.

Late Night Gaming talks about some of the port issues in these videos:

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graphic overhaul. re-do all multiplayer maps in the graphic overhaul.

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Keep it separate from MCC entirely.

Celebrate 20 years by taking a move from id Software, and release the original xbox Halo CE source code (see id Software · GitHub)

Then sell us some quality-of-life hardware improvements with the Xbox Classic Edition mini hardware replica (see S/NES Classic Edition)

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> 2533274874709622;1:
> Let’s say that 343 came out with a second anniversary for Halo:Combat Evolved. What would you like to see in it?
>
> The Halo: CE 20 Year Anniversary that I would’ve liked to see would have various upgrades. Making it closer to the OG Halo by fixing the Gearbox port goofs, and fixing some of the additional blunders that we saw in HCEA would be huge, but it could be even better if they added new components and expanded on old ones.
> Campaign - Blur Studios for cinematics. - Assets correctly sized so that the new geometry perfectly coincides with the old geometry. - Correctly applying assets such as texture filtering, bump mapping, transparent shaders, etc. (assets that Gearbox left out of the port). - Level lighting consistent with the first CE to maintain the classic atmosphere, ambiance, mood, and tone. - Toggle between Classic and Anniversary sound effects and music. - Improve shadow realism and remove shadow grid pattern. - 60 fps, 4K - Cinematic and in-game refresh rate matches frame rate with animation interpolation. - Tap to pick up weapons, rather than hold the button to pick up weapons. - Untie magnum accuracy from frame rate.Multiplayer - A real multiplayer with updated graphics (not the Reach engine!) - Remove sticky crouch found in the Xbox MCC. - Training mode for new player that shows spawn points and random spawns for each map, nav points for powerups, rockets, sniper, and med packs. - Let us use a separate Xbox One console to host a match in order to remove the host advantage on LAN. - Port a community favorite map pack for casual and/or competitive matches. (Downrush, Imminent, Overflow, and Tinker for example) - Ability for players to port maps from Halo PC to Halo: CE 20 year anniversary or to MCC. - LAN party capable. - Implement lockstep networking for LAN and custom matches online. - Toggle region lock for low-populated areas. - Fix teleporter physics. - The on-screen clock should persist on the player death screen.* - The original Xbox versions of the maps for the ranked 2v2 playlist.**** The minimum re-entry distance for teleporters is broken: in the original, when going through a two-way teleporter, the player needs to move away a certain distance before he can re-enter the teleporter. On maps where both teleporter entrance and exit can be seen from the same viewpoint, players can sometimes be seen warping in a straight line from teleporter entrance to exit, then spinning in place in the teleporter before exiting.
>
> ** In its current state it is unreliable, and players are using external timer apps to track item spawns. This is an emergent gameplay mechanic with roots in the competitive scene in the early 00’s. As long as players are incentivized to use external timer apps, new or inexperienced players will be at a disadvantage.
>
> ***Currently the Gearbox variants are in use for Halo PC and MCC. 343 has made some modifications to mimic the Xbox maps’ player spawns and item positions, however some major issues lie with changes to the map geometry (aka “BSP”). Changes include but are not limited to: the trench lip on Hang ‘Em High, the teleporter configuration on Sidewinder, and the red base windows and blue base rooftop on Battle Creek. Other scenario-based discrepancies include the overshield location on Prisoner (in the original, it is possible stand behind it by holding back against the wall) and the location of the tree next to the camo spawn on Battle Creek (not possible to pass between the tree and the cliff on the original version).
> For best results I recommend using the original Xbox .scenario and .scenario_structure_bsp tags (some minor adjustments may be required in order to render the files compatible with the MCC build of CE, but some community tools already exist for this purpose). I hope they use the original Xbox versions of the maps for the ranked 2v2 playlist.
>
> Late Night Gaming talks about some of the port issues in these videos:
>
>
> - How Combat Evolved was downgraded on MCC | How the original is being lost to time (THEY FIXED IT) - YouTube - Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary was not ready for release and I'm disappointed | Port Report - YouTube - Was Halo Anniversary a faithful remaster? | Saber Interactive's take on Combat Evolved - YouTube

Ah, finally someone said “fix what gearbugs did” at the top. Thank you onii-chan.

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Well I mean they HAVE to do something for MCC but I don’t really know. I dont even like CE but its still the game that started it all and 343 is acutely aware of that.

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A tough one to think about, maybe more skins or a celebration in Infinite?

7

It would be cool to see some cut scenes done by Blur and up kick in graphics for the campaign. I would definitely like to see the multiplayer with modern graphics but keep the same mechanics as CE… Well maybe make it so players don’t die when barely tapped by a vehicle wouldn’t be a bad change.

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The cutscenes definitely need an overhaul. Personally, I always find it weird seeing the Halo 3 Cortana model with the not-so-smooth animation of the Halo: Combat Evolved Cortana model.

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> 2533274816788253;7:
> It would be cool to see some cut scenes done by Blur and up kick in graphics for the campaign. I would definitely like to see the multiplayer with modern graphics but keep the same mechanics as CE… Well maybe make it so players don’t die when barely tapped by a vehicle wouldn’t be a bad change.

Yeah, having an in-game graphics overhaul would be so nice. Something like H2A, but better! They got an dope looking multiplayer and we got stuck with a Reach multiplayer when HCEA came out. :expressionless:

And you’re right, hitting someone with a vehicle at 1mph and killing them is a bit ridiculous and needs to be fixed to more like half to full speed for a kill.

Here’s a few thing that I’ll update in the original post:

  • Intelligent ban system that boots players who grief those wanting to play the game for real. - Keep the magnum shot spread identical to the original CE magnum, among other weapons. - Customs lobby that includes player made maps. - File share support, including game type sharing.
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Red shields when jackals are hit like the original.

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Just release Infinite sometime next year, that will be a series anniversary and an excellent point for another brand new game.

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I think they should add some armors. Most of the armors from Halo reach should be added because it would make sense if the previous armors would be present, halo ce happened after halo reach, it might be a good idea to start doing that, idk just my opinion

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Rocket Sloth made a video, watch It. its called “Why 343 needs to remaster halo ce… again”

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Ditch Gearbox and just properly port CE with some minor graphic enhancements, make the weapons actually work and add in some new maps from custom edition. as well as more options for custom games for usage in customs browser.

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> 2535459571580748;10:
> Red shields when jackals are hit like the original.

Yes! make all the shaders look great again, get rid of the muddy Gearbox shaders.

> 2533274809226598;8:
> The cutscenes definitely need an overhaul. Personally, I always find it weird seeing the Halo 3 Cortana model with the not-so-smooth animation of the Halo: Combat Evolved Cortana model.

What would you think of adding the H2A Cortana in H:CE 20 Year? I think she looks great.

> 2533274816788253;7:
> It would be cool to see some cut scenes done by Blur and up kick in graphics for the campaign. I would definitely like to see the multiplayer with modern graphics but keep the same mechanics as CE… Well maybe make it so players don’t die when barely tapped by a vehicle wouldn’t be a bad change.

And Blur did the H2A cutscenes back in fall 2014, so imagine what Blur could improve on by the time 2021 roles around (If we survive 2020).
Yeah, even though getting killed be a vehicle moving at 1mph adds a kind of charm to H1, I think it improve gameplay to fix it and make it more like H2 where you can splatter at about half speed.

> 2535470539089749;4:
> > 2533274874709622;1:
> > (See first thread post)
>
> Ah, finally someone said “fix what gearbugs did” at the top. Thank you onii-chan.

Don’t you sometimes wish that H1 got a port to the 360 or even better, to Xbox One? LAN parties would be so much smoother and in HD, we’d have all the og map and level geometry and don’t get me started haha. I just want to move on from using the og Xbox for og H1 LANs.

> 2535443032400663;12:
> I think they should add some armors. Most of the armors from Halo reach should be added because it would make sense if the previous armors would be present, halo ce happened after halo reach, it might be a good idea to start doing that, idk just my opinion

New armors would be really nice, and making armor as customizable as Reach armor was would take the cake. I wonder if it would ruin the multiplayer mechanics or throw off people shots with armor bulging out though. Maybe just for campaign then.

> 2535458188883243;14:
> Ditch Gearbox and just properly port CE with some minor graphic enhancements, make the weapons actually work and add in some new maps from custom edition. as well as more options for custom games for usage in customs browser.

I’m with you there on wishful thinking, but 343 has put so many resources into the grandfathered-in ‘Gearbug’ port to 360 compared with MCC, that they’d want to start with that version from an efficiency stand point. A customs browser would be a great way to show your forge skills for the first time on H1 xbox.

More updates for the OP.

  • Never before seen FORGE for H1 Xbox. - Put AI into forge. - Firefight - Option to change weapon and power up spawns to 30 seconds in order to practice trick grenade throws. - Ray tracing - Headhunter game type. - Dominion game type.
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I would really like to see 3-4 player coop support rebalanced in the CE Campaign. This way if Halo 2 Anniversary Campaign gets the same treatment, all the Halo Campaigns would support 4 player coop.

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Pretty much what op said. I just learned about that mod that can use a third Xbox as a host but not counting as a player. I really hope we can get that here.

also the original graphics basically. Even on the first level the pillar of autumn is missing the ceiling structures in the room after the marine blocking your path!!!

color changing cortana and shield for jackals would be nice too!

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*Original post. Click at your own discretion.

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I say they should completely remake the game rather than just remaster it. They could add some mechanics from other games: hijacking, dual-wielding, drivable Wraiths, adding weapons from other games (that make sense at least). I’d also LOVE to see some levels redesigned with more modern sensibilities: make Assault on the Control Room less of a slog; make The Library less of a bore; make 343 Guilty Spark even creepier, the list goes on.

And for those wanting a true CE experience, they could add the up-res’d version released on the 360 in the package with CEA textures.

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If they do a Halo CEA twice before we get a Halo 3A I’m gonna lose it.